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spirit_n	day_n	ghost_n	holy_a	6,984	5	5.1861	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A72216	The second booke of the dialogues of S. Gregorie the Greate the first pope of that name containing the life and miracles of our Holie father S. Benedict. To which is adioined the fule of the same holie patriarche translated into the Englishe tonge by C.F. priest & monke of the same order.; Dialogi. Part 2. English	Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604.; Batt, Antonie.; Fursdon, John, d. 1638.; Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604. Short treatise touching the confraternitie of the scapular of St. Benedicts order.	1638 (1638)	STC 12350.5; ESTC S125237	72,895	252

day in to the holy mans cell found him weeping bitterly and when he had expected à good while and saw he did not giue ouer although it was his custome in prayer mildely to weepe and not to vse any dolefull lamentations he boldely demanded of him the cause of so great greife To whom the man of God presently replyed All this Monastery I haue built with what soeuere I haue prepared for my Brethren is by the iudgment of Allmighty God deliuered ●o the heathens and I could scarse ob●aine to saue the liues of the monkes ●n this place His words Theoprobus ●eard But wee see them verified in ●he destruction of his Monastery by ●he Longobardes For of late these Longobardes by night when the Re●igious were at rest entred the Monas●ery and ransacked all yet had not ●he power to lay hand on any man But All mighty God fulefilled what he had promised to his faithfull seruant Benedict that although he gaue their goods in to the hands of the paynims yet he praeserued their liues In this blessed Benedict did most clearely resemble S. Paul whose ship with all its goods being lost it pleased God to bestow vpon him the liues of all those who were with him How S. Benedict discouered the hiding of à Flagon of wine CHAP. XVIII OVr Monke Exhilaratus whom you know well on à time was sent by his maister with two wooden vessels we call flagons full of wine to the holy man in his Monastery He brought one but hid the other in the way not withstanding the man of God although he was not ignorant of any thing doue in his absence receiued it thankefully and aduised the boy as he was retourning back in this manner Be sure childe thou drinke not of that flagon which thou hast hid but turne the mouth of it downeward and then thou wilt perceiue what is in it He departed from the holy man much ashamed and desirous to make further triall of what he had heard held the flagon à side and presently there came forth à snake at which the boy was sore afrighted and terrified for the ●uill he had committed How the man of God reprooued à Monke for receiuing certaine napkins CHAP. XIX NOt farr distant from the Monastery was à certaine towne in which no small number of people by the moueing exhortations of Benedict were conuerted from their superstious idolatry In that place were certaine religious women and the seruant of God Benedict vsed to send often some of his Brethren thither to instruct and edifie their soules One day as his custome was he appointed one to goe But the monke that was sent after his exhortation tooke of the Nunnes some small napkins and hid them in his bosome As soone as he came back the holy Father beganne very sharpely to rebuke him saying How hath iniquity entred thy breast The monke was amazed and because he had forgott what he had done he wondred why he was so reprehended To whom the holy Father said What Was not I present when thou tookest the napkins of the hand maids of God and didst put them in thy bosome where vpon he presently fell at the feete of the holy man and repenting his folly threw away the napkins which he had hidde in his bosome How the man of God vnderstood the proud thought of one of his Monkes CHAP. XX. ONe day as the venerable Father late in the euening was at his repast it happened that one of his mōkes who was sonne to à lawyer held the candle to him and whilest the holy man was eating he standing in that manner beganne by the suggestion of pride to say with in himselfe Who is ●e whom I should waite vpon at ta●le or hold the candle vnto with such ●ttendance Who am I who should ●erue him To whom the man of God ●resently turning checked him shar●ely saying signe thy breast Brother what is this you say make the signe of the cross on your breast Then he forth with called vpon the Brethren and willed them to take the candle out of his hande and bad him for that time to ●eaue his attendance and sit downe quietly by him The monke being asked afterward of the Brethren concerning his thoughts at that time confessed to them how he was puffed vp with the spirit of pride and what con●emptible words