our Lord saying Loue your enemies doe Mat. 5. 44. good to them that hate you and pray for them that persecute and abuse you that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heauen Whereby thou mayest see how happie a thing it is to liue in persecution and haue persecutors to loue and pray for since God Almightie hath ordayned it as a meanes for the greater encrease of thy temporall and eternall Content and Happinesse and that of so great a Happinesse as is to be the sonne of God And consider with thy selfe what a great error it should be in thee not to pray dayly with heartie and sincere affection for all such as persecute and abuse thee since by doing such acts of high and perfect Charitie God Almightie intendeth to aduance thee to so great a dignitie as to be his sonne and with what great reason our Lord said Blessed are you when they shall reuile you and persecute you and speake all that naught is Felons Traytors c. against you vntruly for my sake be glad and reioyce for your reward is verie great in Heauen so great a reward as to be the sonne of God And if sonnes heires also heires Rom. 8. 1 truly of God coheires of Christ Againe Whosoeuer shall doe the will of my Father that is in Heauen he is my brother my sister and mother Such as loue God with all their hearts doe his will and keepe his Commandements he is so ouercome with affection towards them that hee is not onely content to diuide what hee hath amongst them and communicate whatsoeuer he hath vnto them as to his brothers and sisters but to obey them as children doe their mother And he went downe with them Luc. 2. 51. and came to Nazareth and was subiect to them and so saith If you abide in me and my Io. 13. 7. wordes in you that is if you loue me with all your hearts for God is Charitie and hee 1. Io. 4. 16. that abideth in Charitie abideth in God You shall aske Io. 15. 7. what thing soeuer you will and it shall be done to you Againe Aske and you shall receiue that Io. 16. 25. your ioy may be full Such as loue our Lord with their whole hearts doe neuer aske any thing that is good and conuenient for themselues for these two Conditions are necessarie in asking but it is graunted them And thou mayest obserue that hee doth not wish them to entreat or beseech but Aske Mat. 7. 7. and it shall be giuen you Verily verily I say to you If you Io. 15. 7. aske the Father any thing in my Name he will giue it you Aske Io. 16. 24. and you shall receiue as if they had authoritie ouer God Almightie And thou must not maruell at it If God haue Rom. 8. not spared his owne proper and only begotten Sonne but hath giuen him vp to death for gaining vs vnto him how can it be that with him he hath not giuen vnto vs all other things Euerie one â— Io. 4. 7. that loueth sayth Saint Iohn is borne of God not as the Women of this World bring forth their children who many times after they be borne put them to Nurses and then regard them no more but with eternall Charitie which on his part neuer decayeth but alwayes remaineth with such feruour and constancie that before hee would part from one soule borne of him by Charitie hee professeth that hee will rather abandon whole Nations Euer since Isa 48. 4. thou hast beene gracious and glorious in mine eyes I haue loued thee and for thy soule will I giue whole Nations There is no mother so tenderly affected towards her only sonne as God Almightie is to such as loue him as he also witnesseth saying Can the Mother Isa 19. 16. forget her owne Infant Or can she not be mercifull to the Child of her owne Wombe If she could yet can I not forget or reiect thee Daughter of Sion behold I haue written thee in my hands Againe Touch not the vncleane and I will receiue you and I will 2. Cor. 6. 17. be a Father vnto you and you shall Ier. 31. 1. be my Sonnes and Daughters saith our Lord omnipotent And if it be esteemed a happinesse amongst the sonnes of Adam to be borne Sonne and Heire to a King of the World where the greatest Possessions are but pieces of Earth and power ouer mortall men for some seuen yeares and afterwards God knoweth what will become of their soules when at the day of Iudgement they shall not only giue account of all their sinnes committed but of all the good they haue omitted to doe and that to their eternall torment See what 1. Io. 3. 1. manner of Charitie the Father hath giuen vs that we should bee named and bee the sonnes of God Who hath blessed vs in all spirituall blessings Eph. 1. 3. in heauenly things in Christ as hee chose vs in him before the constitution of the World that we should be holy and immaculate in his sight in Charitie Who hath predestinated vs vnto the adoption of sonnes by Iesus Christ Whereupon presently after his resurrection our Sauiour sent this most comfortable Embassage to those who had left all thinges for his loue Goe and tell my brethren Io. 20. that I do ascend vnto my Father and vnto your Father vnto my God and vnto your God By which two words of God and Father he expresseth the happinesse of such as loue him signifying vnto them that God Almightie of infinite power riches glorie wisedome beautie is become so inamored of them that hee beareth them endlesse good will So God Almightie reioycing at the Content he receiued in a soule that loued him with all his heart saith Verily Ephraim is an honourable Ier. 31. 20. sonne to me certainely a delicate child therefore are my Bowels moued with a passionate affection towards him pittying him I will pittie him saith our Lord. And this for the third Happinesse and Content which such enioy as loue our Lord with all their hearts and their neighbours as themselues CHAP. XXI Of the fourth Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their Neighbours as themselues which is the dwelling of God Almightie in their hearts and soules as in his Temple house and home SO great is the happinesse of those who flye sinne loue God Almightie with all their hearts and keepe his Commandements that the Father Sonne and holy Ghost the Blessed Trinitie one God with all his Diuine Attributes Excellencies and Perfections commeth to dwell by grace and fauour in their soules as in his Seate Tabernacle Temple and House of Content according to the Promises and Prophecies of the Scriptures saying Beare 2. Cor. 6. 14. not the yoake with Infidels for what participation hath Iustice with Iniquitie or what Leuit. 26. 11.
✚ IHS MARIA IOSEPH THE PRACTISE HOW TO finde Ease Rest Repose Content and Happines Written by a Religious man of the congregation of St. ELIAS the Prophet and of the Order of our Blessed Lady of mount Carmell restored by the Blessed mother Teresa THE SECOND PART Containing directions how to end all Controuersies and take away all discontentments and euils and attaine vnto true ioy of minde and content of heart and all good Stand vpon the Wayes and beholde and aske for the olde Pathes which is the good way and walke therein and you shall finde rest for your Soules Ierom. 6. 16. AT ROAN By Iaques Foüet with permission of Superiors 1619. TO THE KINGS MOST ECCELLENT MAIESTIE The Author wisheth all Content and Happines AMongst all our Labours in this life most dread SOVERAIGNE there are none better imployed then those which are spent in seeking after and in establishing in our selues and others true Content and Happines For what doth it profit a man if Math. 16. â—6 hee gaine the whole world and sustaine the damage of his soule or what permutation shall a man giue for his soule and deliuer it to be afflicted in this life with temporall discontent and in the other with eternall torment Will hee take to be an Emperor or King of the whole Globe of the earth to raigne with discontent for seauen yeares ouer all the people in the world It is so hard an exchange that none indued with reason would accept of such conditions for what is an Emperor a King or any man but his Content and Happines To be and not to be happy is but to be by a priuation of well being wretched and miserable Neither is it sufficient to Happines that a man thinke himselfe happy and be not for this is but an increase of misery not to seeme to be that which hee is vntill it bee too late to obtaine that which he would true Content whereby wee see that true Happines is more woorth then Kingdomes and true Content is more to bee esteemed then all the treasures of the East and West Indyes since it indueth Emperors and Kinges with whatsoeuer true goods they haue and filleth Subiects with what they can desire if they will not desire that which is hurtfull to themselues Insomuch as let but a Prince establish in himselfe his Court and Subiects the practise of true Happines they rest and remaine each one reioicing at others good and all well content with that which euery one hath of his owne and let him but permit false and deceitfull Happines to bee practised in himselfe and Subiectes and doe what he can hee and they will become wretched and miserable in all thinges else sauing in imaginations which considerations haue moued mee to seeke out the pathes of Content and set downe at large the way to true Happines and Rest that I might thereby asmuch as in mee lyeth call all my Countrey men from the disgustes and dissentions of this age which the iniquitie of heresie hath brought forth to a rich Repose and Ioy in our Lord. And hauing Dedicated our First part vnto the most worthy Prince CHARLES your Sonne whome God Almighty long preserue I could not set out these our Second labours vnder the protection of any other but your Maiestie For seeing I am to speake of Content and Happines to whome may I more fitly dedicate our labours then to my Soueraigne vnto whome aboue all men liuing I hartily wish them Accept therefore most dread Soueraigne the protection of this our worke against all calumniators and bee well pleased that true Content and Happines which your Maiestie cannot but desire to your selfe may with your Gracious fauour and vnder your protection bee communicated to all your Subiects that all dissentions and discontentments taken out of your Highnes Kingdomes it may bee verified of your Monarchy which was spoken of Sion the Temple of God The habitaiton in thee is as it were of all Reioycing Psal 86. which is that I desire and hartily pray for and so humbly submit my selfe and rest Of your Maiesties Subiects the meanest SI STOCK THE PREFACE TO THE READER DEare Reader though so great bee the force of Happines to drawe all men to seeke after it that there is not to bee found any one so lost or forlorne as publickely to professe that he loueth afflictions and griefes as they are vexations and paines yet such is the pride and obstiancie of many that rather then they wil be conuinced to bee men of euill lines they will defend that to be Happines which they loue and not that which is Happines indeed and so heartily louing carnall libertie and sensuall life vnder false pretexts of Libertie of the Gospel Iustification by Faith onely Assurednes of saluation c. haue put Content and Happines in sensualitie of life and not to be discouered that they are Hogges as Horace Hor. lib. 1 Epist 4. saith of the Heard of Epicures doe craftily colour their Carnall libertie vnder the vaile of Religion and so perswade as many as will beleeue them First that abstinence or fasting from meate drinke and sleepe at certaine times and vpon Luther in lib. libertate Christiana Caluin lib 4. Inst and their folowers certaine dayes is superstition contrary to the worde of God and the libertie of their Gospell so that they cannot bee happy without the libertie of eating drinking and sleeping as much as they will and when they will Secondly that it is not possible to liue Chaste so to their Content Luth. in lib. libert christiana and Happines according to their Doctrine it is necessarie Cal. lib. 2 institut cap. 7. their followers that they haue alwayes a Woman Thirdly that man hath no freewill or power to resist the putting in practise of his euill Luther in lib deseruo arbitrio Calu. lib. 2. instit cap. 2 in antidoto CoÌ„cilij Tridentini and their followers thoughts suggestions or Carnall desires whether they bee of theft fornication adulterie or heresie c. Whereupon it followeth that according to their Doctrine they cannot be happy without the libertie of committing Fornication adultery theft and preaching whatsoeuer suggestions of the deuill or thoughts shall arise in their mindes c. Since as they say they haue not Freewill or power to resist them or doe otherwise and hee was neuer esteemed happy who was bound to obserue that which was aboue his power and might And accordingly to this they teach and preach for Religion that all the actions of men are of their owne Nature mortall sinnes worthy of euerlasting paines as well the best as the worst that all sinnes are equall that euill thoughts not consented vnto are mortall sinnes and that as grieuous mortall sinnes as if they had committed the fact Whereupon they inferre that it is not possible to keepe the Commaundements of God or merite any thing by well doing and so craftily colouring their
