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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72769	The exercise of a Christian life written by G.L. ; being the first ground and foundaion [sic], whence the two treatises appertaining to resolution, were made and framed, by R.P.; Esercizio della vita cristiana. English	Loarte, Gaspare, d. 1578.; Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610.; Banister, Mr.	1594 (1594)	STC 16644.5; ESTC S2211	82,607	248

touching the meditations cotained in the former Chapter Cap. 8 TO the end thou maiest with more fruit and spirituall aduauncement make the meditations mentioned in the former Chapter it behoueth thee to obserue therein these fewe aduises following First concerning these points of the passion whereon thou art to meditate thou must vnderstand that they are in such wise to be meditated as though they happened euen in that instant before thine eyes in the selfe same place where thou art or within thy soule or otherwise imagining thou wert in the very places where such thinges happened happely this waies thou feelest better deuotion Secondly thou must force thy selfe to drawe some doctrine and spirituall fruit out of the things thou meditatest as for example to note in euery passage ouer and aboue that is alreadie Foure notable pointes to bee cōsidered sayd these foure points first what he is that suffered secondly what hee suffered thirdly in what maner hee suffered and lastly for whom he suffered Out of the first thou maist gather 1. Who it is that suffered what immeasurable loue thou owest to so louing a Lord who being god almighty and of infinite maiesty hath vouchsafed to suffer such great torments and iniuries for thee so vile and abhominable a bondslaue sithens if another man were he neuer so abiect had suffered the like or much lesse for thee thou wouldst loue him with all thy heart paine thy selfe to be gratefull to him Out of the secōd point thou maist gather 2. What thing he suffered matter of great compassiō weighing thy sauior thus fraught with excessiue griefes alone persecuted blasphemed on euery side from top to toe al wholy wounded so that if thou sawest a brute beast suffer the like thy hart would melt again with pitty and compassion Out of the third point thou maiest gather maruelous examples to imitate 3. In what maner he suffered him in learne first to bee humble and lowly pondering that his botomlesse humilitie wherewith hee humbled himselfe euen vnto the death learne to bee patient considering that inuisible patience wherewith hee endured such torments and villanous spites without making any resistaunce or lamentation learne to loue pouerty seeing him so extreame poore hanging naked vppon the crosse and buried afterwards in another mans sepulchre as also al his life time hauing nothing of his owne nor where to rest his head Learn to loue thine enimies seing with Mat. 8. how great charitie he praied for those that crucified him learn to be constant and perseuerant in such good workes as thou takest in hand and not to giue them ouer for any toiles or crosse encounters considering the firme constancie of Christ wherewith amongst so many toils contradictions and torments he perseuerd vntill death and therewith finished the worke of our redemption Finally out of this point if thou canst consider it at leasure thou maist learne innumerable vertues and most worthy examples which shine forth in euery passage of his passion Out of the fourth thou maist gather 4. For whom he suffered a great and generall charity towardes all men and to despise none seeme he neuer so vile and contemptible considering that our Lorde hath spilte his most pretious bloud for him and for al men in the world neither is there any so wicked lewd a wretch for whom alone if neede had bene he woulde not haue suffered all the torments hee suffred learne thou therfore seeing his infinit charitie towards all men to loue all men and to make accompt of all men learne besides to detest sinne aboue all things remembring how that was the occasion of our Lordes moste cruell death and passion Thirdly thou must vnderstand concerning the foresaid meditations that if at any time it so happened that in such points as be set down to meditate vpon thou happely foundst in the first or second of them good deuotion therein maiest thou stay so long as thy deuotion shall laste not coueting to passe ouer to the other points remaining behinde in that meditation for if thou chaunce to leaue some vntouched for that time thou maist another daye supplie that want In like manner mean I if through any vrgent affaires thou shouldst sometime omit thine exercise or appointed hower that then thou force thy selfe to supply that want with a new houre if not on the same yet on some other daie Fourthly thou must procure by all Deuotiou to be cherished meanes to cherish and intertaine thy deuotion and godly purposes with other good guiftes whatsoeuer thou mightest happely haue receaued in time of praier and this shalt thou doo by indeuoring thee to goe as retyred and gathered in the daye time as thou maist calling to mind eftsoones what thou erst did meditate and receaue especially when thou hearest the clocke