thy selfe whom thou hast created is inestimable Chap. 15. How the trobles in this world are nothing answerable to the ioies in heauen O My soule were wee euerie daie to endure torments and to suffer the paines of hel à long space if we would behold Christ in his glorie and be ioined to his saints were it not meete that we suffered al kind of aduersitie to attaine vnto the participation of such felicitie and of so great glorie Let the diuels then lie in wait and prepare their tentations let fastings breake the bodie let hard apparel bring-downe the flesh let labors grieue watchings drie-vp let this man crie out vpon me let him or them disquiet me let cold benum the conscience murmur heate parch me Let mine head ake my breast burne my stomach swel my countenance become pale let euerie part of me be weakened Let my life waste in heauines and my yeeres with mourning Let rottennes enter-into my bones and let me tremble in my selfe so I may rest in the day of troble and ascend-vp vnto the saints of God For how singular shal the glorie of the righteous be how great the ioie of al the sancts when each of their faces shal shine as the Sunne when the Lord shal begin to sort his people into sundrie degrees in the kingdome of his Father and according to each mans deserts and works as he hath promised render his rewards euen celestial for earthlie eternal for transitorie and great things for verie trifles Doubtles there shal be store of happines when the Lord shal bring his sancts to the contemplation of his fathers glorie and make them to sit together in heauenlie places that God may be al in al Chap. 16. Of the kingdome of heauen and how it may be attained O Happie ioifulnes ioiful happines to see the Sancts to be with the Sancts to be à Sanct to beholde God and to enioie God from euerlasting to euerlasting Heerevpon let vs earnestlie muse these things let vs hartelie desire the sooner to come vnto their happie state Askest thou how this may be done or by what merits or meanes Listen ô man This matter consisteth in the power of the worker for the kingdome of God suffereth violence The kingdome of Heauen ô man asketh none other price but thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art thy selfe Giue thy selfe and thou shalt haue that What art thou troubled about the price Christ hath giuen himselfe that he might purchase thee à kingdome to God euen the Father So giue thou thy selfe that thou maist be his kingdome and let not sinne raigne in thy mortal bodie but the spirit to the attainement of life Chap. 17. VVhat Paradise is and the ioies thereof NOw my soule returne we vnto the celestiall Citie wherein wee be written and of which we be members For as Citizens with y e Saints and of the houshold of God and as the heires of God and heires annexed with Christ let vs cal into minde as we are able y e happie state of our Citie Saie we therefore with the Prophet Glorious things are spoken of thee ô Citie of God they which dwel in thee are like such as sing It is faire in situation euen the ioie of the whole earth There is neither age nor the miserie of age in thee in thee there is no maimed nor lame nor crooked nor deformed person for al do meete together vnto à perfect man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ Then what happier thing can there be than this life where neither pouertie is to be feared nor sicknes to weaken where no hurt is done and no man wil either be angrie or enuious Where there is no burning concupiscence no desire of meate no suing for honor and preferment Where we shal be out of al feare of the Diuel of his traps and of damnation Where neither bodie nor soule shal die and à ioiful and immortal life is Where no euils at al nor discord shalbe but al things wel al things at quiet because the harts of al the Sancts shal wish and wil one thing Where peace and mirth do possesse al al things are as they should be and at à good staie Where continual light shal be not such à light as we now enioie but so much cleerer as it is more blessed For that Citie as we reade hath no neede of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glorie of God shal inâ—ighten it and the Lambe is the light of it Where the Sancts shal shine as the Starres for euer euer and they that turne manie vnto righteousnes as the brightnes of the firmament So that no night shal be there no darkenes there no gathering together of cloudes there no complaining there either of parching heate or of nipping colde But such à temperature of al things there shal be as eie hath not seene neither eare hath heard nor at anie time hath come into the hart of anie man they onlie excepted who are founde worthie to enioie that happines whose names be written in the booke of life Notwithstanding à greater happines than al this is to be ioined to the quires of Angels and of Archangels and of al the celestial powers to behold the Patriarches and the Prophets to see the Apostles of Christ and al the Saints and our parents also This is à great glorie but the greatest of al is to beholde God himselfe face to face to see the incomprehensible light The superexcellent glorie shal be when we see God in himselfe and when we shal both see and enioie him in our selues too of which sight there shal be none ende Chap. 18. That we can not please God but through loue THE soule being goodlie through the image of God and glorious thorough his likenes hath in it of God whereby it may be warned alwaies either to stand with him or to returne vnto him if she be moued with hir affections or defections rather And hath not onlie whence to take hart againe through hope of pardon and mercie but also whence boldlie to aspire vnto the marriage of the word and to enter into the couenant of felowship with God and to beare the pleasant yoke of amitie with the king of Angels Al this worketh loue if the soule shew hir selfe like to God in wil as she is to him by nature louing as she is beloued For of al the motions senses and affections of the minde loue onlie it is whereby man may though not fullie satisfie the loue of God yet answere in à sort his good wil. When loue once commeth it draweth vnto it and captiueth al other affections Loue sufficeth of it selfe pleaseth of it selfe and for it selfe Loue is the merit the reward the cause the fruit the vse For by loue we are
