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A20673 The practise how to finde ease, rest, repose, content, and happines. Written by a religious man of the congregation of St. Elias the prophet, and the order of our Blessed Lady of mount Carmell, restored by the Blessed mother Teresa. The second part. Containing directions how to end all controuersies, and take away all discontentments, and euils, and attaine vnto true ioy of minde, and content of heart, and all good; Practise how to finde ease, rest, repose, content, and happines. Part 2 Doughty, Thomas, fl. 1618-1638. 1619 (1619) STC 7072.6; ESTC S106011 123,081 516

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thee he hath disposed ascension in his heart in the vayle of teares they shall goe from vertue into vertue the God of Gods shall be seene in Sion Whereof Boetius speaking in his third Booke and tenth Verse sayth Come hither all yee that are bound Whose base and earthly mindes are drownd By such which doth them tye in cruell Chaines Here is a Seat for men opprest Here is a Port of pleasant Rest Here may a Wretch haue refuge from his Paines No Gold which Tagus Sands bestow Nor which on Herma's Banks doth flow Nor precious stones which scortched Indians get Can cleare the sharpenesse of the minde But rather make it farre more blinde And it in farther depth of darknesse set For this that sets our soules on worke Buried in caues of Earth doth lurke But Heauen is guided by another Light Which causeth vs to shun the Darke And who this Light doth truly marke Must needs denie that Phoebus beames are bright CHAP. XXII Of the fifth Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their Neighbours as themselues which is the finding knowing and seeing of God Almightie in this life not as he is in his Essence for so no man can see him and liue but as the Saints say in the disposition of a visible matter sauing the vision of his Diuine Essence for the glorie of the other life HE that hath my Commandements Io. 14. 21. and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I will Io. 14. 9. loue him and will manifest my selfe to him and he that seeth me seeth also my Father God Almightie will not onely dwell and abide in his heart and soule that loueth him with all his heart but also will manifest himselfe vnto him and thereby giue him the greatest Content Rest and Happinesse that he is capable to receiue in this life the seeing of God or God Almightie manifesting himself vnto him not according to his Diuine Essence for so man is not capable of seeing his Diuine Maiestie and liue but in the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie or which is all one by taking that likenesse which his Will hath chosen and not his Nature formed as affirmeth S. Ambrose in Luc. ca. 1. S. Augustine in his Epistle de videndo Deo S. Gregor Nazia cited there by S. Augustine S. Athanasius quaestio 12. S. Hierome de verb. Isa vid. Dominum S. Chrysostome Hom. 4. de Dei Natura That he may walke by faith and not by sight 2. Cor. 5. or happie Vision Moyses the Patriarks Prophets and Saints did see God in this life as the Scriptures say but not as hee is in his Essence or Diuine Nature for so No man hath seene God Io. 1. 18. at any time nor shall see God and Exo. 33. 20. liue but vnder the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie Moyses conuersing with God face to face as a man is wont to speake to his Exo. 33. friend said vnto him Shew me thy glorie or as S. Augustine In Epist de videndo Dei translateth Shew me thy selfe and our Lord answered Thou canst not see my face or Diuine Nature for man shall not see me and liue Whereupon our Lord to satisfie the desire of Moyses shewed himselfe yet more manifestly to Moyses but still vnder the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie by taking that likenesse which his Will had chosen and not his Nature formed and so sayth to Moyses Behold there is a place with Exo. 33. 21. me and thou shalt stand vpon the Rocke and when my Glorie shall passe I will set thee in a hole of the Rocke and protect thee with my right hand vntill I passe and I will take away my hand and thou shalt see my backe parts In like manner our Lord shewed himselfe in the disposition of a visible matter sauing his inuisibilitie to the rest of the Saints and Prophets as to our Father Elias 3. Reg. 11. in the whistling of a gentle Wind To the Prophet Isay like a Isa 6. man sitting vpon a high Throne and eleuated his Face and Feete couered with the Wings of Seraphins To the Apostles and Saints of the Act. 2. Primitiue Church the holie Ghost appeared in Tongues as it were of fire And S. Iohn in Apo. 4. et 5. et 6. the Apocalypse often maketh mention to haue seene God sitting vpon a Throne And S. Augustine affirmeth That Conf. li. 11. c. 8. wheresoeuer hee did looke hee did see God saying How commeth it to passe my Lord God that wheresoeuer I I looke I see thee but how I should declare or make others vnderstand it I know not vnlesse it be because all that doth begin to bee and doth cease to bee doth then begin to bee and end when it is knowne that it ought to begin or end with eternall reason So the Prophet Dauid did see Ps 15. 8. God alwaies according to his words saying I foresaw our Lord in my sight alwaies not with the eyes of his bodie which dayly decay but with the eye of his heart which was renewed from day to 2. Cor. 4. 16. day according to the words of S. Paul saying God that 2. Cor. 4. 