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
PHILOTHEAS PILGRIMAGE TO PERFECTION DESCRIBED IN A PRACTISE OF TEN DAYES SOLITUDE By Brother John of the Holy Crosse Frier Minour IHS BRUGES Printed by Luke Kerchove 1668. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND MOST VERTVOVS LADY The Countesse Dowager of Sussex MADAM Divine things become Generous Noble Spirits who being the more refined Images of God above the Vulgar have by their noble descent à larger Capacity to great Matters by their most carefull Education à cleerer Aptness to sublime thoughts actions Your Honour hath by the Excellent Conduct of your Life givē the world so ample à proofe of your Eminent Perfections befitting the Greatness of your Name that None may reflect thereon but must admire both the fortunate disposition of your originall Inclinations to piety the free blessings of a Gracious Providence religiously managed by your own Vertuous care Industry For besides the Rare guifts of Nature Fortune which welcomed you into this Light wherein few of our Nation exceed your Excelling Happiness Your Honours laborious discovery of truth in our Holy Church from which your first yeeres growing Honour were extremely averse your zealous Love towards comfortable Solitude complyance with Christian Duties since your being engrafted on the sacred stock of our ever-flourishing Christianity wherein You are become Imitable by few of your Noble Birth Qualities discovers that swift penetration of your Judgment that solidness of Vertue in your heart which truly speak you Noble Religious Although this small handfull of advises helps to solitary Perfection gleaned up by many yeeres serious Meditation in sweet Retirement may already find a plenteous harvest in your own bosom yet will I presume through your Honours Encouragement to lay thē at the feet of your Excellent Vertues that under the protection of your Honours Favorable acceptance strengthned by the greatness of your Name perfections My Philothea may become conspicuous to he world doe that great work abroad which is therein designed by MADAM YOUR HONOURS Most devoted Servant BRO. JOHN CROSSE TO THE READER CHRISTIAN READER It is no new thing to measure a friends Kindness by our own profits value that most by which we reap greatest fruit I could wish this principle as well observed in the ordring our Spirits towards God Vertue as in using the good things of this Life in order to worldly conversation I might then hope this small Treatise would find as kind à welcom from all well-willers to piety as the worth of the subject may deserve That whereof it treats is Divine my whole aymes are to render the lover of solitude Divine bringing her home to God whence she strayed by sin that moderating passiōs planting Vertues she may be cordially United to her Divine Espous The Author of all perfectiō finisher of our best hopes by obedience to his will now after by an endless communion with him in Heaven As the state of Holy Religion so its design is to render its Professours Lovers of Solitude therefor all duties there by reason of those Divine thoughts first conceived still conserved in those Divine Souls aime to fix on God by conferring with him of Heaven their home Vertue the way thither Spirituall Retreats therefor are not intended for them whose whole life is à solitude But for such whose conversation with creatures exposes to manifold distractions apt to slacken Christian Zeale since nature is too prone to cleave to the perishing things of this life These therefor should oft renew their Vows of Christianity endeavour to repaire their tyred out spirits by stronger purposes of piety which are best made in a retreat from their Usuall Employments How ever even Religious persons particularly whose Obedience partakes more of the Solicitudes of Martha then Maries Solitude should sometimes observe a more then ordinary Retirement that reflecting on the Holyness of their Vocation the duties thereof they may repaire what 's decayed of their first fervour secure their claym to heaven aimed at by their Divine Choyce And indeed this great work is to all of that high concernment that what ever account some loose spirits may make of it it will one day extremely justify the Children of Light crown their Hopes In My Preface to PHILOTHEA an heaven-aspiring Soul whose conduct in her Pilgrimage to God is here intended I have at large discoursed on the Dignitie Profit Aimes Use of spirituall Retreats wherefor I need not further dilate my selfe on that subject My Wishes are it 's practise may make Thee all truly happy Farwell APPROBATIONS LIbrum hunc Anglicè conscriptū à V. Adm. P. Fr. Joanne à S. Cruce S. Th. Lect. ac Conventus Fr Minor Anglo-Duacen Vicario cui titulus Philothea's Pilgrimage to Perfection c. diligenter perlegi nihilque in eo deprehendi fidei vel bonis moribus contrarium sed omnia devotionem spirantia quae perigrinantes ad Beatitudinem Animas in Itinere promovere poterunt In cujus rei fidem subscripsi Kalend Septembr Anno 1664. GEORGIUS LEYBURNUS Sacr. Theol. Doct. Coll. Anglo-Duacen Praeses MANDATUM ORDINIS COmmendetur praelo Tractatus V. Adm. F. Ioannis à S. Cruce Confessarii Monialium nostrarum Brugensium c. De Recessu Spirituali Actum Londini in Congregatione Intermedia 15. Nov. 1666. Erat subscriptum Fr. THOMAS à S. ANNA Secret Prov. Notar. Ap. Locus ✚ Sigilli I Underwritten have diligently read over Philothea's Pilgrimage to Perfection c. composed by the Rev. Father Bro Iohn of the Holy Crosse Reader of Divinity c. wherein holy Solitude is highly cōmended the prerogatives motives effects thereof are declared Instructions means for attaining it with the duties of a solitary Soul are prescribed by which at lēgth he cōducts her to the highest Pitch of Solitude contemplation Union with God possible in this life in whom he leaves her firmly fixed by a perfect Resignation Humility Abnegation consequently perfect in a Solitary way Seeing therefor that this Treatise tends to the instruction consolation of such Souls to the advancement of that happy End more over containeth nothing cōtrary to the Canons of the Church I judge that it may happily see light Given in our English Convent of Frier Minours in Doway this 3. of May 1668. BRO. BERNARD ELSTON Ord. FF Min. S. Th. Doctor APPROBATIO ORDINARII LIber hic Anglicè conscriptus à Patribus Ordinis examinatus de licentiâ ordinarii poterit imprimi Actum hâc 8. Maii 1668. N. GERSEKEN Archid. Brug Libr. Censor THE TABLE of CONTENTS THe Preface to Philothea containing Instructions for Solitude § 1. Excellency of Holy Solitude Pag. 1. § 2. Preparation for Solitude p. 6. § 3. Abstraction from usuall Cares p. 9. § 4. Choyce of Place p. 12. § 5. Due time of Solitude p. 14. § 6. Posture of body p. 24. § 7 Subject of Solitary thoughts p.
