must be present and it must be seasoned with the sweetness of thy wisdom 2. What is not savory unto him to whom thou art pleasing And whom thou delightest not what can be pleasant to him But the wise of this world and they that relish the things of the flesh come short of thy wisdom for in the world is much vanity and in the flesh is death But they that follow thee by the contempt of worldly things and mortification of the flesh are proved to be truly wise For they are changed from vanity to truth from the flesh to the spirit These relish God and what good soever is found in creatures they wholly refer unto the praise of their Maker Notwithstanding great yea very great is the difference between the sweetness of the creator and of the creature of eternity and of time of light uncreated and of light enlightned 3. O thou everlasting light surpassing all created lights dart the beams of thy brightness from above which may pierce all the most inward parts of my heart purifie rejoyce enlighten and enliven my spirit with all the powers thereof that I may cleave unto thee with abundance of joy and triumph O when will that blessed and desired hour come that I may be filled with thy presence and thou mayest be unto me all in all As long as this is not granted me I shall not have full joy Alas the old Man yet liveth in me he is not wholly crucified he is not perfectly dead He doth as yet lust strongly against the spirit and stirreth up inward wars and suffereth not the Kingdom of my soul to be in peace 4. But thou that rulest the power of the Sea and stillest the rising of the Waves thereof arise and help me scatter the People that desire war destroy them in thy might display thy greatness and let thy right hand be glorified for there is no hope nor refuge for me but in thee my Lord God CHAP. XXXV That there is no security from temptation in this life CHrist. Son there is no security in this life as long as thou livest thou shalt always have need of spiritual armor Thou livest among enemies and art assaulted on the right hand and on the left If therefore thou defendest not thy self on every side with the shield of patience thou canst not be long unwounded Moreover if thou fix not thy heart on me with a sincere will to suffer all things for me thou canst not bear the heat of this battel nor obtain the triumphant reward of the Saints in bliss Thou oughtest therefore manfully to go through all and to use a strong hand against whatsoever withstandeth thee For to him that overcometh is manna given but for the negligent there remains much misery 2. If thou seekest rest in this world how wilt thou then attain to everlasting rest Dispose not thy self to much ease but to much patience Seek true peace not in Earth but in Heaven not in Men nor in any other creature but in God alone Thou oughtest for the love of God willingly to undergo all things even labors griefs temptations vexations anxieties necessities infirmities injuries detractions reprehensions humblings shame corrections and contempts these help to virtue these try a Novice of Christ these make the Heavenly Crown I will give an everlasting reward for a short labor and infinite glory for transitory shame 3. Thinkest thou that thou shalt always have spiritual consolations at will My Saints had not so but they had many afflictions and sundry temptations and many discomforts in all which they did bear up themselves patiently and trusted rather in God than in themselves knowing that the sufferings of this time are not condign to the deserving of future glory Wilt thou have that straightways which many after many tears and great labors have hardly obtained Wait upon the Lord do manfully be of good courage do not despair do not fly but with constancy expose both body and soul for the glory of God I will reward thee in most plentiful manner and I will be with thee in all thy tribulations CHAP. XXXVI Against the vain judgments of Men. CHrist. Son cast thy heart constantly upon God and fear not the judgment of Men when thy conscience giveth testimony of thy piety and innocency It is a good and happy thing to suffer in such a way neither will it be burdensome to an humble heart nor to him that trusteth rather in God than in himself The most part of Men are given to talk much and therefore little heed is to be given them neither is it possible to satisfie all Although Paul endeavored to please all in the Lord and made himself all things unto all yet with him it was a very small thing that he should be judged of Mans judgment 2. He did for the edification and salvation of others as much as he could and lay in him yet could he not hinder but that he was sometimes judged and despised by others Therefore he committed all to God who knew all and he defended himself with patience and humility against evil tongues and such as thought vanities and lies and spake what they listed Yet sometimes notwithstanding he answered lest the weak should be offended by his silence 3. Who art thou that fearest a mortal Man To day he is and to morrow he is not seen Fear God and thou shalt not need to fear the terrors of Men. What harm can the words or injuries of any do thee He rather hurteth himself than thee neither can he avoid the judgment of God whosoever he be Have thou God before thine eyes and contend not with complaining words And if for the present thou seemest to be worsted and to suffer shame without desert do not therefore repine neither do thou lessen thy crown by thy impatience but rather lift up thy eyes to me in Heaven who am able to deliver thee from all shame and wrong and to render to every one according to their works CHAP. XXXVII Of a full and pure resignation of our selves for the obtaining freedom of heart CHrist. Son forsake thy self and thou shalt find me Make no self respecting choice of any thing appropriate nothing to thy self and thou shalt ever be a gainer For greater grace shall be given thee when thou dost perfectly resign thy self and not turn back to take thy self again Christian. Lord how often shall I resign my self and wherein shall I forsake my self Christ. Always and every hour as well in little things as in great I do except nothing but do require that thou be naked and void of all things Otherwise how canst thou be mine and I thine unless both within and without thou be free from all self will And how much the sooner thou dost this so much the better it will be with thee and how much the more fully and sincerely thou doest it so much the more shalt thou please me and so much the more shalt thou gain 2.
I delight to think of spiritual things For whatsoever I love thereof do I willingly speak and hear and carry home with me the forms the Ideas and representations thereof But blessed is that Man that for thee O Lord dismisseth all creatures that violently resisteth nature and through fervor of spirit crucifieth the lusts of the flesh that so with a serene conscience he may offer pure prayer unto thee and be meet to be admitted into the Angelical quire all earthly things both outwardly and inwardly being excluded CHAP. XLIX Of the desire of everlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly CHrist. Son when thou perceivest the desire of everlasting bliss to be given thee from above and desirest to depart out of the Tabernacle of this body that thou mayest behold my brightness without shaddow of turning open thy heart wide and receive this holy inspiration with thy whole desire Give greatest thanks to the Heavenly goodness that dealeth with thee so favorably visiteth thee mercifully stirreth thee up fervently holdeth thee up powerfully lest through thine own weight thou fall down to the things of Earth Neither dost thou obtain this by thy own thought or endeavor but by the mere dignation of Heavenly grace and divine favor to the end that thou mayest make a further progress in holiness and obtain greater humility and prepare thy self for future battels and endeavor to cleave unto me with the whole affection of thy heart and serve me with a fervent desire 2. Son the fire burneth many times but the flame ascendeth not up without smoak so likewise the desires of some Men burn towards Heavenly things and yet they are not free from temptation of carnal affection and therefore it is not altogether purely for the honor of God that which they so exactly request of him Such is also oftentimes thy desire which thou hast pretended to be so serious For that is not pure and perfect which is tinctured with the love of thine own proper commodity and interest 3. Ask not that which is delightful and profitable to thee but that which is acceptable to me and appertaineth to my honor for if thou judgest aright thou oughtest to prefer and follow my appointment rather than thine own desire or any desired thing I know thy desire and have heard thy frequent groans Now thou wouldest enjoy the glorious liberty of the Sons of God now doth the everlasting habitation and the Heavenly Country replenished with all joy delight thee but that hour is not yet come as yet there is another time to wit a time of war a time of labor and trial Thou desirest to be filled with the chiefest good but thou canst not attain it for the present I am he saith the Lord whom thou must patiently wait for until the Kingdom of God doth come 4. Thou art yet to be tryed upon Earth and to be exercised in many things Comfort shall be sometimes given thee but the abundant fulness thereof shall not be granted Take courage therefore and be valiant as well in doing as in suffering things contrary to nature Thou oughtest to put on the new Man and to be changed into another Man Thou must oftentimes do that which thou wouldest not and leave undone that thou wouldest do That which is pleasing to others shall go well forward that which thou wishest shall not speed That which others say shall be heard what thou sayest shall be nothing regarded Others shall ask and shall receive Thou shalt ask and not obtain 5. Others shall be great in the praise of Men but of thee there shall be no speech To others this or that shall be committed but thou shalt be accounted fit for nothing At this nature will sometimes be troubled and it is much if thou bearest it with silence In these and many such like a faithful Servant of the Lord is wont to be tried how he can deny and break himself in all things There is scarce any thing wherein thou hast had such need to dye to thy self as in seeing and suffering those things that are contrary to thy will especially when that is commanded which seemeth unto thee inconvenient or less profitable And for that thou being placed under authority darest not resist higher power therefore it seemeth hard to thee to walk at the beck of another and to leave all thine own opinion 6. But consider Son the fruit of these labors the end near at hand and the reward exceeding great and thou shalt be so far from sustaining them grievously that thou wilt take great comfort of thy patience For in regard of that little of thy will which now thou willingly forsakest thou shalt always have thy will in Heaven There thou shalt find all that thou wilt or canst desire there thou shalt enjoy all good without fear of losing it there shall thy will be ever one with me it shall not covet any outward or private thing There no Man shall withstand thee no Man complain of thee no Man hinder thee nothing come against thee but all things desired shall be there together present and refresh thy whole affection and fill it up to the brim There I will give thee glory for the reproach which here thou sufferedst the garment of praise for heaviness for the lowest place a kingly Throne for ever there shall the fruit of obedience appear the labor of repentance rejoyce and humble subjection shall be gloriously crowned 7. Now therefore be humbly obedient unto all and regard not who said or commanded this but take great heed that whether thy Superior or thy inferior or thine equal require any thing of thee or do insinuate their desire thou take it all in good part and endeavor to fulfil it with a sincere will Let one seek this another that let him ' glory in this the other in that and be praised a thousand thousand times but do thou neither rejoyce in this nor in that but in the contempt of thy self and only in my good pleasure and honor This art thou to wish that whether it be thy life or death God may be always glorified in thee CHAP. L. How a disconsolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God CHristian Lord God Holy Father be thou blessed both now and for evermore because as thou wilt so is it done and what thou doest is good Let thy Servant rejoyce in thee not in himself nor in any thing else for thou alone art the true gladness thou art my hope and my crown thou art my joy and my honor O Lord. What hath thy Servant but what he hath received from thee even without any merit of his Thine is all that thou hast given and whatsoever thou hast made I am poor and in labors from my youth and sometimes my soul is sorrowful even unto tears sometimes also it is troubled in it self by reason of evils which hang over mine head 2. I long after the joy of