6. commanded Light to shine in darknesse he hath shined in our hearts to the illumination of the knowledge of the glorie of God So our Sauiour sayth Blessed Mat. 5. 8. are the cleane of heart for they shall see God And Saint Paul Heb. 12. 14. sayth Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see God Whereupon Saint Augustine sayth That Aug. ep 111. the wicked though they shall rise in the Day of Iudgement yet they shall not see God Because they would not make cleane their hearts by a true Faith that worketh by Charitie For God is not seene in a Amb. in 111. ep of S. Aug. Place sayth Saint Ambrose but in a cleane or pure heart Whereupon Saint Iohn sayth 1. Io. 4. 8. He that loueth not knoweth not God And Saint Paul defineth 2. Tim. 1. 5. Diuine Loue or Charitie to be from a pure heart And Saint Augustine further Aug. ep 111. sayth That great men truly and most learned in the Scriptures who haue much benefited the Church and the studies of the faithfull as often as occasion hath beene offered haue said That the inuisible God is seene inuisibly that is to say by that nature which in vs is also inuisible that is by a pure heart and minde Againe Because that according Aug. ep 112. to the custome of speech bodies are said to be visible therefore God is said to be inuisible least he should seeme to be a bodie and not because he doth defraud cleane hearts of the contemplation of his substance seeing this great and high reward is promised to the adorers and louers of God
in this life bestoweth vpon those who keepe his Commandements and loue him with all their Hearts and their Neighbors for his sake as themselues which Ioyes and Contentments doe increase in them as the zeale of keeping his Commandements Counsels doth increase according to his Word saying Whosoeuer shall glorifie me I will glorifie him and they that shall contemne mee shall be base Whereupon the Prophet Dauid saith I am delighted Ps 118. in the way of thy Testimonies as in all riches I will be exercised in thy Commandements and I will consider thy waies I will keepe thy Law alwaies for euer and for euer and euer And I walked in largenesse because I sought after thy Commandements My portion O Lord I said to keepe thy Law The Law of thy Mouth is good vnto me aboue thousands of Gold and Siluer How haue I loued thy Law O Lord all the day it is my meditation aboue mine enemies thou hast made me wise by thy Commandentents because it is to me for euer and euer Aboue all that taught me haue I vnderstood because thy Testimonies are my meditations I haue vnderstood more then ancient men because I sought thy Commandements I haue inclined my Heart to doe thy Iustifications for euer because of the Reward Corporall and Spirituall Temporall and Eternall Ease Rest Repose Content and Happinesse Wherfore deare Reader be no more deceiued with vain imaginations of finding Ease and Rest in the sensuall pleasures and vanities of the World but cast out frō thee those strange Gods who in their eleuenth Article of the English Creede do promise Happinesse and Iustification by Faith only And return vnto our Lord in all thy Heart and in all thy Soule and keepe his Commandements and our Sauiour according to his promise will aske the Ioh. 14. 14. Father he wil giue thee another Comforter that he may abide with thee and be in thee for euer The Spirit of Truth Ioh. 14. 26. he shall teach thee all things He will teach thee Chastitie Continencie Modestie Goodnesse Benignitie Patience Peace of Minde Ioy of Heart and Charitie towards God and Man and thou shalt possesse Ioy and Isa 51. Isa 44. Gladnesse Sorrow and Mourning shall flye away for I euen I my selfe saith our Lord will comfort you I will poure out my Spirit vpon thy Seede and my Blessing vpon thy Stock and they shall spring the hearbes as Willowes besides the running Waters For the Shrub Isa ●5 shall come vp the Firre tree and for the Nettle shall grow the Mirtle tree For thy base afflicting sensuall delights he will giue thee true Ioyes and Content and Rest When thou shalt poure Isa 58. out thy Soule to the hungrie and shalt fill the afflicted Soule thy light shall rise vp in darkenesse and thy darkenesse shall be as the Noone-day And our Lord will giue thee Rest alwaies and will fill thy Soule with brightnesse and deliuer thy bones and thou shalt be as a watered Garden and as a Fountaine of Waters whose water shall not faile which is the Content and Happinesse I wish vnto thee THE Last CHAPTER Of the compleat Ioy Rest Content and Happinesse which those shall haue in Heauen who vpon Earth perseuered in louing God with all their Hearts and their Neighbours as themselues vntill Death FIrst All the Charitable shall be saued and Happy as witnesseth our Sauiour saying Come ye blessed Mat. 25. of my Father possesse you the Kingdome prepared for you from the Foundation of the World For I was an hungred and you gaue me to eate I was thirstie and you gaue me to drinke I was a stranger and you tooke me in naked and you couered me sick and you visited me I was in Prison and you came vnto me Verily I say vnto you as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren you did it to me And for their particular Happinesse first all their Corporall defects as lamenesse crookednesse disproportion of their bodies c. by the power of God shall be supplied as witnesseth S. Paul saying We shall Eph. 4. 