recollect my selfe in thee that for thy loue I may not feele my selfe but thee alone aboue all sense and feeling in a manner not knowne vnto all But now I oftentimes lament Dan. 13. and beare my infelicity with griefe For that many euells occurr in this vale of miseries which do often trouble grieue and darken me often hinder and distract me allure and intangle me to the end I should not haue free accesse vnto thee and that I should not enioy those sweet and heauenly imbracings which thou alwaies giuest to the blessed and celestiall spirits Let my sighes and manifold desolation on earth mooue thee 4. O Iesus splendor of eternall glory and comfort of the pilgrime soule with thee is my tongue without voice and my silence speaketh vnto thee How long doth my Lord delay to come Let him come vnto me his poore seruant and make me glad Let him put out his hand and deliuer me miserable wretch from al anguish Come come blessed Lord for without thee I shall haue no ioy full day nor houre Thou art my ioy and without thee there is nothing but want A wretched creature I am and in a manner imprisoned and loaden with irons vntill thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence and giuest me liberty and shewest a fauourable countenance vnto me 5. Let others seeke what they please insteed of thee but for me nothing els doth nor shall delight me but thou only my God my hope my euerlasting health I will not hould my peace nor cease to pray vntill thy grace returne againe and thou speake inwardly vnto me Behould †Our Lord. I am heere behould I come vnto thee because thou hast called vpon me Thy teares and the desire of thy soule thy humility and the contrition of thy hart haue inclined and brought me vnto thee And * The Seruant I said Lord I haue called thee and haue desired to enioy thee being ready to forsake all things for thee For thou first hast stirred me vp that I might seeke thee Blessed be thou therfore o Lord that hast shewed this goodnes to thy seruant according to the multitude of thy mercies 6. What hath thy seruant more to say before thee but that he do greatly humble himselfe in thy sight alwaies mindfull of his owne iniquity and basenes For there is none like vnto thee in all whatsoeuer is wonderful Ps â—5 in heauen and earth Thy words are good thy iudgments true and by thy prouidence all things are gouerned Praise therfore and glory be vnto thee o wisdome of the eternall Father let my tongue my soule all creatures togeather praise and blesse thee CHAP. XXII Of the remembrance of the manifould benefits of God OPEN * The Seruant o Lord my hart in thy Law and teach me to walke in thy commandements Grant me to vnderstand thy will * Ps 118. and to remember thy benefits as well in generall as in particuler with great reuerence diligent consideration that hence forward I may be able worthily to giue thee thanks But I know and confesse that I am not able to giue thee due thanks for the fauours which thou bestowest vpon me euen in the least moment I am lesse then the least of thy benefits when I consider the excelleÌ„cy of thy Maiesty the greatnes therof maketh my spirit to faint 2. All that we haue in our soule and body and whatsoeuer we possesse outwardly or inwardly naturally or spiritually are thy benefits and do praise thee as bountifull pious and good from whome we haue receaued all that is good Although one hath receaued more another lesse all notwithstanding are thine and without thee euen the least cannot be had He that hath receaued greater cannot glory of his owne desert nor extoll himselfe aboue others nor insult ouer the lesser for he is greater and better that ascribeth least vnto himselfe and is more humble deuout in rendring thanks And he that esteemeth him selfe basest of all men and iudgeth himselfe most vnworthy is fittest to receaue greater blessings 3. And he that hath receaued fewer ought not to be sory nor beare it impatiently nor enuy them that are enriched with greater store but attend rather vnto thee and chiefly praise thy goodnes for that thou bestowest thy gifts so bountifully so freely and so willingly without respect of persons All things proceed from thee and therfore in all things thou art to be praised Thou knowest what is fit to be giuen to euery one and why this man hath lesse and he more it is not ours but thine to determine who dost waigh in iust measure the deserts of euery one 4. Wherfore my Lord God I esteeme it as a great benefit not to haue much wherby outwardly and before men I might seeme worthy of praise and glory so that he who considereth his owne pouerty and basenes ought not therfore to conceaue griefe or sorrow or to be therfore troubled but rather to take great comfort and to be glad for that thou O God hast chosen the poore and humble 1. Cor. 1. and the despised of this world for thy selfe Ps 44. and for thy familiar domesticall friends 2. Thess 2. Witnesses are thy Apostle themselues whome thou hast appointed princes ouer all the earth And yet they liued without complaint in the world so humble and simple meane to the eyes of men without all malice and deceipt Act. 5. that they reioyced to receaue coÌ„tumelies for thy name and what the world abhorreth they imbraced with great affection 5. Nothing therefore ought so to reioice him that loueth thee and acknowledgeth thy benefits as the accomplishment of thy will in himselfe and the pleasure of thy eternal appointment wherwith he ought to be so contented and comforted that he would as willingly be the least as any would wish to be the greatest as peaceable content in the last as in the first place and as willingly to be despised and contemned and to be of no esteeme or accompt as to be preferred in honour before all others and to be greater in the world For thy will and the loue of thy glory ought to be preferred before all things and to comfort him more and please him better then all the benefits which he hath receaued or can desire CHAP. XXIII Of soure thinges that bring much peace SONNE †Our Lord. now I will teach thee the way of peace and true liberty Do * The Seruant Lord I beseech thee as thou saist for I shall be very glad to heare it Endeauour †Our Lord. Matt. 26. Io. 5.6 1. Cor. 10. my Sonne to do rather the will of another then thine owne Euer choose rather to haue lesse then more Alwaies seeke the lowest place and to be inferior to euery one Wish alwaies and pray Lue. 14. that the will of God may be wholy fulfilled in thee Behold such a man entreth into the limits
imagine oftentimes those things that are pleasing to the flesh If I loue the spirit I delight to think of spirituall things For whatsoeuer I loue thereof do I willingly speake and heare and carry home with me the formes and representations thereof O blessed is that man that for thee o Lord forsaketh all creatures that violently resisteth nature and out of the feruour of spirit crucifieth the concupiscences of the flesh that with a cleare conscience he may offer sincere praiers vnto thee be worthy of the cōpany of the angelical quiers all earthly things outwardly and inwardly being excluded CHAP. XLIX Of the desire of euerlasting life how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly SONNE †Our Lord. when thou perceauest the desire of euerlasting bliss to be giuen thee from aboue desirest to depart out of the Tabernacle of this body that thou maist without shaddow of any enterchange behould my light open thy hart and receaue this holy inspiratiō with thy whole desire Giue great thanks to the heauenly goodnesse that dealeth with thee so fauourably visiteth thee mercifully stirreth thee vp fernently houldeth thee vp powerfully least through thme owne weight thou fall downe to the vanities of the earth Neither doest thou obtaine this by thine owne thought or endeauour but by the only fauour of heauenly grace and diuine boūty that thou maist profit in vertue and obtaine greater humility and prepare thy selfe to future battailes and endeauour to cleaue vnto me with the whole affectiō of thy hart and serue me with a feruent desire 2. Sonne fire often burneth but the flame ascēdeth not vp without smoke so likewise the desires of some men are earnestly carried to heauenly things yet they are not free from temptation of carnall affection and therfore it is not altogeather purely for the honour of God that which they so earnestly request of him Such is also oftentimes thy desire which with such importunity thou presentest vnto me For that is not pure and perfect which is infected and defiled with the loue of thine owne proper commodity and interest 3. Aske not that which is delightsome and profitable to thee but that which is gratefull to me and appertaineth to my honour for if thou iudgest