Cross did suffer and die for salvation of Mankind CHAP. III. That it is profitable to communicate often The voice of the Disciple BEhold O Lord I come unto thee that I may be comforted in thy gift and be delighted in thy holy banquet which thou O God hast prepared in thy goodness for the poor Behold in thee is all whatsoever I can or ought to desire thou art my salvation and my redemption my hope and my strength my honor and my glory make joyful therefore this day the soul of thy Servant for that I have lifted it up to thee O Lord Jesus I desire to receive thee now with devotion and reverence I do long to bring thee into my house that with Zacheus I may obtain to be blessed by thee and to be numbred amongst the Children of Abraham My soul thirsteth to receive thy body my heart desireth to be united with thee 2. Give thy self to me and it sufficeth for besides thee no comfort is available I cannot be without thee nor live without thy visitation And therefore I must often come unto thee and receive thee for the welfare of my soul lest perhaps I faint in the way if I be deprived of thy Heavenly food For so most merciful Jesus thou once didst say preaching to the people and curing sundry diseases I will not send them home fasting lest they faint in the way Deal thou therefore in like manner now with me who hast vouchsafed to leave thy self in the Sacrament for the comfort of the faithful For thou art the sweet refection of the soul and he that eateth thee worthily shall be partaker and heir of everlasting glory It is necessary for me that do often fall and sin and so quickly wax dull and faint that by frequent prayer and confession and receiving of thy holy body I renew cleanse and inflame my self lest perhaps by long abstaining I should fall from my holy purpose 3. For the imaginations of Man are prone unto evil from his youth and unless some divine remedy help him he quickly slideth to worse This holy Communion therefore draweth back from evil and strengtheneth in good For if I be now so often slack and cold when I communicate or celebrate what would become of me if I received not this remedy and sought not after so great an help Though every day I be not fit nor well prepared to communicate I will endeavor notwithstanding at due times to receive the divine mysteries and to be partaker of so great a grace For this is one chief comfort of a faithful soul whilest she wandreth from thee in this mortal body that being often mindful of her God she receive her beloved with a devout mind 4. O the wonderful condescent of thy mercy towards us that thou O Lord God the Creator and giver of life to all spirits dost vouchsafe to come unto a poor soul and with thy whole Deity and Humanity to replenish her hunger O happy mind and blessed soul that obtains to receive thee her Lord God with devout affection and in receiving of thee to be filled with spiritual joy O how great a Lord doth she entertain How beloved a guest doth she harbor How pleasant a companion doth she receive How faithful a friend doth she take in How lovely and noble a spouse doth she embrace She embraceth him who is to be loved above all that is beloved and above all things that may be desired Let Heaven and Earth and all their furniture be silent in thy presence for what praise and beauty soever they have it is received from thy bounty and shall not equal the beauty of thy Name whose wisdom is infinite CHAP. IV. That many benefits are bestowed upon them that communicate devoutly The voice of the Disciple MY Lord God prevent thy Servant with the blessings of thy sweetness that I may approach worthily and devoutly to thy glorious Sacrament stir up my heart unto thee and deliver me from all dulness visit me with thy salvation that I may taste in spirit thy sweetness which plentifully lieth hid in this Sacrament as in a fountain Enlighten also my eyes to behold so great a mystery and strengthen me to believe it with undoubted faith For it is thy work and not Mans power thy sacred institution not Mans invention For no Man is of himself able to comprehend and understand these things which surpass the understanding even of Angels What therefore shall I unworthy sinner dust and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mystery 2. O Lord in the simplicity of my heart with a good and firm faith and at thy commandment I come unto thee with hope and reverence and do truly believe that thou art present in the Sacrament Thy will is that I receive thee and that by love I unite my self unto thee Wherefore I implore thy mercy and do crave thy special grace to the end I may wholly melt and flow over with love unto thee and hereafter never harbor any external comfort For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soul and body the remedy of all spiritual weakness hereby my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations overcome or weakned greater grace is infused virtue begun increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and love inflamed and enlarged 3. For thou hast bestowed and still oftentimes dost bestow many benefits in this Sacrament upon thy beloved ones that communicate devoutly O my God the Protector of my soul the strengthner of humane frailty and the giver of all inward comfort Thou impartest unto them much comfort against sundry tribulations and liftest them up from the depth of their own dejectedness to hope in thy protection and dost inwardly refresh and illustrate them with new grace so that they who before Communion felt themselves heavy and indisposed afterwards being refreshed with Heavenly meat and drink do find in themselves a great change to the better And in such a way of dispensation thou dealest with thy elect that they may truly acknowledg and patiently prove how great their own infirmity is and what goodness and grace they receive from thee For they of themselves are cold dull and undevout but by thee they are made fervent chearful and full of devotion For who is there that approaching humbly unto the fountain of sweetness doth not carry away from thence at least some little sweetness Or who standing by a great fire receiveth not some small heat thereby Thou art a fountain always full and overflowing a fire ever burning and never decaying 4. Wherefore if I cannot draw out of the full fountain it self nor drink my fill I will notwithstanding set my lips to the mouth of this Heavenly conduit that I may draw from thence at least some small drop to refresh my thirst that so I may not be wholly dried up And though I be not altogether Heavenly nor so inflamed as the Cherubins and Seraphins notwithstanding I will
much the more and higher things doth he understand without labor for that he receiveth intellectual light from above A pure sincere and stable Spirit is not distracted though it be employed in many works for that it works all to the honor of God and inwardly being still and quiet seeks not it self in any thing it doth Who hinders and troubles thee more than the unmortified affections of thine own heart A good and godly Man first of all disposeth within himself those things which he is outwardly to act neither do they draw him to the desires of an inordinate inclination but he ordereth them according to the prescript of right reason Who hath a greater combat than he that laboreth to overcome himself This ought to be our endeavor to conquer our selves and daily to wax stronger and to make a further growth in holiness 4. All perfection in this life hath some imperfection mixt with it and no knowledg of ours is without some darkness An humble knowledg of thy self is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning yet learning is not to be blamed nor the mere knowledg of any thing whatsoever to be disliked it being good in it self and ordained by God but a good conscience and a vertuous life is always to be preferred before it But because many endeavor rather to get knowledg than to live well therefore they are often deceived and reap either none or very slender profit of their labors 5. O if Men bestowed as much labor in the rooting out of vices and planting of vertues as they do in moving of questions Neither would there so much hurt be done nor so great scandal be given in the world nor so much looseness be practised in religious Houses Truly at the day of Judgment we shall not be examined what we have read but what we have done not how well we have spoken but how religiously we have lived Tell me now where are all those Doctors and Masters with whom thou wast well acquainted whilst they lived and flourished in learning Now others possess their livings and perhaps do scarce ever think of them In their life-time they seemed something but now they are not spoken of 6. O how quickly doth the glory of the world pass away O that their life had been answerable to their learning then had their study and reading been to good purpose How many perish in this world by reason of vain-learning who take little care of the serving of God And because they rather choose to be great than humble therefore they become vain in their imaginations He is truly great that is great in charity He is truly great that is little in himself and that maketh no account of any height of honor He is truly wise that accounteth all earthly things as dung that he may gain Christ. And he is truly learned that doeth the will of God and forsaketh his own will CHAP. IV. Of wisdom and providence in our actions WE must not give ear to every saying or suggestion but ought warily and leisurely to ponder things according to the will of God But alas such is our weakness that we rather often believe and speak evil of others than good Those that are perfect Men do not easily give credit to every thing one tells them for they know that humane frailty is prone to evil and very subject to fail in words 2. It is great wisdom not to be rash in thy proceedings nor to stand stiffely in thine own conceits as also not to believe every thing which thou hearest nor presently to relate again to others what thou hast heard or dost believe Consult with him that is wise and conscientious and seek to be instructed by a better than thy self rather than to follow thine own inventions A good life maketh a Man wise according to God and giveth him experience in many things How much the humbler one is in himself and more subject and resigned unto God so much the more prudent shall he be in all his affairs and enjoy greater peace and quiet of heart CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures TRuth not eloquence is to be sought for in holy Scripture Each part of the Scripture is to be read with the same Spirit wherewith it was written We should rather search after our spiritual profit in the Scriptures than subtilty of speech We ought to read plain and devout books as willingly as high and profound Let not the authority of the Writer offend thee whether he be of great or small learning but let the love of pure truth draw thee to read Search not who spake this or that but mark what is spoken 2. Men pass away but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever God speaks unto us sundry ways without respect of persons Our own curiosity often hindreth us in reading of the Scriptures when as we will examine and discuss that which we should rather pass over without more ado If thou desire to reap profit read humbly plainly and faithfully never desire the estimation of learning Inquire willingly and hear with silence the words of holy Men dislike not the parables of the Elders for they are not recounted without cause CHAP. VI. Of inordinate affections WHensoever a Man desireth any thing inordinately he is presently disquieted in himself The proud and covetous can never rest The poor and humble in Spirit live together in all peace The Man that is not yet perfectly dead to himself is quickly tempted and overcome in small and trifling things The weak in Spirit and he that is yet in a manner carnal and prone to sensible things can hardly withdraw himself altogether from earthly desires And therefore he is often afflicted when he goeth about to withdraw himself from them and easily falleth into indignation when any opposition is made against him 2. And if he hath followed therein his appetite he is presently disquieted with remorse of conscience for that he yielded to his passion which profiteth him nothing to the obtaining of the peace he sought for True quietness of heart therefore is gotten by resisting our passions not by obeying them There is no peace in the heart of a carnal Man nor of him that is addicted to outward things but in the spiritual and fervent Man CHAP. VII Of flying vain hope and pride HE is vain that putteth his trust in Man or Creatures Be not ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ nor to be esteemed poor in this world Presume not upon thy self but place thy hope in God Do what lieth in thy power and God will assist thy good affection Trust not in thine own knowledg nor in the subtilty of any living Creature but rather in the grace of God who helpeth the humble and humbleth those that are self-presuming 2. Glory not in wealth if thou have it nor in friends because potent but in God who giveth all things and above all desireth to give thee himself
