but for thine owne deedes thou must needly aunswere VVhy then doest thou medle where it needeth not I see and know euery man and euery thinge vnder the sunne I see and beholde and howe it is with euery person what he thinketh what he willeth and to what ende his worke draweth is open to me And therefore all thinges are to be referred to me Keepe thy selfe alwaye in good peace and suffer him that will alwayes searche another mans life be as busye as he will and in the ende shall fall vpon him as he hath done and sayde for he can not deceaue me whatsoeuer he be If thou admonishe anye person for his soule health looke thou do it not to get the thereby anye name or fame in the worlde nor to haue the familiaritie or pryuate loue of any person for suche thinges cause much vnquietnes of minde and will make thee also to lose the rewarde that thou shouldest haue of God and will bring greate darkenes into thy soule I woulde gladly speake to thee my wordes open to thee the secrete misteries of fraternall correction yf thou wouldest prepare thy soule ready against my cōminge and that thou wouldest open the mouth of thy hearte faithfullye to me Be thou prouident wake diligentlye in prayer humble thy selfe in euery thing and thou shalt finde great comfort in God and litle resistence in thy euen christen In vvhat thing the peace of heart and greatest profite of man standeth The 29. Chapter My sonne saith our Lord Iesu I sayd to my disciples thus My peace I leaue with you my peace I geue you not as the worlde geueth but much more then it maye geue All men desire peace but all men will not do that belongeth to peace My peace is with the meeke and milde in hart and thy peace shall be in much paciēce if thou wilt heare me and folowe my wordes thou shalt haue great plentie of peace O Lorde what shall I doe to come to that peace Thou shalt in all thy workes take good heede what thou doest and sayest and thou shalte set all thy whole intent to please me and nothing shalt thou couet or seeke without me and of other mens deedes thou shalt not iudge presumptuously nor thou shalt not medle with thinges that perteine not to thee if thou do thus it maye be that thou shalt litle or seldome be troubled but neuerthelesse to fele at no time any maner of trouble nor to suffer any heauines in body nor in soule is not the state of this lyfe but of the lyfe to come Thinke not therefore that thou haste found the true peace when thou feelest no greefe nor that all is well with thee when thou hast none aduersitie nor that all is perfect for that euery thing cōmeth after thy minde Nor yet that thou arte great in godds sight or specially beloued of him because thou hast great feruour in deuotion and great sweetnes in contemplation for a true louer of vertue is not knowen by all these thinges nor the true perfection of man standeth not in them VVherein then Lorde In offering of a man with all his hart wholly to God not seking him selfe nor his owne will neyther in greate thinges nor in small in tyme nor in eternitie but that he abide alwaye one and yeelde alwaye like thankes to God for things pleasant and displeasant waying them all in one like balance as in his loue Also if he be strong in God that when inwarde consolation is withdrawen he can yet stirre his harte to suffer more if God so will and yet iustifieth not him selfe nor prayseth him selfe therefore as holye and righteous then he walketh in the very true waye of peace and then he may well haue a sure and a perfect hope and trust that he shall see me face to face in euerlasting ioy and fruition in the kingdome of heauen And if he can come to a perfect and a full contempt and despisinge of him selfe then shall he haue full habundance of rest and peace in the ioye euerlastinge after the measure of his gifte Amen Of the libertie excellencie and vvorthinesse of a free mynde The .30 Chapter LOrde it is the worke of a perfect man not to sequester his minde from the beholding of heauenly thinges and among many cares to go as he were without care not in the maner of an ydle or of a desolate person but by the speciall prerogatiue of a free minde alwaye busy in goddes seruice not cleuinge by inordinate affection to any creature I beseeche thee therefore my Lord Iesu most meeke and mercifull that thou keepe me from the busines and cares of the worlde and that I be not ouermuch inquieted with the necessities of the bodilie kinde nor that I be not taken with the voluptuous pleasures of the worlde and the fleshe and that in likewise thou preserue me from all hinderance of the soule that I be not broken with ouermuch heauines sorow nor worldlye dreade And by these petitions I aske not onelie to be deliuered from such vanities as the world desireth but also from suche miseries as greeue the soule of me thy seruant with the common malediction of mankinde that is with corruption of the bodilie feelinge where with I am so greeued and letted that I maye not haue libertie of spirite to beholde thee when I would O Lorde God that art sweetnes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes to me all fleshlie delites which would drawe me from the loue of eternall thinges to the loue of a short and a vile delectable pleasure Let not the fleshe and bloude ouercome me nor the worlde with his short glory deceyue me nor the fiend with his thousand folde craftes supplant me but geue me ghostlie strength in resistinge patience in sufferinge and constancie in perseueringe Geue me also for all worldlie consolatiōs the most sweete consolations of the holy ghost and for al fleshly loue sende into my soule the loue of thy holy name Lo meat drinke cloathinge and all other necessaries for the body be painefull and troublesome to a feruent spirite which if it might woulde alwaye rest in God in ghostly thinges Graunt me therefore grace to vse such bodilye necessaries temperatlye and that I be not deceaued with ouermuch desire to them To forsake all thinges it is not lawfull for the bodilye kinde must be preserued but to seeke superfluous thinges more for pleasure then for necessitie thy holye lawe prohibiteth for so the fleshe woulde rebel against the spirite VVherfore Lord I beseech thee that thy hande of grace maye so gouerne and teache me that I exceede not by any maner of superfluitie Amen That priuate loue most letteth a man from God The .31 Chapter My sonne saith our Lorde it behoueth thee to geue all for all and nothing to keepe to thee of thine owne loue for the loue of thy selfe more hurteth thee then any other thing in this world After thy loue and after thine affection euery thinge
and whatsoeuer they finde in creatures they referre it all to the laude and praysing of the Creatoure for they see well that there is great difference betwixt the Creator and creature eternitie and time and betwixte the light made the light vnmade O euerlastinge light farre passinge all thinges that are made sende downe the beames of thy lightninges from aboue and purifye glad and clarifie in me al the inward parties of my heart Quicken my spirite with all the powers thereof that it may cleaue fast and be ioyned to thee in ioyfull gladnes of ghostlye rauishinges O when shall that blessed hour come that thou shalt visite me glad me with thy blessed presence so that thou be to me all in all As longe as that gifte is not geuen to me that thou be to me all in all there shall be no full ioye in me But alas for sorowe mine olde man that is my fleshly liking yet liueth in me and is not yet fully crucified nor perfectly deade in me for yet striueth the fleshe strongly against the spirit aud moueth great inward battayle against me and suffereth not the kyngdome of my soule to lyue in peace But thou good Lorde that hast the lordship ouer al the power of the Sea doest aswage the streames of his flowinges Aryse and helpe me breake downe the power of myne enemies which alwaye moue this battayle in me Shewe the greatnes of thy goodnes let the power of thy right hande be glorified in me for there is to me none other hope nor refuge but in thee onely my Lorde my God to whom be ioy honour and glorye euerlastingly Amen That there is no full suretie from temptation in this lyfe The 40. Chapter OVr Lorde sayeth to his seruaunt thus Thou shalte