aright thou oughtest to preferre and follow my appointment rather then thine owne desire or any desired thing I know thy desire and haue heard thy often grones Now thou wouldest be in the freedome of the glory of the Sonnes of God now doth the euerlasting habitation the heauenly Countrey full of ioy delight thee but this houre is not yet come it is yet another time to wit of warre time of labour and triall Thou desirest to be filled with the chiefest good but thou canst not attaine it for the present Iob. 7. I am he saith our Lord expect vntill the Kingdome of God doth come 4. Thou art yet to be tryed vpon earth and to be exercised in many things Comfort shall be sometimes giuen thee but aboūdant fulnes therof shall not be granted Iosue 1. Take courage therfore and be constant as well in doing as in suffering things contrary to nature Eph. 4. Thou oughtest to put on a new man and to be chāged into another Thou must oftentimes do that which thou wouldest not and leaue vndone that thou wouldest do That which is pleasing to others shall go well forwards that which thou wishest shall not speed That which others say shal be heard what thou saist shall be nothing regarded Others shall aske shall receaue thou shalt aske and not obtaine 5. Others shall be great in the praises of men but of thee there shall be no speach to others this or that shall be committed but thou shalt be accompted fit for nothing At this nature will sometimes repine and it is much if thou endurest it with silence In these and such like a faithfull seruant of our Lord is wont to be tryed how he can deny and ouercome himselfe in all thinges There is scarce any thing wherein thou hast such need to mortifie thy selfe as in seeing and suffering those things that are contrary to thy will especially when that is commanded which seemeth vnto thee inconuenient or to little purpose And for that thou being placed vnder authority darest not resist a higher power therfore it seemeth hard vnto thee to walke at the becke of another to leaue wholy thine owne opinion 6. But consider Sonne the fruit of these labours the end neere at hand the reward aboue all measure and thou shalt receaue no griefe therby but great comfort of thy patience For in regard of that little of thy will which now thou willingly forsakest thou shalt alwaies haue thy will in heauen There thou shalt haue all that thou wilt or canst desire there thou shalt enioy all good without feare of loosing it there shall thy will be euer one with me it shall desire nothing strange or priuate there no man shall withstand thee no man complaine of thee no man hinder thee nothing come against thee but all things desired shall be there togeather present and delight thy whole desire and fulfill it to the highest degree there I will giue thee glory for the reproach which heere thou sufferedst a garment of praise for former griefe for the lowest place a seat of an euerlasting Kingdome there shall the fruite of obedience appeare the labour of pēnance reioyce humble subiection shal be gloriously crowned 7. Now therfore bow thy selfe with great humility vnder the hands of all and regard not who said or cōmaunded this but take great heed that whether thy Superiour or thy Inferiour or thine equall require any thing of thee or doe insinuate their desire thou take it all in good part and endeauour to fulfill it with a sincere intention Let one seeke this another that let him glory in this the other in that and be praised a thousand thousand times but do thou neither reioyce in this nor in that but in the contempt of thy selfe and in my pleasure and honour alone This art thou to wish that whether by life or death God may be alwaies glorified in thee CHAP. L. How a desolate person ought to offer himselfe into the hands of God LORD God * The Seruant Holy Father thy holy name be now and for euer blessed because as thou wilt so is it done and what thou doest is good Let thy seruant reioyce in thee not in himselfe nor any thing els for thou alone art the true gladnes thou art my hope and my crown thou art my ioy and my honour o Lord. What hath thy seruant 1. Cor. 4. but what he hath receaued from thee euen without any desert of his Thine is al that thou hast giuen whatsoeuer thou hast made I am poore and in labours from my youth Psal 87. and sometimes my soule is heauy euen vnto teares sometimes also it is troubled in
how sweet and comfortable a thing it is to see the seruants of Christ feruent and deuout endued with vertuous and decent manners And on the contrary how pittifull and grieuous a thing it is to see them that liue in a dissolute and disordered sort not applying themselues to that for which they were called O how great domage and great danger it is to neglect the good purposes of their vocation and to busy themselues in that which appertaineth not vnto them Eccles 3. nor is committed to their care 6. Be mindfull of the purpose thou hast made and haue alwaies before the eyes of thy soule the picture of thy Sauiour crucifyed Thou hast good cause to be ashamed looking vpon the life of Christ seing thou hast so slackly endeauoured to conforme thy selfe vnto him though thou hast walked a long time in the way of the seruice of God A religious person that exerciseth himselfe seriously and deuoutly in the most holy life and passion of our Lord shall there aboundantly find whatsoeuer is necessary and profitable for him neither shall he need to seeke any thing elswhere Gal. 2. 6. but only in Iesus O if Iesus crucifyed would come into our harts how quickly and fully should we be instructed in all truth 7. A feruent religious person taketh and beareth all well that is commanded him but he that is negligent and cold hath tribulation vpon tribulation and on all sides is afflicted for he is void of inward consolation is forbidden to seck externall comforts A religious person that liueth not according to discipline is in great danger of the ruine of his soule He that seeketh liberty and ease shall euer liue in disquiet for one thing or other will alwaies displease him 8. How do so many other religious persons who liue vnder the strict rule of Monasticall discipline They seldome go abroad they liue retiredly they feed meanly they are cloathed coursely they labour much speak little watch long rise early spend much time in prayer read often and keep themselues in all kind of discipline Consider the Carthusians Cistercians and the Religious men and women of diuers Orders how they rise euery night to sing praises vnto God And how vnseemly then it is for thee to be slouthfull in so holy a worke when as so great multitudes of religious persons do begin to glorify God 9. O that we had nothing els to do but alwaies with our mouth and whole hart to praise our Lord God! O that thou mightest neuer haue need to eate nor drinke nor sleepe but mightest alwaies praise God and only imploy thy selfe in the exercises of spirit thou shouldst then be much more happy then now thou art when for so many necessities thou art cōstrained to serue thy body Would God these necessities were not at all but only the spirituall refections of the soule which alas we tast of too seldome 10. When a man commeth to that estate that he seeketh no comfort of any creature then doth he begin to take perfect contentment delight in God Then shall he be contented with whatsoeuer doth befall him in this world Then shall he neither reioyce in great matters Rom. 11. nor be sorrowfull for small but with great integrity and confidence commit himselfe to God who shall be vnto him all in all to whom nothing doth perish nor dy but all things do liue vnto him and serue him at a beck without delay 11. Remember alwaies the end Eccles 7. and how that time lost neuer returnes Without care and diligence thou shalt neuer get vertues If thou beginnest to wax could Apoc. 3. it will be euill with thee but if thou giue thy selfe to feruour of spirit thou shalt find much peace and feele lesse labour through the assistance of Gods grace and loue of vertue The feruent and diligent man is ready and prepared for all things Eccls. 