be wanting if the wife be conioyned to her husband with that feruoure of minde as that through the greatnes of her loue shee can take noe repose being not able without greate greife to sustaine the absence of her beloued husbande with what affection desire and feruoure of minde ought that soule whoÌ„ thou hast espoused and linked vnto thee by faith and thy manifold mercies to loue thee the true God the most beautifull spouse who hast after that wonderfull manner loued and saued vs who hast donne soe many soe greate and such vnspeakeable thinges for vs. But althoughe the transitorie thinges of this worldâ— haue theire particular loues and delightes yet is the delight and content which they yeilde farre inferiour to that which proceedeth from thee o Lord our God In thee the iust man is dâ—lighted because thy loue is sweete and peaceable thou being accustomed to replenishe those hartes which thou dost possesse with vnspeakeable delight sweetnesse and quietnes Contrariwise the loue of the worlde and of the fleshe causeth a thousande woes not permittinge the soules into which it entreth to be at any repose but continually vexeth them with suspitions with diuers doubtes and perturbations Thou therfore o Lord art the delight of good and iust men and truly not without reason for that in thee is true repose and a life free from molestation He that entreth into thee o good God entreth into the ioy of his Lord and shall not be any more afraied but shall finde himselfe happily placed in a most happie habitation saying This is my rest for euermore heere I will dwell because I haue chosen the same And Againe Our Lord guideth me and I shall want nothinge he hath placed me in a place of pasture O sweete Christ o good lesu fill my harte perpetually with thy vnquenchable charitie with the continuall remembrance of thee soe that beinge become as a fierie flame I may wholy burne through the sweetnes of thy loue which loue in me let be soe greate as that whole fountaines flouddes of water may neuer be able to quenche it Make me most sweete Lord to loue thee and for thy loue to lay a side the heauie and vnsuportable burden of all earthly and carnall conscupiscences which doe molest and presse downe my wretched soule to the end that being freed from them and runninge after thee in the sweete smell of thy odoriferous ointments I may at length hauinge thee for my guide be able to attaine to the vision and fruition of thy beauâ—ie and by the same to remaine truly satisfied eternally For two seuerall loues the one good the other â—uill the one sweete the other bitter cannot in one harte possibly dwell together And therefore if any one doth loue any thinge besides thee thy charitie in him o God is not the loue of sweetnes and the sweetnes of loue for thou art that loue that afflicteth not but delighteth that loue that for euer remaineth chast and sincere that loue alwaies burneth and neuer consumeth O sweete Christ o good Iesu my loue my loue and my God inflme me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes and delectaâ—ion with thy mirth and exultation with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and good chast cleane quiet and secure to the end that being wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy inflamed with the fire of thy charity I may loue thee my God with all my harte force and strength hauinge thee at all times and in al places in my harte in my mouth and before mine cees soe that noe receptacle may be founde in me to receiue the counterfayted loue of thinges transitorie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee to the end thou maiest heare me O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the intercession prayer and request of the glorious virgin Marie thy mother and my Ladie and of all the Saintes of thy heauenly Cittie Amen A most deuoute Prayer demaunding Grace of God to praise him as wee ought CHAPT XXXVI O Christ our Lord the diuine worde of the Father whose comming into the worlde was to saue sinners I beseech thee by the bowels of thine infinite mercie amende my life make better mine actions compose my manners take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to me displeasinge to thee and giue me that which thou knowest is pleasinge to thee and profitable for me Who is there that can cleanse man from sinne conceiued in the same sauinge thou alone Thou arâ— God almighty of infinite mercy who iustifiest the wicked and raysest to life those that through sinne were deade who changest sinners from that which they were before vpholdinge them that they fall not any more Remoue from me therfore I beseeche thee whatsoeuer in me is displeasinge vnto thee Thy eies I knowe doe plainely see mine imperfections to be very manie Wherefore may it please thee to stretche forth towards me the hande of thy mercie and with the same remoue from me whatsoeuer is offensiue in me to the eies of thy diuine Maiestie My health o Lord and my sicknesse doe depende