neuer be sure from temptation and tribulation in this lyfe And therefore armoure spiritual shal alway as long as thou liuest be necessarie for thee Thou art amoÌ„g thine enemies and shalt be troubled and vexed with them on euery side and but if thou vse in euery place the shielde of patience thou shalt not long keepe thee vnwounded And ouer that if thou set not thy hart stronglie in me with a readie will to suffer all thinges patientlie for me thou mayest not longe bear this ardoure nor come to the reward of blessed saints It behoueth thee therfore manly to passe ouer many thinges and to vse a stronge hande against all the obiections of the enemie To the ouercommer it promiseth Angels foode and to him that is ouercome is left much miserie If thou seeke rest in this lyfe howe then shalt thou come to the rest euerlastinge Set not thy selfe to haue rest here but to haue patience and seeke the true soothfast rest not in earth but in heauen not in man or anye creature but in God onelie where it is For the loue of God thou oughtest to suffer gladlie all thinges that is to saye all laboures sorowes temptations vexations anguishes needines sickenesse iniuries euill sayinges reprouinges oppressions confusions corrections and despisinges These helpe a man greatlie to vertues these proue the true knight of Christe and make redye for hym the heauenlie crowne and our Lorde shall yeelde him againe euerlastinge rewarde for this short laboure and infinite glorie for this transitorie confusion I â—owest thou that thou shalt haue alwaye spirituall coÌ„fortes after thy will Naye naye my Saintes had them not out manye great griefes and diuers temptations and great desolations but they bare all with great patience and more trusted in me then in them selues for they knewe well that the passions of this worlde be not able of them selues to get the glorye that is ordeined for theÌ„ in the kingdome of heaueÌ„ VVilt thou looke to haue anone that whiche others coulde not get but with great weepinges labours Abide paciently the comming of our Lorde doe manfully his bidding be coÌ„forted in him mistrust him not nor go not backe from his seruice for paine nor for dread but lay forth thy body and soule constantlye to his honour in all good bodylye and ghostly laboures And he shal reward thee againe moste plenteouslye for thy good trauayle and shal be with thee and helpe thee in euery trouble that shal befall vnto thee So may it be Amen Against the vaine iudgementes of men The 41. Châ—pter My sonne fixe thy hart stedfastly in God and dreade not the iudgmeÌ„tes of man where thine owne conscience withnesseth thee to be innocent and cleare It is right good and blessed sometime to suffer such sayinges and it shall not be greeuous to a meeke harte whiche trusteth more in God than in him selfe Many folke can saye many thinges and yet litle fayth is to be geuen to their sayinges to pleâ—â—e all men it is not possible For though S. Paule laboured all that he might to haue pleased al people in God did to all men all that he coulde for their saluation yet neuerthelesse he coulde not let but that he was sometime iudged of other He did for the edifyinge and health of other as much as in him was but that he shoulde not sometime be iudged of other or not be despised of other he coulde not lette wherefore he committed all to God that knoweth all thinge and armed him selfe with patience and meeknes against all thinges that might be vntruelye spoken against him And neuerthelesse sometime he answered againe lest that by his sileÌ„ce hurte or hinderance might haue growen to other VVhat art thou then that dreadest so sore a mortall man this daye he is and to morowe he appeareth not dread God and thou shalt not nede to dread man VVhat maye man do with thee in wordes or iniuries he hurteth him selfe more than thee and in the ende he shall not flee the iudgement of God whatsoeuer he be Haue alwaye God before the eye of thy soule and striue not agayne by multiplyinge of wordes And if thou seeme for a time to suffer coÌ„fusion that thou hast not deserued disdayne thou not therefore nor through impatience minishe nor thy rewarde but rather lifte vp thy harte to God in heauen for he is able to deliuer thee from all confusion and wronges and to rewarde euery man after his desert and muche more then he can deserue Of a pure and a vvholle forsakinge of our selfe and our ovvne vvill that vve might get the freedome of spirite and folovve the vvill of God The .42 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lorde forsake thy selfe and thou shalt finde me StaÌ„d without election and without folowinge of thine owne wil also without al proprietie thou shalt much profite in grace and if thou whollie resigne thy selfe into my handes and take nothinge to thee againe thou shalt haue the more grace of me O Lorde howe ofte shall I resigne me vnto thee in what thinges shall I forsake my selfe Alwaye and in euery houre in great thinges and in small I except none for in all thinges I will finde
men despisable in the worlde thou shouldest anone meken thy selfe lowe to the grounde and shouldest rather couete to be subiect to all men then to haue soueraintie ouer anye one person and thou shouldest not desire to haue mirth and solace in this worlde but rather tribulation and paine and thou shouldest thē accompt it as a great winning to be despised and taken as naught amonge the people O if these thinges sauoured well to thee and deepely pearced into thy hearte thou shouldest not once dare complaine for anye maner of trouble that shoulde befall vnto thee Are not all painefull thinges and moste greeuous laboures gladlye to be suffered for the ioyes euerlasting yes verilye for it is no litle thinge to win or lose the kingdome of heauen Lifte vp thy face therefore into heauen and beholde howe I and all my Saintes that be with me in heauē hadde in this worlde great battall and conflict and nowe they ioye with me and be comforted in me and be sure to abide with me and to dwel with me in the kingdome of my father without ending Amen Of the daye of eternitie and of the miseries of this lyfe The 53. Chapter O Blessed mansion of the heauenlie Citie O moste cleerest daye of eternitie whom the night maye not darken but the high truth that God is illumineth and cleereth the daye alwaye merie alwaye sure and neuer chaunging his state into the contrarie VVoulde to God that this daye might once appere and shine vpon vs and that these temporall thinges were at an end This blessed daye shineth to Saintes in heauen with euerlastinge brightnes and claritie but to vs pilgrimes in earth it shineth not but a farre of as through a mirroure or glasse The heauenlye Citizens knowe well howe ioyous this daye is But we outlawes the childrē of Eue doe weepe and wayle the bitternes and tediousnes of this daye that is of this present lyfe short and euill full of sorowes and anguishes where man is often times defiled with sinne encōbred with passions inquieted with dreades bounden with charges busied with vanities blinded with errours ouercharged with labours vexed with temptations ouercome with delightes vaine pleasures of the world and greeuouslie tormented sometyme with penurie and neede O Lorde when shall the ende come of all these miseries and when shall I be cleerelie deliuered from the bondage of sinne when shall I onely Lord haue minde on thee and fully be made glad and mery in thee whē shall I be free without letting and in perfect libertie without griefe of bodie soule VVhen shal I haue sadde peace without trouble peace within and without and on euery side stedfast and sure O Lorde Iesu when shall I stande and behoulde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorie And when shalt thou be to me all in all and when shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou haste ordeyned to thy elect people from the beginning I am lefte here poore and as an outlawe in the lande of mine enemies where daylie be battailes great misfortunes Comfort my exile asswage my sorow for all my desire crieth to thee It is to me a greeuous burden whatsoeuer the worlde offereth me here to my so lace I desire to haue inwarde fruition in thee but I can not attayne therto I couet to cleue fast to heauenlie