conioined to God Loue maketh one spirit of two Loue maketh to wil and to nil one thing Loue maketh first to frame our manners afterward to consider things that are as though they were not and thirdlie with a pure sight of the hart to behold heauenlie and spiritual things Through loue first honest things are wel handled in the world secondlie honest things of the world are despised and last of al the secrets of God are seene and beholden Chap. 19. How God requireth some thing of vs like to himselfe GOD the Father is charitie God the Sonne is louingnes God y e holie Ghost is the loue of the Father and of the Sonne This charitie and this loue requireth à like thing in vs euen loue againe whereby we may be linked and ioined to God as it were by some alliance of kindred Loue is ignorant what dignitie meaneth knoweth no reuerence He that loueth approcheth boldlie vnto God and speaketh familiarlie to him without feare and stopping He that loueth not liueth not but he that loueth looketh euermore vpon God whome he loueth whome he desireth vpon whome he thinketh in whome he delighteth vpon whome he feedeth in whome he groweth A man so deuoute doth euermore so sing and so reade and so circumspectlie and warelie behaue himselfe in al his actions as if God were as in deede he is alwaie present before his eies He so praieth as if he were taken-vp and presented before the face of God in his maiestical throne whereas thousand thousands minister to him and ten thousand thousands stand before him The soule which he visiteth with loue awakeneth him that sleepeth it monisheth and mollifieth the soule and woundeth his hart It inlighteneth darke things it vnlocketh things shut-vp it inflameth colde things it mitigateth the froward angrie and impatient minde It chaseth awaie vices brideleth carnal affections amendeth maners reformeth and renueth the minde and restraineth the light motions and actions of slipperie youth Al these things loue worketh when it is present but when it is wanting the soule beginneth to droope euen as à boiling caudron doth when fire is taken from vnder the same Chap. 20. Of the boldnes of the soule that loueth God LOue doubtles is à great thing by it the soule of hir-selfe doth boldlie aproch vnto God and cleaueth constantlie vnto him The soule that loueth asketh questions of God familiarlie and consulteth with him in al matters She can thinke of nothing and speake of nothing beside God al other things she loatheth and contemneth Whatsoeuer she mindeth and whatsoeuer she speaketh it sauoreth of loue and smelleth of loue so wholie hath the loue of God won her vnto him He that would haue the knowledge of God let him loue In vaine doth he giue himselfe either to reade or to studie or to preach or to praie that loueth not The loue of God engendreth the loue of the soule and maketh her to harken vnto it selfe God loueth because he would be loued againe When he loueth he would be loued knowing that through loue they are blessed which loue him The louing soule renounceth al her owne affections and wholie giueth her selfe to loue that in rendering loue for loue she may answere the loue she hath found and when she hath loued what she can yet what is it vnto the euerlasting streame of that heauenlie fountaine For loue and the louer the soule and God the Creator and the creature meete not alike together yet if man with al his hart wholie doth loue thee ô GOD there lacketh nothing where al is Let not the soule then feare which loueth but let the soule shake and tremble that loueth not The louing soule is caried with desire and drawne with longing she dissembleth her deserts shutteth her eies from the maiestie of God openeth them to pleasure reposing her trust in thy saluation and confidentlie reioicing therein Through loue the soule withdraweth herselfe and departeth from the bodilie senses to the end that feeling God she may haue no feeling of her selfe Which falleth-out when the mind allured by an vnspeakeable sweetenes of God stealeth awaie from her selfe yea is rauished and slippeth-awaie the better to enioie God at her ful pleasure And this pleasure surpasseth al pleasure where it is of continuance Of loue springeth familiaritie of familiaritie boldnes of boldnes taste of tasting hunger The soule which the loue of God hath touched can thinke none other thing and desire nothing else but with often sighes saith As the Hart braieth for the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee ô God Chap. 21. The singular loue of God to man ward THrough loue GOD himselfe came vnto men came into men was made man Through loue the inuisible God became like vnto his seruants Through loue he was wounded for our transgressions In those wounds of our Sauior sure and safe rest is for weaklings and sinners There I dwel without care his bowels of mercie are laid open to my sight through