a sweet tranquillitie in our spirits a readiness to Christian Duties to lead for a time the life of an Angell AFFECTION Oh Innocent Solitude how happens it that I have been so long a stranger to Thee Alas by conversing with worldly Creatures I have too long wearyed my selfe in vain sullied the bright garment of my baptismall puritie ocntracted a multitude of evill inclinations which now press heavelie upon my conscience O how deplorable is the condition of wretched worldlings who busyed on creatures are exposed to infinite dangers of sin scarce ever think of coming forth of them even for a season to promote their happiness for ever I blesse Thee my bountifull Lord that thou hast inspired me to abandon them now to consider love Innocent Solitude Oh Innocent Solitude My soul hath thristed after Thee as a Hart after the fountain of living waters I will not rest night or day till I enter into the joys of my Lord. RESOLUTION I will hereafter embrace all occasions of Retiremēt from amongst Creatures preferring the Innocent entertaynmēts of Solitude to all other earthly conditions that I may therby purchase a pure quiet spirit being out of the reach of the allurements of sensible transitorie things may with the greater freedome study the will of my divine Master become neerer to him by Innocency of heart tranquillitie of passions a readiness to all heavenly divine actions THIRD POINT Necessity of Solitude CONSIDERATION COnsider that a Voluntarie withdrawing thy selfe from thy usuall cōmerce with Creatures for a time is highlie necessarie In order to that dutie thou owest to God He being the supreame End of our whole selvs actions this our mortall Pilgrimage being exposed to manifold distractions some time must needs be sett a part for a more serious reflection on that our blessed End the usefullest means wherby to attain to it that therby we may renew in us the knowledg of our Christian speciall Duties to God encrease in us a willingnesse to comply with them This cannot be done more substantially then in our Retyrement where our Minds freed from the tumults of ourward cares are aptest to receive more cleare lights from heaven stronger flames of love to spirituall eternall good things Also in order to that state of life wherin we already are or by Gods providence may one day be for by means of that state God intends to bring Thee home to himselfe in our Retyrement we may learne what love we owe to that our state of life as the only way by which God means to lead us to the possession of life everlasting that therfor we must beare with the frailties of those weak mortalls with whom we therein live labour joyntly to gain heaven the Imperfections of some few not at all derogating from the sanctitie of that state in its selfe if we love it that wil ever appeare in our Obedience to the Laws Customes therin required in the execution of their commands whom God hath placed over us must be accountable for us Likewise in regard of our selus That by help of this our Solitude we may understand how our hearts stand affected to good evill in what dangers of sin we now are or by ill habits or conversation may be what rules of pietie may best help to settle us in the constāt practise of Vertue That discovering our faults wants we may the more readily give eare to the inward Calls of our heavenly Espouse suspect all motions of our own wills strengthen decayed fervour by strōger Resolutiōs that nothing may stop us in our Pilgrimage to that comfortable Perfection which Crowns all What are thy intentions Philothea hast thou a reall desire to learn the art of well-living to follow Gods call to honour thy present state of life to make a discovery of thy faylings work with those lights graces God bestows on thee for that end AFFECTION O how vile is Earth when I lift up my Eies to Heaven O Ancient O Eternall Beautie why am I so long ignorant of Thee Thou hast mercifully drawn me forth the tabernacles of sinners inspired me to follow Thee in the companie of those who seek thy face alwaies walk the way that leads to Thee O true light O onlie life of my soul say thou unto me I am thy Salvation strong helper I shall be able to keep my Covenant made with thee reforming all disorders of my life past in all things seeking a conformitie to thy will RESOLUTION Farwell all yee vain seducing Creatures sith my God has made me for him selfe my heart shall be restless till it rests in him I will therefore henceforth place all my happiness in studying to know obey my spirituall Lord Master in loving complying with the duties of my present state as he hath commanded me in having a strickt guard over all my thoughts words actions at all times in all places with all persons that they may be agreeable to his holie will Make me Thou O my God to know my End that I may also know what is wanting to me THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Gods Favours to us THer 's none but loves what is good therefor should love that most which is best when a Prince opens his Treasurie proclaimes a largess every one is ready to run reach forth his hand open his bosome to receive part of his bountie covets what he values most Philothea we should be ever like our selus Our divine Espouse inviting us to a spirituall conference in holie Solitude with him offers many rich presents to us lights of revealed truths to shew the secret paths that lead to him helps of grace to support encourage us that we may walk steadilie in them not faint before we come to our journeys end harken then to his divine call lay all things else aside run to him streach forth thy hand open thy heart to entertain those precious guifts he is so desirous to bestow on thee Every guift grows according to the proportion of miserie from which it frees us the hapiness that it brings with it the greater our crimes the heavier our chains the more noysome the dungeon wherin we lay the greater also would be our pardon freedom ransom thence but if we be moreover raised to the highest friendship tranquillitie of spirit libertie of mind desirable no guift can be greater then that Thus t' is with thee My Philothea in thy holie Retyrement Worldly Conversation is full of dangers of sin admitts of few helps to pietie causeth great tepiditie remissness in Christian Duties being either without God or working contrary to his Commandements but in our heavenlie solitude there be ever great calms of passions strong helps of pietie an earnest zeale of Gods honour our own duties to him our
in his Passion to redeeme Man from the tyranny of sin satan What greater argument of Love could God give to Miserable Man then this then when the Jews sought to destroy him all mankind had abandond him even then to bestow on us not fading honours riches or pleasures but himselfe who is the Maker of the whole world that as a Ransom to discharge us from our Captivity as a Physitian to cure our Spirituall diseases as a Father to protect us as an Espouse to comfort us as the Earnest of his eternall glory what greater bounty then this If the Jews with so great Reverence assisted at offred up their Sacrifices of beasts surely We should with far greater Veneration piety approach to our Altars whereon the living God in our Nature is offred up a Propitiatiō for the sins of the World a Reconciliation between God Man a Source of all blessings of grace glory No sooner does the Priest pronounce those words whereby that Mystery is wrought but the substance of the bread wine is changed into the body bloud of JESUS CHRIST the sensible elements thereof only remaining there he is whole in every part in all places where he is consecrated without division or multiplication in him selfe or departing from the right hand of the Father Certainly Philothea This guift that bounty these wonders wrought for our reparation from our sinfull state should strongly engage our hearts in Loue Duty to God AFFECTION I adore