13. meete all in the vnitie of Faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God into a perfect Man into the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ. Secondly they shall be endued with subtilitie to penetrate and passe through materiall bodies at their pleasures as S. Iohn affirmeth Ioh. ●0 19. of our Sauiour That the dore shut Iesus came and stood in the midst of the Disciples And in the Resurrection our Sauiour will as S. Paul saith Reforme the body Phil. 3. 11. of our humilitie configured to the Body of his glory Thirdly they shall be endued with Agilitie to moue and passe from one place vnto another with the same swiftnesse that their mindes can desire As the Angels of God in Heauen Fourthly they shal be indued with Impassabilitie insomuch as they shall neuer suffer any more hunger or colde or heate or sicknesse or paines or any thing of disgust as affirmeth S. Iohn saying They shall no more Apoc. 7. 16. hunger nor thirst neither shall the Sunne fall vpon them nor any heate Fiftly they shall be endued with Claritie according to the words of our Sauiour saying The Iust shall shine Mat. 13. 43. as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father Sixtly their Corporall eyes shall be delighted with the sight of the glorious Body of the Sonne of God and of all the Saints and with the Beautie of Heauen whose Wall is as S. Iohn saith Of Apoc. 21. 18. Iasper stone but the Citie it selfe is of pure Gold like to pure Glasse and the Foundations of the Wall of the Citie are adorned with Pretious Stone And the twelue Gates there are twelue Pearles one to euery one and euery Gate is of one seuerall Pearle and the Streete of the Citie pure Gold as it were transparent Glasse Seuenthly their Eares shall be delighted with the melody of Angels Saints who sing by Quires alwaies new songs Eightly their Senses of Smelling shall be delighted with delicate sweet smells which proceed from the body of our Sauiour and from the bodies of the Martyrs and Saints in Heauen whose Odor is as the Cant. 3. Osc 1● Aromatical Spices of Mirrhe and Frankencense and all the powder of the Apothecarie If the bodie of our Blessed Mother Teresa the reformer of our Order and the restorer thereof to the obseruance of the first Rule yeeld so sweet a Smell heere vpon Earth as that it exceedeth the delight of all flowers as is testified by sufficient witnesses Imagin if thou canst how exceeding sweet shall be the Smell of the body of our Sauiour and all the glorified bodies in Heauen Ninthly their Taste shall be delighted with exquisite Meates according to the word of God saying To them Apoc. ● 17. that shall ouercome sin I will Apoc. 2. 7. giue him the hidden Manna I will giue him
and yet you enuie it The Passion of our Lord is the price of the whole World he redeemed the whole World and you with the whole World for your gaine cannot agree but rather to your losse in a part doe striue that you may loose the whole Heare in the Psalme They Ps 21. 19. haue diuided my Apparrell amongst them and vpon my Coats they cast Lots Why will you be diuiders of the Apparrell of our Lord and will not hold with the whole World the Coat of Charitie wouen aboue which his Persecutors haue not diuided In the same Psalme it is said Ps 21. 28. that all the World shall hold it he saith All the ends of the Earth shall remember and be conuerted to our Lord and all the Families of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight Open the eyes of your heart Ps 49. 1. and heare for the God of Gods our Lord hath spoken and hee hath called the Earth from the rising of the Sunne euen to the going downe out of Sion the beautie of his comelinesse If you will not heare this heare the Gospell our Lord speaking and saying by his proper mouth All things ought to be fulfilled of Christ which of him are written in the Law and Prophets and Psalmes and Penance and Remission of sinnes in his Name to be preached throughout all Nations beginning at Ierusalem That which is said in the Psalme He hath called the Earth from the rising of the Sun vnto the going downe This is vnderstood in the Gospell by all Nations And that which in the Psalme is said out of Sion the beautie of his comelinesse in the Gospell is said beginning from Ierusalem Wherefore doe you beleeue that the Cockle hath growne and hath filled the World and the Wheat to haue diminished in Brittanie onely to haue remained Doe you call your selues Christians and yet contradict Christ Hee saith suffer both to grow vntill the Haruest Hee did not say let the Cockle grow and the Wheat diminish Hee said the Field is the World and did not say the Field is Brittanie Thus Saint Augustine Epist 171. and we with him So deare Reader not to liue seeking after lyes and publikely professing in deeds and actions that God Almightie is forsworne when Sathan shall tempt thee in matters of Faith or any controuersie ariseth betweene thee some Protestant about Religion as about the Reall Presence Prayer for the Dead Intercession to Saints c. make some of the aforesaid Acts set downe in the former Chapter with zeale and feruor and hold fast the hope proposed which Heb. 6. 18. wee haue as an Anchor of the Soule sure and firme the Oath of God and that it is impossible for God to lye Be not remoued away from the two things vnmoueable the Oath of God and Impossibilitie for God to lye Whereupon is grounded all the whole course of the Scriptures and founded the House of God the Church of the 1. Tim. 3. 