and comfort is and resteth in the price of thy pretious blood wherein I doo wholie repose my selfe and deeme it requisite that I should doo so together with all which I haue doon offended deserued and omitted And therefore behold most gratious Iesu my basenes and humilitie consider the affection of mine hart which I beare toward thee not for my merits but for thy mercie sake which vouchsafest to be loued euen of the vnworthie In respect of mine vnworthines I am greatlie ashamed to come in thy presence but I am drawen-on and emboldened through your wonderfull goodnes and humilitie which hast in perfect good wil yeelded not onlie to become man but also to suffer die and to be buried for my sake and therefore vnto thee doo I make recourse for I finde no goodnes in my selfe Supplie that for my sake which of my selfe I cannot performe Thou hast giuen mee a desire to praie vnto thee to praise to blesse thee because thou art mine hope and my portiō in the land of the liuing Al my desire is to be with thee in the kingdom of heauen but inasmuch as my time is not yet come I will waite vntill the night approch In the meane while this maie bee my comfort in the place of my pilgrimage that I am mindfull of thy name and of thine exceeding great loue and that I behold thee in this life by the eies of my faith To liue in this world and yet to repose no trust in thee ô Lord were a thing intollerable to my soule I doo not consent to reioice with the world and that I maie not abide without ioie and comfort I haue determined to place my ioie in thee Much and often should I goe astraie greatlie should I be tossed in cogitations did I not reteine thee fast in my minde and thoughts And for somuch as I am vnable to sound the depth of thy diuinitie I thinke it best for mee to turne vnto the deedes and saiengs of thine humanitie because being in these cogitations I swarue not altogether from thy diuinitie Thankes bee to thee good Iesu sweete and louelie Iesu for vouchsafing to become my brother to take my flesh and bones vpon thee Thankes I saie to thee for entering into the wombe of good Marie thy Mother of whose maidenlie flesh thou tookest the holie members of thy bodie which thou didest vnite to thy diuine nature CHAP. 23. A godlie Praier and commendation of our Sauior Christ. NOtwithstanding I am wicked and guiltie of manifold sins yet haue I great hope of saluation because of thy suffering and merits whereof as I haue a good minde to consider so graunt ô my Lord Christ that I maie with good leaue so doo For who am I to approch nigh vnto thee vnlesse I haue licence I knowe mine vnwoorthines to appeare in his presence whome the verie angels doo worship with great reuerence saieng Who is this that commeth out of the wildernes of this world so abunding in pleasure Therefore ô moste blessed Sauiour I am far vnmeete to thinke of thy glorie and honor of thy bewtie and magnificence because I am earth and ashes yea more base am I then earth and ashes because I am sinfull and proane vnto all wickednes But thou beeing made hier than heauen hast the whole world vnder thy feete and art worthie to be praised and honored for euermore Howbeit of thine vnspeakeable goodnes which passeth all vnderstanding I am drawen in affection vnto thee because thou art the comfort of the comfortlesse and vsest most willinglie to helpe most miserable sinners I acknowledge how I am not onlie destitute of all comforrt especiallie of thy fauor but also verie vnable to doo good vnto my selfe But mercifull Iesus wouldest thou vouchsafe to consider my basenes then should I both be aided and comforted most plentifullie in this my trooble Therefore I see well whensoeuer I am compassed about with affliction and tentation I am straight-waie and without feare to flie vnto thee for where mercie is moste readie there grace is in greatest plentie And when I haue a good minde to consider of thy most glorious estate and to commend thee in moste honorable manner I must come foorth with a much purer affection and maie not goe forwarde with-out the conduction of Gods heauenlie light Assuredlie he shall haue no glorie but shame that presumeth without all reuerence to approch vnto thy gate And he which commeth thereinto must proceede with all reuerence and humilitie ioined with good hope that hee maie finde grace to be admitted Wherefore both humblie and reuerendlie and deuoutlie and boldlie I goe to thee-ward Let the godlie louer of thy name listen then what I saie The heauen reioiceth the earth woondereth when by faith mine hart saith Christ is my Sauior Satan flieth hell trembleth when my conscience crieth Christ is my Sauior The world waxeth vile and the flesh humble when as a Christian dooth saie Christ is my Sauior Sorowe departeth newe comfort approacheth when my minde pronounceth Christ is my Sauior Slothfulnes vanisheth mine hart through loue fainteth when zelouslie I can saie Christ is my Sauior Zeale encreaseth compunction ariseth hope groweth comforte waxeth strong when my soule soundeth Christ is my Sauior Mine harte is iocund mine affection becommeth sounde when in truth I do saie Christ is my Sauior For such is the force of these words vttered of a faithfull soule that no man is able to expresse the same in wordes but still it resteth more hie and excellent than maie be reached vnto by the wit of man Which maketh mee once againe most humblie to bowe my knees vnto thee ô blessed Sauior and still I saie ô Christ my Sauior O most gratious Iesu receaue my praier and mee with it that I maie finde some-what that maie like thee well and embolden mee and kindle my zeale and keepe mee euermore in continuall praising of thine holie Name Oah that for the satisfieng my desire to praise and to praie vnto thee from the verie bottome of mine hart both all my members were forthwith conuerted into tongues and those tongues into firie voices that I might finde a waie to glorifie thee my Sauiour world without ende Oah that for all my sins wherewith I haue deserued thine indignacion offended greeuouslie thy Father and dishonored thee with all the hoste of heauen I might once so thoroughlie bewaile and repent that I might heereafter take a newe trade of life to thy glorie and the comforte of my soule Oah that thou woldest assist mee in well doing seeing my life fraile and I all subiect to offending Oah pardon and forgiue all my sins either wilfullie or negligentlie committed all my vaine thoughtes my vngodlie speech my abhominable deedes O most gratious Iesu I saie doo thou both defend mee from doing anie wickednes hereafter and forgiue I praie thee all my sins forepast so shall I be both the more deuout the more
Soliloquium Animae The sole-talke of the Soule Or A spirituall and heauenlie Dialogue betwixt the Soule of Man and GOD. Which for the great affinitie it hath with other bookes of the Auctor published heeretofore in our natiue tongue is now entituled The fourth booke of the Imitation of Christ. Translated and corrected by THOMAS ROGERS Neuer before published ¶ At London Printed And are to be solde in the Royall Exchange at the Shop of Andrew Maunsell 1592. To the Christian Reader BEing much and earnestlie requested heere-vnto I haue published in our vulgar tongue another of Malleolus alià s Thom. de Kempis or Kempisius workes not that I confesse which of some well weening though not so well deeming persons was commended vnto mee I meane that in the old English translation and in some Latine copies too called The fourth Booke of the Imitation of Christe which in deede is altogether De sacramento altaris and so entitled but the next to that in Kempisius workes namelie the Soliloquium animae This I haue tearmed for the great affinitie it hath with the bookes of Kempisius by mee heeretofore diuulged The fourth booke of the Imitation of Christ. In the dooing whereof I haue as little as might bee varied froÌ„ the auctors words and phrazes and no where from the sense but where himselfe hath varied from the truth of God and I doubt not would haue redressed had hee liued in these daies