his wounds Whatsoeuer I lack of my selfe that I doe boldlie take out of the bowels of my Lord For his mercies abound and there want none holes for them to issue out by Through the holes of the bodie I behold the secrets of the hart I see the great mysterie of godlines and the bowels of the mercie of our God whereby the daie spring from an high hath visited vs are open to mine eies The wounds of Iesu Christ are ful of mercie ful of clemencie ful of sweetnes and loue They boared his hands and his feete and pierced his side with à speare By these holes I may taste how gratious the Lord is for doubtles the Lord is good and merciful and of great kindnes to a which cal vpon him in truth to al yea which cal vpon him but especialie to such as loue him Great redemption is giuen vs through the wounds of our Sauior Christ great goodnes much grace and al virtues perfectlie Chap. 22. The refuge of à Christian in the time of tentation WHen I am tempted with anie filthie cogitation I runne forthwith vnto the wounds of Christ when my flesh subdueth me I rise-againe through the recordation of my Lord his wounds when the diuel laieth snares to entrap me I doe flie vnto the tender mercie of my Lord and he leaueth me If burning lust doe inflame me it is quenched through the calling of the wounds of our Lord the Sonne of God into mind In al extremities I can find none so good à remedie as the wounds of Christ In them I sleepe securelie and rest without feare Christ hath died for vs Nothing is so bitter vnto the death but may by the death of my Lord be holpen His death is my merit my refuge saluation life and resurrection The Lords mercie is my merit I can not lacke merits so long as the Lord of
thy seruant shal neuer be satisfied Wherefore bestowe thy selfe vpon me ô my God bestowe thy selfe vpon me Lo I do loue thee and if too little I loue thee my desire is to loue yet more entirelie I loue thee I saie I long for thee I am much delighted to thinke vpon thee Behold while fro mine hart I do sigh and cal into my remembrance thine vnspeakeable kindnes y e burthen of my flesh y e lesse greeueth troublesome cogitations the lesse inuade y e waight of mortalitie miseries do not so loade me as they were wont al things are hush euerie thing is quiet Mine hart burneth my mind is iocund my memorie fresh mine vnderstanding cleere and al my spirit enflamed through the desire of thy sight perceaueth how it is rauished with the loue of things vnseene Let the same my spirit take the wings as the Eagles let it flee and not be wearie let it flee and neuer faint vntil it come vnto the place where thine honor dwelleth euen vnto the throne of grace there at the table where y e supernal Citizens do repast to be fed frō thine eies in green◠pasture by the stil waters Be thou our ioie our hope our saluation redēption Thou which hereafter wil◠be our reward be thou ou◠comfort Let my soule euermore sek◠thee and graunt that neue◠it may ceasse to seeke Amen Chap. 4. The miserable state of that soule which neither loueth our Lord and Sauior Christ nor seeketh after him WO to the wretched soule which neither seeketh nor loueth Christ such à soule abideth both drie miserable He looseth his life time that loueth not thee ô God And he that would liue but not to serue thee is doubtles nothing and so to be accounted He which refuseth to liue to thee is alredie dead and he that sauoreth not of heauenlie wisedome is à verie foole O most gratious God into thine hand I do commend render and yeeld my selfe through whome I both am liue and haue vnderstanding In thee I doe repose mine whole trust confidence and hope through whom I shal rise againe liue and rest Thee doe I long for thee doe I loue thee doe I worship with whome I shal euerlastinglie abide raigne and be blessed The soule which neither seeketh nor loueth thee is à friend of the world the slaue of sinne subiect to al maner wickednes neuer quiet at no time secure Therefore merciful Sauior as for my mind let it attend on thee my pilgrimage let it be toward thee and mine hart let it euen burne with the loue of thee Let my soule rest on thee my God let it I saie deepelie meditate of thee let it sing-out thy praises with ioie let this be al my comfort in this mine exile Let the shadowe of thy wings be à refuge for my soule from the parching heate of worldlie cogitations Let mine hart à verie great sea swelling with waues trust in thee Thou which aboundest with al good dainties and art a most liberal bestower of supernal satietie ô God giue thou food to the wearied gather the dispersed deliuer the captiued amend the parted Lo he standeth at the doore knocketh I therfore euen by the bowels of thy mercie wherby thou the daie spring from on high hath visited vs besech thee command the doore to be opened to him which knocketh that boldlie he may enter-in to thee and rest in thee and be refreshed of thee the heauenlie bread For thou art the bread and the wel of life thou art the light of euerlasting cleerenes to conclude thou art al things whereof the righteous do liue which loue thee Chap. 5. A verie Christian desire of the soule after God O God thou who art both the light of the harts that see thee and the life of the soules that loue thee and the strength of the minds that seeke thee giue me grace euermore to cleaue vnto thine holie loue O come I praie thee into mine hart and make me drunke with the riuer of thy pleasures It shameth and it irketh me at the very hart euen to suffer those things which are done in this wretched world The verie sight of worldlie vanities is à griefe vnto me and to heare of these