15. liuing God the Pillar and ground of Truth And neither Death Rom. 8. nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers neither things present nor things to come neither might nor height nor depth nor other creature shall be able to make thee a Protestant Sectarie or Heretike and separate thee from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith the Faith of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And in arguing and disputing with Sectaries who denie our Catholike Faith put them to proue that the Oath of God the Promises and Prophecies are verified and fulfilled vpon their Sects and then thou shalt finde that their Doctrine proceedeth from this Sourse or Gulfe that Sathan is encreased in Pride hath got him a new Coat and reformed his Religion Whereas heretofore he was wont to goe like a Serpent and preach out of a Tree and taught that God Almightie could lye and men that would beleeue him should be as Gods No you shall Gen. 3. not die you shall be as Gods now he hath encreased his Pride and got a new Coat and goeth like a Precisian Minister and preacheth out of Pulpits and hath reformed his Faith and Religion teaching for God can lye and you shall be as Gods God can be forsworne and you are Gods and cannot lye erre or be deceiued but be assured to enioy Heauen and vpon this hath founded his reformed Religions the violating of the Oathes of God and publike profession in acts and deeds that God Almightie is periured and forsworne Heb. 6. 17. God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of his Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell in performing what hee did promise for the establishing of the hearts of men in the infallibilitie of our Christian Catholike Faith Church Priesthood swore two Oathes the one in confirmation of the Priesthood of our Lord for euer Ps 129. Heb. 7. Our Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer aecording to the Order of Melchisedeck The other this which we treate of The Oath of God to Abraham Act. 3. Of multiplying Gen. 22. his Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea-shoare Thy Seed shall possesse the gates of his enemies In thy Seed shall be blessed all the Families of the Earth And vpon these Oaths is founour Catholike Faith And the Deuill meaning more abundantly to shew his malice and power in the hearts of wretched men the heires of his Myseries and endlesse Torments hath brought them to plant a Faith and Religion grounded and founded vpon the denying in actions and deeds of the fulfilling of both these Oathes of God First by winning men to denie in effect and deeds that God Almightie hath multiplied Christians his children as the Starres of Heauen possessing the Gates of their enemies and mouing them to affirme in acts and deeds that for many hundreth yeares together God Almightie hath failed in fulfilling of his first Oath he hath planted in their hearts his new Ministeriall Doctrine And secondly by winning Men to deny in action and deeds that our Lord was a Priest for euer according to the Order of Melchisedeck and mouing them to affirme in acts and deeds that he was a Priest but for once and that according to the Order of Aaron in offering vp of himselfe once vpon the Crosse he hath destroied all the Christian Priest-hood life and Religion which was amongst them And so by mouing men in acts deeds publikely to professe that God Almightie hath beene twice forsworn the Diuel hath founded and planted amongst them his new reformed Religions groūded and founded vpon two cōtradictories to the grounds of our Catholike Faith viz. God Almightie cannot lye or be forwsorne God Almighty is periured and can lye Which is so manifest that if Malice and Passion doe not blinde thy heart and extinguish the light of reason in thy vnderstanding I will make thee touch it as we vse to say with thy
the Prophet told him Fables such like as these that we may be saued and iustified by onely Faith or only Hope but not as the Law of God which teacheth saying Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God from thy whole heart c. Fourthly It esteemeth them to be malignant people who out of their malice would fraudulently conduct others into Hell and Torments saying Depart from me ye malignant V. 115. and I will search the Commandements of my God which consist in Loue and not in onely Faith or onely Hope If I should haue saith Saint 1. Cor. 13. 2. Paul Prophecie and know all Misteries and all Knowledge and I should haue all Faith so that I could remoue Mountaines and haue not Charitie I am nothing and if I should distribute all my goods for meat for the poore and if I should deliuer my bodie so that I burne and haue not Charitie it doth profit me nothing If wee will beleeue Saint Paul neither Prophecies nor Science nor Knowledge nor Faith nor Almes-deeds nor Martyrdome for the Religion any one professeth is sufficient to the attayning vnto Happinesse without Charitie and so he concludeth saying Now these remaine Faith Hope and Charitie these three but the greater of these is Charitie according to the words of our Lord where he saith He that shall breake one of M●● ● 20. these least Commandements and shall so teach men shall be called the least in the Kingdome of Heauen But he that shall doe and teach he shall be called great in the Kingdome of Heauen So our Sauiour saith I tell Mat. 5. 21. you that vnlesse your iustice abound more then that of the Scribes Pharises you shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Yet the Scribes and Pharises had Faith as witnesseth our Sauiour saying Vpon the Mat. 23. 