inward peace fortifyer against all contradictions This ought to stir us up to humilitie in thoughts by esteeming our selvs full of imperfections wants to stand in need of great helps of Grace in word not discoursing on those perfections which it pleases God to work in by us in Action while we bend our selvs willingly to the performance of any Dutie our Calling may require of us though it may seem to others contemptible vile And to seek no preferment either in dignitie or esteem of others but with a true indifferency of spirit with all persons at all times contentedly to abide in or chang what ever condition fals to thy lott or is appointed Thee And because Austeritie which cōsists in fasting watching wearing course garments suck like mortifications of our sensuall appetite much conduce to the gayning this inward humilitie of spirit That also must be willingly embraced by a solitarie soul whose aimes are to be truly perfect for what society is there between a Compliance with our inordinate concupiscences a separation from worldly conversation cares What is the disposition of thy heart Philothea towards these Eminent vertues Doest thou find a sweetness quietness of spirit when humiliations befal thee Art thou willing to undergoe such Mortifications as thy state requires of thee without tediousness repining thoughts AFFECTION I abhorr yee O fatall Enemies of Perfectiō Pride that cast the Angells down from heaven made them Devils Selfelove which expelled our first parents forth of Paradice made thē Vesfels of Gods wrath Wilt thou My Soul defile thy selfe with those black crimes so abhominable to God Oh rather let me be trampled on as a worm of the Earth undergoe whatsoever Crosses Mortifications then hazard the losse of my friendship with God the joys he hath prepared for those that love him with an humble mortifyed spirit For blessed be the poore in spirit because there 's is the Kingdom of Heaven RESOLUTION I will henceforth humble my selfe under the powerfull hand of God neither in thought word or deed preferring my selfe to any Creature or desiring any value or esteem from them for I Know that God resists the proud of heart gives Grace to the humble And I will accustome my selfe to those austerities which my Vocation requires of me contēting my selfe with such diet cloaths rest as may suffice to the support of Nature for if we mortify our earthlie Members we shall be children of our heavenlie Father SECOND POINT Patience Obedience CONSIDERATION COnsider That Patience being usefull to all Christians is singularly necessary to the solitarie Soul especially if the Solitude be religious permanent It is an easie matter out of a bravery of spirit to undergoe some notable tribulation abandon worldly satisfactions for a while but to remain constant in that Resolutiō this is the speciall work of the Holie Ghost can never be fully accomplisht without a singular profound Patience It is necessary also for the practise of other Vertues which are confederates companions in our pilgrimage to Solitarie perfection for Patience keeps our spirits in peace what ever befals us bends it to beare or forbeare what the hand of providence appoints to us assembles all Vertues wherby to preserve in us the hopes of heavenly blessings amidst the toyls of this wretched life Therefore JESUS CHRIST tells us that by Patience we shall possesse our Souls Wherfor Philothea make a breife Reflection on the present state of this Vertue in Thee wherin it is defective by what motives it may be advanced to a greater height Canst thou with a patient meek heart converse with every one temper others anger with a mild Answer suffer injuries in words rapin of goods honour without disturbāce with bountie good deeds overcome thy Enemies unjust persecutions endeavour to reconcile them to thee even with losse of thy own right Then maist thou lay some claym to the perfection of Patience reap some fruit from thy Solitarie Entertainments The practise also of a prompt Obedience is very expediēt even in our Retyrement for a few dayes but especially if thy calling be to live permanently in a Communion of Religious persons under the conduct of one whom God hath placed as his Vicegerent over the rest by commands counsells to direct them to their best happyness In such a Communion all good things may not be well done either by all of them or at all times Austeritie for exemple is good yet not to be practised against the express will of our spirituall Guid or Superiour to the ruin of our own health the burthen of others Fast with bread water saith a holie Man weare a haire shirt sleep on the ground discipline the flesh to the bone undergoe the most contemptible offices communicate every daie stand from morning till night in Contemplation of God his attributes I make no account of all this if it goes against Obedience be done in a time place measure unseasonable Endeavour Philothea to purchase in thy selfe this safe guid of holie Obedience Be tractable in thy will goe come ascend descend at the first call of thy Superiour that not for feare but love Captivate thy judgment quitt all Interests of body mind when Obedience commands for the Superiour being in possession of his authoritie our conscience cannot be secure with an oppositiō to his will who watches only our good Submitt thy body also either to undergoe readily such austerities or to take freely such recreation corporall comforts as the Superiour shall judg reasonable for thee although contrary to thy judgment inclination And here make a reflection on thy readiness to comply with Obedience if it be firm fixed as it ought how far defective which way to be repayred AFFECTION It is true My dearest Lord I have through Impatience often torturd my heart with revengfull thoughts lavisht away much of my precious time in disquieting vexing my own spirit violently following my owne judgment passions incurred many a deep remorse of conscience greived those who Thou didst place over me I confesse my errours I acknowledg repent my follies O that I had a sea of tears wherwith to bath my heart wash it from the stains contracted through want of Patience Obedience Come O yee sacred Vertues accompany me in my Pilgrimage that amidst all Adversities under all commands I may secure my Vocation to this holie Retreat confirme my Soul in the hopes of a Communion with the Saints in the blessed glory of My God RESOLUTION I will hence forth seale up my lipps to all angry words purge my mind from passionate thoughts prevent each one with Courtosies promptly comply with the Commands of my Superiours however painfull their Execution be cōsidering God to speak by their lipps assuring my selfe that He proportions
