Master JESUS CHRIST offers him selfe on the Altar of his Crosse to his heavenly Father a Sacrifice of Prayse Impetration Suffrage with the same intention ought we to entertain JESUS in our hearts by thankfulnesse for his manifold favours imploring grace mercy for our selves Spirituall releife for all distressed souls ever mindfull of his bitter Passion that the fruits thereof may be liberally applyed to us we may become suffring members with our Divine Head encreasing in all perfection freedom with God in our Contemplations being entirely transformed into Him on whom our Spirits here feed that we may have no life knowledge affection or motion in us but what proceeds from ends in him AFFECTION Alas my Deerest Lord I have been too carelesse in my adresses to Thee How often have I frequented thy holy Altars with vain weak desires not loving Thee there for Thy selfe but receiving Thee of dull custome or for some present gust in Thee Not solicitous to cherish the good desires conceived by thee or a willingnesse to beare Crosses for thee thus am I become unworthy that thou entrest the house of my soul live there but if thou Say'st the word my Spirit shall be healed RESOLUTION I will hence forth set some speciall time a part wherein to discusse rectifye my intention before I approach to eate of this living bread that God may be glorifyed all Christian souls may reap spirituall profit by the use of this great Mystery will say AN OBLATION BEFORE COMMVNION O Blessed JESUS in union of that love wherewith thou did'st offer thy selfe a Sacrifice to thy Father on the Altar of the Crosse and in conformity to that intention thou then hadst I this day offer up to thee my Communion as a Sacrifice of Praise Impetration Suffrage for my selfe all others to whom I am obleiged by Obedience Iustice or Charitie in that degree I am obleiged which I beseech thee through the merits of thy bitter Passion may be acceptable to Thee Amen THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Preparation to the Holie Sacrament NOne will undertake any great work without carefull preparation of all things necessary for its due performance If we use a cautious providence in all our humane actions ordinary conversation this should rather be observed when we intend to enter the Holie of Holies there feed on the Bread of Angels our powerfull Creator mercifull Redeemer Just Judge The Paschall Lamb was but a dark barren figure of this gracious Sacrifice yet the Jews eat not thereof without much cleanesse circumspection alacrity of Spirit Saint John Baptist esteems not himselfe worthy to unloose CHRISTS shoes Saint Peter to fayle in the same Boat with him the devout Centurion to entertain him under his roofe nor should we presume to appear before him in the Holy Eucharist or there receive him within our breast without great feeling of Love Veneration If JESUS CHRIST be a Mirrour without spot no stain of sin should then be seen in our soul within or undecency in the outward habit of our body if he be there a God of Love Peace to us we may not touch or feed on him unlesse reconciled to Heaven Earth in Imitation of the Primitive Christians who meeting at this great Mystery were of one heart one spirit ADVISES FOR A GENERALL CONFESSION Now therefore My Philothea thy heavenly Espouse having led thee some steps down towards his Cellar of rich Gracious wines there disclosed to Thee part of his spirituall treasures hidden pathes of divine Love to the end thou maist duly prepare thy selfe to eate also of this Bread of life find no impediment in thy progresse to perfection I advise thee to dispose thy selfe towards a Generall Confession in case Thy spirituall Guid iudg that expedient profitable for Thee Although perhaps thou art not conscious of any grevious sin not formerly discovered yet since even of a forgiven sin we may not be without feare we cannot be too solicitous in cleansing our hearts removing all obstacles of divine Lights Graces Wherefor Philothea doe this now once for ever but doe it simply plainly without feare or anxiousness unto a person chosen amongst a thousand by whose advice thou maist be wholly directed for the manner of it how thou art afterwards to behave thy selfe should scruples arise Which ended blesse God for his mercies towards Thee prostrate in spirit before thy Crucifix pronounce the following Covenant PHILOTHEA'S COVENANT WITH GOD. I N. Placed in the presence of Almighty God the whole Court of heaven having considered the aboundant Love wherewith God hath created me sanctifyed me in holy Baptisme sustained me in my manifold sins transgressions at length called me to this state of life wherein I now am preserving me there from many dangers of offending him inspiring sorrow for my failings a desire to love obey him Doe with my whole soul abhor all the sins of my life past renew my promises to be his loyall obedient servant doe firmely purpose all the dayes of my life to shun all dangers of sin to apply my selfe to the observance of his holie Commandments my own Resolutions And if at any time I break this my Covenant I will as soon as I perceive my errour returne again to God by a hearty repentance confession of all my sins ingratitude Accept O my God this my Protestation made before Thee grant me grace to observe it to the end of my life that I may alwaies abide in thy holy feare die in thy sweet peace with ioy at the last day arise to a blessed Communion of the Saints in thy never ending glory Amen SECOND DISCOURSE Behaviour in receiving the Holie Sacrament BEing thus prepared to entertain JESVS CHRIST in thy heart our endeavours must be by amorous sighs aspirations full of ioy for the approach of our blessed Lord to expresse the longing desire we have of his coming into us The happy Issue of an Important affaire or purchase of some speciall temporall blessings usually takes up the best thoughts most serious wishes of earthlie minds But if our minds be heavenly we will ever think on thirst after this delicious visit of our Divine Espouse Anciently Christians frequented often this heavenlie banquet thence gayned that Sanctity fervour we admire in the Martyrs Hermits holie Virgins of that Age Though worldly ties the manifold distractions whereto our mortality is subject permits not daily Cōmunion yet could we dayly eate this divine Bread our hearts would be accustomed to pious affections strengthned against occurring temptations weaned from those sensuall liberties we now so unwillingly abandon That morning thou intendest Philothea to receive the holie Eucharist think how earnestlie JESUS CHRIST longeth to take up his lodging within thee therefor he sends his