of light as he did in the time of most palpable blindnes And this haue I doon with the greater alacritie because I finde and thou maist reade it also in the Auctors owne Preface that hee not onlie doubted that hee might vtter some things both fonde and offensiue but also wished to haue some godlie corrector of his faultes and praied vnto almightie God gratiouslie to reueale such thinges offensiue either vnto himselfe or vnto some other Whose godlie praier God hath heard and discouered those things for thy benefit and testification besides howe Kempisius the Auctor howsoeuer liuing in a Popish time was yet in hart no Papist but would like well of that which is doon as I trust thou wilt whose aedifieng and spirituall comforting I haue onlie aimed at And reaping this comfort to thy soule by the reading or hearing of this treatise bee thankefull vnto thy God that giueth thee some taste of the caelestiall ioies in this miserable and all-trooblesome world to whose gratious protection I doo most humblie commend thee and my selfe The Aucthors Preface I Haue gathered together into a little booke for my comfort sake certaine deuoute sentences the better so to commit them to memorie I haue also disposed them as into a plesant orchard set out with all sorts of trees and bewtified with al varieties of goodlie flowres where-into I might now and then enter both for to chuse and behold at my neede such matter as my hart desires for the refreshing of the minde grieued at anie time and ouerwhelmed with pensiuenes Now the more cleerlie and readilie to finde vnder which arbor I might repose my selfe or which floure were best to be culled out I haue made the heads of euery Chapter to glitter as it were with red titles I haue likewise with varietie of words as nowe talking nowe reasoning praieng nowe nowe conferring now in mine owne now in another mans person bewreathed about the text with a sweete and delightsome stile Wherefore I entreate them whosoeuer shall reade it first that they be not moued with indignation at that which the writer hath doon for it was his minde wholie to talke with his God Next that theie wil pardon the imperfectioÌ„ and plainnes of the stile considering that God is more delighted with words that be simple and pure than with those that be artificiall And if happelie the sense in anie place appeare either not sounde or not cleere enough my desire is to haue a godlie corrector of the same telling him withall that what fonde matter soeuer he shall espie it hath escaped from me not of purpose but rather for that I was not heedie enough in marking what I writ Moreouer forasmuch as man in that iudgement of his which is most probable maie be deceaued vnto thee ô God almightie and father of lightes doo I thine humble disciple make recourse and this Sole-talke of mine doo present before thy diuine Maiestie to the ende that thou maist both approue the things well said and disproue what is doon amisse and insinuate also either into my selfe or some other faithfull seruaut of thine more rightlie to obserue whatsoeuer things are offensiue My request is also holie Father that I thy poore seruant may obtaine at thy hands both time and space to abide in the all plentifull pastures of the Scriptures which be and shall be my chiefest comfort vntill that daie of aeternitie appeere and the shadowe of mortalitie doo decline awaie And therefore withdrawe thou fro me all vnprofitable cares worldlie desires hurtfull affections and what else may hinder mee fro my desired leisure For he must haue a free minde and a quiet that would meditate of hidden and heauenlie matters Wherefore that I maie be worthie to attaine my sute vouchsafe thou my God to endue and fill me with the grace of thine heauenlie ioie that I maie speake to thy glorie and to some comfort of my owne soule The fourth Booke of the Imitation of Christ. CHAPTER 1. 1. A longing of the soule after God 2. The incomprehensible maiestie of the Lord. 3. An exhortation to the loue of God SOVLE AS for mee it is good to drawe neere vnto God O short and ô sweete saieng embracing God and abandoning the vniuersall world What more can be said And what more-ouer is to be desired Would it not suffice if that were performed which now is spoken And were other yea many other things vttered should not all in the end be reduced vnto this one thing Therefore my soule saie thou with the Prophet As for mee it is good to drawe neere vnto God O my God thou art mine onlie felicitie thou alone art good and sweet vnto mee To speake of thee it delighteth the louer to thinke of thee it liketh the religious whose hart is not fixed vpon the world but hidden with thee in the heauens to the end that both thou alone maiest be his true peace and inmost ioie and he not vexed dailie in this world where false concupiscence doth prouoke vnto sin O my God how is hee affected which is inflamed with thy loue How doth hee reioice that hath no pleasure in anie vaine creature Are not these the words of such a man in that Psalme whereout the beginning of my speech was taken euen these his words Whome haue Iâ—in heauen but thee and I haue desired none in the earth with thee MAN O holie soule ô zealous soule so longing after God! What is that I heare what is that thou saiest Are the
to speake let vs heare him gladlie and bee silent till hee haue done At which time you shall not be bound to satisfie my demaundes For when he speaketh all flesh must be still S. This couenant I like well Onlie let him bee with vs and bee wee carried vnto our secret places Let him bee the guide of our speech and conduct vs whether our delight is to goe This beloued of whome you so diligentlie enquire is for his greatnes vnspeakeable for his hight and glorie incomprehensible for his strength and magnificence infinite Whatsoeuer is either spoken or written of him commeth far behinde his maiestie because in glorie he excelleth all things The heauens haue sayd He hath ouerpassed and ascended and preuailed ouer vs The earth hath aunswered If the heauens and the heauens of heauens doo not comprehend him aske not me of him The stars haue soong Wee are darkenes and not light vnlesse hee inlighten vs The sea trembled and sayd Hee is not in mee and the deepe knoweth him not Heare you what they saie M. I heard and was sore troubled at their voice my verie lips trembled S. What then will become of thee if wee should aske him Let vs speake vnto him O Lord art thou hee of whome the Prophets haue prophecied and whose commandement all things in their seasons doo obeie Verelie I am that I am and besides me there is none other God I am the beginning and the ending I am the creator and the gouernor of all things I liue saith the Lorde and I will raigne for euer and euer Now little worme what saiest thou being enuironed with such light Lo thy beloued whome thou thoughtest was with mee speaketh vnto thee Hee was with mee when I said For mee it is good to draw neere vnto God Hee will bee with thee if thou also wilt saie My soule refuseth comfort the daie of miserie I desire not for thou art my King and my God Bee not like to raging louers but loue God alone seeke him alone which admitteth no companion of the world into his fellowship Talke thou onlie with him and though he depart leauing the roome void beare all things patientlie For his woont is to goe and to come to prooue his freend and make him perfect in louing If thou desire his presence beare his absence patientlie Waite and waite againe hee will depart for a while and after a while hee will againe returne Loue maketh thee thus affected which now heaueth thee on high and straight-waie flingeth to the ground againe His loue is than all floures sweeter than lilies fairer and brighter than the pretious stones For no creature is to be preferred before the loue of God and therefore for that euerie thing is to bee despised So soone as I was touched inwardlie with his loue I forthwith began so to be inflamed in my minde that bidding adue to all things in the world I onlie wished for his most pure embracements and as it were bearing hote coales out of a burning ouen I vttered these words which but few doo vse Whome haue I in heauen but thee and I haue desired none in the earth with thee God is the strength of mine head and my portion for euer By these gather now of thy beloued what manner a one and what he is which incomprehensiblie exceedeth all the things which are and haue being And although he can neither by words be vttered nor conceaued in minde because he is infinite yet is he verie louelie tractable felowlie and to be entreated insomuch as though hee cannot be comprehended yet after a strange manner hee maie be loued For by loue hee is taken yea by loue fast bounden but by desire he is sought by praier knocked at and by hope attained If as yet I haue not satisfied you let him whome you haue sought satisfie you and teach you aboue all teachers to finde himselfe CHAP. 2. 