chained to these transitorie things since with them I cannot enjoy God my only comforter Wherefor Consider what creature in the whole world of what ever Excellency or worth can be a fitt object of thy Love Is it the world in generall with all its beauty delights Or is it some select peice thereof Some high dignity aboundance of wealth honorable friends variety of pleasures or some especially amiable Creature Alas Philothea seest thou not that all these things are subject to change unconstant empty goods which once possest soon vanish leaving nothing behind them but a restlessenesse of new desires disquiets of conscience are consequently unable to appease the thirst of our languishing fainting spirit Make then a generous strong Purpose to abandon all Creatures for thy Creatour since he alone can fill thy soul say to God Oh! that I could die to all Creatures that I may live only to Thee thou in Me Having thus stript thy selfe of all outward Creatures Enter into thy selfe make a diligent survay of thy heart search every corner thereof till thou hast discovered what passions of selfe Love private interest lay lurking therein what difficulty thou hast to submit thy judgment to quitt selfe esteem to abandon old freindships familiarities to leave inbred customs to wave thy affection to proper interest What time hath been lost in giving way to inward heats of passions what neglect in curbing ordring thy appetites say with the holy Prophet I will begin from the morningh watch to kill the sinners of the Earth chase them forth of the Citty of my God This Citty of God Philothea is thy own heart thence must thou banish all inordinate desires which are as the little foxes in the Cantiques that destroy the Vineyard of our beloved COLLOQUIE I will goe to my God declare to him the wandrings rowlings of my disorderly spirit whereby deserting him I have followed the footsteps of those who seeking content from Creatures have gone astray from the holy folds of their Creator I see my errour O my God My heart has too long sweated fainted in searching happinesse from things beneath Thee whereby I find my hands still empty my daies to have faded away in Vanity because I sought not my comfort from Thee who alone art All Good able to fill the longings of my thirsty soul Oh that thou wouldst free me from the disorders of my concupiscences knock off those many strong chaines which bind me to the Vanities of this Life Then will I soar up as an Eagle in Contemplation of thy glory fly with the wings of Love feed on Thee SECOND DISCOURSE Spirituall Indifferency BEsides this abstraction of our spirit from all Creatures abroad at home in our own bosom we must endeavour Philothea to be wholly resigned to Gods Will concerning us and willingly to be deprived of all savour sweetnes of his Love towards us so long as He pleaseth as if he had abandoned us leaving us to combat alone with an army of desolatiōs sorrowes To this end we must study to Love God simply purely in for himselfe without any mixture of selfe love therin Having a perfect Indifferency to all his counsels decrees touching us that whither he leads us up Mount Thabor to contemplate the glorious Transfiguration of JESUS CHRIST or to Mount Calvarie there to behold the Ignominy of his Passion we may have a preparation of heart to either may confidently say My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared to run the way of thy Commandements Thou must also Philothea have a readinesse to be deprived of the sensible delights of Gods gracious presence in Thee a willingnesse to be excluded thence till the soul quitting this Mortality arrives happily to the Haven of everlasting blisse O happy indifferency wherein the solitary soul for the pure Love of her heavenly Espous can be contented to want those amorous delightfull embracements where with he uses to entertain his best servants And since thou art thus resign'd to be deprived of these savoury feelings of Gods Love to Thee thou must be further willing to suffer all calamities with thy crucifyed Saviour But alas Philothea this is a heavy tryall nor may all the torments imaginable of the body be compared to this desolatiō of the spirit Desire not therefor to experience it but endeavour to bid even this tribulation welcome when ever it pleases God that it befalls Thee And even at that time be thou as ready to perform all good actions to suffer all contradictions to stick close to thy accustomed Duties during that aridity of thy spirit with as great courage alacrity as if thy soul did then swim with excesse of spirituall comforts This is an Eminent degree of Perfection a mark of inhabiting Grace in Thee although perhaps thou feelest not then the sensible sweetnesse thereof Nor shouldst thou at all complain of Gods hardnesse to Thee in that thy desolate state but rather with affectionate sighs shouldst bewayl the absence of thy Beloved yet caring not to be compassionated or comforted therein but rather desiring so to cōtinue till thy dying day without the least sense of love of thy heavenly Espous in Thee if it so please him COLLOQUIE O happy Indifferency of heart to all earthly heavenly consolations thou alone canst free me from all anxious hopes feares of this Miserable Life leave me wholly fixed in the will of God to be ordred according to his holy pleasure Oh that I could love the My glorious Lord purely for thy own sake not seeking any comfort thence but rather contenting my selfe to be for ever banisht from the feeling of all spirituall sweetnesse exposed to any desolation even then readily complying with the duties belonging to my present calling without bewayling my selfe either for Gods severity towards me or for my own misfortune Then should I voluntarily Sacrifize to Thee confesse to thy Name O God because it is good for thereby I shall be delivered from all tribulation my Eie shall look down upon my Enemies Amen SEVENTH DAYES VOYAGE Tranquillity of Spirit THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Life of the Spirit CONSIDERATION COnsider That having taken A Flight from all things of this world raised our hearts above the spheare of all earthly Creatures present comforts through a desire to rest in God as the only Center scope of all our hopes We must carefully study to establish in our selves a perfect Tranquillity of our Spirit that whatever befall us or whatsoever our obligations be according to our present calling nothing may be able to disturbe its inward peace or shake our divine Resolutions Endeavour therefor Philothea that thy spirit live her own life not according to the flesh wherein she abides or the world that encompasses both but wholly spiritually as the blessed spirits of God now
live in Heaven by contemplating loveing delighting in God what appertains to his their own blessed Life Although our soul confined now to this corruptible body depends theron for action motion in this our sinfull state has ever a naturall inclination to abide with it therefor with pain departs from it yet being she receives not her own life from the body but is Life its selfe gives life action to the body she may live within her selfe having no regard to the inclinations motions of the body This she may soon perceive in her selfe if she treads not the paths of sensuality which lead to earthly contents but those of the spirit which tend to holy divine actions in Imitation of the Angelicall spirits whose workings are to be ever fix't in the Contemplation of God the execution of his commands Imagin therefor That thou kneelest upon some high Mountain before thy Crucifix thence dost behold all earthly Creatures in their severall degrees employments each one busied in the search of happinesse in that they love most that all these thinges suddenly fade away thy selfe fallest also into a trance dyest so dost abide till JESUS descending from his Crosse enters into thee now againe thou livest yet not thou but JESUS CHRIST in Thee Being thus dead to the World only living by the spirit of JESUS how spirituall divine should thy life actions bee AFFECTION How happy woulds't thou be My soul if wholly dead to flesh bloud independent on all earthly creatures thou couldst live the life of an Angell wholly drowned in God relying upon the lights Graces comforts which proceed from him Oh what ioy what happinesse to be dead to this World