strike or otherwise as thou maist Now if on the otherside it so chaunced A document worthy great obseruation thou wert disquieted with diuerse forraine thoughts as it eftsoones happeneth and thereby shoulde remaine without any deuotion or taste in thy praier yet oughtest thou not for al this to giue ouer thine exercise vntill thy time bee fully finished sithens many times yea most commonly it falleth so out that one findeth himselfe colde and without taste or tallage in the beginning afterwards through perseuerance in his praier gathereth heate and findeth good deuotion yea when it so chaunced that thou shouldst not finde any taste or sauour at all in the whole time of all thy prayer neither yet ought this to dismay or make thee quaile but rather beleeue assuredly that such is the Lord his good pleasure at that time thereby to try and exercise thy patience thy loyalty and perseueraunce like as hee dealt with the woman of Canaan whome albeit hee Mat. 19 seemed at the first to make none accompt of yet did he afterwardes most abundantly comfort her honour her and grant her her desire well therfore maist thou assure thy selfe that looke how much more patiētly thou bearest this drouth and barrennes of thy soule so much fruits hath thy soule accumulated and heaped vp Thinke moreouer that albeit thou haste not founde that deuotion and attention thou wishest for yet hath our Lorde shewed himself fauorable friendly to thee in suffering thee to remaine so long time in his presence and so no doubt but the time in this manner is much more fruitfully imployed then in such other works as may seeme far better to thee if thou find no better deuotion at one time well maiest thou hope in Gods mercie that it shall please him at another time to comfort thee so plenteously that thy former wants shall thereby bee more then sufficiently rewarded And beleeue this assuredly that how much the more thou shalt perseuer in this exercise so much the more profit and pleasure shalt thou finde thereby besides other maruellous gifts which are not knowne nor perceiued at the first Neuerthelesse for that

considering that a good Christian oughte to dispouse himselfe in such wise thereto as if hee were that night to depart this life The manner how to prepare thy self is this first kneeling downe deuoutly Foure principall points to be considered giue god most humble thanks for hauing preserued thee that day 2. and require the light of his grace to vnderstand and knowe thy faults but chiefly those that thou hast committed that present day 3. examine afterwards thy conscience at leysure and with good deliberation discussing howe and in what things thou hast bestowed the same and where thou findest thee guiltie of any offence 4. be sorrowfull for it and ask God hartily mercy Purpose also to amende thy life hereafter but finding not thy conscience guiltie of any such offence yeeld him humble thanks who hath preserued thee And finally beseech him to defende thee the night following from all the deceipts and illusions of the Diuell granting thee conucnient rest for thy soules health and health of thy bodie And thus maiest thou go to bed commending thy selfe to the defence of almightie god disposing thy self in honest and decent wise considering that God and his angels do behold thee to the which God thou must not fail to recommend thy selfe It shall be likewise verie good to remember otherwhiles that euen as thou now laiest thy selfe downe in bed so shall others one day couch thee downe in thy graue and ponder well that this must needes be the ende of all the riches pompes and honours and of the whole pride and glorie of this worlde say therefore as thou lyest some short prayer namely the Lordes prayer crauing Gods good helpe and assistaunce for that last houre of so great dreade and importaunce And beware in anie wise of lying on too daintie and soft a bedde calling to minde that narrowe and hard Couch of the Crosse which for thy sake our Sauiour laie vppon and thus mayest thou fall a sleepe eyther with this or such like godly thoughtes And looke that when thou chauncest at any time to wake thou haue God by and by in thy minde and let thy mouth bee filled with his prayses saying some verse to thanke and blesse him or to recommende thy selfe to his diuine mercie and when thou risest againe in the morning behaue thy selfe as is aforesaid The exercises wherein a good Christian ought to occupie himselfe on holy daies Cap. 4. HAuing declared alredy what order thou oughtest to keep in thine exercises each working day through the week it resteth now to teach thee how thou art to behaue thy selfe on the Sabboth day the which wee are precisely commaunded to sanctifie and keepe holy It behoueth therfore that we toile not onelie and take no seruile paines on those dayes but that we dedicate our selues more diligently to gods seruice and to the exercise of spirituall good and godly works that by those meanes wee may sanctifie the same dayes by indeuoring our selues to haue more holinesse on them On sundaies therefore thou shalte dispose thy life and exercise in this order After thou art got vppe in the morning offer and commend thy selfe to thy Lorde and maker as on other