1. Of God his distinct iudgement at the end of this world 2. The cursed state of the vngodlie KNit mine heart vnto thee O Lord that I maie feare thy name O my God thou art much to be loued yea and to be feared much thou art Hee that loueth let him be glad but hee that loueth not thee let him quake and feare But hee which neither doth feare thee nor loue thee is vtterlie foolish and frantike For it is a fearefull thing to fall into thine hands And who knoweth the power of thy wrath Or who maie abide the daie of thy comming vnto iudgement For thy roaring shall be like a Lion and thy glittering swoorde like a consuming fire At the sound of thy voice all the dwellers in the world shall be moued and when thou commest all the foundations of the earth shall shake Who then but will feare Or by what meanes can anie escape thine hands If a man will hide himselfe vpon the strong rock thou wilt thunder there-vpon and it shall rent asunder And if â—e lurke in caues or mountaines he shall be plucked out and be made to susteine thy displeasure because hee cared not for thy fauour Surelie there is no place which can hide man from thy presence For all things are naked and open in thine eies thou seest the heart and the reines and beholdest the most secret affections of the thought so that no secret is hid from thine eies O how terrible wilt thou bee to sinners and to the harts that â—e hardened which now doo glorie in ill dooing and triumph in wickednes saying The Lord seeth not hee will not regard They are so puffed vp with vaine words as though thou wouldest neuer come yea they turne awaie their eies that they may not see the ende But in the houre that they thinke not thou wilt come and they shall be taken in the snares of their owne wickednes And as theeues and robbers being suddenlie taken are confounded so shall they be put to confusion at their due time Then wilt thou haue them in derision which now deride thy seruants and euill shall be rendred vnto such as haue abhorred thy righteousnes Now they stop their eares vnto thy voice but the time shall come when they shall crie and not bee heard Now they turne thy word into a fable but themselues shall be turned then into a flame of fire For thy word shall goe out with an horrible blaste and it shall strike the wicked and vnbeleeuers without all mercie What will the proude person saie then so puffed vp with knowledge and swelling in power What answere will hee make when the last trumpe shall sounde in his eares When thou Lord our God shalt appeere in Maiestie together with thine angels and archangels Then all the vngodlie deriders of thy word shall bee hush and they which haue
thing is but one thing I loue but one thing I require but one thing and this one thing is better to mee than all other things either in heauen or earth If thou hast founde such a good thing my counsell is that you hold and keepe it for whoâ—e sake you haue contemned all things For hauing that it shall not grieue you to want other things naie you will iudge it reason for the getting thereof that you doo both giue and suffer all things Now therefore ô my soule seeke thou after so singular and superexcellent a good thing So long as you liue in the flesh you are of necessitie to seeke because that cannot too carefullie be sought for which can at no time sufficientlie be comprehended But then shall you cesse seeking when the houre of enioieng is once come For then shal he be all in all euen he which alone is all sufficient for all and euerie man And although there too hee must be sought where he is continuallie sound yet is hee not there sought with labor as in this world but with surpassing pleasure and loue What he is in this life to the godlie it maie be declared by his manifold titles and such as haue experience of his goodnes knowe verie well how it maie be showen Notwithstanding consider what the names of God are as I haue learned them in the schoole of experience I will recite a few but the grace of his spirit maie put you in minde of manie mo beside Lo hee is a spouse to such as loue but to such as still serue him in feare a dreadfull Lord Hee is a father to good children but to the obstinatelie wicked a seueare iudge To the sick he is a physition and to the whole wholesome foode To the ignorant a teacher and to the obedient an euerlasting Sauiour Hee is the waie for beginners the truth for proceeders the life for the absolute performers of his holie will Hee is the hope of repenters and a surpassing comforter of the righteous Hee is a crowne for the humble and a punishment for the proude In darkenes hee is a light and in the night a lanterne Hee giueth medicine to the diseased soules and much wine of comfort to the sorowfull With such as stand to the battell hee standeth with such as proceede in their iornie he walketh with such as feruentlie make haste hee runneth with such as mount in diuine contemplation he flieth Doo you praie hee is present with you Doo you reade hee is talking with you Doo you meditate hee is still with you One and the same God worketh in all these things showing himselfe to euerie one euen as hee thinketh good in his words there is no fault and his works are past finding out For great and vnsearchable are his iudgements and no man is tâ— saie vnto him whie doost thou soâ— or whie doost thou chuse this maâ— rather than that man It is follie for a man to reason aâ—gainst the almightie and all the will of Adams children is vane anâ— to no purpose How like you these things and how dooth God sauor vnto you S. Hee seemeth sweete vnto mee neither am I offended at his works Hee is righteous and who can rebuke him of ill dealing Hee that so dooth dooth set himselfe against God and shal be reprooued of his irreprehensible light M. But what thou hast heard what is it in his presence scarse vndoubtedlie so much as a sparcle without that which is hidden within Aske you what that is I must saie I knowe it not it is altogether aboue my capacitie euen as a certaine cloude far off whose beginning and ende are vnknowen And therefore meditate rather and thinke more often vpon the base humanitie of Iesus and doo not mount vp too high least of his glorious maiestie you be confounded But forsomuch as burning loue dooth now and then forget all reuerence and feare you are in that respect the more to be borne withall if sometime being extreemelie set on fire with the loue of Iesus you doo consider not onlie how hee cried in the manger and how hee hanged vpon the crosse but also how hee raigneth nowe in heauen all gloriouslie and ruleth all things vnder heauen most wonderfullie S. O most louelie Iesu gladlie doo I folow thee in earth but more gladlie would I folow thee vnto heauen Where my treasure is there would mine hart be also Oah thou art my treasure thou which art at the right hand of the father art deerer to mee than anie creature For my sake thou wast incarnate for my sake thou wast eleuate Thou diddest leaue thy selfe an example vpon earth thou keepest thy selfe for a reward in the heauens Vpon thee therefore mine eies are fixed and after thee doo my feete trace To thee mine hart saith my face seeketh thee ô Lord I will