transitorie things it doth troble me much Helpe me ô Lord my God and cause mine hart to reioice in thee come thou vnto me that I may behold thee I am penned in this house of my soule vntil thou come therinto and make it wider It is ruinous ô repaire the same Manie things I acknowledge and knowe are in it which may offend thine eies but alas who can make it cleane or vnto whom else beside thee should I crie for helpe Clense me ô Lord fro my secret faultes keepe thy seruant also from presumptuous sinnes Giue me grace ô sweet Christ ô good Iesu giue me grace I beseech thee for thy loue desire sake to laie-off the heauie burden of carnal desires and earthlie lust Let the soule ouer the flesh let reason ouer the soule let thy grace ouer reason beare swaie and make mee both in bodie and soule euermore to obey thy wil Grant that both mine hart and my tongue and al my strength may extol thy goodnes Enlarge mine vnderstanding and lift vp the eies of mine hart that my spirit with swift cogitation may attaine vnto thee the euerlasting wisedome abiding aboue al things Loase me I beseech thee from the fetters wherewithal I am fast bound that leauing al these worldlie things I may hasten vnto thee cleaue to thee alone and thinke onelie vpon thee Chap. 6. The happines of that soule which is deliuered out of the earthlie prison of the bodie O Happie is the soule which loased from y e earthlie prison soareth without let vnto heauen which face to face beholdeth thee the most gratious Lord which is touched with no feare of death at al but triumpheth with an incorruptible crowne of perpetual glorie O quiet and secure is such à soule and feareth now neither enimie nor death She enioieth thee her good Lord whome long she sought and alwaie loued Now ioined to the singing quires she soundeth-out without cessing vnto the praise of thy glorie ô Christ her King ô sweete Iesu most melodious Psalmes she singeth of aie lasting ioifulnes For she is satisfied with thy fatnes thou doest giue her drinke out of the riuer of thy pleasures Happie is the felowship of supernal Citizens and glorious is the solemnitie of such as returne vnto thee from the paineful toile of this pilgrimage vnto the wonderful beautie vnto the surpassing glorie vnto the excellencie of al comelines where continualie thy Citizens ô Lord behold thy face There nothing is heard to troble the minde What mirth what melodie what singing what Psalmes be there soong without ceassing There
and chast and pure that being throughlie replenished with the sweetenes of thy loue and altogether purged from the grosse vapors of earthlie cogitations by the fire of diuine charitie I may loue thee most sweet and most louelie Lord with al mine hart with al my soule with al my strength and with al my mind and that with much sorrowe of hart and plentiful teares of the eies with much feare and trembling hauing thee in such wise both in mine hart and in my mouth that no strange loues may find roome within me Chap. 11. A praier for grace both dulie to thanke God for our redemption and worthilie to approch vnto the holie Table O Christ my Sauior who art of al the fairest through the shedding of thy pretious blood wherewithal we be redeemed I humblie beseech thee giue me grace vnfainedlie to repent hartilie to bewaile my sins especialie at such times when I offer praiers vnto thee when I sing-foorth thy praises when I cal into mind the mysterie of our redemption à manifest argument of thy mercie to man ward when I am at the holie Table though vnworthie to approch therevnto desiring to participate of that wonderful and heauenlie and reuerend Sacrament which thou ô Lord my God the vnspotted Priest didst institute and command to be receaued in remembrance of thy loue to wit of thy death and passion for our saluation and for the strengthening of our dailie weakenes Let my mind at such mysteries bee confirmed with the sweetenes of thy spiritual presence let it behold thee with the eies of faith and reioice in thy sight O sweete Christ ô good Iesu who art both the fire burning alwaies and the loue inflamed euermore the euerlasting and neuer wasting light and the bread of life feeding vs and yet neuer diminished and eaten-of dailie and yet continualie abiding whole Shine thou vpon me and set me on fire inlighten and sanctifie me purge thy vessel from the dregs of malice fil me of thy grace and keepe me ful that I may eate the meate of thy flesh vnto the saluation of my soule that feeding vpon thee I may liue of thee and through thee I may attaine vnto thee and rest in thee Amen Chap. 12. A zealous praier for grace to meditate deepelie vpon the goodnes of God O Sweet loue louelie sweetnes let my stomach digest thee and with the nectar of thy loue be al my bowels filled let mine hart vtter-forth good matter O my God who art charitie it selfe the delectable honie the snowie milke and the foode of y e strong make me to growe-vp in thee that thou with à sound palate maiest be tasted of mee Thou art my life whereby I doe liue the hope wherevnto I trust and the glorie which I desire to attaine Guide thou mine hart rule thou my mind direct mine vnderstāding erect my loue cheere vp my soule and quench thou the thirst of my spirit which longeth after thee with thine heauenlie riuers Let the tumultuous cogitations of the flesh hold their peace I beseech thee let earthlie and worldlie phantasies be stil let al dreames and vaine reuelations let euerie tong euery signe and what else soeuer doth vanish-awaie be silent Yea let mine owne soule also be dumme too and ouer-passe it selfe not by thinking on it