streame of our vncertain life Or who but one of distempered wits would offer fraud to the discipherer of al thoughts with whome dissemble wee may to our cost but to deceiue him it is impossible Shal we esteeme it cunning to robbe the time from him and bestow it on his enemies who keepeth tale of the least minutes of our life and wil examine in the end how each momeÌ„t hath been emploied It iâ— a preposterous pollicy in any wise conceit to fight against God â—ill our weapons bee blunted our forces consumed our limmes impoteÌ„t and our breath spent then when we fall for faintnes haue fought our selues almost dead to presume of his mercy the wounds both of his sacred body so often rubbed â— renued by our sinnes and euery parcel of our own so sundry and diuerse waies abused being so many whetstones and incenâ—iues to edg and exasperate his reuenge against vs. It were a strange peece of art and a very exorbitant course while the shippe is sound the Pilote well the Sailers stroÌ„g the gale fauouâ—able and the Sea calme to lie idle at rode burning so seasonable weaâ—her and when the shippe leaked the Pilot were sick the Maâ—iners saint the stormes boisterous and the Sea a turmoile of outragious surges then to lanch foorth to hoise vp sailes to set out for a voiage into farr countries Yet such is the skill of these euening repenters who though in the soundnesse of health and in the perfit vse of reason they can not resolue to cut the gables and weigh the anckers that withhold theÌ„ from God neuerthelesse they feed them selues with a strong perswasion that when their senses aâ— astonied their witts distracted their vnderstanding dusked and both the body and minde racked and tormented with the throbs and gripes of a mortall sicknes then forsooth will they think of the weightiest matters become sodaine Saintes when they are scarce able behaue themselues like resonable creatures If neither the canon ciuil nor commoÌ„ law allowâ—th that a maÌ„ perished in iudgement should make any testament or bequeste of his temporall substaunce being then presumed to be lesse then a man how can he that is amated with the inward gaâ—boils of an vnsetled conscieÌ„ce distrained with the wringing fiâ—tes of his dying flesh mained in al his habilities circled in wiâ—h so straÌ„ge encoÌ„brances bee thought of due discretion to dispose of his chiefest iewell which is his soule to dispatch the whole menage of all eternity and of the treasures of heauen in so stormy short a spurt No no they that wil loiter in seed time begin only to sowe when others reap They that will riot out their health and cast their accountes when they can scarcely speake They that will slumber out the day enter their iorny when the light doth faile them let them blame their owne folly if they die in debt and eternall beggars and sall headlong into the lapse of endlesse perdition Let such harken to S. CipriaÌ„s lesson Let saieth he the grieuousnesse of our sore be the measure of our sorrowe Let a deepe wounde haue deep and diligent cuâ—e Let no mans contrition bee lesse theÌ„ his crime Thinkest thou that our Lord can be so soone appeased whom with perfidious words thou hast denied whom lesse then thy patrimony thou hast esteemed whose temple with sacrilegious corruption thou hast defiled Thinkest thou easely to recouer his fauour whome thou hast auouched not to be thy Master We must rather most instaÌ„tly intreat we must passe the day in mourning the night in watching and weeping our whole time in painfull lameÌ„ting We must fall prostrate vpon the grouÌ„d huÌ„bling our selues in sack-cloth ashes And hauing lost the garment of Christ we should be vnvnwilling to be clothed with any other hauâ—ng faâ—sed our stomackes with the â—iand of the Deuell wee should now desire to fast from all earthly food We should ply good workes to purge our offences wee should be liberall in almes to auoid the death of our soules that Christ may receiue that the persecutour would haue spoiled neither ought that patrâ—mony to be kept or fansied with which a man hath bene ensnared and vanquished Not euery short sigh will bee a sufficient satisfaction nor euery knocke a warrant to get in Many cry Lord Lord and are not accepted The foolish Virgin knocked and were not admitted Iudas had some sorow and yet died desperate Forslowe not saieth the holy Ghost to be conuerted vnto God and linger not off from day to day for sodainly will his wrath come and in the time of reueng he wil destroy thee Let no man seiourne long in sinfull securitie nor post ouer his repentance till feare enforce him vnto it Lette vs frame our premises as wee would find our conclusion endeuour to liue as we are desirous to die Shall we offer the maine crop to the Diuel set God to gleane the reproofe of his haruest Shall wee gorge the Dâ—uil with our fairest fruits and turne God to feede on the filthy scraps of his leauings How great a foly were it when a man pineth away in a perillous laÌ„guor to prouide gorgeous apparell to