in his Passion to redeeme Man from the tyranny of sin satan What greater argument of Love could God give to Miserable Man then this then when the Jews sought to destroy him all mankind had abandond him even then to bestow on us not fading honours riches or pleasures but himselfe who is the Maker of the whole world that as a Ransom to discharge us from our Captivity as a Physitian to cure our Spirituall diseases as a Father to protect us as an Espouse to comfort us as the Earnest of his eternall glory what greater bounty then this If the Jews with so great Reverence assisted at offred up their Sacrifices of beasts surely We should with far greater Veneration piety approach to our Altars whereon the living God in our Nature is offred up a Propitiatiō for the sins of the World a Reconciliation between God Man a Source of all blessings of grace glory No sooner does the Priest pronounce those words whereby that Mystery is wrought but the substance of the bread wine is changed into the body bloud of JESUS CHRIST the sensible elements thereof only remaining there he is whole in every part in all places where he is consecrated without division or multiplication in him selfe or departing from the right hand of the Father Certainly Philothea This guift that bounty these wonders wrought for our reparation from our sinfull state should strongly engage our hearts in Loue Duty to God AFFECTION I adore Thee my soveraign Lord hidden in this Divine Mystery acknowledge Thee to be there really present God Man my Redeemer Sanctifyer Glorifyer Alas My God all my Good how little have I hitherto thought on this thy inestimable love bounty to me whereby to releiue me from the slavery of sensuality satan to heale the deep wounds of my sinfull soul fill it with enlivning sanctifying graces what have I returned to God for all these favours bestowed upon me I will approach to Gods Altar with a repentant heart eate there the bread of salvation will call on the Name of God RESOLUTION I will ever have a lively faith towards this Mystery of the Holy Eucharist confirmed to me by CHRISTS own words the authority of Apostles Fathers the consent of all ancient modern Christians united under one supream head CHRISTS Vicar on Earth I will lay open all my wants weaknessesse before my Soveraign Lord here really present confiding in his comforting helps for the freeing my Mind from distractions Will from sinfull affections that I may profitably approach to him eate of that living bread sacrifize my soul to him by abnegation of my will my body by Obedience to Christian Duties SECOND POINT Fruits of the Holie Sacrament CONSIDERATION COnsider That approaching to Gods holy Altar there eating of that repayring fruit of the Tree of life We become like the Sacred Virgin conceiving him in her womb therefor should study to imitate her Humilitie Obedience Faith Charity whereby she was fitted to that great work raised to familiar conferences with JESUS CHRIST which we specially aime at in our holy Retyrement We become also Temples of God therefor our hearts should be Altars whereon to offer up our enflamed thoughts desires admitting no negotiation there but what may tend to the cleansing our souls from evill affections adorning them with divine vertues whereby it may be fitted to entertayn this heavenly Guest Had JESUS CHRIST when on Earth vouchsafed to make his aboade with us as in Bethania with Mary Martha with what solicitude would we have prepared all things befitting his sacred presence that nothing might appear in us undecent or wanting where with to give him a ioyfull welcome The like care should now be had My Philothea especially since he comes here to us in his glorifyed body environed with Angels invisibly present with hands full of blessings to bestow upon us In JESUS CHRIST abides the fulnesse of the Divinity therefor He giving him selfe to us in this heavenlie Manna containing all sweetnesse he gives withall the whole treasury of his heavenly guifts graces whereby the soul is cleansed from veniall sins mortall inculpably forgotten in confession Reason receives cleerer lights of spirituall truths the Will is enflamed to Christiā Duties the Conscience eased Inclinations to evil are weakned our Love to heavenly things strengthned encreased O living food of Angels be thou my Dayly bread fill my soul with thy divine sweetnesse that my conversation may be in heaven by the Imitation of the life of those blessed spirits by hopes of feeding for ever on that bread in the kingdom of thy Father AFFECTION Oh that I might conceive JESUS in my heart by Love bring him forth by performance of his Will then should I truly feed on this bread of Angels But alas too often have I approached Gods Altar with a Spirit