serue God more diligently He is not terrifyed nor affrighted with chastisments but taketh them with that loue which the holy hande fatherly will of God that scourgeth doth requyre He praiethe not as drawne with loue sweetenes of the gift but that his soule enryched therby may waxe stronger more feruent in godds seruice He is not offended or troubled to see him self desolate of consolations yet he soroweth if any thing be in him which haith displeased or doth offende the eyes of so high a Maiestie He asketh not forgeuenes pardon of his sinnes for escapinge paine or recouering his lost grace vertues tytle right to eternall gloue but that his soule hauing obteyned pardon may be more gratefull acceptable to God may loue serue his highnes in puritie He haith noe affection that may withdraw his hart any other way from God He doth not remember or regarde whether men think of him or noe He is not greeued when he is contemned or reiected He shunneth is sorowfull for creditt honoure offered him fearing lest they be vnto him hinderances to humilitye He ioyeth for the good honoure of others thinking that they accept or desire them without ambition or vanitie for the better seruice of God and helpe of his people Such a louer haith all thinges and yet haith nothing He submitteth him self to all all serue him He shunneth all sweetenes and he feelethe nothing but that is sweete In God whom he loueth he knoweth what he oughte to doe to speake to thinke for him only he thinketh he speaketh he doth euery thinge He liuinge is not he that liueth but it is Christ that hueth in him geuinge him to liue a diuine lyse In louing him self he louethe not him self but he louethe God allmighty for whose sake he desirethe all good thinges He ioyethe in nothinge but that whereby his Lorde is serued that he thinketh gratefull in his sighte And finallye he euer ioyeth in his hart and thanketh God who in louinge him self infinitly doth supply what is due to him from all his creatures How may we gett this loue of god said Probus It is vaine presumption said Alphonso for any man to thinke he can leap to it at his pleasure withowt making due preparation folowing the same pathe which godds sonn haith made vs both by his owne example docrrine What preparation or pathes are these said Probus He that would receiue this pretious liquour into his soule said Alphonso must firste of necessitye occupye him self for many daies in these Exercyses which I tould you of in the seconde parte but before all in the holie hatred of him self otherwyse he shall be deceiued profitt nothing at all I vnderstand you well said Probus That done said Alphonso he must woork diligently in this sorte whether he be preuented by God with benedictions of sweetnes or not He must breefly call to minde how vnmeasurable infinite the good glorie is that God possesseth considering him as the best and most worthy that all creatures ioy for his goodnes thervpon by by inclyne his will to desire ioy for so great a good of his Lord let him continew in that act so long as he can If he be a litle distracted or waxe could in it let him forth-with retorne to it againe in the same manner his hart euer leapinge with ioy in consideringe God to be full of infinite perfections goodnes And by continuance he shall doubtles be aduaunced to this perfect loue The honour glorie perfections of our Lord are infinite of infinite excellency and in lyke sorte euerye thinge in particuler that he woorketh or createth doth shew forth and declare to vs a singular goodnes worthines in him And seing that all the moments of our lyfe suffice not fully to heare or consider them as they are in him we ought at the least vnder name tytle of infinite goodnes honour perfections to heape them together to produce actes of coueting that God haue them all and to ioy all the minutes of our lyfe that he haith them considering we owe all this to him as most due And so muche may we exercyse our selues in these actes although we want that sweetenes which they call deuotion that in euery place busines we may oft loue God in this sorte withowte seking any solitary places as it hapneth daily when one frend ioyeth sodanly withowt more opportunitie of place or cōpanye when he heareth or remembreth some good to haue befallen his deare frende That which I toulde you before of the vse of your will of the ende of all your actions helpe much in these actes how you shoulde produce them that you must doe all for this ende because God is most worthy of it desireth that we doe it for him Perhapps said Probus we might gett this loue more easilye by prayer doinge as you taughte me when you spake of it by the exercyses of those vertues you rehersed before He shall obteyne it said Alphonso the soner better that together with praier will help him self with the acts of his will as I toulde you before which he may doe both in prayer and without it For in euery such act there is a new seruice to God a new increase of the loue of God of grace of meritt And as noe artificer how skilfull soeuer he be profiteth any thing by his arte but onely whyles he woorketh in it so the seruant of God is made rycher in the loue of God but onely when he produce the speciall actes of the same loue Which acte of loue how short soeuer it be beinge a farr greater better more preceous and a more inestimable good then all thinges els that any creature can doe in heauen or earth We ought euery houre many tymes to worke it that doinge our best endeuour in it during this lyfe we may receiue more grace and ability to worke it for euer in heauen where those blessed Saincts loue God more feruently more perfectly which more loued him heare on earth Wherfore we should deepely consider and condemne our owne negligence and folly and seinge we ought neuer to cease from this acte of louing god both because it is dew to his maiestie and the acte of it self is of an inestimable profit we should most bitterly lament euery moment of our life that we lett passe without this loue And specially we ought to bewaile our sinnes which if they be mortall are deadlye enemies to it or if they be veniall hinder so great a good and coole the feruour thereof In like sorte also should we reproue ourselues if we be not exceding glad and ioyfull of euery thing that may further vs to it as iniuries contempts persecutions c. Or if we sorow not so much whē anie impediment is geuen vs to it as are humaine fauour sensuall and prophane delectation temporall honours