all the Vanities thereof to live worke only by the enlivening Spirit of JESUS How holy would thy thoughts how heavenly thy desires how enflamed would thy affections then be towards spirituall divine things RESOLUTION I will hence forth lead a spirituall life having my mind still bent upon God his holy Will even in all my ordinary duties endeavouring to lead an Angellical life as if already seperated from this heavy burthen of Mortality without need of earthly supportations And I will be so watchfull over my actions as if I only lived by the Spirit of JESUS had no life or motion but what proceeded from him Then freed from the law of death which abounded in Me through my sinfull passions I shall serve God in the newnesse of my spirit heare what Gods Spirit speaketh to the Church SECOND POINT Mentall Recollection CONSIDERATION COnsider That to improve the soul in her inward Tranquillity she must endeavour to be Recollected within her selfe in all places at all times with all persons amidst whatsoever employments we are by our present state of Life obleiged unto This inward Recollection of the Spirit is easie very delightfull for although the soul be now lodged in the body as her prison the varieties of occasions which run through the cours of this mortall life much solicite her abroad to seek means how to make her prison more tolerable thereby hinders her in the free use of her spirituall faculties distract her thoughts from God heavenly things yet is she not a slave to any passion of the body especially being now healed repaired by JESUS CHRIST therefore she may by means of a mentall retreat into her selfe purchase a continuall Recollection amidst the greatest tumults distractions which may befall her Build up therefor Philothea an Hermitage within thy heart erect an Altar place thereon JESUS CHRIST in the most amiable posture Imaginable whatsoever employment distraction or spirituall distresse presses it selfe upon Thee depart not thence but there lay open thy wants weaknesse confer with him of thy progresse impediments to Perfection harkening carefully what he sayes to Thee if some violent disquiet compells thy thoughts abroad endeavour to re-enter speedily into this thy Hermitage bewaile thy inconstancy renew thy purposes of Mentall Recollection AFFECTION Ah my soul upon how slight occasions has thy thoughts been distracted thy mind lost its frequently resolved Tranquillity in the performance of thy usuall duties How O my God am I so suddenly carryed away with these outward objects employments Surely were I truly Spirituall I should without pain or distraction even in the midst of the Varieties of this life convers with God Oh that thou wouldest build up the ruins of Israël sanctify my heart a tabernacle to thy name then may I seek my beloved within Me receive from him A Kisse of peace RESOLUTION I will not only love the solitude of the body but of the Mind also will build up in my heart a holy Hermitage befitting the presence of my JESUS thither will I stil retyre my selfe ever conferring with him of his loves to me my slownesse of returning love to him discovering all my wants his helps to become perfect in a spirituall Way that I may thereby enjoy the tranquillity of my spirit what ever occasions of Obedience Charity or complyance with my own necessities call me forth this corporall Retirement O Who will give me that I may ever sett by this fountain of living waters in the solitude of my own heart there will I sigh mourn while I think of the heavenly Sion THIRD POINT Union of the Spirit with God CONSIDERATION COnsider That as God only is the supream Good happinesse of the Immortall soul so cannot she experience any true compleat Tranquillity within herselfe unlesse being inwardly united to him she becomes One spirit with him be as it were transformed into a supernaturall Divine BEEING by a reciprocation of Love conformity of Will communication in all those guifts graces spirituall blessings whereby in this her Pilgrimage she may be cloathed with a likenesse to God enjoy that cleerenesse of Understanding alacrity of Will calmnesse of passions universall purity sweetnesse ioy in the whole spirit which God usually imparts only to his most speciall favorites This Deifying Union Philothea of the soul with God will wonderfully work in Thee a cleer knowledge of the emptinesse vanity nakednesse of all Creatures breed in Thee a Loathing towards the best of them cause in thy heart a restlesse Desire to see possesse embrace God in the simplicity purity of his own Essence without mixture of any thing beneath himselfe for his sake thou wilt Stripp thy selfe willingly of all Creatures in ward inclinations of Will Passions welcome whatever calamities miseries may befall Thee For what is there in the whole World which that soul will not readily want doe or suffer to whom God is All-in-all surely in this delicious Union Espousall Transformation by Love the soul must needs experience God a rich
25. § 8. A Method of Meditation p. 28. § 9. Choyce of a Guide p. 34. § 10. Exercises in Solitude p. 39. § 11. Distribution of time p. 42. A Practise of ten Daies Solitude J. Daies Voyage Inducements to Solitude The Morning Exercise 1. Point Dignitie of Solitude p. 49. 2. point Innocency of Solitude p. 53. 3. point Necessitie of Solitude p. 56. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Gods Favours to us p. 60. 2. Discourse Our Returns to God p. 64. II. Daies Voyage Entertaynments in Solitude The Morning Exercise 1. Point Humility Austerity p. 68. 2. point Patience Obedience p. 72. 3. point Charity Perfection p. 76. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Love of Solitary places p. 80. 2. Discourse Exercises in Solitude p. 84. III. Daies Voyage Man in his sinfull State The Morning Exercise 1. Point Vileness of the body by Nature p. 90. 2. point Wretchedness of the Soul by sin p. 94. 3. point Ignorance of our future state p. 98. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Our weakness to Good p. 102. 2. Discourse Our proneness to Evill p. 106. IV. Daies Voyage Man repaired by Iesus Christ The Morning Exercise 1. Point Institution of the Holy Sacrament p. 111. 2. point Fruits of the H. Sacrament p. 116. 3. point Intention in Communion p. 119. An Oblation before Cōmunion p. 122. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Preparation to the Holy Sacrament p. 122. Advises for a generall Confession p. 124. Philotheas Covenant with God p. 125. 2. Discourse Behaviour in receiving the Holy Sacrament p. 126. V. Daies Voyage Mortification of Sensuality The Morning Exercise 1. Point Mortification of the Senses p. 130. 2. point Mortificatiō of the Passions p. 134. 3. point Mortification the property of a Christian p. 136. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Dammages incur'd by Immortification p. 140. 2. Discourse Necessity Use of Mortification p. 144. VI. Daies Voyage Flight of the Soul to God The Morning Exercise 1. Point Flight from Creatures p. 150. 2. point Flight from our selves p. 153. 3. point Flight from spirituall Comforts p. 156. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Vanity of Creatures p. 158. 2. Discourse Spirituall Indifferency p. 161. VII Daies Voyage Tranquillity of Spirit The Morning Exercise 1. Point Life of the Spirit p. 165. 2. point Mentall Recollection p. 168. 3. point Union of the Spirit with God p. 172 The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Loves Tryall p. 176. 