thinges but temporall thinges and passions vnmortified pull me awaye downward In minde I woulde be aboue all temporall thinges but whether I will or not I am compelled through myne owne default to be subiect to my fleshe Thus I moste wretched man fight in my selfe and am made greeuous to my selfe whiles my spirits desireth to be vpwarde and my fleshe downewarde O what suffer I inwardlie when in my minde I beholde heauenly things and anone a great multitude of carnall thoughtes enter into my soule Therefore Lorde be not longe frō me neither depart in thy wrath from me thy seruant Send to me the lightnes of thy grace and breake downe in me all carnall thoughts Sende forth the dartes of thy loue breake therewith all phantasies of the enemy Gather the wits and powers of my soule together in thee Make me forget all worldlie thinges graūt me to cast awaye and whollie to despise all phantasies of sinne Helpe me thou euerlastinge truth that no worldlie vanitie hereafter haue power in me Come also thou heauenlie sweetnes and let all bitternes of sinne flie farre frō me Pardon me and mercifully forgeue me when I thinke in my prayer of any thinge but of thee for I confesse for truth that in time past I haue vsed my selfe verie vnstable therein for many times I am not there where I stande or sit but rather I am there where my thoughtes leade me for there am I where my thought is and there as my thought is accustomed to be there is that that I loue and that ofte times commeth into my minde that by custome pleaseth me best and that most desireth me to thinke vpon VVherefore thou that art euerlastinge truth sayest VVhere as thy treasure is there is thy heart VVherefore if I loue heauen I speake gladlie of heauenlie thinges and of such thinges as be of God and that pertaine most to his honoure and to the glorifyinge and worshippinge of his holy name And if I loue the worlde I ioye anone at worldlie felicitie and sorowe anone at his aduersitie If I loue the fleshe I ymagine ofte times that pleaseth the fleshe and if I loue my soule I delight muche to speake and to heare of thinges that be to my soule health And so whatsoeuer I loue of them I gladlye heare and speake and beare the images of them ofte in my minde Blessed is that man that for thee Lorde forgetteth all creatures learneth truelie to ouercome him selfe and with the feruour of spirite crucifieth his fleshe so that in a cleane and a pure conscience he maye offer his prayers to thee and be worthy to haue companye of blessed Angels all earthlie thinges excluded from him and fullye set apart Amen Of the desire of euerlastinge life and of the great revvarde that is promised to them that stronglye fight agaynst sinne The 54. Chapter My sonne when thou feelest that a desire of euerlastinge blisse is giuen vnto thee thou couetest to go out of the tabernacle of thy mortal bodie that thou might clearelie without shadowe beholde my clearenes Open thine harte and with al the desires of thy soule take that holie inspiration and yeelding most large thankes to the high goodnes of God that so worthilie doth to thee so beninglie visiteth thee so brenninglie stirreth thee and so mightelie beareth thee vp that through thine owne burden thou fall not downe to earthilie likings and thinke not that that desire commeth of thy selfe or of thine owne workinge but rather that it commeth of the gifte of grace and of a louelie beholdinge of God vpon thee that thou shouldest profite
passe lightlye awaye but the truth of God euer abideth Almightie God speaketh to vs in his Scripture in diuers maners without acceptinge of persons but our curiositie ofte letteth vs in reading of Scripture when we will reason and argue thinges that we should meekely and simply passe ouer If thou wilt profite by readinge of Scripture reade meekely simply and faithfullye neuer desire to haue thereby the name of cunning Aske gladlye and heare meekely the sayinges of Saintes mislike not the parables of ancient fathers for they were not spoken without great cause Of inordinate affections The 6. Chapter VVhen a man desireth any thinge inordinatelye forthwith he is vnquiet in him selfe The proude man the couetous man neuer haue rest but thee meeke man and the poore in spirite liueth in greate aboundance of rest peace A man that is not yet mortified to himselfe is lightly tempted and ouercome in lietl and small temptations And he that is weake in spirite and is yet some what carnall and inclined to sensible thinges maye hardly withdrawe himselfe from worldly desires And therfore he hath oft greate griefe heauines in heart when he withdraweth him from them and he disdayneth anone if any man resist him and if he obteyne that he desireth yet is he vnquieted with grudge of conscience for he hath folowed his passion which nothinge helpeth to the getting of that peace be desired Then by resisting of passions is gotten the very true peace of heart and not by folowing of them There is therfore no peace in the heart of a earnall man nor in the hearte of a man that geueth him selfe all to outward thinges but in the heart of a ghostli man or woman which haue their delite in God is founde great peace and inwarde quietnes That vayne hope and elation of mynde are to be fled and auoyded The .7 Chapter HE is vayne that putteth his trust in man or in any creature Be not ashamed to serue other for the loue of Iesu Christe and to be poore in this worlde for his sake trust not thy selfe but all thy trust set in God doo that in the is to please him he shall well helpe forth thy good will Trust not in thine owne cunning neither in the cunning or pollicie of any creature liuinge but rather in the grace of God which helpeth meeke persons and those that presume of them selues he suffereth to fall till they be meeke Glorify not thy selfe in thy riches nor in thy worldlie freends for that they be mightie but let all thy glorie be in god onelie that geueth all thinges and that desireth to geue himselfe aboue all thinges Exalt not thy selfe for the largenes or fayrenes of bodie for with a litle sickenes it may be soone defouled Ioy not in thy selfe for thy habilitie or readines of wit least thou displease God of whose gifte it is all that thou haste Holde not thy selfe better then other least happlye thou be thereby impaired in the sight of God who knoweth all that is in man Be not proude of thy good deedes for the iudgementes of God be other then the iudgementes of man to whom it displeaseth ofte times that pleaseth man If thou haue any goodnes or vertue in thee beleeue yet that there is much more goodnes vertue in other so that thou maiest alwaye keepe thee in meeknes It hurteth not though thou holde thy selfe worse then any other though it be not so in deede but it hurteth much if thou preferre thy selfe aboue any other be he neuer so great a sinner Great peace is with the meeke mā but in the heart of a proud man is alwaye enuye and indignation That muche familiaritie is to be auoyded The .8 Chapter OPen not thy heart to euery person but to him that is wise secrete and dreadinge God Be seldome with yonge folkes and straūgers Harter not riche men and afore great men do not lightly appeare Accompanie thy selfe with meeke persons and simple in heart who be deuoute of good gouernaunce and treate with them of things that may edify and strength the soule Be not familier to any woman but all good women commend to God Couete to be familier onelie with God and with his Angels but the familiaritie of man as much as thou mayest looke thou eschewe Charitie is to be had to all but familiaritie is not expedient Sometime it happeneth that a person vnknowen thorough his good fame is much commendable whose presence after liketh vs not so muche VVe weene sometyme with our presence to please other when we rather displease them through the euill maners and euil conditions that they see and will consider in vs. Of meeke subiection and obedience and that vve shall gladly folovve the counsayle of others The 9. Chapter IT is a great thing to be obedient to lyue vnder a prelate and in nothing to seeke our owne libertie It is much more surer waye to stande in the state of obedience then in the state of prelacie Many be vnder obedience more of necessitie then of