A BREEFE METHODE OR WAY Teachinge all sortes of Christian people how to serue God in a moste perfect manner Written first in Spanishe by a Religious man named Alphonso And reduced owte of Latin into English in manner of a Dialogue for the easier vnderstanding and capacities of the simpler sorte By I. M. TO THE RIGHT WOORshipfull vertuous Catholâ—ck Lady the La. M. C. ALbeit mankinde by the stinge of originall sinne be deadlye wounded in body sâ—ule as spoyled of immortaliâ—â—e all diuine graces broughte into a wofull state of all miseries naturallye inclyned to doe euill to the greater encrease of his owne damnation yet the grace mercy of God haith not altogether abandoned nor forsaken vs but without any our good desert haith lefte vs in this exile vale of woes diuers helpes remedies meanes whereby we may attayne to his graceous fanoure agayne after this transitorie lyfe be aduaunced to high glorie and the eternall ioyes in heauen These meanes are his holy graces vertues by which we may be moued made able to serue him to conforme our selues to his will in all thinges Oure perfect sanctity frendshipp with god standeth in this pointe that we be of same spirit with him in euery thing we doe And though he be a most graceous bountifull Lorde exceedingly desireous of our eternall happy estate And haith moreouer abundantly prouyded whatsoeuer may be necessary or conuenient for our welfare yea through the excesse of his diuine loue haith lefte nothing vndone that might helpe or doe vs good yet haith he lefte it in our owne choyce free libertie whether we will accept and vse his graces endeuour to gett perfect holines serue him as he desyreth for our good or noe Great ruyne and destruction of all good is made in oure soules by sinne but it is in our owne power to repayre again this losse calamitie and to obtayne perfect holines which we may doe if cooperating with goddes grace we suffer our selues to be moued in all our actions onely by goddes holy spirit will as S. Paule saithe his children to be To instruct this many deuout bokes Treatises haue bene writen by learned holy men in all ages teaching what we ought to doe discoursing at large of the natures of all vertues vyces yelding sufficient matter for all sorts of holy Meditations touching the maiestie goodnes other perfections of god Touching heauen hell Iudgment death sinne vertue and the rest Perswading to good lyfe terrifyinge from euill All commodious woorkes commendable trauells of good men But amonge them all I neuer founde hitherto any comparable to a litle booke deuulged by a religious man named Alphonso in the Spanish tonge In which goulden Treatise he geueth vs an exacte perfect way how we may repayre againe the ruine wofull state of our soules by sinn by rightly seruinge God attaine to the perfection of true holines loue of him This Author leauethe the large goodly discourses of vertues vyces their reasons examples perswasions allpoynts of Meditations as all beinge sufficientlye Taughte and handled by others innumerable and to be founde euery where and breefely touchinge the ende for which God created and placed vs on earthe what bounde dutie we haue of seruinge him what abiection miserie our soules bodies are brought vnto by sinne He sheweth a breefe yet a most exacte way and manner how by the instrumentes and powers of oure soule namely our vnderstandinge and free will helped by godds grace we may put in practise and execution to his most holy honour and our owne greatest profitt whatsoeuer is taughte conteyned in other bookes how we may repayre our state againe caste of all wicked customes expell all vitious habitts enryche bewtify oure selues with all vertues make all our woorks most preceous acceptable meritorious in goddes sight becom holy chaunge our selues owt of poore naked abiect persons into most glorious diuine creatures And finally be vnited to God in most perfect manner of frendshipp loue This preceous Iewell I sende you as a token of my good affection towardes your spirituall welfare which I haue translated owt of latin not yelding woord for woord but cullinge owt the principall poyntes pithe of euery Chapter haue reduced it into the forme of a Dyalogue thereby makinge it more easye playne for the capacities of the simpler sorte whom also I wish may take commodity therof as I assure my selfe your La. and euery one may doe that reade diligently practise what is taught therein without which practise all knowledg is vnprofitable and vayne It is not writen for vitious persons suche as delight to lyue wallow in sinne without regarde of God or their own soules health for these will take noe benefite hereof but the Author haith prepared directed this woorke for the great good of vertuous soules who are resolued to serue God standing in battell against the worlde the flesh the deuill haue a sincere defyre to liue well woorke their owne saluation This good euery one that readethe it may reape that knowinge thereby their owne poore imperfect state behoulding how farr of they are from that degree of perfection they should might arryue vnto They may abase them selues in their owne conceyte carry an humble mynde before heauen earthe of their owne imperfections vnworthines which is a good stepp to further vertue and be moued now then to work som particuler acts after the manner hereof which assuredly will be most pleasaÌ„t to God most meritorious to their own soules aboue all other woorkes they shall doe Now in your afflicted state wherein you are tossed too and froe daungerously by the enemies of godds holy churche for your constancy in the catholick Faith Alphonso will teache you how to fraught your shipp with all sortes of vertues more preceous then the Indian Treasures that you may come well loaden to the porte when your Lord shall ende your voyage How also to endure patiently the raginge furious stormes of Godds enemies And how finally to keepe alow sale and an humble conceite of your selues in all the good you doe to referr all the honour prayse therof vnto God the owner geuer of all good giftes For it is a most certaine way to losse shipp-wracke of all to impute any good to your selfe or to carry a high conceit of your owne well doinge Many vertuously disposed soules delight greatly in varietie chaunge of their spirituall Exercises imbrace with greate affection euery noueltye seking to know many wayes to serue God euer think that to be preferred as the best which is straunge and vnknown to them that which they throughly know and haue vsed they either loath or litle esteme such is the inconstancye of our nature But this new-fangled mutabilitye exceedingly
iustice lett loose and sett at liberty neuer cease mightily to repugne and disobey the reasonable partes of our soule yea to draw them to any thinge they lyke withowt regard what either reason or God commaundeth We haue still left vs said Probus the powers of our reason and free will and God geuethe the assistance of his grace to all that call for it by these thē we may serue God in the best manner he requyrethe notwithstandinge the corruption repugnance of our inferiour powers We may serue him so indeede said Alphonso but not with such facilitie promptnes alacritie as we might haue done in the state of our innocency For not onely the inclinations motions of our sensualitie be verie disordered contrary to oure reason yea excedinglye importune vehemente to drawe vs from good to euill but our reason also is much darkned by that fall from originall iustice our will sore weakned and wounded yea and of them selues quyte disabled either to resiste the continuall assaultes of oure sensualitie inferiour partes or effectually to woorke any good The grace of god indeede enableth vs to doe well but yet as it is ordinarilye bestowed on men it takethe not from them nor quite ouercometh the repugnancy difficulties which our corrupte natures haue in doing well Can we not said Probus ouercom this difficultie by any meanes Yea in great part said Alphonso by singuler extraordinary graces geuen by God by the good habits of vertues which we may plant in our soules by diligent exercise of our superiour powers as I shall tell you hereafter But now remember that this great confusion and perturbation in our