of thy power preserue I beseech thee the one and cure the other Cure me o Lord and I shal be cured saue me and I shal be saued thou art he that dost cure those thinges that are diseased keepinge them in health after they are healed thou art he that with the very becke and nod of thy heade dost repaire those thinges that are ruined and decayed For if it be thy pleasure to sowe in my hart the good seedâ— of vertues it is necessarie that first with the hande of thy pittie thou pluck vp the thornes of mine iniquities Most sweete benigne louinge deare desired beloued and most beautifull Lord powre into my harte I most hartlie beseeche thee the aboundance of thy sweetnes and charitie that I may neither desire nor as much as thinke vppon any worldly or carnall delectation but may loue thee alone hauinge thee onely in my mouthe and in my affection Write in my breaste with thy finger the sweete remeÌ„brance of thy hony sweete name by noe forgetfulnes euer to be blotted out of the same Write in the tables of my harte thy most holy will and thy iustifications that alwaies and in all places I may haue thee and thy preceptes before mine eieâ— who art a Lord of infinite sweetnes Inflame my minde with that sacred fire of thine which thou haâ—t sent into the world and dost greatlye desire that it should be kindled to the end that with teares I may daylie offer vnto thee the sacrifice of a humble and contrite harte O sweete Christ and louinge Iesu giue me as I desire as I desire with my whole hart giue
O Lord our God who art a mercifull and good God a God of all power a God of vnspeakable and incomprehensible nature God the instructor of all thinges and the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who for our common good hast sent from thy bosome our most sweet Lord thy beloued sonne to take vpon him our life that he might giue vs his and might be perfecte God of thee his Father and perfect man by reason of his mother whole God and whole man one and the same Christ eternal and temporall immortall and mortal creator and created strong and enfeebled conquerour and conquered nourisher nourished sheepe and shepheard dying temporallie and liuing with thee eternallie who promising the liberties of euerlasting life to those that loued him vsed these wordes vnto his disciples Whatsoeuer you shall aske my Father in my name he will giue it you By this high Preist true Bishoppe and good shepheard who hath offered himselfe as a sacrifice vnto thee laying down his life for his flocke I beseech thee by him who sitteth at thy right hand and maketh intercession for vs being our Redeemer and aduocate yea by thine owne mercifulnesse and goodnesse I humblye craue of thee o God most merciful milde and benigne louer of mankind that thou together with thy same sonne and holie Ghost for that you all three beinge but of one the same nature are to be esteemed but one and the same giuer wilt giue me grace to praise and glorifie thee in all thinges with great contritioÌ„ of hart and manie teares with much feare and trembling But for that our corrupt body is as a clogg or burden to the soule prick forward I beseeche thee my lasines with thy spurres and make me promptly to perseuere day and night in fulfillinge thy commaundements and in soundinge forth thy praises Graunt that my hart may waxe hoate within my bosome and that I may be as it were sett on fire by meanes of my meditation And because thine onely begotten son God hath saied Noe man commeth to me vnlesse my Father who hath sent me drawe him and noe man commeth to the Father but by me I humbly pray and beseeche thee draw me vnto him continually that he at length may bring me thither to thee where he sittethe at thy right hand where there is euerlasting life enduring hapy for euer where there is perfect loue voide of all feare where there is one eternall day and one desire of all where there is most soueraigne and certaine assurednes and assured quietnes and quiet ioyfullnes and ioyfull happines and happy euerlastingnes and euerlasting blessednes and blessed seeing and praising of thee being likewise endlesse where thou with him and he with thee in communion of the holy Ghost liuest and raignest God eternally and euerlastingely throughout all ages times and generations Amen A most deuoute prayer to our Sauiour Iesus Christ. CHAPT XVIII O Christ my God and hope thou loue of mankind The light way life and praise of those to life assign'd Behould thy bondes and woundes thy crosse death and thy graue All which thou didst eudure vs sinners for to saue Three daies being past from death thou didst arise againe And thy sadd freindes mad'st gladd who doubtfull did remaine The fourth day to heauen thou ascendedst where before Thou did'st do'st shalt liue and raigne for euermore Thou art my liuing and true God my reuerend Father my louing Lord my great king my good shepheard my most holie helper my most faire beloued my bread of life my Preist for eternitie my guide to the