2. Discourse Loves Entertainments p. 179. VIII Daies Voyage God Speaking to the Soul The Morning Exercise 1. Point Harken to God p. 184. 2. point God speaks by Visible Creatures p. 188. 3. point God speaks by Man p. 192. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse God speaks by his Son Incarnate p. 197. 2. Discourse God reveals himselfe p. 201. IX Daies Voyage Repose of the Soul in God The Morning Exercise 1. Point The Soul hidden in God p. 204. 2. point Search of God in God p. 208. 3. point The Souls repose in God p. 212. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Loves Ascents p. 216. 2. Discourse Loves Descents p. 219. X. Daies Voyage Highest Christian Perfection The Morning Exercise 1. Point Union with Christ suffring p. 226. 2. point Expropriation of Friends p. 233. 3. point Selfe-Denyall p. 239. The Evening Exercise 1. Discourse Spirituall Desolation p. 244. 2. Discourse Philotheas Choyce p. 248. Meditations upō the Passion for every day of the weeke p. 252. PHILOTHEA INVITED TO BEGIN HER PILGRIMAGE TAke Leave Philothea bid thy Friends depart Let nothing earthly now come neer thy heart Whilst thou retyrest sighing all alone Recounting all the ills which thou hast done This is Gods way to heare his Voyce in Thee And search thy heart in inward privacie Which fil'd with thoughts of heav'n-aspiring joyes And lodg'd in shades exempt from vulgar noise Winged with chast desires sacred vows Upwards doth mount to meet her heav'nly Spous And heare Loves whispers charming up above To fix her self i th' center of her Love From whose Embraces may she not depart But grasp that heav'nly armefull neer her heart No Gemme no hidden treasure like to this 'T is Heav'ns delight alone Mans Crown Bliss O blessed dayes O purely sweet content Whil'st thus in Paradise thy time is spent Oh may such thoughts thy spirit alway move Thus mayst thou ever live to be in love 'T is Heav'n on Earth thus sweetly to discover Heavn'ns joyes on Earth have thy God thy Lover RICH BVLSTRODE Interior Templ Lond Armig. PHILOTHEA'S PILGRIMAGE TO PERFECTION The Preface to PHILOTHEA Contayning Instructions for Solitude §. 1. Excellency of Holy Solitude SInce thou art in good earnest resolved MY PHILOTHEA to begin thy Pilgrimage to Perfection by entring holy Solitude therein for a while to conferr with the beloved of thy soul touching the present future state thereof how thou standest affected to Piety how thou maist better thy selfe in thy progresse towards heaven by cleansing thy heart intirely from those stains blemishes which are incident to corrupt fraile Nature by strengthning it with pious considerations enflamed affections efficacious resolutions to the redeeming of lost time reforming such errours evill inclinations as are insensibly crept into thy soule I cannot more fittly addresse my selfe to thee then with the hearty well-wishes of holy Tobie to his Sonne Walke well God be in thy way his holy Angell accompany Thee Nor may we doubt but that the same Divine Clemency which hath inspired Thee with a will to undertake this Holy Voyage will inable Thee with his blessings make Thee so to prosper profitt thy selfe in the pursuance of this blessed designe that it will be unto the eternall honour of the Divine Majestie an ample increase of Piety spirituall comfort in thy own soule If any employment be heavenly upō Earth doth consequently belong to the duty of a good upright Christian it is the serious practise of retired solitude by which the soule doth unspeakably promote her selfe towards the end of her creation which is to know God to love him above all things created In Solitude we ransack our hearts we discover our secret enemies there lurking in our breasts strongly armed grapple with them expel them prevent their reentrance into our soules By it we dissable ill customes settle our selves to an eager use of means to doe well fitt our minds to all good duties against all crosse events By it we descry our naturall weaknes to vertue obtain redresse prevent temptations cheere up our hearts feeble tyred out with temptatiōs adversities temper our use of creatures gaine more light to our knowledge more heate to our affections more life to our devotions more vigour courage in our callings therby wee become strangers to the earth by a just estimate of earthly things which are transitory vaine enter into a sweet fruition of invisible comforts Wee therein contemplate JESUS CHRIST
permit with any one but with thy sprirituall Directour nor with him of any thing which hath not a streight reference to the work in hand Say rather with yong Samuel Speak thou o Lord for thy Servant heareth Thee By opening the sweetest balsoms loose their odour by too much noys we deprive our selves of hearing what the Holy Spirit would speak in our soule If therefore thou desirest heartyly to heare the speeches of peace which God speaketh to the soule which he hath led into Solitude stop thy Eares to all discourses of others putt â barr to thy own lipps For much speech is not voyd of sin where sin is Gods holy wisedome can make no aboad No noyse was heard whilst Salomons Temple was building a greater then Salomon is here §. 4. Choyce of Place SOlitarinesse of place helpeth much to the observāce of silence requisite Retire from all others if thou wilt discourse profitably with thy selfe Our Blessed Saviour meditates alone on the Mountaine holy Isaac in the feild Saint Iohn Baptist in the desert Though God be in all places as good to us as neer in one as in the other yet is a Cell or Closet the most convenient for this great work where our meditatiōs confined by kown walls keep the mind from wandring abroad wherefore a great Contemplative was wont to say The Spouse of the soule is bashfull cometh not willingly to the Bride in the presence of a multitude Abandon therefore my Philothea all worldly society change it happily into the company of God his blessed Angells Abandon I say all conversatiō with the world not outwardly only but also inwardly least sequestring from the world in outward shew we carry it within us in our owne bosoms I know this counsell is of great perfectiō not easily attained for these thin species of things insinuated into our minds frō outward objects will appeare some times to us in our uery Cells private Closets even against our best endeavours S. Hierome in the deserts had not his thoughts alwayes free from the maskes dāces of the Romā Matrons And truely this inward society is worse then the other For it is more possible for a free Cōtemplative to have a retired mind in the midst of a markett then pestred thus with inward company to be alone in the midst of a wildernesse Make choyce therefore of that place which admitteth fewest occasiōs of withdrawing thy heart frō her own good thoughts In my opinion we cannot expect to find God neerer to us then in that place where we have bin accustomed more familiarly to meet him because our thoughts are by custome more easily recollected where we have used our selves in our former Recollections to converse with him §. 