he harboured in his thought against the man of God By this it was easely to be perceiued that nothing could be kept from the know●edge of venerable Benedict who was ●ble to penetrate the very secret ●houghts of the heart Of two hundred bushels of meale mir●culously brought to the Monastery gate CHAP. XXI AT an other time also in the country of Campania began à grea● famine and great scarcety of victuall● so that all the wheate in Benedict hi● Monastery was spent and but fiu● loaues of bread remained for the Brethrens refection When the venerabl● Father perceiued them sad and discontented he endeauored by à milde an● gentle reproache to reprehend thei● pusillanimitie and with faire promise to comfort them saying why are you sad for want of bread to day you are in want but to morrow you shall haue plenty The next day there were found two hundred sacks of meale before the Monastery gates by whom God● Allmighty sent it as yet no man knoweth Which when the monkes beheld they gaue thankes to God and by ●is were taught in their greatest want ● hope for plenty Peter BVt resolue I pray is it to be thought that this seruant of God ●ad continually the spiritt of prophe●● or onely at certaine times with ●●me discontinuance Gregory THe spirit of prophecy Peter doth not alwayes cast his beames vpon ●●e vnderstanding of the prophets for ●s it is written of the holy Ghost He ●●eatheth where he will so likewise ●ust we conceiue also when he plea●●th And therefore Nathan being de●anded by the king if the might builde ●he temple first aduised him to doe ●● afterward forbad him This was ●he reason that Helyzaeus knew not ●he cause why the woman wept but said to his seruant Who did oppose ●e let her alone for her soule is in anguirh ●● our Lord hath concealed it from me a●● not made it knowne Thus God Al●mighty of his great mercy disposet with singular prouidence to the en● that by giuing the spirit of prophec● some times and at other times with drawing the same the mindes of th● Prophets be both eleuated aboue thēselues and also be truely humbled fo● by receiuing the spirit they may kno● they are inspired by God and again●● when they receiue it not they ma● consider what they are of themselues Peter IT standeth with good reason wha● you haue said but I beseech you prosecute whatels you remember o● the venerable Father Benedict How by à Vision he gaue order to contriuc à Monastery CHAP. XXII AN other time the holy Father was requested by à certaine deuout an to send some of his disciples to ●●ild

conuenience the man of God was at his deuotions in his cell to whō the enemye in an insulting manner appeared and told him he was going t● his Brethren at worke the man of Go● straigh● waise by à messenger aduertised the Brethren there of warning thē to haue à care of themselues for the wicked enimye was at that houre come to molest them Scarce had the messenger told his errand when the malignant spiritt ouer threw the wall that was à building and with the fall thereof bruised à yong Monke sonne to à certaine Senatour Hereat all of them much grieued and discomforted not for the loss of the wall But for the harme of their brother brought the heauy tideing to their venerable Father Benedict who bid them bring the youth to him who could not be carried but in à sheet by reason that not onely his body was bruysed but also his bones crushed with the fall Then he willed them to lay him in his cell vpon his matte where he vsed to pray So causeing the Brethren to goe out he shutt the doore and with more then ordinary deuotion fell to his prayers A wonder to heare the very ●●me how●e he sent him to his worke ●gaine whole and sound as euer he was ●efore to helpe his Brethren in making ●p the wall whereas the enemie ho●ed to haue had occasion to insult ouer Benedict by his death Of Monkes who had eaten out of their Monastery CHAP. XII NOw began the man of God by the spiritt of prophecy to foretell things to come to certifie those that were present with him of things that passed far of For it was the custome of the Monastery that the Brethren sent abroad about any business should neither eate nor drinke till their retourne this in the practise of the rule being carefully obserued one day some Brethren vpon occasion went abroad and were forced to stay later then vsually so that they rested refreshed themselues in the house of à certain deuout woman of their acquaintanc● Afterwards coming home very lat● they asked as was the custome the Abbots blessing Of whom he streigh● way demanded saying where dine● you they answered no where he replyed why doe you lye did you no● goe in to such à womans house eat● you not there such and such meates dranke you not so many cuppes Whe● the venerable Father had told them both the womans lodging the seueral● sorts of meates with the number