selfe but vpon thee my God because thou art in deed al mine hope and confidence For in thee our most gratious and kind merciful Lord and God Iesus Christ ech of vs hath à portiō both of blood flesh Therefore where à peece of my selfe doth raigne there I beleeue I doe raigne where my blood hath dominion there I trust I haue dominion where my flesh is glorified there I knowe I am glorious And although I am yet à sinner yet I doubt no whit of this participation of grace although my sinnes do hinder me yet my substance doth require it and although mine owne offences doe exclude me yet the communion of nature doth not repel me Chap. 13. A thankes-giuing vnto God for the incarnation of his deere Sonne to saue man FOr the Lord is not so vnkinde that he can hate his owne flesh his owne members his owne bowels Surelie I might vtterlie despaire in respect of mine outragious offences and infinite sins which I both haue committed and dailie doe commit both in hart word and deede and by al meanes whereby the frailtie of man may transgresse had not thy word ô my God bin made flesh and dwelled among vs. But now I dare not despaire because he hauing showen him selfe obedient to thee vnto the death euen the death of the crosse hath taken awaie the hand-writing of our sinnes and fastening it vpon the crosse hath crucified both sinne and death In him therefore who sitteth at thy right hand and maketh request also for vs I take hart againe Through mine hope in whom we are quickened and raised and sit together in the heauenlie places I desire to come vnto thee To thee bee praise to thee glorie to thee honor to thee thanks Amen Chap. 14. The more God is thought-vpon the more louelie he seemeth O Most gratious Lord who hast so loued and saued vs so quickened and glorified vs ô most gratious Lord how sweet is thy remembrance The more I thinke on thee the sweeter thou seemest and the more amiable in mine eies Therefore thy good things do much delight me and vncessantlie doe I couet with a pure sight of the hart and with the sweet affection of godlie loue as far-foorth as I am able in the place of my pilgrimage and so long as I carie these fraile members about me to desire and to thinke-vpon thy woonderful loue and beautie For I am wounded with the dart of thy loue I do burne exceedinglie with desire of thee I couet long to be with thee to behold thee is al my desire And therefore I wil stand-vpon my gard and with watchful eies I wil sing with the spirit and I wil sing with the vnderstanding also and with al my strength too I wil praise thee my maker renewer I wil perce the heauens with mine hart and in desire I wil be with thee so as my bodie onlie shal be in this miserable world but in thought and in mind and in desire I wil be where thou art and where thou my rich and incomparable and much desired treasure art there shal mine hart be also But lo ô most gratious and merciful God mine hart is not able to consider the glorie of thine infinite goodnes and mercie For thine honor thy beautie thy strength thy glorie magnificence maiestie and loue exceede al sense of mans vnderstanding euen as the curtesie of thine eternal loue wherby thou giuest to such the adoption of sonnes and ioinest them to
mercies is with me And if great is the Lords mercies doubtles great are my merits The more able he is to saue the lesse care doe I take Chap. 23. Special medicines against sinne and despaire GReatlie haue I sinned ô Lord and my conscience accuseth me of manifold offences yet doe I not despaire For where sin abounded grace abounded much more He that in consideration of his hainous wickednes doth despaire denieth God to be à merciful God He greatlie defaceth the glorie of God which doubteth of his mercie and as much as in him is denieth God to haue loue truth power in him wherein al mine hope consisteth to wit in the loue of his adoption in the truth of his promise in the power of his redemption Then let my foolish cogitation murmur as much as it wil saieng who art thou how great is that glorie by what merits hopest thou to obteine y e same And I wil boldlie make this answere I knowe whome I giue credit vnto for of his tender loue he hath adopted me for his Sonne who is both of his promise true and also mightie in performance and he may doe what he wil The multitude of my sinnes can not dismaie me if the death of Christ come into my mind for my sinnes are not able to ouermatch his mercie The nailes and the speare doe crie vnto me that I am reconciled to Christ if I loue him hartilie Longinus with his speare hath opened to me y e side of Christ and I am gone-in and rest there quietlie He that feareth let him loue For perfect loue casteth-out feare There is no such remedie against the heate of lust as the death of my redeemer He stretched-out his armes vpon the crosse and held-out his hands to show how he is readie to embrace the penitent sinners Betweene those armes of my Sauior I both wish to liue and desire to die There I wil sing without care I wil magnifie thee ô Lord for thou hast exalted me and hast not made my foes to reioice ouer me Our Sauior bowed his head and gaue vp the ghost euen to kisse his beloued And so often doe we kisse God as we are pricked at the hart with the loue of him Chap. 24. A zealous meditation to mooue vnto the loue of God O MY Soule thou which art endued with the image of GOD redeemed with the blood of Christ betrothed through faith endued with the Spirit adorned with virtues and counted with the Angels Loue thou him who hath so loued thee care thou for him who hath a care of thee seeke thou him who seeketh