them And by what means thou canst best moderate thy affections in the presence of sensuall allurements or when violently transported with them towards some beloved Object most deare to Thee COLLOQUIE Oh! who will give Me water to my head a fountain of teares to my Eies I will night day bewaile the disorders of my corrupted sensualitie the tumults of my unbridled passions the follies of my youth Ah! my God thou hast commanded it I find it by woefull experience to be true That my inordinate mind is become a punishment to its selfe those Vanities wherein I have endeavored to glutt my heart powre forth my spirit has rendred me burthensome to my selfe But thou art iust O God hast mett with me in my own wayes payd me in my own coyne punishing me in that wherein I sought my sollace content happinesse Oh! that thou wouldst streach forth thy hand touch my heart my wicked waies shall become streight even command O God these tempests storms of my Passions to cease there shall be a calme in my spirit my flesh shall hope to see my God my Salvation SECOND DISCOURSE Necessity use of Mortification AS the Apostate Angells lost their glorious seats in Heaven through an inordinate complacence in their own perfections our first Parents theirs in the Earthly Paradice by complying with their immoderate concupiscence so we must repayre the ruines of the One recover the happinesse of the other by chastising our sensualitie moderating its irregular sinfull desires which we shall easily experience to be the surest means of attaining to perfection if we consider that no true Vertue can be practis'd or preserved without this Mortification that by it we purchase what ever happinesse a Christian may experience in this life or hope for hereafter Holy Gospell tells us That we cannot be CHRISTS Disciples worthy of his love here or his blessed society in heaven unlesse we take up his Crosse dispise all motions of sensualitie crucify our flesh with its vices concupiscences and therefor if any danger arise of prevaricating Gods Law or our own Vowes we are oblidged under the heavy penalty of incurring Gods wrath loosing our right to his Glory to suppresse the rebellious desires of our passions As being the fomenters rootes of all sin disorders in us wherefor the Holy Apostle Whence doe warrs strifes arise in us but from the concupiscences which war in our fleshly members These therfor must necessarily My Philothea be well guarded ordred in thee if thou desire that Gods Spirit abide in thee speak the language of peace to thy heart lead thee through the easy even paths of his Love to the Perfection thou aimest at This Mortification of senfes passions brings also with it a sweet repose quiet of conscience For being freed from inward commotions of sensuall affections not moved by outward allurements there will be a pleasant harmony between sense Reason Grace under the supream government of a blessed God a resignation to all Varieties of this life a willingnesse to accept of what ever condition may befall us a promptnesse to all actions of piety selfe-contempt mortification By this means Philothea thou wilt enjoy a perfect tranquillity of spirit in order to God to whose will thou wilt promptly submitt without repining at those adversities which through his sweet providence are permitted to befall thee In order to Thy selfe being freed from the disquietts of a troubled Mind whereas they who give themselves over to the satisfying their unmortifyed appetites returning to themselves by reflexion on their folly find their hearts overcharged with remorse terrours of their own guilt wherby they become unsupportable to themselves lastly thou wilt enjoy a most entire content in order to thy Neighbour whose passions or malice will not be able to shake thy Resolutions or disturbe thy inward tranquillity of spirit now arrived to a high pitch of Insensibilitie to all things of this life Moreover by This Mortification is purchased an assurance of future happinesse The ioyes of heaven Philothea have many great Excellencies prerogatives they abound with peace plenty which must be purchased by poverty of spirit they afford a perfect rest to be gayned by great Labour they bring with them a solid permanent Comfort to be obtayned with much sorrow patience they abide for an endlesse Eternity which must be procured by an entire Mortification of our senses passions a killing of those that would work Iniquity in Gods Holy Citty This is the way Philothea which all the Saints have walked before us it is the advise of Our heavenly Lord that we take up our Crosse follow him For what proportion can there be between a Member flowing with sensuall delights a Head crowned with Thornes Call thy selfe therefor to a strict account consider what progresse thou hast made in this way to Paradice purpose seriously to practise this retyrednesse of thy senses passions from the disorders of sensuall pleasures vanities of this World unto the blessed content of the Inward Man COLLOQUIE Ah my God! I have been sick sorely wounded with the arrowes of my carnall desires the manifold charms of creatures still I lay fettred in the chains of my inordinate affections yet am unwilling to be healed of my distempers or freed from my beloved captivity How oft have I sayd to my soul arise from thy drowsinesse shake of thy shackles make hast to thy healing saving Samaritan And yet I have still lingred loath to break off with my ancient passions to abandon my accustomed follies Oh! that Thou my God wouldst break in peices these chains of my passionate desires heale my wounds deliver me from the prison of my sensuall affections then shall I with ioy abide amidst the temptations allurements of this wretched Mortality tast how sweet it is to adhere to God shall hope to be filled with the torrent of heavenly pleasure the plenty of his Holy House Amen SIXT DAYES VOYAGE Flight of the heart to God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Flight from Creatures CONSIDERATION COnsider That having now allayed the heats of inward passions by a voluntarie restraint of the senses from outward objects readinesse to embrace mortifications The solitarie soul must withdraw herselfe from all Creatures whatsoever that the wings of the heart be not entangled by them we hindred in our Flight to God We must then have a simple Aversion from Creatures a quiet Conversion of the Heart into its selfe in which God abides teaches governs since nothing beneath God can satisfy the languishing of the soul no wonder she turns her selfe from Creatures enters into her selfe there seeks what may be mett with unto her more cordiall satisfaction See therefor Philothea what beloved