soules our auersiō from good our inclination to euill with difficulty of woorking well came all from sinn yet the same bounde of doing well seruing God which we had before this destruction is not taken away from vs. For though we not doe our duties but with much difficultie yet doe them we may by the assistance of godds grace by litle and litle repayre againe the losse and wrack we haue gotten by sinn in oure soule appetites How may this reparation be made said Probus for I think the nearer we bring our soules powers to their former state the better shall we be disposed and with more facilitie shall we be able to doe our duties in seruing God Yea moreouer said Allphonso we may profitt so muche herein that we may obteyne wel-neare the same facilitie to worke with great delight in this corruptible lyfe which we should haue had in the state of innocency THE FOVRTH INSTRVCtion by what powers of our soule we may repayre our ruyne of the way howe to vse oure vnderstanding and will CAP. 5 IN what manner said Probus is this Reparation to be made It can not be made otherwyse said Alphonso but by the powers and abilities of our soule helped assisted with the grace of God Wherefore you muste vnderstand that as man is made and consisteth of a body soule so haith he infirmities in them both to woorke with as the body haith feete to goe handes to labour tonge to speake the lyke In the soule there is the vnderstanding will with diuers other sensuall powers The corporall instruments and their actions of them selues are of small wotth litle profitable as S. Paule said to Timothy But the vnderstandinge and the will may of their owne natures be of excellent dignitie profitt as if we occupy them to know God loue him or to consider any good thing and to desyre it or to know what is euill to hate shunne it which operations of these two powers are greatly commodious though the body reste all the while do nothing For by the Exercise of suche actions abowte any particuler vertue we should produce bring forth good habits in our soule destroy the euill which is a commendable thinge though it be done but onely for the loue of vertue as the heathen Philosophers did much more when a Christian doth it hauing faith but moste of all if such a man doe it with actuall intention for the loue honour seruice of God as I shall declare anone These two instruments therefore the vnderstanding the will their operations are the meanes goddes grace euer concurring with vs wherwith we may perfectly serue God and woorke the reparation of our soule They be indeede said Probus the cheifest and moste noble powers that man haith and therefore fitteste for such an ende but in what sort should we vse them rightly Our sensuall appetite said Alphonso naturally desyreth the thinge which it is inclined vnto that is what soeuer semeth vnto it pleasant delectable and sweete for the present to these naturally it is carried without further respecte And in like sort it fleeth whatsoeuer seemethe harde sharpe and vnpleasante But our will is not moued in this sort for before it desyre or shunn any thing it consulteth with the vnderstanding whether the thinge be conueniente or not and according as the vnderstanding iudgeth so the will freely desireth or refusethe it So that the vnderstandinge is as it were a lighte and guyde to the will shewinge the truth of euery thing as it conceiue the it directinge the will how to work Wherefore aboue all other things we must be carefull that our vnderstanding doe not erre or be deceiued in any thinge we goe abowt to desyre or shunne For if it be blinded by ignorance passion or malice it can neuer iudge rightly nor consequently the action of the will euer be good But againe though the vnderstanding be without errour iudge truly what the thing is or shew rightly what is to be done in any occasion yet so meruelous is the power of mās will that it standeth in free libertie to folow woork as the reason iudgeth or to refuse Onely it of all other powers and abilityes in man haithe fredom perfect libertie It is subiect to none commaundeth all the rest yea and in a meruelous sort the same power can predominate ouer it selfe both freely commaund and enforce it selfe to obey so that hereupon cometh all our euill if either the vnderstandinge erre or it iudging rightlye the will by reason of her lidertie will not woorke accordingly In this sort therefore we must proceede with these two powers for the reparation of our soules And first for the vnderstāding in euery thing which either by our naturall teason or by the light of our faith we know to be good or disposing or furthering vs to vertue neuerthelesse we fynde great difficultie horrour auersion in our selues to doe or desire it as were for our good we must presently vse the power of our vnderstāding with it consider and apprehende those same thinges which seeme so sharpe greuous to our natures as thinges most preceous and to God also most acceptable which may further vs
be nothinge that may offend the eyes of so highe a Maiestie This done he muste adorne and bewtify his soule with good habitts and vertues whereby he may appeare gratefull acceptable to him in his seruice Of these two thinges I will therefore now speake and first how to roote owt and destroy sinn You must know then that sinne is the most vyle and detestable euill that can be deuysed bringethe to any reasonable creature that committeth it vnspeakable harmes and mischeues For by sinn we loose God who is an infinite goodnes By it we contemne dishonour and iniury our louinge Lorde in the fowlest manner that may be By it we frustrate in oure selues the effecte and frute of Christs painfull lyfe and moste bitter passion and conculcate or treade vnder foote his preceous blood By it we defyle and make moste lothsom abominable our owne soules washed and sanctifyed with the blood of oure Sauiour and chosen to be the sacred temples of Godds Maiesty By it we pollute our harts the Altars Tabernacles of the holy Ghoste where he delightethe to dwell By it we loose godds fauour and all his graces the eternall ioyes of his kingdom with all our right and tytle thereunto By it onely we are made the boundslaues of the deuill the felowes and companions of all wicked men both aliue deade of the damned spiritts in hell By it we are made the reprochfull enemies of God the moste abiect contemptible and dishonorable of all his creatures And finally by it we purchase assuredlye to our selues endles damnation eternall woes and the horrible tormentes of hell fyre All which euills and miseries are iustly dew to him that by sinn committeth high treason againste his supreame Lorde who vouch-saifed to dye for him Now the sorowes and teares of all goddes creatures are not sufficient to destroy or take away one sinne much lesse the penance teares of one man that haith committed the same But the mercy and clemency of oure Lord is so great that he will not haue vs to dispaire And desireous of our weale haith prouided vs a remedie is content to pardon forgeue our sinns assone as we for our parts haue hartie sorow contrition for the same What besides is needefull or requisite he supplieth it of his owne restoreth vs againe to his grace fauour It is meete therefore that we lamente sorow for out sinnes consideringe we haue done so many euills by them both against God our selues How shoulde