presence I will bewaile thine absence because euen this is a token of loue and a great pleasure to the louing soule Now then the sense of this sentence appeareth Because it is rightlie said of the louing soule how the more feruentlie she loueth and the more earnestlie she longeth after eternall things the more trulie she feeleth the power thereof working within her Theie are not cold woords but to the vnkinde soule neither deafe organs but to the hardened hart The louing and zelous soule knoweth this well and is so often inflamed in hart as she is pricked with the desire of eternall peace And therefore shee speaketh to thee her Lord God not to men of whome she would not be knowen And although sometime she talketh with men yet that which theie heare is to the outward sense But whatsoeuer she saith to thee it is to the verie soule and rather by sighing of the hart than by sounding words Lo saith she in peace is my most bitter bitternes As if she said After that of thy goodnes I returned vnto the peace of minde the transitorie state of the world began to be still more grieuous vnto mee For I see in this peace how far I am separated from the soueraigne peace And in deede beeing first busied with earthlie desires and mooued with diuers passions I was greatlie hindered from spirituall cogitations and so from heauenlie contemplation after which I should haue much longed but that could I least of all doo because through slothfulnes I did forgo all sense of inward sorowe But nowe seeing the troobles of idle thoughts are taken awaie I doo somewhat rest in the peace of conscience and am drawen vnto heauenlie matters with mine whole hart and I do more lament that I do not enioie the good things of God than erst I did moorne being vexed with the troobles of this world So that it is bitternes to my soule euen to liue in this world and to go vnder the heauie burden of sin But it is bitterest of all when somuch as I maie all mine affections being gathered together I doo enioie now the good things of the hart and bend my selfe euen with hartie zeale toward the armes of eternall peace and yet maie not attaine thereunto because of the bonds of my mortall state And this makes mee euen with griefe of hart to crie vnto thee and to saie O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the bodie of this death There is none so greuous a burden vnto me as stil to wander frō thee by liuing in the world for laboring in loue I wish for no comfort beside thee For by good experience I haue long sithence learned that my soule can neither be satisfied with the good things of this world nor yet be blessed vntill she be ioined vnto thee in the celestiall habitation For as exceedinglie she doth loue burne and vse contemplation while she is in the bodie so will her desire be insatiable vntill the bodie be laide off And therefore her ende must be made perfect by attaining the souereigne felicitie and the light of thy countenance O King of heauen so amiable in all respects ô my all louelie beloued euen wholie to be desired when wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance when wilt thou satisfie my longing with the well of life My soule hath much thirsted after thee and greatlie will be troobled vntill she attaine thee Liuing in the world and not seeing thee I can take no comfort of whatsoeuer I beholde so greatelie dooth zeale waxe hot that not once but often I breake into these words When shall I come and appeere before the face of my God And this loue of mine cesseth not but encreaseth more and more in such sort that I am driuen euen to weepe night and daie while continuallie I doo thinke with my selfe Where is now my God For it is a comfort to the louing soule to weepe for thy sake while she must want her desire and still expect thy comming And these teares doo more feede and refresh the louing soule than if she enioied all the things of this world For did she loue them she would not weepe for thee Oah how blessed and pleasing to thee is the sheading of such teares For theie doo both kill the desires of secular and temporall ioies and also theie obteine the celestiall consolation And therefore none doo shed such holie teares but theie which are both singularlie in loue and verie notablie religious Far of another kinde be the teares of such as miserablie be troobled in this world For one man weepeth because he is sick another for that he is oppressed another because he is iniured another because his minde is contraried but it is thou religious soule onlie which powrest forth teares euen of pure loue to thy Sauior-ward as for temporall damage and worldlie causes theie trooble thee not for thou submittest thy selfe to the righteous iudgement of God and art thankefull And for so dooing let no worldlie creature iudge thee either foolish or impatient because thy teares doo not greeue but comfort theie doo not blur the face but wash it theie hurt not the eies but theie purifie the sight of the minde Howbeit let others conceaue heereof as theie will I cannot but thinke otherwise than well of you for I doo wish to drinke deep of such teares S. If you wish to weepe with mee then maie you bee comforted with mee Oah that your soule were as I am you could neuer forget what I doo feele I knowe whome I credit and sure I am it is a more easie thing to denie that there is anie heauen and earth than that there is a God And I knowe also hee is my full happines and that I shall neuer bee blessed vntill I haue an absolute sight of his maiestie Whose sight because it is not yet granted me nor alwaies assured me doth make me to lamēt inasmuch as I am depriued of happines wrapped in the darknes of this life and downpeised with the waight of mine owne infirmitie that I am not of power to suffer that wonderfull light and that whatsoeuer I do think cōcerning the glorie of heauen is so litle and ouershadowed as it were with a cloude Hence it is that I dooble my complaint in steede of a song and while theie still saie vnto mee Where is thy God my spirit is the more troobled For thus I thinke then Where is my felicitie where is the full ioie of mine hart where is my true peace and reste Where be all the good things that are vnspeakeable but onlie in my God And when shall I enioie them vnlesse I be ioined vnto him hauing nothing betweene Yea when shall I there bee I knowe not but I beleeue well I doo hope well but yet I haue not Whie then where is my God whome I loue so and yet I see him not Through whose loue I
