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
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
Heralds to proclaime the coming of the Espouse to invite thee to this gracious Supper being thē decently prepared accompanied with thy choicest freinds of heaven approach humbly devoutly to Gods Altar saying in thy spirit Whence is it that my Dearest Lord vouchsafeth to come to me abide within me O Philothea if thy soul be not quite frozen thou wilt here feele the heat of this heavenly fire returne hence full of enflamed affections panting swelling through an aboundance of divine Love If ever there be hopes of a spirituall advancement any zeale of Christian duties or constant resignation amidst temptations it will now appeare while this great Giver of all good things lodges in thy bosome as the soul of thy spirit Manifest then to him thy wants wishes say Thou thalt not depart hence unlesse thou doest blesse me with the blessings of Peace Mercy COLLOQUIE Ah my soul canst thou be hungry hauing eaten of the bread of Angels Or a thirst hauing tasted of the fountain of living water Or cold having been at this divine fire Alas my Soveraign Lord my carelesness in attending to thy presence in this sacred banquet my frequent relapses into my old vices ungratitude for thy many wonderfull favours has even deaded my heart rendred it insensible to the gracious influences of this heavenly food Enliven my spirit O my God with thy grace fortify it with this bread of Angels in the strength thereof I will walk to thy holie Mountain the Mountain where God delights to abide where he liveth for ever Amen FIFTH DAYES VOYAGE Mortification of Sensualitie THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Mortification of the Senses CONSIDERATION COnsider that the soul being now cleansed from all stayns of sin by Repentance strengthned in its Spirituall life by that divine bread which is JESSUS CHRIST we must use all endeavours to reforme such evill habits inclinations as may slacken our pious resolutions purchase those helps of Vertue which may most efficaciouslie advance us in our Pilgrimage to perfection We must therefor Philothea withdraw our outward senses frō all those objects which are apt to seduce our hearts from Gods Law engage them in sinfull affections so contrary to the perfectiō of our designe This is done both by a carefull custody of our senses from viewing feeding on such sensible objects as may allure us to take complacence in them by a moderate castigation of the body by acts of pennance that it rebells not against the dictates of reason grace All Christians have a strickt obligation to endeavour this custody castigation of the senses For being Children of the earthly Adam through whose sin all are borne enemies to God Rebells against his holy Law we all find both body soul alienated from their due Obedience to reason Gospell which cannot be repayred but by withdrawing our senses even from lawfull objects undergoing hard painfull duties Being also in holy Baptisme happily spoused to JESUS CHRIST by a solemn Vow then made in our Name to renounce Satan all his works to apply our selves to the observance of all CHRISTS Precepts we ought seriously to study the imitation of the life of Our Soveraign Lord fullfill our promises made to him by mortifying our concupiscences performance of his Will But this must be especially done during our spirituall retreat that crucifying our sensualitie by prayer fasts watchings such like austerities we may the more freely harkē to the whisperings of the Spirit thereby become wholly spirituall according to our designe And therefor those great Examples of solitary perfection whose lives fill us with admiration no sooner withdrew themselves from the noyse of worldly solicitudes but they applyed themselves to corporall austerities therby to quell the inordinate suggestions of corrupted sensualitie raise up their hearts in the contemplation of heavenly permanent comforts AFFECTION O painfull pilgrimage of this mortall Life how miserable how fraile how bitter art thou And yet have I thus long loved thee feeding my senses on perishing objects filling my heart with vain emptie desires of sensuall pleasures thereby forgetting that great ransom my Saviour payd to redeem me from the tyranny of Satan which the disorders of sensuality brought upon me neglecting that glorious inheritance he by his bitter Passion purchased for me Oh I will rather suffer a thousand deaths then abandon my selfe to these unclean deceitfull delights I renounce you for ever O Impure suggestions doe defie any concupiscence which may bring the wrath of God upon the children of distrust RESOLUTION I will make a covenant with my senses not to admitt of any unlawfull or vain object will place a guard over them that they seek not after what may be pleasing to flesh bloud I will mortify them by a prudent descreet use of corporall austerities denying to my selfe all superfluities which may delight my sensuall inclinations in conformitie to the counsells of holy Gospell by assuming particular acts of