continualie seeke thy face O Lord how long wilt thou hide the sight of thy glorie Whie hiâ— est thou thy face and takest mee for thine enemie Thou knowest right well my mind wil be distracted hether and thâ—ther and be diuerslie beate vntill it be fast ioined to thee her freende in the heauens For the force of loue knoweth not how to be quiet but vnceâ—santlie maketh enquirie of her louer sendeth forth messengers and dobleth praiers neither doth it so giue ouer because loue will altogether possesse that which it desireth Therefore drawe mee that I maie begin zelouslie to run after thee I had neede to be drawen and with great force to be drawen For vnlesse thou drawe none wil come none will folow because euerie one is naturallie inclined to himselfe-ward But if thou once drawe lo then I doo hasten then I run then I waxe hot But if thou doo not drawe I doo neither run nor seeke yea scarse haue I anie desire at all to folowe If thou reach out thine hand I doo run so much the more swiftlie as thou forceablie doost drawe This is the voice of my louer drawing And when I am â—ift vp from the earth I will drawe all men vnto mee O sweete Iesu drawe mee after thee and then not I onlie but all shal run after thee by the sauor of thine ointments First therefore drawe mee after thee then let others folow seeing an example of good life But that we maie not waxe proude it is good that we marke this withall howe that wee began to run not through our owne strength but by the sauor of thine ointments This is the heauenlie drawing without which no man can go forward no not so much as begin as likewise thou didest saie No man can come vnto mee except my father drawe him So that whome the father draweth he foloweth thee and forsaketh himselfe He seemed to be well drawen that said Master I will folow thee
the hands of their masters and as the eies of a maiden vnto the hand of her mistres so mine eies are fixed continuallie vpon my freend Since first I began to loue him I haue had a great desire to continue with him And this mine intent liked him well and he allowed the same saieng Hee that abideth in mee and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruite But that the truth the strength and the puritie of my loue might appeere it was behoouefull that I should be tempted And so I could not bee vnlesse he both suffered the same and hid himselfe And because tentation serueth both for the purging of the inner man and for the frutefull bringing forth of virtue and also for the better perceauing the spirituall graces of God I was tried and exercised therewithall How stronglie and how often hee flang me this waie and that waie my God and Lord which knoweth all secrets and is a witnesse to euerie priuie cogitation of the hart and still seeth mee and perceaueth how I am nothing else but a fraile creature euen he knoweth right well If therefore hee had not assisted mee when I was extreemelie afflicted doubtles I had perished beâ—ing readie to fall into the pit of desperation But hee whose manner is to comfort the troobled in spirit tooke mercie vpon mee For if God helped and assisted not who were able to beare so manifold tentations And therefore it was of his great mercie that I stoode before the face of such trooblesome tempests and also it is of the same his goodnes that still I doo stand and fall not But heereof I maie not vanelie â—oast so long as I liue in this mortall â—odie For though I see the element is now cleere yet doo I not thinke that long it will continue quiet For the winde sodeinlie will arise and that happelie when wee thinke least thereof So that by so much I perceaue I doo neede my freend his assistance by how much I perceaue I doo lie open on all sides to troobles We shall be quiet no where but in heauen where my freend doth feed his elect with ioie and exultation But when there What can I speake thereof Scarse can I thinke anie thing thereof and that not euidentlie enough and enter thereinto I maie not Oah that he would come and set mee in that all glorious quiet and fructfull pasture of his sancts where neither Satan is nor danger to be feared As yet I toile in the sea and whether I shall attaine vnto the port of saluation by reason of my troobles arising through so manie contrarie windes I am vtterlie ignorant So that I am altogether out of quiet Notwithstanding it is a shield and comfort vnto mee that I stil doo behold the light of faith that with all submission I seeke the fauor of my beloued that I beare toward him a constant hope that I will not bee separated from his loue and that I doo rest vpon his prouidence and vnsearchable goodnes more than vpon my selfe And therefore though too too often I doo stagger yea and fall too sometime into sinne yet am I not to despeire but rather continuallie to flie vnto him and to crie O Lord my God haue mercie vpon mee and suffer mee not to perish through my manifold tentations but assist mee faithfullie that valiantlie I maie resist and ouercome Reach out thy right hand vnto the worke of thine owne hands oah thou which triest mee by Satan and settest mee oftentimes on thy left hand And if anie such tentation shall come as will staie mee from crieng vnto the Lord then will I sigh from the bottom of mine hart For hee knoweth euen the verie secrets of the hart and is priuie to the gronings of the spirit It is not his will that anie one euen of the least should perish Oah how great was his goodnes to mee-ward in that it pleased him to be present with me in my trooble when I did not knowe nor could marke so much For often hee preserued me from beeing vtterlie giuen ouer vnto my wicked affections Through his secret iudgement it came to passe now and then that I fell and was foiled euen in trifles that I might not waxe proude and be high minded for great things but learne through humiliation how I was nothing euen then when I seemed to stand vpright and to florish And therefore I wish you not ouer-rashlie or quicklie to commend mee though I seeme to prosper in your sight but reserue all praise vntill the good daie of my death yea rather praise the Lord and not mee Giue the glorie vnto God on high which assisted mee in all my tentations For hee deliuered mee of his mercie manie a time when I was taken of mine enemies Also when theie came as a whirlewinde to destroie mee hee sent out his arrowes and scattered them and he encreased lightnings and appaled them so that theie left me for a time Because he would not haue mee to be without that which from time to time he hath acquainted his sancts withall So that I had afterward a little quietnes and peace by the meanes of my freend Whereupon I did betake mee not vnto bodelie or worldlie but vnto spirituall ease beholding the earth a far off and casting my thoughtes vpon the secrets of heauen I gaue diligence to see what manner of person I am and how I might best please him which had reuealed vnto me so manie tokens of loue far beyond all deserts of mine And so much as in mee laie I wished continuallie for this ioiefull peace the better to cleaue vnto him and to serue him the more freelie But manie times the soule hath not her desire But sometime it is granted sometime vpon good consideration it is differred For who would not wish still to rest vnder the shade of the beloued if it might be granted him and if time and place were conuenient But now my freend worketh with mee againe I feele not affliction alwaie neither yet doo I enioie continuall rest but by an euening and morning a daie is made For this mortall life is spent in comming and going both through prosperitie and aduersitie This was in the mind of that sanct which said Thou doost visit him in the morning and triest him euerie moment Notwithstanding it seemeth a kinde of rest if the enimie doo neither too often nor too importunatelie assaile And therefore when it shall be granted mee euen a little to rest my selfe sweetelie in my beloued I will take it in good part and reioice I will reioice I saie yea and alwaie reioice for that grace of God Moreouer it maketh mee bolde to praie vnto him in all my necessities because he hath freelie preuented mee so oftentimes with his mercifull visitation For when he dooth but approch minding to keepe holie daie with mee euen then suddainlie there shineth a light