to speake let vs heare him gladlie and bee silent till hee haue done At which time you shall not be bound to satisfie my demaundes For when he speaketh all flesh must be still S. This couenant I like well Onlie let him bee with vs and bee wee carried vnto our secret places Let him bee the guide of our speech and conduct vs whether our delight is to goe This beloued of whome you so diligentlie enquire is for his greatnes vnspeakeable for his hight and glorie incomprehensible for his strength and magnificence infinite Whatsoeuer is either spoken or written of him commeth far behinde his maiestie because in glorie he excelleth all things The heauens haue sayd He hath ouerpassed and ascended and preuailed ouer vs The earth hath aunswered If the heauens and the heauens of heauens doo not comprehend him aske not me of him The stars haue soong Wee are darkenes and not light vnlesse hee inlighten vs The sea trembled and sayd Hee is not in mee and the deepe knoweth him not Heare you what they saie M. I heard and was sore troubled at their voice my verie lips trembled S. What then will become of thee if wee should aske him Let vs speake vnto him O Lord art thou hee of whome the Prophets haue prophecied and whose commandement all things in their seasons doo obeie Verelie I am that I am and besides me there is none other God I am the beginning and the ending I am the creator and the gouernor of all things I liue saith the Lorde and I will raigne for euer and euer Now little worme what saiest thou being enuironed with such light Lo thy beloued whome thou thoughtest was with mee speaketh vnto thee Hee was with mee when I said For mee it is good to draw neere vnto God Hee will bee with thee if thou also wilt saie My soule refuseth comfort the daie of miserie I desire not for thou art my King and my God Bee not like to raging louers but loue God alone seeke him alone which admitteth no companion of the world into his fellowship Talke thou onlie with him and though he depart leauing the roome void beare all things patientlie For his woont is to goe and to come to prooue his freend and make him perfect in louing If thou desire his presence beare his absence patientlie Waite and waite againe hee will depart for a while and after a while hee will againe returne Loue maketh thee thus affected which now heaueth thee on high and straight-waie flingeth to the ground againe His loue is than all floures sweeter than lilies fairer and brighter than the pretious stones For no creature is to be preferred before the loue of God and therefore for that euerie thing is to bee despised So soone as I was touched inwardlie with his loue I forthwith began so to be inflamed in my minde that bidding adue to all things in the world I onlie wished for his most pure embracements and as it were bearing hote coales out of a burning ouen I vttered these words which but few doo vse Whome haue I in heauen but thee and I haue desired none in the earth with thee God is the strength of mine head and my portion for euer By these gather now of thy beloued what manner a one and what he is which incomprehensiblie exceedeth all the things which are and haue being And although he can neither by words be vttered nor conceaued in minde because he is infinite yet is he verie louelie tractable felowlie and to be entreated insomuch as though hee cannot be comprehended yet after a strange manner hee maie be loued For by loue hee is taken yea by loue fast bounden but by desire he is sought by praier knocked at and by hope attained If as yet I haue not satisfied you let him whome you haue sought satisfie you and teach you aboue all teachers to finde himselfe CHAP. 2. 1. Of God his distinct iudgement at the end of this world 2. The cursed state of the vngodlie KNit mine heart vnto thee O Lord that I maie feare thy name O my God thou art much to be loued yea and to be feared much thou art Hee that loueth let him be glad but hee that loueth not thee let him quake and feare But hee which neither doth feare thee nor loue thee is vtterlie foolish and frantike For it is a fearefull thing to fall into thine hands And who knoweth the power of thy wrath Or who maie abide the daie of thy comming vnto iudgement For thy roaring shall be like a Lion and thy glittering swoorde like a consuming fire At the sound of thy voice all the dwellers in the world shall be moued and when thou commest all the foundations of the earth shall shake Who then but will feare Or by what meanes can anie escape thine hands If a man will hide himselfe vpon the strong rock thou wilt thunder there-vpon and it shall rent asunder And if â—e lurke in caues or mountaines he shall be plucked out and be made to susteine thy displeasure because hee cared not for thy fauour Surelie there is no place which can hide man from thy presence For all things