we doe this as becometh vs said Probus The way is this said Alphouso With your vnderstandinge present to your selues the cuills which come of sinne as before then compell your will principally for the offence dishonour of God and because it is his will that you sorowe for them to lament and to desyre that you had not committed them nor iniuried godds maiesty which acte of your will you muste often labour to produce now in generall for all your sinnes now for one particular sinn now for an other this with the greateste endeuour you can to haue hartie greif and contrition notwithstanding you feele your self somtimes voyde of sensible sorowe or paine for this is in godds hande and not in your owne to haue at your pleasure but doubtlesse he will bestow it also on you if you endeuour to gett it as you may I vnderstand all this said Probus Then will I passe said Alphonso to the second thinge which I tould you was requisite for the expellinge of our corruption euill habitts What is that said Probus THE SECONDE EXERCYSE necessarye for them that woulde serue God which is the hatred of our felues IT is the hatred of our self said Alphonso And this Exercyse amonge all other is of greatest weight and importance for them that desyre perfectly to loue God and to serue him For from self loue springe innumerable euills by which are engendered viceous habitts And this self loue seasinge at the entrance of that holy hatred which the holy scriptures much exhort vs vnto all sinn will be destroy ed in vs with all other wicked habits How may we com to this holy hatred of our selues said Probus Firste said Alphonso of all thinges which may bringe vs delectation and pleasure as meate sleepe recreatiō reste apparell and the lyke we must take or desyre no more then that we can not omitt or leaue vntaken withowt offence of god that is onely necessaries And necessaries also muste we take not for our owne consolation or for satisfaction contentment of our owne appetites and sensualitie consideringe how vnworthy we be of all delectation through the greuousnes of our sinnes but onely for fulfillinge godds holy will who haith ordeyned appointed that we vse and take such thinges to able vs more in his seruice for which cause we admitt them willingly for releefe of oure necessities otherwise we would notadmitt them at all What in these necessaries is sufficient a mannes owne experience with a deuout mynd will tell him Secondly all thinges which be painfull greuous as laboures toyles abiections contempts iniuries afflictions and the lyke We muste take vnto vs and desyre or will they be done to vs as much as may be without offence of God our owne or neyghboures harme Thirdly if we would serue God hate our selues in moste commendable manner we must not onely refuse delectable thinges and desyre painfull greuous as I said but more ouer we must ioy and be gladd when any aduersities or sharpe things happen vnto vs when we are depryued of pleasant thinges yea of necessaries this cheifly when they are done by som others against our wills or vpon euill intention which yet we ought not to iudge withowt manifest signes noe nor then neither with absolute full determination but pray for our persecutours and loue them with all our hartes because in truthe they doe vs much good otherwise we shoulde loose the inestimable rewarde we are to receiue for suffering patiently persecutions troubles All these three thinges necessarye for the holy hatred of our selues the Sonn of God taughte vs both by his woord by his owne example as S. Peter saith he suffered for vs 1 Pet. 2 leauinge vs an example to folowe his steppes whose most blessed soule was free frō all sport of sinne therefore his holy body should not haue bene entreated sharply or haue suffered any greuāce at all Yet woulde he for our example whō he most tenderly loued refuse and set nothing by all delectable thinges consent that his body soule should suffer excedinge tormentes gretues as it is manifest in his holy gospell Wherefore much shame reproch it is to all that professe them selues to be Christians and scholers of Christe not to learne this holye hatred neither by his woorde sayinge He that hatethe not him selfe can not be my Disciple nor by his example but stande euer vnwillinge
to suffer any payne or iniurye for his seruice or to heare of it either I confesse said Probus it is greate reproch dishonour to a Christian in this lesson to forsake not to imitate his Lord God considering he suffered all for our sakes instruction and the commoditye of our laboures being all our owne But what reasons besydes this can we consider why we should thus hate our selues For vnlesse our willes be animated encoraged by our vnderstanding in this point cheifly which for the naturall loue we beare to our selues semeth terrible horrible to be thought vpon we shall neuer desire this hatred much lesse exercyse our selues to gett it The doctrine and example of our Sauiour said Alphonso should suffice but I will geue you two or three reasons moe The first is because what soeuer euill is in vs with all our want of good vertues all I say comethe because we hate not our selues but loue and desyre thinges either against the commaundement of God or cōtrary to his counsells aduyse Wherefore self loue being so hurtfull to vs and hatred of our selues so commodious we haue good cause to desyre labour for this later and to flee that other An other reason may be because by sinning we haue bene traitours against the maiestie of God Wherefore it is meete iuste that we yelde him all possible satisfaction And seing that satisfaction shoulde be answearable in greatnes to the greuousnes and malice of our sinnes we our selues can yelde but litle and also in that we can doe are verie negligent slack to vse our owne bodies hardly any way for making what satisfaction we are able At the least for this cause we ought to hate our selues as is declared and to desyre be ioyfull that euery one hate persecute afflict vs as much as they may without the offence of god that thus at the leaste we may satisfye vnto him considering I say our own abilities otherwise suffice not The third most high reason of all why we should hate our selues is that our soules being voyde emptie of self loue as farr forthe as may stande with Godds pleasure They may be filled with God him self whose goodnes in noe wyse can suffer that being emptie of self loue we should not be filled with the loue of him consequently his holy will reigne beare all sway in oures But of this principall reason I shall tell you more when we com to speake of the loue of God How shall we said Probus vse the instruments of our soule to obteine this holye hatred of our selues When we would said Alphonso refuse not admitt thinges delectable pleasant or desyre accept hard painefull things as contempts reuylinges iniuryes and the lyke we must forgeat a litle these thinges and not offer them thus nakedlye to oure will but turne our mynde to consider the innumerable good thinges which com to vs by refusing the one sort accepting the other And principally the infinyte treasure of goddes loue which we gett by hatred of our selues accordinge to his will And then vpon these considerations moue and inclyne our will to reiecte the pleasant to embrace the greuous as necessarie meanes to obteine these inestimable goods euer with-all