heauenlie country my true light my most sacred sweetnes my direct way my cheife knowledge my pure simplicitie my peaceable amity my sure guatdian my best portion my perpetuall safetie my immense mercy my most strong patience my immaculate sacrifice my sacred redemption my firme hope my perfect charitie my true resurrection my life euerlasting my most happie vision and reioycing which shall neuer haue ending I humbly desire begge and beseech thee that I may walke by thee attaine to thee and repose in thee who art the way the truth and the life without which noe maÌ„ can come to the Father Thou truly art my desire my most sweete and gratious Lord. O brightnes of the heaueÌ„ly Fathers glory who sittest aboue the Cherubins and beholdest the bottomles pits being the true light the enlightning light the neuer failing light on whom the Angells desire to looke Behold my hart is in thy presence dissolue the darkenes thereof that it may be wholy replenished with the light of thy loue Bestow thy selfe vpon me o my God giue me thy selte Behold o Lord I doe loue thee and if it be to little make me to loue thee more I cannot guesse how much loue is sufficieÌ„t to loue thee withall that my life may runne forewarde in desire of being embraced of thee neuer staying vntill it attaine to remaine hidden in the secret fauour of thy diuine maiestie yet this I know o Lord that it goeth not well with me both within and without me as often as I am without thee for that I esteeme all manner of riches and aboundance besides thee to be meere want and pouertie Because thou onely art that good which cannot be changed into better or worse thou art he alone who simplie art alone to whom it is not one thing to liue and an other thing to liue happily for that thou art thine owne happines Howebeit we that are thy creatures to whom it is one thinge to liue another thing to liue happily ought to attribute both our whole life and liuing happily to thy onely grace and bountie We therfore haue alwaies neede of thee but thou neuer of vs for albeit we were not at all yet nothing woulde be wanting to that good which thou art We therfore haue neede o Lord our God at all times to adhere to thee that by thy countinuall ayde we may be able to liue soberly iustly and religiously True it is we are drawen downwarde by the burden of our humaine fâ—ailtie but by the guift of thy grace we are inflamed and are caried vpward we burne goe foward we mounte vpward and making ascents in our hartes we sing a graduall song we are sett on fire through the good fire of thy loue and goe foreward But what maketh me now to soare vpp to the peace of Hierusalem Because I reioyce at those thinges which are toulde me We shall goe into the house of our Lord. Our good desire getteth vs a place there to the end we affect nothing els but to remaine there for euer Seeing therfore we haue noe permaneÌ„t citty during the time of this life but expect one heere after because as long as we liue in this world we are as strangers and pilgrimes in a forraine countrie in respect of thee o Lord for that our citty and habitation is in heauen for this cause I am accustomed being guided by thy grace to
faith not by seeing thee face to face Because that hope which is seene is not hope Those immortall troupes of holie Angells o Lord doe incessantlie praise thee and the celestiall vertues doe glorifie thy name who haue noe neede to reade this which I haue written of thee thereby to knowe thee the sacred and vndeuided Trinitie Because they alwaies do behold thy face in which without the sillables of times they doe reade what thy eternall will woulde haue to be doÌ„ne they doe reade choose and loue thee yea they doe reade euerlastingly and that which they reade neuâ—r passeth away By choosinge and louinge thee they doe reade the immutabilitie of thy counsell neither shall theire booke at any time be shutt or folded together for that thou thy selfe art this booke of theirs and shalt be for euer O how â—urpassinge happie are those heauenlieve â—tues who are able to praise thee soe holilie and purelie with such excessiue sweetnes and vnspeakeable ioy from thence they take occasion of praise from whence they reioyce that is by beholdinge thee euerlastinglie by which they are made able to reioyce and to praise thee But we that are ouercharged with the burden of our fraile fleshe who are likewise placed a farr of in the pilgrimage of this life from the light of thy countenance and lastly are distracted and disquieted through diuersitie of worldly businesses cannot praise thee worthily as we ought how be it we praise thee by faith not by seeing thee face to face contrariwise those Angelical spirits by seeing thee face to face not by faith Our fleshe is the cause of this by meanes whereof we praise thee in a farr meaner degree then they But albeit we praise thee after a diuers manner yet thou art one and the same God creator of all thinges to whom sacrifice of praise is offered in heauen