5. Due time for Solitude THe heart now free from noise distractions must be constant in continuing this holy work once begun according to the course prescribed for it Those who meditate by uncertain fits snatches only when other employments forsake them or when good motions are thrust upon them by necessity of example or duty to Constitutions cannot hope in that their state of coldnesse to climbe high upon this ladder of perfection For although they may have some feeble beginnings of spirituall notions gracious Affections in the will yet being the Issue of one fitt of Meditation at random unsettled they are displaced weakned at the first occurrence of a new employmēt Wherefore having chosen a fitt time for the practice of solitude be serious in keeping it yeild to no occasion withdrawing Thee from it The beginning will be hard but use will render it easy delightfull The same constancy which requires Thee to make choyce of a proper time for Recollection requireth also that thou dwellest upon the matter chosen or appointed Thee without change or tediousnesse till it hath attained some joyfull issue of spirituall profitt Otherwise my Philothea thou wilt attempt much effect little through thy owne ficklenesse inconstancy He deceiveth himselfe who thinketh Grace to be easily wonne We must use much suit importunity before Christ will bestow his bread upon us which is of that worth that it may not be bestowed on any fickle petitioner Even we our selves generally speaking sett little by that which is easily gayned without labour perils importunity or resolution Thus much for choyce of time dwelling upon the matter in generall whereof though both of them require an unbroken constancy yet not any perpetuity of either through the whole course of our life Our fraile nature ordinarie Duties would not beare with such a fixed stability It is for glorifyed spirits above to be ever fixed on God issueing flames of Love towards so soveraigne a beauty These poore things under the Moone must have a change variety our vitall spirits which the immortall mind uses for her instruments are of a strange kind of mettall if not used at all they rust if too much break or at least grow dull stupid Truth is the cheife object of our Solitude is so excellent so glorious that like the Sunne look upon it we may but not gaze thereon We have known sad experience of some who venturing too farr hastily have failed weakned thē selves to little fruit Holy thoughts affections are the food of the eternall Mind yet since it works not in this our present state without the fancy her handmaid she must needs flag when fancy her support is tyred out with too permanent intense speculation without variety of object Let it suffice thee Philothea to persever in thy Meditation so long as Gods grace shall inable thee without affectation of perpetuity which is not granted us And when thy spirits begin to blunt leave off without feare of ficklenesse one halfe houre at a time is a competent measure for a weake beginner As God encreaseth thy devotion he will inspire force for longer continuance But by no means passe thy prescribed time without speciall advice otherwise thou maist chāce to spoyle a good enterprize A moderate undertaking with an anguishing conclusion hurt thy selfe Wherefore let me advise Thee not to be too eager in this good work Conserve alwayes a calme peace in thy spirit for since this work depends more on the help of heaven then our naturall industry shouldst thou turmoyle thy Imaginatiō with too earnest disquisitiō in the begining unresigned to the time of heavenly assistance thou wilt unhappily disable thy felfe for further aspirations Man is not alwayes in a like disposition sometimes he is longer in setling through some unquietnesse of fancy or more obstinate distraction sometimes heavier in the perseverance then in the first entry sometimes more nimble active to dispatch How ever thou findest thy selfe in the begining or continuance persist gently thou wilt have victory Other combats are on doubtfull hopes this on assurance for the successe depends on Gods promise which cannot
Master JESUS CHRIST offers him selfe on the Altar of his Crosse to his heavenly Father a Sacrifice of Prayse Impetration Suffrage with the same intention ought we to entertain JESUS in our hearts by thankfulnesse for his manifold favours imploring grace mercy for our selves Spirituall releife for all distressed souls ever mindfull of his bitter Passion that the fruits thereof may be liberally applyed to us we may become suffring members with our Divine Head encreasing in all perfection freedom with God in our Contemplations being entirely transformed into Him on whom our Spirits here feed that we may have no life knowledge affection or motion in us but what proceeds from ends in him AFFECTION Alas my Deerest Lord I have been too carelesse in my adresses to Thee How often have I frequented thy holy Altars with vain weak desires not loving Thee there for Thy selfe but receiving Thee of dull custome or for some present gust in Thee Not solicitous to cherish the good desires conceived by thee or a willingnesse to beare Crosses for thee thus am I become unworthy that thou entrest the house of my soul live there but if thou Say'st the word my Spirit shall be healed RESOLUTION I will hence forth set some speciall time a part wherein to discusse rectifye my intention before I approach to eate of this living bread that God may be glorifyed all Christian souls may reap spirituall profit by the use of this great Mystery will say AN OBLATION BEFORE COMMVNION O Blessed JESUS in union of that love wherewith thou did'st offer thy selfe a Sacrifice to thy Father on the Altar of the Crosse and in conformity to that intention thou then hadst I this day offer up to thee my Communion as a Sacrifice of Praise Impetration Suffrage for my selfe all others to whom I am obleiged by Obedience Iustice or Charitie in that degree I am obleiged which I beseech thee through the merits of thy bitter Passion may be acceptable to Thee Amen THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Preparation to the Holie Sacrament NOne will undertake any great work without carefull preparation of all things necessary for its due performance If we use a cautious providence in all our humane actions ordinary conversation this should rather be observed when we intend to enter the Holie of Holies there feed on the Bread of Angels our powerfull Creator mercifull Redeemer Just Judge The Paschall Lamb was but a dark barren figure of this gracious Sacrifice yet the Jews eat not thereof without much cleanesse circumspection alacrity of Spirit Saint John Baptist esteems not himselfe worthy to unloose CHRISTS shoes Saint Peter to fayle in the same Boat with him the devout Centurion to entertain him under his roofe nor should we presume to appear before him in the Holy Eucharist or there receive him within our breast without great feeling of Love Veneration If JESUS CHRIST be a Mirrour without spot no stain of sin should then be seen in our soul within or undecency in the outward habit of our body if he be there a God of Love Peace to us we may not touch or feed on him unlesse reconciled to Heaven Earth in Imitation of the Primitive Christians who meeting at this great Mystery were of one heart one spirit ADVISES FOR A GENERALL CONFESSION Now therefore My Philothea thy heavenly Espouse having led thee some steps down towards his Cellar of rich Gracious wines there disclosed to Thee part of his spirituall treasures hidden pathes of divine Love to the end thou maist duly prepare thy selfe to eate also of this Bread of life find no impediment in thy progresse to perfection I advise thee to dispose thy selfe towards a Generall Confession in case Thy spirituall Guid iudg that expedient profitable for Thee Although perhaps thou art not conscious of any grevious sin not formerly discovered yet since even of a forgiven sin we may not be without feare we cannot be too solicitous in cleansing our hearts removing all obstacles