thee Loue thy louer of whom thou art loued who in louing hath preuented thee who is the cause of thy loue He is the merit he the reward he the fruite the vse and the end Be thou careful with the careful be thou at leisure with him that hath leisure cleane with the cleane and holie with the holie As thou offerest thy selfe in the presence of God so wil he appeare in thy sight A good and merciful God of great kindnes requireth such as are good and merciful and louing and humble and kind Loue thou him who hath brought thee out of the horrible pit out of the mirie claie Choose him for thy friend before al friends who when al things shal faile wil keepe his faith In the daie of thy burial when al thy friends wil depart from thee he wil not forsake thee but protect thee from the roaring of them that be readie to deuoure and conduct thee through an vnknowen contrie and bring thee vnto the streetes of supernal Zion there place thee with the Angels before the face of his maiestie where thou shalt heare that angelical musicke Holie Holie Holie There is the song of mirth the voice of ioie and welfare and thankes-giuing and praising and Halleluiah for euer and euer There is perfect felicitie excellent glorie surpassing ioie and al good things O my soule sigh hartilie and earnestlie desire to attaine vnto that supernal citie whereof such glorious things are spoken in which who so dwel are al euen like such as triumph with ioie Through loue thou maiest ascend To the louer nothing is hard nothing vnpossible The soule that loueth doth often-times ascend and boldlie runneth about the streetes of celestial Hierusalem visiting the Patriarches and Prophets saluting the Apostles wondering at the armies of Martyrs and Confessors and beholding y e flockes of virgins Heauen earth and al things in them contained do cal vpon me continuallie to loue my Lord God Chap. 25. Of true knowledge what it is WHat is the knowledge of the truth It is first to knowe thy selfe and that thou both studie to be such as thou oughtest to be and also amend that which is to be reformed Secondlie it is to knowe and to loue thy maker for this is al mans happines Consider therefore how vnspeakeable the loue of God is to manward He created vs of nothing and whatsoeuer wee haue he gaue the same But forsomuch as we loued the gift more than the giuer the creature than the creator we fel into the snare of Satan and became his bond-slaues Neuerthelesse God of his great loue sent his owne Sonne to redeeme seruants and sent also the holie Ghost whereby he made seruants his sonnes by adoption He gaue his Sonne for a ransome the holie Ghost for a pledge of his loue and reserueth himselfe wholie for the inheritance of adoption And thus God as he is verie gratious and merciful of his good wil and loue to mankindward bestoweth not his goodes onlie but himselfe also to redeeme man and that not so much for his owne sake as for mans behoofe That men might be borne of God God first was borne of man Now what hart is so flintie but wil be softened by this loue of God so preuenting man O vehement loue that God for mans cause can vouchsafe to become man Who can hate man whose nature and likenes he beholdeth in the humanitie of God Doubtles who so loueth not man hateth God and so abideth in death For God became man for mans sake that he might be a redeemer as he was before a creator and that man not onlie might be ransomed through his riches but also loue him the more entirelie God appeared in the similitude of sinful flesh that each sense of man might be made blessed in him and as wel the eie of the hart be renewed in his diuinitie as the eie of the bodie in his humanitie that whether it go in or out mans nature which he hath created might in it finde comfort and refreshment Chap. 26. VVhat the sending of the holie Spirit worketh in vs. FOR our
Sauiour came into y e world and was crucified and put vnto death for our sakes that he might through his death destroie him that had the power of death that is the Diuel And seeing the grapes of his flesh were carried vnto y e wine-presse of the crosse and the pleasant wine of his diuinitie began to spout-foorth the holie Spirit was sent to make readie mens harts that new wine might be put into new vessels and to see first that they were cleane least otherwise they marred y t which should be powred-in and then that they were wel hooped that they leaked not I meane that they were clensed from the delight of wickednes and hooped to keepe-out the delight of vanitie For that which is good could not enter til that which il is were gone The delight in wickednes polluteth and the delight in vanitie sheddeth The delight in wickednes makes the vessel to stincke and the delight in vanitie maketh it ful of clefts Men delight in wickednes when they loue sinne and they delight in vanitie when they loue transitorie things Then cast awaie that which is euil that you may taste that which good is Powre-out bitternes that you may be replenished with sweetenes The holie Ghost is ioie and loue then cast out the spirit of the Diuel and the spirit of this world that you may be capable of the holie Ghost The spirit of the Diuel worketh the delight of iniquitie and the spirit of the world the delight of vanitie And these delightes are euil because the one is a sinne of it selfe and the other is an occasion of sinne But when these euil spirits are throwne-out the spirit of God wil come and enter into the tabernacle of the heart and worke à good delight there euen à good loue which shal expel the loue both of the world and of wickednes The loue of