not holde it But if you could not hold it confesse that you receaued it from aboue And therefore ascribe all the honor to the mercie of God and openlie confesse how without mee you can doo nothing Consider both in what steede I stand you and how able also I am to confirme you in all goodnes Where were you before I called you but weltering in sin and wickednes And now how would you wander if I directed you not Yea and when also went it well with you if you had not my fauor S. And I said At no time sweete Lord. Thou alone art my singular good freend in all things and aboue all most faithfull L. Whie then did you purpose so wickedlie with your selfe to go after strange louer What misliked you in mee was it either my maiestie or my bewtie S. Ah Lord there is none comparable to thee either for bewtie or for glorie or for riches or for auctoritie neither in heauen nor in earth is anie like vnto thee For thou onlie art most hie ouer all creatures The heauens are thine the earth also is thine thou hast laide the foundation of the world and all that therein is Much it is that thou hast imparted vpon thy creatures by which thy bewtie wisedome and goodnes doth appeere but yet in comparison of thy blessed and glorious presence it is nothing So that by experience I haue learned now that I cannot lack thy companie one houre together but with much griefe to my soule L. Returne therefore vnto mee thou hast hetherto wandered enough about Let not hence-forth to be more staied and milde and faithfull yea and to trust in mee not onlie in the daie of my gratious visitation but much more in the night of tentation I haue let you slip that beeing wearied you might returne vnto mee the more speedelie and beeing frustrate of outward comfort at length vnderstand how much you are bound vnto mee that so often haue called vnto you And therefore liften now at the last for it is not without cause that sometime you are forsaken that you are cold sometime in zeale that it irketh you that you are ouer-wearied with tentations that on all sides you are afflicted that you can neither finde anie counsaile nor feele comfort but are enforced to endure anguish and miserie at all times and in all places I am absent to the end you may knowe how needfull it is that I bee present with you not onlie in one matter or in a speciall cause but in euerie action in all places and times so well earlie as late wheresoeuer you shall become goe or stand For this will teach you to walke warelie with your freend to absteine from vanities and to take heede of offenses I doo leaue you that you maie well vnderstand how much you are bound to loue mee that is that you maie see a manner how to loue mee in deede It is verie true you thought your selfe more stout and happie than in truth you were but when I did once withdraw mine aide from you a litle it then appeered to the world how you were verie poore and miserable How shall your loue be knowen vnlesse you beare my yoake with patience Sometime I see you to waxe sluggish and therefore I doo hide my selfe for an houre like a freend standing behinde the wall that you maie be stirred vp the more zelouslie to seeke mee I knowe for my part and I see all things but troublous trials which are good for manie causes doo make you the more heedie and wise in all your actions Moreouer if you loue mee you will not waxe the more sluggish in seeking mee for all this if you like mee you will seeke mee What Wot you not how riches painfullie come by are kept most carefullie Who so wisheth rest as the wearied man Who loueth so kindlie as hee which hath sighed most heauelie And is not that iewell which was lost and is found againe much more esteemed than before it was So euen so is the ioie duble and the mirth dubled at the long wished presence of the beloued And therefore it is much for your profit that I withdrawe my selfe because I doo it not for anie ill will to you-wards but vpon verie good cause so do I dallie with my freends Let it suffice you at this time that you haue bin in my fauor to heare so much at my mouth Besides when you haue neede returne vnto mee and feare not For I neuer shut mine eares against that person which humblie and earnestlie crieth for mine assistance CHAP. 18. 1. The confidence of a true Christian 2. God iustifieth the vngodlie 3. giueth whatsoeuer good is to man 4. will haue no man to despeire 5. but that all sinners should flie vnto his mercie MY Lord God will helpe mee therefore shall I not be confounded S. Let it grieue no bodie though I loue much to speake with my Lord God whose goodnes hath allured and inflamed mee both to praie and to meditate in such sort that me thinks I should be too hard and vnkinde if I made none answere vnto his woords But happelie some one will saie against mee Therefore neither doo you feare God seeing you are a foule sinner vnworthie euen to liue in this world Whence is it that you dare so presume in your hart And being the least and vilest of all others with what face can you thrust forth your selfe so to talke with your Lord God Whome doo you make your selfe Oah my louing Lord doo thou answere on my behalfe For the mouth of the wicked is opened vpon mee If I would iustifie my selfe mine owne mouth shall condemne mee And though I were cleane yet did not my soule knowe so much Oah Lord thou knowest my follie and my shamefastnes Speake thou on my behalfe and I full gladlie will keepe silence L. Giue thou none heede to the woords of the wicked but rather doo thou remember how I haue saide I came not to call the righteous but the sinners vnto repentance Am not I to doo what I will Who maie resist my pleasure If I thinke it good to showe fauor to thee-ward though little thou deserue the same at mine hands who shall reprooue me therefore Hee that is without sin let him throwe the first stone at thee But if theie all the pack of them are sinners with what face can theie finde fault with my fauor to thee-ward You haue not chosen mee but my mercie did preuent you Dareth anie yet murmure against you for comming vnto me Comfort thy selfe his murmure is not against thee but flatlie against my person because it is I that receaue and â—eate with sinners And whie ought you not to chaâ—enge mine acquaintance the which 〈◊〉 reioice to offer rather than to withdrawe from anie one S. Oah gratious Lord laie not this â—in to their charge but to mee and to
zelous and the more carefull in saieng thou Christ art my Sauior both in mine hart and with my mouth in companie and in my chamber and in the garden and in the field and in all places wheresoeuer I shall bee And now what more shall I aske of thee ô Christ my Sauior What is better or more profitable or more necessarie especiallie for mee a great sinner than to finde fauor in thy sight ô Christ my Sauior And therefore it is that I haue desired and still do craue euen that by thine intercession and meanes I maie haue the grace of God thy Father who as both thy selfe hast said and the Apostle doth witnesse hast all power giuen thee both in heauen and earth There is no praier more welcome to thee than this is nor anie thing more necessarie for mee than the grace and fauor of God If I haue the grace of God whatsoeuer else I do wante I am rich enough For what is all mine endeuoring if I lâ—ck that Againe what can I not doo if I be assisted and holpen thereby I see that manie and diuers are my wicked affections but yet against all passions the grace of God is a most effectuall medicine and if once it come it will mitigate them all I doo also stand in neede of spirituall wisedome and knowledge but the grace of God is a most excellent teacher and instructor of heauenlie knowledge and is able euen suddenlie to instruct mee in whatsoeuer things are necessarie vnto saluacion For to require more than is necessarie or to desire to