and on earth and by helpe of thy mercy we hope heereafter to be made pertaker of theire companie Graunt o Lord in the interim during the time of my abode in this fraile flesh that my hart and tongue may praise thee and lett all my bones say O Lord who is like vnto the Thou art God almightie whom we worship and adore three in personnes and one in substance of deitie the Father vnbegotten the Sonne the onely begotteÌ„ of the Father the holy Ghost proeedinge from them both remaining in them both the â—acred and vndeuided Trinitie one onely God almightie Who when we were not hast powerfully made by our offences hast lost and vndonne vs and when we were wonderfullie recouered vs by thy pittie and goodnes Suffer vâ— not I beseech thee to be vngreatefull for soe greate benenefitts and vnworthy of soe maniâ—olde mercies I humbly craue pray and beseeche thee increase our faith inlarge our hope augment our charitie Make vs by this thy grace to be alwaie firme in faith and fruitfull in good workes that by an vpright and perfect faith and workes worthy of the same we may by thy mercie attaine to life euerlastinge that there contemplating thy glorie as it is we may adore thy maiestie and may all of vs say together whom thou hast made worthy to beholde this thy blisse Glorie be to the Father who hath created vs glorie be to the Sonne who hath redeemed vs glorie be to the holie Ghost who hath sanctified vs glorie to the most highe vndeuided Trinitie whose workes are inseperable whose Empire is euerlastinge and perpetual All glory and songes of praise are befittinge thee all worshipp benediction loue and thankes giuing is due to thee To thee our God be ascribed all honour strenght and fortitude for euer and euer Amen Heere man doth lament for that when he thinketh of God he is not moued to compunction seeinge the verye Angells tremble and quake when they beholde him CHAPT XXXIV FOrgiue me o Lord forgiue me o good God forgiue me and be mercifull vnto me pardon mine ignorance and my manifolde imperfections Reiect me not for my ouermuche boldenes in that I beinge but a seruant and woulde to God a good one and not all together bad and vnprofitable as I am yea in this respect very badd for that I presume to praise blesse and adore thee our God almightie terrible and exceedinglie to be feared without contrition of hart a fountaine of teares without that reuerence and feare which is fittinge For if the Angells praising and adoring thee albeit replenished with vnspeakable ioy doe tremble and quake how much more ought I soe to doe when I stande before thee singing praises or offering sacrifice vnto thee whence is it that my hart doth not pante and my contenance growe pale and why doe I not tremble in my whole bodie that by that meanes I might weepe and waile in thy presence incessantlie I would doe soe if it laie in my power but I cannot doe as I desire And for this cause I cannot but haue thee in highe regarde as often as I beholde thee with the eies of my faith soe terrible and woÌ„derfullie to be feared But who can doe this or any good thinge els without the assistance of thy grace because our whole succoure and safetie doth wholy proceede from thy greate mercle Miserable wretche that I am how is it that my soule is become soe sottishe and voide of sense that it is not exceedinglie affraide when it standeth before God and singeth praises in his presence Miserable wretche that I am how is my harte soe hardned that my eyes do not without ceasinge flowe forth floudes of teares whiles the seruant talketh with his Lord man with God a creature with his creator one that is made of stime with him that hath made all thinges of nothinge Beholde o Lord I doe make manifest vnto thee what I am and what I thinke of my selfe in the secrett of my harte I doe openly make knowen in the eares of my brethren Thou art riche in mercie and libâ—rall in bestowinge rewardes giue me of thy goodes that by them I may be able to serue thee because we can neither serue nor please thee except it be by helpe of those guifts which we receiue from thee Pierce I beseeche thee my fleshe with thy feare lett my harte reioyce that it may feare thy name O woulde to God my sinfull soule did feare thee in that manner as that holy man did who saied I haue allwaies feared God as it were floudes of water flowing ouer my heade O God thou giuer of all good thinges giue me I beseech thee a fountaine of teares duringe the time of my prayers and prayses which I singe to thee accompanied with puritie of harte and mirthe of minde that louing thee perfectlie and praysing thee worthily I may with the palate of my harte pereciue taste feele how pleasant and sweete thou our Lord art as it is written Taste and see because our Lord is sweete Blessed is that man that trusteth in him blessed is that people that knoweth