the world allureth and deceaueth the loue of sinne defileth and bringeth vnto destruction but the loue of God inlighteneth the mind clenseth the conscience reioiceth the heart and bringeth into the sight of God Chap. 27. The effects of true loue HE that loueth God vnfainedlie doth euermore thinke it long vntil he come vnto God vntil he leaue the world vntil he be free from the corruption of the flesh his heart and affection are set on things aboue that he may finde the true peace Whether he sitteth or walketh or resteth or whatsoeuer he doth his heart is with God He exhorteth al men to loue God he commendeth the loue of God to al men and both in hart in word and by his conuersation he sheweth both how sweete the loue of God is and how euil and sower the loue of the world He derideth the glorie and reproueth the care of this world and sheweth what a foolish thing it is to put anie confidence in transitorie things He wondereth at the blindnes of men that they can loue he wondereth also that euerie man wil not forsake these transitorie and fleeting things of this world He thinketh that what he sauoreth should seeme sweete to al men what he loueth should like euerie man and what he knoweth euerie man should vnderstand Much and oftentimes doth he mufe vpon God and is sweetelie refreshed through such heauenlie contemplation and the oftner he doth so the greater is his ioie For verie comfortable is it alwaie euen to thinke vpon that which to loue and to commend is so delightful to the minde Chap. 28. VVhat the true quietnes of the minde is DOubtles the heart is then at rest when through desire it is wholie fixed vpon the loue of God and desireth nothing else but with a certaine blessed sweetenes is much delighted in that which it hath and in delighting is made iocund And if anie time either by à vaine cogitation or through worldlie busines it be somewhat drawne awaie there-from it hasteneth to returne thether with al speede deeming it a banishment to be anie-where beside For as euerie moment man may either enioie or vse the goodnes of God so euerie moment is man to thinke vpon God And therefore his offence is not small who in praieng is carried suddenlie awaie from his sight as though he did neither heare nor beholde Which is then done when man followeth his euil and vnbrideled affections and wherevnto the sight of the minde is easilie carried preferreth some vile creature before God by musing thinking therevpon oftner than vpon God who dailie is to be thought-vpon as à creator to be worshipped as à redeemer to be expected as à sauiour and to be feared as à iudge Chap. 29. That whatsoeuer withdraweth the sight of the minde from God is altogether to be shunned and abhorred WHosoeuer thou art that louest y e world looke afore-hande whether thou must go The waie which thou takest is the worst waie and verie dangerous Wherefore ô man auoide by little little thy worldlie busines withdraw thy self awhile from troublesome cogitations Cast awaie heauie cares laie aside greeuous distractions of the mind finde some leisure to serue God and rest thy selfe somewhat in him Enter into the chamber of thy minde exclude al things saue God and what makes to the seeking of him and the dore being shut seeke him And with thine whole heart saie vnto God I seeke thy face ô Lord I seeke euen thy face Oh then ô Lord my God giue thou mine heart instructions both where how to seeke thee both where and how to finde thee O Lord if heere thou art not where shal I seke thee absent but if thou art euerie-where then why do I not see thee present But vndoubtedlie thou dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto But how may I come vnto the light that cannot be attained Or who shal guide and conduct me thereinto that therein I may behold thee Furthermore by what tokens and with what face may I seeke thee O Lord my God I neuer sawe thee I knowe not thy countenance Then what shal he doe ô Lord most hie what shal this thy far exiled seruāt do what shal thy seruant doe who is in perplexitie through the loue of thee and cast-awaie far fro thy presence Lo he longeth greatlie to behold thee yet thy countenance is far from his sight He desireth to come vnto thee yet vnto thy dwelling no man can attaine He coueteth to find thee yet he wotteth not where He loueth to seeke thee yet he knoweth not thy face Chap. 30. How through sinne man both lost the sight of God and found wretchednes O Lord thou art my God my Lord yet did I neuer see thee thou hast both made me yea and made me againe and bestowed vpon me what good things soeuer I enioie yet hitherto haue I neither seene nor knowen thee To be short I
the pleasant organes do sounde-out most heauenlie hymnes the blessed Angels most sweetelie do sing songs of rare excellencie are vttered out by the supernal Citizens vnto the praise and glorie of thy Name There is neither gal nor anie bitternes in that blessed region For there is no wicked person nor anie wickednes at al. There is neither enimie to impugne nor anie enticement to offend There is no lacke no shame no contention no vpbraiding no blaming no feare no vnquietnes no punishment doubtfulnes violence discord there is none But singular peace and perfect loue and lasting triumphes and praising of God and secure quietnes which neuer shal haue end and continual ioie in the holie spirit there is Oh how happie should I be did I heare those most comfortable songs of thy Citizens and the sugred verses vttering foorth with due reuerence the praises of the sacred Trinitie But most singularlie blessed should I be might I also with them sing to