vnderstand more than is lawfull to be knowen is against the will of God whose pleasure is that wee should be humbled vnder his hand and contented with his grace Wherefore obteine this grace for mee ô Christ which is so noble and pretious that in deed I ought neither to desire or craue any other thing than grace for grace CHAP. 24. A Praier for comfort vnto Iesus Christ. GRace is poured into thy lips Oah my Lord I beseeche thee at the length now vouchsafe to speake vnto mee ô Christ. Open thy mouth in thine owne name who art full of all spirituall graces L. I am the fountaine of mercie full of loue and sweetnes I am the ladder for sinners the hope and pardon of the guiltie I am the comfort of the sorowfull and the speciall ioie of all sanctes Come vnto mee so manie as loue mee and fill your selues at the breasts of my comfort because I am good and mercifull to all which crie vnto mee Come vnto mee both righteous and sinners I will sue vnto the Father for you I will entreate him to bee good vnto you and to fill you with the holie Ghost I call euerie one I looke for all I desire to haue all to come vnto me I despise no sinner but with the angels in heauen I reioice exceedinglie ouer that sinner which repenteth and so commeth into the fauor of God for no one drop of my blood which I shed for the world is in vane Therefore come vnto mee yee sonnes of men consider and behold my zeale for you vnto God my Father Lo I haue taken his wrath vpon my selfe I haue borne his displesure yea and continuallie doo I make supplication for you vnto him whome you knowe right well you haue greeuouslie offended Turne then and approch repent and of my woord you shall haue pardon For lo I stand betweene heauen and earth betweene God and sinners and that this world perish not I obteine through my praiers Wherefore abuse not my goodnes and mercie but beware of offending least when you litle thinke thereof indignation be powred vpon you and intolerable vengeance I doo forewarne you as children I beseech you as freends be you perfect as your heauenlie Father is perfect Forget not mee who haue bin and am and will be mindfull of you For I do both pittie such as are in miserie and I do entreate for those which crie vnto mee S. O gratious speech and full of all comforte O heauenlie voice sweetelie dropping froÌ„ heauen to the comforting of sinners reioicing of the righteous O celestiall musick howe sweetelie doost thou resounde in a desperate conscience Whence is it that the Sauior of mankinde will thus talke with mee Blessed art thou ô Christe and blessed are the wordes of thy mouth For honie is vnder thy tongue and the sauor of thy speech excelleth all sweetenes My soule was mollefied so soone as thou spakest ô Christ. Behold no sooner did thy voice sounde in mine eares but my soule within did spring for ioie For my spirit reuiued within mee and all mine entralls were filled with newe comforte because good and ioiefull thinges are tolde mee this daie by you I was dolefull but now I am iocund because of your wordes For your voice is sweete in mine eares I was grieued and desolate but now I am reuiued and made merrie For thou hast sent thine hande from on hie and touched mee whereby of weake I am become strong Scarse could I speake but now I haue a good minde to sing and to praise thee highlie I was loth to liue and now I am willing to die because I haue thee Christ for mine aduocate with the Father to whose mercie I commend my selfe euen from this time for euer and euer For since first you began to speake vnto the harte of thy desolate orphane I haue bin changed into a better state and greatlie comforted in my minde I was almost at the doore of desperation but thy comfort came and lifted mee vp with these woordes L. What is the matter Sonne and who are they which would hurt thee Feare not I will see vnto thee my sonne I doo liue with God my Father and I sit at his right hand beeing a faithfull hie Priest and an intercessor for thy sinns In mee thou shouldest repose thy trust because I doo both giue life and destroie death I was incarnate of a virgine in time but of my Father begotten before all times and when the fulnes of time came I suffered for mans saluation Lo I am the hope and comfort of the godlie and by mee is faith and victorie attained And therefore let neither mee nor these things be out of thy minde and thou wilt not feare anie dartes of Satan S. Oah happie houre ô blessed state that my Lord and Sauior will vouchsafe to comfort on this wise my trubled hart Oah that I might still heare thy so comfortable words for greatlie doo theie inflame and moue mee and touch mee euen at the verie harte O blessed Christ thou neuer cessest to send forth the sweete milke of heauenlie consolation For by reason of the abundance of thy grace thou canst not denie fauor to such as craue the same at thine hands yet often thou showest much mercie euen to the verie sinner O Christ thou excellest in pittifulnes in
mercie and in louing O Sauior to whome none is to be compared thou art aboue all to be loued and to be worshipped O Sonne of God by whome wee are also the sonnes of God and of whome we are called Christians thou art of all good men to be serued most religiouslie and aboue all O freend of all freends King of heauen and earth Lord of angels conqueror of diuels drawe mee after thee least I fall and so rest vnder the heauie burden of sin Poure out thy grace send mee thy comfortable dewe from aboue that trulie I maie perceaue how thou art the procurer and the open fountance of all mercie L. I am in deede the spring of holie loue and of chaste and religious feare of godlie conference and of sweete consolation Therefore when you doo heare my name reioice with your whole hart and magnifie the goodnes of your God In honoring mee you honor the Father which is God as I am For I am Iesus the Sonne of God and this name shal I haue while the world endureth But what is Iesus euen the Sonne of the liuing God the Sauior of the world the King of heauen and earth the Lord of Angels the redeemer of the faithfull and the iudge of quick and dead And what is Iesus the hope of the godlie the comfort of the desolaâ—e the peace of the meeke the riches of the poore the glorie of the humble the strength of the weake the waie of such as wander the light of such as see not the staff of such as walke not the oile of such as feele not the staie of the oppressed the helpe of the troobled and the singular refuge of all good men Blesse the Sonne with the Father and so God will blesse you Giue honor also and glorie to the Father whensoeuer you praise mee His glorie is my ioie and my praise is his worship Place mee and the Father as a seale vpon thine hart and as a token vpon thine arme Therefore sit you or stand you or praie or reade or wright or worke you let my name Iesus and God be often reuerendlie in your mouth but continuallie in your harte S. O grante it maie be so good Iesus and let all people tribes and tonges serue thee and let all creatures bowe at thy presence Let heauen saie Raigne thou Iesus let the earth make answere yea for euer and euer let him raigne Yea let all Sanctes confesse thy glorious Name and all good people reioice before the Father and thee his lambe and our Lord Iesus Christ Amen CHAP. 25. That for God his benefits we are to thanke him BLessed be the glorious Name of the Lord for euermore O Lord my God let all my dooings all my reading all my wrighting my thoughtes words and vnderstanding tend vnto the aduancement of thine honor Yea let mee both begin my busines in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing That which thou hast giuen that receaue againe and from whence the streames doo flowe thether let them returne It neuer goeth better with mee neither dooth it realish better to my soule than when vnfeinedlie I doo ascribe all to thee whatsoeuer I haue either doon or thought as I should My desire is to render thankes which I then doo as I ought when for that I haue receaued and thou hast giuen I ascribe all praise to thee and nothing