and purer at the beginning of our conversion than after many years of our profession Our fervor and profiting should increase daily but now it is accounted a great matter if one can retain but some part of his first zeal If we would but a little force our selves at the beginning then should we be able to perform all things afterwards with ease and delight 6. It is a hard matter to leave that to which we are accustomed but harder to go against our own wills But if thou dost not overcome little and easie things how wilt thou overcome harder things Resist thy inclinatiou in the very beginning and unlearn evil customes lest perhaps by little and little they draw thee to greater difficulty O if thou didst but consider how much inward peace unto thy self and joy unto others thou shouldst procure by demeaning thy self well I suppose thou wouldst be more careful of thy spiritual profiting CHAP. XII Of the profit of adversity IT is good that we have sometimes some troubles and crosses for they often make a Man enter into himself and consider that he is here in banishment and ought not to place his trust in any worldly thing It is good that we be sometimes contradicted and that there be an evil or a lessening conceit had of us and this although we do and intend well These things help often to the attaining of humility and defend us from vain glory for then we chiefly seek God for our inward witness when outwardly we be contemned by Men and when there is no credit given unto us 2. And therefore a Man should settle himself so fully in God that he need not to seek many comforts of Men. When a good Man is afflicted tempted or troubled with evil thoughts then he understandeth better the great need he hath of God without whom he perceiveth he can do nothing that is good Then also he sorroweth lamenteth and prayeth by reason of the miseries he suffereth Then he is weary of living longer and wisheth that death would come that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. Then also he well perceiveth that perfect security and full peace cannot be had in this world CHAP. XIII Of resisting temptations SO long as we live in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation for as it is written in Iob The life of Man is a warfare upon earth Every one therefore ought to be careful about his temptations and to watch in prayer lest the Devil find an advantage to deceive him who never sleepeth but goeth about seeking whom he may devour No Man is so perfect and holy but hath sometimes temptations and we cannot be altogether without them 2. Temptations are often profitable to Men though they be troublesome and grievous for in them Man is humbled purged and instructed All the Saints have passed and profited through many tribulations and temptations and they that could not bear temptations became reprobate and fell away There is no order so holy nor place so secret where there be not temptations or adversities 3. There is no Man that is altogether free from temptations whilst he liveth on earth for in our selves is the root thereof being born with inclination to evil When one temptation or tribulation goeth away another cometh and we shall ever have something to suffer because we are fallen from the state of our felicity Many seek to flie temptations and do fall more grievously into them By flight alone we cannot overcome but by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies 4. He that only avoideth them outwardly and doth not pluck them up by the roots shall profit little yea temptations will the sooner return unto him and he shall feel himself in a worse case than before By little and little and by patience with longanimity through Gods help thou shalt more easily overcome than with violence and thine own importunity Often take counsel in temptations and deal not roughly with him that is tempted but give him comfort as thou wouldst wish to be done to thy self 5. The beginning of all evil temptations is inconstancy of mind and little confidence in God For as a Ship without a stern is tossed to and fro with the waves so the Man that is negligent and leaveth his purpose is many ways tempted Fire trieth Iron and temptation a just Man We know not oftentimes what we are able to do but temptations do shew us what we are We must be watchful especially in the beginning of the temptation for the enemy is then more easily overcome if he be not suffered to enter the door of our hearts but be resisted without the gate at his first knock Wherefore one said Obsta principiis c. Withstand the beginnings for an after-remedy comes often too late First there cometh to the mind a bare cogitation of evil then a strong imagination thereof afterward delight and an evil motion and then consent and so by little and little our wicked enemy getteth entrance whilst he is not resisted in the beginning And how much the longer one is negligent in resisting he becomes daily so much the weaker in himself and the enemy stronger against him 6. Some suffer greatest temptations in the beginning of their conversion others in the latter end others again are much troubled almost through the whole time of their life Some are but easily tempted according to the wisdom and equity of the divine appointment which weigheth the states and deserts of Men and ordaineth all things for the welfare of his chosen ones 7. We ought not therefore to despair when we are tempted but so much the more fervently to pray unto God that he will vouchsafe to help us in all tribulations who surely according to the words of St. Paul will give with the temptation such issue that we may be able to bear it Let us therefore humble our selves under the hand of God in all temptations and tribulations for he will save and exalt the humble in spirit 8. In temptations and afflictions Man is proved how much he hath profited and his reward is thereby the greater and his graces do more eminently shine forth Neither is it any such great thing if a Man be devout and fervent when he feeleth no affliction but if in time of adversity he bear himself patiently there is hope then of great proficiency in grace Some are kept from great temptations and are often overcome in small ones which do daily occur to the end that being humbled they may never presume on themselves in great matters who are baffled in so small things CHAP. XIV Of avoiding rash judgment TUrn thine eyes unto thy self and beware thou judg not the deeds of other Men. In judging of others a Man laboreth in vain often erreth and easily sinneth but in judging and discussing of himself he always laboreth fruitfully We often judg of things according as we fancy them for private affection bereaves us easily
they daily use How great zeal and care had they of their spiritual proficiency How strong a combat had they for the overcoming of their lusts How pure and upright intentions kept they unto God! In the day they labored and in the night they attended to continual prayer although when they labored also they ceased not from mental prayer 3. They spent all their time with profit every hour seemed short for the service of God and by reason of the great sweetness they felt in contemplation they forgot the necessity of corporal refreshments They renounced all riches dignities honors friends and kinsfolk they desired to have nothing which appertained to the world they scarce took things necessary for the sustenance of life they grieved to serve their bodies even in necessity They were poor in earthly things but very rich in grace and virtues Outwardly they wanted but inwardly they were refreshed with grace and divine consolation 4. They were strangers to the world but near and familiar friends to God They seemed to themselves as nothing and despicable to this present world but they were precious and beloved in the eyes of God They were grounded in true humility lived in simple obedience walked in love and patience and therefore they profited daily in spirit and obtained great grace in Gods sight They were given for an example to all religious Men and they should more provoke us to endeavor after spiritual proficiencies than the number of the luke-warm livers should prevail to make us remiss 5. O how great was the fervor of all religious persons in the beginning of their holy institution How great was their devotion to prayer What ambition to excel others in virtue How exact discipline then flourished How great reverence and obedience under the rule of their Superiors observed they in all things Their footsteps yet remaining do testifie that they were indeed holy and perfect Men who fighting so valiantly trodd the world under their feet Now he is greatly accounted of that transgresseth not and that can with patience endure that which he hath undertaken 6 O the coldness and negligence of our times that we so quickly decline from our first fervor and are come to that pass that very sloth and coldness of spirit maketh our own life tedious unto us Would to God the desire to profit in virtue did not wholly sleep in thee who hast often seen the many examples of devout and religious persons CHAP. XIX Of the exercise of a good and religious person THe life of a good and religious person ought to be adorned with all virtues that he may inwardly be such as outwardly he seemeth to Men. And with reason thou oughtest to be much more within than is perceived without For God beholdeth us whom we ought most highly to reverence wheresoever we are and walk in purity like Angels in his sight Daily should we renew our purposes and stir up our selves to fervor as though this were the first day of our conversion and to say Help me my God in this my good purpose and in thy holy service and grant that I may now this day begin perfectly for that which I have done hitherto is nothing 2. According to our purpose shall be the success of our spiritual profiting and much diligence is necessary to him that will profit much And if he that firmly purposeth often faileth what shall he do that seldom purposeth any thing or with little resolvedness It may fall our sundry ways that we leave off our purpose and the light omission of spiritual exercises seldom passes without some loss to our souls The purpose of just Men depends upon Gods grace and not upon their own wisdom upon whom they always rely for whatsoever they take in hand For Man doth purpose but God doth dispose neither is the way of Man in himself 3. If an accustomed exercise be sometimes omitted either for some act of piety or profit to my brother it may easily afterwards be recovered again But if out of a slothful mind or out of carelesness we lightly forsake the same it is a great offence against God and will be found to be prejudicial to our selves Let us do the best we can we shall easily fail in many things yet must we always purpose some certain course and especially against those vices which do most of all molest us We must diligently search into and set in order both the outward and the inward Man because both of them are expedient to our coming forward in godliness 4. If thou canst not continually recollect thy self yet do it sometimes at the least once a day to wit at morning or at night In the morning fix thy good purpose and at night examine thy self what thou hast done how thou hast behaved thy self in thought word and deed for in these perhaps thou hast often offended both God and thy neighbor Gird thy loyns like a Man against the vile assaults of the Devil bridle thy riotous appetite and thou shalt be the better able to keep under all the unruly motions of the flesh Be thou at no time idle altogether but either reading or writing or praying or meditating or endeavoring something for the publick good As for bodily exercises they must be used with great discretion neither are they to be practised of all Men alike 5. The exercises that are not common are not to be exposed to publick view for things private are practised more safely at home Nevertheless thou must beware thou neglect not that which is common and be more ready for what is private But having fully and faithfully accomplished all thou art bound and enjoyned to do if thou hast any spare time betake thee to thy self as thy devotion shall require All cannot use one kind of exercise but one is more convenient for this person another for that according to the seasonableness of times also divers exercises are fitting Some sute better with us on working days other on holy days some we have need of in the time of temptation and of others in time of peace and quietness Some we mind when we are pensive and other some when we rejoyce in the Lord. 9. When chief Festivals draw near good exercises are to be renewed and the prayers of holy Men more fervently to be implored From feast to feast we should make some good purpose as though we were then to depart out of this world and to come to the everlasting feast in Heaven Therefore ought we carefully to prepare our selves at holy times and to live more devoutly and to keep more exactly all things that we are to observe as though we were shortly at Gods hands to receive the reward of our labors 7. But if it be deferred let us think with our selves that we are not sufficiently prepared and unworthy yet of so great glory which shall be revealed in us in due time and let us endeavor to prepare our selves better for our departure Blessed is that servant