19. It is harder to resist vices and passions then to toile in bodily labours He that auoideth not small faults by little and little falleth into greater Thou wilt alwaies reioyce in the euening if thou spend the day profitably Be watchfull ouer thy selfe stir vp thy selfe warne thy selfe and whatsoeuer becomes of others neglect not thy selfe The greater violence thou vsest against thy selfe the more thou shalt profit The end of the first Booke OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. Of spirituall conuersation THE kingdome of God is within you Luc 7. saith our Lord. Ioel. 2. Turne thee with thy whole hart vnto our Lord and forsake this miserable world and thy soule shall find rest Learne to despise exteriour things Rom. 19. to giue thy self to the interiour thou shalt perceaue the kingdome of God to come into thee For the king dome of God is peace and ioy in the holy Ghost which is not giuen to the wicked Christ will come vnto thee Psal 44. and shew thee his diuine comfort if thou prepare for him a worthy mansion within thee All his glory and beauty is within and there he pleaseth himselfe The inward man he often visits and hath with him sweet discourses pleasant comfort much peace wonderfull familiarity 2. O faithfull soule make ready thy hart for this bridegrome that he may vouchsafe to come vnto thee and dwell within thee For he saith If any loue me he wil keep my word and we will come vnto him Ioan. 14. and will make our aboad with him Giue therfore vnto Christ a place in thy hart and deny entrance to all others When thou hast Christ thou art rich and he wil suffice thee He will be thy faithfull and prouident helper in all things so as thou shalt not need to trust in men For men are soone changed and quickly decay but Christ remaineth for euer Ioan. 12. and standeth firmely vnto the end 3. There is little trust to be put in a fraile and mortall man Hier. 17. though he be profitable and deare vnto thee neither oughtest thou much to be grieued if somtimes he crosse and contradict thee They that to day take thy part to morrow may be against thee and so on the contrary they often turne like vnto the wind Put all thy trust in God and feare and loue him 1. Pet. 5. Heb. 13. He will answere for thee and do in al things what is best Thou hast not heere a dwelling Citty and whersoeuer thou be thou art a stranger and pilgrime neither shalt thou euer haue rest vnlesse thou be perfectly vnited vnto Christ 4. Why dost thou linger and make delaies heere Phil. 3. since this is not the place of thy rest In heauē ought to be thy dwelling Sap. 5. and all earthly things are to be regarded as it were in the way All things passe away and thou togeather with them Beware thou cleaue not vnto them least thou be enthralled and so doest perish Let thy thought be on the highest
me and let it deliuer me from all euill affection and inordinat loue and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of hart 2. I †Our Lord. will teach thee sayth the Truth those things that are right pleasing in my sight Thinke of thy sinnes with great sorrow and grief neuer esteeme thy selfe any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner and subiect to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwaies tendest to nothing and art quickly cast downe and ouercome quickly troubled quickly dissolued Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory 2. Cor. 4. but many thinges for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou art able to comprehend 3. And therfore let nothing seeme much vnto thee whatsoeuer thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderfull nothing worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is euerlasting Let the eternall Truth aboue all things please thee Let thy owne great vnworthines alwaies displease thee Feare nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy sinnes and vices which ought to displease more then the losse of any thing whatsoeuer Some walk not sincerly in my sight Eccles 3. 2. Cor. 3. but led by a certaine curiosity and pride will know my secrets and vnderstand the high mysteries of God neglecting themselues and their owne saluation These often times for that I resist them do fall into great temptations sinnes for their pride and curiosity 4. Feare the iudgments of God dread the wrath of the almighty But discusse not the works of the Highest Search thine owne iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their deuotion only in bookes some in pictures some in outward signes and figures some haue me in their mouths but little in their harts Esa 29. There are others that being illuminated in their vnderstanding and purged in their affection do alwaies aspire with an earnest mind to euerlasting happines and are vnwilling to heare of the things of this world and do serue the necessities of nature with griefe Ps 24. and these perceaue what the spirit of truth speaketh in them Because it teacheth them to despise earthly Ps 1. and loue heauenly things to neglect the world and day and night to desire heauen CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of diume grace I praise * The Seruant thee o heauenly Father Father of my lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poore and wretched creature 2. Cor. 1. O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be vnto thee who somtimes with thy comfort refreshest me vnworthy of all comfort I euer blesse and glorify thee with thy only begotten Sonne and the holy Ghost for all worlds O God my lord the holy louer of my soule when thou shalt come into my hart all that is within me will reioyce Psal 3. Thou art my glorie and the exultation of my hart Thou art my hope Ps 31. and my refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weake in loue and imperfect in vertue I haue need to be comforted by thee visit me therfore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliuer me from euill passions and heale my hart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to loue strong to suffer and constant to perseuere 3. Loue is a great matter Matt. 11. in very truth a great good which alone maketh euery thing that is heauy light and beareth equally vnequall burthens For it carrieth a burthen without a burthen and maketh euery thing that is bitter sweet and delightsome The noble loue of Iesus enforceth man to worke great things and styrreth him vp to desire allwaies the most perfect Loue will be aloft and not kept downe with any base thinges Loue will be free from all worldly affection to the end his inward sight be not obscured that he be not intangled with the desire of any transitory gaine or troubled with the want therof Nothing is sweeter then loue nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more ample nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in heauen or in earth for that loue hath his beginning from God and cannot rest but in God aboue all creatures 4. He that loueth flyeth runneth and reioyceth he is free and not held in He giueth all for all hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest aboue all from which all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the guifts but turneth himselfe aboue all goods vnto the giuer Loue oftentimes knoweth no measure but inflameth aboue all measure Loue feeleth no burthen waieth no paines desireth aboue it strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawfull and possible It is therfore able to vndertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to effect wheras he that doth not loue fainteth and can do nothing 5. Loue alwaies watcheth Rom. 8. and sleeping sleepeth not being wearied is not tyred straitned is not pressed frighted is not troubled but like a liuely flame and burning torch breaketh vpwards and passeth through all with great security If any one loueth he knoweth what this voice crieth A lowd cry in the eares of God is the burning loue of the soule which sayth My God my loue thou art wholy mine and I wholy thine 6. Enlarge me in loue that my hart may tast how sweet it is to loue and to be dissolued and swimme in thy loue Let me be possessed by loue mounting aboue my selfe with excessiue feruour and admiration Let me sing the song of loue let me follow thee on high my beloued let my soule faint in thy praises reioycing with loue Let me loue thee more then my selfe and not my selfe but for thee and all in thee that truly loue thee as the law of loue commandeth which shineth in thee 7. Loue is swift 1. Cor. 13. sincere pious sweet and delightfull strong patient faithfull prudent suffering full of courage and neuer seeking it selfe 1. Cor. 10. For where one seeketh himselfe there he falleth from loue Loue is circumspect Ps 2. humble and vpright not remisse not mutable nor attending vnto vaine things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Loue is subiect and obedient to Superiours meane and abiect to it selfe deuout and thankefull vnto God trusting and hoping alwaies in him euen then when God imparteth no sweetnes vnto it for without sorrow none liueth in loue 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloued is not worthy to be called a louer A louer ought to imbrace willingly all that is hard and distastfull for his beloued Rom. 8. and not to turne away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP. VI.