Againe Rom. 3. 29. Is he God of the Iewes only Is he not also of the Gentiles for it is one God that iustifieth Circumcision by faith and Prepuce by faith Doe we then destroy the Law by faith God forbid but we do establish the Law by denying Iustification by Faith onely without Workes and Iustification by Workes onely without Faith in Christ Iesus he established the Law and the Prophets The same Law-giuer Moyses and the same Law which telleth vs that we ought to obserue it the same also telleth vs that we ought to beleeue Deu. 18. 13. in Christ Iesus A Prophet Act. 3. â—â— sayth Moyses shall the Lord your God raise vp to you of your brethren as my selfe And Deu. 18. â—5 it shall be euery soule that shall not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed out of the people So the Apostle by denying Iustification by Workes of the Law onely without Faith in this Prophet our Sauiour and by denying Iustification by faith onely without obseruing the Law saying Not the hearers of Rom. 8. 13. the Law are iust with God but the doers of the Law shall be iustified establisheth the whole Law Faith in Christ and keeping the Commandements of God And for the vnderstanding of many places of S. Paul thou must obserue that the Faith which Saint Paul speaketh of when he saith that we are iustified by faith is a Faith that worketh by Charitie a Faith rooted Gal. 5. 6. and founded in Charitie Eph. 3. 18. So likewise when our Lord promiseth saluation by faith saying He that beleeueth in me Io. 21. 26. shall liue c. He meaneth such a faith as is rooted and founded in Charitie Faith without Charitie being but a dead faith deserueth not the name of faith no more then a dead man deserueth the name of a man As it is an error in speech to discourse of men without addition and meane dead men so it should be an error in speech to speake and discourse of faith without addition and meane a dead faith vvhich serueth those who haue it for nothing else but encrease of eternall Torments According to the Testimonie of our Lord who sayth Hee Luc. 12. 47. that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Faith Ia. 2. 17. if it haue not Workes is as dead in it selfe Without Loue Aug. in Ioan. trea 10. sayth S. Augustine Faith is vaine the Faith of Christians is with Loue the Faith of Deuils without Loue. Againe If neglecting De Fide et Operib c. 1â— tom 4. the Commaundements we might be saued by onely Faith which without Workes is dead how should it be true which he wil say to them whom he shall place on his left hand Goe ye into eternall fire which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels neither doth he find fault with them for that they did not beleeue in him but because they did not good Workes c. So they shall goe into euerlasting combustion there shall be an euerlasting combustion as of Fire and they shall goe into it saith Truth whose not Faith but good Workes he hath declared to be wanting So Saint Augustine Whereby is manifest that Faith is necessarie to Content and Happinesse but not Faith only CHAP. V. That Man cannot be content and happie without embracing and beleeuing the Faith which was planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ the Sonne of God HAuing found out that Faith is necessarie to Mans Content and Happinesse and excluded the Faiths of all sorts of Protestants who defend Iustification by Faith only from euer finding any true Content or Happinesse it followeth to seeke out what Faith is necessarie to Mans Happinesse that we may embrace it and be happie First That it is the faith vvhich vvas planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is manifest to reason for that the Faith which our Lord planted teacheth vs many Truths Secrets and Mysteries which to the greatest Philosophers were not knowne neither in any other Doctrine can or may they be learned as of the Trinitie the Creation and Redemption of the World the Communion of Saints the Forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Dead the Life to come and many things more of the greatest content and comfort that can be to the heart of Man which were not made known vnto the World but by the Sonne of God our Sauior that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets saying The Orient from on high Luc. 1. 78. hath visited vs to illuminate them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feet in the way of peace Againe The Land of Zabulon and Land Mat. 4. 16. of Nephtali the way of the Sea beyond Iordan of Galilee of the Gentiles the people that sat in darknesse hath seene great Light and to them that sat in a Country of the shadow of Death Light is risen to them By knowing Truths Verities before the comming of our Sauiour not knowne vnto the World Secondly It is manifest by the Scriptures that the Faith which conducteth vs to Happinesse is the Faith which was planted by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ for that when the Scriptures say that we are iustified by faith they intend the Faith planted by our Sauior as Iustifying him Rom. 3. 26. that is of the faith of Iesus Christ Againe We also beleeue in Iesus Gal. 2. Christ that we may he iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ Againe Gal. 3. 23. The Scriptures haue concluded all things vnder sinne that the Promise hy faith of Iesus Christ might be giuen Whereby is manifest that none can be truely content or happie who doe not beleeue and embrace the Faith planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sonne of God Wherefore it is necessarie that we seeke it out that thou mayest embrace it and lay a sure foundation of thy happinesse which I will doe in the three next ensuing Chapters CHAP. VI. That our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour vpon Earth is proued by the light of Reason in generall FIrst by reason taken from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith that people of all Nations Tribes and Countries differing in Languages and Gouernment dispersed ouer the whole Earth should all beleeue as one and one as all and all with one voice and in one sense and signification professe one and the same Articles of Faith and those of so deepe vnderstanding high mysteries and secrets as in particular the reason of Man is not able to reach or comprehend is a sufficient demonstration to anie reasonable Man that our Catholike Faith is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as God Almightie is so must his Faith and Religion be God Almightie as Aristotle
or enioy God or haue anie true content that hath anie vice or iniquitie in his soule as S. Paul sayth If any man 1. Tim. 6. 3. consent not to that doctrine which is according to pietie he is proud knowing nothing because all men may and ought to know that God Almightie is of infinite pietie and so cannot plant a Faith or Religion which is not pious and teaching all vertues as necessarie to saluation and vnion of heart with him their happinesse Thirdly that Faith and Religion in all reason must be the Faith and Religion planted by God which teacheth and sheweth men the most and best meanes how to loue God this being an Argument in Nature and Grace That euerie one loueth his owne 3. Reg. 3. 26. Ioh. 5. 19. Whereby is manifest that our Catholike Religion is the true Faith for that it teacheth vs how to loue God with all our hearts and how to obtaine Saluation and Happinesse by louing God VVhereas Protestants doe teach Saluation by onely Faith and that it is impossible to loue God or keepe the Commaundements And can there be a more vile and wicked Religion inuented then to teach that it is impossible to loue God Almightie with all our hearts Fourthly by generall consent of all People and Nations though of different Religions who all generally say and affirme That Catholikes liuing according to their Faith and Religion may be saued and haue a sparing as some tearme it sauing Faith And the consent of all People and Sects and Nations cannot erre in Reason CHAP. VII That it is as certaine that our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Sauiour as it is certaine that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworne and how easily to end and determine all Controuersies by maintaining the Oath of God as true BY my own selfe haue I sworne Gen. 22. 16. saith the Lord to Abraham because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thy onely begotten sonne for my sake I will blesse thee and I will multiply thy Seed as the starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea shoare thy Seed shall possesse the gates of his enemies and in thy Seed shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth because thou hast obeyed my voice Againe our Lord promised to Isaack saying In thy Seed Gen. 26. 4. shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth for because Abraham obeyed my voice Againe our Lord promised to Iacob Thy Seed shall be as Gen. 28. the dust of the Earth thou shalt be dilated to the West and to the East and to the North and to the South and in thee and thy Seed all the Tribes of the Earth shall be blessed Of these Promises the Prophet Esay speaketh saying Israel shall flourish and spring Isa 27. 5. and they shall fill the face of the world with Seed Againe I Isa 61. 8. the Lord that loue Iudgement and hate Robberie in Holocaust And I will giue their worke in truth and make a perpetuall Couenant with them And they shall know their Seed in the Gentiles and their Budde in the middest of Peoples All that shall see them shall know them that those are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed And of this Oath the same Prophet speaking sayth As in the dayes of Noe is this thing Isa 54 9. to me to whom I sware that I will no more bring the Waters of Noe vpon the Earth so haue I sworne not to be angrie with thee and not to rebuke thee for the Mountaines shall be moued and the little Hills shall tremble before the Day of Iudgement but my Mercie shall not depart from thee and the Couenant of my Peace shall not be remoued said our Lord thy Miserator Of this Oath the Prophet Daniel in the Captiuitie of Babylon maketh mention saying Take not away thy Dan. 3. 