of divine Lights Graces Wherefor Philothea doe this now once for ever but doe it simply plainly without feare or anxiousness unto a person chosen amongst a thousand by whose advice thou maist be wholly directed for the manner of it how thou art afterwards to behave thy selfe should scruples arise Which ended blesse God for his mercies towards Thee prostrate in spirit before thy Crucifix pronounce the following Covenant PHILOTHEA'S COVENANT WITH GOD. I N. Placed in the presence of Almighty God the whole Court of heaven having considered the aboundant Love wherewith God hath created me sanctifyed me in holy Baptisme sustained me in my manifold sins transgressions at length called me to this state of life wherein I now am preserving me there from many dangers of offending him inspiring sorrow for my failings a desire to love obey him Doe with my whole soul abhor all the sins of my life past renew my promises to be his loyall obedient servant doe firmely purpose all the dayes of my life to shun all dangers of sin to apply my selfe to the observance of his holie Commandments my own Resolutions And if at any time I break this my Covenant I will as soon as I perceive my errour returne again to God by a hearty repentance confession of all my sins ingratitude Accept O my God this my Protestation made before Thee grant me grace to observe it to the end of my life that I may alwaies abide in thy holy feare die in thy sweet peace with ioy at the last day arise to a blessed Communion of the Saints in thy never ending glory Amen SECOND DISCOURSE Behaviour in receiving the Holie Sacrament BEing thus prepared to entertain JESVS CHRIST in thy heart our endeavours must be by amorous sighs aspirations full of ioy for the approach of our blessed Lord to expresse the longing desire we have of his coming into us The happy Issue of an Important affaire or purchase of some speciall temporall blessings usually takes up the best thoughts most serious wishes of earthlie minds But if our minds be heavenly we will ever think on thirst after this delicious visit of our Divine Espouse Anciently Christians frequented often this heavenlie banquet thence gayned that Sanctity fervour we admire in the Martyrs Hermits holie Virgins of that Age Though worldly ties the manifold distractions whereto our mortality is subject permits not daily Cōmunion yet could we dayly eate this divine Bread our hearts would be accustomed to pious affections strengthned against occurring temptations weaned from those sensuall liberties we now so unwillingly abandon That morning thou intendest Philothea to receive the holie Eucharist think how earnestlie JESUS CHRIST longeth to take up his lodging within thee therefor he sends his
them And by what means thou canst best moderate thy affections in the presence of sensuall allurements or when violently transported with them towards some beloved Object most deare to Thee COLLOQUIE Oh! who will give Me water to my head a fountain of teares to my Eies I will night day bewaile the disorders of my corrupted sensualitie the tumults of my unbridled passions the follies of my youth Ah! my God thou hast commanded it I find it by woefull experience to be true That my inordinate mind is become a punishment to its selfe those Vanities wherein I have endeavored to glutt my heart powre forth my spirit has rendred me burthensome to my selfe But thou art iust O God hast mett with me in my own wayes payd me in my own coyne punishing me in that wherein I sought my sollace content happinesse Oh! that thou wouldst streach forth thy hand touch my heart my wicked waies shall become streight even command O God these tempests storms of my Passions to cease there shall be a calme in my spirit my flesh shall hope to see my God my Salvation SECOND DISCOURSE Necessity use of Mortification AS the Apostate Angells lost their glorious seats in Heaven through an inordinate complacence in their own perfections our first Parents theirs in the Earthly Paradice by complying with their immoderate concupiscence so we must repayre the ruines of the One recover the happinesse of the other by chastising our sensualitie moderating its irregular sinfull desires which we shall easily experience to be the surest means of attaining to perfection if we consider that no true Vertue can be practis'd or preserved without this Mortification that by it we purchase what ever happinesse a Christian may experience in this life or hope for hereafter Holy Gospell tells us That we cannot be CHRISTS Disciples worthy of his love here or his blessed society in heaven unlesse we take up his Crosse dispise all motions of sensualitie crucify our flesh with its vices concupiscences and therefor if any danger arise of prevaricating Gods Law or our own Vowes we are oblidged under the heavy penalty of incurring Gods wrath loosing our right to his Glory to suppresse the rebellious desires of our passions As being the fomenters rootes of all sin disorders in us wherefor the Holy Apostle Whence doe warrs strifes arise in us but from the concupiscences which war in our fleshly members These therfor must necessarily My Philothea be well guarded ordred in thee if thou desire that Gods Spirit abide in thee speak the language of peace to thy heart lead thee through the easy even paths of his Love to the Perfection thou aimest at This Mortification of senfes passions brings also with it a sweet repose quiet of conscience For being freed from inward commotions of sensuall affections not moved by outward allurements there will be a pleasant harmony between sense Reason Grace under the supream government of a blessed God a resignation to all Varieties of this life a willingnesse to accept of what ever condition may befall us a promptnesse to all actions of piety selfe-contempt mortification By this means Philothea thou wilt enjoy a perfect tranquillity of spirit in order to God to whose will thou wilt promptly submitt without repining at those adversities which through his sweet providence are permitted to befall thee In order to Thy selfe being freed from the disquietts of a troubled Mind whereas they who give themselves over to the satisfying their unmortifyed appetites returning to themselves by reflexion on their folly find their hearts overcharged with remorse terrours of their own guilt wherby they become unsupportable to themselves lastly thou wilt enjoy a most entire content in order to thy Neighbour whose passions or malice will not be able to shake thy Resolutions or disturbe thy inward tranquillity of spirit now arrived to a high pitch of Insensibilitie to all things of this life Moreover by This Mortification is purchased an assurance of future happinesse The ioyes of heaven Philothea have many great Excellencies prerogatives they abound with peace plenty which must be purchased by poverty of spirit they afford a perfect rest to be gayned by great Labour they bring with them a solid permanent Comfort to be obtayned with much sorrow patience they abide for an endlesse Eternity which must be procured by an entire Mortification of our senses passions a killing of those that would work Iniquity in Gods Holy Citty This is the way Philothea which all the Saints have walked before us it is the advise of Our heavenly Lord that we take up our Crosse follow him For what proportion can there be between a Member flowing with sensuall delights a Head crowned with Thornes Call thy selfe therefor to a strict account consider what progresse thou hast made in this way to Paradice