my Lord Iesus Christ one of the pleasant songs of Zion Chap. 7. The blessed ioie of the heauenlie Paradise O Liuelie life ô euerlasting life and euerlastinglie blessed whereas ioie is and no sorowe rest is and no labour honor is and no feare wealth is and no losse health is and no sicknes abundance and no want life and no death immortalitie and no corruption happines no miserie at al is Whereas al good things are in perfect loue where sight is face vnto face where perfect knowledge is in al men al things are knowne whereas Gods soueraigne goodnes is perceaued and the light enlightening is glorified of the saincts Where the present maiestie of God is beholden and the minde of the beholders is filled continualie with this meate of life They see continualie and yet they desire to see they desire without griefe and without loathing they be satisfied Where the true sonne of righteousnes with the wonderful show of his beautiful beames doth refresh al beholders and so inlighteneth al the Citizens of the celestial countrie that they do giue light to wit à light inlightened through God à light shining more cleerelie than doth either the Sunne at anie time or the Starres They do cleaue vnto the immortal God-head and thereby they become immortal and vncorruptible according to the promise of our Lord and Sauiour Father I wil that they which thou hast giuen me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glorie that they al may be one as thou ô Father art in me and I in thee euen that they also may be one in vs. Chap. 8. The glorious condition of the kingdome of Heauen THE kingdome of heauen is à most happie kingdome à kingdome both immortal and euerlasting There no times succeede by ages neither night followeth after daie There the valiant soldior after battels fought is adorned abundantlie with vnspeakeable rewardes and crowned honorablie with an euerlasting crowne Oh that Christ of his diuine goodnes hauing eased me of the heauie loade of my sinnes oh that he would bid me euen the basest of al his seruants to laie off the burthen of this flesh that I might to my comfort passe ouer vnto the euerlasting ioies of his citie be admitted into the felowship of the Saincts aboue attend vpon the maiestie of the Creator with the blessed Spirits beholde the countenance of God be neuer touched anie more with feare of death but reioice securelie for the immortalitie attained and ioined to him which knoweth al thinges might forgo al blind ignorance and neither make accompt of earthlie things nor vouchsafe either to behold or to remember this vale of teares anie more whereas the laborsome life the corruptible life the life replenished with al manner bitternes is such à life as is the Ladie of euils the handmaid of Diuels The which both humors puffe vp and sorowes plucke downe heate withereth and il aërs infect which both much eating maketh pursie and much fasting maketh leane Which by mirth is loosed and by sadnes consumed by care is shortned and by securitie dulled by riches made proud and by pouertie ouerthrowne by youth exalted by age bowed Which is both by sicknes broken and by sadnes depressed which both y e Diuel entrappeth by his snares and the world deceaueth by flatterie the flesh destroieth by filthie pleasure Whereby the soule is made blinde and the whole man distempered And after these so manie and so great euils succeedeth raging death which bringeth vaine delights vnto such an ende that when they are once gone they are as quite forgotten as if they had neuer bin at al Chap. 9. How God after much troubles doth comfort the pensiue soule BVT what praises or what thankes may we render vnto thy goodnes ô GOD who ceassest not for al this by thy gratious visitation to comfort vs amids so great wretchednes of our mortalitie While I dread much to die while I consider the multitude of my sinnes while I do feare thy heauie iudgement while I cal into minde the houre of death and am a gast at the horrible paines of hel while I wot not how preciselie and how strictlie thou wilt waigh my deedes and am vtterlie ignorant how I shal ende my life and ponder manie other things in mine hart lo of thy woonted goodnes ô Lord my God thou art present to comfort me wretch replenished with much sorowe and from these pitious complaintes and crieng thou carriest my pensiue and troubled vnderstanding ouer steepe hils vnto the beds of sweete spices and makest me to rest in greene pasture by the riuers of sweete waters where thou preparest à table diuerslie furnished against my cōming to refresh my wearied spirites and to comfort my sorowful hart and so refreshed with those dainties I forget at the length my manifold miseries and exalted ouer the earth I do rest my selfe in thee which art the true peace Chap. 10. A praier for grace to loue God O Lord my God I do loue thee and more and more I desire to loue thee Giue me grace ô Lord my God who art fairer than the children of men giue me grace not onlie to desire thee but also to loue thee both as I would and as I am bound Thou art vnmeasurable and therefore to be loued without measure especialie of vs whom thou hast so loued so saued for whose sakes thou hast done such and so great things O Loue which burnest alwaie and neuer goest out ô sweete Christ ô good Iesu ô my God who art loue it selfe set mee wholie on fire with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes with hartie affection toward thee with a desire of thee with godlie charitie with godlie ioie and reioicing with godlie kindnes and sweetenes with godlie delectation and concupiscence the which is holie and good