full of earthly desires too frequently have I entertaind the great Lord of the world in a soul defiled with sinfull affections tepid in divine Exercises distracted with worldly sollicitudes therefor I still remain dry barren to good actions insensible to the comforting presence of JESUS within me Oh that Gods holy Spirit would overshadow my soul cleanse it from all imperfections enflame it with heavenly loue replenish it with his gracious blessings that it may be a fitt Sanctuary for the Saviour of Men Angels RESOLUTION I will banish forth of my heart whatever may displease my Divine Espouse adorning it with Vertues holy desires whereby it may be prepared to entertain him experiēce the sweetnesse of his comforting presence And I will endeavour that my outward decency in behaviour conversation may testify the inward tranquillity alacrity of my spirit an earnest longing to be One with him Live Thou O JESUS in my soul that I may live by the heat of thy divine flames walk by the light of thy inspirations from Vertue to Vertue till I see Thee my God in thy holy Sion THE THIRD POINT Intention in Communion CONSIDERATION COnsider That if in all actions of this life we study to have a due upright intention this ought then especially to be when we approach to the Holy Sacrament that great proofe of Gods Love to mankind that efficacious means of confirming us in our spirituall life a most assured pledg of our future blessed life above We may not then venture hither of meer custome or for companie sake nor to purchase a vain esteem of holinesse or an encrease of temporall blessings or some spirituall gust or sweetnesse in that great Act of Christian worship No Philothea we must goe to God for God himselfe that our loue to him may be greater our devotions quicker our Spirits stronger in performing the will of our Soveraign Lord and
inward peace fortifyer against all contradictions This ought to stir us up to humilitie in thoughts by esteeming our selvs full of imperfections wants to stand in need of great helps of Grace in word not discoursing on those perfections which it pleases God to work in by us in Action while we bend our selvs willingly to the performance of any Dutie our Calling may require of us though it may seem to others contemptible vile And to seek no preferment either in dignitie or esteem of others but with a true indifferency of spirit with all persons at all times contentedly to abide in or chang what ever condition fals to thy lott or is appointed Thee And because Austeritie which cōsists in fasting watching wearing course garments suck like mortifications of our sensuall appetite much conduce to the gayning this inward humilitie of spirit That also must be willingly embraced by a solitarie soul whose aimes are to be truly perfect for what society is there between a Compliance with our inordinate concupiscences a separation from worldly conversation cares What is the disposition of thy heart Philothea towards these Eminent vertues Doest thou find a sweetness quietness of spirit when humiliations befal thee Art thou willing to undergoe such Mortifications as thy state requires of thee without tediousness repining thoughts AFFECTION I abhorr yee O fatall Enemies of Perfectiō Pride that cast the Angells down from heaven made them Devils Selfelove which expelled our first parents forth of Paradice made thē Vesfels of Gods wrath Wilt thou My Soul defile thy selfe with those black crimes so abhominable to God Oh rather let me be trampled on as a worm of the Earth undergoe whatsoever Crosses Mortifications then hazard the losse of my friendship with God the joys he hath prepared for those that love him with an humble mortifyed spirit For blessed be the poore in spirit because there 's is the Kingdom of Heaven RESOLUTION I will henceforth humble my selfe under the powerfull hand of God neither in thought word or deed preferring my selfe to any Creature or desiring any value or esteem from them for I Know that God resists the proud of heart gives Grace to the humble And I will accustome my selfe to those austerities which my Vocation requires of me contēting my selfe with such diet cloaths rest as may suffice to the support of Nature for if we mortify our earthlie Members we shall be children of our heavenlie Father SECOND POINT Patience Obedience CONSIDERATION COnsider That Patience being usefull to all Christians is singularly necessary to the solitarie Soul especially if the Solitude be religious permanent It is an easie matter out of a bravery of spirit to undergoe some notable tribulation abandon worldly satisfactions for a while but to remain constant in that Resolutiō this is the speciall work of the Holie Ghost can never be fully accomplisht without