be cast upon thee For the love of Jesus maketh a man to despise himself A lover of Jesus and of the Truth and a true inward Christian and one free from inordinate affections can freely turn himself unto God and lift himself above himself in Spirit and with the greatest enjoyment of his Soul rest in God 7. He that judgeth of all things as they are and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God than men He that can live inwardly and make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of Religious exercises A Spiritual man quickly recollecteth himself because he never poureth out himself wholly to outward things He is not hindred by outward labor or business which may be necessary for the time But as things fall out so he frameth himself unto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth not for the strange and perverse carriages of men So much is a man hindred and distracted by how much he draweth external matters unto himself 8. If all went well with thee and if thou wert all purged all things would fall out to thy good and advantage But many things displease and often trouble thee because thou art not yet perfectly dead unto thy self nor separated from all earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the heart of man as the impure love to Creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of Heaven and often receive internal joy CHAP. II. Of humble submission REspect not much who is with thee or who is against thee But endeavor and take care that God may be with thee in every thing thou doest Have a good Conscience and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hold thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord will help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliver thee and therefore thou oughtest to resign thy self unto him It belongs to God to help and to deliver from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the keeping us more humble that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himself for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and delivereth the humble he loveth and comforteth the humble unto the humble man he enclineth himself unto the humble he giveth great Grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him unto Glory Unto the humble he revealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inviteth him unto himself The humble person though he suffer shame is yet in peace for that he resteth in God and not in the World Do not think that thou hast profited any thing unless thou esteem thy self inferior to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable Man FIrst keep thy self in peace and then mayst thou pacifie others A peaceable man doth more good than he that is well Learned A passionate man turneth even good into evil and easily believeth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good He that is well in peace is not suspicious of any But he that is discontented and troubled is tossed with divers suspicions He is neither quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speak and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do He considereth what others are bound to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himself First therefore have a careful zeal over thy self and then thou mayst justly shew thy self zealous also of thy neighbors good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine own deeds and thou wilt not receive the excuses of others It were more meet that thou didst accuse thy self and excusest thy Brother If thou wilt be born withal bear also with another Behold how far off thou art yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moved with indignation but only against himself It is no great matter to converse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition for that is naturally pleasing to all and every one willingly enjoyeth peace and loveth those best that agree with him But to be able to live peaceably with unquiet and perverse men or with the disorderly or such as contradict us is a great grace and a very commendable and manly deed 3. Some there are that keep themselves in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselves nor suffer others to be in peace Some there are who are troublesome to others but always more troublesome to themselves And others there are that keep themselves in peace and labor to bring others unto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering than in not feeling adversities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himself in peace He is a conqueror of himself a Lord of the world a friend of Christ and heir of Heaven CHAP. IV. Of a pure mind and upright intention WIth Two wings Man is lifted up from earthly vanities that is with simplicity and purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity doth intend God Purity doth apprehend and take him No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from all inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing else but the will of God and the good of thy neighbor thou shalt enjoy internal liberty If thy heart were sincere and upright then every creature would be unto thee a looking glass of life and a book of holy doctrine There is no creature so little and abject that representeth not the goodness of God 2. If thou wert inwardly good and pure then thou wouldest be well able to see and understand all things without any impediment A pure heart penetrateth Heaven and Hell Such as every one is inwardly so he judgeth outwardly If there be joy in the world surely a Man of a pure heart possesseth it And if there be any where tribulation and affliction an evil conscience best feels it As Iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh all bright like fire so he that wholly turneth himself unto God is purged from all fulness and slothfulness and is changed into a new Man 3. When one beginneth to wax cold then he is afraid of a small labor and willingly receiveth external comfort But when he once beginneth to overcome himself perfectly and to walk manfully in the way of God then he esteemeth those things to be light which before seemed grievous unto him CHAP. V Of the consideration of ones self WE cannot trust much to our selves for that grace oftentimes and understanding is wanting There is but little light in us and that which we have
goods And he that loseth Jesus loseth too much and more than the whole world He is most poor that liveth without Jesus and he is most rich that is well with Jesus 3. It is a piece of great skill to know how to converse with Jesus and great wisdom to know how to keep Jesus Be humble and peaceable and Jesus will be with thee Be devout and quiet and Jesus will stay with thee Thou mayest soon drive away Jesus and lose his grace if thou turn aside to outward things And if thou shouldest drive him from thee and lose him unto whom wilt thou flie and what friends wilt thou then seek Without a friend thou canst not well live and if Jesus be not above all a friend unto thee thou shalt be too sorrowful and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or rejoyce in any other It is better for thee to have all the world against thee than Jesus offended with thee Amongst all things therefore that be dear unto thee let Jesus alone be thy chiefest beloved 4. Love all for Jesus but Jesus for himself Jesus Christ alone is singularly to be beloved who alone is found to be good and faithful above all friends For him and in him let as well friends as foes be dear unto thee and all these are to be prayed for that all may know and love him Never desire to be singularly commended or beloved for that appertaineth only unto God who hath none like unto himself Neither do thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy heart on the love of any but let Jesus be in thee and in every good Man 5. Be pure and free within and intangle not thy heart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked and to carry a pure heart to God if thou wouldest be free to consider and see how sweet the Lord is And truly unless thou be prevented and drawn by his grace thou shalt never attain to that happiness to forsake and cast off all that thou alone mayest be united to him alone For when the grace of God cometh unto a Man then he is made able for all things And when it goeth away he is poor and weak and as it were left only unto the lash and scourge of every adversary In this thou oughtest not to be dejected nor despair but to resign thy self with all indifferency unto the will of God and to bear all things that befal thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night cometh day and after a tempest fair weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no hard matter to despise humane comfort when we have divine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane and divine comfort and for the Glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of heart and to seek himself in nothing nor to regard his own merit What great matter is it if thou be chearful and devout at the coming of grace This hour is wished for of all Men. He rideth easily enough whom the grace of God carrieth And what marvel if he feel not his burden who is born up by the Almighty and led by the soveraign guide 2. We are always willing to have something for our comfort and a Man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy martyr St. Laurence overcame the world with his Prelates because he despised whatsoever seemed delightsom in the world and for the love of Christ patiently suffered Sixtus to be taken from him whom he most dearly loved He overcame therefore the love of Man by the love of the Creator and he rather chose the divine good pleasure than humane comfort See thou also learn to forsake some necessary thing and a beloved friend for the love of God Be not grieved when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 3. A Man must fight long and mightily with himself before he get the full victory over himself and be able to draw his whole heart in to God When a Man trusteth in himself he easily slideth unto humane comforts but a true lover of Christ and a diligent follower of virtue betakes not himself to humane comforts nor seeketh such sensible sweetnesses but rather hard exercises and to sustain great labors for Christ. 4. When therefore spiritual comfort is given thee from God receive it thankfully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed up joy not too much neither do thou presume vainly but be rather the more humble for that gift and more wary and sollicitous in all thine actions for that hour will pass away and temptation will succeed When consolation is taken from thee despair not presently but with humility and patience wait for the Heavenly visitation for God is able again to give thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange unto them that have experience in the way of God for the great Saints and ancient prophets had oftentimes experience of such kind of vicissitudes 5. For which cause one under the enjoyment of divine favor said I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved But in the want of this he addeth what he found in himself saying thou turn'dst thy face from me and I became troubled Yet doth he not despair in the midst of these changes but more earnestly prayeth unto the Lord and saith Unto thee O Lord will I cry and I will pray unto my God Lastly he receiveth the fruit of his prayer and witnesseth that he was heard saying The Lord hath heard me and taken pity on me the Lord is become my helper But wherein Thou hast turned saith he my sorrow into joy and thou hast compassed me about with gladness If great Saints have been so dealt withal we that are weak and poor ought not to despair if we be sometimes fervent and sometimes cold for the Spirit cometh and goeth according to the good pleasure of his will For which cause blessed Job saith Thou visitest him early in the morning and suddenly thou provest him 6. Whereupon therefore can I hope or wherein ought I to trust but in the great mercy of God alone and in the only hope of heavenly grace For whether I enjoy the presence of good Men or religious brethren or faithful friends or holy Books or excellent treatises or sweet songs and hymns all these help little and have little savor when grace forsaketh me and I remain left in mine own poverty At such time there is no better remedy thà n patience and the ordering of my self according to the will of God 7. I never found any so religious and devout that hath not had sometimes a withdrawing of grace or felt not some decrease of zeal There was never Saint so highly rapt and illuminated who first or last was not tempted For he is not