Creatures lay lurking within thee in thy bosom with what chaines thy heart is linked to them by what means they may be slackned by what degrees broken a sunder Are they Riches Beauty Cloaths some deare Friend all must be cast forth thy heart that the God of purity peace may enter therein abide with Thee No prophane Altar may stand in Gods temple nor can we together serve God Mammon If God be able to fill thy heart make it happy let not any creature presume to challenge any corner thereof AFFECTION Oh that my God would break asunder all those chains which so strongly bind me to creatures then will I fly to him with the wings of an ardent Love abandonning all for him My heart has been too long fill'd possest of Vanity O that I had a new a disinterested an unspotted heart that would be a fitt Temple wherein to entertayn so glorious a Guest Give me then a clean heart a heart of Love O Soveraign Lord of Hearts thou shalt for ever command therein I will ever abide with Thee by contemplation of thy selfe RESOLUTION I will no longer delay my flight from Creatures to God or only stand to file off the fetters that fasten me to them but will presently break them in peices cast them from Me that I may freely entirely possesse my God Nothing that is agaynst him nothing without him nothing as my felicity besides him shall enjoy any part in Me. Adieu therefor all yee Creatures that may hinder my society with God Honours wealth pleasures parents friends I abandon all that may possesse my heart unjustly hinder it from being the pure Temple of my eternall God My heart O God I give to Thee both because Thou lookest for it lovest it saying My Child give me thy heart because Thou only dost deserve it without thee it is never at rest SECOND POINT Flight from our selves CONSIDERATION COnsider That as our first Flight towards God is made by a withdrawing our affections from creatures forth of our selves that we may the more freely unite our selves to God so the second Flight must be by abstracting our affections even from the outward man that is part of our selves by reason of its great neernesse intimacy with us may the more easily doe us harme This is a dangerous Enemy indeed because most neer most dear most importune evermore worketh against our spirituall progresse however Philothea if thou dost trust in God use strong endeavours thou wilt sooÌ„ make a considerable advance in this Victory over thy selfe When therefor selfe Love prompts thee to seek after any sensuall satisfaction take no notice at all of it If it growes more petulant importune reproach it with its own corruption blindnesse But if it persevers becomes insolent then Kill slay it by the sword of Austeritie rigorous Mortification so wilt thou Philothea by degrees triumph over thy selfe be able to doe beare or forbeare what ever thy spirit will with little repugnance or repining of thy sensuall appetite Thus thou feest how strict a guard our Solitary pilgrim must have over her selfe in her advance to Perfection since to purchase true happinesse 't is not enough to quitt affections to outward Creatures unlesse we also by a perfect abrenunciation of selfe Love private interest overcome that which is part of our very selves AFFECTION Oh that I could truly say My heart now â—â—â—th but it is not my heart which liveth but CHRIST who liveth in Me Live then sweet JESU in my heart as the heart the life the soul of my heart possesse it wholly permit no love to harbour therin which hath not its beginning from thee or at least is not consistent with Thee then will I sing My God is a strong warrier has overthrown my enemies RESOLUTION I renounce defie Thee O treacherous selfe Love which hast so often sought still intendest the ruin of my better selfe I will henceforth only esteem that selfe Love which will preserve my spirit safe in the last day and will therefor warily watch over all the motions of my heart examining all its designs projects ordering it according to the Will of my Soveraign Lord Master THIRD POINT Flight from Spiritall Comforts CONSIDERATION COnsider That to accomplish our Flight to God in himselfe wee must be willing even to be abandoned of God himselfe when he so wils it that is to say Out of our sincere love to him willingly to want those graces comforts whereby he uses to sustain his servants in their combatts advances in the way of Perfection This is that sublime state of perfection whereunto the holy Espouse was arrived when she cryed out Fly from me O my Beloved A state wherein the soul seeks not after any sensible feeling of the sweetnesse of divine Inspirations but is contented to be wholly abandoned of all inward consolations of the spirit the savory gusts of the gracious presence of Almighty God to be exposed to inward anxieties spirituall conflicts as if she were actually in the state of sin really deprived of Gods Love his Sanctifying graces This is an admirable Flight indeed Philothea yet very necessary if we ayme at the height of solitary Perfection whereby the heart must be prepared to whatever condition God alots it Examine then whither thou hast a sincere Resolution to quitt all things beneath God to love him although thou should'st not reap thence any sensible fruit or consolation during this present life AFFECTION Oh infinite beauty of my wholly amiable Creatour who would not love Thee even for thy own sake since thou art nothing but Goodnesse O you Cittizens of the heavenly Hierusalem I adjure you when you meet my Beloved that you tell him I languish with Love because he is wholly desirable chosen of thousands RESOLUTION I will Love my God for his own sake because he is wholly lovely not for any spirituall gust or comfort which may arise from the presence of his graces those good thoughts affectioÌ„s it pleaseth him to work in me I will so love Thee My only Soveraign Lord that if I were God not Thou I would cease to be God that Thou alone mightest be the God of my soul My God all THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Vanity of Creatures ALl creatures are either things abroad or wee our selves both are full of Vanity hinder the solitary soul from flying unto God We must therfor speedily goe forth the Sodom of this world seperate our selves from outward creatures For how can The heart enjoy the sweetnesse of solitary perfection if it wanders abroad after sensible contentments feeds upon the trash of earthly pleasures Say then Philothea Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity empty unconstant which is not my God Why then shall I permitt my affections to be