daies and make thy praiers read some parte of Scripture with mediration preparing thy selfe to go to Church to praie and to heare the worde of God and to receaue the holie Sacrament if thou be minded so to do that day When thou hast thus don and left such order for thy temporall matters at home as shal be meet get thee then to Church to prayer and to some sermon especiallie at such times as thou purposest to receaue if conuenientlie thou canst And take heede in the waie to Churchward thou rolle not thine eyes vppe and downe gasing here and there especially at thine entry into the Church but retire then home in modest and deuoute wise and calling to mind thine owne vnworthynesse and manifolde sins be sorrow full for them asking God mercie and forgiuenesse And then maist thou say that sentence of the Psalme Putting my trust and confidence in thy mercie O Lorde I Psalm 5. will enter into thy holie Temple in thy fear Place thy selfe afterwards in humble and contrite wise like to the publican in some conuenient roome there to heare atteutiuely both praier sermon which are by the Preacher declared in that place and alwaies to remaine in the vnitie of the holy Church and al the faithfull and liuely members of Christ that thou maiest afterwarde enioy euerlasting happines with them in the triumphant church aboue Now at such time as publike praier beginneth lift thou vp thy minde and heart with thanksgiuing praising God when shee praiseth him praying when shee praieth and for the same things shee praieth giuing thanks when she doth and so in all things imitating her and conforming thy selfe to hir If there be a sermon that Sunday or holy day giue eare thereto with good and great zeale and attention preparing thy selfe before it beginne by estraunging thy minde from forraigne thoughts and making thy praier to God that it may please him to minister such speeche and spirit vnto the Preacher wherwith he may both profite thee and others and then maiest thou say with Samuell Speake Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Kin. 3. Of such thinges as the Preacher shal deliuer in his Sermon thou oughtest to committe some such lessons to memorie as shal most concerne thee and that chiefly hath mooued thee supposing our Lord himselfe had deliuered the same vnto thee These be the chiefest exercises wherein thou art to spend the forenoon till dinner time and then behaue thy selfe as on other dayes Hauing then paused a little while after dinner it were a verie fruitefull exercise if thou couldest conueniently vse it to instruct and teach thy familie in the Christian fayth or learne thy selfe if thou vnderstand it not well whereby euerie way doth ensue great gaine for if thou teach others that bee ignorant thou exercisest one of the seuen spirituall woorkes of mercie and if thou Iam. 5. learne thy selfe of others thou winnest that which it behooued thee to know and that is more precious then mountaines of worldly wealth After this exercise thou maist goe and heare Euening prayer and some good lesson if there be anie gouerning thy selfe in all things as is abouesayde in the morning This being done imploy the spare time till night in doing some deede of mercy as in visiting some hospitall or prison comforting performing som Iames 1. charitable office to those weake and comfortlesse Creatures or otherwise thou mayest associate thy selfe with some vertuous companions to report or heare some spirituall discourses or reade some godlie booke or finde thee occupied in some such like honest exercise and if so bee thou thinkest it otherwhile expedient to walke abroad for recreation let it bee in some secrete and solitarie place where other secular persons come not to disturbe thee and with their prophane

I beleeue as god A remedy against infidilty hath taught me in his worde neither descend to any other particularities thus likewise must thou do if in case he molest thee with temptations of blasphemy saying Thy blasphemy be to thy perdition for I adore and loue my Lord Against blasphemy God With this or some such like short speech maist thou set thy mind at rest intending to some other businesse different cogitations neither let these his suggestions dismay or troble thee any whit for all of them shall not make thee lose any iot of grace and Gods fauour yea by dooing as I tell thee thou shalte greatly increase thy rewarde If likewise hee goe at any time about to bringe thee in any perplexities scruples or other obscuryties whereby thou wotest not A refuge in time of perplexity well on which side to turne thee accoumpte not of them but conuert thy selfe wholely to God saying I will my Lorde my God both in this and eache other thinge whatsoeuer thou wilt neither doo I will or yeelde cōsent in any thing that may displease thee And thus maiest thou with this saying be in quiet and in great securitie In like manner if he induce thee to Against desparation desperation laying before thee the multitude and enormity of thy sinnes behold Christ thy iudge nailed vppon the crosse in whome thou hast more goodnesse without all comparison then in thy selfe thou canst haue euils And thus putting all thy confidence Christ crucified ought to be our cōmon refuge