35. Mercie from vs for Abraham thy beloued and Isaack thy seruant and Israel thy holy one to whom thou hast spoken promising that thou wouldest multiplie their Seed as the starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is in the Sea shoare Of this Oath the Prophet Dauid speaking sayth I will Ps 88. 28 put him the first begotten high aboue all the Kings of the Earth I will keepe my Mercie vnto him for euer and my Testament faithfull vnto him I will put his Seed for euer and euer and his Throne as the dayes of Heauen But if his children shall forsake my Law and will not walke in my Iudgements if they shall prophane my Mercies and not keepe my Commaundements I will visit their Iniquitie with a Rod and their sinnes with stripes But my mercies I will not take away from him neither will I hurt in my Truth Neither will I prophane my Testament violate his Oath Againe speaking of this Oath and these Promises hee sayth He hath beene Ps 104. mindfull for euer of his Testament of the Word which he commaunded vnto thousand of Generations which he disposed to Abraham and his Oath to Isaac and he appointed it to Iacob for a Precept and to Israel for an eternall Testament That this Oath of God and Promises to the Patriarkes were to be fulfilled in Christ Iesu and in Christians maintaining and professing the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Scriptures abundantly do testifie Our Lord expounding the Parable of the Cockle of the field sayth He that Mat. 13. 37. soweth the good Seed is the Sonne of Man and the Field is the World and the good Seed those are the Children of the Kingdome dispersed ouer the World according to the Oath of God to Abraham Againe our Lord sayth Doe Mat. 5. 18. not thinke that I come to breake the Law or the Prophets I am not come to breake but to fulfill Againe All things must needes Luc. 24. be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moyses and the Prophets and the Psalmes of me Our Blessed Ladie speaking of the fulfilling of this Oath in our Sauiour and his Seede the Christians saith Hee hath receiued Israel his Luc. â— 54. Child being mindfull of his mercie as he spake to our Fathers to Abraham and his Seede for euer And Zacharie replenished with the Holy Ghost prophecied saying Blessed be Luc. 1. 68. our Lord God of Israel because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets that are from the beginning to remember his holy Testament the Oath which he sware to Abraham our Father Of the fulfilling of this Oath and these Promises in our Sauiour and Christians S. Peter speaketh saying You are the Children of the Act. 31. 24. Prophets and of the Testament which God made to our Fathers saying to Abraham And in thy Seed shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed That this Oath of God
Francis Yet in one generation both the names of these potent Kings vvere extinguished from the face of the Earth according to this Prophecie so faithfull is God Almightie in fulfilling of his Word So supposing thou beleeuest that God Almightie cannot lye not be forsworne and that thou as a creature of his wilt glorifie him and maintaine both in words and deedes the fulfilling of his Oath and Promises that hee may blesse and glorifie thee I set downe these Acts of Faith following thereby to end and determinate all matters of Controuersies or Differences in Faith or Beleefe that hereafter thou mayest remaine alwayes firme stable and vnmoueable in the Faith Eph. 2. 20. built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the highest corner Stone in whom all Building framed together groweth into an holy Temple in our Lord Which is that I wish vnto thee and desire thee to pardon me if I speake for thy content boldly Acts of Faith GOd forbid deare Lord that I should euer think that thou hast broken the Oath and Testament which thou hast spoken to Abraham Isaack and Iacob thy Seruants saying By my Gen. 22. selfe haue I sworne I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is vpon the Sea shoare Thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his Enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Thy Seed shall be as the dust of Gen. 28. the Earth that shal be dilated to the East and to the West and to the North and to the South and in thee and thy Seed shal be blessed all the Tribes of the Earth I detest O Heauenly Father as Suggestions of the Deuill all opinions whatsoeuer which are contrarie to the vnitie of the Faith dilated ouer the World O God of Heauen I beleeue most firmely that the Christians dilated ouer the World professing one Faith are the Seed of Abraham the Gen. 22. Children of thy Kingdome the Wheat that thou didst sowe the Mat. 1◠Sheepe that thou doest feed and Ioh. 10. the Blessed which at the last day Mat. 25. shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Deare Lord I beleeue most firmely that if we be Christs Gal. 3. 29. then we be the Seed of Abraham and must professe the faith dilated ouer the World O Lord of Infinite Maiestie I humbly beseech thee for thy tender Mercies that I may be one of the great Multitude Apo. 7. 9. which no man could number of all Nations and Tribes and People and Tongues which are to be signed with thy Marke and to be conducted by thee to the Liuing Fountaines Apo. 7. 17. of Waters I detest Eternall God more then Death or Hell to hold or maintaine any opinion which the Catholike Church the Seed of Abraham dilated ouer the World doth not approue Deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I vndoubtedly beleeue that thou art the Sonne of the liuing God to whom this Promise is made I will giue thee the Gentiles for Ps 28. thy Inheritance and for thy Possession the ends of the Earth I beleeue deare Lord all the Articles of the Catholike Faith and for the truth of any one of them by the assistance of thy grace am readie to die not one death but if it were possible as many deaths as all the Martyrs haue suffered from the beginning of the World vntill this day O Lord of infinite Maiestie while I liue I will faithfully beleeue and heartily confesse with thy seruants S. Ambrose and S. Augustine That the holy Church doth Hym. SS Amb. et Aug. confesse thee throughout the World I beleeue most firmely O liuing God that thou art the God of Abraham Isaack and Iacob keeping thy Couenant with them for thousand of Generations and maintaining thy Promise of multiplying their Seed as the Starres of Heauen and possessing the Gates of their Enemies vntill the end of the World Graunt deare Lord that I may rather die a thousand deaths then not confesse with thy Seruant S. Athanasius from my heart in a Catholike sense That whosoeuer will be saued it is needfull before all things that hee hold the Catholike Faith the which vnlesse each one shall keepe whole and inuiolate he shall without doubt eternally perish Man may lye and mine owne iudgement may be deceiued but I beleeue firmely that God Almightie cannot be forsworne deceiue or be deceiued in his Oath I beleeue most firmely deare Lord that the Christians professing one Faith multiplied as the sand that is by the Gen. 28. Sea-shore and dilated to the West and to the East to the North and to the South are the Seed of Abraham thy seruant the children Ps 104. of Iacob thy elect and there is no saluation in any other Act. 4. I doe most firmely hold and doe no waies doubt but that not only Aug. li. de side ad Petrum all Pagans but also all Iewes Heretikes and Schismatikes who doe die out of the Catholike Church are to goe into euerlasting fire which was prepared for the Deuil and his Angels Beare witnesse O ye Heauens and be testimonies all ye that dwell vpon the Earth that I vndoubtedly and most firmely beleeue that God Almighty hath and doth visibly multiply the Christians professing in vnitie the Faith planted by our Sauiour as the starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea-shoare according as he spoke Luc. 1. 55. to our Fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer Let mee neuer liue deare Lord to beleeue or thinke that thou hast broken thy Oath and Promises to the Patriarkes and Prophets and canst lye and be forsworne in permitting the Catholike Church to erre or vanish away frō the face of the Earth Deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by the assistance of thy grace though as great torments as the sensible paines of the torments of Hell should fall vpon me for it yet will I confesse that thou art the true Messias and came to fulfill the Oath and Promises which God made to Abraham the Patriarks Prophets and not to breake them These Acts grounded vpon the Oath and Promises of God you are to make often and with simplicity and sincerity of heart and they will so direct you to know and finde out truth that your owne conscience will not permit you euer to be an Heretike Iew Infidell or Protestant of any Sect or sort whatsoeuer And by these Acts without disputing of Controuersies thou puttest an end to all Controuersies and Disputes in matters of Faith and Religion beleeuing them thou art as sure that thou beleeuest aright as that it is certaine that God Almightie cannot be forsworn or that our Sauiour was the Messias promised to the Patriarkes Prophets and excludest all Errors Heresies and Temptations of the Deuil in matters of Faith and infallibly setlest thy vnderstanding in