being mindfull that you doe all this for the seruice of your Lorde and for fulfillinge his holy will pleasure But touching the ioyfull acceptance of paynefull thinges aduersities I shall tell you more in the matters of Humilitie Patience There is no more then to be learned said Probus for the hatred of our selues Yes one thing more said Alphonso which meruelously helpeth them that are desireous to obteine this holie hatred which is that continuallye and without ceasing we persecute certain innumerable litle desires of our owne which if we marke com runninge vpon vs in euery moment inclyne vs to selfe loue Wherefore we must in all occasions be watchfull ouer our owne actions verie circumspectly marke whether perhapps we desire any thing which is not belonging vnto God or not furtheringe vs towardes him And incontinent so soone as we espye any thinge to delighte vs withowt God we must incline our will to contradict refuse it And when we perceiue any thing to happen greuous displeasant We must by by enclyne our will to couett accept it If you be diligent in this you shall both much sooner gett this holy hatred and withall such dominion gouernment ouer your self as can not be expressed in woordes Mark therfore this well I say againe exercyse it for assuredly this poynte is the key gate to cheife perfection This hatred said Probus seemethe contrary to Chatitie whereby we are all bounde to loue our selues Not so said Alphonso but so soone as a man hateth him self in this sort not before he haith all the loue that he ought to haue towardes him selfe which is most profitable glorious to him and that which God woulde he should haue For then haith he the loue of God of vertues of eternall glory and of all thinges which helpe him thither which loue doth not suffer with it the company of any vyce But now let vs goe to the seconde thinge that is to know how we may adorne bewtify our soules with vertues As it pleaseth you said Probus THE THIRD EXERCYSE How the seruant of God should behaue him selfe in prayer YOu muste know therefore said Alphonso that he is said to haue his soule adorned bewtifyed that haith his naturall appetites conformable with his reason and godds will Law And this conformity is none other thing but a certain heap of vertues which placed orderly in the soule make it bewtifull and directe it as is conuenient for the great dignity therof mitigating repressing all false and euill concupiscenses which had stook in the soule by sinne disposing it to serue withowt all contradiction to yeld gratefull obeisance to the will of him that created it And because our owne strength powers are verie weake vnable to obteyne suche thinges I will reache you firste how to call for helpe from God by prayer Secondly howe by many particularactes you must build these habitts of vertues speakinge of som few which be principall Thirdly how you must subdue keepe in semely order your foure naturall passions Ioy Sorow Hope Feare OF PRAIER FOr Praier then you muste know that Goddes pleasure is that we stande neede of his supernaturall help because the ende felicity whereto he haithe created vs is supernaturall that is the blisse of heauen His will also is that we aske demande it of him not but that he desyrethe more to geue it vs then we to take or aske it But first that we may possesse and enioy the thing with more honoure which we get with greater endeuoure labour in suting for it that we may as it were
our good God forbidd that the hart which is not occupyed in highly esteming praising God to whom all prayse is due shoulde be occupyed in iudging of any worth to whom noe such thing is due And he also deserueth much blame for his consentinge that thinketh other to occupy their hartes in praising esteming him beinge so vyle abiect seasinge in that meane tyme to magnify god for all his goodnes giftes is not ashamed nor greued for so great disorder abuse of thinges It augmenteth also greatly our vanitie that whatsoeuer we do or suffer all is by the mighty grace help of our most high God It is said Probus a thing both glorious meritorious that we accept the gifts graces of God not reiect or resist them and then why may we not glorie think well of our selues that we accepted them We neuer saw man said Alphonso that would vainly glory boaste onely because he had accepted benefites done him by a Prince but rather it would haue bene iudged playne madnes to haue refused thē And it is great folly for a mā to glorye and boaste that he would not be madd whē he might or proudly to behaue and esteme him self because he would not leap into a pitt drowne him self when he might haue done it Muche lesse cause surelye haith any man to glorye because he accepted godds giftes refused them not considering that their verye acceptinge and will to receiue them is not done by their own power abilitie or nature 1 Cor. 4 but principally by the grace and helpe of God as S. Paule saith What hast thou that thou haste not receyued if thou haste receiued it why doest thou glory Nowe after your vnderstandinge haith had these such lyke considerations of this vyce moue incline your will as I taughte you before to refuse hate it And standing firmly in the true conceipte of your owne basenes vnworthines yeld all praise glory to God to whom it is due in him onely let all your ioye and glory be rest The actions of your will you must diligently vse in all occasions where this vain-glorie would creepe in and draw you to delighte in your self or in any thing you haue This may suffyce concerning the euill vyce of vain-glory Now will we speake of patience which is the seconde vertue we are to learne of our Sauiour Christe vnlesse you teste vnsatisfyed in some thing I haue said Goe forwarde said Probus I pray you for I vnderstande you well and haue nothing to replye THE SIXT EXERCYSE HOW to plant in our soules the vertue of Patience which is one of the two vertues which our Sauiour would haue vs to learn of him PAtience said Alphonso is so dear a sister companion to Humility that comonly they are found together And by what waies paths the one is found you may finde the other also And as we said before that to gett Humilitie it is necessarie we sett before our eyes the humilitie of godds Sonne so muste we doe also the same here for obteyninge this vertue of Patience For who can cōplaine or repyne insufferinge iniuries or any tribulation hauinge deserued them as we all haue when he considereth with how great mildnes and patience his Lorde god voluntarily did choose to suffer so manie so greate iniuries contumelies persecutions tormentes together with a moste bitter death who besides that he was true God Lord of all was also a man of more noble delicate tender complexion then any other man in the world more feelinge anie affliction Who will not patiently myldly sustain for curing his owne sinnes anie toyle vexation or distresse that may befall if he consider his God to haue susteyned farr greater for the sinns of other to bringe remedy to our euills The example of our Sauioure said Probus should indede moue suffice vs to take anie aduersitie patientlye but our frayle natures can not away with trouble or affliction Naturallye indeede said Alphonso we are inclyned to flee abhorr thē But godds grace preuenting our wills cooperatinge with vs we may be brought in short tyme to accept and embrace them and