charitie and they haue great paine and lightlye murmure and grudge and they shall neuer haue libertie and freedome of spirite till they whollye submit them selues vnto their superiour Go here and there where thou wilt and thou shall neuer finde perfect rest but in meeke obedience vnder the gouernance of thy prelate The imagining and chaunging of place hath deceaued many a religious person Truth it is that euery man is disposed to doe after his owne will and best can agree with them that folowe his wayes But if we will that God be amonge vs we must sometime leue our owne will though it seeme good that we may haue loue and peace with other VVho is so wise that he can fully knowe all thinges truely none Therefore trust not to muche to thyne owne witt but heare gladlye the counsayle of other And if percase the thinge which thou wouldest haue done be good and profitable and yet neuerthlesse thou leauest thine owne will therein and folowest other thou shalt finde much profite therby I haue often times heare say that it is the more surer waye to heare and take counsell then it is to geue it It is good to heare euerie mans counsel but not to agree when reason requireth it is a signe of a great singularitie of minde and of much inward pride That vve shoulde auoyde superfluitie of vvordes and the company of vvorldly liuinge people The .10 Chapter FLee the company of wordly liuinge people as much as thou maiest for the treatinge of wordlie matters letteth greatlie the feruour of spirite though it be done with a good intent we be anone deceiued with vanitie of the world and in maner are made as thral vnto it if we take not good heede I would I had helde my peace many times when I haue spoken and that I had not beene so much amōge worldly company as I haue beene But why are we so glad to speake
to loue the world and dryueth out of their hartes all heauenlie desires insomuch that many accompt it as a ioye of Paradise to liue vnder such sēsible pleasures and that is because they neither haue seene nor tasted the sweetnes in God nor the inwarde gladnes that cōmeth of vertues But they that perfectly despise the worlde and that studie to liue vnder holie discipline be not ignoraunt of the heauenlie sweetnes that is promised vnto ghostlie liuers and they see also howe greeuouslie the world erreth and howe greeuouslie it is deceyued in diuers maners Hovve a man shoulde rest in God aboue all thinges The 23. Chapter ABoue all thinges and in all thinges rest thou my soule in thy Lorde God for he is the eternall rest of all Angels and saintes Geue me Lord Iesus this speciall grace for to reste me in thee aboue all creatures aboue all helth and fayrenes aboue all glorye and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all cunninge and pollicie aboue all riches craftes aboue all gladnes of bodye and soule aboue all fame and praysing aboue all sweetnes and consolation aboue all hope and repromission aboue all merite and desire aboue all giftes rewardes that thou mayest geue or sende beside thy selfe and aboue all ioy and mirth that mans heart or minde may take or feele And also aboue all Angels and Archangels and aboue the company of heauenlie spirites aboue all thinges visible and inuisible and aboue all thing that is not thy selfe For thou O Lord God art most best most highest most mightest most sufficient and most full of goodnes moste sweete moste comfortable moste fayre moste louinge moste noble and moste glorious aboue all thinge in whom all goodnes is together perfectlie and fully hath beene and shall be And therefore whatsoeuer thou geuest me beside thy selfe it is lytle and insufficient to me for my heart may not rest nor fullye be pacifyed but in thee so that it ascendeth aboue all giftes and also aboue all maner of thinges that be created O my Lorde Iesu Christ moste louing spouse moste purest louer and gouernoure of euerye creature who shall geue me winges of perfect libertie that I may fite high and rest me in thee O when shall I fullie tende to thee and see and feele how sweete thou art whē shall I wholly gather my selfe together in thee so perfectlye that I shall not for thy loue feele my selfe but thee onelie aboue my selfe and aobue all bodilie thinges and that thou visite me in such wise as thou doest visite thy faythfull louers Nowe I ofte mourne and complaine the miseries of this life and with sorowe and woe beare thē with right great heauines for many euill thinges happen daylie in this lyfe which ofte times trouble me and make me verie heauie greatlie darken mine vnderstanding They hinder me greatly and put my minde from thee and so encomber me many wayes that I can not haue free minde cleane desire to thee nor haue thy sweete imbracinges that to thy blessed Saintes be alwaye present VVherefore I beseeche thee Lorde Christ Iesu that the sighinges and the inwarde desires of my hart with my manifolde desolutions may somewhat moue thee and incline thee to heare me O Iesu the light and brightnes of euerlasting glory the ioy and comfort of all christien people that are walking labouring as pilgrimes in the wyldernes of this world my harte cryeth to thee by still desires without voyce and my silence speaketh vnto thee and sayth thus How longe carieth my Lorde God to come to me verilie I trust that he will shortlie come to me his poorest seruant and comfort me and make me ioyous glad in him And that he will deliuer me from all anguishe and sorowe Come Lord come for without thee I haue no glad daye nor houre for thou art all my ioye gladnes and without thee my soule is barren and voyde I am a wretche and in maner in prison and bounde with fetters till thou through the light of thy gracious presēce vouchsafe to visit me and to refresh me and to bring me againe to libertie of spirite and that thou vouchsafe to shewe thy fauourable and louinge countenance vnto me Let other seeke what they will but trulye there is nothinge that I will seeke nor that shall please me but thou my Lorde God my hope and euerlastinge helth I shall not cease of prayer till thy grace returne to me againe that thou speake inwardly to my soule saye thus Lo I am here I am come to thee for thou haste called me thy teares the desyre of thy hart thy meeknes and thy contrition haue bowed me downe and brought me to thee And I shall saye agayne Lorde I haue called thee and I haue desyred to haue thee ready to forsake all things for thee thou first haste stirred me to seeke thee VVherefore be thou alwaye blessed that haste shewed suche goodnes to me after the multitude of thy mercy VVhat hath thy seruant Lorde more to doe or saye but that he meeken him selfe before thy maiestie and euer haue in minde his owne iniquitie There is none like to thee Lorde in heauen nor in earth thy workes be good thy iudgementes be righteous by thy prouidence all things be gouerned VVherefore to thee which art the wisedome of the father be euerlasting ioy glory and I humbly beseech thee that my body and soule my harte and tounge and all thy creatures maye alwaye laude thee and blesse thee Amen Of remembringe of the great and manyfolde benefites of God The 24. Chapter OPen mine hart Lorde into the beholding of thy lawes and in thy cōmaundements teach me to walke geue me grace to knowe and to vnderstand thy will and with great reuerence and diligent consideratiō to remember thy manyfold benefites that I may from henceforth yeld to thee due thankes for thē againe But I knowe and confesse it for truth that I am not able to yeld to thee condigne thankinges for the least benefite that thou hast geuen me for I am lesse then the least benefite that thou hast geuen And whē I beholde thy noblenes and woorthines my spirite dreadeth and trembleth very sore for the greatnes therof O Lord all that we haue in body in soule inwardly outwardlye naturally or supernaturallye they be thy benefites and shew thee openly to be a blessed and good benefactour of whom we haue receiued such giftes And though one hath receaued more and another lesse yet they all be thy giftes without thee the least can not be had and he that hath more receaued may not rightfully glorify him selfe therein as though he had gotten it by his owne merite nor exalt him selfe aboue other nor disdayne other nor despise his inferiours therfore for he is greatest and moste acceptable to thee that least ascribeth to him selfe and that is for suche giftes the more meeke and deuout in yeldinge thankes to thee for