the Faith Word of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ vpon Earth to the great Content Ease and Rest of thy minde and assurednesse of knowing diuine Truths and Verities without deceit because God Almightie cannot deceiue thee nor faile of his Oath and Promises whereupon they are grounded So Saint Paul telleth the Colossians and in them all Christians that they shall be holy and immaculate and blamelesse Col. 1. 27. before God if yet you remaine in the Faith grounded and stable and vnmoueable from the hope of the Gospel which you haue heard which is preached among all Nations that are vnder Heauen CHAP. VIII How our Catholike Faith is so founded vpon the Oathes and Promises of God that it is not possible for any man to be an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort without affirming in effect and deed that God Almightie is periured and forsworne OVR Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is not founded vpon Men as Protestant Ministers tell thee but vpon two things immoueable The Oath of God and That it is impossible for God to lye By my selfe Gen. 22. haue I sworne saith our Lord I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seede as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand which is by the Sea-shore thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Not only the Brittans in an Iland diuided from the whole World but all the Nations of the Earth The Scripture foreseeing that God Gal. 3. 8. iustifieth the Gentiles by Faith by Faith that worketh by Gal. 3. 22. Charitie shewed vnto Abraham before that in thee shall all Nations Gal. 5. 6. be blessed For God promising Heb. 6. 13. to Abraham because he had none greater by whom hee might sweare hee sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and multiplying shall multiply thee c. for mensweare by greater then themselues and the end of all their controuersie for confirmation is an oath So God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell hee interposed an Oath that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye wee may haue a most strong comfort who haue fledde to hold fast the Hope proposed That in the Seede of Abraham our Sauiour not one or few Nations but all the Families of the Earth Act. 3. 25. should be blessed Vpon these two things vnmoueable are founded our Catholike Church holy Faith the Oath of God That it is impossible for God to ly or violate his Oath Promises euery where spoken of in the Scriptures to be fulfilled vpon Christians beleeuing in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ of the Seed of Dauid of the Seed of Abraham that in his Seed Gen. 22. Luc. 1. 55. should be blessed all the Nations of the Earth as hee spake to our fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer So that it is not possible for any man by any means to become an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort vnlesse he affirme in effect and deeds that God Almightie is a lyer and forsworne nor possible for any man sincerely to maintaine or defend in effect and deeds that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworn but he must be of that Religion which Protestants call Papistrie doe what hee can Whereupon S. Paul sayth An Heretike sinneth being condemned 1. Tit. 3. 10. by his owne iudgement For that he knoweth that he preacheth against the Oathes and Promises of God and pronounceth in his workes and deeds God Almightie to be forsworne and a lyar and hereupon our Sauiour sayth He that doth not beleeue is alreadie iudged Hee that will not beleeue God Almightie when hee sweareth and reneweth his Oath so often as hee doth in the Scriptures there are no meanes left to conuince him but by Aristotles argument viz. Punishment and Paines Those who Li. 1. Top ca. 9. doubt sayth Aristotle whether they should honour the Gods or no stand in need of Paines And according to this are the words of our Sauiour where Luc. 16. 30. hee sayth If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets neither if one should rise from the dead will they beleeue Such as will not beleeue the Oathes of God Almightie recorded by Moyses and the Prophets there is no other meanes left for to make them confesse truth but by eternall Torments Eua beleeued the Deuill that God Almightie could lye when he told her No you shall not die whereas God Almightie Gen. 3. 4. had told her that shee should if she eate of the forbidden fruit and by this meanes deceiuing her hee depriued her and all her posteritie of the Ioyes of Paradise and brought them to Miseries and temporall Death Take thou example by thy Mothers fall and doe not beleeue the Deuill or Sectaries when in effect and deeds they shall perswade thee that God Almightie can lye or be forsworne and suffer his Catholike Church to erre faile and decay contrarie to his Oath and Promises that they draw thee not from the Content and Happinesse of Grace in this life and Glorie in the other into the horror of all temporall Discontents and after death into eternall Torments Saint Augustine in his time vrged the Donatists with this foundation of our Catholike Faith the Oath of God and the Impossibilitie for him to lye saying to them as wee in his wordes say now to Protestants changing onely Donatists for Elizabethians and Africa for Brittanie To you Elizabethians the Catholike Church doth say O sonnes of men how long are yee of heauie heart Why doe you loue vanitie and seeke after a Lye Wherefore haue you diuided your selues by a wicked sacrilegious Schisme from the vnitie of the whole World You giue eare to Falsehoods which are told you of Man either lying or erring from the tradition of the Scriptures that you may die in your Hereticall Seperation And doe not attend what the Bookes themselues say that you may liue in Catholike 〈◊〉 Wherefore doe you open your eares to Men telling you that which they could neuer proue and are deafe against the Word of God which saith Our Lord Ps 2. 7. said to me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of me and I will giue thee the Gentiles for thine Inheritance and thy Possession the ends of the Earth To Abraham are the Promises Gal. 3. 16. made and to his Seed hee doth not say to his Seedes as in many but as in one and to thy Gen. 22. Seed which is Christ In thy Seed Gal. 3. 8. shall be blessed all Nations Lift vp the eies of your hearts and consider the whole Globe of the Earth how in the Seed of Abraham all Nations are blessed Then it was beleeued of one when it was not yet seene now you see it
be weeping and gnashing of teeth Neither can the Passion of our Lord or merite of his Sacrifice vpon the Crosse as it sanctifieth and iustifieth be applyed by parts as that any one might be sanctified iustified by only Faith or only Hope in him also haue iniquitie for that grace which iustifieth and mortall sinne or iniquitie cannot dwell together in one and the same Soule For what participation 1. Cor. 6. 14. hath Iustice with Iniquitie or what societie is there betweene Light and Darkenesse and what agreement with Christ and Belial or what part hath the Faithfull with the Infidell Againe No Mat. 6. 24. man can serue two Masters you cannot serue God and Mammon Not onely Faith nor onely Hope nor Faith and Hope with Impietie and Vice and want of other Vertues are sufficient to Rest Content and Happinesse There shall Apoc. 21. 27. not enter into it any polluted thing nor that doth abhomination and maketh a lye without euer finding Rest or Ioy are Dogges Heretikes whom S. Peter calleth Dogges for that they hauing beene once conuerted to Christianitie are returned to Infidelitie and Sorcerers and the Vnchast and Apoc. 22. 15. Murtherers and seruers of Idols and euery one that loueth and maketh a lye according to the words of our Sauiour saying Mat. 7. 23. Depart from me you that worke iniquitie I neuer knew you and they shall goe into punishment euerlasting As in Arts Sciences euery one is made expert cunning in his Art by frequent acts so in Vertues euery one becommeth groūded in Vertue Pietie Godlinesse by frequent acts and exercises of Vertue according to the saying of the Holy Ghost Ps 17. With the holy thou shalt be holy and with the peruerse thou shalt be peruerted So it resteth here to set down acts of Hope in God Acts of Hope MOst mercifull Lord and my God I most firmely hope by meanes of thy helpe and the good workes which by thy particular grace I intend to doe at the end of my life to enioy eternall glorie Deere Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ although in euerie moment I commit manie Imperfections yet I hope by thy gracious helpe to arriue to Christian perfection Most mercifull Lord whose Mercies are aboue all his Workes if I alone had committed all the sinnes and enormious crimes vvhich haue beene committed from the beginning of the World vntill this day yet would I not despaire of thy mercie I hope most firmely O Sonne of God and my Redeemer by meanes of thy holy Sacraments to come to possesse eternall glorie All my hope deere Lord and Sauiour is in the merite of thy sacred Passion Graunt sweet Sauiour that I may vse the meanes which thou hast ordained should be vsed by all those who shall receiue benefite by it O Lord of infinite Mercie there was neuer sinner that did call vpon thee to whom thou diddest not shew mercie so I hope that thou wilt haue mercie vpon mee who calleth vpon thee with all my heart In thee onely I hope O Lord Thou art the portion of Ps 15. 5. mine inheritance thou art he that will restore mine inheritance vnto me From them that resist thy right hand keepe me as the apple of thine eye vnder the shadow Ps 16. 8. of thy wings protect me from the face of the impious that haue afflicted me Our Lord is my firmament and my refuge and my deliuerie Ps 17. 1. my God is my helper and I will hope in him Deere Lord in all my tribulations Ps 21. 6. I will hope in thee In thee our Fathers haue hoped they hoped and thou diddest deliuer them They cryed to thee and were saued they hoped in thee and were not confounded Lord of infinite power and Maiestie Although I Ps 22. 4. shall walke in the middest of the shadow of death I will not feare euill because thou art with me Our Lord is my saluation whom should I feare our Lord is the Protector of my life of whom shall I be afraid If Campes stand together against mee my heart shall not feare If Battels rise vp against mee in thee will I hope In thee O Lord haue I hoped Ps 30. 1. let me not be confounded Be vnto mee for a God a Protector and for a house of refuge that thou mayest saue mee because thou art my strength and my refuge Into thy hands I commend Ps 30. 4. my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Be delighted my Soule in Ps 36. 4. our Lord and he will giue thee the petition of thy heart Reueale thy way vnto our Lord and hope in him and he will doe it Why art thou heauie O my Ps 41. 12. Soule And why doest thou trouble me Hope in God because yet I will confesse to him the Saluation of my Countenance and my God CHAP. X. That Charitie or loue of God together with Faith and Hope is necessarie to the Content and Happinesse of Man THat it is not possible for Man to be content and happie without the loue of God is manifest by the light of Reason For if I had what things soeuer can be giuen me and yet did not loue them I should not find or receiue any true content or ioyes from them and yet those who loue things that are not good are deceiued and Time discouering Deceits they will remaine afflicted Againe those who loue such things as haue an end at their end or parting they will rest comfortlesse whereby is manifest by the light of reason that true Content and Ioyes cannot be without true Loue nor true Loue vnlesse it be placed in louing a perpetuall Good Againe this perpetuall Good must be such as I may at all times and in all places loue talke with and in some sort enioy which is God Almightie who is euery where and in all places eternall and of infinite goodnesse Neither is it lesse manifest by the light of Grace the Scriptures euery where promising Happinesse to such as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and Miserie and Wretchednesse to such as fornicate from him saying If thou wilt enter into Mat. 19. 17. life keepe the Commandements whereof the first is Thou shalt Mat. 22. 37. loue the Lord thy God from thy whole Heart and with thy whole Soule and with thy whole Minde Insomuch as the holy Ghost pronounceth them first Accursed who who doe not loue God with their whole hearts saying Cursed are they that decline from thy Commandements Ps 118. 21. Secondly the holy Ghost accounteth them Fooles without wit and vnderstanding saying Giue me vnderstanding and I will search thy Law and Psal 118. will keepe it with my whole heart Thirdly It tearmeth them vniust reserued for to endure Torments in the Poole of Fire and Brimstone for euer and euermore saying The vniust Ps 118. 85. haue told me Fables but not as thy Law Wicked people sayth