o● their draughts They all in great terrour fell downe at his feate and with acknowledgemēt of all they had done confessed their fault which he straigh● wayes pardoned perswading himselfe they would neuer after attempt th● like in his absence knowing he was alwayes present with them in spiritt How he reprooued the Brother of Valentinian the Monke for eatinge by the way CHAP. XIII MOreouer the Brother of Valentinian the Monke whom wee mentioned in the beginning was very deuout although but à Saecular he vsed euery yeare once to goe from his dwelling to the Monastery that fasting that he might partake of the prayers of the seruant of God and see his Brother As he was in his way an other trauayler who caryed meate with him put himselfe in to his company and after they had trauayled à good while he said to him Come Brother let vs refresh ourselues least wee faint in the way God forbid answered the other by no meanes Brother for I neuer vse to goe to the venerable Father Benedict but fasting At which answer his fellow trauayler for the present said no more when they had gone à litle farther he moued him againe but he would not consent because he resolued to keepe his fast So the other was à while silent and went on forward with him after they had gone agreat way wearied with long trauaille in their way they came to à meadow and à spring with what else might delight them there to take their repast Then said his fellow trauayler loehere is water heere is à meadow here is à pleasant place for vs to refresh and rest vs à while that we may without endangering our health make an end of our iourney Soe at the third motion these words pleasing his eare and the place his eye he was ouer come consented and eate At the euening he came to the Monastery where conducted to the venerable Father he craued his benediction and prayers But presently the holy man reprooued him for what he had done in the way saying what was it Brother that the malignant enemye suggested to thee in the way by thy fellow traueller The first time he could not preuaile nor yet second but the third time he preuailed and obtained his desire Then the man acknowledging his fault and frailty fell at his feete more sorry for his offence by reason that he perceiued he had offended although absent in the sight of Father Benedict Peter I Discouer in the breast of the holy man the spirit of Helisaeus which was present with his disciple far of him How he discouered the dissimulation of king Totila CHAP. XIV Gregory BE silent Peter with patience that you may vnderstang strange● things For in the time of the Gothes their king informed that the holy man had the gift of prophecy as he went to wards his Monastery he made some stay à litle way of and gaue notice of his coming to whom answer was made from the Monastery that he might come at his pleasure the king of à treacherous nature attempted to trye wheter the man of God had the spirit of prophecy There was one of his followers called Riggo whom he caused to put on his royall robes and buskins on his feete and so commanded him taking on him the kings person to goe forward towards the man of God three of his cheife pages attending vpō him to witt Vsilrike Roderike and Blindine to the end they should waite vpon him in the presence of the seruant of God that so by reason of his attendance and purple robes he might be taken for the king When the said Riggo with his braue apparell and attendance entred the cloister the man of God sate a far of and seing him come so nie as he might heare his voice he c●yed to him saying putt of sonne putt of that thou cariest it is not thine Riggo straight waies fell to the ground sore abashed for hauing praesumed to delude the holy man all his followers likewise fell downe astonished and riseing they durst not approach vnto him but retourned to their king and trembling related vnto him how soone they were discouered How Benedict by prophecy foretold the king and Bishop of Canusina future euents CHAP. XV. AFter this king Totila came himselfe to the man of God whom so soone as he saw sitting à far of he durst not come nigh but fell prostrate to the ground the holy man twice or thrice bad him rise but he durst not get vp then the holy man came himselfe to