Mortification sutable to my calling as far as Obedience will permit And I will say with the Royall Prophet For thy love O Lord I have mortifyed my selfe all the day long SECOND POINT Mortification of the Passions CONSIDERATION COnsider That it sufficeth not to mortify the outward senses unlesse we reforme also the inward Man by ordering and deading our inward passiōs What availes it to weare a haire cloath on the back in the bosome to beare a rancorous proud heart or what profit will it be to our spirit to fast much to pray often to watch long speak seldome if Envie Impatience Pride or some other hidden affections poyson the soul within destroy that delicious harmony which should be between the Will of God our own It is a great mistake Philothea of some souls otherwise wel-willing devout that heeding the mortification of the outward man they neglect to prune their hearts of vicious affections so contrary to the spirit of JESUS CHRIST thereby misse of that tranquillitie perfection they seek after in their Retyrement Wherefor My Philothoa make a carefull survay of all thy sensuall inclinations what passions lay lurking in thy heart how ready thou art to beare Crosses forbeare carnall satisfactions sett a watch over every one that they stirr not but by the order of Reason direction of Grace AFFECTION Alas my Soul it is the Way but not the end of perfection to mortify thy poore body if thou beest thy selfe the cause of all disorders there Be thou humble thy body will not be proud be thou chast thy body will not be lascivious be thou temperate thy body will not be gluttonous Oh that the powerfull hand of my God would quell the tumults of my inordinate passions putt bounds to the rowlings of my affections I have strayed from Thee O my
God as a sheep that is lost seek thou thy servant I will not be unmindfull of thy commandements RESOLUTION I will not only henceforth mortify the senses of my body but the passions of my mind also that with my heart as well as lips I may honour glorifie my Saviour And I will stricktly examine every motion of my sensuall appetite that I may discover its maladies order its affections prevent those disquiets which my Passions have hitherto raised in Me That My beloved may say to Me Thou art a Garden of delights inclosed a spring shut up a fountain sealed THIRD POINT Mortification the property of a Christian CONSIDERATION COnsider That by means of this Mortification of our senses passions we are placed in a degree of perfection above beasts who being voyd of reason seek their content happinesse in sensuall delights therefor those carnall hearts which still wallow in the puddle of earthly pleasures following the allurements of sensible objects the disorders of their own passions degenerate into beasts Wheras Mortification is the speciall badg property of a true Christian Man who living according to reason grace crucifies the flesh with its concupiscences thereby belongeth to Christ But especially this perfect mortification of our sensuall appetites is the proper Companion true signet of the solitarie soul who retyring from worldly conversation obliges her selfe to imitate JESUS CHRIST in his sufferings to follow the stepps of the most zealous Christians of all Ages by resisting the irregular desires of sensualitie that the flesh may obey the spirit our spirit the Will of God for the Sanctification of the whole Man If therefor Philothea Thy senses passions have hitherto been loosly kept strayed after inordinate satisfactions now thou must have a watchfull care over them fasten them to the Crosse of Mortification promptly joyfully frequently perseverently universally that as all have been Ministers of vncleanesse they may also be promoters of pyety thy Eies in contemplating thy Crucifyed Redeemer reading holy bookes thy Eares in harkning to devout sermōs thy Tongue in prayer pious discourses thy Hands in performing good works thy Feet in visiting holy places thy whole body in bearing patiētly the miseries of this mortall Life undergoing acts of pennance for satisfaction of past prevention of new sins so contrary to thy Christian profession the great design now in hand AFFECTION I acknowledg my Dearest Lord that through thy precious bloud I am regenerated from my sinfull state sanctifyed to Christian holy duties strongly fortifyed agaynst the corrupted inclinations of my own sensualitie outward charms of earthly delights yet Alas how oft how vilely have I transgressed thy commands my own promises to be one of thy flock to become a mortified Christian to abandon all worldly contents suffer whatever austerities tribulations rather then to loose any part in Thee thy blessed Kingdome prepared for Me But thou O Lord art sweet mild aboundest with Mercies Have Mercy upon me O God have mercy upon me for my soul hath trusted in Thee RESOLUTION I will take a speciall View of all abuses committed through immortification of my senses passions consider all my evill Inclinations where at what time towards what Objects I am aptest to comply with them I will waryly watch over all my waies prevent