will become of thee when that light shal leaue thee Iob. 17. And when that doth happen remember the light may returne againe which for thy instruction and my glory I haue withdrawne for a time 5. Such proofe is often more profitable then if thou shouldest alwaies enioy prosperity according to thy desire For merits are not to be waighed in a man by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledg in Scriptures or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and replenished with diuine charity if he alwaies purely entirely seeke the honour of God if he esteeme himselfe nothing and with a sincere hart despise himselfe and reioyce more to be despised and humbled by others Ps 83. then to be honoured CHAP. VIII Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God SHAL * The Seruant I speake vnto my Lord sith I am dust and ashes If I esteeme better of my selfe behould thou staÌ„dest against me Gen. 18. and my iniquities beare true witnes neither can I speake against it But if I abase and esteeme nothing of my selfe cast of all selfe-conceipt and as I am accompt my selfe to be dust thy grace will be fauourable vnto me and thy light will be neere vnto my hart and all estimation how little soeuer shal be swallowed vp in the depth of my nothing and perish euerlastingly There thou shewest my selfe vnto me what I am what I haue byn and whither I am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my selfe behould I become nothing a masse of infirmity But if thou suddainly looke vpon me I am presently made strong and filled with new ioy And it is a great meruaile that I am so suddainly lifted vp and so graciously imbraced by thee that of myne owne waight alwaies sinke downward 2. Thy loue is cause heereof freely preuenting me and releeuing me in so many necessities preseruing me also from grieuous dangers and as I may truely say deliuering me from innumerable euills For surely by euill louing my selfe Ioan. 12. I lost my selfe and by seeking thee alone sincerly louing thee I haue found both my selfe and thee and for thy loue haue more deeply brought my selfe to nothing For that thou o most sweet Iesu dealest with me aboue all desert and aboue all that I dare hope and request 3. Blessed be thou my God for although I be vnworthy of all good yet the noblenes of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnes neuer ceaseth to do good euen to the vngratefull Matt. 5. and to them that be turned away far froÌ„ thee Turne vs vnto thee o Lord that we may be gratefull humble and deuout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be reserred vnto God as vnto the last end SONNE †Our Lord. I ought to be thy chiefest and last end if thou desire to betruly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinatly to it selfe and vnto creatures For if in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest vp within thy self Direct therfore all thinges chiefly vnto me for I am he that haue giuen all Eccles 1. Consider euery thing as flowing from the highest good and therfore all things are to be reduced vnto me as vnto their first beginning 2. Out of me as out of liuing fountaines the litle and the great the poore the rich Ioan. 4. do draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serue me shall receaue grace for grace 1. Cor. 1. But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particuler good shall not be grounded in true ioy nor enlarged in his hart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned Thou oughtest therfore to ascribe no good vnto thy selfe nor attribute the praise of vertue vnto any man but giue all vnto God without whome man hath nothing I haue bestowed all 1. Cor. 4. and will that all be returned to me againe and with great seuerity I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vaine-glory And if heauenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no enuy nor grudging of hart neither shall there be any place for selfe loue For diuine charity ouercommeth all enlargeth all the forces of the soule If thou vnderstand aright in me alone thou wilt reioyce in me alone thou wilt hope for none is good Matt. 19. Luc. 18. but God alone who is to be praised aboue all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God NOVV * The Seruant I will speake againe Lord and will not be silent I will say in the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnes Lord Ps 30. which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee But what art thou to them that loue thee What to them that serue thee with their whole hart Truely vnspeakable is the sweetnes of thy conteÌ„plation which thou bestowest on them that loue thee Gen. 1. In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnes of thy charity Ps 118. Matt. 15. for that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back againe that I might serue thee and hast commanded me to loue thee 2. O fountaine of euerlasting loue what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me euen when I withered away and perished Thou hast vsed mercy with thy seruant beyond all the expectation of my hart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit What shall I returne vnto thee for this grace Psal 115. For it is not graunted to euery one to forsake all things to renouÌ„ce the world and to vndertake a life of religion and perfection Is it much that I serue thee whome all creatures are bound to serue It ought not to seeme much vnto me to serue thee Iudic. 16. but this rather seemeth much and meruailous vnto me that thou vouchsafest to receaue into thy seruice one so poore and vnworthy to ioyne him with thy beloued seruants 3. Behould all is thine which I haue 1. Cor. 4. and wherby I serue thee And yet in very deed thou rather seruest me then I thee Behould heauen earth which thou hast created for the seruice of man are ready at hand and do daily performe whatsoeuer thou dost command and this is little Ps 90. Heb â—1 yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the seruice of man But that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serue man and promised to giue thy selfe vnto him 4 What shall I
giue thee for all these thousands of benefits I would I could serue thee al the daies of my life I would I were able at least for one day to do thee some worthy acceptable seruice Thou art truly worthy of all seruice of all honour euerlasting praise Thou art my Lord and I thy poore seruant that am bound to serue thee with all my forces neither ought I euer to cease to praise thee And this I wish to do this I desire and whatsoeuer is wanting vnto me vouchsafe I beseech thee to supply 5. It is a great honour a very great glory to serue thee and to despise al things for thee For great grace shall be giuen to them that shall willingly submit themselues vnto thy most holy seruice Matt. 19. They shal receaue most sweet comfort of the holy Ghost that for thy loue shall renounce all carnall delights They shall attaine great freedome of mind Matt. 7. that for thy names sake shall enter into the narrow way and shall haue left off all care of this world 6. O sweet and delightfull seruitude of God Matt. 11. 