cleaneth to thee more or lesse If thy loue be pure simple and well ordered thou shalte be without inordinate affection to any creature Couete therefore nothing that is not lawfull for thee to haue and haue nothing that may let thee from ghostlye trauayle or that maye take from thee inwarde libertie of soule It is meruail that thou committest not thy selfe fullye to me with all thy heart with all thinges that thou mayest haue or desire VVhye art thou thus consumed with vaine sorowe why art thou weried with superfluous cares Stande at my will and thou shalt finde nothing that shall hurt or hinder thee but if thou seeke this thing or that or wouldest be in this place or in that for thine owne profite and for thine owne pleasure thou shalt neuer be in rest nor euer free from some trouble of minde for in euery place shal be found something that will mislike thee Transitorie thinges when they be had and greatly multiplied in the world do not alway helpe mans soule to peace but rather when they be despysed and fullie cut out of the loue and desire of the hart and that not to be vnderstand onely of golde and siluer and other worldlye riches but also of desire of honours and praysinges of the worlde which shortlye vanisheth and passeth awaye as doth the smoke with the winde the place helpeth little yf the spirite of feruour be awaye Also the peace that a man getteth outwardelye shall not long stande whoâ—e if it be voyde from the true inward peace of hart that is to say though thou chaunge thy place yet it shall litle amende thee vnlesse thou stande stedfast in me for by newe occasions that shall daylie rise thou shalte finde that thou hast fled percase muche more perillous and muche more greuous thinges than the first were A prayer for the purginge of mans soule and for heauenlye vvisdome and the grace of God to be obteyned and had The 32. Chapter COnfirme me Lorde by the grace of the holye ghost and geue me grace to be stronge inwardlye in soule and auoyde out thereof all vnprofitable busines of the worlde and of the fleshe that it may not be led by vnstable desires of earthlie thinges And that I maye beholde all thinges as they be transitorie and of short abidinge and me also to go with them for nothinge vnder the Sun may longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite O howe wise is he that feeleth and vnderstandeth this to be true that I haue sayde Geue me Lord therefore heauenlye wisedome that I maye learne to seeke thee and to finde thee and aboue all thinges to loue thee and all other thinges to vnderstande and knowe as they be after thorder of my wisedome and none otherwise and geue me grace also wiselie to withdrawe me from them that flatter me and patiently to suffer theÌ„ that greue me for it is great wisedome not to be moued with euery blast of wordes nor to geue eare to him that flattereth as doth the mairmayde The waye that is thus begon shall bring him that walketh in it to a good and a blessed ending Agaynst the euill sayinges of detractours The 33. Chapter My sonne saith our Sauiour Christ thou shalt not take it to griefe because some persons thinke euill or say euill of thee that thou wouldest not gladlye heare for thou shalt yet thinke worse of thy selfe and that no man is so euill as thou arte If thou be well ordred inwardlye in thy soule thou shalt not muche care for suche flyinge wordes And it is no litle wisedome a man to keepe him selfe in silence and in good peace when euill wordes be spoken to him and to turne his heart to God and not to be troubled with mans iudgement Let not thy peace be in the heartes of men for whatsoeuer they say of thee good or bad thou art not therefore a nother man but as thou art thou art VVhere is the true peace and glorie is it not in me yes truely Therefore he that neither desireth to please man nor dreadeth not to displease him shall haue great plentie of peace for of inordinate loue and vaine dread commeth all vnquietnes of heart and vnrestfulnes of minde Hovve almightie God is to be invvarldlye called vnto in time of tribulation The 34. Chapter LOrde thy name be blessed for euer that thou wouldest this temptation and tribulation should fal vpon me I maye not escape it but of necessitie I am driuen to flee to thee that thou vouchsafe to helde me and to turne all into gohstlye profite O Lorde I am nowe in trouble it is not well with me for I am greatly vexed with this present passion And nowe moste best beloued father what shall I say I am nowe taken with anguishes and troubles on euerye side saue me in this houre but I trust that I am come into this houre that thou shalt be lauded and praysed when I am perfectlye made meeke before thee and that I am clerely deliuered by thee be it therfore pleasaunt to thee to deliuer me For what may I most sinneful wretch doe or whither may I goe without thee Giue me patieÌ„ce nowe at this time in all my troubles helpe me my Lord God and I shall not feare ne dread what troubles soeuer fall vpon me And nowe what shal I say but that thy will be done in me I haue deserued to be troubled greeued and therefore it behoueth that I suffer as long as it shall please thee but woulde to God that I might suffer gladlye till the furious tempestes were ouerpassed and that quietnes of hart might come againe Thy mightie hande Lorde is stronge ynough to take this trouble from me and to aswage the cruel assaults thereof that I doe not vtterly fayle as thou hast ofte times done to me before this time the more harde that it is to me the more light it is to thee And when I am clerely deliuered by thee then shall I saye This is the changing of the right hande of him that is highest that is the blessed Trinitie to whom be ioye honour and glorye euerlastingly Amen Of the helpe of God to be asked and of a full trust to recouer through deuout prayer our former grace The .35 Chapter My sonne I am the Lorde that sendeth comfort in tyme of tribulation come therefore to me when it is not well with thee This is it that letteth thee most that thou turnest thee ouer slowlie to me for before thou pray hartilie to me thou seekest many other comforts and refreshest thy spirites in outwarde thinges And therefore all that thou doest litle auayleth thee til thou canst beholde and see that I am he that sendeth comfort to all that faithfully doe call to me and that there is not without me any profitable counsayle nor perfect remedie But nowe take a good spirite to thee and after thy troubles be thou comforted in me in the light of my mercie
thinge vnprofitable O Lorde thou arte alwaye one euer shalt be one alway good alway righteous and holy well righteously and blessedly disposing all thinges after thy wisedome but I wretche that alway am more redy prone to euill then to good am not alwaye abidinge in one for seuen times be chaunged vpon me Neuerthelesse it shall be better with me when it shall please thee to put to thy helpinge hand for thou onely act he that without man mayest helpe me and so coÌ„firme and stable me in thee that mine heart shall not so lightlie be changed from thee but that it maye be wholly fired in thee and finallye to rest in thee And verilye if I coulde cast awaye from me all mans comfort either for getting of deuotion or for that I am compelled therto of necessitie for that I finde no comfort in man then might I well trust in thy grace to haue of thee newe visitations newe heauenlie consolation But I confesse it for truth that I am vnworthy to haue anye suche consolations and I thanke thee as ofte as anye good thinge commeth to me for all that is good coÌ„meth of thee I am but vanitie and nought before thee an vnconstant man and a feeble and therefore whereof maye I righteously glorifie my selfe or why should I looke to be magnified Truelye vaine glorie is a perillous sickenes a greeuous pestilence a right great vanitie for it draweth a man from the true ioy that he should haue in God and robbeth him cleerelye of all heauenly grace For when a man pleaseth him selfe he displeaseth thee when he delighteth in mans praysinges he