to my selfe For what can I a wicked and vnprofitable seruant render vnto thee my God Alas all that I can doo yea if I should doo all which thou commandest to be doon it is to none effect So that I am brought vnto nothing and rightlie humbled And in deede it is verie well that I am so brought downe that thou alone maist bee iustified and haue the praise of all and that vile dust maie at no time glorie in it selfe Howbeit I minde not to surcesse but will extoll thee both with hart and mouth For albe I discharge not my dutie therein as I ought yet ought I to speake of thy goodnes and not be silent O my God thou art my glorie my praise shall alwaies be of thee He that would but a little consider of thy glorie and knowe what it is to glorie in the Lord how would he despise all outward glorie He that would euen but a little taste of thy sweetnes how quicklie would he loath as most bitter the pleasure of this world He which would receaue euen but a small sparcle of loue into his breaste howe would hee burne in affection For full gladlie would hee contemne all thinges to haue thy freendship and would count it all sweete and easie to be borne whatsoeuer he should doo or suffer for thy loue sake Hee that would consider in his minde thy goodnes to man-ward how would he reioice and run after thee Hee would seeke nothing so charelie he would keepe nothing so warelie he would pursue nothing so egerlie as to serue thee For in louing he would feele no burden because loue would beare all burdens So then theie which complaine of the burden doo plainlie declare how theie haue litle true loue in them To serue of loue is of all others the greatest pleasure and comfort in labor True loue dooth neither respect commoditie nor feare damage but in all things seeketh that which may please thee Oah Christ how sweete is thy loue how well dooth it sound how sweetlie dooth it enter how stronglie dooth it binde Oah that it would fast binde mee to thy continuall seruice oah that it would wholie take me and wholie subdue me and wholie and altogether make me to be thine For then and not before am I free when I am taken of thy loue and vtterlie depriued from all that mine is O my Lord I am thy seruant yea thy seruant am I because thou hast redeemed mee I am thy seruant with a verie good will and am not ashamed to be properlie thine I wish not to be mine owne man againe and therefore Lord helpe mee that I maie be freed from that which naturallie is mine Oah blowe and kindle and inflame the fire of my zeale so shall mine hart boile and become pure cleare and pleasant for thy loue expelleth vice and consumeth sin Laie thou fast hold vpon the band of loue and I shall stand and continue in thy seruice Full well I wot no good can my seruice doo you Lord but all the benefit redoundeth to my selfe if I doo that which I knowe is acceptable in thy sight Would I did and hid not that I reuealed and concealed not thy workes Lord When shall I be able worthelie to consider the manifold benefits conferred vpon mee of God! Mercifullie hast thou delt with thy seruant ô Lord but alack I neuer thanked thee for the same as thou deseruedst And therefore am
I punished and pinched at the verie harte euen because I am vnable to answere thy benefits so great and so manifold Oah that I could euen but once worthelie and thoroughlie thanke thee for all these things But what maie proceede from him in whome nothing is An emptie vessell can minister no drinke What then shall I doo Something I must giue For it is not lawfull to come before God with an emptie hand Because the Lord abhorreth the vngratefull man Oah that I could finde something in this world to giue you that might be acceptable in your sight Oah my Lord whome in hart I loue what would you that I should giue you As for anie good thing of mine you neede it not And whie then exact you a gift at mine hands For riches none is comparable to you and yet require you some-what of mee L. That which I demaunde is euen your selfe wholie For so it is expedient if you would purchase my fauour I will giue grace to you and you shall showe grace to mee and so loue shall be continued betweene vs. Giue mee your selfe and you haue giuen euen all S. O good Iesus the fountane of all goodnes the fountane of life the fountane of grace the fountane of sweetenes the verie fountane of aie lasting wisdome powre vpon mee euen at this instant I beseech thee the gift of thy celestiall grace and teach mee to be gratefull and to giue my selfe before all thinges wholie vnto you for this is the deerest thing that I can render This I doo knowe and acknowledge Therefore receaue mee lo I am wholie thine and all that mine is is thine Onlie one thing there is which I cannot giue and that is my sin which is mine indeede properlie and therefore not to be imputed vnto thee Sinne mine is and all defaultes within me are to be ascribed to me onlie but glorie and for all thy benefits thankes be vnto thee But nowe in calling thy benefits into minde of manie I gather onlie a fewe and those which doo most of all moue mee and appeere in my mind For neither wil the time suffer to recite neither can my thoughtes comprehend them all Because for number theie are infinite for greatnes incomprehensible and inestimable for goodnes For bought theie cannot bee because theie are freelie giuen And therefore onlie thankes be required for them otherwise all shall be taken awaie as from that vngratefull one First therefore and afore all things I thanke thee ô Lord my God creator of all things for making mee a man after thine image and similitude and for placing mee ouer the workes of thine hands This is the great and first benefit bestowed vpon mee and that of thy meere goodnes For I made not my selfe but thine handes did fashion mee theie brought me into this world through my parents whome thy will was should serue thee herein And lo I am better than other creatures exalted aboue the beastes of the fielde and birdes of the aër in that I am facioned after thine image endued with eternall wisedome and naturallie participate of the light vncreate and of the vnchangeable truth Wherefore for my beeing liuing and vnderstanding I giue thee euerlasting praise wishing and desiring herewithall that all creatures both in heauen and earth maie euerlastinglie commend thy glorious and most excellent name I blesse thee ô Father Lord of heauen and earth who of nothing through thy onlie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ in the holie Ghost hast created all things Yea al things thou hast made not of necessirie compelled but of pure and special loue moued therunto therby to showe thy power vnto the sons of men and by thine inuisible and coëternall wisedome with thee thou hast most perfectlie disposed this visible world Let all thy creatures subiect in all things to thee and ordeined for the vse of man blesse thee For at thy commandement both raine falleth from heauen and fructe springeth from the earth The sunne shineth brightlie in the daie time the starres giue light by course in the night The fountanes spring the riuers flowe and fishes of diuers kindes doo swim The birdes not onlie flie but sing also and the goates the coltes and hartes doo spring vpon the mountaines The sheep and other cattell dop ioie in good pasture and diuers other liuing creatures doo run about the groaues The ground waxeth greene the fieldes prosper and trees of the wood doo yeeld both bowes and fructe O Lord which onlie doost woonderous things euen all these are thy woorkes Another benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee is the mysterie of incarnation the worke of my redemption the price of our saluation euen the fructe of thy passion and death O greate worke of mercie Oah worke of moste excellent loue moste abiect humilitie of moste rare patience No man could merit nor Angel procure this thing The Prophets haue wondered at it the Apostles haue seene taught it the faithfull haue embraced it and the elect especiallie doo loue and call it into minde The due consideration of this