which according to God is created in Iustice and holinesse of the Truth Whereupon Saint Iohn Baptist speaking of the way or meanes how to attaine vnto Content and Happinesse sayth Who hath shewed Mat. 3. 7. you to flye from the wrath to come yeeld therefore fruit worthie of Penance Which is as if he should haue said If any one hath shewed you the way to Content and Happinesse and not by contrition and detestation of sinne the fruites of Penance hee hath deceiued you So our Lord and Sauiour in his first Sermon according to Saint Matthew taught Penance as the first meanes to Happinesse the Text saying that Mat. 4. 17. Iesus began to preach and to say Doe Penance for the Kingdome of God is at hand Heere thou mayest see how many men which are of short Capacities and weake and shallow Wits and Vnderstandings are deceiued in framing to themselues a conceit that to doe Penance is to be tormented deiected and oppressed in minde when it is nothing lesse but the greatest ease remedie and rest to a deiected and oppressed minde that can be had or found and the way and meanes to all true Content and Happinesse If thou wilt beleeue the Scriptures and Experience Contrition or sorrow for sinne doth much differ from the sorrow or lamenting of worldly men when out of selfe-loue they lament the losse of their worldly Commodities or Pleasures The fruites of this Sorrow are Sadnesse Oppression of Minde and Discontent as being inordinate and not ordained by God to be vsed as a meanes of finding Happinesse vvhereas Penance Contrition and Sorrow for Sinnes beeing meanes ordained by God to Content and Happinesse the more thou vsest them the more rest and content of heart thou shalt finde because God Almightie doth reuiue the Isa 57. 15. heart of the Contrite by the assisting of the holy Ghost Gal 5. whose fruits are Charitie Ioy of heart and Peace of minde of which wee are to speake more in his place A second meanes of attayning vnto the loue of God is often to Communicate according to the words of our Lord saying He that eateth Ioh. 6. my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud abideth in me and I in him which is the Charitie wee seeke for A third meanes is Meditation seriously to consider all the benefits thou hast receiued from his diuine Maiestie as Creation Redemption Conseruation and whatsoeuer graces thou hast or expectest and likewise to meditate often vpon his diuine Attributes as his infinite Goodnesse Beautie Maiestie and Power c. for the onely meanes to loue any thing that is very good faire pleasing and beautifull is but to looke seriously vpon it and consider it well and the loue or liking of it presently is begotten in thy heart And it being excellently good the more thou thinkest or meditatest vpon it the more the loue of it increaseth in thee So if thou wilt loue much GOD Almightie doe not omit thy Meditations A fourth meanes is alwaies to keepe the Presence of God that hauing alwayes before thine eyes an infinite Good from whom all things else borrow whatsoeuer good they haue thou canst not but little esteeme of all other goods in comparison of it and loue it with thy whole heart and all things else as they may conduct thee vnto it of which Presence wee are to speake in our third Booke A fifth meanes is to make many Acts of the loue of God As in Arts and Sciences thy continuall practise increaseth thy knowledge and skill so the making of many Acts of the loue of God increaseth in thee the loue of God And to that end heere I set downe these Acts following Acts of Charitie or Loue towards God AS the chased Hart thirsteth after the Fountaine of Water so I desire that my heart should perpetually thirst after thee deare Lord. O Lord of infinite beautie that my heart were so wounded with thy loue that out of feruour of spirit I might in silent speech perpetually breath forth When shall I come and appeare before thy face O most amiable Sonne of the liuing God take now possession of this my heart which was created for to loue thee and pierce it with a thousand wounds of pure loue that I may for euer sweetly languish after thy eternall beautie How beloued are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my soule coueteth and fainteth after the Courts of my God Decre Iesu to thee I consecrate my heart O deere King of all beautie and glory I will no other inheritance but thee O Life of my life and more beautifull then all beauties created put together inflame me with a most desired burning after thy eternall beautie O Lord of infinite mercy how great are the multitude of thy mercies that thou commandest mee to loue thee and if I doe not thou art angrie and threatenest eternall miseries when in louing thee consisteth all my ioyes and good O who will giue to me my Lord that I may die for thee that by my corporall death my soule may be ingulfed in thee her rest and chast bed-Chamber of all diuine delights Too late haue I loued thee Beautie so ancient and so new too late haue I loued thee but pardon my negligence past deere Lord and graunt that this my beginning may last and increase for euer Thou deere Lord was within mee and I was without my selfe and amongst these faire things which thou hast created I sought thee and fowly erred faire they were because thou createdst them but to me foule for that I loued them and loued them not in thee O how I lament deere Lord that my poore soule hath beene so deceiued with sensuall loue and worldly vanitie now conuert mee so wholly vnto thee deere Lord that nothing created may please me but the only louing of thy diuine Maiestie Thou art all faire my Loue thou art all faire and there is not a spot or staine in thee O my infinite Good I resigne to thee all that thy liberalitie hath bestowed vpon me that thereby I may please thee and offer without ceasing in the Altar of my heart my selfe in Sacrifice If I forget to loue thee my Lord let all my pleasures be turned into sorrowes and let my right hand be forgetfull of her actions if I doe not offer vnto thee vpon the Altar of my heart a Sacrifice of perpetuall Loue Morning Mid-day and Euening CHAP. XII That true Content and Happinesse cannot be without Charitie or loue towards our neighbours and keeping of the Commandements of God SO great is the Obligation and bond of Societie interposed betweene all things created that the good of one in some sort dependeth vpon the loue and societie with the other The Angels in Heauen reioice one at anothers good and Happinesse and receiue increase of Content by the increase of Glory bestowed vpon any one The Heauens send downe showers and dew to water and make pleasant the Earth and the Earth shooteth vp all her fruits
in the great Multitude which no Apoc. 7. 9. man could number of all Nations Tribes and Peoples and Tongues which are to be signed with thy Marke and to be conducted Apoc. 7. 17 to the Fountaine of liuing Waters O Lord of infinite Maiestie let the petition of thy seruant be accepted in thy sight and graunt that this my King and his Seed may be numbred amongst that Seed to which thou promised I will put his Seed for euer and Ps 88. 30. his Throne as the dayes of Heauen Thou art faithfull deare Lord and iust and right without any iniquitie and hast promised That whosoeuer shall 1. King 2. 30. glorifie thee thou wilt glorifie him and they that contemne thee shal be base Graunt deare Lord that this my King Queene and Prince may so glorifie thee in all their actions and deeds that thou mayest glorifie them vpon Earth and in Heauen eternally Most mercifull Lord I beseech thy infinite Goodnesse so to illuminate the hearts of all sinners that they may come to doe heartie penance for their sinnes and seeke to loue thee with all their hearts Graunt deare Lord for the Passion of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ that all those Schismatikes and Heretikes who in effect defend that thou hast fayled in maintaining thy Oath and Promises to Abraham the Prophets and Patriarkes for many hundred yeares may see their errors and returne vnto our Catholike Church in which are abundantly fulfilled all thy Oathes and Promises Forgiue sweet Sauiour all those who persecute me and graunt that they may come so to loue thee in this life that after death they may for euer enioy thee in Heauen I beseech thee my Lord by the bowels of thy infinite mercie that all such as seeke after Ambition and earthly Dignities may turne all their Affections vpon thee who art their onely true felicitie Graunt deare Lord that I may rather die then not heartily loue and pray for my seuerest Persecutors Deare Lord for thy infinite mercies I beseech thee so to illuminate the hearts of all the Protestant English Clergie our deare Countreymen that they may see thy Oathes and Promises fulfilled in our Catholike Church and returne vnto it with all their hearts CHAP. XIIII Of the wretchednesse and miseries into which those fall who liue in breach of the Commandements of God and doe beleeue that it is not necessarie or impossible to keepe them HAuing shewed thee deare Reader that it is not possible for thee euer to be happie or find any true Content Ease or Rest vnlesse thou keepe the Commaundements of God and also hauing set downe vnto thee the meanes by which thou mayest easily keepe them Now it resteth to set downe the miseries and wretchednesse into which those fall who liue in breach of them and esteeme it a thing impossible for to keepe them that either for the loue of thine owne good and content or else for feare of thy falling into miseries torments thou mayest be woon to keepe them zealously so be happy which is that I heartily wish vnto thee First those who doe not loue God with all their hearts and keepe his Commaundements are spirituall Idolaters and doe liue in spirituall Idolatrie For our Sauiour explicating of the first Commaundement which is made against Idolatrie and the hauing of Exod. 20. 1. strange Gods sayth Thou shalt Mat. 22. 37. loue the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soule and with thy whole mind This is the greatest and the first Commandement sayth our Sauiour So if thou wilt beleeue our Sauiour himselfe thou must confesse that those who doe not loue God with their whole hearts and keepe his Commandements are Idolaters And the part of Idolaters Apoc. 21. 8. saith S. Iohn shal be in the Poole burning with fire and Brimstone An Idoll of it selfe is not 1. Cor. 10. 19. any thing as witnesseth Saint Iohn but the loue affection which any one beareth to any creature imagination or conceit more then to God contrarie to the first Cōmandement whereupon couetous men are called Idolaters because that Col. 3. 5. they loue Gold and Riches more then God and lasciuious Men or Gluttons are said Phil. 3. 19. to make their bellies their God And according to this our Sauiour sayth You cannot Mat. 6. 