Thee my soveraign Lord hidden in this Divine Mystery acknowledge Thee to be there really present God Man my Redeemer Sanctifyer Glorifyer Alas My God all my Good how little have I hitherto thought on this thy inestimable love bounty to me whereby to releiue me from the slavery of sensuality satan to heale the deep wounds of my sinfull soul fill it with enlivning sanctifying graces what have I returned to God for all these favours bestowed upon me I will approach to Gods Altar with a repentant heart eate there the bread of salvation will call on the Name of God RESOLUTION I will ever have a lively faith towards this Mystery of the Holy Eucharist confirmed to me by CHRISTS own words the authority of Apostles Fathers the consent of all ancient modern Christians united under one supream head CHRISTS Vicar on Earth I will lay open all my wants weaknessesse before my Soveraign Lord here really present confiding in his comforting helps for the freeing my Mind from distractions Will from sinfull affections that I may profitably approach to him eate of that living bread sacrifize my soul to him by abnegation of my will my body by Obedience to Christian Duties SECOND POINT Fruits of the Holie Sacrament CONSIDERATION COnsider That approaching to Gods holy Altar there eating of that repayring fruit of the Tree of life We become like the Sacred Virgin conceiving him in her womb therefor should study to imitate her Humilitie Obedience Faith Charity whereby she was fitted to that great work raised to familiar conferences with JESUS CHRIST which we specially aime at in our holy Retyrement We become also Temples of God therefor our hearts should be Altars whereon to offer up our enflamed thoughts desires admitting no negotiation there but what may tend to the cleansing our souls from evill affections adorning them with divine vertues whereby it may be fitted to entertayn this heavenly Guest Had JESUS CHRIST when on Earth vouchsafed to make his aboade with us as in Bethania with Mary Martha with what solicitude would we have prepared all things befitting his sacred presence that nothing might appear in us undecent or wanting where with to give him a ioyfull welcome The like care should now be had My Philothea especially since he comes here to us in his glorifyed body environed with Angels invisibly present with hands full of blessings to bestow upon us In JESUS CHRIST abides the fulnesse of the Divinity therefor He giving him selfe to us in this heavenlie Manna containing all sweetnesse he gives withall the whole treasury of his heavenly guifts graces whereby the soul is cleansed from veniall sins mortall inculpably forgotten in confession Reason receives cleerer lights of spirituall truths the Will is enflamed to Christiā Duties the Conscience eased Inclinations to evil are weakned our Love to heavenly things strengthned encreased O living food of Angels be thou my Dayly bread fill my soul with thy divine sweetnesse that my conversation may be in heaven by the Imitation of the life of those blessed spirits by hopes of feeding for ever on that bread in the kingdom of thy Father AFFECTION Oh that I might conceive JESUS in my heart by Love bring him forth by performance of his Will then should I truly feed on this bread of Angels But alas too often have I approached Gods Altar with a Spirit full of earthly desires too frequently have I entertaind the great Lord of the world in a soul defiled with sinfull affections tepid in divine Exercises distracted with worldly sollicitudes therefor I still remain dry barren to good actions insensible to the comforting presence of JESUS within me Oh that Gods holy Spirit would overshadow my soul cleanse it from all imperfections enflame it with heavenly loue replenish it with his gracious blessings that it may be a fitt Sanctuary for the Saviour of Men Angels RESOLUTION I will banish forth of my heart whatever may displease my Divine Espouse adorning it with Vertues holy desires whereby it may be prepared to entertain him experiēce the sweetnesse of his comforting presence And I will endeavour that my outward decency in behaviour conversation may testify the inward tranquillity alacrity of my spirit an earnest longing to be One with him Live Thou O JESUS in my soul that I may live by the heat of thy divine flames walk by the light of thy inspirations from Vertue to Vertue till I see Thee my God in thy holy Sion THE THIRD POINT Intention in Communion CONSIDERATION COnsider That if in all actions of this life we study to have a due upright intention this ought then especially to be when we approach to the Holy Sacrament that great proofe of Gods Love to mankind that efficacious means of confirming us in our spirituall life a most assured pledg of our future blessed life above We may not then venture hither of meer custome or for companie sake nor to purchase a vain esteem of holinesse or an encrease of temporall blessings or some spirituall gust or sweetnesse in that great Act of Christian worship No Philothea we must goe to God for God himselfe that our loue to him may be greater our devotions quicker our Spirits stronger in performing the will of our Soveraign Lord and
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
Creatures lay lurking within thee in thy bosom with what chaines thy heart is linked to them by what means they may be slackned by what degrees broken a sunder Are they Riches Beauty Cloaths some deare Friend all must be cast forth thy heart that the God of purity peace may enter therein abide with Thee No prophane Altar may stand in Gods temple nor can we together serve God Mammon If God be able to fill thy heart make it happy let not any creature presume to challenge any corner thereof AFFECTION Oh that my God would break asunder all those chains which so strongly bind me to creatures then will I fly to him with the wings of an ardent Love abandonning all for him My heart has been too long fill'd possest of Vanity O that I had a new a disinterested an unspotted heart that would be a fitt Temple wherein to entertayn so glorious a Guest Give me then a clean heart a heart of Love O Soveraign Lord of Hearts thou shalt for ever command therein I will ever abide with Thee by contemplation of thy selfe RESOLUTION I will no longer delay my flight from Creatures to God or only stand to file off the fetters that fasten me to them but will presently break them in peices cast them from Me that I may freely entirely possesse my God Nothing that is agaynst him nothing without him nothing as my felicity besides him shall enjoy any part in Me. Adieu therefor all yee Creatures that may hinder my society with God Honours wealth pleasures parents friends I abandon all that may possesse my heart unjustly hinder it from being the pure Temple of my eternall God My heart O God I give to Thee both because Thou lookest for it lovest it saying My Child give me thy heart because Thou only dost deserve it without thee it is never at rest SECOND POINT Flight from our selves CONSIDERATION COnsider That as our first Flight towards God is made by a withdrawing our affections from creatures forth of our selves that we may the more freely unite our selves to God so the second Flight must be by abstracting our affections even from the outward man that is part of our selves by reason of its great neernesse intimacy with us may the more easily doe us harme This is a dangerous Enemy indeed because most neer most dear most importune evermore worketh against our spirituall progresse however Philothea if thou dost trust in God use strong endeavours thou wilt sooÌ„ make a considerable advance in this Victory over thy selfe When therefor selfe Love prompts thee to seek after any sensuall satisfaction take no notice at all of it If it growes more petulant importune reproach it with its own corruption blindnesse But if it persevers becomes insolent then Kill slay it by the