1.10.5 by which man is truly made free and holy O sacred state of religious bondage which maketh man equall to Angels pleasing to God terrible to diuels and gratefull and of great esteeme to all the faithfull O seruice to be imbraced alwaies wished for by which we obtaine the greatest good and attaine to that ioy which neuer shall haue end CHAP. XI That the desires of our hart are to be examined moderated SONNE †Our Lord. thou oughtest to learne many things more which thou hast not yet well learned * The Seruant What are those Lord That †Our Lord. thou frame thy desire wholy according to my pleasure and be not a louer of thy selfe but a diligent follower of my will Thy desires oftentimes do stir thee vp and driue thee forwards with violence but consider whether thou art moued rather for my honour then for thine owne profit If I be the cause thou wilt be wel content with whatsoeuer I shall ordaine but if there lurke in thee any selfe inclination behould this is it that hindreth thee Phil. 2. and waygheth thee downe 2. Beware therfore thou incline not too much vpon any desire that commeth to thy mind before thou aske my counsaile least perhaps afterwards it repent thee and that thou beginne now to dislike that which before did please thee and which thou earnestly desiredst as the best For euery affection that seemeth good is not presently to be followed nor euery contrary affection at the first to be sled It is expedient sometimes to vse a restraint euen in good desires endeauours least by importunity thou incur distraction of mind and by euill exāple become a scandall vnto others or being gainsaid by others thou be suddainly troubled and fall 3. Yet sometimes thou oughtest to vse violence Phil. 2. and resist manfully thy sensuall appetites Rom. 8. 2. Cor. 4. and respect not what thy body would or would not but rather to labour that euen perforce it be subiect to the spirit 2. Cor. 10. And it is to be chastised so long and to be forced vnder seruitude 1. Cor. 9. vntil it readily obey an all things and learne to be content with a litle and to be pleased with ordinary things and not to murmur against any inconuenience CHAP. XII Of the effect of Patience and of strise against Concupiscence LORD * The Seruant Heb. 10. God I perceaue patience is very necessary vnto me for that many aduersities do happen in this life Iob. 7. Howsoeuer I shall dispose of my peace my life cannot be without warre affliction †Our Lord. So it is Sonne And my will is not that thou seek after that peace which is voyd of temptations or that feeleth no contrarieties but then thinke that thou hast found peace when thou art exercised with sundry tribulations Iac. 1. and tried in many aduersities 2. If thou say that thou art not able to suffer much how then wilt thou endure the fire of Purgatory Of two euils the lesse is alwaies to be chosen That thou maist therfore auoid euerlasting punishments in the next world endeauour to suffer patiently for God the present euils of this Doest thou thinke that men of this world suffer little or nothing Thou art deceaued Looke into the life euen of them that liue in greatest delicacies and thou shalt find it otherwise But thou wilt say they haue many delights and follow their owne wills and therfore they make small accompt of their tribulations Be it so that they haue whatsoeuer they will but how long dost thou thinke it will last 3. Behould the wealthy of this world vanish away like smoke Ps 67. and there shall be no memory of their ioyes past Yea euen while they liue also they rest not in them without griefe irksomnesse and feare For the selfesame thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes the cause of sorrow vnto them much affliction They haue their desert who for that they immoderately seeke and follow delights they do not obtain them but with shame sorrow 4. O how short and deceiptful how inordinate and filthy are those pleasures Yea so senseles and blind are men that they vnderstand it not but like dumbe beasts for a little pleasure of a corruptible life they incur the eternall death of their soule Do not thou therfore my Sonne follow the disordinate inclinations of thy corrupt nature but forsake thine owne wil. Eccls. 28. Ps 36. Delight in our Lord and he will giue thee the desires of thy hart 5. If thou desire true delight and to be more plentifully comforted by me behould in the contempt of all worldly things and in the cutting off of all base delights shall be thy blessing and aboundant comfort shall be giuen thee And how much the more thou withdrawest thy selfe from all comfort of creatures so much the sweeter and more forcible consolations shalt thou find in me But at first thou canst not attaine vnto them without a certaine grief labour and strife The olde custome wil make resistance thou must ouercome it with another custome that is better Thy flesh will murmur but thou must bridle it with feruour of spirit The old serpent will sting and trouble thee but by prayer he shall be put to fight with profitable labour thou shalt shut the dore against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ SONNE †Our Lord. he that endeauoureth to withdraw himselfe from obedience withdraweth him selfe from grace And he that seeketh to haue things in priuate Matt. 16. shall loose the cōmon He that doth not willingly and freely submit himselfe to his Superiour it is a signe that his flesh is not yet perfectly obediēt vnto him but
Ps 4. in thee one chiefest eternall good I will sleep and rest Amen CHAP. XVI That true comfort is to be sought in God alone VVHATSOEVER * The Seruant I can desire or imagine for my comfort I looke not for it in this life but hereafter For if I should alone haue all the comforts of the world and might enioy all the delights therof it is certaine that they could not long endure Wherfore my soule thou canst not be fully comforted nor haue perfect delight but in God Psal 76. the comforter of the poore and the receauer of the humble Expect a while my soule expect the diuine promise and thou shalt haue aboundance of all good things in heauen If thou desire inordinatly the things that are present thou shalt loose the celestiall and eternall Haue temporal things in vse and the eternall in desire Thou canst not be filled with any temporall goods because thou art not created to enioy them 2. Although thou enioyest all that is created yet canst thou not be happy therby nor blessed but in God that hath created all things Sap. 2. thy whole beatitude and happines consisteth not such as is seene and coÌ„mended by the foolish louers of the world but such as the good faithful seruants of Christ expect Phil. 3. and the spirituall and cleane of hart whose conuersation is in heauen somtimes take a tast of Vaine and short is all human comfort Blessed and true is the comfort which is receaued inwardly from truth A deuout man euery where carrieth with him Iesus his comforter and sayth vnto him Be present with me Lord Iesus in euery place and time Let this be my comfort to be alwaies willing to want all human comfort And if thy comfort be wanting let thy will iust proofe be vnto me as the greatest comfort Ps 102. for thou wilt not be angry alwaies neither wilt thou threaten for euer CHAP. XVII That all our care is to be placed in God SONNE †Our Lord. suffer me to do with thee what I please I know what is expedient for thee Thou thinkest as man thou iudgest in many things as humane affection perswadeth thee * The Seruant Matt. 6. Ioan. 6. Lord what thou saiest is true Thy solicitude for me is greater then all the care that I can take for my selfe For he standeth at too great a hazard that casteth not his whole care vpon thee Lord so that my will may remaine right and firme in thee do with me whatsoeuer it shall please thee For it cannot be but good whatsoeuer thou doest with me 2. If it be thy will I should be in darknes be thou blessed and if it be thy will I should be in light be thou againe blâ—ssed If thou vouchsafest to coÌ„fort me be thou blessed and if thou wilt afflict me be thou also euer blessed Sonne †Our Lord. so thou oughtest to be as ready to suffer as to receaue ioy Thou oughtest to be as willing to be poore and needy as plentifull and rich 3. Lord * The Seruant I wil willingly suffer for thee whatsoeuer thy pleasure is shall befall