bespeak suÌ„ptuous furniture take order for the rearing of stately buildings neuer thinking of his owne recouery to let the discase take roote within him Were it not the lik vanity for a Prince to dote so farre vppon his subiect as neglecting his own regaltie to busie him selfe wholy in aduancing his seruant Thus saith S. Chrisostome do they that wheÌ„ their soule hath surfeited with all kind of sinne is drenched in the depth of infinit diseases without any regard therof labour their wits in setting forth her garment and in pampering the body with all possible delights And wheras the soule should haue the soueraignitie and the body follow the sway of her direction seruile senses and lawlesse appetites doe rule her as superiours and she is made a vassall in her owne dominions What is there sayâ—th S. Augustine in thy meanest necessaries that thou wouldest not haue good Thou wouldest haue a good house good furniture good aparel good fare good cattell and not so much but thy hose and thy shoâ—s thou wilt seek to haue good Onely thy life and poore soule thy principal charge of all other things the most worthy to be best thou art content should be nought ly cankering and rusting in all kind of euelles O vnspeakable blindnes Can we prefer our shoes before our soule refusing to weare an euell shoe and not careing to cary an vgly and deformed soule Alas let vs not set so litle by that which God prised so much Let vs not rate our selues at so base a peniworth being in truth of so peerles dignity If the soule be such that not all the gold treasure of the world nor any thing of lesse worth the the blood and life of almighty God was able to buy it If not all the
furious and violent or to redouble his suggestions as to perceaue the soule dismaide with his temptations or not expecting by the confidence in Gods helpe and mercy an assured victory To beare patieÌ„tly the multitude continuance of theÌ„ assuring my self that they wil haue an end ere long To think on the ioy I shall haue for â—ot consenting vnto them and the crowne of glory I shall enioy To remember how often I haue been as grieuously annoied with the like and yet by Gods helpe haue giueÌ„ the diuell the foile Not to striue with vncleane temptations but to turne my minde to thinke of other matters and to change the place or worke to find some waie to put me out of those phantasies To resist vices by practising and doing acts of the coÌ„trary vertues To arme my selfe before hande by getting those vertues which are opposite to such vices as I am most inclined vnto For in those doth the Diuell alway seeke his aduantage to ouerthrow me In grieuous affaults to open them to my ghostlie father going to confession therby to obtaine by meanes of the Sacrament more ability to resist In extreame troubles to vse some bodily chastisment to call for helpe of our Blessed Lady my good Angell the assistance and praiers of other Saintes especially to humble my selfe in the sight of God acknowledging mine owne weaknesse and wholy relying vpon his helpe and earnestly in woord and hart calling for his assistaunce and firmly trusting in his mercy yea and offering my selfe so as he forsake me not to suffer these and all other temptations whatsoeuer it shall please God to permitte euen so long aâ— he shal think good for of all other thinges this most ouercoÌ„meth the Diuel when hee seeth we turne his euill motions and troubles to so great meritte victory of ourselues A Praier in Temptation O Mercifull Iesu the onely refuge of desolâ—te and afflicted soules O Iesu that hast made me and redeemed me in whom all things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to doe nothing thou seest who I am that herâ— prostrate my praiers poure out my hart vnto thee what I would haue and what is fit for me thou knowest my soule is buried in flesh and bloud and would be faine dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my wil and violentlie drawen to thinke that which from my heart I deteste and to haue in mind the poison and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest my mould and making for thy hands haue framed me and with fleash and skinne thou hast cloathed me and loe this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth me to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit if thou helpest not I am ouercome if thou forsakest me I must needes faint why doest thou sette me contrarie vnto thee and makest mee grieuous and a burden vnto my selfe Dâ—ddest thou create me to cast me away Didst thou redeeme me to damne me for euer It had beene good for me neuer to haue beene borne if I were borne to perish O most mercifull father where are thy olde and wonted mercies Where is thy graâ—ions sweetnes and loue How long shall mine enemy reioice ouer me and humble my life vppon earth place me in darcknes like the deade of the world What am I O Lorde that thou settest me to fight all alone against so mighty subtile and cruell enemies that neuer cease to bid me a