sword of Austeritie rigorous Mortification so wilt thou Philothea by degrees triumph over thy selfe be able to doe beare or forbeare what ever thy spirit will with little repugnance or repining of thy sensuall appetite Thus thou feest how strict a guard our Solitary pilgrim must have over her selfe in her advance to Perfection since to purchase true happinesse 't is not enough to quitt affections to outward Creatures unlesse we also by a perfect abrenunciation of selfe Love private interest overcome that which is part of our very selves AFFECTION Oh that I could truly say My heart now â—â—â—th but it is not my heart which liveth but CHRIST who liveth in Me Live then sweet JESU in my heart as the heart the life the soul of my heart possesse it wholly permit no love to harbour therin which hath not its beginning from thee or at least is not consistent with Thee then will I sing My God is a strong warrier has overthrown my enemies RESOLUTION I renounce defie Thee O treacherous selfe Love which hast so often sought still intendest the ruin of my better selfe I will henceforth only esteem that selfe Love which will preserve my spirit safe in the last day and will therefor warily watch over all the motions of my heart examining all its designs projects ordering it according to the Will of my Soveraign Lord Master THIRD POINT Flight from Spiritall Comforts CONSIDERATION COnsider That to accomplish our Flight to God in himselfe wee must be willing even to be abandoned of God himselfe when he so wils it that is to say Out of our sincere love to him willingly to want those graces comforts whereby he uses to sustain his servants in their combatts advances in the way of Perfection This is that sublime state of perfection whereunto the holy Espouse was arrived when she cryed out Fly from me O my Beloved A state wherein the soul seeks not after any sensible feeling of the sweetnesse of divine Inspirations but is contented to be wholly abandoned of all inward consolations of the spirit the savory gusts of the gracious presence of Almighty God to be exposed to inward anxieties spirituall conflicts as if she were actually in the state of sin really deprived of Gods Love his Sanctifying graces This is an admirable Flight indeed Philothea yet very necessary if we ayme at the height of solitary Perfection whereby the heart must be prepared to whatever condition God alots it Examine then whither thou hast a sincere Resolution to quitt all things beneath God to love him although thou should'st not reap thence any sensible fruit or consolation during this present life AFFECTION Oh infinite beauty of my wholly amiable Creatour who would not love Thee even for thy own sake since thou art nothing but Goodnesse O you Cittizens of the heavenly Hierusalem I adjure you when you meet my Beloved that you tell him I languish with Love because he is wholly desirable chosen of thousands RESOLUTION I will Love my God for his own sake because he is wholly lovely not for any spirituall gust or comfort which may arise from the presence of his graces those good thoughts affectioÌ„s it pleaseth him to work in me I will so love Thee My only Soveraign Lord that if I were God not Thou I would cease to be God that Thou alone mightest be the God of my soul My God all THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Vanity of Creatures ALl creatures are either things abroad or wee our selves both are full of Vanity hinder the solitary soul from flying unto God We must therfor speedily goe forth the Sodom of this world seperate our selves from outward creatures For how can The heart enjoy the sweetnesse of solitary perfection if it wanders abroad after sensible contentments feeds upon the trash of earthly pleasures Say then Philothea Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity empty unconstant which is not my God Why then shall I permitt my affections to be
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
bountifull most comfortable Giver If therefor either the delighfull or profitable things of this life has yet any power over thy affections or the tribulations thereof doe still presse down thy spirit to any greife or disquiet Thou art not as yet strongly united to God enamour'd on his ravishing Beauty or arrived to the delicious harbour of spirituall peace Tranquillity Wherefor Thou maist imagin thy self to be a Reed floating to fro in the Sea of the Divinity now tossed above now under water hither and thither as thou art driven by the force of those Divine Waves so that in what ever condition thou art whatsoever happens to Thee thou maist attribute all to Gods Spirit moving upon these divine Waters in by which thou now livest movest Thus no comforts will puff up or humiliation beat down thy spirit but thou wilt ever have a generous courage pleasant evennesse of thy whole selfe amidst all the chances of this thy mortall state how ever violent they be AFFECTION Ah my soul why hast thou not hitherto aspired after this Divine BEEING to live love move to God only in the fullnesse of his own Essence O Abysse of all comfont swallow up my heart in thy delicious depths let me perish to all things but Thee never repine at any thing being so nigh to Thee O my JESU O fathomlesse fountain of Love Oh who will give Thee unto me My Brother sucking the breasts of my Mother that I may find Thee embrace Thee then none shall despise me RESOLUTION I will for ever fix my heart earnest desires only on my God thirsting to be united wholly to him for his sake I will abandon whatsoever is not consistent with him or may separate my heart from him therefor My whole study henceforth shall be to discover the poverty of Creatures to loath all earthly comforts to empty my heart of all affections to them amidst all accidents of this life to carry an even calme heart Then shall I tast see how sweet God is to those who love the Peace of his holy Citty THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Loves Tryall GOds Spirit settles not but upon an humble meek heart which having had a relish how sweet God is earnestly sues to be admitted into the ioyes of her heavenly Lord enjoy a perfect Tranquillity peace in her whole selfe yet willingly resignes her selfe to his Will for the manner thereof contentedly expecting the happy time of his delicious Visitation and the fruits theirof To this Visitation she must prepare her selfe by an Inward Retirement of her selfe within her selfe whereby weaned wholly from all love towards creatures she feels such a passionate languishing desire to be One with God that she has an extream pain irksomnesse when forced to use outward helps of meat sleep divertisements such like necessary supports of decaying nature desirous rather if so it may please God to be ever employed in mentall Elevations to entertain her selfe in contemplating conferring caressing her beloved Espous then to enjoy any earthly satisfaction however necessary to her Neither may this heaven-thirsting foul only content her selfe with this inward Retreat of the spirit into its selfe by loathing all Creatures abroad but she must also aspire to a Nakednesse of her selfe in her selfe whereby raised even to the highest degree of Contemplation Love Union with God she is willing to be deprived of all sweetnesse which usually flowes thence And although in this state she looks on God as her only treasure haveing right to Him grounded on his own promises To spouse himselfe to her in Justice kindnesse mercies for ever yet is she contented still to lay at the Gate of happinesse there patiently humbly begging some few crumms from Gods heavenly table to be admitted to tast of his delicious Wines neverthelesse resigning her selfe to be denyed that favour as long as it so pleases him ever esteeming either her selfe unworthy thereof or Gods time not to be as yet come COLLOQUIE How happy wert thou My soul hadst thou no other employment