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
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
am made to see yet hitherto haue not I attained the thing that I was made for O miserable condition of man seeing he hath so vndiscreetlie forgone that for which he was created ô heauie and ô hard chance Alas alas what hath he forgon and what hath he found what is lost and what hath remained He hath forgon happines for which he was made and he hath found miserie for which he was not made He hath lost that without which nothing is happie and that remaineth which of it selfe is meerelie miserable Man did then eate euen the Angels meate which now he desireth and now he feedeth vpon the bread of sorowe which then he knewe not O Lord how long wilt thou forget for euer How long wilt thou hide thy face from vs when wilt thou respect and heare vs when wilt thou inlighten our eies and show vs thy countenance when wilt thou restore thy selfe vnto vs Behold and heare vs ô Lord our God lighten our eies and show vs thy selfe Restore thy selfe to vs that we may prosper without whome we are in such miserie Inuite vs and helpe vs Lord we beseech thee Mine hart is become sorowfu◠being made desolate ô make it cheereful againe Lord with thy consolation I haue begun to seeke thee with an hungrie stomach ô let me not giue-ouer vnrefreshed of thee I come with a greedie appetite let me not depart vnfed I who am in pouertie com◠vnto thee that art rich in miserie vnto thee most merciful ô let me not go-awaie emptie and contemned O Lord I am bowed and crooked verie sore erect me that may looke-vp and behold thee Mine iniquities are gon-oue◠mine head and as a weighti◠burden they are too heauie fo◠mee O vnwrap and vnloade me that the deepe swalowe me not vp Teach me to seeke thee and show thy selfe to him that seeketh thee for I can neither seeke thee without thou teach me neither find thee except thou reueale thy selfe Let me seeke thee in desiring and desire thee in seeking let me find thee in louing and loue thee in finding Chap. 31. Of God his woonderful mercie I Confesse LORD thankes vnto thee therefore that thou hast made me after thine owne image to the end I should remember thee thinke on thee and loue thee Notwithstanding through the corruption of wickednes thine image is so defaced and so blurred with the smoake of sinne that without thou renew and reforme the same it can not do the thing for which it was created Wherefore Lord who giuest the gift of faith I beseech thee giue mee grace perfectlie to knowe how great thou art For according to our beliefe thou art and we beleeue thee to be such à thing than which there can be imagined nothing either for quantitie greater or for virtue better Then what art thou ô Lord God than whom nothing is either greater or better but euen that which being onelie the soueraigne good thing of al others of it selfe hath made al other things of nothing Then what good thing is there wanting to y e soueraigne goodnes through whome is euerie good thing Wherefore thou art righteous and true and blessed whatsoeuer is otherwise better is it not to be atal than to be But if thou art altogether most singularlie good how is it that thou sparest the wicked Is it because thy mercie is ouer al thy works But this lieth hid in the light which none can attaine vnto Verelie the fountaine whence the riuer of thy mercie doth flowe lieth-hid in the deepe and most secrete bottome of thy goodnes For although thou art wholie and souerainglie righteous yet thou sparest of thy goodnes the wicked because thou art wholie and most singularlie merciful too For in verie deede thou shouldest not be so singularlie good vnlesse thou wert gratious to some offenders For he who is good both to the iust and to the vniust is better than he who sheweth fauour onlie to the good And he which is good to the wicked both by sparing and by punishing thē is better than he who is good onlie by punishing So thou art therefore merciful because thou art altogether and soueraignelie good Chap. 32. The happie state of such as enioie the ioies of heauen O Infinite goodnes passing all vnderstanding Let that mercie come vpon me which proceedeth from such riches Let it haue influence into me which floweth from thee Spare of thy mercie but reuenge not in thy iustice Rise vp now ô my soule and lift vp al thine vnderstanding consider so wel as thou canst how great and what maner of good thing God is For if each particular good thing be delectable waie aduisedlie how delightful that good thing is which conteineth