dangers undertake such Mortifications as may keep my heart closse to my God stedfast in the observance of his Holy Commandements strengthen me O Lord with thy grace My Appetite shall be subject to Me I shall have power over it THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Dammages incurrd by Immortification AS the Love of God ioyned with selfe Contempt builds up the Citty of God in us so selfe Love reaching to the contempt of Gods holy Commandements that of Satan This Selfe-love is the First Mover in the sphear of the unmortifyed soul of all the passions of our sensualitie whence proceed all those calamities of sinfull desires the following disorders which restlesly warr agaynst Gods spirit in Us heavyly presse Us down even agaynst our Wills to those Miseries we now groan under long to be freed from Our first Parents complying with an Immoderate Appetite of the fruit of one forbiddē Tree amongst so many thousand excellent Ones allowed by Almighty God for their Use pleasure notwithstanding Gods severe prohibition under payn of his high dispeasure a tedious life forrowfull death all those penalties which daily draw so many teares from our Eies sighs from our hearts has brought Gods heavy wrath upon themselves us all those Rebellions of sensualitie Errours in understanding difficulties in obeying that torrent of cares sorrows which continually afflict our spirits yet We still add to our Miseries by an over-ready sideing with these our unruly passions Appetites What grater mishapp can befal a Soveraign Prince then to be deposed his Throne spoyled of his royall Prerogatives dignity to be banisht forth his own Dominiōs Thus it is with us now Each one of us had a peacefull kingdom within himselfe was Supream Lord therein in his Originall state No sooner did selfe Love creep in to our hearts seduce the powers of the soul to prefer sensualitie to reason Justice but God permits our Passions to overrun us tyrannize within us whence arise those varieties of Concupiscences boylings roulings of our affections Love Hatred Hopes Feares those numberlesse disquiets which torture our unmortifyed spirits He takes from us the safeguard of Justice Innocency whereby we are become unable to governe our hearts in the flight of evill pursuance of approved Good And we are banisht forth that Paradice which was the seat of our Earthly happinesse the Image of the heavenly are here condemn'd through sweats sighs Innumerable sorrows to weare out an anxious painfull Life These be the Miseries we have incurr'd Philothea through Immortification of our senses passions are still increased in us by giving reynes to our heady disorderly sēsualitie as we dayly experience in the misgovernment of our lives actions which certainly none can seriously consider without an extream horrour confusion Thou must therefor earnestly endeavour to suppresse all inordinate suggestions desires of flesh bloud through consideration of the great humiliation bitter sorrows the eating one forbidden Aple cost the Son of God The severe prohibitions God has made against unlawfall concupiscences his cōmands that we mortify our carnall appetites crucify our flesh chastise our bodies hate deny our selves The Examples of all the Saints Lovers of solitude the great dammages we have already still may incurr by consenting to our vicious affections Then by examining what passions abound most in Thee how thou maist timely prevent dangers of raising
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
aboad being there with God our employmeÌ„ts in what beloÌ„gs to him Although nothing be more ours then we our selus titles of honour most coÌ„forting delights our dearest friends as leaves blossoms from the tree being easily blown off from us yet having our Being with what ever appertains to it from God whatsoever we are in our selus can doe or may have belongs to God as the Soveraign Lord Master of all so that to him we owe all we should be guiltie of a most greivous disloyaltie should we venture to dispose of our selus according to our own liking Gods inward Excellencie wherby he contains in himselfe all perfections disperst amongst Creatures those sacred influences wherby he preserus us from falling into our Originall Ashes his precept of loving him above all things which includes the actions of all other morall divine Vertues the price of Christs precious Bloud wherewith he bought us those unspeakable rewards of holiness of life prepared above with his Angells for us are strong tyes of Dutie to him challeng all homage fidelitie from us Wherfore Philothea should we spend our whole liues every thought all our actions on him we pay but the least part of what we owe to him Now therfore at least show thy readiness to follow love obey him sith he specially invites Thee to a more familiar conference freedom with him during thy Solitude COLLOQUIE Even so it is My Dearest Lord I am thine O that I might for ever abide with thee The world is a sea full of tempests confusion holie Solitude is a safe harbour where there are great calms securitie O that thou wouldest fill