on Earth then to contemplate the beauty of God love him glorify his Name O my God that I were wholly exempt from the use of perishing Creatures needing no other food then Thee the only true Life of my Spirit but yet far happier should I be if loathing all Creatures drown'd in the Sea of the Divinity I could be resigned to the losse of all sweetnesse which may arise from the greatest Illuminations Extasies of Love in Thee patiently expecting my gracious admittance unto thy comfortable presence Then shall I be my Beloveds he will turne his face towards Me. SECOND DISCOURSE Loves Entertainments THe soul being thus resigned to the want of all Eartly comforts sweetnesse of divine Love Gods delicious presence with her may humby soare up to heaven endeavour an Union with God a fruition of him in Himselfe by such helps as he shall graciously inspire which we must readily entertain carefully comply with for our spirituall advance towards Perfection Wherefor Philothea thou must accustome thy selfe to spirituall Introversions of the Mind into its selfe therin quietly contemplating God in thy own Beeing often sallying forth by Jaculatory Aspirations amorous sighs towards heavenly things as What art thou O my God what am I My God my All Oh that I could love Thee as I ought which must be leisurely made attentively consider'd that they may work a feeling love in thy heart whereby it may by degrees be enflamed melt into affections of hope desire joy or such like whence thou wilt find an admirable sweetnesse calme to arise in thy spirit Thou must also endeavour to have a strong apprehension of Gods presence with Thee which may be had either by an efficacious beleife that God is substatially present in all places of the World as our soul is in all parts of the body without any separation from its selfe or by Imagining him to be especially in the Center of thy heart as the soul heart life thereof animating quickning it by his presence Whence we shall find our spirits stird up to a cordiall reverence towards the Majesty of God so nigh unto us a readinesse to referr all our thoughts words actions to God seated in the Center of the heart as the Judge of their Worth last happy End of all its Motions And by this means without recourse to Creatures only by a simple apprehension of Gods presence in Thee a reference of thy whole life to Him as thy Mysticall life thou wilt have an easinesse in abandoning creatures a great quietnesse in thy whole soul Having gained these Lights wherby to discern Gods greatnesse in himselfe presence to thee Cast thy selfe into the immense Sea of his Essence admitting no other motion in Thee but of Admiration
into a most heavenly Slumber whereby freed from all noyse of Creatures even in her Imaginative part she enjoyes a perfect tranquillity of spirit peace in her whole soul Which is sometimes accompanied with Extasie wherby the lower Regiō of the soul becomes Insēsible to what passes through the outward senses being wholly absorpt by the intense workings of the superior portion thereof which fixed on God through Vehemency of Admiration love sweetnesse becomes Familiar with him views all the treasures of his Glory receives plenty of guifts blessings converses with him face to face These are the delicious fruits Philothea growing on the Tree of Life which is planted by the River of Divine Grace ever flowing in the Soul which God admitts to his amiable presence Embracements That Soul needs no other Light to walk by God himselfe being the Sun that gives light to her nor any other fire to heat her the Holy Ghost being diffused through all her powers purging whatever is fraile mortall transforming her into a supernaturall Being wherby she is raised to the highest Happinesse Imaginable the Experience of whatever God has promised unto her COLLOQUIE O Divine Tree how pleasant is it to repose under thy delicious shades whence such fragrant smells sweet tranquillity are diffused through the amorous soul O chrystall streames of overflowing Grace how delightfull is it to walk upon thy fruitfull banks in thee to contemplate the overflowings of Love in our breasts O heavenly fruit how sweet confortable art thou to the thirsty languishing soul since what ever knowledg love ioy tranquillity pleasantnesse or Repose may be imagined proceed thence Oh! who will give Me that I may for ever rest under the shade of this Living Tree to walk upon those pleasant banks to eate my fill of that heavenly fruit Let the Spirit say Come my soul shall melt within Me because my Beloved bath spoken unto Mee SECOND DISCOURSE Loves Descents GOds unsearcheable Counsells Decrees are that Perfection ever move on two poles extremly opposite which S. Paul calls Height Depth S. Francis What is God What am I Although God invites Us Philothea to clime the Tree of Life tast its fruits repose under the shadow thereof in his Contemplation Love yet must we still descend into our selves by Consideration of our present state the Obligations thereof which must ever be complyed with Descend then Philothea in regard of thy selfe For the Exercise of Divine Contemplation raising us to an eminent knowledg love Union with God unlesse we descend by humble acts seat our selves with holy Magdalene at the feet of our Beloved Espous there may be danger of falling into presumption of our own perfection loosing his favour trust then in the Mercies of God yet feare his Justice Power amidst the delights of thy Illuminations spirituall Caresses have ever a filiall Feare say Not to Me but to Thee O Lord be all honour glory Then see how oft thou hast had a complacence in thy sweet contemplations the amorous Embracements of thy Beloved assure thy selfe if thou hast at any time faln into drynesse of spirit that proceeded from thy not humbling thy selfe while exalted to those singular favours By these humble acts thy inward Vertue will also become conspicuous in thy outward Conversation to the Example Edification of others For our earthly conversation is sociable our actions are subject to many Censures if then our outward lives expresse not that piety we harbour in our bosoms we may be accounted singular or guilty of hypocrisy Wherefor let not any contemplation or familiarity with God withdraw thee from a friendly conversation with those thou livest cause an affectation of thy own opinion ways or breed a harshnesse towards thy lesse yet possibly more perfect Neighbour but towards all be humble modest cheerfull courteous But especially the Contēplative Soul must oft apply her selfe to the exercises of the Active Life therby to shun Idlenesse the Nurse of all sin source of Temptations For seing t is hardly possible in this Life to be permanent in our heavenly Contemplations affections towards God we must accustome our selves to some bodily exercises Especially if we have some singular Talent wherby we may benefit others At least if Obedience requires that service from us And the work be of that nature that it rather adds then diminishes of our Zeale to Perfection But be thou ever carefull Philothea that thou perform it with an upright Intention promptly in due time place fervently cheerfully humbly Thus thy labours undertaken for God will be gratefull to him cherish our Love towards heavenly things Thou must also descend in regard of thy Neighbour whither Superior Subject or Equall for although nothing can be more pleasant to us then sweetly to repose in the bosom of our heavenly Espous to dive into the Abysse of his Goodnesse yet must we quitt all these overflowings of Love when our Neighbour needs our help so that whither thou bewaylest thy sins Philothea with Magdalene at the foot of the Crosse or with S. Paul art rapt to the third heaven or in thy private closett conversest familiarly with thy Beloved as S. Anthony of Padua without delay abandon all descend to comfort those who expect that duty of thee Art thou a Prince or Governour