is depriued from the true vertues for the true stedfast ioye gladnes is to ioye in thee not in him selfe in thy name and not in his owne vertue nor in anye creature Therefore thy name be praysed and not mine thy workes be magnified and not mine and thy goodnes be alwaye blessed so that nothing be geuen to me of the laude and praysing of man Thou art my glory and the ioy of my hart in thee shall I be glorified and alway shall I ioy in thee and in my selfe nothinge but in my infirmities Let the Iewes seke glorye amonge them selues but I will seeke none but that is onely of thee for all mans glory all temporall honour and all worldlye highnes to thy eternall glorye compared is but as foolishnes and a great vanitie O truth O mercy O blessed trinitie to thee be laude honour and glory euerlastingly Amen Hovve all temporall honour is to be despised The 46. Chapter My sonne take it not to greefe though thou see other men honoured and exalted and thy selfe despised set at nought If thou raise vp thine hart to me in heaueÌ„ the despites of man in earth shall litle greeue thee O Lord we be here in great darknes and are soone deceyued with vanities but verilie if I beheld my selfe well I should openlie see that there was neuer any wrong done to me by any creature nor that I haue nothing wherof I maye righteoussie complayne But for as muche as I haue ofte sinned and greeuouslie offended against thee therefore all creatures be armed against me To me therefore is due confusion and despite to thee lande honour and glorye And vnlesse I can bring my selfe to this point that I woulde gladlye be despised and forsaken of all creatures vtterlye to seeme as nought in the worlde I may not be inwardlye pacified nor stablished in thee nor spirituallie be illumined nor yet fully vnited to thee That our trust is not to be put in vvorldlye people The 47. Chapter My sonne if thou set thy peace with anye person for thyne owne pleasure or worldlye frendshippe thou shalt alway be vnstable and neuer shalte thou be coÌ„tented but if thou haue alway recourse to the truth euerlasting that is God himselfe then the death or goinge awaye of thy dearest freende whatsoeuer he be shall litle greue thee The loue of thy frend ought alwaye to be referted to me and for me he is to be beloued howe good and howe profitable soeuer he seme vnto thee in this life VVithout me freÌ„dship is nought worth nor maye not long endure nor that loue is not true and cleane that is not knit by me Thou oughtest therefore to be so mortified in all such affections of worldlie men that in as much as in thee is thou wouldest couete to be without all mans comfort So muche a man draweth nerer to God as he can withdrawe hym selfe from the worlde and from all worldlie comfort and so muche the more he ascendeth higher to God as he can descend lower in him selfe and as he can waxe vile and abiect in his owne sight He that ascribeth any goodnes to him selfe withstandeth the grace of God and letteth it to liue in him for the grace of the holye ghoste seeketh alwaye a meeke and an humble heart If thou couldest perfectly annihilate thy selfe and whollie put out of thy heart all humane and create loue then shoulde I sayth our Lorde dwell in thee with great aboundaunce of my grace But when thou lookest to creatures then is righteouslie drawen from thee the sight of thy Creator Learne therefore to ouercome thy selfe for the loue of him that made thee like to hym selfe and thou shalt anone come to great ghostlie knowledge Howe lytle soeuer the thinge be that a man loueth yf he loue it inordinatlie it hindreth and letteth him greatlie from the true and perfect loue that he shoulde haue to God That vve should eschevv vayne seculer cunninge The .48 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lorde let not fayre and subtil wordes moue thee for the kingdome of heauen standeth not in wordes but in good vertuous workes Take hede to my wordes for they enflame the harte and lighten the vnderstandinge and bringe in also compunction of harte for sinnes past and cause also ofte times great heauenlie comfort sodenly to come into the soule Reade neuer in any scieÌ„ce to the inteÌ„t thou wouldest be called wise but studie rather to mortifie in thee all stirringes of sinnes as much as in thee is that shall be more profitable to thee than the knowledge of many harde and subtill questions VVhen thou hast reade and vnderstoode many doubtes yet neuerthelesse it behoueth thee to come to one that is beginninge of all thinges that is God him selfe and els thy knowledge shall litle auayle thee I am he that teacheth a maÌ„ cuÌ„ning do giue more vnderstaÌ„ding to meeke persons than can be taught by maÌ„s teaching And he to whom I speake sâ—al soone be made wise much shall he profit in spirite when payne and wo shall be to them that onelie seeke for curious learninge takinge litle heede to the waye to serue God The time shall come when Christ Lorde of Angels and master of all masters shall appere to heare the lesson of euery creature and to examine the conscience of euery person and then shall
thereby in meekenes and vertue and that thou shouldest also prepare thee to be readye against another time for battels that are to come and the more surely to cleaue to God with all the desire and affection of thy hart and to studie with all thy power how thou mayest most purelie and moste deuoutlie serue him and take heede of this common prouerbe The fire doth oft burne but the flame doth not ascende without some smoke So likewise the desire of some men draweth to heauenlie thinges and yet they be not all free from the smoke of carnall affections and therfore they doe it not alwaye purelie for the honour and loue of God that they aske so desirouslie of him Suche ofte tymes is thy desire that thou shewest to be so importune for that desire is not cleane and perfect that is mixte with thine owne commoditie Aske therefore not that is delectable and profitable to thee but that is acceptable and honour to me for if thou do well and iudge aright thou shalt preferre my ordinaunce my will before all thy desires before all thinges that may be desired beside me I knowe well thy desire Thou wouldest nowe be in libertie of the glorie of the sonnes of God nowe the euerlastinge house the heauenlie countrey full of ioye and glory delighteth thee muche but that time cōmeth not yet for there is yet another time to come that is to saye a time of labour and of proufe Thou desirest to be fulfilled with the high goodnes in heauē but thou mayst not yet come therto I am the full rewarde of man abide me till I shall come and thou shalt haue me to thy rewarde Thou art yet to be proued here vpon earth and more throughlye to be assayed in many thinges some comfort shall be geuen to thee but the fulnes thereof shal not yet be graunted Be thou therefore comforted in me and be thou strong as well in doeing as in sufferinge thinges contrary to thy wil. It behoueth thee to be clothed in thy blood and to be chaunged into a newe man and thou must ofte times doe that thou wouldest not doe and that thou wouldest doe thou must forsake leaue vndone That shall please other shall goe well forwarde and that shall please thee shal haue no speede that other men saye shall be well heard and that thou shalt saye shall be set at nought Other shall aske and haue their askinge thou shalte aske and be denied Other shal be great and haue great lande and prayse of the people and of thee no worde shall be spoken To other this office or that shall be committed and thou shalte be iudged vnprofitable in euery thinge for these thinges and other lyke nature will murmure and grudge thou shalt haue a great battaile in thy selfe if thou beare them secrete in thy hart without complayning missaying Neuerthelesse in suche thinges and other like my faithfull seruauntes are wont to be proued howe they can denie them selues and howe they can in all thinges breake their owne wylles and there is nothinge that thou shalt neede so muche to ouercome thy selfe in as to learne to be contented not to be set anye price by in the worlde and to suffer suche thinges as be moste contrarye to thy will especiallye when suche thinges as in thy sight seeme vnprofitable be commaunded to