perpetuall battaile O Lorde why doest thou shewe thy might against a leafe that is tossed wiâ—h euery winde and persecutest a dry stuble wilt thou therfore damne the woâ—ke of thy handes wilt thou throw me â—roÌ„ thy face and â—ake â—hy holy spirit from me Aâ—asle O Lord whither shal I goe from thy face or whiâ—her shall I flie from thy spiâ—it whither shall I fly from thee incensed but to thee appeased whiâ—her from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull doe with me Lord that which is good in thine eies for thou wilt doe all thinges in righteous iudgemeÌ„t Onely remember that I am flesh bloud fraile of my selfe and impotent to resist shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or grant me grace that without wound or fault by thee with thee I may ouercome theÌ„ sweet Iesus Amen ConsideratioÌ„s to settle the mind in the course of vertue THE XI CHAPTER The first consideration how weighty a thing the busines of mans soule is WHosoeuer being desirous to take dew care of his soule coÌ„mencing a spirituall course first must coÌ„sider that he hath takeÌ„ such a busines in hand that for the importaÌ„ce necessity and profit therof it surmounteth all other traffickes trades and affaires of the worlde yea and to which only all other busines oughâ— to be addressed for therein our manage is about the saluation of our soule our chief iewell and treasure of which if in the short passage of our brittle and vncertaine life we take not that due care that we ought for a whole eternity after we shall euermore repent and be sory for it and yet neuer haue the like opportunity againe to help it Secondly the better to conceiue the moment and weight of this busines let vs consider what men vse to doe for their bodily health For we see they make so principall a reckning of it that they spare no cost nor toile nor leaue any thing vnattempted that may auaile them to attaine it They suffer them selues to be launced wounded pined burnt with red hoat irons besides diuers other extreame toâ—ments onely for this end How much greater miseries ought we to endure How much greater paine and diligence ought we to imploy for this health of our soule which is to suruiue when the body is dead rotten and deuoured with wormes and to suruiue in such sort that it must be perpetually tormented in hell with intollerable torments or enioy endles felicity in heauen And therfore of howe much greater worth and weight wee thinke the soule and the eternall saluation or damnation therof then the momentary health or sickenes of our body so much greater accouÌ„t and esteeme ought we to make of the busines of our soule then of any other worldly or bodily affaire whatsoeuer For what auaileth it a man saith Christ to gaine the whole worlde and make wracke of his owne soule If therefore we keepe diueâ—se men for diuers offices about our body and many thousands to liue by seruing and prouiding things for euery part therof If we spend so much time in feeding refreshing and reposing of the same If the greatest portion of our reuenewes be they neuer so large be consumed in the meates pompe sportes and pleasures thereof How much more ought we to seeke as many helpes seruices and purueiers for our soule for whoâ—e only sake our body was giuen and of whose good the welfare of the body only proceedeth Thirdly the necessity and poise of this care of our soule may be
most shined who are patâ—ones of that day As in our blessed Lady the Angels obedience and chaâ—itie In the Paâ—riarchs and Prophets tempeâ—ance hope and holinesse In the Apostles Euangelists zeale of soules and of the honour of God In the Martyres patience and constancie In the Bishops Doctours watchfulnesse ouer our charge and zeale of Gods truth and sobrietie In the religious Fathers penance contempt of the world discretion and austeritie In the Virgâ—ns and widowes the subduing of our appetites purity of heart and chastitie An other exercise of deuotion to Saints IF I will keepe my minde continually attentiue in goodnes and goe in continual awe of offending I may take this course I must in euery roome of the house where I dwell imagin in some decent place therof a throne or chaire of estate dedâ—cate the same and the whole â—oome to some Saint that whensoeuer I enter into it I enter as it were into a chappell or church that is deuoted â—o such a Saint and thereâ—oâ—e in minde doe that reuereÌ„ce that is due to them And thus hauing in euery roome setled seuerall Sainâ—es and in minde consecraâ—ed the same vnto them and decked it with such furniture as is fitte for such an inhabitant the same house will bee to me in a maner a Paradise and the consideration of the Saincts presence will be a continuall bridle to restraine me from â—rreueâ—ent demeanor vnfitte for such a behoulder as there I â—aue placed to be a witnessâ— and aider of mine actions But to helpe my memory and to auâ—id confusion First it is good to appoint in euery roome some certaine and deâ—erminac place where I meane