glorious how pleasant how delightfull is the Kingdom of the Saints where Thou O God happy in thy selfe art the happinesse of thy glorifyed servants No greife all content is there where thou dost abide through a fulnes of their Love ever flowing towards thee Oh that thou would'st transport me forth of this kingdō of darknesse misery that I may with a fixed Eie ever behold Thee the Light which no darknesse comprehends possesse Thee the Peace that surpasses all Imagination then will the rowlings longings of my faynting heart have an End it will appear in me that I have been in a Region of Light Peace am full of both I in Iustice shall appear in thy sight shall be satiated when thy Glory appears Amen NINTH DAYES VOYAGE Repose of the soul in God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT The soul hidden in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That Beginners in the Contemplative life goe frō Creatures to God admiring loving Him by the beauty lovelynesse discoverd in them Proficients look on God as he is revealed by divine faith by that dimme light make pleasant sallies towards him by acts of admiration love restlesse desires to live move in by to God But they who are now happily arrived to the state of Perfection which thou aymest at Philothea in this thy solitary Pilgrimage doe contemplate Gods Majesty Beauty Glory as if cleerly revealed seen in Himselfe by an Illapse of God into the sanctifyed soul of the soul into God in whom she hides herselfe reposeth without disturbance enjoyes a fulnesse of content without wandring abroad Thus S. Paul even in this life could say that his life was hidden with CHRIST in God that his conversation was even then in heaven having placed his happinesse in spirituall divine actions wherby his soul ever moved towards God emptyed its selfe into him concealing himselfe from the World by bearing with ioy the Miseries mortifications therof contrary to the custome of those who living in the World live wordly And thus the lives of the Saints have been ever accounted folly their deaths dishonourable whereas they live with in God a divine life contented to know love move in him according to the lights helps received from him It is in our power Philothea through divine helps to lead this hidden life in God have our conversation in heavē even abiding or Earth in our mortall flesh but thou must then be very pure holy having thy Soul cleansed from all sin sinfull inclinations pressing towards earthly satisfactions for no spot or stain enters that beautifull cleer region of the Saints Thou must also be cloathed with the garment of Charity towards all cōply with divine Inspirations putting on JESUS Christ by imitatiō of his mortifications prōptnesse in obeying his counsells Thus abiding in the world thou wilt not be of the World or be known by it having not its livery on nor performing its actions But God will acknowledge thee to be his in whom thou now livest hast a Divine Being in Him therefor maist say I live now not in my selfe but in God my life my sweet repose my finall happinesse AFFECTION O admirable sweetnesse of this Divine Being of the Soul hidden from the World in God! even in this life thou maist ascend thither my Soul quitting earthly conversation comforts passing the Starrs transported above the Quires of glorious Angels drowning thy selfe in the Abysse of Gods infinite Essence O who will give me the wings of a Dove I will fly repose in God My heart hath desired his face my Soul covets his presence O beautifull Face O delicious presence O rich aboad in God in the fulness of the Saints only the clean of heart may abide there RESOLUTION I will hide my selfe from the world casting off its livery which are worldly vain actions abandoning all earthly conversation which may soyle my heart And I will henceforth live in God by contēplating his Glory performing heavenly actions ordring my whole life according to his holy Will not regarding what passeth here on earth as if not att all belonging to Me or the life of One hidden living in God Oh that my Soul were swallowed up in that Divine Sea God in Me I in God besides Nothing As I began from Thee so will I end in Thee O End without End SECOND POINT Search of God in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That being now entred into God there as Moses on Gods Holy Mountain hidden in a Divine Mist we must search into him endeavour to discover plainly what he is how amiable is his hidden beauty we so thirst to behold enjoy This must be performed by an act of pure Contemplation without depending on created Images or discourse of reason but as if the Eie of the Soul were dazled with the beams of Gods Divine unaccessible Light diffused through that Mist She must simply consider God to be so full of Majesty so Good so Glorious that he can never be seen loved or admired as he is or we ought so that what ever we conceive of him is far beneath the Excellencies of his Being what ever we admire in him he is incomparably more admirable how ever we love him he is infinitely more amiable lovely desirable although each one should love him as much as all the Saints Angels together can for a whole Eternity love him Wherefor the amorous soul will be ever busied in searching into God discovering his hidden perfections in that divine Mist being unable to discern cleerly even what she there already sees therefor cryes out to God Shew me thy face And although she therein feeles a most excessive sweetnesse ioy yet she is ignorant both what it is whence it comes therfor acknowledges him to be infinitely more excellent delightfull then she is able to expresse or imagine as it hapned to S. Paul in his divine rapture If thou wert extrem hungry Philothea didst stand betwixt two tables loathing the meat of the one not permitted to tast of the other what conflicts would'st thou then feele Thus it will be if the soul be hidden in this divine Mist for being wearied with the search of her beloved in created Likenesse not permitted to contemplate the naked Essence of God in its selfe cleerly though present with her she still inquires after him loaths the obscurity wherein she is through her own weaknesse thirsts to be filled with a cleer Vision full Fruition of God in himselfe oft looks forth to make a better discovery of him entertains all his inspirations as so many Whisperings of her Espous sighs amorously for his delaying the comfortable Revelation of himselfe to her as one drunk with love sends messages to him by all she meets that She lanquishes with Love AFFECTION