a singular profound Patience It is necessary also for the practise of other Vertues which are confederates companions in our pilgrimage to Solitarie perfection for Patience keeps our spirits in peace what ever befals us bends it to beare or forbeare what the hand of providence appoints to us assembles all Vertues wherby to preserve in us the hopes of heavenly blessings amidst the toyls of this wretched life Therefore JESUS CHRIST tells us that by Patience we shall possesse our Souls Wherfor Philothea make a breife Reflection on the present state of this Vertue in Thee wherin it is defective by what motives it may be advanced to a greater height Canst thou with a patient meek heart converse with every one temper others anger with a mild Answer suffer injuries in words rapin of goods honour without disturbāce with bountie good deeds overcome thy Enemies unjust persecutions endeavour to reconcile them to thee even with losse of thy own right Then maist thou lay some claym to the perfection of Patience reap some fruit from thy Solitarie Entertainments The practise also of a prompt Obedience is very expediēt even in our Retyrement for a few dayes but especially if thy calling be to live permanently in a Communion of Religious persons under the conduct of one whom God hath placed as his Vicegerent over the rest by commands counsells to direct them to their best happyness In such a Communion all good things may not be well done either by all of them or at all times Austeritie for exemple is good yet not to be practised against the express will of our spirituall Guid or Superiour to the ruin of our own health the burthen of others Fast with bread water saith a holie Man weare a haire shirt sleep on the ground discipline the flesh to the bone undergoe the most contemptible offices communicate every daie stand from morning till night in Contemplation of God his attributes I make no account of all this if it goes against Obedience be done in a time place measure unseasonable Endeavour Philothea to purchase in thy selfe this safe guid of holie Obedience Be tractable in thy will goe come ascend descend at the first call of thy Superiour that not for feare but love Captivate thy judgment quitt all Interests of body mind when Obedience commands for the Superiour being in possession of his authoritie our conscience cannot be secure with an oppositiō to his will who watches only our good Submitt thy body also either to undergoe readily such austerities or to take freely such recreation corporall comforts as the Superiour shall judg reasonable for thee although contrary to thy judgment inclination And here make a reflection on thy readiness to comply with Obedience if it be firm fixed as it ought how far defective which way to be repayred AFFECTION It is true My dearest Lord I have through Impatience often torturd my heart with revengfull thoughts lavisht away much of my precious time in disquieting vexing my own spirit violently following my owne judgment passions incurred many a deep remorse of conscience greived those who Thou didst place over me I confesse my errours I acknowledg repent my follies O that I had a sea of tears wherwith to bath my heart wash it from the stains contracted through want of Patience Obedience Come O yee sacred Vertues accompany me in my Pilgrimage that amidst all Adversities under all commands I may secure my Vocation to this holie Retreat confirme my Soul in the hopes of a Communion with the Saints in the blessed glory of My God RESOLUTION I will hence forth seale up my lipps to all angry words purge my mind from passionate thoughts prevent each one with Courtosies promptly comply with the Commands of my Superiours however painfull their Execution be cōsidering God to speak by their lipps assuring my selfe that He proportions
feelest in thy Soul during thy holy Retyrement or at other time some delicious whispers of thy beloved Espouse yet art thou wholly ignorant what will befall thee the next moment how long or short thy life will be whē where by what disease or misfortune Death will seize upon Thee in what condition of grace or sin it will summon Thee before Gods barr therto heare the sentence then to passe over Thee consequently that as long as thou art in this life thou art never certainly assured of thy Eternall Salvation This ought to be a strong motive of humiliation vnto Thee Almighty God hath from all Eternity chosen some to be heires of his glory permitting others yet doth not any one know to what ranck he belongs when or by what means he shall come thither till it pleaseth God to cite us forth this world assume us to his heavenly Paradice which evidently layeth open our great Ignorance proves our unchangable dependance on the