the sweetenes of al good things and not such as commonlie we perceaue of things created but so much differing there from as the creator differeth from the creature For if the life created bee good howe good is the life that created it If the welfare that is wrought delight how shal the welfare which worketh al saluation delight If the wisedome consisting in the minde or in the knowledge of knowne things be louelie how louelie is that wisedome which made and created al things of nothing To be short if there be much and great delight in delectable things what and how great shal the pleasure be in him who made these delectable things Oh what shal he haue or what shal he not haue that enioieth this felicitie doubtles whatsoeuer he can wish he shal haue it and what he would not haue shal not come to him For there shal be the goodes both of soule and bodie such goodes as eie hath not seene neither eare hath heard neither came into mans hart Chap. 33. That soueraigne happines is to be sought for WHIE then rangest thou about ô sillie man seeking the goodes of thy soule and of thy bodie Loue one good in which are al good things and it sufficeth Desire the simple good which is al that good is and it is inough For what louest thou ô my flesh what desirest thou ô my soule There it is whatsoeuer thou louest there it is whatsoeuer thou desirest If beautie delight thee the iust men shal shine as y e Sunne If either such swiftnes strength or libertie of the bodie as nothing may withstand they shal be as the Angels of God in heauen For it is sowne à natural bodie but shal rise a spiritual bodie to wit by the power of God not through the strength of nature If a long and an healthful life there shal be founde eternitie and eternal soundnes because the righteous shal liue euer their rewarde also is with the Lord If satietie when the glorie of the Lord appeareth they shal be filled If drunkennes they shal be satisfied with the fatnes of the Lords house If pleasant musicke
the holie Table pag. 29. 12 A zealous praier for grace to meditate deepelie vpon the goodnes of God pag. 32. 13 A thankes-giuing vnto God for the incarnation of his deere Sonne to saue man pag. 34. 14 The more God is thought vpon the more louelie he seemeth pag. 36. 15 How the trobles in this world are nothing answerable to the ioies in heauen pag. 38. 16 Of the kingdome of heauen and how it may be attained pag. 41. 17 What Paradise is and the ioies thereof pag. 42. 18 That we can not please God but through loue pag. 46. 19 How GOD requireth some thing of vs like to himselfe pag. 49. 20 Of the boldnes of the soule that loueth GOD pag. 41. 21 The singular loue of GOD to manward pag. 55. 22 The refuge of à Christian in time of tentation pag. 57. 23 Special medicines against sinne and despaire pag. 59. 24 A zealous meditation to mooue vnto the loue of God pag. 62. 25 Of true knowledge what it is pag. 65. 26 What the sending of the holie Spirit worketh in vs pag. 68. 27 The effects of true loue pag. 71. 28 What the true quietnes of the mind is pag. 73. 29 That whatsoeuer withdraweth the sight of the mind from God is altogether to be shunned and abhorted pag. 75. 30 How through sinne man lost the sight of God and found wretchednes 78. 31 Of God his woonderful mercie pag. 81. 32 The happie state of such as enioie the ioies of heauen pag. 84. 33 That soueraigne happines is to bee sought for pag. 87. 34 How the Sancts loue ech other mutualie in heauen pag. 91. 35 Of the perfect ioie of eternal life pag. 93. FINIS 1581. OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT Printed by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster Row at the signe of the Starre Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis 1 This Booke why called a Manuel 2 Author of this Booke who 3 The Argument of this Booke a D. Bern. in die S. Andreae serm 1. 4 The occasion why this Booke was made 5 Methode of this Booke 6 Vse of this Booke b Mark 13 verse 33. c 1. Thes 5. verse 17. d Cyril praefat Catech. e Hierome in Epist f August in serm f August in serm g Manuel cap. 25. Manuel cap. 11. a Iere. 23 verse 24. b Heb. 1 3. c Eccle. 23 verse 18.19 d Ioh. 5 17. e Psal 50 8.9 c. f Luk. 15 4.5 c. g Wis 11 23. Iohn 3 16. Iohn 13 1. h Exo. 20 5. i Ier. 26 3. k Psal 79 5. l Wis 7 27. m Mal. 3 6. n Psal 50 8.9.10 c. o 1. Cor. 7 verse 4. Iam. 1 17. p 1. Pet. 2 verse 24. Isai 53 5.6 c. q Matth. 18 verse 23.27 c. 35. r Iob. 23 8.9 ſ Ioh. 1 18. 