Man so must my contemplation Union be with Thee a Glorious God a suffring Man by partaking the joys of One sorrows of the other I will therefor ever aspire to be with Thee in the glory of thy Father yet will joyfully cast my self into the Sea of Love thy bleeding heart that through it I may swim to the haven of thy hidden Divinity Come then all torments of heaven Earth presse heavy upon Me I shall never sink as long as supported by the saving Grace of my Victorious Redeemer Oh that I were grown'd by the teeth of wild beasts torn by racks scorched with burning flames so I may enjoy CHRIST Rather here O Lord rather here then where thy wrath never ceases for thou wilt lead me forth this prison shew me all thy Glory I shall confess unto thy Name RESOLUTION I will for ever make my habitation in the wounded heart of my Crucified Lord therein read over the vast book of Love Suffring that by it I may govern my life actions not contenting my selfe with an empty Name void of the substance perfection of a Christian Therefor I will joyfully welcome all tribulations as speciall Guifts of God tokens of his love given to cure the soares of my sinfull Soul exercise Vertue preserve to life everlasting for who ever lives holyly shall suffer persecution nor may the Crown of endless Glory be purchased at an easy rate I will therefor cheerfully take up my Cross rank my selfe amongst thy zealous servants follow thee my suffring Lord for Blessed is he who suffers for thee because when he is tryed he shall receive a Crown of life Immortality SECOND POINT Expropriation of Friends CONSIDERATION COnsider that to attain to this high state of Christian Perfection Union with CHRIST suffring we must willingly abandon all earthlie contents embrace all tribulations with joy in Imitation of JESUS CHRIST it being much harder consequently a greater perfection to beare great crosses with patience then perform heroick acts of Vertue without difficultie for our Vertue is not then firm when not shaken but when not shaken though most assayled by adversity therefor our perfection grows with proportion to our suffrings in the society of our suffring Saviour whose Pilgrimage from the cribb to the Cross began in tears ended in bloud since therefor Philothea thou art by profession à Christian by speciall Resolution a seeker of highest Perfection CHRISTS sorrows suffrings cross must be unto thee a Rule of life the Center of all thy motions the more conformable thou art to him in these the greater will thy perfectiō now be happiness hereafter Behold then with a stedfast Eie the Saviour of the World hanging on the Cross as in his Passiō so in his death abandoned by his Apostles Disciples al his usuall train of applauding attendāts He who in his glory was guarded with millions of Angels to whom all knees bowe who is the Image Splendour of the glory of his eternal Father is now forsaken by All. Love made him our Brother by assuming our Nature compassion our Physitian by his healing doctrine sacraments Mercy our Ransom by his own bitter death discharging our debts now alas he is abandon'd of all He descended from the noblest Princes Preists Prophets of Israël by his temporall birth he healed lame blind dumb lepers all diseases by his Divine power All men Angels for ever glorious with God are happy through the Efficacy of his peace-speaking bloud they have now alas all deserted him This is the paterne which we must Imitate Philothea e're we can attain the perfection we aime at We must be entirely resigned to abandon be abandoned by all even our dearest most obliged friends This may seem hard indeed it is so For Friendship is a Vertue Charity is yet a greater it is hard therefor to perswade from actiōs arising from so sublime a cause yet is it mainly necessary if we will become perfect when the pruning time is come superfluous shoots must be cutt off else few small fruit All earthlie friendships are superfluous in order to inward perfection therefor should be lopt off that the sap of grace may quietly fructify in us to life everlasting under the conduct of our Divine Guide Example Tell me Philothea canst thou like well a treason in thy bosom friend Surely thou canst not If David had been cursed by his enemies he could have borne it but to be hurt by a friend by one that had prayd with him in Gods holy House that was an unsupportable Cross And what 's more frequent even with those who abandoning the world should abandon its weakness mutability yet through variety of opiniōs dispositions oft break betray a friends confidence If then for the love of thy heavenly Espous thou hast forsaken parents kindred all worldly friends for the same love enter not now or at least break off any singularity of affectiō even towards thy companions in the study of perfection not onely because singularity is ever prejudiciall in professours of a Cōmon Life whence propriety of affections as well as of temporall goods must be banisht as nurses of suspitions jealousies many private feudes but especially because they hazard the loss of our inward tranquillity in case our friend to whom we have imprudently disclosed the secrets of our heart betrays his trust using our freedom to our confusion Wherefor be cautious in trusting thy heart strings to any but as the Wise Heathen sayd Ever converse with thy friend as one who may prove thy Enemy For as it is the nature of fire to burne so of sinners to be weak selfe interested take a View of they past life experience will teach Thee most friendships of thy bosom-friends to have been grounded on self-profit therefor have ended in discontents enmities Besides the superfluity treachery of friendships they are great impediments of Vertue while many thoughts are spent in them to the breach of in ward peace loss of precious time neglect of heavenly conferences with our Divine Espous I doubt not Philothea but thou hast had many speciall deare friends much delighted to abide conferr with them what profit thence Alas much Vanity time lost languishings of heart or sin Even now then knock off these troublesome slackles whereby thou art fettred to Creatures however deare to Thee least thou present God with a broken divided heart whereas he gave demands A whole sound that thou owest to him hadst thou many thousands AFFECTION Ah! how hard is it to be abandon'd by all friends who may comfort us in our desolations But I know will adore the power that works this happy separation perhaps thou hadst for ever perished O my Soul hadst not not thus lost thy friend or abandond him for God Alas