2. Chaire of Moyses haue sitten the Scribes and Pharises All things therefore whatsoeuer they shall say vnto you obserue yee and doe yee Whereby is manifest that the Scribes preached faithfull and true Doctrine otherwise our Sauiour would not haue wished their Auditors to obserue and doe whatsoeuer they said But they wanted Charitie in themselues to doe good Workes and keepe the Law as witnesseth our Sauiour saying But according Mat. 23. ● to their workes doe yee not for they say and doe not and so for want of Charitie or loue towards God they shall not as our Sauiour sayth enter into the Kingdome of Heauen or euer enioy Rest or Happinesse but endlesse Paines Againe our Sauiour sayth If God were your Father verily Io. 8. 42. you would loue me for from God I proceed Whereby our Sauiour giueth vs to vnderstand that such as doe not loue God with all their hearts according to the Commaundement haue not God for their Father and are not the sonnes of God but of the Deuill As in another place he sayth You are of your Father the Deuill and the desires Io. 8. 43. of your Father you will doe who though he beleeue that there is a God as S. Iames witnesseth Iam. 2. yet hee doth not loue God with all his heart and keepe his Commandements Whereupon it is written of our Sauiour That for this appeared 1. Io. 3. 8. the Sonne of God that he might dissolue the workes of the Deuill bring men to loue God Almightie vvith all their hearts and winne them to keepe his Law and so saith of the reprobate Iewes I haue Io. 5. 42. knowne you that the loue of God you haue not in you And of the elect Apostles You haue Io. 16. 27. loued me Loue being the fulnesse of the Rom. 13. 19. Law the want of loue is the worke of the Deuill in the hearts of all the wicked and the loue of God the workes of our Lord in the hearts of the elect Whereupon our Sauiour saith Verily verily I Io. 8. 15. say vnto you if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer and yet againe saith He that loueth me not keepeth not my words So loue God Almightie with all thy heart and thou shalt not see death for euer He that loueth not abideth in Io 3. 14. death dead to Grace in this life and to Glorie in the other By which is manifest that happie life cannot be without the louing of God Almightie with all our hearts Insomuch as if thou haddest Happinesse and Content and yet diddest not loue it with all thy heart thou shouldest not be happie as witnesseth S. Augustine saying He is not De Ciuitat li. 14. ca. 15. happie of whom happie life is not beloued Which thou mayest find true by experience seeing thy selfe and all others to take comfort and content in that which they loue and not in that which they neglect Whereupon S. Paul sayth If any man loue not 1. Cor. 16. 2. our Lord Iesus Christ be he Anathema his bodie cut off from the communion of the Catholike Church vpon earth and his soule excluded from the ioyes of Heauen CHAP. XI How to attaine vnto the loue of God and how to loue his diuine Maiestie with all our hearts SEeing that Diuine Loue or Charitie is necessarie to the Content and Happinesse of Man it is requisite also to set downe the meanes by which thou mayest attaine vnto this Diuine Loue or Charitie that thou mayest be happie Charitie saith S. Paul is 1. Tim. 1. 15. from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained So that the first thing which thou oughtest to doe if thou desire to loue God Almightie with all thy heart is to separate thy selfe for a time from all other affaires and businesses onely to attend vnto the examining of thy Conscience how thou hast spent thy life past and to call to minde all thy cuill thoughts words deeds and vniust actions which haue stayned and made filthie thy heart and soule to confesse them with contrition and sorrow to one of the Pastors of the Church of God to whom God Almightie hath giuen authoritie to forgiue sinnes saying Whose sinnes you shall forgiue Io. 20. 23. they are forgiuen that thy sinnes being forgiuen thou mayest haue a cleane and pure heart fit to receiue Diuine Loue or Charitie and God Almightie will bestow it vpon thee according to his Word saying Returne to me and I Mat 3. 7. will returne to you No bodie putteth new Wine Mat. 9. 17. into old Bottles otherwise the Bottles perish But new Wine they put into new Bottles and both are preserued together So if thou wilt receiue the new Wine of Diuine Loue and Charitie thou must first lay away thy old Conuersation Eph. 4. 22. the old Man which is corrupted according to the desires of Error thy selfe-loue proper iudgement priuate spirit inordinate appetites and passions and by sorrow for thy sinnes and Penance be renued in the spirit of thy mind and put on the new Man
our Lord saying Loue your enemies doe Mat. 5. 44. good to them that hate you and pray for them that persecute and abuse you that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heauen Whereby thou mayest see how happie a thing it is to liue in persecution and haue persecutors to loue and pray for since God Almightie hath ordayned it as a meanes for the greater encrease of thy temporall and eternall Content and Happinesse and that of so great a Happinesse as is to be the sonne of God And consider with thy selfe what a great error it should be in thee not to pray dayly with heartie and sincere affection for all such as persecute and abuse thee since by doing such acts of high and perfect Charitie God Almightie intendeth to aduance thee to so great a dignitie as to be his sonne and with what great reason our Lord said Blessed are you when they shall reuile you and persecute you and speake all that naught is Felons Traytors c. against you vntruly for my sake be glad and reioyce for your reward is verie great in Heauen so great a reward as to be the sonne of God And if sonnes heires also heires Rom. 8. 