worthy of the high contemplation of God who hath not been exercised with some tribulation for Gods sake For temptation going before is wont to be a sign of ensuing comfort And unto those that are proved by temptations heavenly comfort is promised He that shall overcome saith he I will give him to eat of the Tree of life 8. But divine comfort is given that a Man may be stronger to bear adversities There followeth also temptation lest he should wax proud of any good The Devil sleepeth not neither is the flesh as yet dead therefore cease not to prepare thy self to the battel For on thy right hand and on thy left are enemies that never rest CHAP. X. Of thankfulness for the grace of God WHy seekest thou rest since thou art born to labor Dispose thy self to patience rather than to comfort and to the bearing of the Cross rather than to gladness What secular person is there that would not willingly receive spiritual joy and comfort if he could always have it For spiritual comforts exceed all the delights of the world and pleasures of the flesh All worldly delights are either vain or unclean but spiritual delights are only pleasant and honest sprung from virtue and infused by God into pure minds But no Man can always enjoy these divine comforts according to his desire for the time of temptation is not long away 2. False freedom of mind and great trust of our selves is very contrary to heavenly visitations God doth well in giving the grace of comfort but Man doth evil in not returning all again unto God with thanksgiving And therefore the gifts of grace cannot flow in us because we are not thankful to the giver and return them not wholly to the head-fountain For grace ever attendeth him that is thankful and from the proud shall be taken that which is wont to be given to the humble 3. I desire not that consolation that taketh from me compunction nor do I affect that contemplation which leadeth to haughtiness of mind For all that is high is not holy nor all that is sweet good nor every desire pure nor every thing that is dear unto us is grateful to God I do willingly accept of that Grace whereby I may ever become more humble and affected with an holy fear and be made more ready to forsake my self He that is taught by the gift of grace and school'd by the scourge of the withdrawing thereof will not dare to attribute any good to himself but will rather acknowledg himself poor and naked Give unto God that which is Gods and ascribe unto thy self that which is thine own that is give thanks to God for his grace and acknowledg that nothing is to be attributed to thee but only sin and the punishment due thereunto 4. Set thy self always in the lowest place and the highest shall be given thee for the highest consist not without the lowest The chiefest Saints before God are the least in their own judgments and how much the more glorious so much the humbler within themselves Those that are full of truth and Heavenly glory are not desirous of vain glory Those that are firmly setled and grounded in God can no way be proud And they that ascribe all unto God what good soever they have received seek not glory one of another but would have that glory which is from God alone and desire above all things to praise God in himself and in all the Saints and always tend unto the same 5. Be therefore thankful for the least gift so shalt thou be meet to receive greater Let the least be unto thee also as the greatest and the most contemptible as an especial gift If thou consider the worth of the giver no gift will seem little or of too mean esteem For it is not little that is given by the most high God Yea if he should give punishment and stripes it ought to be grateful for that he doth it always for our welfare whatsoever he permitteth to happen unto us He that desireth to keep the grace of God let him be thankful for the grace given and patient for the taking away thereof Let him pray that it may return Let him be wary and humble lest he lose it CHAP. XI How few the lovers of the Cross of Christ are JEsus hath now many lovers of his Heavenly Kingdom but few bearers of his Cross. He hath many desirous of comfort but few of tribulation He findeth many companions of his table but few of his abstinence All desire to rejoyce with him few will suffer any thing for him or with him Many follow Jesus unto the breaking of Bread but few to the drinking of the Cup of his passion Many reverence his miracles few follow the ignominy of his Cross. Many love Jesus as long as adversities happen not Many praise and bless him as long as they receive any comforts from him But if Jesus hide himself and leave them but a while they fall either into complaint or into too much dejection of mind 2. But they that love Jesus for Jesus and not for some comfort of their own bless him in all tribulation and anguish of heart as well as in the greatest comfort And although he should never give them comfort they notwithstanding would ever praise him and always give him thanks 3. O how powerful is the pure love of Jesus which is mixed with no self-love nor proper interest Are not all those to be called hirelings that ever seek comforts Do they not shew themselves to be rather lovers of themselves than of Christ that always think of their own commodity and gain Where may one be found that will serve God freely 4. It is hard to find any one so spiritual that is stript of the love of all earthly things For where is any one to be found that is indeed poor in spirit and free from all affection of creatures He 's a Jewel of such price as is scarce to be met with in these parts If a Man should give all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should outwardly express great repentance yet it is little And if he should attain to all knowledg he is yet afar off And if he should be of great virtue and very fervent devotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him What is that that leaving all he forsake himself and go wholly from himself and retain nothing of self-love And when he hath done all that he knoweth to be done let him think that he hath done nothing 5. Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirm himself to be an unprofitable servant as our Saviour hath said when you shall have done all things that are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants Then may he be truly poor and naked in spirit and say with the Prophet I am alone and poor yet no man richer no Man
God let him do therein as shall best please him Set thou thy self to suffer tribulations and account them the greatest comforts for that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory which is to come although thou alone couldest suffer them all 11. When thou shalt come to this estate that tribulation shall seem sweet and savory unto thee for Christ then thou mayst think it is well with thee for thou hast found a Paradise upon earth As long as it is grievous to thee to suffer and that thou desirest to fly it so long shalt thou be ill at ease and the tribulation thou flyest will follow thee every where 12. If thou dost set thy self to that thou oughtest to wit to suffer and to die to thy self it will quickly be better with thee and thou shalt find peace Although thou shouldest have been rapt even unto the third Heaven with Paul thou art not for this secured that thou shalt suffer no adversity I saith Jesus will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name It remaineth therefore that thou suffer if thou wilt love Jesus and perpetually serve him 13. O that thou wert worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus how great glory would it be unto thee what joy to all the Saints of God how great edification also to thy neighbor For all do commend patience though few desire to suffer With great reason thou oughtest to be willing to suffer a little for Christ since many suffer far greater things for the world 14. Know for certain that thou oughtest to lead a dying life And how much the more every one dyeth to himself so much the more doth he begin to live to God No Man is fit to attain unto Heavenly things unless he submit himself to the bearing of adversities for Christ. Nothing is more grateful unto God nothing more wholesome to thee in this world than to suffer willingly for Christ. And if it were in thy choice thou shouldest rather wish to suffer Adversities for Christ than to enjoy the delight of many comforts because hereby thou shouldest be more like unto Christ and more conformable to all the Saints For our worthiness and the proficiency of our spiritual estate consisteth not in many sweetnesses and comforts but rather in suffering great afflictions and tribulation 15. If there had been any better thing and more profitable to the health of Man than suffering surely Christ would have shewed it by word and example But he plainly exhorteth all the Disciples that followed him and all that desire to follow him to the bearing of the Cross and saith If any will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me So that when we have read and searched all let this be the last conclusion That by many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God THE THIRD BOOK CHAP. 1. Of the inward Speech of Christ unto a Faithful Soul I Will hear what the Lord God will speak in me Blessed is the soul that heareth the Lord speaking in her and receiveth from his mouth the word of comfort Blessed are those ears that receive the sound of the divine voice and listen not to the whisperings of the world Blessed indeed are those ears that hearken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly but unto the truth which teacheth inwardly Blessed are the eyes that are shut to outward things but open to those things that are internal Blessed are they that enter into the inward things and endeavor to prepare themselves more and more by daily exercises to the attaining of Heavenly secrets Blessed be they that delight to converse with God and rid themselves of all worldly impediments 2. Consider these things my soul and shut up the door of thy sensual desires that thou mayest hear what thy Lord God speaketh in thee Thus saith thy beloved I am thy safety thy peace and thy life Keep thy self with me and thou shalt find peace Leave all transitory things and seek those that be everlasting What are all temporal things but deceiving snares And what do all creatures avail thee if thou be forsaken by the Creator Forsake therefore all earthly things and labor to please thy Creator and be Faithful unto him that thou mayest attain unto the true happiness CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardly without noise of words CHristian Speak Lord for thy servant heareth I am thy servant grant me unsterstanding that I may know thy testimonies Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth Let thy speech distil as the dew upon my soul. The Children of Israel in times past said unto Moses Speak thou unto us and we will hear thee Let not the Lord speak unto us lest we die Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and earnestly intreat Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Let not Moses speak unto me nor any of the prophets but do thou rather speak my Lord God the inspirer and enlightner of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2. They indeed may sound forth words but they cannot give spirit and life they speak marvellous well but if thou be silent they inflame not the heart They may teach the letter but thou openest the sense They bring forth mysteries but thou unlockest the meaning of sealed things They declare thy commandments but thou helpest to fulfil them They shew the way but thou givest strength to walk in it They work only exteriorly but thou instructest and enlightnest the heart They water outwardly but thou givest fruitfulness They make a noise with words but thou givest understanding to the hearing 3. Let not therefore Moses speak unto me but thou my Lord God the everlasting Truth lest I die and prove unfruitful if I be warned outwardly only and not inflamed within lest the word heard and not fulfilled known and not loved believed and not observed turn to my condemnation Speak therefore Lord for thy servant heareth for thou hast the words of everlasting life Speak unto me to the comfort of my soul and to the amendment of my whole life and to thy praise and glory and everlasting honor CHAP. III. That the words of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not CHrist. Son hear my words words of greatest sweetness excelling all the knowledg of the Philosophers and wise Men of this world My words are spirit and life not to be weighed by the understanding of Man They are not to be drawn to vain liking but to be heard with silence and to be received with all humility and great affection Christian. And I said Blessed is the Man whom thou shalt instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy law that thou mayest give him rest from the evil days and that he be not destroyed upon earth 2. Christ. I saith our Lord have taught the