1. Tim. 6 16. t Eccles 23 verse 18.19 u Prou. 15 verse 29. x Eccl. 23 verse 18.19 y Psa 50 8.9 c. z Ier. 23 24. a Ier. 32 18.19 b Psa 139 7.8 c Heb. 1 3. d Isa 54 13. Iohn 6 44.45 e Eccl. 16 18 19. f Psa 102 24.25 c. g 1. Tim. 6 verse 16. h Deut. 6 4. 2. Kings 19 verse 15.19 a Iob. 23 8.9 Psal 139 7.8 b Iam. 1 17. c Mar. 10 verse 18. Luk. 18 18. d Gen. 1 1.2 Heb. 1 1.2 e Psal 50 8.9.10 c. f Iohn 5 17. g Matth. 11 verse 25. Luk. 10 21. h Ier. 32 19. i Eccles 15 verse 20. k Psal 11 5.6.7 l Exod. 6 3. Gen. 35 11. m Gen. 1 26.27 Psal 100 3. Psal 119 73. n Dan. 9 4.5.6 c. o Gal. 3 13. 1. Tim. 2 6. Psal 103 1.2.3.4 c. p Ier. 23 24. q Act. 17 28. r Psa 139 7.8 c. ſ Reu. 6 15.16.17 a Gen. 1 26.27 Colos 3 10. b Rom. 5 15 16 c. c Rom. 8 30 d Luk. 15 4.5 c. e Isai 40 31. f Psal 26 8. g Psal 23 2. h Reu. 7 15.16.17 i 1. Tim. 1 1. k Hos 13 9. l Isa 41 14. Isa 44 24. a 1. Cor. 1 17.18.19 c. b Gen. 1 26.27 Psal 119 73. c Act. 17 28 d Iam. 1 17. e Ioh. 11 25. f Iohn 14 6 g Reu. 21 4. Reu. 22 5. h Mat. 6 24. Luk. 16 13. i Luk. 1 78. k Ioh. 6 35.48.50 c. l Iohn 4 13 14. m Reu. 21 23 a Iohn 1 9. b Iohn 4 13 14. c Psal 36 8. d Psal 19 12 13. e ◠Ioh. 2 15 f Matt. 6 10 g Heb. 1 1.2 c. a Phil. 1 23. b 1. Cor. 13 verse 12. Reue. 22 4. c Reu. 7 15.16 d Reu. 21 4. e Psal 36 8. f Heb. 11 13. Heb. 13 14. g Reu. 22 4. h Reu. 21 4. i Reu. 5 8. k Reu. 21 4. l Reu. 21 verse 27. m 1. Cor. 2 verse 9. n Psa 137 3 a Reu. 7 16 17. Reue. 21 4. b Reu. 22 4. c 1. Cor. 13 verse 12.13 d Reue. 21 verse 23.24 Reue. 22 5. e Ioh. 17 24. 21. a Reu. 21 4. b Dan. 7 27. c Reu. 21 4. d 2. Tim. 4. verse 7.8 e Phil. 1 23. f Reu. 7 16.17 g Reu. 5 1.2 c. h 1. Cor 13 verse 12. i Reu. 21 4. k 1. Cor. 15 verse 53.54 l Eccles 23 verse 19.20 m 1. Cor. 13 verse 13. n Iob. 7 1. o Psa 102 11. Psa 103 14.15 p Iob. 14 1. a Psa 116 12. b Psa 23 2. c Phil. 4 7. a Psal 7 1.3 b Psa 45 2. c Iob. 23 8.9 Psal 139 7.8 d Ioh. 3 16. e 1. Pet. 2 verse 22. f 1. Ioh. 4 8. g Deut. 6 5. Matt. 22 37. Luke 10 27. h Phil. 2 12. a Psa 45 2. b 1. Pet. 1 18.19 c 1. Tim. 3 verse 16. d Heb. 7 26 27. e Luk. 22 19 f 1. Cor. 11 verse 26. g Reu. 21 23 24. h Ioh. 6 35.48.51 a Psal 45 ◠b 1. Ioh. 4 8. c Ioh. 14 6. Iohn 25 11. d Act. 17 28. e 1. Tim. 1 1. f Col. 3 4. g 1. Tim. 1 1. h Eph. 5 30. a Eph. 5 29. b Iohn 1 14. c Phil. 2 8. d Col. 2 14. e Rom. 8 34 f 1. Tim. 1 1. g Eph. 2 5.6 h Reu. 19 1. a Iohn 3 16 b 1. Pet. 1 18.19 c Eph. 2 5. d Rom. 8 verse 30. e Matt. 5 8. f Phil. 1 23. g 1. Cor. 14. verse 25. h Iob. 10 8. Psal 100 3. i Col. 3 1.2 k Matth. 13 verse 44.45 l Matt. 6 21. Luke 12 34. m Phil. 4 7. n Rom. 8 15 Galat. 4 5.6 o Gen. 1 26.27 a Rom. 8 18 b Psal 31 10. c Hab. 3 16. d 1. Cor. 2 9 e Matth. 13 verse 43. f Rom. 2 6. Reu. 22 12. g Matth. 25 verse 34.35 c. h 1. Cor. 13 verse 12. Reu. 22 4. i Eph. 2 6. k 1. Cor. 15. verse 28. a 1. Cor. 13 verse 12. b Matth. 11 verse 12. c 1. Pet. 1 verse 18.19 d
the Angels there shal sing praises without cessing vnto the Lord If al maner honest not vnhonest pleasure the Lord shal giue them drinke out of the riuer of his pleasures If wisedome the verie wisedome of God shal shew it selfe to them If faithful amitie they shal both loue GOD more than themselues and one another as themselues yea and God shal loue them more than they can themselues For they loue both him themselues and one another through him and he loueth both himselfe and them too through himselfe If concord al they shal be of one minde for they shal wil nothing but what God willeth himselfe If power they shal haue ful power ouer their owne wil as God hath of his For as God of himselfe can do what he wil so they can do what they wil through him Because as they list none otherwise than he listeth so he listeth as they list and what he wil must needes come to passe If honor and wealth God wil make his good and faithful seruants rulers ouer much yea they shal be called the sonnes of God yea and gods too and be the heires euen the heires of God and heires annexed with Christ To conclude if certaine securitie they shal be as sure that that felicitie shall not faile them as they are sure that neither they for their parts would willinglie forgo the same nor God for his part wil bereaue his friends thereof against their wils nor that anie thing is so mightie that it can separate God and them Now what and how great ioie is there where such and so great felicitie is Chap. 34. How the Sancts loue each other mutualie in Heauen O Hart of man ô poore hart ô hart ful of miseries yea ouerwhelmed with miseries how greatlie wouldest thou reioice if thou aboundedst with these good things Aske euen the most secret cogitations of thine hart if they could receaue the ioie of so excellent blisse