are naked and open in thine eies thou seest the heart and the reines and beholdest the most secret affections of the thought so that no secret is hid from thine eies O how terrible wilt thou bee to sinners and to the harts that â—e hardened which now doo glorie in ill dooing and triumph in wickednes saying The Lord seeth not hee will not regard They are so puffed vp with vaine words as though thou wouldest neuer come yea they turne awaie their eies that they may not see the ende But in the houre that they thinke not thou wilt come and they shall be taken in the snares of their owne wickednes And as theeues and robbers being suddenlie taken are confounded so shall they be put to confusion at their due time Then wilt thou haue them in derision which now deride thy seruants and euill shall be rendred vnto such as haue abhorred thy righteousnes Now they stop their eares vnto thy voice but the time shall come when they shall crie and not bee heard Now they turne thy word into a fable but themselues shall be turned then into a flame of fire For thy word shall goe out with an horrible blaste and it shall strike the wicked and vnbeleeuers without all mercie What will the proude person saie then so puffed vp with knowledge and swelling in power What answere will hee make when the last trumpe shall sounde in his eares When thou Lord our God shalt appeere in Maiestie together with thine angels and archangels Then all the vngodlie deriders of thy word shall bee hush and they which haue
in exile that I haue not deserued to enioie thee nor to see thee face to face Grant mee to enioie the long desired ioie which no time shall ende nor troubles ouershadowe Show mee thy countenance which the angels continuallie do behold Let thy voice bee heard in mine eares which they without cessing doo heare Come Lord Iesu and take mee out of this forreine contrie call mee wretch home vnto my contrie and restore mee a sinner vnto my former puritie Come gratious Redeemer make mee partaker of thine eternall glorie It is hie time that I returne vnto thee it is now time that I commend my bodie to the earth whereout it was taken The matter is not great where the bodie be laide or how it be handled if so be the soule be safe and come vnto thee Let my spirit doo well which I commend into thine hands and let my flesh rest in hope to be raised vp againe in the last daie For wheresoeuer it be buried it can neuer bee far or hid from thee Remooue mee from the companie of men and ioine mee to the societie of thy saincts For this temporall life is irkesome to mee but to thinke of the daie of eternall glorie reioiceth mine heart Oah let not the olde serpent withstand mee at my departure out of Aegypt let not the enimie barke against mee in the gate let neither Satan with his ouglie sight terrefie nor the horror of death trooble mee but let thine holie angels faithfullie assist stoutlie aide valiantlie protect louinglie receiue and ioiefullie bring mee vnto the euerlasting felicitie of thy celestiall paradise And mercifull louelie and blessed Iesu doo thou gratiouslie I beseech thee behold mee and cast mee not out of the number of thy seruants but remember ô Sonne of God how thou hast redeemed mee with thy pretious blood Receaue mee into glorie and that in thy mercie and goodnes because greatlie haue I wished to solemnize a passeouer with thee Oah happie daie of my desired reward Come blessed houre of blessed passage which long I haue desired and kept before mine eies What now haue the troobles and afflictions in the world hurt mee What am I the woorsse for the contempt labor and humiliation for thy name sake Thou hast bin my life and now death will be to me an aduantage and to be with thee in thy kingdome will be absolute felicitie Now praise and glorie be to thee who art the life of such as liue the hope of those which die the saluation and rest of all which trust in thee CHAP. 8. A meditation of one dead vnto the world yet aliue in Christ. TVrne awaie mine eies from regarding vanitie Oah Iesu which art the true life which neuer shall haue an ende geue mee grace that through loue of thee I may bee consumed through loue wounded through loue killed that the flesh preuaile not ouer mee I am not as yet thoroughlie dead to the world but the old man yet liueth in mee raising vp within me much contention and desires of manifold euils and making the nightes bitter and the daies tedious vnto mee Oah when will it fall out that boldlie I may saie I thought my selfe as a dead man For hee which dead is doth waie neither the praises of men nor the reproches of the malignant because he is dead Hee which touching the flesh is dead neither speaketh nor smelleth nor tasteth nor exerciseth anie worke yea he neither heareth also the vanitie of this world againe he regardeth not curious and bewtifull things enticing vnto the loue of some vile thing vpon earth And hee which is dead to the world is not in the world but in God to whome hee liueth euen as Paule to the beloued disciples doth saie yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God This man doth so speake so thinke so behold things without as though they were not For the things which are seene are temporall and vane but the things which are not seene are eternall Hether doth hee cast his eie hether doth hee hasten hether is his desire for these things doth hee labor to attaine these things is all his studie These things hee wisheth these things hee loueth these things hee seeketh these things hee sauoreth euen which are within and secret to wit great good things soueraigne and eternall things of which hee cannot thinke too often because theie are exceeding