patiently for God the present evils of this Dost thou think that the Men of this World suffer little or nothing Look into the life even of them that live in greatest delicacies and thou shalt find it otherwise But thou wilt say they have many delights and follow their own wills and therefore they make small account of their tribulations Be it so that they have whatsoever they will but how long dost thou think it will last 3. Behold the wealthy of this World vanish away like smoak and there shall be no memory of their joys past Yea even while they live also they rest not in them without bitterness irksomeness and fear For the self same thing in which they take their delight is oftentimes unto them the cause of sorrow They have their desert who for that they inordinately seek and follow delights they do not enjoy them but with shame and sorrow 4. O how short and false how inordinate and filthy are all those pleasures Yet so Drunken and Blind are Men that they understand it not But like Dumb beasts for a little pleasure of a corruptible life they incur the Eternal death of their Soul Do not thou therefore my Son go after thy Lusts but forsake thine own will Psal. 37. Delight in the Lord and he will give thee the desires of thy heart 5. For if thou desire true delight and to be more plentifully comforted by me behold in the contempt of all wordly things and in the cutting off all base delights shall be thy blessing and abundant comforts shall be given thee And how much the more thou withdrawest thy self from all comfort of Creatures so much the sweeter and more powerful consolations shalt thou find in me But at first thou canst not attain unto them without fome sorrow nor without a laborious conflict Thy old custom will make resistance and thou must overcome it with another custom that is better Thy flesh will murmur but thou must bridle it with fervor of Spirit The old Serpent will sting and trouble thee but by Prayer he shall be put to flight and by profitable industry thou shalt stop the way against him CHAP. XIII Of the humble obedience of a Subject according to the example of Christ. CHrist. Son he that endeavoreth to withdraw himself from obedience withdraweth himself from grace And he that seeketh things private shall lose the publick He that doth not willingly and freely submit himself to his Superior it is a sign that his flesh is not as yet perfectly obedient unto him but oftentimes kicketh and murmureth against him Learn therefore readily to submit thy self to thy Superior if thou desirest to subdue thine own flesh For the outward enemy is sooner overcome if the inward Man be not wasted There is no worse enemy nor more troublesome to the Soul than thou art unto thy self not agreeing well with the Spirit Thou must of necessity have a true contempt of thy self if thou wilt prevail against flesh and blood 2. Because thou lovest thy self as yet too inordinately therefore thou art afraid to resign thy self wholly to the will of others But what great matter is it if thou that art Dust and nothing submit thy self to a Man for God when I the Almighty and highest Soveraign who created all things of nothing humbly submitted my self unto Man for thee I became the most humble and abject of all Men that thou mightest overcome thy pride with my humility Learn to obey thou that art Dust. Learn to humble thy self thou Earth and Clay and put thy self under the Feet of all Men. Learn to break thine own will and to yield thy self to all Subjection 3. Be vehement against thy self and suffer not pride to live in thee But so humble and submit thy self to all that every one may go over thee and tread thee as dirt of the Streets under their Feet Vain Man what canst thou complain of What canst thou answer foul sinner to them that reprove thee who hast so often offended God and so many times deserved Hell But mine eye hath spared thee because thy Soul was precious in my sight that thou mightest know my Love and always remain thankful for my benefits and that thou mightest continually give thy self to true subjection and humility and mightest bear patiently the contempt of thy self CHAP. XIV Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered lest we be exalted in our good deeds Christian. Thou thunderest forth thy Judgments over me O Lord and shakest all my bones with fear and trembling and my Soul is fore afraid I stand astonished when I consider that the Heavens are not pure in thy sight If thou hast found wickedness in Angels and hast not pardoned them what shall become of me Stars fell from Heaven and what do I presume that am Dust They whose works seemed commendable fell into the lowest misery And I have seen them that did eat the Bread of Angels to be delighted with the husks of Swine 2. There is therefore no sanctity if thou O Lord withdrawest thy hand No wisdom availeth if thou ceasest to Govern No strength helpeth if thou leavest to defend No chastity is secure if thou dost not protect it No custody of our own profitable if thy sacred watchfulness be not present For if we be left of thee we sink and perish but if thou vouchsafest to visit us we are raised up and live We are inconstant but by thee we are established we wax cold but by thee we are enflamed 3. O how meanly and humbly ought I to think of my self how little yea nothing ought I to esteem it if I seem to have any good O Lord with what profound Humility ought I to submit my self to thy bottomless judgements where I find my self to be nothing else but nothing and nothing O unmeasurable weight O sea that can never be passed over where I find my self only and wholly nothing Where then is the lurking hole of glory Where is the confidence conceived of virtue All vain glorying is swallowed up in the deep of thy judgements over me 4. What is all flesh in thy sight Shall the clay glory against him that frameth it How can he be lifted up with vain words whose heart is truly subject to God All the world cannot lift him up whom the Truth hath subjected unto it self Neither shall he be moved with the Tongues of all his praisers that hath setled his whole hope in God For as for them that speak behold they all are nothing they shall pass away with the sound of their words but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever CHAP. XV. How we are to stand affected and what we are to say in every thing which we desire CHrist. Son say thus in every thing Lord if it be pleasing unto thee let this be done in this sort Lord if it be to thy honor let this be done in thy Name Lord if thou seest it expedient for me and allowest it
be specially beloved if thou be in great devotion and sweetness for by these things a true lover of virtue is not known neither doth the profiting and perfection of a Man consist in these things 3. Christian. Wherein then Lord Christ. In offering thy self with all thy heart unto the will of God not seeking thine own interest neither in great nor little neither for a time nor for ever so that thou keepest one and the same countenance with thanksgiving both in prosperity and in adversity weighing all things with an equal balance If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee thou preparest thy heart to suffer greater things and dost not justify thy self as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but justifiest me in whatsoever I appoint and praisest my Holy name Then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace And thou shalt have undoubted hope to see my face again with great joy And if thou attain to the full contempt of thy self then shalt thou enjoy as great abundance of peace as this thy state of sojourning in this World is capable of CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble Prayer sooner gaineth than Reading CHristian Lord it is the work of a perfect Man never to slack his mind from the attentive thought of heavenly things and as it were to pass without care amongst many cares not like a dull sluggard but by the priviledge of a free mind adhering to no creature with inordinate affection 2. I beseech thee my most gracious God preserve me from the cares of this Life lest I should be too much entangled thereby And for the many necessities of the body lest I should be caught by pleasure And from whatsoever is an obstacle to the Soul lest broken with troubles I should be overthrown I say not from those things that worldly vanity so greatly desireth But from those miseries that as punishments and as the common curse of mortality do weigh down and hinder the Soul of thy Servant that it cannot enter into freedom of Spirit as often as it would 3. O my God the ineffable sweetness embitter unto me all carnal comfort which may draw me away from the love of eternal things and may wickedly allure me to it self by the beholding of some present delightsome good Let me not be overcome O Lord let me not be overcome by flesh and blood Let not the World and the short glory thereof deceive me Let not the Devil and his subtil fraud supplant me Give me strength to resist patience to suffer and constancy to persevere Give me instead of all the comforts of the World the most sweet unction of thy Spirit and in lieu of carnal Love pour into my Soul the Love of thy name 4. Behold Meat Drink Cloaths and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body are burdensome unto a fervent Spirit Grant me to use such refreshments moderately and not to be intangled with an over great desire of them It is not lawful to cast away all things for that nature is to be sustained But to desire superfluities and those things that are rather pleasurable thy holy Law forbiddeth For otherwise the flesh would Rebel against the Spirit Herein I beseech thee let thy hand govern me and teach me that I may not exceed CHAP. XXVII That private Love most hindreth from the chiefest Good CHrist. Son thou oughtest to give all for all and to retain nothing of thy self Know that the Love of thy self doth hurt thee more than any thing in the World According to the Love and affection thou bearest them so doth every thing cleave unto thee more or less If thy love be pure simple and well ordered thou shalt be free from the bondage of things Covet not that which thou mayest not have Be not willing to have that which may hinder thee and deprive thee of inward liberty It is strange that thou committest not thy self wholly unto me from the bottom of thy heart with all things that thou canst desire or have 2. Why dost thou consume thy self with vain grief Why art thou tired with needless cares stand to my good will and thou shalt suffer no detriment at all If thou seekest this or that and wouldest be here or there to enjoy thine own commodity and pleasure thou shalt never be at quiet nor free from trouble of mind for in every thing somewhat will be wanting and in every place there will be some that will cross thee 3. Not every external thing therefore attained and heaped together helpeth thee but it rather availeth if thou despise it and dost utterly root it out from thy heart which thou must not understand only of thy revenues and wealth but of thy seeking after honor also and thy desire of vain praise all which do pass away with this world The place availeth little if the spirit of fervor be wanting neither shall that peace which is sought abroad long continue if the state of thy heart be destitute of a true foundation that is unless thou stand stedfast in me thou mayest change but not better thy self For when occasion doth happen thou shalt find not only those things which thou soughtest to fly but a great deal more A Prayer for purging the heart and obtaining of Heavenly wisdom 4. Christian. Strengthen me O God by the grace of thy holy Spirit Give me to be strengthened in my inward Man and to empty my heart of all unprofitable care and anguish not to be drawn away with the sundry desires of any thing either mean or precious but to look upon all things as passing away and that my self do also pass away together with them for nothing is permanent under the Sun where all things are vanity and vexation of spirit O how wise is he that so considereth them 5. Grant me Lord Heavenly wisdom that I may learn above all things to seek and find thee above all things to relish thee and to love thee and to think of all other things as they are according to the disposal of thy wisdom Grant me prudently to avoid him that flatters me and to suffer patiently him that contradicts me For it is a great part of wisdom not to be moved with every blast of words nor to give ear to an ill flattering Syren for so we shall go on securely in the way which we have begun CHAP. XXVIII Against the Tongues of Slanderers CHrist. Son take it not grievously if some think evil of thee and speak that which thou wouldest not willingly hear Thou oughtest to judg the worst of thy self and to think no Man weaker than thy self If thou dost walk spiritually thou wilt not much esteem of flying words It is no small wisdom to keep silence in an evil time and inwardly to run to me and not to be troubled with the judgment of Men. 2. Let not thy peace be in the