how to praise him blessed is that man whose helpe is from God who hath soe disposed the ascents of his harte in this dolefull vale of miserie that by them he may ascende vp to the place of eternall felicitie Happie are the cleane in harte for they shall see God happie are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praise thee for euer and euer A Prayer greatly mouinge the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God CHAPT XXXV O Iesu our redemption loue and desire God of God giue â—are to me thy poore vnworthy seruant To thee I câ—ll crie with a loude voyce with my whole harte To thee I call calling thee into my soule enter into the same and make it fitting for thee that thou mayest possesse it without wrinkle or blemishe of iniquitie because reason requireth that a cleane dwellinge shoulde be prepared for soe cleane a Lord to dwell in Sanctifie me therefor I beseech thee thy vessell which thou hast made cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that heere and for all eternity I may be made a fitt habitation for thy diuine maiestie O most sweete most powerfull most louing most deare most powerfull most desired most inestimable most amiable most beautifull Lord thou art more sweet then honie more white then either milke or snowe more pleasant to the tast then nectar or delitious wine more pretious then golde or pretious stones and more deare to me then all the riches and honoures of this worlde What doe I say o my God my onely hope and my surpassing great mercie What doe I say my happie and secure sweetnes What doe I say in saying these thinges Verilie I say what I am able not what I ought Woulde to God I were able to singe such hymnes of prayses as doe the quires of blessed Angells O how willinglie woulde I bestowe my selfe wholy in singing and setting forthe thy praises O how deuoutelie in the middest of thy Church would I pronounce those Canticles of celestiall melodie to the praise and glorie of thy holy name But because I cannot doe this shall I therefore holde my peace Woe be to those that haue not thee in theire mouth because thou art he that openest the mouthes of such as are mute and makest the tongues of infants to be eloqueÌ„t Woe be to those whose talke is not of thee because those that are talkatiue and full of wordes are to be esteemed as men speecheles if theire talke doth not tende to the extollinge of thy praises But who is able to praise thee worthily o vnspeakable vertue and wisedome of the Father Seeing therefore I want wordes by which I might be able sufficientlie to expresse thee o diuine worde of all power and knowledge I will in the interim say what I can vntill thou vouchsafe to call me vnto thee where I shal be able to speake what appertaineth both to thee and me Wherfore I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt not soe much consider what I say as what I desire to say Verily I greatlie desire to speake that of thee which is fittinge meete in respect that all praise thankesgiuinge and glorie is due vnto thee Thou knowest therefore o God from whom the very secrets of our hartes cannot be concealed that thou art more deare and acceptable to me then heauen and earthe and all thinges elsâ— that are therein for I loue thee aboue heauen and earthe and all other thinges contained in them yea soe greate loue is due to thy holy name as that in comparison thereof noe transitorie thinge doth deserue the fame I doe loue thee o my God very muche and doe desire to loue thee still more and more Giue me grace that I may alwaies loue thee accordinge to the greatnes of my affection and according to the greatnes of my obligation that thou onely maiest be my whole intention and my whole meditation Lett me thinke of thee in the day time without ceasinge Lett me dreame of thee in the night season Lett my soule talke to thee lett my minde discourse with thee Lett my harte be beautified by the light of thy holy sight that hauinge thee for my conductor and capitaine I may marche forewarde from vertue to venue and at length may beholde thee the God of Gods in Sion During the time of this life I doe see thee obscurelie as it were through a mrtroure or looking glasse but then I shall beholde thee apparentlie face to face where I shall knowe thee like as I am knowen of thee Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Blessed are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praiâ—e thee worlde without end I beseeche thee therfore o Lord by thy manifolde mercies by which we are deliuered from eternall death mollifie my stonie harde harte harder then either stone or iron with thy most sacred and powerfull vnction and make me at all times to become a liuinge sacrifice in thy sight by the fire of compunctioÌ„ Make me to haue alwaies in thy sight a humble and contrite harte ioyned with aboundance of teares Make me in all my desires as one wholy deade to this wretched world and through the greatnes of the feare and loue of thee to forgett all thinges transitorie in so much as that I may neither greiue nor growe gladd at any temporall thinge being free from the feare loue of whatsoever