this the rather if we consider not onely this example which our Sauiour haith geuen vs but more-ouer cast our eye to the great commoditie we gett thereby which our Lorde also is desireous we labour to obteine For persecutions tribulations are as it were a hammer or fire wherewith the rust or canker of our soules is taken away or as a launcinge knife thrust into our soules to let owt the poysen of our self loue which festreth there drawethe vs from all good that once freed from that filthe we may woorke the high woork of God that is loue serue him as we should For which cause we ought hartely to loue pray for our persecutours thank God that prouideth vs so good surgeons Teache me the way said Probus I pray you to gett this vertue If you remember said Alphonso 1 P. C. 7. I taught it you before when we talked of the way how to plant vertuous habits in our soule For there I put the example of Patience which may suffice also for this place I remember it verie well said Prohus That also which I taughte you said Alphonso of the hatred of your selfe 2 Part. 2 Exer. you must call to mynde againe in this mater for the reasons I gaue you why you should hate your self may serue fitlye to moue you to suffer patiently any aduersitie or affliction Now let vs propounde one example of som odious matter that may befall You either suspect or certenly know a man to speak or reporte som euill of you which you neuer committed Hereby three dartes are caste at you to wound your soule from all which the souldier and seruant of God must cleare acquyte him self that by his fight his Lorde may be serued honored and his owne soule bewtified The first is the dart of euill suspition or iudgment againste the man or against his intention From this dart you must withdraw your self and let it passe inclyninge your will not to accept or deale with it as consenting to any such suspition or iudgment but to referr it wholly vnto God who is the high Iudg of all and haith willed vs not to iudge For fulfilling of whose will we ought with great ioy to forbeare to iudge and not to vsurpe or cake vpon vs his office The second is the darte of greuous impatiencye To this you muste oppose your self with all your strengthe ioying in the paine and iniury which cometh to you by that occasion and the more you seme to ioye of it the lesse will the deuill assaulte you with impatience lest he geue you occasion of so great meritt That you may well demeane your selfe in receiuing this dart remember what I said of the hatred of
your self The third is the dart of hatred of him whom you suspecte or know to haue done you wronge To this also you must oppose your self inclyninge your will to produce some singular acte of loue towards him because it is godds will that you loue and pray for your enemies And in truth as I said they doe you exceding greate good if your self hinder it not and they be as surgeons to cure the festering woundes of our soule Thus in all occasions of aduersitie the seruant of God should be watchfull and euer stand prepared patiently to endure what-soeuer it pleasethe his Lorde to let befall for his tryall that in so doing he may honoure his Lord benefite and as our Sauioure said possesse his own soule which remaineth as voyd of all good captiue to the deuill and quite loste if it be spoyled of this vertue of patience Nowe if you thinke good let vs speake of the foure affections or passions of the soule THE SEAVENTH EXERCYSE HOW to moderate and keepe in order the foure naturall passions of the soule THese passions said Alphonso be Ioy Sorow Hope Feare they be naturall to euery one as to ioy for a presente good to sorowe for a present euill to hope for a future good and to feare a future euill I will teach you how to guyde and brydle them conueniently for the seruice and honour of God and the repayringe of your soule For they may bringe vs much harme if they be lefte at libertie vnrestrayned because they neuer cease ranginge vpp and downe in our soules now one now an other And we may well say that all our euills come vpon vs because they are permitted to wander abowte and runne vnbrydled Yea they bringe much annoyance and hurte to spirituall persons howe lightlye soeuer they walke in them He onely may kepe them in good order great moderation that worketh all thnges aswell internal as externall for God as I toulde you before walketh in the hatred of him self as you haue harde When are these affections said Probus kept in due order moderatiō When we yelde said Alphonso no consent to any of their motions further then we know pleaseth God whereby he may receiue some gratefull seruice Otherwyse we oughte euer to repell their motions banish them from vs if we desire to walke a saife way towarde God May we not said Probus be glad and ioyfull for any good thinge that hapneth vnto vs in lyke sorte be sorowfull for euill The seruants of God said Alphonso should be gladd ioy in nothing but God or thinges which belong or direct further them to him The reason is for that hauinge in God in such thinges so great cause matter of ioyes they are verye foolishe and madd vaine that occupye them selues in ioying for any other cōsidering their powers force to ioy in God loue him are the weaker by how muche more they are deuyded into dyuers ioyes busines And consideringe againe that albeit we yelde our selues wholly to ioy in God yet are we not able to doe it sufficiently How much lesse can we doe it if we distract our selues to ioy in many thinges Wherefore by the vse power of our will as I toulde you before we must doe one of these two either presently so sone as it offereth it self repell putt away all ioye and gladnes which is not in God or thinges belonginge vnto him or direct order it for God as the ende thereof so it be not some vaine or vnlawfull ioye And thus shall we doe as the Apostle willeth vs saying Phil. 4 Ioy in our Lorde at all tymes I say againe ioye For he which cause we must looke warelye about vs for daily innumerable things of small weight occurre ofter them selues to vs bringinge occasions and causes of ioy gladnes from which forth-with we ought to vnwynde our selues knowinge all ioyes which are offered vnto vs by the world are assured harmes noe good to vs at all In a most potent and ryche King you know it would be iudged a very base vyle disposition to make so greate reckning of a peny that the winning of i◠woulde make him verie ioyfull the loosing of it verie sorowfull greiued But farr greater is our basenes vilitye if when alwaies we haue present the infinite goodes which God possesseth for him self vs in which we oughte incessantly to ioye we turne our selues to ioy in other tryflinge thinges which occurr in the world when especially we ought to loue our Lord more then our selues more to respect his glory then our owne which yet he will geue vs most aboundantlye if we faithfully and sincerelye serue him in this our banishment OF SOROW. IN lyke sort may we speake of him that soroweth for any thing of this world that may happen except sin things inducing thereto For it may be well iudged great basenes to sorow for any such temporall thinge of this lyfe whearas we haue before oure eyes so great glorye and inestimable goodes as I said God haith prouided for vs for which we ought euer to reioyce be gladd Wherefore the seruant of God muste suffer noe sorow nor heauines to