cause there are so few contemplative Men to be found for that few can wholly withdraw themselves from things created and perishing 2. But to do this there is need of much grace which may raise up the soul and enravish it above it self And unless a Man be raised up in spirit and freed from all creatures and wholly united unto God whatsoever he knoweth and whatsoever he hath is of little account A long while shall he be little and lie grovelling below that esteemeth any thing great but the one only infinite and eternal Good For whatsoever is not God is nothing and ought to be accounted as nothing There is great difference between the wisdom of an illuminated and religious Man and the knowledg of a learned and studious Clerk For more noble is that learning which floweth from above from the divine influence than that which is painfully gotten by the wit of Man 3. There are many that desire contemplation but they endeavor not to practise those things that are required thereunto Another great let is this that we rest in signs and sensible things and take little care about the perfect mortification of our selves I know not what it is nor by what spirit we are led nor what we pretend we that seem to be called spiritual that we take so much pains and so great care for transitory and low things and fearce or seldom think of our own inward concernments with the full recollection of our minds 4. Alas presently after a slight recollection we break out again and weigh not our words with diligent examination We mind not where our affections lie nor be wail the impurity that is in all our actions For all flesh had corrupted his way and therefore did that general flood ensue Sith our inward affection then is much corrupted it must needs be that our actions proceeding thence be corrupted as a sign of the want of inward vigor From a pure heart proceedeth the fruit of a good life 5. We ask how much one hath done but how virtuously or vigorously it was done is not so diligently considered We inquire whether he be strong rich beautiful handsome a good writer a good singer or a good laborer but how poor he is in spirit how patient and meek how religious and spiritual is seldom spoken of Nature respecteth the outward things of Man Grace turneth it self to the inward That is often deceived This hath her trust in God to the end she be not deceived CHAP. XXXII Of denial of our selves and forsaking all inordinate desires CHrist. Son thou canst not possess perfect liberty unless thou wholly deny thy self All such are fettered and in bondage as seek their proper interest wholly and are lovers of themselves covetous curious wanderers always seeking pleasure and not the things of Jesus Christ but oftentimes devising and framing that which will not continue for all that is not of God shall perish Keep this short and compleat saying Forsake all and thou shalt find all Leave thy inordinate desires and thou shalt find rest Consider this well and when thou hast fulfilled it thou shalt understand all 2. Christian. Lord this is not one days work nor Childrens sport yea in this short word all the perfection of religious persons is included Christ. Son thou must not go back nor straightways be dejected when thou hearest of the way of the perfect but rather be stirred up to higher things or at least in desire sigh after them I would it were so well with thee and thou wert come up to this pitch that thou wert no longer a lover of thy self but didst stand meerly at my beck and at his whom I have appointed a Father over thee then thou shouldest exceedingly please me and all thy life would pass away in joy and peace Thou hast yet many things to forsake which unless thou wholly resign up unto me thou shalt not attain to that which thou desirest I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest become rich that is Heavenly wisdom which treadeth under foot all base and earthly things Set little by earthly wisdom and care not fondly to please others or thy self 3. I said that the mean things must be bought with precious things and such as were with Men of great esteem For the true Heavenly wisdom seemeth mean and of small account and is scarce thought of by Men for that esteemeth not highly of it self nor seeketh to be magnified upon Earth many praise it from the teeth outward but in their life they are far from it yet is it the precious Pearl which is hidden from many CHAP. XXXIII Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our final intentions unto God Christ. Son trust not to thy present affection for it will quickly be changed into another thing As long as thou livest thou art subject to mutability even against thy will so that now thou art merry now sad now quiet now troubled now devout now undevout now diligent now slow now grave now light But he that is wise and well instructed in the spirit standeth fast upon these mutable things not heeding what he feeleth in himself or which way the wind of instability bloweth but that the whole intention of his mind may tend to the right and best end For thus he may continue one and the self same and unshaken in the midst of so many various events directing continually the single eye of his intention unto me 2. And how much purer the eye of the intention is with so much the more constancy doth he pass through the several kinds of storms But in many things the eye of a pure intention waxeth dimsighted for it quickly looketh upon some delightsom object that it meeteth withal And it is rare to find one that is wholly free from all blemish of self-seeking So the Jews in times past came into Bethany to Martha and Mary not for Jesus alone but to see Lazarus also The eye of our intention therefore is to be purged that it may be single and right and to be directed unto me beyond the manifold diversity of all mediums and whatsoever earthly objects come between CHAP. XXXIV That God is sweet above all things and in all things to him that loveth CHristian Behold my God and all things What would I have more and what more happy thing can I desire O sweet and savory word but to him that loveth the Word not the world nor those things that are in the world My God and all things Enough is said to him that understandeth and to him that loveth it is pleasant to repeat it often For when thou art present all things do yield delight but when thou are absent every thing becomes irksom Thou givest quiet of heart and much peace and pleasant joy Thou makest us think well of all things and praise thee in all things neither can any thing please long without thee but if it be pleasant and grateful thy grace
less to be loved and praised then if thou didst fill me with Heavenly comforts 3. In thee therefore O Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I find all to be weak and unconstant whatsoever I behold out of thee For neither can many friends avail nor strong helpers aid nor wise councellors give any profitable answer nor the Books of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliver nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy self dost not assist help strengthen comfort instruct and keep us 4. For all things that seem to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity without thee are nothing and do bring indeed no felicity at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the height of life the depth of wisdom and the strongest comfort of thy servants is to trust in thee above all things To thee therefore do I lift up mine eyes in thee O my God the Father of mercies I put my trust Bless and sanctifie my soul with thy Heavenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternal glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy glory that may offend the eyes of thy Majesty According to the greatness of thy goodness and multitude of thy mercies look upon me and hear the prayer of thy poor Servant who is far exiled from thee in the land of the shadow of death Protect and keep the soul of thy Servant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by thy grace accompanying me direct it by the way of peace to the country of everlasting light Amen THE FOURTH BOOK A devout Exhortation unto the holy Communion The voice of Christ. COme unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you saith the Lord. The bread which I will give is my flesh for the life of the world Take ye and eat that is my body that is given for you Do this in remembrance of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him The words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and life CHAP. I. With how great reverence Christ ought to be received The voice of the disciple THese are thy words O Christ the everlasting Truth though not spoken all at one time nor written in one and the self same place Because therefore they are thine and true they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me They are thine and thou hast spoken them and they are mine also because thou hast spoken them for my salvation I willingly receive them from thy mouth that they may be the deeper imprinted in my heart These so gracious words so full of sweetness and love do encourage me but mine own offences do dishearten me and my impure conscience driveth me back from the receiving of so great mysteries The sweetness of thy words doth encourage me but the multitude of my sins doth oppress me 2. Thou commandest me to come confidently unto thee if I will have part with thee and to receive the food of immortality if I desire to obtain everlasting life and glory Come saist thou unto me all ye that labor and are burdened and I wil refresh you O sweet and loving word in the ear of a sinner that thou my Lord God shouldest invite the poor and needy to the participation of thy most holy body But who am I Lord that I may presume to approach unto thee Behold the Heavens cannot contain thee and thou saist Come ye all unto me 3. What meaneth this so gracious a condescension and this so loving invitation How shall I dare to come that know not any good in my self whereupon I may presume How shall I bring thee unto my House that have so often offended thy most gracious countenance The Angels and the Archangels honor thee the Saints and just Men do fear thee and saist thou Come ye all unto me Unless thou O Lord didst say it who would believe it to be true And unless thou didst command it who would attempt to come unto thee Behold Noah a just Man labored a Hundred years in the making of the Ark that he might be saved with a few and how can I in one hours space prepare my self to receive with reverenee the Maker of the world 4. Moses thy great Servant and thy especial friend made an Ark of incorruptible wood which also he covered with most pure Gold to put the Tables of the Law therein and I a corruptible creature how shall I dare so lightly to receive the Maker of the Law and the giver of life Solomon the wisest of the Kings of Israel bestowed Seven years in building a magnificent Temple to the praise of thy Name and celebrated the feast of Dedication thereof Eight days together he offered a Thousand peace-offerings and he solemnly set the Ark in the place prepared for it with the sound of Trumpets and joy and I the most miserable and poorest of Men how shall I bring thee into my House that can scarce spend one half hour religiously And I wish I could once spend about one half hour in a worthy and due manner 5. O my God how much did they endeavor to please thee and alas how little is that which I do How little time do I spend to prepare my self to receive I am seldom wholly recollected very seldom free from all distraction and yet surely no unbecoming thought ought to appear in the comfortable presence of thy Deity nor any creature wholly take me up for I am not to harbor an Angel but the Lord of Angels 6. And yet there is great difference between the Ark of the Covenant with its reliques and thy most pure body with its unspeakable virtues between those legal Sacrifices figures of future things and the true Sacrifice of thy body the complement of all antient Sacrifices Why therefore am I not more zealous in thy venerable presence Wherefore do I not prepare my self with greater care to receive thy holy things sith those holy antient Patriarchs and Prophets yea Kings also and Princes with the whole people have shewed such an affectionateness of devotion to thy divine service 7. The most devout King David danced before the Ark of God with all his might calling to mind the benefits bestowed in times past upon his Forefathers He made instruments of sundry kinds he published Psalms and appointed them to be sung with joy he also oftentimes sung to the harp being inspired with the grace of the holy Ghost He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart and with pleasant voices every day to bless and praise him If so great devotion was then used and such celebrating of divine praise before the Ark of the Testament what reverence and devotion is now to be performed by me and all Christian people at the Sacrament in receiving the