hidden disposition of the Divine Will Is not this enough to humble the haughtiest spirit in the world Wherefor in whatsoever degree of contemplation vertue or spirituall greatnesse thou art thou must hūbly acknowledg thy universall dependance on Gods gracious inspirations help And that therefor thou oughtest not to judge any one whom through Gods permission thou maist see fall into some abominable sin being thou art not thy selfe assured how long thou shalt stand in thy duty to God or how soon that person may arise again through Gods Grace aiding to a timely profitable Repentance Have a care therefor Philothea thou standest fast in the waies of God working thy Salvation with a filiall humble feare reflecting continually on thy own Nothing the streight dependance thou hast on the grace Mercies of JESUS CHRIST who having redeemed Thee from the tyranny of Satā made Thee capable of life everlasting with himselfe will not be wanting to the compleating that great work of thy Eternall Salvation if thou dost humbly trust in him say then with a lively faith In Thee O Lord have I hoped I am not confounded I have put my trust in Thee have found help AFFECTION Ah my Soul wherein canst thou now glorie Art thou placed in the family of Gods servāts Hast many good Notions Divine Motions in thy breast Dost thou through some strong helps of heavenly Grace delightfully performe hard painfull duties All this is very good but alas thou knowst not how long this will endure whether for a yeer or a day or even the next Moment Whether thou beest confirmed in grace listed amongst the number of the Elect or worthy of Love or hatred Thou knowest nothing of all this Even so it is for thou O my God art a most glorious pure Father of spirits wilt still be worshipped in feare trembling However although thou shouldest persecute me till Death I will trust in Thee even at the gates of Hell I will not abandon my hopes in thy Mercy RESOLUTION I will cast my selfe into the sea of Gods aboundant Mercies therein fix the Auchor of my hopes relying firmely on his undeceiving promises saving helps of Grace therefor I will annihilate my selfe in the consideration of his holy decrees living in perpetuall feare of his judgments concerning me Nor will I onely become humble in the sight of God who knows the vilenesse of my body wretchednesse of my Soul with whatever shal befall either for time Eternity but I will also willingly become contemptible in the Eies of all Creatures contenting my selfe with the lowest place meanest fare vilest Employments accounting my self the unworthyest of all will ever say with the Holy Prophet I am a worme not a Man the Outcast of Men the Offcast of the Vulgar THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Our Weaknesse to good IF thou desirest Philothea to enter the depth of thy own Nothing thou must make yet a further search into the motives of humbling thy selfe before God Wherefor having now waded through the vast Seas of thy vilenesse in body wretchednesse in Soul wonderfull ignorance of thy future state of life happinesse discourse further on thy Naturall weaknesse to performe good vpright actions Ever since through our disobedience to Gods holy Commandements we departed from his Temple sanctifyed Citty of Hierusalē fell into the hands of spirituall murderers we have had many deep wounds and deadly soares in our Souls whereof though some have beē oft cured by CHRISTS healing Sacraments yet doe they often break out fester through the disorders of our Sinfull lives others remaining for ever uncurable during this mortall life whereby we are wholly unable without the perpetuall help of our charitable Samaritan JESUS CHRIST either to discerne the way that leads back to God or securely to walk towards him in this our Pilgrimage to heavenly Perfection Our manifold doubts mistakes errours in the knowledge of Divine even Morall truths Actions our passionate affections to present sensible delights the variety distractions of our fading slippery life the Excellēcy of Gods waies those thoughts works whereby we walk in them purchase a blessednesse which he alone can bestow on us shew evidently that God liveth in an Unaccessible Light not to be viewed with an Eie not yet cleansed by divine Faith nor to be aspired unto without that Hope which He only can inspire into us nor in the least degree to be purchased or pretended to without the speciall guifts of inherent sanctity other supernaturall helps of cleering Lights cooperating Graces bestowed bountifully on us so that we can neither doe any thing worthy his acceptation or think on him according to his Majesty or even say one word of him as we ought in order to our Everlasting happinesse without his speciall inspirations