stay in his harte but that onely which is for sinn because this sorow being a passion which respecteth some present euill or some good lost true euills losses can not happen but onely for sinne He ought with reason to sorowe for none other thinge And hauing present so infinite an euill to sorowe for as sinne is he doth most foolishlye if deuyding his force strength he sorowe for any other thing besides considering especially that all his powers abilities collected to this one woork suffice not to sorow so much for sinn as he should doe These sorowes which offer them selues dailie to vs vpon any tribulation or aduersitie we may easily repell if we consider that we be gods more then our owne that he haith more tender care ouer vs then we can haue of oure selues and beste knowethe what is expedient for vs. And therfore what painefull thing or aduersity soeuer hapneth it ought to be welcom to vs so long as it endureth we must take it ioyfullye as from the hande of our louinge Lorde and as a thinge fitt and conuenient for one that is godds sorow no more for it then God whose we are willeth that we sorow speaking thus within our selues Why haue I greater care of my self then my Lord god willeth that I haue seing I am not myne owne but his who loueth me tenderly can not but continually behould me May we not then said Probus seke meanes to deliuer and free our selues from suffering such paynefull thinges and aduersyties or we shoulde beare them still with ioy let them alone to godds care prouidence As it is godds will said Alphonso that so long as we haue them we euer suffer
credit prayses c. Out frailty is such said Probus our necessitie so great that oftentimes we can not be gladd of iniuries tribulations and the lyke nor refuse thinges delectable and prosperous It somtimes said Alphonso through weaknes of body or because as yet we haue not gotten so muche vertue as were nedefull for our sufferinge of aduersities ioyfully but we must flee thē and our persecutoures or againe procure and receiue delicate and pleasant thinges In such cases I say we muste looke that we doe these thinges with actuall intention for auoyding greater euills and sorow also much in that by fleing aduersities and troubles we depart from a thing which should further vs to so great a good as is the loue of God And againe that by takinge delectable thinges we omitt and forgo the sharpe which are most due vnto vs for punishment of our sinnes negligences All this moreouer we ought to doe with humble prayer to our Lord that he would vouchsaife to strengthen vs in body and soule for better resistinge oure owne frailtie whereby through defect of our vertue it is needefull we auoyde such trouble or vse such delightfull thinges and that also by his grace we may be disposed notwithstanding these impediments of our infirmitie perfectly to loue him What remedye helpe haue we said Probus if we finde our selues verie dull heauy whiles we endeuour to produce these actes of loue to bring all our motions into the obedience seruice of God for so it often hapneth in other exercyses of deuotion well doinge The same may happen also in this high woork said Alphonso but then we may assure our selues that it cometh because we wante the holy hatred of our selues which is the foundation most principall disposition to this loue of God Or again because there cleueth in our hartes some inordinate affection to some earthly thinge as loue of neede lesse delectation or affection to some person or busines not rightly ordered Wherefore he that feleth him self so dull must search owt diligently in him self such defect or affection and take it away by contrary actes as we taughte before and shall more hereafter For to inclyne our will to produce actes of the loue of God aboue all thinges withowt hauinge first gotten the holy hatred of our selues or whiles our affection to any earthly thing that may deilght vs endureth not being ordeyned or referred either actuallye or virtually to God is much lyke as if a man would cutt with a hammer thinges requiringe a raisoure or sharpe knyfe For the perfection excellency of this loue the least act wherof may aduance a man to a highe degree of eternall glory in heauen doth not permitt with it any such vyle baise thinge Besides this also the seruant of God must be warie of the assaultes of his mortall enemy the deuil who neuer ceaseth to molest and hinder them that goe forwarde in any vertue but moste maliceously goeth abowt to harme and ouerthrow them that endeuour to obteyne this most holy loue of God What way I pray you said Probus can he cheefly hinder vs Among many other said Alphonso he hindrethe vs by one which is verie secrett yet much daungerous hurtfull that is by a certain meane estimation contempt negligence couldnes of the minde towardes the woork of the loue of God which some persons haue whiles they think heare or reade the cheife poynt of it to consiste in the desyre of Godds perfections goodnes glorie in ioying in them as I said before How can this said Probus happen to any man in this holy woork It hapneth said Alphonso because they litle conceiue or marke the worthines of this thing the enemy doth assaile trouble them withall And principally it chanceth to them that are not preuēted with the swetenes which this loue is accustomed to bringe with it For they hearing as I said euen now this loue to consist in this that we desire inwardly feele in our selues a complacency ioy for all the infinit goodnes and glory which are in god this onely for God they wax could thinking this worke not to be so high excellent as it is but iudge other woorkes aswell corporall as spirituall to excede this to be more beseeming godds seruantes as preachinge disputing gouerninge others feighting for the faith almes deedes fasting afflictions and the lyke Whereupon said Probus commeth this false conceipt of theirs It commeth said Alphonso firste by reason the deuill tempteth them and withall the taist and appetite of their soule is distempered and corrupted as I toulde you yester nighte in the fourth instruction by the example of the sick man that by reason of his infected taist desireth hurtfull meates and taketh loath with wholesom What remedie haue we against this noysom impediment said Probus We must prouyde first said Alphonso that our corrupt appetite be cured as I said in the fourth instructiō which done they that feele this couldnes haue this wrong estimation shall incontinent perceiue all other workes how worthy meruelous soeuer they seme to be verie abiect base 1 Cor in respecte of this loue as S. Paule teacheth vs. And our Saui ur him self beinge the eternall wisdom of God which can not erre or deceiue vs haith chosen commaunded the same aboue all thinges which may be done in heauen or earth A reason hereof you may haue also if you consider that albeit our free will the actes thereof which I toulde you before in the fourth instruction to be of greateste dignitie in vs be of them selues litle worth or of small commoditie Yet may we make them of inestimable dignitie valew if we vnite our will most strongly fasten it to the will of God which is of an infinite excellency in such manner ioyning ours vnto his that it be not carried to any other thinge but what his blessed will desireth For then the acte desire of our infirme base free will groweth to be of infinite valewe and dignitie when forsaking our selues we take the desire of that infinite will which is God who incessantly willeth loueth ioyeth for the infinite good worthines he haith Why requyreth God said Probus that we shoulde desire loue ioye in this sort as he euer doth He would haue vs doe it said Alphouso first for that his loue goodnes to vs would haue our abiect free will aduaunced to so greate nobilitie honour as to haue an act of infinite and diuine valew Againe because seing he haith created vs to so great a good as to enioy him self it is iuste that we yelde him this seruice at least as to occupye our selues all the tyme of our mortall lyfe in louing him and ioying for his good glorye as we see faithfull seruantes louinge exceedingly to reioyce for the goodes honour their Lordes gett Thirdlye that heare on earth we may occupye