But if another whome thou louest as thy selfe did enioie with thee the like felicitie doubtles thy ioie would be doubled because thou wouldest so much reioice at his felicitie as at thine owne Now if two or three or moe were so blessed of God thou wouldest be as glad for each of them as for thy selfe if thou didest loue them euen as thy selfe Then how great shal the ioie be in that perfect loue of the innumerable companie of blessed Angels and men where each shal loue another euen as himselfe for euerie man there shal reioice as much for the happie estate of each particular person as for his owne felicitie If therefore the hart of man shal hardlie receaue the ioie of his owne blisse how shal it comprehend such great ioies of so manie of his friends for vndoubtedlie euen as we loue à man so shal we be glad for his felicitie As in that blessed happines euerie man shal loue God soueraignelie aboue himselfe and al others with him so most singularlie shal each man be more glad of Gods felicitie than of his owne and of al others with him And if they shal so loue God with al their harts with al their minds and with al their soules that neither al their harts nor al their minds nor al their soules can be able to comprehend the excellencie of the loue assuredlie the Sancts with al their harts with al their minds and with al their soules shal so reioice as neither their hearts nor their minds nor their soules shal be able to comprehend the abundant streames of celestial ioie Chap. 35. Of the perfect ioie of eternal life O MY God and my Lord mine hope the ioie of mine heart resolue my soule whether this be the ioie whereof thou speakest by thy Sonne Aske and ye shal receaue that your ioie may be ful For I haue found à certaine ioie which is ful yea and more than ful For notwithstanding y e whole hart be ful the whole mind ful the whole soule ful yea whole man ful of this ioie yet shal there remaine ioie for al that which is incomprehensible So then that whole ioie shal not enter into the reioicers but al the reioicers shal enter into the ioie of their maister Speake Lord tel thy seruant secretlie in mine hart if this be the ioie whereinto thy seruants shal enter who shal enter into their maisters ioie But surelie that ioie wherewith thine elect shal reioice neither eie hath seene nor eare hath heard nor entred euer into the hart of man Then Lord I haue not yet conceaued in minde much lesse vttered by words how greatlie thine elect shal reioice Vndoubtedlie they shal so greatlie reioice as they shal loue they shal so entirelie loue as they shal know thee ô Lord. And how entirelie shal they loue thee surelie neither mans eie hath seene nor his eare hard nor came it euer into his heart in this world how perfectlie they shal both knowe thee loue thee in the world to come O my God I beseech thee grant that I may knowe thee loue thee and reioice in thee And although I cannot so thoroughlie do so in this life as I should yet giue me grace to profit from daie to daie vntil I come vnto perfection Let thy knowledge so growe vp within me heere y t it may be found ripe there and thy loue so encrease within me heere that it may be perfect there that my ioie may be great heere in hope and in deedeful there O iust God my humble sute is that I may haue the thing which thou promisest euen that my ioie may be ful In the meane space let my mind meditate therof my tong speake therof mine hart long for it my speech reason thereof my soule hunger for the same Let my flesh thirst therefore and al my substance desire it euen vntil I enter into the ioie of my maister there to abide for euer and euer Amen FINIS ¶ THE SVMME OF EVERIE CHAPTER CONTAINED IN THIS BOOKE ACCORding as the titles doe import with the iust number of the page where euerie particular chapter is to be found 1 OF the woonderful essence or being which God hath pag. 1. 2 Of God his vnspeakeable knowledge pag. 4. 3 The desire of that soule which hath à feeling of God pag. 7. 4 The miserable state of that soule which neither loueth our Lord Sauior Christ nor seketh after him pa. 11. 5 A verie Christian desire of the soule after God pag. 14. 6 The happines of that soule which is deliuered out of the earthlie prison of the bodie pag. 17. 7 The blessed ioie of the heauenlie Paradise pag. 20. 8 The glorious condition of the kingdome of Heauen pag. 22. 9 How GOD after much trouble doth comfort the pensiue soule pag. 25. 10 A praier for grace to loue God pag. 27. 11 A praier for grace both dulie to thanke God for our redemption worthilie to approch vnto