1 truly of God coheires of Christ Againe Whosoeuer shall doe the will of my Father that is in Heauen he is my brother my sister and mother Such as loue God with all their hearts doe his will and keepe his Commandements he is so ouercome with affection towards them that hee is not onely content to diuide what hee hath amongst them and communicate whatsoeuer he hath vnto them as to his brothers and sisters but to obey them as children doe their mother And he went downe with them Luc. 2. 51. and came to Nazareth and was subiect to them and so saith If you abide in me and my Io. 13. 7. wordes in you that is if you loue me with all your hearts for God is Charitie and hee 1. Io. 4. 16. that abideth in Charitie abideth in God You shall aske Io. 15. 7. what thing soeuer you will and it shall be done to you Againe Aske and you shall receiue that Io. 16. 25. your ioy may be full Such as loue our Lord with their whole hearts doe neuer aske any thing that is good and conuenient for themselues for these two Conditions are necessarie in asking but it is graunted them And thou mayest obserue that hee doth not wish them to entreat or beseech but Aske Mat. 7. 7. and it shall be giuen you Verily verily I say to you If you Io. 15. 7. aske the Father any thing in my Name he will giue it you Aske Io. 16. 24. and you shall receiue as if they had authoritie ouer God Almightie And thou must not maruell at it If God haue Rom. 8. not spared his owne proper and only begotten Sonne but hath giuen him vp to death for gaining vs vnto him how can it be that with him he hath not giuen vnto vs all other things Euerie one ● Io. 4. 7. that loueth sayth Saint Iohn is borne of God not as the Women of this World bring forth their children who many times after they be borne put them to Nurses and then regard them no more but with eternall Charitie which on his part neuer decayeth but alwayes remaineth with such feruour and constancie that before hee would part from one soule borne of him by Charitie hee professeth that hee will rather abandon whole Nations Euer since Isa 48. 4. thou hast beene gracious and glorious in mine eyes I haue loued thee and for thy soule will I giue whole Nations There is no mother so tenderly affected towards her only sonne as God Almightie is to such as loue him as he also witnesseth saying Can the Mother Isa 19. 16. forget her owne Infant Or can she not be mercifull to the Child of her owne Wombe If she could yet can I not forget or reiect thee Daughter of Sion behold I haue written thee in my hands Againe Touch not the vncleane and I will receiue you and I will 2. Cor. 6. 17. be a Father vnto you and you shall Ier. 31. 1. be my Sonnes and Daughters saith our Lord omnipotent And if it be esteemed a happinesse amongst the sonnes of Adam to be borne Sonne and Heire to a King of the World where the greatest Possessions are but pieces of Earth and power ouer mortall men for some seuen yeares and afterwards God knoweth what will become of their soules when at the day of Iudgement they shall not only giue account of all their sinnes committed but of all the good they haue omitted to doe and that to their eternall torment See what 1. Io. 3. 1. manner of Charitie the Father hath giuen vs that we should bee named and bee the sonnes of God Who hath blessed vs in all spirituall blessings Eph. 1. 3. in heauenly things in Christ as hee chose vs in him before the constitution of the World that we should be holy and immaculate in his sight in Charitie Who hath predestinated vs vnto the adoption of sonnes by Iesus Christ Whereupon presently after his resurrection our Sauiour sent this most comfortable Embassage to those who had left all thinges for his loue Goe and tell my brethren Io. 20. that I do ascend vnto my Father and vnto your Father vnto my God and vnto your God By which two words of God and Father he expresseth the happinesse of such as loue him signifying vnto them that God Almightie of infinite power riches glorie wisedome beautie is become so inamored of them that hee beareth them endlesse good will So God Almightie reioycing at the Content he receiued in a soule that loued him with all his heart saith Verily Ephraim is an honourable Ier. 31. 20. sonne to me certainely a delicate child therefore are my Bowels moued with a passionate affection towards him pittying him I will pittie him saith our Lord. And this for the third Happinesse and Content which such enioy as loue our Lord with all their hearts and their neighbours as themselues CHAP. XXI Of the fourth Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their Neighbours as themselues which is the dwelling of God Almightie in their hearts and soules as in his Temple house and home SO great is the happinesse of those who flye sinne loue God Almightie with all their hearts and keepe his Commandements that the Father Sonne and holy Ghost the Blessed Trinitie one God with all his Diuine Attributes Excellencies and Perfections commeth to dwell by grace and fauour in their soules as in his Seate Tabernacle Temple and House of Content according to the Promises and Prophecies of the Scriptures saying Beare 2. Cor. 6. 14. not the yoake with Infidels for what participation hath Iustice with Iniquitie or what Leuit. 26. 11.