in him maiest thou despise and defie all the deuils and not onely in this but in al other thy temptations woulde I haue thee make Iesus Christ crucified a familiar defence buckler for thee sith that like as Moses gaue to the children of Israel being stung in the desart or bit of venemous serpents that serpent of brasse raised vppe on an high peece of wood whereon who so looked Num. 22. fixedlie and with faith were cured of their greefes in like manner and much better al such as with faith consider and behold our Lord and Sauior Christ crucified and heaued vppe on The brasē serpent a figure of Christ crucified the wood of the crosse whom the serpent of brasse did in figure represent shall be healed of all their bitinges and stinges of trespasses and temptations At such time therefore as thou feelest the serpent assault and bite thee with the sinne of pride behold Christ Against pride Phil 2. humbled on the Crosse and obedient euen till death If with couetousnesse behold that Couetousnes pouertie and nakednesse wherewith he hangeth thereon in such extreame Mat. 8. distresse as he hath not where to rest his head If thou finde thy selfe assailed with the delights of lust beholde Carnall lusts his brused and beaten fleshe fraught full of extreame anguish and how for thy sake hee hangeth on the Crosse all wounded from toppe to toe and afflicted with moste greeuous torments If thou feele thy selfe prouoked to Gluttony gluttony looke vppon him fastened to the Crosse who being extreamely pained with drought hadde gall and Math. 27 vineger giuen him to drinke If thou perceiue thy selfe stirred vppe to Anger Anger beholde that inuincible patience of our Sauiour in abiding all those his most villainous blasphemies and incomprehensible tormentes If thou beest vexed with the venemous vice of malice consider that most feruent Malice charitie wherewith our sauiour shed his bloud on the crosse for all and prayed for his persecutors that crucified him Luk. 13. Sloth If sloth or idlenesse cause thee to waxe cold in good workes fixe thine eie vppon those feete so cruellie nayled to the Crosse which were neuer wearied with wandering and seeking for thy welfare Finally in this thy Lorde and sauiour thus crucified if thou seeke in time to him thou shalt find sufficient remedies against all manner of temptations wherewith in this myserable life thou mayest bee any wayes assayled It resteth now to admonish thee of one onely thing touching this matter A necessary aduertisement that when at any time thou shouldest either with this or any other of the aforesaid remedies repulse thine Enemye and resist his suggestions yet must thou not thinke thy selfe to bee secure as though the battell were ended and the field fully fought won The malice of the feend sith this is the propertie of the deuill when he is ouercome in one tentation to arme himselfe forthwith and to make preparation for another Like as he did to our Sauiour in the wildernes whom when hee could not one waie Matth. 4 Mark 1 Luke 4 ouercome he assailed and set vppon another And therefore albeit thou weene thy selfe to be at some rest and findest the feend to haue taken truce with thee for a while after hee is vanquished yet beware thou trust not too The Deuils truce not to bee trusted much to him for when thou suspectest least then will he returne to make a fresh assault and to molest thee with new tentations And if he then hap to find thee vnarmed and vnprouided of meanes to encounter and withstande him easilie wil he subdue and conquer thee and the aduantage which thou hadst woon before honorably he will then make thee lose dishonestly Take heed therfore thou neuer lay thy weapons aside but alwaies bee prouided and in readinesse for the combat neither bee thou tired with his importunate infestations whereby he for the most part ouercommeth those that waxe wearie to withstand him but like wise as he is importunate in tempting thee bee thou as constant and importunate in withstanding and resisting him And by this meanes shall thy crown be the more rich and precious A per ser 61. de mo ben ven de Tent. as the temptations which by Gods helpe thou ouercommest bee more irkesome and importunate What a good Christian ought to do when he falleth sicke or draweth nigh the houre of death Cap. 25. ALl such thinges as I haue hytherto intreated of will helpe thee during the time it pleaseth God to grant thee health and strength of bodie but because this temporall life of ours is subiect to manie infirmities and in the end no remedie but all of vs must needes once die according to God his good ordinance Heb. 9 27 and appointment I haue for this cause thought good in this chapter to adde certeine aduises and instructions to teache thee the better how to gouerne thy selfe both in time of sicknesse and in the houre of death neither oughtest thou with worse will to read these nor with lesse diligence Note wel to execute them in their time then the former Neuertheles these aduises shal principally profite those that in their health did employ their time in such exercises as haue bin heretofore spoken of in this little Treatise preparing themselues continually to death as all good and faithfull Christian