aboad being there with God our employmeÌ„ts in what beloÌ„gs to him Although nothing be more ours then we our selus titles of honour most coÌ„forting delights our dearest friends as leaves blossoms from the tree being easily blown off from us yet having our Being with what ever appertains to it from God whatsoever we are in our selus can doe or may have belongs to God as the Soveraign Lord Master of all so that to him we owe all we should be guiltie of a most greivous disloyaltie should we venture to dispose of our selus according to our own liking Gods inward Excellencie wherby he contains in himselfe all perfections disperst amongst Creatures those sacred influences wherby he preserus us from falling into our Originall Ashes his precept of loving him above all things which includes the actions of all other morall divine Vertues the price of Christs precious Bloud wherewith he bought us those unspeakable rewards of holiness of life prepared above with his Angells for us are strong tyes of Dutie to him challeng all homage fidelitie from us Wherfore Philothea should we spend our whole liues every thought all our actions on him we pay but the least part of what we owe to him Now therfore at least show thy readiness to follow love obey him sith he specially invites Thee to a more familiar conference freedom with him during thy Solitude COLLOQUIE Even so it is My Dearest Lord I am thine O that I might for ever abide with thee The world is a sea full of tempests confusion holie Solitude is a safe harbour where there are great calms securitie O that thou wouldest fill the sayles of my heart with a gracious gale which may sweetly carry me forth of these turbulent depths free me from the dangers of a spirituall shipwrack give me a sure shelter under thy comforting protection then should my spirit have liberty to pant after the escaped dangers sâ—e the perills wherin she hath been hitherto tossed pay those dutiâ—s which on so many titles are due unto Thee Save me thou O Lord I shall be saved thou shalt be my praise for ever SECOND DISCOURSE Our Returnes to God HAving now perswaded thy selfe to embrace Solitude through reflection on the Dignitie Innocencie Necessitie therof in order to thy freedom from worldly cares solicitudes as also that thou maist therby pay to God part of that great Dutie which on so many titles thou owest to him fitt thy selfe for the due practise therof by Acknowledgment of Gods speciall favours to thee in inspiring thee with so holie just a design The same God that sanctifyed thee a Member of his holie Church has by hidden means drawn thee now nigher to himselfe will that thou break in pieces those fetters of sensualitie which have hitherto kept thee tyed to Creatures without which thou hadst still wallowed in thy old vices never look't into thy corrupted manners or thought on begining this thy holie Pilgrimage Wherfor acknowledge thy nakedness povertie weakness to walk these sublime wayes of perfection that this divine Call all other favours thou shalt ther by reape are pure effects of Gods mercies bountie to thee O Philothea could we duely value the greatness of this favour of being thus cald to walk converse with God whereas many others who perhaps would make better use therof are passed by left to work out their salvation amidst the tumults of worldly cares we would esteem no labours no sufferings enough to express our Gratitude to him Resolve therefor to employ thy Memorie in thinking on God on the generall speciall means best known to thy own spirit wherby he hath drawn thee thus far from Creatures towards himselfe thy Understanding in searching forth means wherby readily to execute his coÌ„mandements inspired counsells thy Will other inferiour powers of thy soul in loving him refrayning from what he hath forbidden performing whatsoever he hath or shall require of thee And because the aime of Solitude is to lead thee to a private conference with God wherin the Immortall Angells now glorifyed Saints will be spectatours before whom none may appeare without his wedding GarmeÌ„t or with feet sullied by sinfull affections Thou must Philothea endeavour to Rectifie thy intentions in undertaking this Retyrement for if thy motives be but customarie the fruicts therof will soon fade Then Purge thy mind of worldly vaine affections by a deep act of repentance least they ever anon call upon thee disturb the repose of the spirit And lastly Offer up thy heart to God united with that of thy crucified Saviour for whose sake thou art resolved to walk the hard ways of thy Pilgrimage to Perfection so that henceforth whether JESUS feasts thee with his disciples in Cana or fasteth in the wilderness be glorious on Mount Thabor or prayeth in the Garden or hangeth on the Crosse thou must never forsake him Thus wilt thou happyly walk through the varieties dangers of this unconstant life make a fruitfull progress in this thy holy Retyrement COLLOQUIE Wellcome then O most delicious paradice of my God O Sacred Solitude wherein is again revived the decayed Image of our Originall Innocency by conformity of will to God Obedience of sensualitie to the precepts of reason sweet traÌ„quillitie of all passions powers in the Kingdome of the soul I acknowledg O my God thy great bounty in inviting me hither will endeavour to prun my spirit of all irregular MotioÌ„s that Imay be Afitt Offring to my heavenly Lord Master Sanctify O God these my earnest desires from thy holie Temple of Hierusalem confirme the good things thou hast wrought in me Amen SECOND DAYES VOYAGE Entertainments in Solitude THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Humilitie Austeritie CONSIDERATION COnsider that there 's a great difference between Solitude Idleness A wise holie Soul will choose therefor to be alone that shee may be better employed whither it be that the Retyrement be for the whole life under some Religious Vows or for some certain dayes wherfor entring into Solitude thou must Philothea make use of such Entertainments of spirit body as may consist with retyredness advance thee in the practise of Vertue Wherfore we must be well grouÌ„ded in the use of Humilitie which is the foundation of all other Vertues a fair disposition both to acknowledg ameÌ„d what 's amisse For Solitude is a state wherin the soul is raised to a private conference with God unlesse we have a perfect Humilitie we are in danger of a precipice Nay what ever other progresse we make in our Pilgrimage to Perfection without a profound humilitie we are never secure as appears in Lucifer our first Parents Therfor Our Lord JESUS by doctrine exemple exhorts to the practise therof as the cheife work of Christianitie the prefervative of