pretious and sweete and delectable and more than vtterable This man is far estranged from present things and breatheth altogether after things eternall hauing the dominion ouer the sensuall appetite For the flesh seeketh outward desireth pleasant loueth present loatheth absent flieth all sharp and bitter things which notwithstanding are good for the soule Whence it commeth that it will not suffer the spirit to be at rest but laieth before it sundrie phantasies which are scarse to be spoken and in truth not to be accompted of But hee which is endued with the grace of spirituall fortitude maie with more ease subdue the insolent motions of the flesh singing in the word of the diuine power The Lord is with mee therefore I will not feare what flesh can doo vnto mee Therefore albeit this sensualitie doth moue battell and the voice of the flesh doth secretlie murmur yet doth not the spirituall man easelie consent for greater is the force of the diuine loue which inwardlie doth comfort This man now and then so sweetlie so stronglie and so earnestlie is drawen rauished and in loue with God that scarselie hee doth see and perceaue the things about him and be heard in the world because he is not there but else-where not belowe but aloft euen with God and in God which moueth the spirit within him and erecteth and as it were carrieth it awaie in a firie chariot that at the length it maie enioie him in an happie and holie and long wished desire of his hart This man is sildome found idle abroade because his freende hath borne him awaie There quietlie and alone hee heareth his speech euen the speech of his beloued and greatlie doth reioice to heare the voice of his vnsuspected spouse Neither straight-waie doth he cas◠his phiall vpon the ground to draw◠vp vanitie but hideth the founde◠treasure and shutteth it vnder loc◠and keie that the foote of pride com◠not in and so all virtue doo perish◠For thus he saith to him Set mee a◠a seale on thine heart and so forth as i◠followeth in that place It is good to seale the heart and to keepe it least the beloued goe back and flie awaie because hee seeketh and visiteth aboue all a pure and an humble heart These things hee thinketh with himselfe and is astonished at that good thing which passeth all sense and gifts Yea still hee wandereth and enquireth diligētlie what thing is this and exceedinglie reioiceth for
and neuer turneth aside the eies of his heart from his Sauiour but continuallie seeketh the things which are pleasing in his eies For hee shall walke in peace and equitie and no stranger shall participate of his pleasure Hee shall well perceaue that his rest is good and taste how sweete his Lord God is in whome hee trusteth Hee shall set him far from outward tumults and with hartie desire expect his prosperous comming Lo thus worketh the Lord in his elected vessels Hee which commeth vnto him shall not returne emptie awaie for cheerefullie hee bestoweth vpon the thirstie drinke and bread vpon the hungrie O my God when thou enterest into the house of the soule which loueth thee wilt thou not feede her with thy milke yea and bring her sometime beside her selfe through thine abundant sweetnes to the taking of thee without anie corporall similitude O truth truth of what force and power is loue Then wilt thou speake thy word to her all secretlie and show the things that shall bee and haue bin in most happie charitie and fruition where the words of man shall no more bee heard From thenceforth thou wilt cause her no whit to doubt anie more of eternall rest and of the felowship of sancts but now by differring the token of speciall grace thou makest her the more able to hope for the things she seeth not and to despise present things which by sense shee comprehendeth O mercifull God bee mindfull of mee a poore begger euen of thy great mercie and send the true bread from heauen thy good word so full of comfort and grace CHAP. 11. 1. That all comfort and pleasures are in God 2. A praier that all people may glorifie the Lord. 3. The blessed state of good men 4. That wee are to be readie against the comming of our Sauiour Christ. ALl my bones shall saie Lord who is like vnto thee There is one and like to him there is none euen my GOD it is to whome whatsoeuer is compared is nothing My God is entirelie to be loued and a most faithfull frend which neâ—er forsaketh the soule that loueth â—im but continuallie abideth with â—er for companie And if sometime â—e hide himselfe and suffer her to be â—roobled it is not doon of him to deâ—troie but to trie her to purge her and to instruct her So that euen â—hen he forsaketh not but the more â—iselie instructeth that euerie one maie see what hee is of himselfe and how far hee is come forward in religion O my beloued thou art all faire and louelie but not to the flesh but to the minde not to the eie or sense but to the faithfull soule to him which hath a pure heart to him which is altogether addicted vnto things inuisible and spirituall So that who so desireth to be vnited to thee by a religious affection he must of necessitie mortifie in himselfe all fleshlie motions and aboue all reteine a pure conscience For thou art much displeased then when a man doth goe vnto fraile crreatures to seeke consolation And therefore thou callest me inwardlie to loue thee and thou commandest that I wait for thee for then I shall finde thee when I doo humble my selfe and wish that which thou wilt And this shall be all my felicitie euen freelie to serue thee neither dreading anie losse nor seeking anie gaine because thou allowest that soule which pure lie dooth loue Oah blessed is hee which both in life and death sticketh