24. serue God and Mammon God will haue all thy heart and loue or none Whereupon S. Iohn sayth Euery one that In his 2. Epist Ver. 9. reuolteth and persisteth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God that is hath no true God but is an Idolater Againe He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar Whereupon it commeth to passe that howsoeuer these who thinke it impossible to keepe the Commaundements of God seeme to adore laud and praise God and haue the Lord the God alwaies in their mouths sing Geneua Psalms in their Congregations yet they doe neither serue their God nor acknowledge him in their words or song but commit spirituall Idolatrie apprehending vnder these termes the Lord the God c. such a God as they haue feigned and not such a God as he is indeed All Heathen and Cicero de Leg. li. 1. Pagan people that euer were haue acknowledged a God and haue sung songs in praise but they did not acknowledge him to be as he is but as they feigned him to be as those doe who affirme that they are assured to be saued without keeping the Commandements of God confesse that there is a God a Trinitie c. but doe not confesse him to be such a God as he is that is a God who curseth all these who decline from his Commandements Psal 118. according to his Mat. 25. word but such a God Trinitie as they haue feygned that is to say a God which will admit and receiue into Heauen filthie soules stained with Pride Idolatrie Fornication Couetousnesse c. when there is no such God but onely in their imaginations as witnesseth Saint Paul saying Doe not erre neither ◠Cor. 6. Fornicators nor seruers of Idols nor Adulterers nor the Effeminate nor the Lyers with mankinde nor Theeues nor the Couetous nor Drunkards nor Raylers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God For he that hath done iniurie shal Col. 3. 25. receiue that which he hath done vniustly and there is no acception of Persons with God There shall Apoc. 22. not enter into Heauen saith S. Iohn any vncleane thing or that doth abhomination or maketh a lye Whereby is manifest that all those who do liue in the breach of the Commandements of God do beleeue that either it is not necessary or else that it is impossible to keepe them are spirituall Idolaters and doe adore and serue strange Gods in their soules and spirits contrary to the first Commandement as it is also manifest to experience for aske of any one of these
and you that haue no siluer make hast buy and eate come buy without siluer or without any exchange wine and milke why bestow you siluer not for bread Boetius li. 2. Pro. 4. and your labour and not for satietie O mortall men why seeke you for your happinesse abroad which is placed within your selues Hearing heare you me Isa 55. and eate that which is good and your soules shall bee delighted with fatnesse with content vpon Earth and happinesse for all eternitie in Heauen Blessed is the man whose will Ps 1. is in the Law of our Lord and in his Law shall meditate day and night all things whatsoeuer he shall doe shall prosper To them that loue God all Rom. 8. 28. things cooperate vnto good to such as according to purpose are called to bee Saints Loue thou God Almightie with thy whole heart and thy Neighbour for Gods sake as thy selfe and all things will be pleasing all things delightfull all things profitable all things that to thee which thou wouldest desire or wish in Charitie or the loue of God and our Neighbour is satisfied and filled all our affections Charitie Col. 3. 14. is the bond of perfection which comprehendeth in it all other vertues Charitie 1. Cor. 13. 4. is patient is benigne Charitie enuieth not dealeth not peruersly is not puffed vp is not ambitious seeketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh no euill reioiceth not vpon iniquitie but reioiceth with the truth suffereth all things beleeueth all things Charitie 1. Tim. 4. 8. neuer falleth away is profitable to all things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that to come Whereupon Saint Augustine saith The Apostle Paul Tract 8. in Ioan. initio when against the workes of the flesh hee would commend the fruits of the spirit put Charitie as head saying the fruits of the spirit is Charitie and then putteth the rest in order as rising from this head and bound to it which are Ioy Peace Longanimitie Benignitie Goodnesse Faith Mildnesse Continence Chastitie Which the Saint shewing to be true by experience addeth For who doth well reioice but he who loueth some good wherein he may reioice who hath any true friendship or peace with any but with him whom he sincerely loueth who deth long perseuere in doing good workes vnlesse he be hot in louing who is benigne but he that loueth those whom hee may helpe who is good vnlesse hee bee made by louing who is faithfull to saluation but by that faith which worketh by loue who is courageously meeke but whom loue doth moderate who doth abstaine from that which may make him filthie but hee that loueth something by which hee may be honested Worthily therefore doth our good Master so often commend Loue as though it were onely to be commended without the which other goods can nothing profite vs and which cannot bee had without other goods wherewith a man is to bee made good so Saint Augustine And according to these words of Saint Augustine are the words of Saint Paul saying Circumcision is nothing and Prepuce is nothing 1. Cor. 7. 19. but the obseruation of the Commaundements of God Againe In Christ Iesu neither Gal. 5. 5. Circumcision auaileth ought nor Prepuce but Faith that worketh by Charitie Againe Thes 3. 12. Our Lord multiplie you and make your Charitie abound one towards another and towards all men as we also in you to confirme your hearts without blame in holinesse before God and our Father in the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints Who when hee shall come to Iudgement if wee will beleeue himselfe shall condemne to euerlasting paines all those who wanted Charitie towards their Neighbours and haue broken this Precept Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thy selfe Iewes Gentiles and Heretikes who doe not beleeue the Oathes of God and the Faith planted by our Lord are alreadie Ioh. 3. 18. iudged because they doe not beleeue in the Name of the onely Sonne of God And shall arise onely to receiue their finall doome and damnation with such Catholikes as had Faith but wanted Charitie To feede Mat. 25. the hungrie giue drinke to the thirstie harbour the stranger couer the naked visit the sicke c. These for all their faith if we will beleeue the Iudge himselfe shall goe into punishment euerlasting which was prepared for the Diuell and his Angels But the Iust such as feede the hungry giue drinke to the thirstie c. shall goe into life euerlasting according to the Prophecies Our Lord Ps 144. keepeth all that loue him and he will destroy all sinners Whereupon S. Paul sayth That the 1. Tim. 1. 5. end of the Precept is Charitie from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained From a pure Heart according to the words of our Lord Happie are the cleane of Mat. 5. 8. heart for they shall see God and a good Conscience according to the words of S. Peter With modestie and feare 1. Pet. 3. 15. hauing a good Conscience that in that which they speake euill of you they may be confounded which calumniate your good conuersation in Christ A Faith not fained not such a Faith as Protestants haue who faine that they are assured to be saued without keeping the Commaundements of God when neither the Apostles nor Prophets make any mention of any such thing but a Faith founded vpon the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the Ephe. 2. 20. highest corner Stone A Faith which doth establish the Law Rom. 3. 31. a Faith conioyned to a good Conscience according to the words of S. Paul Hauing Faith 1. Tim. 1. 19. and a good Conscience which certaine repelling haue made shipwracke about the Faith Saint Augustine speaking of this definition of Charitie sayth Charitie is our fruit Tract 8. in Ioan. which the Apostle defineth of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained by this we loue one another by this wee loue God neyther should wee loue one another with true loue but by louing God For euery one doth loue his Neighbour as himselfe if hee loue God for if hee doe not loue God hee doth not loue himselfe Since all Content and Happinesse consisteth in louing of God and all other things for God hee depriueth himselfe of all true good and content who doth not loue God with all his heart as in another place the said Saint further confesseth saying Let vs heare De moâ—ib Ecc. Catho O Christ what end or rest of goods thou prescribest vnto vs that is without all controuersie the end or rest to which thou commandest vs to encline vnto with all loue Thou sayest thou shalt loue the Lord thy God from thy whole Mat. 22. 37. heart and with thy whole soule and with thy whole mind Thither we are altogether to tend to
amongst women And infinite other the like amorous tearmes and kind speeches expressing the passages of chast loue spirituall pleasures and delights exercised betweene God Almightie and a Soule his fauorite Whereupon S. Augustine in his Booke of Confession calleth God Almightie His sweet happinesse the God of his heart God the light of his heart the inward bread of the mouth of his soule and the vertue marrying his minde and the bosome of the thoughts of his minde c. Insomuch as all the kindnesses in nature and exchanges of lawfull naturall affections vsed amongst creatures are but shadowes infinitely a farre off imitating the kinde passages and spirituall affections betweene God Almightie and a Soule his loue and fauorite which are so great that neither eye 1. Cor. 3. 9. hath seene nor eare hath heard neither hath it ascended into the heart of sensuall man what thinges God hath prepared for them that loue him So thou must not maruell though the friendship and passages of amitie which I write of betweene God Almightie and a Soule that loueth him with all her heart seeme strange and almost incredible since such he saith they are and ought to be as exceede the capacitie of men These are the workes of God and they are maruelous in our eyes He that hath my Commandements Io. 14. 21. and keepeth them hee it is that loueth me and hee that loueth me shall be beloued of my Father and I will loue him And of this ariseth the filling increase or extention of Loues motions whereof the first is Feruor which is an increase of desire to our Lord beloued whereof the Prophet Dauid speaking saith My heart waxed hot within me and in Ps 38. 4. my Meditation a fire shall burne The second is Languor or languishing in loue which is an extension of feruor to our Lord beloued but not yet in spirit inioyed and so remayning betweene extension of desire and not inioying little esteeming of any thing else sweetly languisheth after our Lord beloued whereof the Spouse in the Canticles speaking saith Stay me vp with Flowers Cant. 2. compasse mee about with Apples because I languish with loue The third Extasis which is a passing of the soule out of her selfe that shee may bee in our Lord beloued Whereof the Prophet Ieremie speaking saith He shall Ierem. Lam. 3. 28. sit solitarie and hold his peace because he hath lifted himselfe aboue himselfe The fourth is Liquefaction which is a certaine dilatation or ratifying of the heart for the better receiuing and inioying of our Lord beloued Whereof the Spouse speaking saith My soule melted Cant. 5. 6. as he spake The fift Vnion which is as it were a certaine being together with our Lord beloued whereof the Spouse speaking said My beloued to me Cant. 6. 2. and ◠to him The sixt Mutuall inhesion which is a cleauing to our Lord beloued whereof the Prophet speaking saith It is Ps 72. 28. good for me to cleaue to God The seuenth Penetration which is an entring of our Lord into the bottome of the soule and vnion with all the powers which cannot bee better explicated then by the words of S. Paul This is Eph. 5. 