to conceyue the Saintes presence Secondly to choose some ceâ—taine determinat â—aint and when I haue once deâ—oted the place to one Saint not to chaunge but still to keepe the same for easier habituating my memorie Thirdly in those roomes wherein I am most conuersant I may place two three or moâ—e as the roome will minister coÌ„nueniency to frame their places for the better conceiuing and remembring of them Fourthly I must place such Saints in the roome as are fittest to be patterns exaÌ„ples vnto me in that action for which that roome principally seâ—ueth As in the dining chaÌ„ber or paâ—lour saints of spare and regular diet of sober and vertuous conuersaâ—ion In the bâ—d chamber Saints giuen to short sleepe and watchfulnesse In the Chappell Sainteâ— giuen to much prayer and deuotion and so in other roomes Fiftly I may in steede of Saintes place some misterie of Christs life or passion as the last supper in the dining chamber and such like Sixtly not only in the house but also in the wallkes gardens and orchards about the house may I doe the same and so make my walkes as it were short pilgrimages to visit such Saints as are patrones of the place I goe vnto SeueÌ„thly it is not good to place Saints in al the roomes in one day but first to consider well in euery roome the fittest place for that purpose and then to begin one day with one or two the the next day with two more that they may bee the easher imâ—rinted in my memory Eightly it is good in some roomes to place austere mournefull and rigorous Saints conceiuing them in attire sutable to their austeâ—itie and dolefull profession while they were aliue that when I find my selfe too lauish in mirth or too much inclined to pleasure the coÌ„pany presence of that austere example may temper my disposition And likewise in steede of these Saintes I may place some lamentable history of the olde or new Testament or some representatioÌ„ of death hell or iudgement Likewise in other roomes to place some glorious faire comfortable Saintes histories or figures with all sutable to ioy that may serue me in time of my heauines to alay my sorrowes and the like in feare hope presumption despaire and such other passions but especially in those which I finde my selfe most inclined vnto Ninthly I must take heede that I make not this exercise a toile but rather a spirituall recreation and therfore I must not be too eager to doe all things on a suddaine but get the habit and custome of it by litle litle for so wil it proue an exercise of wonderful profit easines and contentment An other exercise to take occasion of Gods creatures to serue and remember God and to attaine vertue FIrst concerning persons I may allote to euery man woman of the house where I liue a Saint so that euery one of the company shall with his presence bring me in memory of his Saint and whatsoeuer I doe with any of them I shall alwaies carry a respect to his Saint and be affraid to offend Secondly euery one shall represent vnto me some vertue or some vice so that wheÌ„ I see them I may in one remember and practise humility in an other patience modesty obedience and such like or on the other side remember and take heed of swearing anger and such like faultes and be sory that euer I offended in them Thirdly I may take occasion of other creatures to remember Gods mercies as by monâ— the selling of Christ by meate his last supper by waâ—er the water of his eies and side and washing of his Disciples feete by drinking his eâ—sell and gall by wood his Crosse and thornes by stone his graue and so in all other pointes of Christs life and passion and in all other thinges the consideration wherof may mooue me to goodnesse as by fire to remeÌ„ber hel by ashes death by light that discouereth things that darcknes did hide the finall iudgement and day of generall descouery and by the beauty of the elements by the pleasure comfort of other creature heauen This exercise must not be ordinary vnles it be the first point but now then vsed to recollect the mind after long distraction Certaine Iaculatory praiers GRatious Lord sweet Sauiour giue me a pure inteÌ„â—ion a cleane hart and a regard to thy glory in all mine actions Iesu possesse my mind with thy presence and rauish it with thy loue that my delight may be to be imbraced in the armes of thy protectioÌ„ Iesu be thou â—igâ—t vnto mine eies musicke to mine eares sweetnesse to my tast contentment to my heart Iesu I giue thee my bodie my soule my substance my same my friends my liberty and life dispose of me and all that is mine as shal be most to thy glory Iesu I am not mine but thine claime me as thy right keepe me as thy charge loue me as thy childe Iesu fight for me when I am assaulted heale me when I am wounded reuiue me when I am spiritually killed receiue me when I fly let me neuer be quite coÌ„fouÌ„ded Iesu giue me patience in trouble humility in comfort constancy in temptations victory against my ghostliâ— enemies Iesu giue me modesty in countenance grauity in my