of a family by thy office duty thou art bound to have as much care of thy subjects as of thy selfe especially if by their own free choyce guided by divine Inspirations they be under thy custody direction not as slaves but as tender Children for whom thou art to render an account unto the Great Just Judge who expects of every one to his own extrem perill that he be faithfull in his charge Wherefor if thou beest cald to any such trust with feare trembling accept of it comply with its duties but if thou art not called thither have a care thou never covet a place of so much danger Art thou a subject The Vow of Obedience under which thou art born or by which thou hast freely sacrifized thy Will to God his Vicegerents doth then oblige thee to leave God for God that is to quitt thy highest contemplations comply with the Will of God revealed to thee by the lips of thy Overseer Governour Since the Word of the Eternall Father equall to himselfe in some manner quitts the bosom of his Father in heaven to obey his Will even to a most painfull shamefull death we may for his Love submit our Judgements Wills to that of our Superior ruling in his stead promptly entirely perseverantly to our dying day Art thou equall to him Thou must then endeavour when Charity requires it to releive his wants unto thy power either corporally or spiritually by Visiting for example helping the needy weak sick by counselling
comforting them in their desolations for by these things we doe homage to our Lord JESUS in his distressed Little Ones deserve our selves to be releived in the like case according to the promises of our Lord that What ever we doe to One of his Little ones we doe to him nor shall a cup of cold water be unrewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven COLLOQUIE Alas My God! how barren has my Soul hitherto been in complying with the precepts of true solid Vertue How many precious houres of my life have idly passed without care of advancing my selfe as well in humble charitable deeds as in searching into thy hidden Excellencies Whereas thy Law is That each one shall reap according as he sowes My solitude shall not be henceforth idle but sometimes I will soare up as an Eagle by the wings of Contemplation love sometimes will I with the laborious Bee exercise my self in outward works of charity humility as well to please God the supream End crown of all good works as to releive my distressed neighbour to edify all by my outward Conversation for That which is momentany in this life worketh exceedingly in us an eternall weight of Glory Amen TENTH DAYES VOYAGE Highest Christian Perfection THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Union with Christ suffring CONSIDERATION COnsider that how ever high happy we be in our Divine Contemplation Unitive Life with God or Low by a prompt performance of the humble charitable Duties of our present State wee cannot hope succesfully to finish our holy Pilgrimage to the sublime State of Perfection we aime at in our Retyrement unlesse we be united to JESUS CHRIST in his fuffrings As each one by cordiall friendshipp is transformed into his Friend by an excess of heavenly Love into our glorious God so by our joy alacrity amidst the tribulations crosses of this life we are transformed into become One with our Crucified Saviour whom we then put on when his Spirit Counsells Grace Mortifications shine in our Soul actions The title of a good Christian Philothea should besides the name import a conformity in Life with CHRIST that Character of the Crosse whereby in the laver of our Spirituall Regeneration we are registred souldiers under the conduct of our Crucified Captain should ever mind us of our profession then made oft since renewed now so eagerly pursued that as our Divine Lord Master with joy marched up towards Hierusalem the place of his Passion encounters his raging persecutours voluntarily offers his body to be beaten on as an anvill his bloud to be powred forth himselfe to become a saving Sacrifice on the Altar of the Crosse so also we should with joy entertain patiently beare all losses crosses desolations which may befall us in our Christian Warfar This was S. Pauls Glory the Perfect joy of S. Francis the Delight of the renowned Martyrs who kissing their chains scourges embracing their Racks singing amidst swords whips flames purchased a coheritance with their glorified JESUS whose partners they were in his bitter sorrows suffrings It is the dignity of a Christian to be thus United to CHRIST nor doth any condition of this life render us more unhappy then want of tribulation Much Felicity makes us forget we are pilgrims to an endless endangers our falling into presumption while relying on present comforts we arm not our selves for ensuing combats by long peace leave our hearts unguarded against assaults of watchfull Enemies whereas the bloud of Martyrs has ever been the encrease of the Church Crosses the preservation strength of Christian Vertues though Summer be the sweetest season yet without cold winters earth would become unhabitable nor can our Souls long savour the sweetnes of piety unless seasoned with contradictiōs which wee neither may nor can escape only can sweeten while with joy courage wee welcom them when sent by Heaven to try our Vertues unite us unto CHRIST Though Expectation diverts not yet it diminishes the sharpness of tribulation which when sudden finds the mind unprovided unable to beare its weight for want of Resolution Lenitive Medicines What if a disease should bereave thee of health rest What if Poverty as an armed Enimie should rush upon Thee What if calumnies should defame degrade or cast thee into prison or banishmēt thou shouldst Philothea now prepare to welcome encounter these crosses with joy that their violence may not overwhelme Thee make thee loose thy Vertue in what thou maist not avoyd As Gods wise providence in governing us leads us to fastens us unto the Crosse so his fatherly Love will ever temper its severity render it easy delightfull Savage beasts will be smitten by their keepers 't is God that strikes thee it were rebellion to murmur or fly he has appointed their weight to the last dram for ends known to himfelfe none cā add or take thence onely our constancy love can make them light pleasant Although God be in himselfe immutable yet for our tryall he doth not always visit us after the same manner if He comes as a Iudge condemns us to suffer 't is much less then our sins deserve that a moments sorrow may expiate the enormous sins of an Age that thou maist become like him upon his Cross nigh him in his glory if as a tender Father t is to chastise us now that we perish not for ever if as an Espous of Bloud with a Cross in one hand the other pointing to his wounded heart 't is to show thy heart must be peirced too with the sword of tribulation if as a Friend suspending the influences of his comforting graces t is to try if thy heart be sound not loveing his crowns more then his crosses or his comforts more then himselfe Tribulations too are the cures of our sick minds though the body be sound the Soul may be distempred with pride incontinency envy idleness or the like 't is a rare spirit that has no disease no physick like an adversity If thy heavenly Physitian sends this to humble thy heart to make the continent meek or diligent in thy duty make him welcome be cheerfull in that sad state having thy Eie fixt on thy Exemplar the great weight of merit glory which it will work in the patient resigned heart Every bird can sing in a cleer heavē but that is most cōmendable which is merryest in a shower to stand silent before Herod or be joyfull in desolation is the property of a true Christian Study therefor Philothea ever to have a cleare spirit amidst tribulations thy righteousness will comfort Thee Gods glory will attend thee after this minute of pain an eternity of joy will crown thee AFFECTION O God how high yet how low is the State of Christian Perfection as Thou My Crucified Lord art God