our enemies as we may doe to our frends benefactoures Our corrupt natures said Alphonso finde difficultie to loue our enemies but the children of God must not mesure nor order their actions by the inclination motions of their corrupte affections but by the rule of gods holy will and commaundement And a resolute will of seruing God maketh them noe lesse firme constante in louing him whom their owne inordinate affections would hate then him whom by the aboundance of benefites good turnes they are inclyned to loue Yet with all this you muste know that albeit our loue ought to be in this sort equally to euery one yet ought we first to shew it in good effects and benefites towards them that are vertuous them we are behoulden vnto For godds will is that our charitie be ordâ—rly disposed preferringe in these good benefites euery one according as we are diuersly bound vnto them God haith also said Probus commaunded vs to loue our neighboures as we loue our selues which is an other manner of louinge them then as our Sauiour loued vs. He haith commaunded so indeede said Alphonso but this manner the other are all one in effect substaÌ„ce if they be rightly vnderstoode For the loue which we shoulde haue to our selues ought to be the same and in the same manner as our Sauioure loued vs. We will therefore if it please you goe forward declare in what sort we are to loue our selues Doe so I ptay you said Probus for it can not but be a pleasant hearinge without all perill of offending any euery one being desireous to loue him self as much as may be OF THE LOVE OF OVR SELVES OVr naturall inclination said Alphonso to the loue of our selues is so great vehemente that God haith not geuen vs any commauÌ„dement thereof yet by the blyndnes corruption of sinn we haue in most part lost our iudgment knowledge how we ought to doe it He therefore that would truly loue himself must obserue three thinges First that by all meanes he procure any thinge wheareby he knoweth any good may come to him self Secondly that he flee and auoyde whatsoeuer may bring him damage or euill Thirdly that he refuse not to offer yelde him self to any difficulties for obteyninge his owne good Our naturall reason and the lighte of our Catholick faith sufficientlye teach vs which be true goodes euills which be apparent deceitfull And we must be verey circumspect diligent that we erre not in discerning these or folow not the vnreasonable inclinations appetites of our owne sensualitie takinge that for good which indeede is hurtfull or fleeing that as euill which in truthe is our good Now he that would enrich him self with good thinges must know that in euery good he desirethe or may obteyne two thinges are to be considered One is the good that may come to himself by that thing The other is that it is godds will desire that he haue that thing Of these two he ought litle or noe whitt to esteme the benefite or good that may happeÌ„ to him self of the thing he desireth or doth as it is his owne In respecte of the seconde that it is the seruice of God the fulfilling of his holy will as I toulde you before in the fifth instruction speaking of the end of all our actions desires Our Lord haith geuen vs a preceous ornament or Iewell where-with we may excedingly enriche our selues at any tyme that is our appetite and will the which we as it were gilde with coper or tinne when we desyre loue anything for our owne good benefite And againe we adorne bewtify it with diuyne goulde wheÌ„ forgeating our selues we desire and loue any good thing onely for pleasing seruinge our Lorde fulfilling his will For the more we for geat ourselues haue care of godds honour glorie the more care haithe God ouer vs agiane to enriche vs with all goodnes Wherefore he that spiritually loueth him self must euer as worldly men doe study how to make better all his goodes substance wheÌ„ he knoweth the way how it may easily be done What more is to be said of this poynt I referr you to our conference of the hatred of our selues For the seconde also which is the fleeing of all euill I nede to say noe more but he that truly loueth him self must este me nothing euill or hurtfull to him so flee it but onely fâ—inne the occasions thereof Now for the thirde which is to offer himself to any difficultie or daungers for getting his own good I must admonish him diligently to exercyse himself in the thinges that I haue said before but principally in the hatred of him self in humilitie in patience and in the foure naturall affections or passions of his soule Is there then no more necessary said Probus for obteyninge this true loue of our selues One thinge more said Alphonso is to be obserued and practised diligently and that is It hapneth dailye that we doe or say somthing otherwyse then we should haue done or becometh vs for which they that see or heare knowing our defect or imperfection may think the worse of vs the lesse esteme vs. In which case we must consider first the confusion that foloweth vs thereby In this confusion we must not comfort or animate our selues in thinking that others perhaps regarded not what we did or said or that perhaps they haue forgotten it or that it should not trouble vs because other men fall often into the like defects This I say we should not doe but with great loue embrace that confusion think that others marked vs verie well account worse of vs worthily contemne vs as vnprofitable vnperfect men For in doing thus we make a vehement acte of patience and humilitie and shortlye produce most excellent habitts of them and finally doe great seruice to God if we referr it to him The other thing we are to consider in such cases is the euill example we geue thereby and the dishonoure or lesse glory to God For this therefore the seruant of God must produce an acte of sorow for that he haith bene by that speach or fact perhaps some occasion of euill or lesse seruiceable to his Lorde then he might or shoulde haue bene and thus shall he reape coÌ„modity both on the one and the other This is all I haue to say of the loue of our selues vnlesse you be vnsatisfied in some thing I am verie well satissyed in all you haue spoken said Probus I vetelye thinke that whosoeuer would frame him self to serue God in this sorte you haue toulde me should not onely increase excedinglye his owne meritt glory in heauen but moreouer leade a most ioyfull sweete lyfe in earth He should noe doubt finde much comfort ioye sweetenes said Alphonso seruing God in this sorte but he muste beware he reste not in this