be done But my sonne consider well the profite and fruite of all these laboures the shorte ende and the great rewarde and then thou shalt feele not greefe nor paine in all thy laboures but the most sweetest comfort of the holye ghost through thy good will and for that litle wil that thou forsakest here thou shalt alwaye haue thy will in heauen where thou shalt haue all that thou canst or mayest desire There shalte thou haue full possession of all goodnes without dread to lose it There thy will shall be euer one with my will and it shall couete no straunge nor priuate thinges There no man shall resiste thee no man shall complayne on thee no man shall let thee nor no man shall wythstande thee but all thinges that thou canst desyre shall be there present and shall fulfill all the powers of thy soule vnto the full There shall I yeelde glorye for reprofes and a palle of laude for thy heauines and for the lowest place here a seate in heauen for euer There shall appeare the fruite of obedience the labour of penaunce shall ioy and the humble subiection shall be crowned gloriously Bowe thee therefore meekelye nowe vnder euery mans hande and force litle who saith this or who commaundeth this to be done But with all thy studie take heede that whether thy prelate or thy felowe or anye other lower than thou aske any thing of thee or will any thing to be done by thee that thou take it alwaye to the best and with a glad will studie to fulfill it Let this man seeke this thing and another that and let this man ioy in this thing another in that whatsoeuer it be and let them be lauded and praysed a thousande times but ioye thou neither in this thinge nor in that but onelye in thine owne contempt and despising and in my will to be fulfilled and whether it be by life or death that I may alway be lauded and honoured in thee and by thee Amen Hovve a man that is desolate ought to offer hym selfe vvhollye to God The .55 Chapter LOrde holy father be thou blessed now and euer for as thou wilt so it is done and that thou doest is alwaye well let me thy poorest seruaunt and most vnworthy ioye in thee and not in my selfe nor in nothinge els beside the◠for thou Lorde art my gladnes thou art my hope my crowne my ioye and all my honor VVhat hath thy seruant but that he hath of thee and that without his desert All things be thine and I am poore and haue bene in trouble in paine euer from my youth and my soule hath beene in great heauines with weeping and teares and sometime it hath bene troubled in it selfe through manifolde passions that come of the world and of the fleshe VVherefore Lorde I desire that I maye haue of thee the ioye of inwarde peace and I aske the rest of thy chosen children that be fedde and nourished of thee in the light of heauenly comforts but without thy helpe I can not come therto If thou Lorde geue peace or if thou geue inward ioye my soule shall be anone full of heauenlye melodie and be deuoute and feruent in thy laudes and praysings but if thou withdrawe thy selfe from me as thou haste sometime done then may not thy seruant runne the waye of thy commaundementes as he did first but then he is compelled to bowe his knees and knocke his brest for it is not with him as it was before when the lanterne of thy ghostlie presence shone vpon his heade and that he was defended vnder the shadowe of
through weakenes of it selfe it is not able to fulfill all that it approueth nor hath not sith the firste sinne of Adam the full light of truth nor the sweetnes of affections to God as it had firste Of this it commeth most mercifull Lorde that in my inwarde man that is in the reason of my soule I delite me in thy lawes and in thy teachinges knowinge that they are good and righteous and holie and that all sinne is euill and to be fled and eschewed and yet in my outwarde man that is to saye in my fleshelie felinge I serue the lawe of sinne when I obeye rather to sensualitie then to reason And of this it foloweth also that I will good but to perfourme it without thy grace I maye not for weakenes of my selfe And sometime I purpose to doe many good deedes but for that grace wanteth that shoulde helpe me I goe backeward and fayle in my doinge I knowe the waye to perfection and howe I shoulde do I see it euidentlye but for that I am so oppressed with the heauye burden of this corrupt bodye of synne I lye still and ryse not to perfection O Lorde howe necessarye therefore is thy grace to me to beginne well to continue well and to ende well for without thee I maye nothinge doe that good is O heauenlye grace without whom our merites are nought woorth nor the giftes of nature nothinge to be pondred neither craftes or riches any thinge to be regarded nor beautie strength wit nor eloquence nothinge maye auayle come thou shortlye and helpe me The gyftes of nature be common to good men and bad but grace and loue are the giftes of electe and chosen people whereby they be marked and made able and worthy to haue the kingedome of heauen This grace is of suche worthynes that â—eyther the gyfte of prophecie nor the workinge of miracles nor yet the gyfte of cunninge and knowledge maye nothinge auayle wihout it ne yet fayth hope or other vertues be not acceptable to thee without grace and charitie O blessed grace that maketh the poore in spirite to be ryche in vertue and hym that is ryche in worldlye goodes maketh meeke and lowe in heart come and descende into my soule and fulfill me with thy ghostlie comfortes that it fayle not nor faynt for werines drynes of it selfe I beseeche thee Lord that I may finde grace in thy sight for thy grace shal suffice to me though I doe wante that nature desireth For although I be tempted and vexed with troubles on euery side yet shall I not neede to drede whiles thy grace is with me for she is my strength she is my comfort and she is my counsayle and helpe she is stronger then all mine enemies and wiser then all the wisest of this worlde She is the maystres of truth the teacher in discpline the light of the hart the comfort of trouble the driuer awaye of heauines the auoyder of dreade the nourisher of deuotion and the bringer of sweete teares and deuoute weepinges VVhat am I theÌ„ without grace but a drie stocke to caste awaye Graunt me therefore that thy grace maye preuent me and folowe me and that It may make me euer busie and diligent in good workes vnto my death So may it be Amen That vve ought to forsake our selfe and to folovv Christe by bearinge of hys Crosse The 61. Chapter My sonne as much as thou canst go out fro thy selfe and frothine owne will so much as thou mayest enter into me and as to desire nothing outwardlie bringeth peace inwardlie into mans soule so a man by an inwarde forsakinge of him selfe ioyneth him to God I will therefore that thou learne to haue a perfect forsaking and a full resigning of thy selfe into my hands without withsaying and complayninge and that thou folowe me for I am the waye I am the truth and I am the life VVithout a waye no man maye go and without truth no man maye knowe and without life no man maye lyue I am the waye which thou oughtest to goe the truth which thou oughtest to beleue the life which thou shalt hope to haue I am the waye that can not be defyled the truth which can not be deceyued and the life that neuer shall haue ende I am the waye moste straite the truth most perfect and the life most soothfast A blessed life and a life vnmade that made all things If thou dwell and abide in my waye thou shalt knowe the truth and truth shal deliuer thee and thou shalt come to euerlastinge life If thou wilte come to that lyfe kepe my coÌ„maundementes If thou wilt knowe the truth beleeue my teachinges If thou wilt be perfect sell all that thou haste If thou wilt be my Disciple forsake thy selfe If thou wilt haue the blessed lyfe despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in heauen meeke thee here in earth And if thou wilt reigne with me beare the Crosse with me for truely only the seruauntes of the Crosse shall finde the life of blessednes and of euerlastinge light O Lorde Iesu forasmuche as thy waye is narowe and straite and is also muche despised in the worlde geue me grace to beare gladlye the despisinges of the worlde There is no seruaunt greater then his