purpose seriously to practise this retyrednesse of thy senses passions from the disorders of sensuall pleasures vanities of this World unto the blessed content of the Inward Man COLLOQUIE Ah my God! I have been sick sorely wounded with the arrowes of my carnall desires the manifold charms of creatures still I lay fettred in the chains of my inordinate affections yet am unwilling to be healed of my distempers or freed from my beloved captivity How oft have I sayd to my soul arise from thy drowsinesse shake of thy shackles make hast to thy healing saving Samaritan And yet I have still lingred loath to break off with my ancient passions to abandon my accustomed follies Oh! that Thou my God wouldst break in peices these chains of my passionate desires heale my wounds deliver me from the prison of my sensuall affections then shall I with ioy abide amidst the temptations allurements of this wretched Mortality tast how sweet it is to adhere to God shall hope to be filled with the torrent of heavenly pleasure the plenty of his Holy House Amen SIXT DAYES VOYAGE Flight of the heart to God THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Flight from Creatures CONSIDERATION COnsider That having now allayed the heats of inward passions by a voluntarie restraint of the senses from outward objects readinesse to embrace mortifications The solitarie soul must withdraw herselfe from all Creatures whatsoever that the wings of the heart be not entangled by them we hindred in our Flight to God We must then have a simple Aversion from Creatures a quiet Conversion of the Heart into its selfe in which God abides teaches governs since nothing beneath God can satisfy the languishing of the soul no wonder she turns her selfe from Creatures enters into her selfe there seeks what may be mett with unto her more cordiall satisfaction See therefor Philothea what beloved
up to this Great glorious God speaking to Thee by simple or unmixt bodyes such as are the Elements heavens behold how the Earth hangs ballanced in the midst of the World by its own weight enriched within with mines of Gold precious stones seeds of all sorts without garnished with flowers fruits many kinds of living creatures how the Water cleaves sphearally to the Earth runs through about it in Seas Rivers Springs of different Vertues How the Aire is perspicuous dissolves into showres to moisten the Earth abounds with all sorts of birds for our profit pleasure How Fire has its light heat flames how Heaven is adorned with stars moves without cease by its influences conserves things beneath in their Being due temper Then ascend to Mixt Bodyes voyd of life contemplate the Variety Vertues of sulphurs mettals stones gummes consider then the perfection multitude of Vegitable creatures as seeds plants herbs leaves blossoms flowers fruits Lastly take a View of Sensible Creatures voyd of Reason such as be the severall sorts of Beasts of the Earth fish in the sea fowles of the Aire God speaks to us Philothea by all these Visible creatures their Being growth properties declare his Power whereby they are created their Order Varietie number discovers his Wisdom their usefulnesse both to preserve our bodyes raise up our souls speaks his admirable Love Bounty to us AFFECTION How full is the World of the Majesty Glory of God! how carelesse hast thou been my soul in these Visible things to admire the Invisible Power Wisdom Bounty of the Maker Governour Lord of All Thy own kingdom above O God where all obey thy Will is surely very glorious since Thou hast furnished this our earthly habitation for sinners those who rebell agaynst thy holy Commandements with such Excellent admirable Creatures Who would not in all these love adore the God of all Let the Heavens speak forth thy Glory the firmament thy wonders for thou art Great Wonderfull thy Wisdom is without End RESOLUTION I will attentively read over the Book of Creatures that I may therein learn how full of Majesty Wisdom Goodnesse God is who has communicated such Perfection Order profitablenesse to Visible Creatures I will admire Him in All using them as steps wherby to clime up to him therefor I will be carefull not to abuse them contrary to the End God has ordained placing my felicity in his helps to it least hereafter they become my chastisers whē all Creatures shall fight Gods war agaynst Sinners How wonderfull are thy works O Lord Thou hast created all things in Wisdom Thou hast rejoyced me in them I will delight in the works of thy hands THIRD POINT God speaks by Man CONSIDERATION COnsider That all Creatures beneath Man are only the Footsteps of God representing some one or other perfection of that infinite Abysse but Man himselfe is the true Image Likenesse of God As a Little world he contayneth within himselfe the Excellencies dispersed through the Greater expresseth in some degree those in God the Fountain Authour of both therefor in the beginning of the Creatiō he is establish't Soveraign Lord of all the earth with its ornaments is his pavement meadows and garden Waters his baths fishponds Vallies his cellars storehouses Hills his Walls pillars Heaven the roofe that covers all the stars are the windowes wherby he has a glimpse of Gods glory which shines upon him enlightens the world discovers the beauty of this our earthly habitation Looke over the whole fabrik of Man behold Philothea how the Immortall mind is linked to mortall flesh In the body what comelinesse of limmes proportion of Members variety order use of senses without Entrails within what aptnesse of organs for life action motion what capacity of the spiritualizing Endowments of Agility Clarity Impassibility Subtility wherby it putts on the very likenesse of the glorifyed Angells In the Soul how Excellent the prerogatives of being an Immortall Invisible spirit The memory how vast for objects time circumstances of both the Understanding how active boundlesse reaching as high as God above diving into the Abysse of Nothing The Will how free to good evill What variety of subordinate powers passions operations What capacity of sciences Arts Vertues Morall Divine also of the Sight eternall Possession of God in himselfe All which with a loud voice speak how glorious God is in his own Being happinesse how wonderfull his providence is in our creation conduct to our supreme End should stirr us up to a serious attention admiration love of him strongly engage us to apply all these outward inward Guifts according to the intent of our Wise Creatour And although Mans disobedience to God wrought sin darknesse in his soul wherby she became unable to contemplate or move towards him yet being repayred by the Mercies of JESUS CHRIST the Light of our spirituall World we are agayn establisht in a spirituall Life capacity to supernaturall gracious actions By divine Faith we see heare what God reveales of himselfe the way that leads towards him by Hope we Savour the sweetnesse of Heaven Vertue by Charity we have a foretast of the ioyes of the Saints already touch embrace God with the armes of an Extaticall love begin to sing Salomons Song of Songs which by the sensible pleasantnesse of creatures abroad leads the now Purged Illuminated Perfect soul to an intellectuall Light Harmony Odour Savour Embracement of her heavenly Espous Who seated in the midst of the heart as on an Imperiall Throne environed with a Mysticall Quire of Angelicall Spirits Seraphins by Love Cherubins by knowledge Throns by Justice Mercy Dominations by Majesty Principalities by Government Powers by Salvatiō Vertues by helping Graces Archangels by speciall revelations Angels by continuall presence to us by himselfe inspires a divine life directs the powers passions of the soul inclines to heavenly thoughts actions by his Holy Spirit sent into all parts of this our lesser World produces those wonderfull workings of Love feelings of Gods Intimacy to us tranquillity of the whole Man We experience in our Pilgrimage to perfection performance of the duties thereof wherby we become Images of the heavenly Hierusalem where God lives eternally in his glorious Saints AFFECTION Thou wert within Mee O most amiable God I have sought Thee abroad defiled my heart by Cleaving to these outward Beauties whilst Thou O Soveraign Beauty of all Creatures abidest in the sanctifyed soul as in thy proper kingdom What hopes may I have to contemplate thy glorious face who livest in an unaccessible light or to approach unto thy presence who art an ever flaming