the king lifted him vp and sharply reprehendet him for his wicked deedes moreouer he foretold him in few words what should befall him saying much mischeife hast thou done much wickedness hast thou committed at least now giue ouer thy iniquity But I foresee thou wilt enter into Rome thou wilt pass the seas raigne nine yeares and dye the tenth At the hearing where of the king sore apalled craued his prayers and departed from that time forward he was less cruell and not long after he went to Rome thence fayled in to Sicely and the tenth yeare by the iust iudgement of God lost both life crowne moreouer the Bishop of the Diocesse of Canusina vsed to come to the seruant of God and for his vertuous life was much respected He conferring with him concerning the comeing of Totila and the taking of the city of Rome The city doubtelesse said the Bishop wil be so spoiled and dispeopled by this king that it will neuer more be in habited To whom the man of God answered Rome said he shall neuer be destroyed by the paynimes but with lightning tempest and earthquakes shall decay in it selfe The ve●itie of which prophecy is already sufficiently manifested for in this city wee see the walles ruined houses ouerturned and churches throwne downe with tempestuous windes and we may obserue buildings to decay and dayly fall to ruine Although Honoratus his disciple from whose relation I had it told me he heard it not himselfe from his owne mouth but was told it by the Brethren How venerable Benedict for à time disposessed à certaine Clearke from the Diuell CHAP. XVI AT that time one of the cleargie of the church of Aquine was molested with à wicked spirit whom the venerable man Constantius Bishop of that Diocesse had sent to diuers Martyrs shrines to be cured but the holy Martyrs would not free him that the gifts of grace in Benedict might be made manifest He was therefore brought to the seruant of Allmighty God Benedict who with prayers to our Lord Iesus-Christ presently droue out the enemie Hauing cured him he cōmanded him saying Goe and hereafter neuer eate flesh and praesume not to take holy orders for what time soeuer you shall praesume to take holy orders you shall againe become slaue to the diuell The Clearke therefore went his way and as present punishments make deepe impressions he carefully for à while obserued this cōmande But when after many yeares all that were aboue him there in holy orders were dead seeing also his inferiors to be promoted before him by reason of their holy orders he grew carelesse and forgetfull of what the man of God had so long agoe said vnto him so that he like wise went and receiued priest hood when presently the diuell who before had left him againe tooke power of him and never ceased to torment him till he seuered his soule from his body Peter THe holy man I perceiue vnderstood the secret decrees of God in that he knew this Clearke to be deliuered to the power of the enemie lest he should praesume to receiue holy orders Gregory VVHy should not he know the secrete decrees of the diuine prouidence who kept the commandements of God sith it is written that he who adheereth to God is one spirit with him Peter IF he who adheereth to our Lord become one spiritt with him how comes the same excellent Preacher to say who hath knowne the minde of our Lord or who hath bin his counsellour for it seemes altogether vnlikely that he who is made one with an other should not know his minde Gregory HOly men so far as they are one or vnited with God are not ignorant of his ordinances as the same Apostle saith For what man knoweth the things of à man but the spirit of à man that is in him So the things also that are of God no man knoweth but the spirit of God And to shew that he knew the things of God he addeth And we haue receiued not the spirit of this world but the spirit that is of God And againe that eye hath not seene nor eare hath neard neither hath it ascended ●n to the heart of man what things God hath prepared for those that loue him but to vs God hath reuealed by his spirit Peter IF then those thing which appertained to God were reuealed to the said Apostle by the spirit of God What meaneth he to make this praeamble saying O depth of the riches of the wisdome and knowledge of God how incomprehēsible are his iudgments and his wayes vnsearcheable But as I am saying this another quaestion ariseth for the Prophet Dauid saith to our Lord. In my lippes I haue vttered all the iudgments of thy mouth And whereas it is lesse to comprehend or know then to pronounce what is the reason St. Paul should affirme that the iudgements of God are incomprehensible and Dauid professeth not onely to know them but also with his lippes to expresse them Gregory TO both these difficulties I briefely answered before when I said that holy men so far as they are one with God are not ignorant of the mind of our Lord for all that deuoutely seeke God in their deuotion and contemplation are with God but in regard they are depressed with the waight of this corruptible body they are not wholy with God and therefore for as much as they are vnited with God they know his secret iudgements of which likewise they are ignorant for as much as in respect separated from him And so they professe his iudgements incomprehensible which they cannot as yet thoroughly vnderstand But they who in spirit adheere vnto him in this adhaesion to