onlie to thee But as for mee I am far-awaie cast oftentimes from thy fauor by louing and that both inordinatelie and vndiscreetelie transitorie things But that I maie not perish with them I with all speede will returne and behold in them thy glorie and direct all my cogitations to thee wâ—rd O my Lord and God which of nothing hast made all things giue mee grace for all things to praise thy name For all power wisedome goodnes and mercie is thine thine also is euerlasting glorie and maiestie Thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages Thou orderest all things both things aboue and things in earth Thou knowest all things and possessest all things nothing dooth resist or trouble thee but quietlie thou rulest the world and makest the rebellious to stoup and to serue Thou art priuie of all things which are doon in the world and before theie were doon thou knewest their endes Thou art the God both of heauen and earth the creator of things visible and inuisible the gouernor of the whole world and the disposer of the seasons O blesse thy seruants I beseech thee dispersed far and wide ouer the world yet seruing thee most religiouslie Make them constantlie to sound forth thy praise and in all places with one voice to glorifie thy name Stir vp their harts firmelie to loue thee and grante that all their enterprises maie take a good ende Oah how gratious and how good art thou to such as loue thee how sweete art thou to them which taste thee Theie which haue felt thy sweetnes knowe thereby the better how both to thinke and speake For thy sweetnes surpasseth all sweetnes and thy pleasures doo sweeten all bitternes O Lord my God holie men haue spoken and Prophets haue talked of thee All the godlie from the worlds beginning haue beleeued in thee haue serued thee haue glorified thee both with sacrifices and oblations theie haue praised and blessed thine holie name because theie haue both acknowledged thee to bee the creator and maker of the vniuersall world and also trusted in thee aboue all things Theie haue knowen thee in their visions for thou hast reuealed thy name to them and beside thee they knewe no God Theie obserued the lawe of thy commandements which thou gauest them Theie folowed not the foolish imaginations of false Gods but they worshipped thee which liuest for euer the creator of all things Theie lifted vp their voice to thee with thankesgeuing because from on high thou soundest in their eares saieng I am that I am Before mee there was no God formed neither shall there bee after mee I haue ordained the things which shall be and I forget not whatsoeuer is past This when theie heard and vnderstood theie cast the eies of their faith a far off beleeuing that God will saue vs and that he which shall come will come and will not tarie Knowing these things afore hand theie were not a litle comforted and maruelouslie astonished at the presence of the glorie to come theie fainted But afterward comming by litle and litle to themselues and with ioie beholding the power of God approching theie said Hee is euen hee is the Lord our God and wee haue none other Hee hath taken vs and hee will saue vs. Hee cannot denie himselfe
because hee is faithfull As we haue heard so we haue seene as wee haue beleeued so wee haue spoken and borne witnesse to the truth Once the Lord did speake and it was doon Hee saide My counsaile shall stand but yours shall come to naught ô yee sonnes of men Wo vnto them which imagine euill and afterward make a scoffe at the word of God! Wo vnto you which doo faigne a religion out of your owne braine and are exalted in your owne power Heare the word of the Lord yee which serue the Lord knowe yee that he hath a controuersie with the inhabitants of the earth To turne awaie your selues it is not good stand yee therefore and consider his waies Returne you and come vnto him so will he ioiefullie receaue you into fauor for the Lord is gratious and mercifull He keepeth not his anger as man dooth but pardoneth all sinnes yea and moreouer he restoreth the former grace with the later Onlie returne you with all your harts and dedicate your selues wholie and vnfeinedlie to his seruice Thus doo the sancts speake in mine eares That which musick is at a banquet and sweete smelling frankincense in a censar euen that is the word of God in a pure hart And thy sancts Lord filled with thy spirit haue thus sounded forth the memorie of thine abundant sweetenes and haue lest their words vnto vs to be sounded abroade But my speech often-time is stopped so that it hath no passage to ascend But if that fire come from aboue then shal my toong be hot and if it once be enflamed I shall forth-with be consumed I shall not be able to stand in the presence thereof for as the winde driueth awaie chaffe so shall sorow be expelled from the hart And as the rust by the fire so shal my sinnes be consumed The fire of God which consumeth all things shall sweep the floore of mans hart Descende and get vp tuch me a little and I shall flee Things passed shall be as though theie had neuer been and that to come shall not be accompted of for all sinnes shall vtterlie be forgotten Old things shall passe awaie new shall come abundantlie holie desires shall encrease and rise vp on all sides wheresoeuer the good spirit shall blowe Feare shall depart loue shall possesse the harts of all all affliction shall cesse for this alteration is by the hand of God Therefore that which I saie is not to mine owne but to his praise The pensiue hath comfort the hungrie bread the thirstie drinke The sick is healed the wauering assisted the weake strengthened the wearie quieted the hopelesse comforted the