Lorde nor any Disciple aboue his master Let thy seruaunt therefore be exercised in thy wayes for therein is the health and the very perfection of lyfe whatsoeuer I reade or heare beside that way it refresheth me not nor delighteth me not fullye My sonne forasmnche as thou knowest these thinges hast reade them all thou shalt be blessed if thou fulfil them He that hath my commaundementes and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I shall loue him I shall shewe my selfe vnto him and shall make him sitte with me in the kingdome of my father Lorde as thou hast sayde and promised so be it done to me I haue taken the Crosse of penaunce at thy hand and I shall beare it vnto my death as thou haste put it to me to doe For the lyfe of euery good man is the Crosse and it is also the way and leader to Paradise and nowe it is begonne it is not lawfull for me to go backe fro it ne it is not behouefull for me to leaue it Haue done therefore my welbeloued brethren go we forth together Iesu shall be with vs for Iesu we haue taken this Crosse for Iesu let vs perseuer and he shal be our helpe that is our guyde and leader â—â— our kinge goeth before vs that shall fyght for vs folowe we hym stronglye dreade we no perils but be we readye to dye stronglye with hym in battayle that we put no blot into our glorye nor minishe not our rewarde by flyinge cowardlye awaye from the Crosse That a man shall not be ouermuche cast into heauynes though he happen to fall into some defaulâ—es The .62 Chapter My sonne patience and mekenes in aduersitie please me more then
of Abraham My soule coueteth to receiue thy body my hart desireth to be vnited with thee betake thy selfe to me Lord and it suffiseth for without thee there is no comfort nor without thee I may not be nor without thy visitation I may not liue and therefore it behoueth me ofte times to goe to thee and for my health to receiue thee leste happilye if I should be defrauded from that heauenlie meat I should faile in the waye So thou sayedst thy selfe moste mercifull Iesu as thou were preaching to the people healedst them of their sicknesses I will not let thē returne into their houses fasting lest they fayle by the waye Doe with me therefore in like maner that hast left thy selfe in this glorious Sacrament for the comfort of all faithfull people Thou art onely the true refection of the soule and he that worthily eateth thee shall be partaker and heire of eternal glorie it is necessarie to me that so oft do offende so soone ware dull and slowe that by ofte prayers and cōfessions I may renewe my selfe purifie my selfe and kindle my selfe to quicknes feruour of spicite lest happily by long abstaining I might fall from that holy purpose for the wittes of man and woman be from their youth proude and readie to euil and but this heauenly lie medicine do helpe man maye anone fall to worse and worse therefore this holy communion draweth a man from euill and comforteth him in goodnes If I nowe be ofte times so negligent and slouthfull when I am cōmaunded what should I be if I receiued not that biessed medicine nor sought not for that great helpe And though I be not euery daye apte nor disposed to receyue my Creator neuerthelesse I shall take heede to receyue him in times conuenient so that I maye be partaker of so great a grace for it is one of the moste principall consolations to a faithfull soule that is to saye that as long as he is as a pilgrime in this mortall bodye that he ofte remember his Lorde God and receyue him that is his onely beloued aboue all thinges It is a marueilous goodnes of the great pitie that thou Lorde haste against vs that thou Creatour and geuer of Iyfe to all spirites vouchestsafe to come to a poore creature and with thy godhead manhood to refresh his hunger and neede O happie is that man and blessed is that soule that deserueth deuoutlie to receiue his Lorde God and in that receiuinge to be fulfilled with a spirituall ioy O howe great a Lorde doth he receiue howe welbeloued a gest doth he bringe into his house howe ioyous a felowe doth he receiue howe faithfull a freeude doth he accept howe noble a spouse doth he imbrace that receiueth thee For thou art onelie to be beloued before all other and aboue all thinges Let heauen and earth and all the ornamentes of them be still in thy presence for whatsoeuer they haue worthy laude or praise they haue that of the larges of thy gift and yet they maye not be lyke to the honour and glorie of thy name of whose wisedome there is no number nor measure That many commodities be geuen to them that deuoutly receaue this holye Sacrament The 4. Chapter O My Lorde God preuent thy seruant with the blessinges of thy sweetenes that he may deserue to go reuerently and deuoutly to this high Sacrament Stirrs vp my hart into a full beholdinge of thee and deliuer me from the great slouth and ydlenes that I haue bene in in time passed visite me in thy goodnes and geue me grace to taste inwardlie in my soule the sweetnes that is hid secretlie in this blessed Sacramēt as in a most plenteous fountaine Illumine also mine eyes to see and beholde so great a misterrie strengthen me that I maye alwaye faythfullie and vndoubtedly beleeue it for it is thy operation and not the power of man thy holie institutiō and not mans inuention And therefore to take and to vnderstand these thinges no man is sufficient of him selfe and they also ouerpasse the subtility of all Angels and heauenlye spirites VVhat may I then moste vnworthy sinner earth and ashes searche and talke of so high a secret but onelye that in simplenes of hart in a good stable fayth and by thy commaundement I come to thee with meeke hope and reuerence and beleue verily that thou art here present in this Sacrament God and man Thou wilt therefore that I shall receaue thee and knit my selfe to thee in perfecte charitie VVherefore I aske thee mercy and desire that thou geue me thy special grace that I maye from henceforth be fully molten and relented into thee flowe in thy loue and neuer after to intermit my selfe with any other comfort This moste high and moste worthy Sacrament is the life of the soule and body the medicine of all spirituall sicknes wherby all vices be cured passions refrayned temptations ouercome and diminished the greater grace is sent vertue increased and faith stablished hope strengthed and charitie kindled and spread abroade Thou haste geuen and ofte times geuest manye great giftes by this Sacrament to thy beloued seruantes that deuoutly receaue thee for thou thereby art the stronge vpholder of my soule the repairer of all the infirmities of man and the geuer of all inward consolation and of cōfort in tribulation and from thee deepnes of their owne desection thou raysest them againe into a strong hope of thy preseruation and renewest them and lightest them inwardlie with a newe grace so that they that felte them selues before receauing of that blessed Sacrament heauy and without affection after when they haue receaued it haue founde them selues changed into a great ghostly feruour And all this thou doest to thy elect people of thy great goodnes that they may see and knowe openlye by experience that they haue nothing of them selues but that all grace and goodnes that they haue they haue receaued of thee for of them selues they be colde dull and vndeuoute and by thee they be made feruent quicke in spirite and deuout folowers of thy will who maye go meekly to the fountaine of sweetnes but that he shall bringe awaye with him great plentie of sweetnes or who may stande by a great fyre but he shall feele great heate thereof and thou Lorde arte the fountaine of all sweetnes and the fyre alwayes brenning and neuer faylinge and therefore though I maye not drawe the fulnes of that fountaine nor drinke thereof to the full I shall neuerthelesse put my mouth to the hole of the heauenlie pipe that I maye take some litle droppe thereof to refreshe my thirst so that I be not all dried away And though I be not all heauenlye and brenninge in charitie as the Seraphins and Cherubins be neuerthelesse I shall endeuour me to set my selfe to deuotion and to prepare mine heart that I maye get some litle sparcle of the brenninge of heauenlie life through the meeke receuing of this