me I will receaue indifferently from thy hand Iob. 2. good and euill sweet and sower delightfull and sorrowfull and giue thee thanks for all that happeneth vnto me Keep me from all sinne Ps 22. and I will neither feare death nor hell so as thou dost not for euer cast me from thee and blot me out of the booke of life what tribulation soeuer befal me shall not hurt me CHAP. XVIII That temporall miseries by the example of Christ are to be borne patiently SONNE †Our Lord. I descended from Heauen for thy health I tooke vpon me thy miseries Ioan. 8. my charity not any necessity drawing me therunto that thou mightest learne patience and not refuse to beare temporall miseries For from the houre of my birth Esa 53. vntill my death on the Crosse I was not without suffering of griefe Luc. 2. I suffered great want of temporall things I often heard many complaints against me I bare patienly shame and reproaches for benefits I receaued ingratitude for miracles blasphemies for heauenly doctrine reprehensions 2. Lord * The Seruant for that thou wert patient in thy life-time chiefly in fulfilling the commandment of thy Father it is reason that I miserable sinner should haue patience in all things according to thy will Ioan. 5. and for myne owne health beare the burthen of this corruptible life as long as thou wilt For although this present life be burdensome yet notwithstanding it is now by thy grace made very meritorious and by thy example and the footsteps of thy Saints more plaine and tollerable to the weake Yea much more comfortable also then it was in times past in the old law when the gate of heauen remained shut and the way also to heauen seemed darker when so few tooke care to seeke after thy Kingdome Neither they also that then were iust Matt. 7. and were ordained to be saued could enter into the heauenly glory before thy passion and the debt of thy sacred death was discharged 3. O how great thanks am I bouÌ„d to giue thee that thou hast vouchsafed to shew vnto me and to all faith ful soules a direct sure way to thy euerlasting kingdome For thy life is our way and by holy patience we go vnto thee that art our Crowne If thou hadst not gone before vs and taught vs who would haue taken care to follow Alas how many would stay behind and remaine far off if they beheld not thy excellent examples Behould we are yet could although we haue heard of so many of thy wonders Ioan. 12. and thy heauenly documents what would become of vs if we had not so great light to follow thee CHAP. XIX Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truly patient VVHAT is it †Our Lord. thou sayest Sonne Cease to complaine considering my passion and that of my other Saints Thou hast not yet made resistance to the sheeding of bloud Heb. 12. It is but little thou sufferest in comparison of them that haue suffered so much Heb. 11. so strongly tempted so grieuously afflicted so many waies tried exercised Thou oughtest therfore to call to mind the heauy sufferings of others that thou maist the easier beare the little aduersities which thou sufferest And if they seem not little beware least thy impatience because therof Yet whether they be little or great endeauour to beare all patiently 2. How much the better thou disposest thy selfe to suffering so much the more wisely thou doest and so much the more doest thou merit thou shalt more easily also endure it if thy mind be prepared thy selfe accustomed therunto Do not say I cannot suffer these things of such a one at the hands of such a person nor such things are not to be suffered by me
the attentiue thought of heauēly things as it were to passe without care through many cares not faintingly but with a certaine priuiledg of a free mind adhering by inordinate affection to no creature 2. I beseech thee most mercifull God preserue me from the cares of this life least I should be too much intangled therby from the many necessities of the body least I should be enthralled by pleasure frō all hinderāces of the soule least broken with troubles I should be deiected and dismayed I meane not frō those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth but from those miseries that as punishments do weigh downe and hinder the soule of thy seruant Gen. 3. Rom. 7. with the generall curse of mortality that it cannot enter into liberty of spirit as often as it would 3. O my God the vnspeakable sweetnes make bitter vnto me all carnall comfort which may draw me away frō the loue of euerlasting happynes and wickedly allure me to it selfe with the force of a certaine present delight Rom. 12. Let not flesh and bloud ouercome me o Lord. Let not the world and the short glory thereof deceaue me Let not the Diuell and his subtile fraud supplant me Giue me force to resist patience to suffer and constancy to perseuere Giue me insteed of all the comforts of the world the most sweet vnction of thy spirit and in lieu of carnall loue powre into my soule the loue of thy name 4. Behould meate drinke cloathes other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome vnto a feruent spirit Graūt me to affect such nourishments in due measure and not to be intangled with an ouer great desire of thē It is not lawfull to renounce them wholy for that nature is to be maintayned but to desire superfluityes and those thinges that do rather delight then sustayne the law of God forbiddeth for otherwise the flesh would rebell against the spirit Here in I beseech thee let thy hand gouerne me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good SONNE †Our Lord. thou oughtest to giue all for all and to retaine nothing of thy selfe Know that the loue of thy selfe doth hurt thee more then any thing in the world According to the loue and affection thou bearest them so doth euery thing cleaue vnto thee more or lesse If thy loue be pure simple well ordered thou shalt be free from bondage Matt. 6. Couet not that which thou maiest not haue Be not willing to haue that which may hinder thee and depriue thee of inward liberty It is a wonderfull thing that thou committest not thy selfe wholy vnto me from the bottome of thy hart with all things that thou canst desire or haue 2. Why dost thou cōsume thy selfe with vayne griefe Exod. 18. Mich. 4. Why tyrest thou thy mind with needlesse cares Resigne thy selfe to me and thou shalt feele no losse at all If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be heere or there to enioy thine owne commoditie and pleasure thou shalt neuer be in quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in euery thing somwhat will be wanting and in euery place there will be some that will crosse thee 3. Not euery externall thing therfore attained and heaped togeather helpeth thee but it rather auaileth if thou despise it and doest root it out from thy hart which thou must not vnderstand only of thy reuenewes and wealth but of the desire of honour also and vaine praise all which do passe away with this fading world The place auayleth litle Esa 4.8 if the spirit of feruour be wanting neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy hart be destitute of a true foundation that is vnlesse thou persist in me thou maist change but not better thy selfe For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find that which thou soughtest to fly and perhaps more A Prayer for cleansing the hart obtayning of heauenly wisdome 4. Confirme * The Seruant Ps 50. me Lord with the grace of thy holy spirit Giue me force to strengthen my inward man and to purge my hart from all vnprofitable care and grief Eph. 3. not to be drawne away with sundry desires of any thing eyther little or great Matt. 6. but to consider all things Eccls. 1. 