complainer pittied To the blinde sight to the wandering a readie waie to the knocker the gate is opened He which doubted is now resolued hee which staggered is nowe strengthened hee that diligentlie enquired is now entertained ioiefullie by mother charitie The freend commeth more ioiefullie to meete than is the soule desirous to speake with him L. Lo now am I present saith he saie on what new thing hath fallen out What haue you forgotten what you are to suffer and to doo for my sake B. Yet this staied mee not being desirous to go forward with him So straight-waie I mounted aloft and forgat all mine affliction Hee would not by and by discomfort the partie so longing to abide with him but with gentle words he said that in due time it should bee performed L. Thy desire is good and request vnto mee dooth like mee well notwithstanding it maie not presentlie be graunted Go thy waie and get home to thine owne house and declare to thine acquâ—intâ—nce what the Lord hath doon for thee Saie vnto them Prepare your harts euerie one of you and laie downe the heauie burden of sinne and bee yee warie and strong to resist the snares of Satan Watch and praie least yee fall into tentation I will come shortlie looke that I finde you readie Lo I haue warned you aforehand CHAP. 12. 1. The desire of the soule after God 2. The properties of God by the sondrie titles ascribed vnto him 3. None commeth vnto God vnlesse God draweth him SAie vnto my soule I am thy saluation O of what excellencie art thou my soule what wonderfull virtue is hidden in thee that thou canst neuer bee at rest vntill thou haue attained perfect happines and found the last end which thou so desirest which once being knowen and found out the care is gone Oah happines aboue all happines ô end without end when shall I both without measure and euerlastinglie enioie thee I finde manie good things in this world But theie continue not neither doo theie satisfie my desire But one thing is necessarie This one thing is that I seeke this oâ—e thing I desire For one thing are all things and of one thing are all things If I â—et this thing I shall be coâ—â—ent but if I enioie it not I shall continuallie be tossed because manie things cannot satisfie mee What is this one thing I am not able to saie what it is sure I am I desire that than which nothing either is or maâ—e be imagined either better or greater For this is not one thing among manie things but one thing aboue all things And it is my God to whome if I stick I shall doo well To him I saie to him I 〈◊〉 when I saie Saie vnto my soule I am thy saluation O my soule my longing soule what more desirest thou Is it not better for thâ—e to cleaâ—e vnto one thing than vnto manie things Of one thing are manie things but one thing is not of manie things Cesse to seeke manie things ioine thee to one stick vnto one for in one thing all things consist Let others enquire after manifold and diuers outward things but doo thou seeke one inward good thing and it is sufficient Lo this man seeketh a farme that man traueleth about his marchandise another heapeth vp much gold and siluer another hunteth after pleasures and preferment another visiteth his freends and kinred another is merie with his acquaintance another rideth vnto cities and castles another doth long to see diuers contries of the world another desireth wisedome another preferment another principalitie another a kingdome and thus one wisheth one thing another man another thing euen aswell among the spirituall sort as among the secular But fewe doo seeke one thing and other things purelie and simplie for one thing And therefore theie neither doo finde anie sure peace nor yet sauor the inward grace of the spirit For so manie as are the seruants of Christ doo couet not temporall not earthlie things as though they were then iolie and glorious felows if theie abunded therewith What then wilt thou saie that the things which theie seeke for doo touch thee ô deuout soule in truth thou canst not For my part I detest all these things for my good
By the lack I haue now learned what I haue lost And the absence of a freend showeth what his presence did good I was merrie and iocund with him but I did no whit consider of his speedie departure He came skipping vpon the mountaines hee was ioiefull and iocund in the porches of mine house And straight-waie I locked the doores of the flesh and let in the beloued vnto mee I did sit and rested within vnder his shadowe from the haile and raine And it did mee much good to haue his companie Whie should I not reioice Hee is my ioie and the comfort of mine hart Ah what had I And what then did I possesse I am not able to vtter how well I prospered then neither is it conuenient that I should I could not desire more then I had he beeing present whome alone I loued Oah how did I loue when I despised both my selfe and all things beside I had either little or no care at all of anie thing that might delight me for I was rauished with loue of him and whatsoeuer was not my beloued I loathed as altogether vnsauerie But he being taken awaie I am in a manner cleane out of hart For my soule depended vpon his grace because I had none other comfort besides him whose absence I doo thus lament He did content me and was sufficient to the making of true mirth in deed As I would so was he and whatsoeuer he enioined mee I tooke it in good part and I consecrated my selfe wholie and franklie to his will So that there was a good agreement and great quietnes betweene vs. No man durst be so bold as to interrupt our silence when hee had commanded so through my mouth L. I charge you ô daughters of Ierusalem by the roes and by the hindes of the fielde that yee stir not vp nor waken my loue vntill shee please S. Now therefore note if you be able to conceaue my woords what great cause I haue to lament the absence of my freend by whose presence I began to bee so rich with all good things M. Heereunto I answered I knowe well what you saie by often experience I haue prooued so much as you speake But let vs comfort our selues in this that the dispensation of his will is the encrease of our zeale and deuotion And now I haue receaued with thankefulnes that which you haue vttered notwithstanding I would more thoroughlie haue them beaten into mine head For theie which be hard of conceiuing are often to be told of a matter CHAP. 15. 