the holy of Holies Thanks be unto thee Lord Jesus the light of everlasting light for the table of holy Doctrine which thou hast afforded us by thy Servants the Prophets and Apostles and other Teachers 5. Thanks be unto thee Creator and Redeemer of Man who to manifest thy love to the whole world hast prepared a great supper wherein thou hast set before us to be eaten not the typical Lamb but thine own most sacred Body and Blood rejoycing all the faithful with thy holy banquet and replenishing them to the full with thy Cup of salvation in which are all the delights of Paradise and the holy Angels do feast with us but yet with a more happy sweetness 6. O how great and honorable is the office of Gods Ministers to whom it is given with sacred words to consecrate the Sacrament of the Lord of glory with their lips to bless with their hands to hold with their mouth to receive and also to administer to others O how clean ought to be those hands how pure that mouth how holy that body how unspotted that heart where the Author of purity so often entreth Nothing but what is holy no word but good and profitable ought to proceed from his mouth which so often receiveth the Sacrament of Christ. 7. Simple and chaste ought to be the eyes that use to behold the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted up to Heaven that use to receive the Creator of Heaven and Earth Unto the Priests especially it is said in the Law be ye holy for that I your Lord God am holy 8. Assist us Almighty God with thy grace that we who have undertaken the office of Priest-hood may serve thee worthily and devoutly in all purity and with a good conscience And if we live not in so great innocency as we ought to do grant us notwithstanding in due manner to bewail the sins which we have committed and in the spirit of humility and with the full purpose of a good will to serve thee hereafter more fervently CHAP. XII That he who is to communicate ought to prepare himself with great diligence The voice of the beloued I Am the lover of purity and the giver of all sanctity I seek a pure heart and there is the place of my rest Make ready and adorn for me the great Chamber and I will keep with thee the Passover amongst my Disciples If thou wilt have me come unto thee and remain with thee purge out the old leaven and make clean the habitation of thy heart shut out the whole world and all the throng of sins sit like a sparrow solitary upon the house-top and think of thy offences in the bitterness of thy soul. For every lover prepareth the best and fairest room for his beloved and herein is known the affection of him that entertaineth his beloved 2. Know thou notwithstanding that the merit of no action of thine is able to make this preparation sufficient although thou shouldest prepare thy self a whole year together and think on nothing else Thou art of my mere grace and favor suffered to come to my Table like a beggar invited to dinner to a rich Man who hath nothing else to return him for his benefits but to humble himself and give him thanks Do what lieth in thee and do it diligently not for custome not for necessity but with fear and reverence and affection receive the body of thy beloved Lord God who vouchsafeth to come unto thee I am he that have called thee I have commanded it to be done I will supply what is wanting in thee come and receive me 3. When I bestow the grace of devotion give thanks to thy God for it is given thee not for that thou art worthy but because I have mercy on thee If thou have it not but rather dost feel thy self dry continue in Prayer sigh and knock and give not over until thou art meet to receive some crum or drop of saving grace Thou hast need of me not I of thee neither comest thou to sanctifie me but I come to sanctifie and make thee better Thou comest that thou maist be sanctified by me and united unto me that thou maist receive new grace and be stirred up again to amendment Neglect not this grace but prepare thy heart with all diligence and receive thy beloved into thy soul. 4. But thou oughtest not only to prepare thy self to devotion before Communion but carefully also to conserve thy self therein after thou hast received the Sacrament Neither is the careful guard of thy self afterwards less required than devout preparation before For a good guard afterwards is the best preparation again for the obtaining of greater grace because that a Man becometh therefore very indisposed if he presently pour himself out overmuch to outward comforts Beware of much talk remain in some secret place and enjoy thy God For thou hast him whom all the world cannot take from thee I am he to whom thou oughtest wholly to give thy self thatso thou maist live hereafter not in thy self but in me without all solicitude CHAP. XIII That a devout soul ought to desire with her whole heart to be united unto Christ in the Sacrament The voice of the Disciple HOw may I obtain this O Lord that I may find thee alone and open my whole heart unto thee and enjoy thee as my soul desireth And that no Man may look towards me nor any creature move me or eye me but thou alone maist speak unto me and I to thee as the beloved is wont to speak to his beloved and a friend to banquet with his friend This I pray for this I desire that I may be wholly united unto thee and may withdraw my heart from all created things and more and more by sacred Communion and often celebrating learn to relish Heavenly and eternal things O Lord God when shall I be wholly united to thee and absorpt by thee and be altogether forgetful of my self Thou in me and I in thee and so grant us both to continue in one 2. Thou art truly my beloved the choicest amongst Thousands in whom my soul is well pleased to dwell all the days of her life Thou art indeed my peacemaker in whom is greatest peace and true rest without whom is labor and sorrow and infinite misery Thou art indeed a God that hidest thy self and thy counsel is not with the wicked but thy speech is with the humble and simple of heart O Lord how sweet is thy spirit who to the end thou mightest shew thy sweetness toward thy Children vouchsafest to feed them with the bread which descendeth from Heaven and is full of all sweetness Surely there is no other Nation so great that hath God nigh unto them as thou our God art present to all thy faithful ones unto whom for their daily comfort and for the raising up of their hearts to Heaven thou givest thy self to be eaten and enjoyed 3. For what other Nation is
there so famous as the Christian People or what creature under heaven so beloved as a religious soul to whom God himself cometh to feed her with his glorious flesh O unspeakable grace O admirable condescent O infinite love singularly bestowed upon Man But what shall I give unto the Lord in return of his grace for so eminent an expression of thy love There is no other thing more acceptable that I am able to give than to give my heart wholly to my God and to unite it most inwardly unto him Then shall all my inward parts rejoyce when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God Then he will say unto me if thou wilt be with me I will be with thee And I will answer him Vouchsafe O Lord to remain with me and I will gladly be with thee This is my whole desire that my heart be united unto thee CHAP. XIV Of the fervent desire of some devout Persons to receive the Body of Christ. The voice of the Discipie O How great is thy goodness O Lord which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee When I remember some devout persons who come unto thy Sacrament O Lord with greatest devotion and affection I am oftentimes confounded and blush within my self that I come so formally and coldly to thy Table of the holy Communion that I remain so dry and without heart affection That I am not wholly inflamed in thy presence my God nor so earnestly drawn and affected as many devout persons have been who out of a vehement desire of the Communion and a feeling affection of heart could not contain themselves from weeping but with the desire both of soul and body they earnestly longed after thee O God the living Fountain being not otherwise able to allay nor satisfie their hunger but by receiing thy body with all joy and spiritual greediness 2. O the most ardent faith of those persons A clear argument of thy sacred presence For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread whose heart burneth so mightily within them whilst thou O blessed Jesus conversest with them Such desire and devotion so vehement love and fervency is oftentimes far from me Be merciful unto me good Jesus sweet and gracious Lord and grant me thy poor needy creature to feed sometimes at least in this holy Communion somewhat of thy hearty affectionate love that my faith may be more strengthened my hope in thy goodness increased and that my charity once perfectly enflamed after the tasting of Heavenly Manna may never decay 3. Thy mercy O Lord is able to give me the grace I desire and to visit me most mercifully with the spirit of fervor when it shall please thee For although I burn not with so great desire as those that are so singularly devoted to thee yet notwithstanding by thy grace I desire to have this great inflamed desire praying and craving that I may participate with all such thy fervent lovers and be numbred among them in their holy company CHAP. XV. That the grace of devotion is obtained by humility and denial of our selves The voice of the Beloved THou oughtest to seek the grace of devotion instantly to ask it earnestly to expect it patiently and with confidence to receive it gratefully to keep it humbly to work with it diligently and to commit the term and manner of this Heavenly visitation to God until it shall please him to come unto thee Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thy self when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion and yet not to be too much dejected nor to grieve inordinately God often giveth in a short moment that which he hath long time denied he giveth sometimes in the end that which in the beginning of prayer he deferred to grant 2. If grace should be always presently given and at hand ever with a wish the weak Man could not well bear it Therefore the grace of devotion is to be expected with good hope and humble patience yet impute it to thy self and thy sins when it is not given thee or when it is secretly taken away It is sometimes a small matter that hindereth and hideth grace from us if yet it be to be called small and not rather a great matter that hindereth so great a good And if thou remove this be it great or small and perfectly overcome it thou shalt have thy desire 3. For presently as soon as thou from thy whole heart givest thy self to God and seekest not this nor that for thine own pleasure or will but setlest thy self wholly in him thou shalt find thy self united and quiet for nothing will relish so well and please thee so much as the good pleasure of the divine will Whosoever therefore with a single heart lifteth up his intention to God and purgeth himself from all inordinate love or dislike of any created thing he shall be the most fit to receive grace and meet for the gist of devotion For the Lord bestoweth his blessings there where he findeth the vessels empty And how much the more perfectly one forsaketh these low things and the more he dieth to himself by contempt of himself so much the more speedily grace shall come and enter in more plentifully and raise up higher the heart that is thus free 4. Then shall he see and be filled and wonder and his heart shall be enlarged within him because the hand of the Lord is with him and he hath put himself wholly into his hands for ever Behold so shall the Man be blessed that seeketh God with his whole heart and busieth not his soul in vain This man obtaineth the great favor of divine union in receiving the holy Eucharist for that he respecteth not his own devotion and comfort but above all devotion and comfort the honor and glory of God CHAP. XVI That we ought to manifest our necessities to Christ and crave his grace The voice of the Disciple O Most sweet and loving Lord whom I now desire to receive with all devotion thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I endure with how many sins and evils I am oppressed how often I am grieved tempted troubled and defiled I come unto thee for remedy I crave of thee comfort and succor I speak to him that knoweth all things to whom all my inward parts are open and who can only perfectly comfort and help me Thou knowest what good things I stand in most need of and how poor I am in vertues 2. Behold I stand before thee poor and naked calling for grace and craving mercy Refresh thy hungry beggar inflame my coldness with the fire of thy love inlighten my blindness with the brightness of thy presence Turn all earthly things to me into bitterness all things grievous and cross into patience all low and created things into contempt and oblivion Lift up my heart to thee in Heaven and suffer me not to wander upon Earth Be thou only sweet unto me from henceforth for evermore for thou only