we abandon them even for true joys that abide for ever Wellcome then dearest Solitude earthlie Paradice Temple of God haven of Eternall Bliss I have propounded Thee in the begin̄ing of my Joys thither will I retreat there will I take up my rest offer up the desires of my heart a morning evening Sacrifice in the odour of divine sweetness SECOND DISCOURSE Exercises in Solitude IDleness is the mother of sin our spirituall enimies taking that time to suggest evill desires Therfore we must at all times be well employd but especially in our Solitude whither it be permanent or for some selected daies This employment consists not only in Meditation wherby the Soul is elevated to the bosome of the Divinitie by the workings of Love but in a due performance also of such Exercises as shall be enjoyned for our profit especially for the Exaltation of our Unitive life with God Mentall Contemplations being awhile intermitted by corporall labours return upon the spirit with a greater force feeling of delight One great Exercise in our Solitude is Masse Divine Office The work of the Angels of God who cease not night or daie to sing forth the praises of the Almightie O heavenlie divine Exercise wherin the glorious Angels accompanie us offer up for us our prayers to our great God! How much better is it to be employed in the praises of our Creatour then with the wicked of the world to be buisyed in dācing diceing riotting perhaps blaspheming our Redeemer Here examine thy readiness to frequēt the Church at due times whether thou abidest there as present in mind as body resolve henceforth to assist with more attention greater diligence in this heavenlie Worke. Another Exercise of the solitarie Soul is Mentall Prayer wherby the heart raised above earthlie things confers with God is as it were transformed into a Divine Beeing To this Thou must Philothea apply thy selfe with speciall diligence according to the Rules prescribed Thee in Thy Preface For it is the Dew of Heavē wherby the spirit is cherished in the knowledg love of heavenlie things It is the celestiall Man̄a to sustayn us during our earthlie aboad in the wilderness of this world It is the holie Mountain of divine Visions where we enter into familiar conference with God Who there shews us all good A third Dutie is Reading spirituall Bookes by which I understand holie Ghospells such other devout books as treat of Vertue the Reformation of our Manners This is to be performed duely thrice a daie at our uprising down-laying once between both that not at rādom or hap-hazard sometimes in one another time in another book for that is an effect of curiositie rather breeds confusion then devotion Let thy daily Lecture therfore be constantlie in one good book recōmended to Thee by thy own Experience or some Judicious person therin read till thou hast not left one line unpractised for till then thou canst not say thou hast been a Reader but rather an Overseer of the points therin handled Truely of all bookes I have read I know none more universally profitable for all persons of whatsoever condition then the divine work called An Introduction to a Devout Life composed by that Illuminated Man great servāt of God Saint Francis of Sales One who even from his Cradle was singularly devoted to Seraphicall Saint Francis as being born in a Chamber dedicated to his name devotion And that thou maist see I recommend not this Book to Thee upon slight grounds take the advice of Alexander the seventh the late Pape Soveraign Head of the Catholique Church on Earth in a letter dated 1642. to his Nephew where He sayes That he had already used that work for the space of twenty years read it over a hundred times that he could never read it without discovering some excellent document not before marked which thy own Experience will assuredly confirm Vocall Prayer Aspirations being also joyned with spirituall reading much conduce to a greater thirst benefit therin for our reading must be ever intermixed with Consideration Jaculatorie Prayers Application to use therefore it matters not how much we read but how well in order to our spirituall advancement The last is Manuall labour which cōmōly should be only such as may divertise rather then weaken our spirit of devotion Care being taken with all heed that the Soul tyres not herselfe by too Intense permanent Applying its selfe unto Contemplation And these works are to be persorm'd with as great prōptitude eagernesse as any other Christian or Solitarie Observance being strong Fortifyers against Idleness the bane of the spirituall devout life which are cheifly aimed at in our Retreat from worldly cares COLLOQUIE Thou O My God supream Lord of my life strength hast bestowd many gracious talents on me wherwith to traffique for the Kingdom of heaven till Thou comest to take the generall Accounts of the world to render each one according to their deserts Alas I have vainly employed the powers of my Soul the senses members of my body contrarie to thy holie Decrees idelly lavishing away thy guifts of Grace the precious time allowed me for thy service my own everlasting profitt not reflecting on the shortness of my life thy severity that daie the length of happiness that crowns good works It greives me for my neglects henceforth I will employ all my forces in loving serving Thee doing good things whilst time is Give Thou O God what Thou commandest command what Thou wilt Perfect my steps in the paths of thy Commandements they shall not be moved for ever Amen THIRD DAYES VOYAGE Man in his Sinfull State THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Vilenesse of the body by Nature CONSIDERATION COnsider that now being entred holy Solitude there fitted with due Entertainmēts for thy happy Advance in thy designed Pilgrimage to Perfection Thou must Philothea descend into thy selfe discover What thou art that pretendest to so high happy a state That laying a strong foundation in the acknowledgment of thy own Nothing thy spirituall Edifice may the more prosperously goe forward with the blessings of peace mercy JESUS CHRIST is the true Modell of all Sanctity therefor we must in this our Retyrement especially study his Imitation If he for our sake hides the glory of his God-head under the weaknesse of our Mortalitie our highest contemplations of God aimes to perfection should begin from the consideration of our own Vilenesse that re-ascending to God with the greater eagernesse we may drown our Weaknesse in the Vastnesse of his Divine Being What then art Thou Philothea according to the Body from the Womb to the Tomb From all Eternity Thou wert a meer Nothing so hadst for ever remained had not Gods Wisedome Power drawn Thee thēce giving Thee that Beeing thou now hast In thy