fire since I am ignorant of thy wonders wrought in my own Spirit so nigh intimate to Me I have too late considered thee O Ancient beauty shining in all creatures I have too slowly given Eare to Thee who speakest to me by all creatures by thy Guifts dost incessantly call upon Me to admire love Thee the Giver of all Thou hast engraven the light of thy face upon Me O Lord thereby given gladnesse in my heart RESOLUTION I will hence forth preserve Gods sacred Image by him self Imprinted in my soul frō being soyled or blasted by sinfull affections that therin as in a cleer Myrrour I may contemplate his Majesty beauty amiablenesse admire him in all the perfections of my body mind order all the powers endowments of both to the execution of his Will aspire to an endlesse conjunction with that divine Exemplar wherby so many rich beautifull Coppies have been drawn Therefor all thy Works in me shall confesse unto thee they shall tell the glory of thy kingdom shall speak the greatnesse of thy power THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE God speaks by his Son Incarnate GOd formerly spoke to Man by his Prophets in figures riddles now in his own Son by whom as God he in the beginning made all things now as Visible in our Mortall flesh discovers the breadth length height depth of all divine Mysteries of grace glory that we may comprehend with all the Saints his exceeding great Love towards us may be replenished with the fulnesse thereof If God descends to us taking our Nature we should by contemplation of the Incarnate Word ascend to God drown our selves in the Sea of his Essence therefor JESUS CHRIST by his gracious Doctrine and efficacious examples is the Way we must walke in our Pilgrimage to heavenly Perfection his sacred life Crosse was the book of all the Saints unlesse we bath our hearts in the bleeding wounds of this Lamb slayn for our sins we may have no part in the Tree of Life planted in the paradice of God This Union of God Man in One Person shows gods Infinite Power Mans Redemption through CHRISTS sorrows suffrings speak him an Abysse of Wisedom the Guift of his only Son in our Weak nature to dignify save sanctify it declares his Wonderfull Bounty Thus Philothea we have accesse to the Divinity of God by the Humanity of JESUS CHRIST in whom he has reveal'd the treasures of all divine knowledg Love Now therefor clime up Mount Calvary there contemplate this Man of sorrows fastned to the Tree of shame See who 't is that suffers The Creator of all things the Saviour of Men Angels the Rewarder of all good evill deeds What his condition Gods only Son an Innocent Man one that loves us dearly To what end to free us from the tyranny of satan to sanctify our sinfull hearts to restore us to our lost seats in Gods glorious kingdō What were his torments Much sorrow in the Garden many stripes in Hierusalem a shamefull death upon the Crosse And what profit thence Therby is declared the detestablenesse of sin expiated by this bloudy sacrifice the dreadfulnesse of hell fire extinguisht by that precious bloud the obstinacy of sinners still crucifying in them selves the son of God by their ungratitude the Amiablenesse of Vertue recommended to us with so many sighs teares drops of bloud the Ioyes of Heaven recover'd at so deer a rate our Duty to God through Mercy giving his only Son to us through Justice sacrifyzing that Son for us through Wisdom exalting him from the Crosse to an equallity of glory att his Right hand where we shall hereafter find him if we now follow him COLLOQUIE Thy words are living full of force O Lord more peircing then a two edged sword Oh that thou wouldst awake my slumbring soul deep wound my spirit with admiration of thy boundlesse Love in the humble Incarnation gracious Doctrine moving Examples bitter passion of thy beloved Son My habitation rest shall henceforth be in thy sacred Wounds O Saviour of the World by them I will find entrance to thy bowells of Mercy there discover the overflowings of thy Love-swelling heart towards sinners thy hidden Divinity for by these we have plentifull redemption strong helpes fulnesse of hopes Oh stretch forth thy arms once streached on the Crosse for me embrace my soul languishing to be with Thee Then will I live dy in thy wounded heart by that Gate enter into the citty of my God find whom my soul loveth SECOND DISCOURSE God reveales himselfe HAving now passed by all Creatures who are the Guards of our Earthly Citty in the search of thy Beloved clime up Philothea the mountain of Visions approach Gods Flaming Bush of reuealed Mysteries harken what he there speakes to Thee of the Majesty of his own Essence the Beauty of his heavenly Kingdom the Glory of his blessed Attendants wherby to enflame thy amorous heart with new desires of Communion in happinesse with the already glorifyed Saints Angels Divine Scripture as Gods book discovers those Excellencies of God which reason reaches not he only inspires who invites the humble to ascend higher Hence as from the fountain of Paradice stream forth four sacred delicious Rivers not to be waded through without Divine Helps History describes Gods Wonders to his chosē people wherby to draw their hearts sweetly from things of this world Allegories teach what we must beleive of God Tropes inform us of what must be done or omitted in order to the joyes of Heaven but the pleasant streames of Anagogies which are greatest deepest doe wonderfull enlighten heat raise our spirits up towards God there fix our thoughts loves where our hopes are already placed This Mysticall river empties it selfe in the vast Sea of the Divinity where God One in Essence Three in Persons within himselfe Infinite in Being Happinesse all perfections receives no addition of Good from our best Endeavours nor any detriment by overflowing to us communicating his greatest Guifts amongst us He without change or labour knows produces governs all things in all times places leading each by their speciall wayes to their last Ends. In his glorious Kingdom he is environed with many millions of immortall blessed Spirits who divided into nine Quires make up the Heavenly Hierarchy of Saints Angels happy in the Vision possessiō of God are distinguished by their proper Excellencies of nature grace glory wherin there is no temptation sin or misery feared nor fulnesse of happinesse joy or peace wanting to them all enjoying God in him possessing what soever may compleat the delightfulnesse of that glorious blessed state which Neither Eie has seen nor tongue can rehearse nor can the heart of Man conceive COLLOQUIE Oh how