2. how they are transitory and do quickly fade that my selfe do also passe away togeather with them for nothing is permanent vnder the sunne where all things are vanity and affliction of mind O how wise is he that so considereth them 5. Graunt me Lord heauenly wisdome that I may learne aboue all things to seeke and find thee aboue all things to delight in thee and to loue thee and to thinke of all created things as they are according to the dispositiō of thy wisdome Graūt me prudently to auoyd him that flatters me Eph. 4. and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me It is great wisdome not to be moued with euery blast of wordes nor to giue eare to dangerous flattery for so we shall go on securely in the way which we haue begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the tongue of Slaunderers SONNE †Our Lord. be not grieued if some thinke euill of thee and speake that which thou dost not willingly heare 1. Cor. 4. Thou oughtest to iudge the worst of thy selfe and to thinke no man weaker then thy selfe If thou walke according to spirit thou wilt not much esteeme of flying wordes It is no small wisdome to be silent in time of euill inwardly to turne to me and not to be troubled with the iudgment of men 2. Let not thy peace be in the tongues of men For whether they iudge well or euill thou art neuerthelesse alwayes the same Where is true peace and true glory Is it not in me And he that coueteth not to please men Ioan 17. nor feareth to displease them shall enioy much peace From inordinate loue and vayne feare ariseth all disquiet of hart and distraction of the senses CHAP. XXIX How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere BLESSED * The Seruant o Lord be thy name for euer since it pleaseth thee that this temptation and tribulation should fall vpon me Iob. 1. Ps 112. I cannot fly it but haue need to fly to thee that thou maist help me and turne it to my good Lord I am now afflicted and it is not well with me I am much troubled with this present griefe And now beloued Father what shall I say Matt. 26. I am taken in narrow straits saue me in this houre Yea therfore I am fallē in this houre that thou maist be glorified when I shall be greatly humbled and by thee deliuered Let it please thee Lord to deliuer me for poor wretch that I am what can I do and whither
it self by reason of passions which rise against her 2. I desire the ioy of peace I craue the peace of thy children that are fed by thee in the light of cōfort If thou giue peace if thou infuse holy ioy the soule of thy seruāt shal be full of heauenly sweetnes and shall become deuout in thy praise but if thou withdraw thy selfe as very often thou art wont he will not be able to runne the waies of thy commandements but rather he boweth his knees and knocketh his breast for that it is not with him as it was yesterday and the day before when thy light shined vpon his head and he was protected vnder the shaddow of thy wings from the temptations which violently assaulted him 3. O righteous Father and euer to be praised the houre is come that thy seruant is to be proued Be hould Father it is fit that in this houre thy seruant suffer something for thee O Father worthy of eternall honour the houre is come which from all eternity thou didest foreknow should come that for a short time thy seruant should outwardly be oppressed but inwardly liue for euer with thee he should be a little despised and humbled and made as an abiect in the sight of men and much afflicted with passions infirmities that he may rise againe with thee in the rising of new light and be clarified in heauen Holy Father thou hast so appointed it and wilt haue it so and this is fulfilled which thy selfe hast commanded 4. It is a grace and a fauour to thy friend to suffer and to be afflicted in the world for the loue of thee how often soeuer and by whomsoeuer thou permittest it to fall vpon him Without thy counsell and prouidence Ps 118. and without cause nothing is done in earth It is good for me Lord that thou hast humbled me that I may learne thy righteous indgments and cast away all haughtines of hart presumptiō It is profitable to me that shame hath conered my face that I may rather seeke to thee for comfort then to men I haue learned also heerby to dread thy inscrutable iudgment that afflictest the iust with the wicked but not without equity and iustice 5. I giue thee thanks that thou hast not spared my sinnes but hast worne me away with bitter stripes inflicting sorrowes sending griefs within and without There is none vnder heauen that can comfort me Tob. 13. but thou my Lord God the heauenly Phisitian of soules Psal 17. that strikest healest bringest into hell and drawest out againe let thy correction be vpon me and let thy rod instruct me 6. Behould beloued Father I am in thy hands I bow my selfe vnder the rod of thy correction let my neck and shoulders feele the stripes of thy chastisement that my crookednesse may be conformed to thy will Make me a deuout humble disciple of thine as thou art wont well to do that I may be ready at euery beck of thy diuine pleasure I commend my selfe and all mine vnto thee to be corrected It is better to be rebuked heere then heerafter Thou knowest all and euery thing and there is nothing hidden in the conscience of man which can be hidden from thee Before things are done thou knowest that they will happen and hast no need that any should teach thee or admonish thee of those things which are done on earth Thou knowest what is expedient for my good and how much tribulation is fit for purging the rust of my sinnes Do with me according to thy desired pleasure and despise not my sinfull life better and more clearly knowne to none then to thee alone 7. Graunt me Lord to know that which is to be knowne to loue that which is to be beloued to praise that which pleaseth thee most to esteeme that which is precious vnto thee to despise that which is contemptible in thy sight suffer me not to iudge according to the sight of the exteriour eyes nor to giue sentence according to the hearing of the eares of ignorant men but to determine of visible and spirituall things with a true iudgment aboue all things euer to search after thy will and pleasure 8. The senses of men are often deceaued in their iudgments the louers of the world are also deceaued in louing only visible things What is a man the better for that he is esteemed great by man The deceiptfull man deceaueth the deceiptfull the vaine the vaine the blind deceaueth the blind and one feeble likwise another whilst he exalteth and praiseth him For how much euery one is in thy sight so much he is and no more sayth humble S. Francis CHAP. LI. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in workes of humility when force is wanting for higher exercises SONNE †Our Lord. thou art not able alwaies to continue in the feruent desire of vertue nor to persist in the high pitch of contēplation but thou must sometimes of necessity by reason of originall corruption descend to inferiour things and beare the burthen of this corruptible life euen against thy will and with irksomenes As long as thou carriest a mortall body thou shalt feele trouble and heauines of hart Thou oughtest therefore in flesh oftentimes to bewaile the burthen of flesh for that thou canst not alwaies perseuere in spirituall exercises and diuine contemplation 2. It is then expedient for thee to fly to humble and exteriour works and to refresh thy selfe with good vertuous actions to expect with a firme confidence my comming and heauenly visitation to beare patiently thy banishment and the drinesse of thy mind till thou bee visited againe by me and deliuered from all anxiety For I will make thee forget thy former paines and enioy inward quietnes I wil lay open before thee the pleasant fieldes of holy Scripture that with an enlarged hart thou maist begin to run the way of my commaundements And thou shalt say that the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glory to come Rom. 8. that shall be reuealed in vs. CHAP. LII That a man ought not to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes LORD * The Seruant I am not worthy of thy comfort nor of any spirituall visitation and therfore thou dealest iustly with me when thou leauest me poore and desolate For if I could shee l teates like a soe yet I were not worthy of thy comfort For alas I deserue nothing but to be scourged and punished in that I haue grieuously and often offended thee and sinned in many things All things therfore duely considered I am not worthy euen of the least cōfort But thou mild and mercifull God who wilt not that thy workes do perish to shew the riches of thy goodnesse in the vessels of mercy euen beyond his desert vouchsafest to comfort thy seruant aboue humane measure For thy comforts are not like to the vaine words of men 2. What haue I done o