32. a great Sacrament but I speake in Christ and the Church The same vnion that is betweene Christ Iesus and the whole Church the same is with one soule his beloued the Church as it is vnited with Christ our Head by Charitie cōsisting of the iust onely with whom he is so vnited that they are but one spirit as man and wife are two in one flesh so Hee 1. Cor. 6. 16. that cleaueth to our Lord is one spirit with him saith S. Paul Thou must not thinke that God Almightie in these delights with the sons of men is altered or changed who is one and the same for euer but that we are changed by his grace and fauour and so we speake of these things according to the changes which his grace doth make in our soules and explicate them the best we can by these actions of sensuall loue which are through the miserie of mankind better knowne and so though our words sound carnall yet if thou wilt vnderstand our meaning thou must abstract from the senses and vnderstand them vnder spirituall conceptions Wee speaking of the loue betweene a soule louing our Lord with all her force and our Lord rendring by his grace and fauour mutuall exchange of spirituall loue whereof the bodie for the vnion it hath with the soule hath his part at least in the two first Feruor and Languor though little in the latter which happen as S. Paul saith in bodie 2. Cor. 12. or out of bodie I know not The auersion of his intention was such from the senses of this life in his Extasis that he saith he knew not whether it was in bodie or out of bodie Aug. epist 112. That is saith S. Augustine whether as it happeneth in vehement extasies his mind was alienated from this life into the other the bond betweene it and the bodie still remaining or there was a ful dissolution of his soule from his bodie as happeneth in complete death he knew not And thou must not maruell at it for first the attention is so great and the obiects so exceeding all things that this World can afford that the admiration drowneth all other thoughts Secondly he neither can nor may see or know more in vehement extasies and rapts then it pleaseth God Almightie to shew him The chiefest effect of all or any one of these Loues motions is Zeale of the honour and glorie of God and the keeping of his Commandements and an holy impatience detestation and horror of sinne as well in himselfe as in others as is admirably to be seene in our Father Elias the Prophet 3. Reg. 19. Dauid Saint Paul and all the Apostles and Saints as to our Father our Lord said What doest thou here Elias But he answered With zeale haue I beene zealous for our Lord the God of Hostes because the children of Israel haue forsaken thy Couenant thy Altars they haue destroyed and thy Prophets they haue slaine with the Sword c. And not to see these wickednesses and miseries desired to die saying It sufficeth me Lord take my soule for I am not better then my Fathers And the Prophet Dauid Who had 3. Reg. 15. 5. done right in the sight of our Lord and had not declined from all things which he commaunded him except the matter of Vrias the Hethite had such a detestation of his sinne that hee sayth My sinne is before mee alwayes Ps 50. 5. to detest bewaile and lament it and expressing his further sorrow and griefe for the said sinne sayth For the voice of my Ps 101. 6. groaning my bone hath cleaued to my flesh I am become as a Pellican of the Wildernesse I am become as a night-Crow in the house I haue watched and am become as
societie is there betweene light and darknesse And what agreement with Christ and Belial or what part hath the faithfull with the Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For you are the Temple of the liuing God As God saith That I will dwell and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people God Almightie aduanceth those who forsake sinne and iniquitie to so high a degree of Content and Happinesse that he electeth their soules for his Temple for his chiefest place of honour and glorie dedicated to the setting out of his Magnificence Laudes and Praises vpon Earth a place where are to be sung the Songs of Syon Ps 136. 3. the Song of our Lord in a Ps 104. 27. strange Land and his wonders in the Land of Cham for a place appropriated to his recreation and pleasures as God said I will dwell and walke in them Againe I am come into my Garden Cant. 5. O my sister Spouse I haue reaped my Myrrhe with mine aromaticall spices I haue eaten the hony combe with my honie I haue drunke my wine with my milke Eat O friends drinke and be inebriated my dearest my sister Spouse is a Garden inclosed a Fountaine sealed vp Thy Off-springs a Paradise of Pomegranates with Orchard fruits Cypres with Spikenard and Saffron sweet Cane and Cinnamon with all the Trees of Libanus Mirrhe and Aloes with all the chiefe Oyntments The Fountaine of Gardens the Well of liuing Waters which runne with violence from Libanus To the fulfilling of that which was spoken by the Prophet Isay saying Our Lord therefore will comfort Sion Isa 5. 3. and will comfort all the ruines thereof and he will make her Desart as Delicacies and her Wildernesse as the Garden of our Lord Ioy and gladnesse shal be found in it giuing of thanks and voice of praise Making the soule of such as loue him with all their hearts a kind of Paradise vpon Earth as God Almightie said I will dwell and walke in them in some sort as he did in Paradise with our first Parents Adam and Eua who Gen. 3. 8. heard the voice of our Lord walking in Paradise at the afternoone aire To the fulfilling of the words spoken by the Prophet Isay saying They shall Isa 6. 11. 4. build the Desarts from the beginning of the World and shall erect the old Mines and shall repaire the desolate Cities that were discipated in generation and generation Whereupon our Lord saith If any man loue me hee Io. 14. 23. will keepe my word and my Father will loue him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him Our Lord will not only dwell in the soules of them who loue him with all their hearts but will make their hearts his house and home and abiding place Insomuch as the soules of those who loue God with all their hearts are a kinde of Heauen heere vpon Earth Our Lord said Heauen is my Isa 66. 1. Seat Againe Our Lord hath prepared his Seat in Heauen Ps 102. 19. and of the soules of such as loue him with all their hearts hee saith That he will dwell and walke and abide in them Whereby wee see that the soules of such as loue God Almightie with all their hearts are as it were a kind of Heauen vpon Earth where God Almightie keepeth his Court walketh and dwelleth As the hearts of Heretikes and those who liue in breach of the Commandements of God are a kinde of Hell euen heere vpon Earth paines and confirmation in malice excepted So those who loue God with all their hearts keepe his Commandements and seeke to please him in their actions are in a kinde of Heauen heere vpon Earth glorie and confirmation in grace excepted Whereupon our Lord promiseth to those who liue chast Keepe his Sabboths choose the thinges that hee would and hold his Couenant saying I will giue vnto them in Isa 56. 5. my House and within my Walls a Place and a Name better then Sonnes and Daughters an euerlasting Name will I giue them which shall not perish That is he will giue them to be recollected within their soules his Temple wherein he dwelleth and abideth as in his House as hee said before I will dwell in them we 2. Cor. 6. Io. 14. 2. Cor. 6. will make our abode with him You are the Temple of the liuing God Whereupon the Prophet Dauid speaking of his being recollected within his Soule in his Meditations sayth These things haue Ps 41. 5. I remembred and haue poured out my soule in me because I shall passe into the place of a maruelous Tabernacle euen to the house of God So in like manner S. Augustine sayth Our Aug. con li. 12. ca. 31. Lord is high and the humble of heart are his house Againe If we liue holy and iustly whatsoeuer Aug. ser 252. de tempore is done in Temples made with hands the same is wholly fulfilled in vs by spirituall Building Whereupon Saint Paul sayth Christ as the Sonne is Heb. 3. 6. in his owne house which house are we This is Sion and new Ierusalem Isa 62. vpon Earth the soule of him that loueth God Almightie with all his heart and recollected within it hee hath a place within the house and walls of God his owne soule the Bed-chamber of our Lord. And hee will giue him a better name then Sonnes and Daughters which is his Name Isa 7. 14. of Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs or the Luc. 1. 23. Names of Gods not by nature but by grace and participation from his Goodnesse according as before it is said I will dwell with them wee will Io. 10. 34. make our abode with him It is written in your Law that I said you are Gods If he called them Gods to whom the Word of God was made those may be called Gods in whom God Almightie dwelleth as in his Temple house and home Here Pennes and Tongues and Thoughts and Meditations and Contemplation and whatsoeuer else with excesse of ioyfull Admiration sweetly lose themselues with a happie losse of an infinite gaine and sit alone in silent speech more eloquent then all the eloquence of Greekes and Romans sellers of vaine words and crie out Lord Mat. 8. 8. I am not worthie that thou shouldest enter into my Roofe Thy friends are honoured too Ps 138. 17. much How beautifull are thy Ps 83. Tabernacles O Lord of Hostes my soule coueteth and fainteth vnto the Courts of our Lord my heart and my flesh reioyceth towards the liuing God There the Sparrow hath found her a House and the Turtle a Neast for her selfe where she may lay her young Thine Altars O Lord of Hostes my King and my God Blessed are they that dwell in thy House O Lord for euer and euer they shall praise thee Blessed is the man whose helpe is in