societie is there betweene light and darknesse And what agreement with Christ and Belial or what part hath the faithfull with the Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For you are the Temple of the liuing God As God saith That I will dwell and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people God Almightie aduanceth those who forsake sinne and iniquitie to so high a degree of Content and Happinesse that he electeth their soules for his Temple for his chiefest place of honour and glorie dedicated to the setting out of his Magnificence Laudes and Praises vpon Earth a place where are to be sung the Songs of Syon Ps 136. 3. the Song of our Lord in a Ps 104. 27. strange Land and his wonders in the Land of Cham for a place appropriated to his recreation and pleasures as God said I will dwell and walke in them Againe I am come into my Garden Cant. 5. O my sister Spouse I haue reaped my Myrrhe with mine aromaticall spices I haue eaten the hony combe with my honie I haue drunke my wine with my milke Eat O friends drinke and be inebriated my dearest my sister Spouse is a Garden inclosed a Fountaine sealed vp Thy Off-springs a Paradise of Pomegranates with Orchard fruits Cypres with Spikenard and Saffron sweet Cane and Cinnamon with all the Trees of Libanus Mirrhe and Aloes with all the chiefe Oyntments The Fountaine of Gardens the Well of liuing Waters which runne with violence from Libanus To the fulfilling of that which was spoken by the Prophet Isay saying Our Lord therefore will comfort Sion Isa 5. 3. and will comfort all the ruines thereof and he will make her Desart as Delicacies and her Wildernesse as the Garden of our Lord Ioy and gladnesse shal be found in it giuing of thanks and voice of praise Making the soule of such as loue him with all their hearts a kind of Paradise vpon Earth as God Almightie said I will dwell and walke in them in some sort as he did in Paradise with our first Parents Adam and Eua who Gen. 3. 8. heard the voice of our Lord walking in Paradise at the afternoone aire To the fulfilling of the words spoken by the Prophet Isay saying They shall Isa 6. 11. 4. build the Desarts from the beginning of the World and shall erect the old Mines and shall repaire the desolate Cities that were discipated in generation and generation Whereupon our Lord saith If any man loue me hee Io. 14. 23. will keepe my word and my Father will loue him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him Our Lord will not only dwell in the soules of them who loue him with all their hearts but will make their hearts his house and home and abiding place Insomuch as the soules of those who loue God with all their hearts are a kinde of Heauen heere vpon Earth Our Lord said Heauen is my Isa 66. 1. Seat Againe Our Lord hath prepared his Seat in Heauen Ps 102. 19. and of the soules of such as loue him with all their hearts hee saith That he will dwell and walke and abide in them Whereby wee see that the soules of such as loue God Almightie with all their hearts are as it were a kind of Heauen vpon Earth where God Almightie keepeth his Court walketh and dwelleth As the hearts of Heretikes and those who liue in breach of the Commandements of God are a kinde of Hell euen heere vpon Earth paines and confirmation in malice excepted So those who loue God with all their hearts keepe his Commandements and seeke to please him in their actions are in a kinde of Heauen heere vpon Earth glorie and confirmation in grace excepted Whereupon our Lord promiseth to those who liue chast Keepe his Sabboths choose the thinges that hee would and hold his Couenant saying I will giue vnto them in Isa 56. 5. my House and within my Walls a Place and a Name better then Sonnes and Daughters an euerlasting Name will I giue them which shall not perish That is he will giue them to be recollected within their soules his Temple wherein he dwelleth and abideth as in his House as hee said before I will dwell in them we 2. Cor. 6. Io. 14. 2. Cor. 6. will make our abode with him You are the Temple of the liuing God Whereupon the Prophet Dauid speaking of his being recollected within his Soule in his Meditations sayth These things haue Ps 41. 5. I remembred and haue poured out my soule in me because I shall passe into the place of a maruelous Tabernacle euen to the house of God So in like manner S. Augustine sayth Our Aug. con li. 12. ca. 31. Lord is high and the humble of heart are his house Againe If we liue holy and iustly whatsoeuer Aug. ser 252. de tempore is done in Temples made with hands the same is wholly fulfilled in vs by spirituall Building Whereupon Saint Paul sayth Christ as the Sonne is Heb. 3. 6. in his owne house which house are we This is Sion and new Ierusalem Isa 62. vpon Earth the soule of him that loueth God Almightie with all his heart and recollected within it hee hath a place within the house and walls of God his owne soule the Bed-chamber of our Lord. And hee will giue him a better name then Sonnes and Daughters which is his Name Isa 7. 14. of Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs or the Luc. 1. 23. Names of Gods not by nature but by grace and participation from his Goodnesse according as before it is said I will dwell with them wee will Io. 10. 34. make our abode with him It is written in your Law that I said you are Gods If he called them Gods to whom the Word of God was made those may be called Gods in whom God Almightie dwelleth as in his Temple house and home Here Pennes and Tongues and Thoughts and Meditations and Contemplation and whatsoeuer else with excesse of ioyfull Admiration sweetly lose themselues with a happie losse of an infinite gaine and sit alone in silent speech more eloquent then all the eloquence of Greekes and Romans sellers of vaine words and crie out Lord Mat. 8. 8. I am not worthie that thou shouldest enter into my Roofe Thy friends are honoured too Ps 138. 17. much How beautifull are thy Ps 83. Tabernacles O Lord of Hostes my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the Courts of our Lord my heart and my flesh reioyceth towards the liuing God There the Sparrow hath found her a House and the Turtle a Neast for her selfe where she may lay her young Thine Altars O Lord of Hostes my King and my God Blessed are they that dwell in thy House O Lord for euer and euer they shall praise thee Blessed is the man whose helpe is in