1. Touching the fruite of freendship 2. The benefits of Christ vpon man 3. The true felicitie and ioie of the soule 4. The affinitie betweene Christ and the soule of man PRaised bee GOD which hath not put back my praier fro mee Therefore I am now againe zelouslie to enquire if your freend at anie time left you without inward comfort What meane you What muse you heere about How also maie hee bee reconciled and reclamed Of all freendship I beseech you ô deere and beloued soule to Christ conceale none of these things which I am to demaund of you You maie so doo me a pleasure in opening to mee your godlie cogitations By your talke I shall be able to measure the waight of my griefe whether iustlie or without cause I was pensiue For I haue seene you sometime merie and sometime sad and by and by glad againe and by you I did somewhat consider of my selfe But I suppose the chiefest cause of this your alteration is that returning and departure of the beloued The which hath made mee perceauing how you haue run ouer manie matters for mine instruction to resort vnto you S. According to your desire I will bend my selfe somewhat to vnfolde the things which I feele within mee both when I am with my freend and also when I am alone looking for him whome I so doo loue This first vnderstand I reape not so much ioie and pleasure by his presence but I finde as much sorow and bitternes through his absence But whie it pleaseth him so to come and go rather I had he should declare than I. But you shall heare it when I haue finished the words of my song because in the ende we will bring him in vnto vs and sitting among vs hee shall teach vs his order the which he vseth to show vnto such as desire his presence In the meane while giue attentiue eare vnto mee and be not offended at mine homelie speech For wee are now come together to stir vp our harts and either to weep together or through loue to reioice together For wo vnto him that is alone because when hee falleth into some sorow or tentation there is not a second to lift him vp And if to be together theie will comfort one the other while one being sad the other ministreth ioie or if he refuse to be comforted he shall be pittied forthwith and griefe will be taken for his griefe and so it will fall out that either theie will both be glad or both sad together And although some sorowe doo yet still continue for some aduersitie or matter of sorowe yet the more patientlie theie beare it because their harts be so linked that nothing can change or alter their mindes Now who seeing this faithfull concord of mindes but must needes breake into these woords and saie Behold how good and how comelie a thing it is brethren to dwell euen together And therefore I can the more boldlie tel you what I thinke because I dread no deceipt or subtiltie in you Lo this all sweete spouse and best beloued frend our Lord Iesus Christ the louer of holie soules euen of pure loue not able otherwise to doo allured mee vnto him and when I was not he gaue me life wisedome and power to behold this common light Hee gaue mee grace to be borne anewe by Baptisme and adorned mee with the roabe of his pretious merits Ouer and besides when afterward I had foulie bespotted my selfe with sinne and was far vnfit to loue him he cast not his eie vpon my filthines but vpon the side of his mercies For when as yet I wandered out of the waie hee reclamed mee of his goodnes not suffering mee to perish in this wicked world Moreouer he hath prouided mee a place to rest in so long as I liue in this mortall bodie Notwithstanding this dwelling vnder the shadow of the beloued is not the true rest nor the rest which shall for euer continue but that is the true rest which wee shall feele after the labors of this present life Yet for the soule to perceaue her selfe to be vnburdened of worldlie cares and there to rest where she maie the more fullie serue her beloued and attend vpon him in the secret chamber of silence it is a kinde of comfort Furthermore my freend hath not left but assisted mee in my diuers troubles and sorest tentations Also he hath both
maidens old men and children praising the name of the Lord continuallie and ascribing the goodnes which theie had at anie time vnto his mercie There theie are I saie alwaie gratefull alwaie zelous alwaie iocund alwaie religious neuer loathing but euer louing the Lord. Oah howe glorious is this kingdome where all the Sanctes doo raigne with Christ araied with the firste roabe and be without care of the other There theie folowe the Lambe wheresoeuer hee goeth for theie cannot part but reioicing euerlastinglie shall ioie in the Lord. O my Soule muse thou vpon these things and cast thy thoughts vpon heauenlie matters That place in deede is an holie place and God is in the same There is surpassing ioie and peace good things abound and euils there be none Oah if thou couldest euen a little comprehend the vnspeakeable ioies of God his sanctes then should