their Soules since they want patience and so the hauing of a Soule serueth them for nothing but to be afflicted and tormented Whereby appeareth the excellencie of this fruit of the Holy Ghost Patience that it maketh men Masters or iust possessors of themselues in prosperitie and aduersitie alwaies to be the same and haue and exercise at all times the free vse of reason graces and gifts which God Almightie hath bestowed vpon them In Prosperitie not to be puffed vp with pride nor wanton with externall Ioyes and in Aduersitie not to be deiected changed or altered with Sorrow or Griefe As patient Iob said Our Lord gaue and our Lord Iob â— 2â— hath taken away as it hath pleased our Lord so is it done the Name of our Lord be blessed And being beset on euery side with afflictions yet by Patience so inioyed and possessed himselfe that of him it is said In all these things IOB sinned not with his lips neither spoke he any foolish thing And since by Patience we possesse our Soules what can we esteeme to be of greater worth then Patience What Mat. 16. 26. exchange will a men giue for his Soule and giue it to be afflicted with Temporall and Eternall Torments What doth Mat. 16. 2â— it profit a man if he gaine the whole World and sustaine the damage of his Soule By this thou mayest see how basely and lightly worldly men doe esteeme of their Soules seeing that many times they lose them through anger and impatience rather then they will willingly part from superfluous Meate Drinke Apparell esteeme of the World or such like earthly commodities O sensuall Man is not the life or Soule more then Mat. 6. Meate and the Bodie more then Apparell Be not carefull therefore for the morrow Be not angrie or afflicted for that thou possessest not such worldly things as thou wouldest vse to morrow For the morrow day shall be carefull for it selfe it will bring new cares with it Sufficient for the day is the euill or malice thereof Beare it patiently and so the next day and so the third day if thou liue so long If thou canst not easily beare patiently the cares euils or malice which fall vpon thee in one day why wilt thou put the cares and euils of many dayes together into thy phantasie and prouoke and ingender in thy selfe impatiencie anger furie or wrath to the loosing of thy Soule Is not thy Selfe and Soule more worth to thee then the worldly commoditie thou wantest why then wilt thou be so foolish as to be angrie and exchange away thy Soule for a thing that is worse then it For what art thou angrie Is it peraduenture for that thou canst not enioy some good If it be not good what wilt thou doe with it or why shouldest thou be angrie because thou canst not haue that which is naught If good it be why wilt thou wish it so much euill as to desire that it should become subiect to one who hath exchanged away his Soule and is run out of himselfe Wherefore thy right course is first to possesse thy Selfe and Soule and seeke by Patience the Mat. 6. Iustice of God and all these things shall bee giuen vnto thee besides And from this fruit of the Holy Ghost ariseth the vnspeakeable Patience which wee haue seene practised and exercised amongst the English Martyrs and Confessors of our Catholike Faith heere in England in these late yeeres of Persecution some hauing beene in Prison twentie yeares some twelue some eight and almost all of them without any allowance from their persecutors to sustaine life Many put to torments many to cruell death and yet prayed patiently for their persecutors and preached by example Charitie in their greatest torments Heere is Apoc. 14. 12. the Patience of the Saints which keepe the Commandements of God The Scriptures speaking of the reward which God will bestow vpon those who seeke by Patience to possesse their Soules saith Beeause thou Apoc. 3. 10. hast kept the word of my patience I will keepe thee from the houre of temptation which shal come vpon the whole world to tempt the Inhabitants of the Earth that is he will free them from the temptations of the Deuill from which God of his goodnesse deliuer thee Reader OF THE FIFT FRVIT of the Holy Ghost which is Bountifulnesse or Liberalitie THe fift fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of such as loue him is Benignitie a readinesse and willingnesse of minde to help and doe good to our Neighbours and freely to communicate vnto others such things as God Almightie hath bestowed vpon vs which doth wonderfully shine in all the actions of our Sauiour imparting of his gifts graces and fauours to all that would prepare themselues to receiue them and hath left this Benignitie or Liberalitie of doing good to our Neighbours as a particular Legacy vnto vs saying A new Commandement I giue Ioh. 13. 14. to you That you loue one another so as I haue loued you that you also loue one another In this all men shall know that you are my Disciples â— Ioh. 3. 18 if you haue loue one to another not in word nor in tongue but in deede and truth by Liberalitie supplying our Neighbours wants with whatsoeuer God Almightie hath bestowed vpon vs. Of this Benignitie or Liberalitie our Sauiour speaking saith Doe good to them that Maâ— 5. hate you and pray for them that persecute you and abuse you that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heauen Who maketh his Sun to rise vpon good and bad and raineth vpon iust and vniust Whereby appeareth the excellencie of this Benignitie or Bountifulnesse towards all that it maketh men true Disciples of our Lord Sauiour sons of God whose Mercy and Liberalitie is aboue al his works doing good and vsing of mercie to euery one and for this cause S. Paul writing to Timothie saith Command the â— Tim. 6. 17. Rich of the World not to be high-minded to doe well to become rich in good workes to giue easily to communicate the riches they haue to others to heape vp to themselues a good foundation for the time to come that they may apprehend the true Life liue happily in this life and in the other enioy eternall Glory according to the words of S. Peter saying Brethren labor the more that by â— Pet. 1. 10. good workes you may make sure your vocation and election for doing these things you shall not sinne at any time for so there shall be ministred to you abundantly an entrance into the euerlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Whereupon our Sauiour saith Giue and there shall be giuen to Luk. 6. 37. you to be the Sonnes of God true Disciples of our Lord Content and Happinesse good Luk. 6 â—5 measure and pressed downe and shaken together and running ouer shall they giue into your bosome
Doe good and lend hoping for nothing thereby and your reward shall be much and you shall be the Sonnes of the Highest because himselfe is beneficiall vpon the vnkinde and the euill Be ye therefore mercifull as also your Father is mercifull that thereby you may be happy according to the words of our Lord saying Blessed are the mercifull for Mat. 5. they shall receiue mercie OF THE SIXT FRVIT of the Holy Ghost which is Goodnesse THe sixt fruit is Goodnesse by which they become really and truly good not by Nature but by Grace and communication of the Holy Ghost which produceth in them goodnesse and an abilitie of doing good workes according to the words of our Lord saying Euery good tree Mat. 7. 18. yieldeth good fruits and by their fruits you shall know them Againe He that abideth in me Ioh. 25. 5. and I in him the same beareth much fruit for without me you can do nothing If any abide not in me he shall be cast forth as the branch and shall wither and they the Angels at the day of Iudgement shall gather them vp and cast them into the fire Whereupon S. Paul saith Rom. 11. 22 See the goodnesse and seueritie of God! vpon them surely that are fallen the seuerity but vpon thee the goodnesse of God if thou abide in goodnesse otherwise thou also shall be cut off Againe You were 1. Cor. 6. 21. Fornicators seruers of Idols Adulterers c. but you are Washed but you are Sanctified but you are Iustified in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God because Ioh. 14. 17. he shall abide with you and be in you by whose communication they shall be renewed as S. Paul saith in the Spirit of Eph. 4. 24. their mindes and put on the New Man which according to God is created in Iustice and holinesse of Truth wherby they become truly and really good holy and iust And the excellencie of this fruit is manifest by the words of our Lord where he saith The houre commeth wherein Ioh 5. 28. all that are in the Graues shall heare the voice of the Sonne of Man and they that haue done good things shall come forth to the Resurrection of life But they that haue done euill into the Resurrection of Iudgement And by the words of S. Paul saying Tribulation and anguish vpon euery Soule Rom. 2 â— of man that worketh euill But glorie and honour and peace to euery one that worketh good Doe then good workes Reader that thou mayest attaine vnto true Glorie Honour and Peace which I wish vnto thee OF THE SEVENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Perseuerance THe seuenth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in their Soules who loue him is Persouerance a firme and constant purpose to persist in louing God Almightie with all their Hearts and their Neighbours for God as themselues for euer It is not inough to begin to doe well but to perseuere all the daies of their life in doing good to euery one for many haue begun good courses but for want of perseuerance haue perished Many false Prophets Mat. 24. shall arise and shall seduce many and because Iniquitie shall abound the Charitie of many shall waxe cold But he that shall perseuer vnto the end in a pure Heart a good Conscience and Faith vnfained shall be saued And he that shall ouercome Apoc. 2. 26. sinne and keepe my workes vnto the end I will giue him power ouer the Nations and he shall rule them with a rodde of Iron and as the vessell of a Petter shall they be broken as I also haue receiued of my Father and I will giue him the Morning Starre He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches He that shall ouer-come shall Apoc. 3. 5. be vested in white garments and I will not put his name out of the Booke of Life and I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches OF THE EIGHT fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Mildnesse or Meekenesse THe eight fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is as Saint Augustine calleth it a Couragious Tract 8. in Ioan. meekenesse or mildnesse which doth moderate the passion of anger and direct them to doe good with mildnesse and zeale as of our Sauiour it is said Behold my Seruant Isa â—â— 1. whom I haue chosen my beloued in whom my Soule hath well liked I will put my Spirit vpon him He shall not contend nor cry out neither shall any heare in the Streetes his voice The reede bruised he shall not Mat. 12. â—8 breake and smoaking flaxe he shall not extinguish till he cast forth iudgement vnto victorie Yet when he found in the Temple Ioh. 2. 14. them that sold Oxen and Sheepe and Doues and Bankers sitting he made as it were a whip of little Câ—rdes and cast them al out of the Temple the Sheepe also and the Oxen and the money of the Bankers he poured out and the Table he ouerthrew to the fulfilling of the Prophecie which said The zeale of thy House Ps 68 10. hath eaten me In like manner our Sauiour saith vnto his Seruants Vnlesse Mat. 18. 3. you be conuerted and become as little Children you shal not enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Whosoeuer therefore shall humble himselfe as this little Childe which sate in the midst of them he is the greaâ—â—â— in the Kingdome of Heauen and yet saith That Mat. 10. 27. which I speake to you in the Darke speake ye in the Light and that which ye heare in the eare Preach ye vpon the house tops And feare ye not them that kill the Bodie and are not able to hurt the Soule Who are as the Prophet saith Ps 51. Mightie in iniquitie and loue malice rather then benignitie iniquitie rather then to speake equitie But the wayes of Peace the assents to Sion the paths to Ierusalem they haue not knowne videlicet Learne of me for I am meeke Mat. 11. 2â— and humble of heart and you shall finde Rest Because God 1. Pet. 5. resisteth the proud and to the humble hee giueth Grace to finde the assents to Ease and Rest from the wise and prudent in their owne conceits our Lord hath hid them saith our Sauiour and reuealed them to little ones for he Mat. 11. 25. that exalteth himselfe shall be humbled with tribulation and anguish and paines and hee that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted to Ease Content and Rest as S. Peter witnesseth saying Be yee 1 Pet. 5. 6. humble therefore vnder the mightie hand of God that he may exalt you in the time of Visitation into the Ioy of our Mat. 25. 21. Lord which God graunt thee Reader OF THE NINTH fruit of the