benefit stirreth vp good desires inflameth the harte nurisheth deuotion inlighteneth the minde purgeth the affection draweth on to heauen-ward with-draweth from the world driueth vnto God and vniteth the soule with Christ. This benefit far excelleth the aboue mentioned yet there is one which gaue each and hath bestowed both of them vpon vs euen our Lord Iesus Christ. For what the better had I bin for my life if I had not bin redeemed with the pretious blood of my Sauior Christ Therefore the grace and mercie of God grewe vpon me and plenteous redemption was made for the corrupted nature of man without the aide of God his maker could neuer haue bin repared O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thou to redeeme thy damned seruant hast giuen thine onlie Sonne to the death O wonderfull I kindnes of thine to vs ward vnto which neither the wit of man nor the vnderstanding of Angels can attaine But alone sweete Christe who art the beginning and the ende of our saluation and alone couldst helpe the miserable and damned thou alone art priuie to the same For thou didest vouchsafe to appeere vnto the world in the likenes of a most vile seruant and for mortall wormes euen of meere pittie receauedst with a willing minde the iudgement of a cruell death O good Iesus thou which art the fountaine of mercie the light of aie lasting glorie the pure glasse without spot of God his maiestie kindle mine harte with the meditation of this vnspeakeable benefit bestowed vpon mee and vpon all mankinde But this as was the former is generall sufficient to saue all but not effectual in all by reason of the incredulitie and malice of manie howbeit it saueth and is profitable to all the elect for whose sake all things
things both in heauen and in earth but small things in thine eies SOVLE Surelie I take all things but for trifles MAN What then seekest thou Whome would you haue without these And where will you finde him if not in these things Hath he either name or place or habitation to be sought by Where is the place where his honor dwelleth of which in a certaine psalme thou sangest saying O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honor dwelleth Make answere I praie thee For if thou canst show mee him I will go with thee and wee will seeke him together yea and he shall be thy God and my God and wee shall be full happie when wee haue found him and hold him SOVLE What aske you this at mine hands Or whie so curiouslie do you enquire of this matter of me Thinke you I can or am able to vtter such things What though gladlie I would conceaue not yet that what through the rarenes of the thing and the deepnes of the mysterie I am restrained back What aske you mee Aske them who haue both heard and seene they are such as better can describe him whome you seeke But rather aske him that knoweth all things For he it is of whome we speake that both best can tell you who himselfe is yea and best declare the place of his owne aboade Euen he it is and none other which teacheth man knowledge and giueth his grace also to the humble Make recourse vnto him which reuealeth himselfe when hee will and to whome he will neither is there anie beside him that can open Hee alone can reueale to thee what the ioie is of such as loue him and that far more excellentlie than I can tell you MAN But why speake you on this wise ô holie and humble Soule Thinke not that I would know that of you which neither ought to bee knowen nor can bee vttered Keep your secret to your selfe let your doore still abide shut vpon you let the seale of faith remaine vncancelled neither let the vale for me bee remoued from the sanctuarie Eate you holie bread by your selfe in the chappell go in into the tabernacle of your house ascend into the vpper parlor enter into the cellar of the eternall king or which is more noble and soundeth more sweetlie euen into the bride-chamber of your celestiall spouse I know it is written It is not good to take the childrens bread and to cast it to whelps I know this I saie and haue read it but marke againe what followeth and take pittie vpon me according to the words of her that said The whelpes doo eate of the â—romms which fall from their maisters table And therefore hide not that fro mee which I demaund but of the greatnes of your inward pleasures poure-out euen a sparcle of the firie loue Giue me one small drop of pretious wine send forth some little sauour of the best ointment whose chiefest part and louelie comâ—ort is well and vsuallie knowne to thee that I also maie taste thereof Whie linger you Satisfie my desire and open the doore to a freend now at this third knock O beloued speake of the welbeloued let not mee bee neglected If you cannot describe him rightlie as he is yet speake of him so well as you can For indeed as he is who is able to describe him Yea who is able to conceaue the describer Therefore if not as in himselfe he is yet tell me what thou thinkest of him If not what to himselfe yet vtter out how good hee hath bin to thee For who euer shall search forth what he is in himselfe Thou wilt neuer doo it because thou hast plainlie confessed and not denied how speaking of him Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for me it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it Whether shall I goe from thy Spirit If then thou art not able to knowe thine owne spirit which the creator and quickner of all spirits hath made how at anie time wilt thou knowe him which is vncreated Did not this make thee all amazed to saie O Lord who is like vnto thee Notwithstanding of all frendship by some similitude describe him whose essence thou hast not yet attained vnto Neither is it for you to denie to showe him in part whome you thinke can not wholie bee reuealed S. I must needs saie you are too curious and importune vpon mee Thou searchest all my priuities and lettest in thine hand into the secrets of my chamber I sent thee vnto him and commest thou againe vnto mee Seeke you mee or him But I praie you of what spirit art thou Bee still I beseech thee and trouble mee not For whome thou seekest hee is aboue mee M. But can hee that seeketh after God so easelie giue ouer Protract not to speake for you maie comfort mee forth-with How long will you keepe mee in suspense What doo you saie and vnsaie As I liue I will not giue ouer except you blesse mee For I compt it a blessing if thou showe mee my God Now therefore if thou hast seene him tell mee plainlie and I will take him vpon my shoulders S. I knowe thou hast a great desire and a loue vnto the creator But a great thing is it which you require at mine hands and such a thing as I am in doubt whether it maie be done or no. Hee whome thou seekest knoweth it right well for it is not in mee to let thee know so much Your demaund seemeth vnto mee to be like that of the Spouse which in the Songs did saie Show mee ô thou whome my soule loueth where thou feedest Wilt thou then learne of me who this is or what good hee hath done with mee Doubtlesse it is not in mee to show you But you are not content neither his greatnes who exceedeth the heauens can deterre you nor my weakenes which in his eies am nothing make you to desist Whie hast thou laid this burden vpon mee I am not able to tell thee vntill I goe into the sanctuarie of God and vnderstand the same Whie are you so desirous to know that which maie not be vttered M. And will you not Oh how faine would I bee instructed For those things wee are most earnest to know which the most hardlie maie bee reuealed Notwithstanding once againe I praie you be not so hard as altogether to be silent Thinke not that forthwith I will vtter what you shall saie vnto our enemies I will keepe your saieng as a friend yea as a verie friend ought to doo You maie boldlie tell mee your mind secretlie Lo wee two be heere alone neither I with lightnes nor you with arrogancie are delighted but in him which hath giuen vs vnderstanding euen of him will wee speake And if happelie he come while we are talking let vs giue place and let him be betweene vs. If he vouchsafe