how superfluous how treacherous how dangerous has singularity of frienships hitherto proved unto Me Adieu all friends henceforth my only trust shall be in God who hath loved me with a perpetuall charity hath engraven me in his hands that he may be ever mindfull of me forsake me not O Lord I will be always with Thee become as a Pilgrim to the children of my Mother RESOLUTION I will couragiously quitt all ties even to my dearest friends when my spirituall concernment requires it whither they love me therefor or hate me wish me well or persecute me I will equally prepare my heart to be loved or persecuted praised or condemned by them behaving my selfe as a Pilgrime to all earthlie Creatures a Cittizen of Heaven I have chosen my solitude with my abādoned Lord Master nor shall any false allurements or harsh dealings change my Resolutions He hath given me a glorious example as he hath done I will endeavour to doe also THIRD POINT Selfe-Denyall CONSIDERATION COnsider That JESUS CHRIST hanging on the Cross is the true patern of selfe-Denyall this was his Doctrin while he lived this his practise in his Passion Death therefor his prayer to his eternall Father was Not mine but thy will be done Behold then how he looseth his bloud in his Agony his Esteem by revilings blasphemies his strength by whipps thorns his comeliness by stripes wounds the joy of the lower Region of his Soul by excess of sorrows his life by a most bitter ignominious Death Thus the most beautifull amongst the children of Men is become as One stricken of God covered with leprosy a man of sorrows If thou desirest Philothea to become perfect thou must also endeavour this selfe-Denyall seperation of thy selfe from thy selfe by abandoning thy own will a readinesse to sacrifize unto God thy tears bloud body soul all the calamities afflictions Gods providence may inflict on thee willingly suffring what ever crosses may befall Thee in conformity to his holy Will the coūsells practise of thy suffring Lord Master There is none of what condition soever but must more or less take up CHRISTS Cross follow him by self-Denyall bearing some tribulation for his sake their own profit Through sin the flesh spirit are at odds sensuality rebells against God no wonder then if wee feele contradictions within our own heart suffrings from the inordinate passions desires or malice of others neither Saint nor Sinner nor any mortall creature is exempt from the Law of the Cross of what Majesty Wisdom Power or Holiness soever he be nor is any of these happy unless resigned to beare all Thou sufferest not alone Philothea All must willingly or against their will suffer with thee which should encourage Thee to an unbroken patience amidst the heaviest press of tribulations which may happen to Thee especially since thy JESUS thy Espous the Giver of all good suffreth so many so long so grievous torments with Thee Nor may we hope to enjoy the consolations of this the other Life we must forgoe one or the other either suffer here or else where which wilt thou choose Is it not much better to undergoe a momentany tribulatiō then an eternall Only worldly pleasures can destroy thee therefor fly frō Them The Cross only whereby the whole world was saved can save Thee Seek it then with it thou shalt find life salvation thy crown of thorns shall be changed into a Crown of never fading Glory if thou hast drunk of the torrent of tribulation with thy crucified Redeemer thou shalt also tast the delicacies of his heavenly Happiness in his Glorious Kingdom AFFECTION If JESUS must suffer ere he enters his glory canst thou O my Soul hope to purchase heaven at an easyer rate No my Dearest Lord since love moved Thee to transfigure thy selfe into a Man of sorrows for my sake love also shall compell me to be conformable to Thee my Holy Espous Let me but enjoy Thee then let what ever tribulations thou pleasest fall upon Me Here cutt here burn so thou sparest me for eternity O Eternity who can live with thy everlasting torments Come therfor O delicious crosses O amiable tribulations by which I may purchase an Eternity of joys RESOLUTION I will prepare my selfe to this spirituall Combat not only endure the tribulations which my sensuality disorderly passions may raise against Me but what ever Crosses the malice of Satan or the sweet providence of my heavenly Father shall inflict upon Me hūbly casting my selfe at the foot of the Cross I will say Behold here O Divine Lord behold here My whole self my Body my Soul my All ready to abandon all contents to suffer all sorrows for Thee Thy will be done Pleasures or pains thorns or diadems life or death all shall be indifferently welcome Only be thou with Me O strong helper none shall prevaile against Me. EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Spirituall Desolation ALthough our Lord JESUS wer the Beloved of the Eternall Father equall to him in Essence Wisedom Power yet for Us he would become an Outcast deserted by Him Harken Philothea to that lamentable Complaint he makes to his Father upon the Cross My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken Me Though his humane Nature lost not its Union with the Godhead nor the Grace or friendship of God yet the Influence of his Divinity on the inferiour Portion of his Soul was then suspended he left to struggle with the bitterest torments pangs of a most cruel ignominious Death Our Solitary Pilgrim to Perfection must be prepared to welcome this sublime state of Spirituall Desolation if she aspires to an Union Conformity with her heavenly Espous she must not only contentedly abandon all friends beare what ever Crosses but must also willingly be deprived of all those delights which usually accompany a devout Life undergoe Aridities of the spirit loose the savory influences of Gods gracious favours instead of pleasant Illustrations of the Understanding Enflamings of the will flowings of Joy in the heart to have the spirit loaden with dulness barrenness insensibility to heavenly thoughts actions If God thus tryes thy Constancy assure thy selfe Philothea he is even then present with Thee watching in the Center of thy heart over Thee causing aversions from Sin desires to perform the duties of thy state longings to be with God though in that distress a darkness be spredd over thy Soul thou beest deprived of thy usuall cheerfulness alacrity The cause of this our desolation oft is in our selves either a too eager desire of or delight in spirituall consolations or a neglect of timely entertainīg offred inspirations or else too much proneness to seek accept of sensuall satisfactions But the cheife Cause thereof is God only whose property it is to create Light Darkness