the sayles of my heart with a gracious gale which may sweetly carry me forth of these turbulent depths free me from the dangers of a spirituall shipwrack give me a sure shelter under thy comforting protection then should my spirit have liberty to pant after the escaped dangers sâ—e the perills wherin she hath been hitherto tossed pay those dutiâ—s which on so many titles are due unto Thee Save me thou O Lord I shall be saved thou shalt be my praise for ever SECOND DISCOURSE Our Returnes to God HAving now perswaded thy selfe to embrace Solitude through reflection on the Dignitie Innocencie Necessitie therof in order to thy freedom from worldly cares solicitudes as also that thou maist therby pay to God part of that great Dutie which on so many titles thou owest to him fitt thy selfe for the due practise therof by Acknowledgment of Gods speciall favours to thee in inspiring thee with so holie just a design The same God that sanctifyed thee a Member of his holie Church has by hidden means drawn thee now nigher to himselfe will that thou break in pieces those fetters of sensualitie which have hitherto kept thee tyed to Creatures without which thou hadst still wallowed in thy old vices never look't into thy corrupted manners or thought on begining this thy holie Pilgrimage Wherfor acknowledge thy nakedness povertie weakness to walk these sublime wayes of perfection that this divine Call all other favours thou shalt ther by reape are pure effects of Gods mercies bountie to thee O Philothea could we duely value the greatness of this favour of being thus cald to walk converse with God whereas many others who perhaps would make better use therof are passed by left to work out their salvation amidst the tumults of worldly cares we would esteem no labours no sufferings enough to express our Gratitude to him Resolve therefor to employ thy Memorie in thinking on God on the generall speciall means best known to thy own spirit wherby he hath drawn thee thus far from Creatures towards himselfe thy Understanding in searching forth means wherby readily to execute his coÌ„mandements inspired counsells thy Will other inferiour powers of thy soul in loving him refrayning from what he hath forbidden performing whatsoever he hath or shall require of thee And because the aime of Solitude is to lead thee to a private conference with God wherin the Immortall Angells now glorifyed Saints will be spectatours before whom none may appeare without his wedding GarmeÌ„t or with feet sullied by sinfull affections Thou must Philothea endeavour to Rectifie thy intentions in undertaking this Retyrement for if thy motives be but customarie the fruicts therof will soon fade Then Purge thy mind of worldly vaine affections by a deep act of repentance least they ever anon call upon thee disturb the repose of the spirit And lastly Offer up thy heart to God united with that of thy crucified Saviour for whose sake thou art resolved to walk the hard ways of thy Pilgrimage to Perfection so that henceforth whether JESUS feasts thee with his disciples in Cana or fasteth in the wilderness be glorious on Mount Thabor or prayeth in the Garden or hangeth on the Crosse thou must never forsake him Thus wilt thou happyly walk through the varieties dangers of this unconstant life make a fruitfull progress in this thy holy Retyrement COLLOQUIE Wellcome then O most delicious paradice of my God O Sacred Solitude wherein is again revived the decayed Image of our Originall Innocency by conformity of will to God Obedience of sensualitie to the precepts of reason sweet traÌ„quillitie of all passions powers in the Kingdome of the soul I acknowledg O my God thy great bounty in inviting me hither will endeavour to prun my spirit of all irregular MotioÌ„s that Imay be Afitt Offring to my heavenly Lord Master Sanctify O God these my earnest desires from thy holie Temple of Hierusalem confirme the good things thou hast wrought in me Amen SECOND DAYES VOYAGE Entertainments in Solitude THE MORNING EXERCISE FIRST POINT Humilitie Austeritie CONSIDERATION COnsider that there 's a great difference between Solitude Idleness A wise holie Soul will choose therefor to be alone that shee may be better employed whither it be that the Retyrement be for the whole life under some Religious Vows or for some certain dayes wherfor entring into Solitude thou must Philothea make use of such Entertainments of spirit body as may consist with retyredness advance thee in the practise of Vertue Wherfore we must be well grouÌ„ded in the use of Humilitie which is the foundation of all other Vertues a fair disposition both to acknowledg ameÌ„d what 's amisse For Solitude is a state wherin the soul is raised to a private conference with God unlesse we have a perfect Humilitie we are in danger of a precipice Nay what ever other progresse we make in our Pilgrimage to Perfection without a profound humilitie we are never secure as appears in Lucifer our first Parents Therfor Our Lord JESUS by doctrine exemple exhorts to the practise therof as the cheife work of Christianitie the prefervative of