live in Heaven by contemplating loveing delighting in God what appertains to his their own blessed Life Although our soul confined now to this corruptible body depends theron for action motion in this our sinfull state has ever a naturall inclination to abide with it therefor with pain departs from it yet being she receives not her own life from the body but is Life its selfe gives life action to the body she may live within her selfe having no regard to the inclinations motions of the body This she may soon perceive in her selfe if she treads not the paths of sensuality which lead to earthly contents but those of the spirit which tend to holy divine actions in Imitation of the Angelicall spirits whose workings are to be ever fix't in the Contemplation of God the execution of his commands Imagin therefor That thou kneelest upon some high Mountain before thy Crucifix thence dost behold all earthly Creatures in their severall degrees employments each one busied in the search of happinesse in that they love most that all these thinges suddenly fade away thy selfe fallest also into a trance dyest so dost abide till JESUS descending from his Crosse enters into thee now againe thou livest yet not thou but JESUS CHRIST in Thee Being thus dead to the World only living by the spirit of JESUS how spirituall divine should thy life actions bee AFFECTION How happy woulds't thou be My soul if wholly dead to flesh bloud independent on all earthly creatures thou couldst live the life of an Angell wholly drowned in God relying upon the lights Graces comforts which proceed from him Oh what ioy what happinesse to be dead to this World all the Vanities thereof to live worke only by the enlivening Spirit of JESUS How holy would thy thoughts how heavenly thy desires how enflamed would thy affections then be towards spirituall divine things RESOLUTION I will hence forth lead a spirituall life having my mind still bent upon God his holy Will even in all my ordinary duties endeavouring to lead an Angellical life as if already seperated from this heavy burthen of Mortality without need of earthly supportations And I will be so watchfull over my actions as if I only lived by the Spirit of JESUS had no life or motion but what proceeded from him Then freed from the law of death which abounded in Me through my sinfull passions I shall serve God in the newnesse of my spirit heare what Gods Spirit speaketh to the Church SECOND POINT Mentall Recollection CONSIDERATION COnsider That to improve the soul in her inward Tranquillity she must endeavour to be Recollected within her selfe in all places at all times with all persons amidst whatsoever employments we are by our present state of Life obleiged unto This inward Recollection of the Spirit is easie very delightfull for although the soul be now lodged in the body as her prison the varieties of occasions which run through the cours of this mortall life much solicite her abroad to seek means how to make her prison more tolerable thereby hinders her in the free use of her spirituall faculties distract her thoughts from God heavenly things yet is she not a slave to any passion of the body especially being now healed repaired by JESUS CHRIST therefore she may by means of a mentall retreat into her selfe purchase a continuall Recollection amidst the greatest tumults distractions which may befall her Build up therefor Philothea an Hermitage within thy heart erect an Altar place thereon JESUS CHRIST in the most amiable posture Imaginable whatsoever employment distraction or spirituall distresse presses it selfe upon Thee depart not thence but there lay open thy wants weaknesse confer with him of thy progresse impediments to Perfection harkening carefully what he sayes to Thee if some violent disquiet compells thy thoughts abroad endeavour to re-enter speedily into this thy Hermitage bewaile thy inconstancy renew thy purposes of Mentall Recollection AFFECTION Ah my soul upon how slight occasions has thy thoughts been distracted thy mind lost its frequently resolved Tranquillity in the performance of thy usuall duties How O my God am I so suddenly carryed away with these outward objects employments Surely were I truly Spirituall I should without pain or distraction even in the midst of the Varieties of this life convers with God Oh that thou wouldest build up the ruins of Israël sanctify my heart a tabernacle to thy name then may I seek my beloved within Me receive from him A Kisse of peace RESOLUTION I will not only love the solitude of the body but of the Mind also will build up in my heart a holy Hermitage befitting the presence of my JESUS thither will I stil retyre my selfe ever conferring with him of his loves to me my slownesse of returning love to him discovering all my wants his helps to become perfect in a spirituall Way that I may thereby enjoy the tranquillity of my spirit what ever occasions of Obedience Charity or complyance with my own necessities call me forth this corporall Retirement O Who will give me that I may ever sett by this fountain of living waters in the solitude of my own heart there will I sigh mourn while I think of the heavenly Sion THIRD POINT Union of the Spirit with God CONSIDERATION COnsider That as God only is the supream Good happinesse of the Immortall soul so cannot she experience any true compleat Tranquillity within herselfe unlesse being inwardly united to him she becomes One spirit with him be as it were transformed into a supernaturall Divine BEEING by a reciprocation of Love conformity of Will communication in all those guifts graces spirituall blessings whereby in this her Pilgrimage she may be cloathed with a likenesse to God enjoy that cleerenesse of Understanding alacrity of Will calmnesse of passions universall purity sweetnesse ioy in the whole spirit which God usually imparts only to his most speciall favorites This Deifying Union Philothea of the soul with God will wonderfully work in Thee a cleer knowledge of the emptinesse vanity nakednesse of all Creatures breed in Thee a Loathing towards the best of them cause in thy heart a restlesse Desire to see possesse embrace God in the simplicity purity of his own Essence without mixture of any thing beneath himselfe for his sake thou wilt Stripp thy selfe willingly of all Creatures in ward inclinations of Will Passions welcome whatever calamities miseries may befall Thee For what is there in the whole World which that soul will not readily want doe or suffer to whom God is All-in-all surely in this delicious Union Espousall Transformation by Love the soul must needs experience God a rich