God know his iudgements either by the sacred words of scripture or by hyden reuelations so far as they are capable these therefore they know and declare but they are ignorant of those which God concealeth Where vpon the Prophet Dauid when he had said in my lippes I will pronunce all thy iudgments immediately addeth of thy mouth as if he had said plainely Those iudgments I could both know and pronounce which thou didst tell me for those which thou speakest not thou concealeth from our knowledge Thus the saying of the Prophet agrieth with that of the Apostle for the iudgments of God are both incomprehensible also those which proceed from his mouth are vttered with the lippes of men for being so manifested they may be both conceiued and expressed by men nor can they be concealed Peter BY occasion of the difficulty I propounded you haue explicated and reconciled the testimonies alleadged but if there remaine ought concerning the vertue of this Man I pray declare it How S. Benedict foretold the destruction of his Monastery CHAP. XVII Gregory A Certaine noble man named Theoprobus was by this holy Father S. Benedict conuerted from the pleasures of the world to the Seruice of God who for his vertuous life was very familiar and intimate with him He entering one

the blessed Sacrament saying Goe and with all reuerence lay this host of the body of our Lord vpon his breast and so bury him This done the earth kept his body and neuer after cast it vp By this you perceiue Peter of what merit this man was with our Lord Iesus Christ sith the very earth cast forth the body of him who had not receiued the blessing of Benedict Peter I Doe plainely perceiue it and am much astonished therat Of à Monke who leauing his Monastery met à Dragon in the way CHAP. XXV Gregory ONe of his Monkes of a wandering and vnconstant disposition would by no meanes abide in the Monastery And although the holy mā had often reprooued admonished him of it he remained deaf to all perswasions and oftentimes entreated earnestly to be released from the congregation So the holy Father ouercome with this importunity in anger bid him be gone Scarse was he got out of the Monastery when he met in the way à Dragon that with open mouth made towards him and seeing it ready to deuoure him he beganne to quake tremble crying out alowde helpe helpe for this Dragon will deuoure me The Brethren vpon this suddain noyse ranne out yet saw no Dragon but found the Monke panting and afrighted so they brought him back againe to the Monastery who forth with promised neuer to depart from the Monastery and from that time he remained alwayes constant in his promise as who by the prayers of the holy man was made see the Dragon ready to deuoure him which before he had followed vndiscouered How St. Benedict cured à boy of the leprosy CHAP. XXVI I Will also relate what I heard of à very honorable man named Anthonie who affirmed that à seruant of his Father fell into à leprosie in so much that his haire fell of and his skinne wa● swolne so that he could noe longe hide the deformity of his disease dayly increasing This seruant was sent by the gentlemans Father to the man of God and by him restored to his perfect health How St. Benedict miraculously procured money for à poore man to discharge his debt CHAP. XXVII NOr will I conceale that which his Disciple Peregrine was wont to relate how an honest poore man constrained by necessity of à debt thought his onely remedie was to haue recourse to the man of God So he came to the monastery where meeting with the seruant of God he told him how he was extreamely vrged by his creditour for the payment of twelue shillings The venerable Father answered him that in very deed he had not twelue shillings but yet he comforted his want with good wordes saying goe after two dayes retourne hither againe for at this present I haue it not to giue you These two dayes as his custome was he spent in prayer and vpon the third day when the poore debter came againe there was found thirteene shillings vpon à chest of the Monastery that was full of corne which the man of God caused to be brought him and gaue them to the distressed man that he might pay twelue and haue one to defray his charges But to retourne to the relation of such things as I learned of his disciples of whom I spake in the beginning There was à certaine man had an aduersary who bare him deadely hatred and so great was his malice that he gaue him poison in his drinke which potion although it procured not his death yet it so altered his colour that his body became all speckled like à leapour This man was brought to the holy Father who by his onely touch caused the diuersity of colours to vanish away and restored him to his health How à glasse bottle cast downe vpon stones was not broken CHAP. XXVIII AT such time as the