passeth away with time beinge neither depraued through flattery nor dismaied through aduersitie And for that the loue of thee is forcible like vnto death graunt I beseeche thee that the fierie and sweete force of thy loue may wholy withdrawe my minde from all thinges vnder heauen that I may adhere to thee alone being fedd with the only memorie af thy sweetnes Lett the most odoâ—iferous smell of thee o Lord descende lett it descende I beseech thee lett it descende and with it lett the mellifluous loue of thee enter into my harte Let the admirable and vnspeakable fragrant sauoure of thee come vnto me causinge in me an eternall desire and affection and producinge in my harte fountaines of water flowinge into life euerlastinge Thou o Lord art infinitely good and therefore infinitelie to be loued and praysed of those whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud O most liberall louer of men most louinge Lord and most iust iudge to whom the Father hath committed all iudgment thou perceiuest in the most wise iudgement of thy righteousnesse whether this be iust and reasonable or noe that the children of this worlde of the night and darkenesse doe loue and seeke after riches and honoures that are transitorie and cannot long continue with a farr greater desire earnestnes and studie then we thy seruants doe loue and seeke after thee our God by whom we haue been made and redeemed For if one man loueth an other with soe greate affection as that the one can scarcely endure the other to
free from all affliction When shall I be admitted into that admirable beautifull house of thine where the voice of ioy and exultation doth refounde in the tabernacles of iust men They o Lord that dwell in thy house are happie because they shall praise thee euerlastingly They are happie and trulie happie indeede whoÌ„ thou hast chosen and taken vp to be heires of that celestiall beatitude Behold o Lord thy Saints doe flourishe in thy sight as a lâ—llie for that they are filled with the plentie of thy house thou giuinge them to drinke of the riuer of thy dilightful sweetnesse because thou art the fountaine of life and in thy light they doe see light soe that they the illuminated light by meanes of thee the illuminating light doe shine like vnto the sunne in thy sight O Lord of all vertues how wonderfull how beautifull how gratefull are the lodgings of thy heauenly mansion my sinfull soule doth exceedingly couet to enter into them O Lord I haue loued the beauty of thy house and the place of the habitation of thy glorie I haue desired of our Lord one thinge and I will aske it of him againe and againe to witâ— that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all my life longe Like as the harte longeth for the fountaines of waters when he iâ— pursued soe doth my soule longe after thee my God When shall I come and appeare before thee When shall I see my God whom my soule doth soe much thirst to behold When shall I see him in the lande of the liuinge for in this lande of the dyinge it is impossible with mortal eies to beholde him What shall I therfore doe poore wretche that I am being subiect to death and corruption What course shall I take As longe as we are in this corruptible bodie we are in respect of thee as strangers and pilgrims in a forraine countrie not hauinge heere any citty or certaine dwellinge but doe seeke for one in time to come because ouâ— habitation is in heauen Alas I esteeme my selfe wretched by reason of my ouer longe slay in this worlde I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar too longe hath my soule remained heere Who will giue me winges like vnto a doue that I may flie and be at rest Nothing can be to me soe pleasant and good as to be with my Lord. It is good for me to adhere to my God Giue me grace therfore I beseech thee that as loÌ„ge as I liue I may adhere to thee as it is written He that adhereth to our Lord becommeth one spiritt with him Giue me I beseech thee the winges of contemplation by which I may be able to flie vp vnto thee into heauen And for that euery thinge that is euiâ—l doth drawe vs downewarde to sinne vp holde my mynde that it fall not downe to the bottome of the obscure valley of perdition vpholde my minde least by the interposition of the shadowe of earthly thinges it be separated from thee the sonne of iustice and by the darke cloude of secular conuersation it be hindered from looking and lifting vp it selfe to celestiall contemplation For this cause I doe endeuoure to ascende vp to those ioyes of peace and to the deligthfull and quiet state of true light Vpholde my harte with thy holy hande for that without thy help it cannot ascende I doe hasten thither where surpassing greate peace raigneth and where continuall quietnes shineth Guide and conduct my soule and according to thy holy will drawe it vnto thee to the end that vnder thy conducte it may ascende vnto that region of plentie where thou dost feede Israel euerlastingly with the foode of