you finde some comfort For in mee you shall be sure to finde nothing but labor and sorowe and tentations with troobles of this world Oah that the giuer of supernall light would vouchsafe to enspire some porcion of these ioies into you and not send you back vnto my newe withering foode but according to the riches of his superabundant mercie purifie and rid you of all materiall formes and bring you yea by force into the deepe of his eternall brightnes Would to God you could carrie back from that heauenlie sanctuarie a forme and example of true holines which you might imitate For better and more true are the examples of celestiall and strong things than theie which are confirmed by earthlie demonstrations Therefore grante Lord that I maie sauor and knowe what the perfect felicitie of sanctes is not so much by written bookes thereof as by the holie Ghost which teacheth of celestiall secrets in such sort as no sense of man is able to reach thereunto Grante also that from henceforth I maie lift vp my minde more feruentlie vnto heauenlie things and amiddes my grieuous troobles valiantlie beare the garland of patience till the debt of flesh being paid I maie attaine through thy mercie vnto this felicitie that I so desire CHAP. 22. 1. A godlie meditation concerning the accesse vnto the holie of holies euen Iesus Christ the king of angels 2. godlie petitions for the forgiuenes of sins THou art my King ô God Arise now my soule come and enter into the wonderfull tabernacle euen into the house of God For it is meete that omitting other things thou with all reuerence doo proceede to salute our Lord Iesus Christ thy Sauior and redeemer which is the head of all principalitie and power the ioie and crowne of all sanctes the assured trust and certaine hope of all the faithfull He it is which hath made and redeemed thee he it is which hath for thy sake both labored striued and ouercome He is thine aduocate and the propitiation for thy sins He is thy comforter thy prouider and thy Lord He is thine onlie singular freend that feedeth among the lilies and loueth to reste him vpon thy breastes Who euer hath doon the like for thee who euer loued you so entirely Come thou vnto him offer your selfe to him open your whole heart and vnfold euen your hidden secrets vnto him For no man will better either declare or else reueale how you should behaue your selfe in this world in the which things fall out so strangelie Let your wishes and praiers be directed vnto him and in him let all your counsailes abide Vaine is the hope of man but hee is the vpholder of peace Through him wee haue open accesse vnto the Father and from him wee receaue all goodnes and virtue Whether you mourne or whether you reioice make continuall recourse vnto him Hee is the glasse of life the rule of righteousnes the light of the soule the loue of shamefastnes and the ioie of a good conscience If thou louest him it will be none hard matter for thee to despise the vane pleasures of this world if thou louest him all soure things will seeme sweete all heauie things will seeme light and that which otherwise you should mislike you will like right well for his sake To be briefe of him and through him and for him are all things The principall ende both of all our thoughts and of all our actions and of our speech and of our reading praieng meditating and speculation should be Iesus Christ. Through him you attaine saluation and euerlasting life For his loue you will neither feare to die nor refuse to liue because you are to commit your selfe wholie to his trust and to prefer nothing before his loue and honor Wherefore come neere and giue thanks to thy Redeemer S. O moste sweete Iesu aboue all things to be loued I salute thee most religiouslie I commend thee most highlie and I blesse thee now and euerlastinglie with all thy creatures O moste renowmed Iesu howe can I praise thee as I ought When shall I thanke thee as I am bound in that thy mercies are so infinite to mee-ward Againe whatsoeuer I giue it is thy gift and I receaued it from thee But little or nothing it is that I haue and can I then sacrifice of nothing Howbeit accept I beseech thee mine humble base and vile sacrifice and let my gifts be ascribed to thy goodnes Let the quires of heauenlie angels attending about thee sound forth thine infinite praises on my behalfe also let the soules of the righteous repeate the same In the meane while what shall I doo in memorie and praise of thy most sacred name Much I ought to doo and for manie things I am greatlie bound yet am I not able to performe the least And therefore I will reade of thee ô my sweete Sauior I will write of thee I will sing of thee I will thinke of thee I will speake of thee I will worke for thee and for thee will I suffer In thee will I reioice thee will I praise thee will I magnifie thee will I glorifie As it is meete I will worship thee because thou art my God in whom I beleeue whome I doo loue seeke and haue alwaie desired Giue mee some good signe that mine eies maie behold thy goodlie countenance in the heauens Humblie I doo throwe downe my selfe at thy feete in hart earnestlie with teares desiring thy fauor that thou wilt vouchsafe to be good vnto mee Write my name in the booke of life and let that neuer be out-blotted which thine holie hand hath written I wretch that I am and far inferior to anie of thy sanctes yet trusting boldlie vpon the more than excellent prerogatiue of thy mercies beseech thee that at the leastwise I maie be compted among the basest and woorst of thine elect I confesse my life and conuersation is not such that I dare presume anie thing of my selfe and therefore all mine hope