great famine was in Campania the man of God gaue all he had to those he saw in want and necessity in so much that there was no prouision almost left in the spence saue onely à litle oyle in à glasse vessell yet when one Agapitus à subdeacon came humbly entreating to haue à litle oyle giuen him the man of God who had resolued to giue all vpon earth that he might haue all in heauen commanded this litle oyle that was left to be giuen him The Monke who was dispencier heard his command but was loath to fulfill And the holy man à litle after demanded whether he had done what he willed him the Monke answered that he had not giuen it saying that if he should haue giuen that there would be nothing left for the Religious hereat the good Father much displeased bad some other take the glasse bottle in which there remained a little oyle cast it out of the window that nothing of the fruits of disobedience might be left to pester the Monastery which was accordingly done vnder the window was à steepe fall full of huge rough stones vpon which the glasse fell yet it remained as whole and entyre as if it had not bin throwne downe so that neither the glasse was broke nor the oyle spilt which the man of God commanded to be taken vp and giuen to him that asked it Then calling the Monkes together he rebuked the Religious man before them all for his pride want of confidence How an empty tunne was filled with oyle CHAP. XXIX HAuing ended the chapter he and all the Monkes fell to their prayers In the place they prayed was an empty tunne closse couered As the holy man continued his prayer the couer of the said tunne beganne to be heaued vp by the oyle encreasing vnder it which runne ouer the brim of the vessel vpon the floore in great aboundance Which so soone as the seruant of God Benedict beheld he forth with ended his prayer and the oyle ceased to runne ouer Then he admonished the distrustfull and disobedient Monke to haue confidence in God and learne humility So the Brother thus reprehended was much ashamed because the venerable Father did not onely by word admonish him but also did miraculously show the power of Allmighty God Nor could any man afterwardes doubt of what he promised sith as it were in à moment for à glasse bottle almost empty he had restored à tunne full of oyle How he dispossessed à Monke CHAP. XXX ONe day as he was going to S. Iohns chappell which stands vpon the very toppe of the mountaine he mette the subtill enemie vpon à mule in the habit and comportment of à physitian carryeing à horne and à morter who being demanded whither he went answered he was going to the Monkes to minister à potion So the venerable Father Benedict went forward to the chappell to pray and haueing finished retourned backe in great hast for the wicked spirit found one of the ancient Monkes drawing water and praesently he entred into him threw him downe and tortured him pittifully As soone as the holy man retourning from prayer found him thus cruelly tormented he onely gaue him à

haue read the Rule which the Sainct himselfe wrote with his owne handes I praysed it and confirmed it in à holy synod I commanded it to be most diligently obserued by all who shall be admitted to the grace of conuersion through diuers parts of Italy wheresoeuere the Latin tongue is read euen to the ende of the world I doe also confirme the twelue Monasteries which the Sainct erected THE RVLE OF OVR MOST HOLIE FATHER S. BENEDICT PATRIARCHE OF MONCKE THE PROLOGVE OF OVR MOST HOLY FATHER St. BENEDICT TO HIS RVLE HARKEN ô sonne to the precepts of a maister and incline the eare of thy hart willingly to heare the admonition of a pious ●ther and effectually accomplish them That by the labour of obedience thou ●aist returne to him from whom by ●he slouth of disobedience thou hast ●eparted To thee therfore now my ●eech is directed who renouncing ●y owne will being to fight vnder our Lord Christ the true kinge takest to thee the most strong and bright armour of obedience First of all that what good thinge soeuer thou beginst to doe thou begge of him with most earnest praier to perfect it that he who hath now vouchsafed to reckon vs in the number of his children may not herafter be contristated by our ill deeds for wee must soe at all times serue him with the goods he hath bestowed vpon vs that neither as an angry father he may not herafter disinherit his children nor as a dreadfull Lord exasperated by our offences deliuer vs ouer as wicked seruants to perpetuall punishment who would not follow him to glory Let vs therfore at length arise the scripture exciting vs and saying It is now the houre to rise from sleepe And our eyes being opened to the deifying light let vs with astonished eares heare what the diuine voice daily cryeing out admonisheth vs sayeing This day if you shall heare his voyce