thy veritie that there be it but in thought onely and for neuer soe shorte a time it may touche thee the supreame wisedome remaininge aboue all thinges ouer-going all thinges and gouerninge all thinges But many thinges there be which trouble my soule and hinder it that it cannot soare vp vnto thee Cause them all o Lord by thy commaundement to cease and be silent Let my soule it selfe be silente let it passe beyonde all thinges all thinges I meane created let it mounte aboue it selfe and come to thee Let it fixe the eies of its saith on thee alone the creator of all thinges lett it aspire to thee lett it attende to thee lett it meditate on thee lâ—tt it contemplate on thee lett it sett thee before its eies and thinke vpon thee in its harte who art the true and soueraigne good thinge and that ioy which shall neuer haue end For albeit the contemplations are many wherwith a deuoute soule is by thee wonderfully fedd and refreshed yet is my soule in none of them all soe much delighted and conforted as in thee and as when it doth meditate and contemplate on thee onely O how greate o Lord is the aboundaÌ„ce of thy sweetned how marueilouslie dost thou inspire and visit the hartes of such as loue thee how wonderfull is the delight of thy loue which they feele and enioy who affect and seeke nothinge but thee who desire not soe much as to thinke of any other thing sauing onely thee Happie are they whose hope iâ— in thee alone who wholy addict themselues to prayer and contemplation Happie is he that passeth his life in solitarinesse and silence taking continuall heede night and day to the custodie of his senses that euen in this life during the time of his abode in this fraile fleshe he may be able in some sorte to taste of thy vnspeakeable sweetnes I beseech thee o Lord by those most pretious woundes of thine which on the crosse thou hast suffered for the redemption of mankinde froÌ„ which hath gushed forth that most pretious blood by which we are redeemed wounde my sinfull soule for whom likewise thou hast vouchsafed to dye wounde it with the fierie and forcible darte of thy surpassing greate charitie Because the worde of God is powerful and effectual and more peircing then a two edged sworde Thou therfore o Lord who as a chosen arrowe and most sharpe sworde art able to peirce and passe thoughe the harde target of mans harte pierce my harte with the darte of thy loue that my soule may say I am wounded with thy charitie soe that from the wounde of this thy charitie teares may trickle downe day and night in greate quantitie Strike o Lord strike I most humblie beseeche thee my hard hatred soule with the pious and powerfull speare of thy loue yea peirce it to the very bottome with thy omnâ—poteÌ„t vertue Cause likewise a floude of water to flowe from my heade and a fountainâ— of teares continually to trickle downe from mine eies throughe the exceeding greate affection and desire of beholdinge thy fairnesse in such sorte as that I may weepe continuallie receyuing noe comforte duringe this present life vntill I shall be thought worthie to beholde thee in thy heauâ—nlie house my beloued and most beautifull spouse my God and my Lord
not thirdlie to contemplate celestiall and internall thinges with a pure and cleane harte By loue first of all honest thinges are laudably donne in the worlde afterwardes the honest thinges of the worlde growe to be contemned and lastly the very secrets of God are by it seene and considered How God requireth something in vs like vnto himselfe CHAPT XIX GOd the Father is charity soe is God the SoÌ„ne the holy Ghost is the loue that proceedeth from both of them This charity and loue requireth something in vs like vnto it to witt charity by which we may be ioyned and vnited vnto God as it were by affinitie of blood Loue maketh noe difference of personnes neither doth it know how to behaue it selfe with reuerence He that loueth goeth boldlie vnto God of himselfe alone and talketh familiarlie with him fearing and doubting nothing He that loueth not liueth but in vaine But he that loueth hath his eies alwaies fixed on God whom he loueth whom he desireth on whom he thinketh in whom he is delighted by whom he is fedd and refreshed Such a man that is endewed with such deuotion doth soe singe and reade and in all his actions doth carry himselfe with that care and circumspection as if God were present before his eies as indeede he is He prayeth with that feruoure and deuotion as if he were assumpted vp into heauen and presented before the Maiestie of God that sitteth on his throne where thousandes of thousandes doe serue him and ten hundred thousande doe attende vpon him Loue causeth the soule which it visiteth throughe loue to awaken when it sleepeth It admonisheth and mollifieth it wounding it as it were to the very harte Loue enlightneth those thinges that are darke it openeth those that are shut the thinges that are colde it maketh hotte it mitigateth the minde that is frowarde angry