nor any creature draw me vnto it for I am not to harbour an Angell but the Lord of Angels 6. And yet there is great difference betweene the Arke the Reliques therof and thy most pure body with his vnspeakable vertues betweene those legall sacrifices figures of future things and the true Sacrifice of thy body the complement of all ancient Sacrifices Why therfore do I not become more feruent in thy venerable presence Wherefore do I not prepare my selfe with greater care to receaue thy sacred gifts sith those holy ancient Patriarches Prophets yea Kings also and Princes with the whole people haue shewed so great zeale of deuotion to thy diuine seruice 7. The most denout King Dauid daunced before the Arke of God with all his force 2. Reg. 6. calling to mind the benefits bestowed in times past vpon his forefathers He made Instruments of sundry kinds he published Psalmes and appointed thē to be sung with ioy himselfe also oftentimes played vpon the harpe Being inspired with the grace of the holy Ghost he taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole hart and with pleasant voyces euery day to blesse and praise him If so great deuotion was then vsed and such memory of diuine praise before the Arke of the Testament what reuerence and deuotion is now to be performed by me and all Christian people in the presence of this Sacrament in receauing the most precious body of Christ 8. Many go to sundry places to visit the Reliques of Saints and are astonished when they heare of their miraculous works they behould the spacious buildings of their Churches kisse their sacred bones wrapped in silke and gould And behold thou art heere present with me on the altar my God the Holy of Holies the maker of all things Lord of Angels Oftentimes in those deuotions there is but curiosity of men and nouelty of the beholders in the seeing of such sights and little fruite of amendment is gotten thereby especially where there is so vnconstant wandring without true contrition But here in the Sacrament of the altar thou art present my Lord God and Man Christ Iesus where also plentifull fruite of euerlasting saluation is obtained as often as thou art worthily and deuoutly receaued No leuity no curiosity or sensuallity draweth vnto this but firme faith deuout hope and sincere charity 9. O God the inuisible Creatour of the world how wonderfully doest thou deale with vs how sweetly and graciously doest thou dispose of all things with thy elect to whome thou offerest thy selfe to be receaued in the Sacrament O this exceedeth all vnderstanding of man this chiefly draweth the harts of the deuout and inflameth their desire For thy true faithfull seruants that dispose their whole life to amendment by this most worthy Sacrament oftentimes receaue great grace of deuotion and loue of vertue 10. O admirable hidden grace of this Sacrament which only the faithfull of Christ do know but the vnfaithfull and such as are slaues vnto sinne cānot conceaue nor feele In this Sacrament spirituall grace is giuen and lost vertue is restored in the soule and beautie disfigured by sinne returneth againe This grace is sometimes so great that with the fuinesse of deuotion which is here giuen not only the mind but the weake body also feeleth great increase of strength 11. Our coldnesse negligence surely is much to be bewailed pittied that we are not drawne with greater affection to receaue Christ in whome all the hope and merit of those that are to be saued doth cō fist For he is our sanctification and redemption he is the comfort of passengers and the euerlasting fruition of Saints It is much therfore to be lamented that many do so little consider this comfortable mysterie which reioyceth heauen and preserueth the whole world O blindnes and hardnes of mans hart that doth not more deeply weigh the greatnes of so vnspeakable a gift but rather comes by the daily vse therof to regard it little or nothing 12. For if this most holy Sacrament should be celebrated in one place only and consecrated by one only Priest in the world with how great desire doest thou thinke would men be affected to that place and what esteeme would they haue of such a Priest of Almighty God by whome they might enioy the consolation of these diuine mysteries but now there are many Priests Christ is offered vp in many places that so the grace and loue of God to man may appeare so much the greater how much the more this sacred Cōmuniō is cōmon through the world Thāks be vnto thee good Iesu euerlasting Pastour of our souls that hast vouchsafed to refresh vs poore banished men with thy precious Body Bloud to inuite vs to the receauing of these mysteries with the words of thy owne mouth saying Come vnto me all ye that labour and are burdened Matt. 11. and I wil refresh you CHAP. II. That great goodnesse and charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament The voice of the Disciple PRESVMING of thy goodnesse and great mercy o Lord being sicke I approach vnto my Sauiour hungry and thirsty to the fountaine of life needy to the King of heauen a seruant vnto my Lord a creature to my Creator desolate to my mer cifull comforter But whence is this to me that thou vouchsafest to come vnto me Who am I that thou shouldest giue thy selfe vnto me Luc. 1. How dare a sinner presume to ap peare before thee And thou how doest thou vouchsafe to come vnto a sinner Thou knowest thy seruant and seest that he hath no good thing in him for which thou shouldest bestow this benefit vpon him I confesse therfore my vnworthinesse I acknowledg thy goodnesse I praise thy mercy and giue thee thanks for this thy vnspeakable charity For thou doest this for thine owne goodnesse not for any merits of mine to the end that thy goodnesse may be better knowne vnto me thy charity more aboundantly shewed and thy humility more highly commended Since therfore it is thy pleasure and hast commanded that it should be so this thy boūty is also pleasing to me and do wish that my offences may be no hinderance 2. O most sweet and bountifull Iesu how great reuerēce thanks with perpetuall praise is due vnto thee for the receauing of thy sacred body whose worth and dignity no man is able to expresse But what shall I thinke of at this time now that I am to receaue this diuine Sacrament and to approach vnto my Lord to whome I am not able to giue due reuerence and yet I desire to receaue him deuoutly What can I thinke better and more profitable then to humble my selfe wholy before thee and to exalt thy infinite goodnesse aboue me I praise thee my God will exalt thee for euer and I do despise and submit my self vnto thee euen into the depth of my vnworthinesse 3.