separate the One from the Other As God caused the brightness of Christs tranfigur'd body on Mount Thabor which signifies the cleerness cheerfulness of our Spirit in holy actions so also he caused that darkness which o'respred the earth whilst CHRISTS body was disfigur'd on Mount Calvarie whereby is represented the droughts of a Soul in this state of spirituall desolation Wherefor behave thy felfe very cautiously in the pursuance of Christian perfection so that whither thou hast a feeling of piety or whither God for reasons known to himselfe deprives Thee thereof keep the same Evenness of heart constancy in thy duties during both States still multiplying acts of Love renewing thy purposes resigning thy selfe to Gods decrees concerning Thee following the direction of his Holy Spirit under whose conduct thou art now become conformable to thy sufferring Espous Imagine therefor that JESUS CHRIST has nayled Thee to this Cross through the great Love he has towards Thee to the end thou flyest not from him abandon the charge he has taken of thee or quitt thy customary duties that he may behold thy conflicts harken to thy mournfull sights supplications may more readily infuse spirituall helps wherefor humbly open thy heart to him disclosing all thy wants weakness advise also with some prudent person whom thou hast chosen for thy Guid follow his counsells punctually ever closeing with an entire Resignation to his sacred Will who thus Visits Thee COLLOQUIE What hast thou done My Innocent Lord that thou art thus severely treated Thy body is covered with wounds thy bloud streams forth from every part thy hands feet are nailed to the Cross thy head is crowned with thorns thy heart is peirced with a speare thy Soul fild to the brim with desolation when thou cryedst My God My God why hast thou forsaken Me Oh what Love what Mercy is here I have sinned the Son of God is smitten Oh rather let me fuffer who have provoked thy wrath Whither I feel the sweetness of thy comfortable presence or thou dost permit Anxieties to oppresse my spirit I will equally love Thee obey thy will And I will blesse God at all times his prayses shall ever be in my lips because he will be my Salvation in the day of sorrow SECOND DISCOURSE Phìlotheas Choyce HAving thus prosperously Philothea though with much difficulty in thy ten daies Voyage to Perfection passed through thy holy Solitude arrived to Mount Calvarie there found thy Crucifyed Lord the Author Exemplar Finisher of all Perfection repose thy selfe with joy under the shade of the Crosse offring up thy heart to him to be united with his by Love made conformable to his Will in all thy affections actions saying Behold I have gone far flying from the World its Vanities made my habitation in the Wilderness Under his shadow whom my Soul desireth will I sett This is my Resting place for ever ever here will I dwell because I have chosen it O blessed Flight O pleasant Repose O Divine Choyce whereby thy Soul will become a stranger to the Earth where she lives freely converse with God whom she loves Then make a breife review of thy ten daies Retirement See whither thou hast that value of Solitude its Entertainments which the perfectiō thereof deserveth And what inclinations thou hast to persever therein whither thou hast a cordiall apprehension of thy Sinfull State the Means God has established for thy salvation Whither thy Passions be any thing abated thy heart unchayned from Creatures that it may joyfully Fly to God Whither thou hast a perfect Calme in thy Soul canst Give eare to the whisperings of thy heavenly Espous beest every way fitted to take thy Repose in God And lastly whither thou hast a hearty resentement of the suffrings of thy Crucifyed Lord a willingness to Imitate him in his bitter seperations a desire to be wholly united to him in that sad ignominious state for unless thy heart be now united ūto that of JESUS suffring thou maist not hope hereafter to be united unto thy JESUS triumphing Fix thy Eie therefor steadily upon thy soveraign Lord bleeding dying upon the Cross thereby draw a Coppy in thy own heart by his wounded feet order thy affections by his peirced hands rectify thy actions by his crowned head purify thy thoughts by his opened side regulate thy Love by his sorrowfull Soul draw in thine the picture of Compassion imitation That for ever after the life of JESUS may be made manifest in Thee COLLOQUIE Behold here O Victorious Saviour of Men Angels my languishing sighing heart earnestly sueing to become One with Thee transformed into the likeness of thy love-wounded heart dying to all things but Thee that henceforth Thou onely maist live in me I for ever in Thee without being seperated from Thee O Amiable Union O delicious Transformation O Divine Life Oh that thou wouldest deep engrave in my heart the Image of thy Cross all thy suffrings thereon that as a bundle of myrrhe they may ever lay in my bosom by a perpetuall Memory of thy Love therein towards Me. To Thee therefor doe I now for ever sacrifize my whole heart to be wounded with the darts of thy ever flaming love that all my Affections Actions Thoughts Desires Ioyes may be ordred by Thee begin from Thee end in Thee O Endless End and Abysse of all Happiness Amen FINIS MEDITATIONS UPON THE PASSION For every day of the week SVNDAY Washing of the Feet CONS 1. Who washeth God thy Creatour Redeemer giver of all good things 2. Whose feet he washeth of ignoble persōs great sinners his own betrayer 3. Why he washeth to give example of meekness teach us to cleanse our Soul ere we approach his Altar Affect Oh my JESU that I could love thee all creatures as I ought thou desirest Resolve To practise the Vertue of Charitie shun Envie in occasions best known to thy self MVNDAY Prayer in the garden CONS 1. How CHRIST prayeth kneeling prostrate with instancy thou how tipid 2. What 's his prayer That his Chalice may passe yet with resignation to obey his Fathers will doe thou pray thus 3. How he sweats bloud in great drops in great sorrows wilt thou rely on thy own strength Affect Oh my JESU that I could hūble my self to Thee all creatures for thee Resolve To practise Humilitie shun Pride c. TWESDAY Mocking before Herod CONS 1. How JESUS betrayed apprehended manicled is led to Annas Caiphas Pilate Herod Follow him in this sorrowfull Pilgrimage 2. How He is every where falsly accused yet is silent be silent too when injur'd 3. How before Herod he is cloathed mocked as a Foole if thou beest a Christian imitate CHRISTS self-denyall Affect Oh my JESU that I could contemn my own will for thy sake Resolve To practise Self-denyall shun self-love c. WEDNESDAY Whipping at the Pillar CONS 1. How JESUS led back to Pilate is there accused as a Blasphemer Seducer Traitor Barabbas though a Murderer is perfer'd before him canst repine when vilifyed 2. How that Innocent Body unclothed bound to the Pillar is whipt for thy sins I sin Thow suffrest 3. How barbarously those Soldiers treat thy JESUS Oh cruelly this he suffers for the Bath thy heart in his saving bloud Affect Oh my JESU that I could bear all Crosses from all persons for the love of Thee Resolve To practise Patience shun Anger c. THVRSDAY Crowning with Thorns CONS 1. How JESUS thus bleeding is crownd with sharp Thorns this Crown is instead of a Crown of Glory 2. How they cloath him in scarlet put a reed in his hand for a Scepter then kneeling deride Him Thou art a King indeed reign for ever in my heart 3. How JESUS thus adorned is led forth by Pilate shown to the Jewes with Behold á Man O sad Spectacle Yet still they cry Crucify Him Oh the heavy weight of my sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could obey Thee even to loss of life Resolve To practise Obedience shun Sloath c. FRYDAY Carrying the Cross CONS 1. How JESUS thus derided whipped crowned goes forth carrying the Cross whereon he is to be sacrifized for thy Sins 2. What shouts of joy the Jewes make after Him through the streets of Jerusalem thus is Innocency despised 3. How the devout woemen meet bewaile Him thy hard heart sheds not one Teare amidst these sorrows or for thy sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could abandon all sensuall satisfactions for the Love of Thee Resolve To practise Temperance shū Gluttony c. SATVRDAY Crucifying of Iesus CONS 1. How JESUS with much pain shame arrived to Mount Calvary is again uncloath'd thus all his soares are renewed My Sins not blotted out by Repentance shall one day be disclosed to the whole World 2. How they streatch thy JESUS upon the Cross fastnīg him with nayles therunto thē raise him up where he hangs betweē two theeves Oh what ignominy 3. How He there hangs for the space of three houres reviled by Jews Gentiles forsaken by his Disciples drenched with gall vineger peirced to the heart with a speare yet He prays for his Enemies Enter make thy aboade in that love-wounded-Heart Affect Oh my JESU that I could imitate Thee in the purity of thy Life Doctrine Resolve To practise Modesty shun All contrary Therunto c. FINIS