and impatient it chaseth away vice and iniquitie it represseth all desire of carnalitie it amendeth our manners and bad customes and reformeth the spiritt making it to change its fashions Finallie it bridleth the motions of our youthe and our light actions All this doth loue when it is present but assoone as it depatteth the soule beginneth forthwith in that manner to become fainte and feeble euen as if you should wriâ—hdrawe the fire from a boyling cauldron or kettle Of the greate confidence which the soule hath that loueth God CHAP. XX. Loue without doubte is a greater thinge then can be well expressed by which the soule goeth boldlie vnto God of it selfe alone and adhereth constantlie vnto him it quessioneth and consulteth with him vpon euery occasion The soule that loueth God can thinke or speake of nothing els beside because it doth contemne and in a manner abhorre all other thinges whatsoeuer The loue of God doth change it into himselfe in that wonderful fashion as that whatsoeuer it thinketh or speaketh of doth as it were tast and smell of affection He therfore that desireth to attaine to the knowledge of God let him loue In vaine he attempteth to reade or meditate to preache or pray that loueth not The loue of God begetteth the loue of the soule and maketh it to attend to it selfe God loueth vs to noe other end but that we should loue him againe When he loueth he desireth nothing els but to be beloued knowing that those that loue him are by loue made blessed The soule that loueth addicteth it selfe wholy to the loue of God all proper affections being layed aside to the end that by louing him againe it may make some requital for the loue receiued from him And yet when it hath powred forth it selfe wholy in affection what is it in respect of the fountaine of loue froÌ„ whence it had his beginning True it is that noe true comparison can be made betweene the louer and the beloued betweene the soule and God betweene the Creator and the thing created and yet if it loue God to the vttermost of its power there remaineth nothing that it can doe more Let not that soule which loueth be affraied let that soule feare that loueth not God The soule that loueth is led with promises drawen with desires it keepeth secret its owne merits it shutteth the eies to all worldlie honoure and openeth them to the diuine pleasure relying wholie in Christs protection and doing all things with a confidence in him Through loue the soule leaueth and estrangeth it selfe from the corporall senses to the end that feeling God it may not feele it selfe This hapneth when the soule being allured throughe Gods vnspeakeable sweetnes doth as it were stâ—ale it selfe from it selfe or rather is caried and slideth away from it selfe to the end it may enioy God with much gladnes Neither is there any thinge soe sweete were it not soe shorte Loue maketh vs familiar with God familiaritie causeth blodnes blodnes taste and taste hunger The soule which is touched with the loue of God is able to thinke or desire noe other thinge but crieth out incessantlie with sighes saying Euen as the harte or stagge desireth the fountaines of water when he is pursued euen soe my soule longeth after thee o God What God hath donne for man CHAPT XXI ALmightie God through his greate loue towardes man came vnto man yea he came into man and became a man Throughe loue almightie God being inuisible in himselfe became visible like vnto his seruants Through loue he was wounded for our sinnes In the woundes of my Sauiour is a safe and secure place of repose for those that are sicke and for sinners In them I dwell securely for that the bowells of his mercie are apparant by the woundes of his body Out of the bowells of my Lord I take vnto my selfe whatsoeuer on my parte is wantinge vnto me because they flowe with mercy neither are there holes wanting by which they gush forthe vnto me Through the holes of his body the secrets of his harte are seene by me The sacred misterie of his compassion and pitty doth appeare plainely vnto me The bowels of our Lords mercy are apparantly seene in which he hath visited vs comming downe from heauen The woundes of Christ Iesu are full of mercy full of pitty full of sweetnes and charitie It is they that peirced his handes and his feete and his side with a lance Through these holes and clefts may I tast how sweete my Lord God is for that indeede he is sweete and milde and of much mercy towardes all those that in the truth call vpon him towardes all those that seeke him but especiallie towardes those that loue him Briefly in the wounds of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus an infinite ransome a multitude of sweetnes fulnes of grace and perfection of all vertues is bestowed vpon him Of the remembrance of the woundes of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ CHAPT XXII WHen any vncleane cogitation doth aâ—saulte me I am wonte to haue recourse to the woundes of Christ as to a present remedy If at