Ioy of wilde Asses be so highly esteemed by the Princes and adorers of the Earth as that they put either all or the most part of their content in them how much more are to be esteemed the Ioyes of the holy Ghost which doe so farre exceede all the Ioyes of wilde Asses and carnall pleasures of the censuall Men of the Earth as the Soule doth the Body The one being common to pious Men and Angels the other proper to carnall Men and Beasts OF THE THIRD Fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Peace THe third Fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the hearts of them that loue him and their neighbour for him is Peace not such Peace as is giuen to the wicked who can finde no other Rest or Peace but in the following and feeding of their inordinate appetites with sensuall pleasures like the beasts of the Forrest But the Peace of God which passeth Phil. 4. 7. all vnderstanding an Ease Rest Repose of heart and minde in God Almightie which exceedeth the capacitie and vnderstanding of all sensuall men which S. Paul describeth to be an vnion of our hearts and all the vnderstanding Phil. 4. powers of our soule in Christ Iesus Peace which was promised by the Prophet Isay saying When the Spirit shall be poured Isa ●2 17. out vpon vs then the worke of Iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of Iustice Silence and Securitie for euer And my People shall sit in the beautie of Peace and in the Tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie Rest Resting of their Hearts and all the powers of their Soule in Christ Iesus as a Stone in his Centre Peace spoken of by the Prophet Dauid saying Praise ●● 147. ● thy God O Syon because hee hath strengthened the Locks of thy Gates he hath blessed thy Children in thee who hath set thy borders Peace and filleth thee with the fat of Corne. Againe In Peace in the self-same I will sleepe and rest Whereupon S. Augustine reading this verse after his Conuersion from Heresie cryed from the bottome of his heart O in Peace O Con. li. 9. 8. ca. 4. in the selfe-same O what did he say I will Repose and take Rest Thou O Lord art the selfe-same exceedingly who art not variable in thee is Rest forgetting of all labours for that there is no other with thee neither are there many more things to be had which thou art not But thou O Lord hast singularly setled me in hope I did reade and did burne in loue Neither did I finde what I should doe to the deafe dead Heretikes amongst whom I had beene an vnsauourie yeller forth of infectious Doctrine and blinde against the Letters honyed with the hony of Heauen and lightened with thy Light O that they could see the inward Eternall Light Which I because I had tasted I was angrie at my selfe for that I could not shew it them if they should bring vnto me a heart in their owne eies without thee and should say Who will shew vs good things So Saint Augustine The Peace spoken of by our Sauiour saying Peace I Io. 14. 27. leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the World giueth doe I giue to you Againe In me you may haue Io. 16. 55. Peace in the World you shall haue Distresse Whereof the Prophet Isay speaking saith For this cause shall my people Isa 52. ● know my Name in that day because I my selfe that spake Peace I leaue you loe am present How beautifull vpon the Mountaines are the feele of him that euangelizeth and preacheth Peace of him that telleth good preaching Health that faith to Sion the Soule which loueth God with all his heart Thy God shall Isa 9. 5. raigne Because all violent taking of prey with tumult and garment mingled with blood shall be burnt and foode for the fire For a little Childe is borne to vs and a Sonne is giuen to vs and his name shall be called Prince of Peace His Empire shall be multiplied and there shall be multiplied and there shal be no end of his peace At this Peace the Angels reioyced to see it prepared to be planted in the Hearts of Men vpon Earth And Luk. 2. the Angels said I euangelize to you great Ioy that shall be to all People beeause this day is borne to you a Sauiour which is Christ our Lord you shall finde the Infant swadled in Clothes and layd in a Maunger And suddenly these was with the Angell a multitude of the heauenly Armie praysing God and saying Glorie in the highest to God and in Earth Peace to Men of good will For Eph. ● hee our Lord himselfe is our Peace who hath made both one and dissoluing the middle Wall of the Partition the enmities in his Flesh And comming he euangelized Peace to you that were farre off and Peace to them that were nigh for by him we haue accesse both in one Spirit to the Father This is the Peace which Saint Paul wished to the Thessalonians saying The 2. Thes 3. 16. Lord of Peace himselfe giue you euerlasting Peace in euery place And this is the Peace which our Lord often wished to his Disciples after his Resurrection saying Peace be to you This Peace saith S. Augustine In epist ad fratres in eremo Christ left by a Testament to the Apostles as the chiefest good without the which none ought to liue c. This is that glorious Peace which expelleth the fruit of euill Thoughts preserueth the wauering Minde from hurt and purgeth the Conscience He who hath not the peace of Heart of Mouth and Worke ought not to be called a Christian O Peace thou art the serenitie of the Minde the tranquilitie of the Soule the simplicitie of the Heart the bond of Loue and companion of Charitie This is that high Felicitie which taketh away Enmities appeaseth Warres oppresseth Anger 's treadeth downe the Proud loueth the Humble endeth Strifes maketh Enemies friends acceptable to all Men. So S. Augustine And if the Peace of the Earth which is but a cessation from worldly troubles or affaires and a satisfying of thy passions be pleasing vnto thee of how farre greater Content and Happinesse must the Peace of God be which passeth all vnderstanding and keepeth as S. Paul saith Our Hearts and all the Phi. 4. 7. vnderstanding powers of our Soule in Christ Iesus which God of his goodnesse grant thee Reader OF THE FOVRTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Patience THe fourth fruit is Patience of which it is said In Patience shall you possesse Luk. 21 19. your Soules Then a man is said to enioy a thing when he receiueth Content in it and vseth it according to the end it was created for he that possesseth a thing to vexe and afflict hath it not to enioy and possesse but to torment Whereupon it commeth to passe that angrie and chollericke men doe not possesse themselues nor