harden not your harts And againe He that hath eares let him heare what the spirit saith to the Churches and what saith it Come children heare mee I will teach you the feare of our Lord. Runne whilest you haue the light of life least the darknes of death surprize you And our Lord seeking his labourer amongst the multitude to whom here he speaketh sayeth againe Who is the man that will haue life and desireth to see good dayes which if thou hearing answerest I. God saith vnto thee If thou wilt haue true and euerlasting life refraine thy tounge from euill and thy ●ips that they speake not guile Decline from euill and doe good Seeke after peace and pursue it And when you haue done this my eyes shall be vpon you and my eares shall be open to your prayers and before you can call vpon me I will say Behold I am present What thing deare brethren can be more sweet vnto vs then this voyce of our Lord inuiting vs Behold our Lord through his piety sheweth vnto vs the waye of life Our loynes therefore being girt with faith and the obseruance of good workes and our feet shodde by guidāce of the Ghospell of peace let vs walke in his wayes that wee may deserue to see him who hath called vs vnto his kingdome In the tabernacle of whose Kingdome if wee desire to dwell wee must apply our selues to good workes which is the only meanes wherby it is to bee attained But let vs aske our Lord with the Prophet sayeing vnto him Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle or who shall rest in thy holy hill After this question brethren let vs heare our Lord answering and shewing vs the waye that leades to his tabernacle saying He that walketh without spott and worketh iustice He that speaketh truth in his hart that hath not forged guile in his tongue He that hath not done euill to his neighbour and hath not receiued reproch against his neighbour He that reiecting out of his minde the malignant Deuill with all his suggestions hath brought them all to nought and hath taken his beginning thoughts and dasht them against Christ They who feare our Lord doe not take pride in their good obseruance and well doing but knowing that all the good they haue or can doe proceedes not from themselues but is done by our Lord magnifie our Lord thus workinge in thē sayinge with the Prophet Not to vs Lord not to vs but to thy name giue glory So Paule the Apostle did not impute any thinge of his preaching to himselfe saying by the grace of God I'am what I am And aganie he saith He that gloryeth let him glory in our Lord And here vpon also our Lord saith in the Ghospell He that heareth these my words and performeth them I will liken him to a wiseman that hath built his house vpon a roche The floods came the winds blew and beate against that house and it fell not because it was founded vpon a rocke Our Lord fulfilling these things expecteth dayly that wee should by deeds answer to these his holy admonitions Therefore for the amendment of our euills he prolonges the dayes of this our life according to the words of the Apostle saying Knowest thou not that the patience of God bringeth thee to repentance For our pious Lord saith I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he be conuerted and liue Hauing therfore my brethren demanded of our Lord who should be the Inhabitour of his Tabernacle we haue hard what his duty and charge is which if we fulfill we shall be Inheritours of his heauenly Kingdome Now Therefore let vs prepare our harts and bodyes to fight vnder the holy obedience of his commandes and what nature in vs is not able to performe let vs begge of our Lord to supply it with the assistance of his grace And if wee desire to avoyde the paines of Hell and to attaine to euerlasting life whilest yet time serues and whilest wee liue in this mortall flesh and that wee may performe all these things by the light of Grace let vs hasten and doe that now which may be expedient for vs for euer hereafter Wee are therefore now to institute a schoole of the seruice of God In which schoole or institution wee hope nothing shall be ordained too rigourous or burden some But if in somethinges we proceede with a litle seuerity reason so requiring for the amendment of vices or preseruing of charity do not straightwayes for feare there of fly from the way of saluatiō which is always straight and difficult in the beginning But in processe and continuance of this holy course and conuersation the hart being once dilated the way of Gods commandements is runne with vnspeakable sweetnes of loue so as neuer departing from his schoole but perseuering in the monastery in his doctrine vntill death by patience wee participat of the sufferings of Christ that wee may deserue afterwards to bee partakers of his kingdome Amen Of the seuerall kindes or life of Monkes CHAP. I. IT is well knowne that there