conduct assistance Wherefore as thou art by Nature a meer Nothing by sin worse then Nothing so without the liberall guift of Gods aiding Grace thou canst doe nothing If then thou perhaps art sometimes raised up in the Contemplation of God his glory those allureing traces whereby he leads his servants to the love of eternall good things yet maist thou not take complacence therein without an humble submission to Gods vnknown will towards thee or esteeme thy selfe by them to be in a setled condition of Holinesse for if thou wer't as easily thou maist be deprived of those Lights of Graces thou now hast thy Soul would become as dark thy actions as imperfect as any others These Divine helps so necessary to us and so much above our reach ought profoundly to humble us in the presence of God whom we must ever worship as a liberall free Giver as oft as we receive any favour from him still remembring that the Apostate Angels our First Parents lost themselves by a Complacence in their own naturall
fire since I am ignorant of thy wonders wrought in my own Spirit so nigh intimate to Me I have too late considered thee O Ancient beauty shining in all creatures I have too slowly given Eare to Thee who speakest to me by all creatures by thy Guifts dost incessantly call upon Me to admire love Thee the Giver of all Thou hast engraven the light of thy face upon Me O Lord thereby given gladnesse in my heart RESOLUTION I will hence forth preserve Gods sacred Image by him self Imprinted in my soul frō being soyled or blasted by sinfull affections that therin as in a cleer Myrrour I may contemplate his Majesty beauty amiablenesse admire him in all the perfections of my body mind order all the powers endowments of both to the execution of his Will aspire to an endlesse conjunction with that divine Exemplar wherby so many rich beautifull Coppies have been drawn Therefor all thy Works in me shall confesse unto thee they shall tell the glory of thy kingdom shall speak the greatnesse of thy power THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE God speaks by his Son Incarnate GOd formerly spoke to Man by his Prophets in figures riddles now in his own Son by whom as God he in the beginning made all things now as Visible in our Mortall flesh discovers the breadth length height depth of all divine Mysteries of grace glory that we may comprehend with all the Saints his exceeding great Love towards us may be replenished with the fulnesse thereof If God descends to us taking our Nature we should by contemplation of the Incarnate Word ascend to God drown our selves in the Sea of his Essence therefor JESUS CHRIST by his gracious Doctrine and efficacious examples is the Way we must walke in our Pilgrimage to heavenly Perfection his sacred life Crosse was the book of all the Saints unlesse we bath our hearts in the bleeding wounds of this Lamb slayn for our sins we may have no part in the Tree of Life planted in the paradice of God This Union of God Man in One Person shows gods Infinite Power Mans Redemption through CHRISTS sorrows suffrings speak him an Abysse of Wisedom the Guift of his only Son in our Weak nature to dignify save sanctify it declares his Wonderfull Bounty Thus Philothea we have accesse to the Divinity of God by the Humanity of JESUS CHRIST in whom he has reveal'd the treasures of all divine knowledg Love Now therefor clime up Mount Calvary there contemplate this Man of sorrows fastned to the Tree of shame See who 't is that suffers The Creator of all things the Saviour of Men Angels the Rewarder of all good evill deeds What his condition Gods only Son an Innocent Man one that loves us dearly To what end to free us from the tyranny of satan to sanctify our sinfull hearts to restore us to our lost seats in Gods glorious kingdō What were his torments Much sorrow in the Garden many stripes in Hierusalem a shamefull death upon the Crosse And what profit thence Therby is declared the detestablenesse of sin expiated by this bloudy sacrifice the dreadfulnesse of hell fire extinguisht by that precious bloud the obstinacy of sinners still crucifying in them selves the son of God by their ungratitude the Amiablenesse of Vertue recommended to us with so many sighs teares drops of bloud the Ioyes of Heaven recover'd at so deer a rate our Duty to God through Mercy giving his only Son to us through Justice sacrifyzing that Son for us through Wisdom exalting him from the Crosse to an equallity of glory att his Right hand where we shall hereafter find him if we now follow him COLLOQUIE Thy words are living full of force O Lord more peircing then a two edged sword Oh that thou wouldst awake my slumbring soul deep wound my spirit with admiration of thy boundlesse Love in the humble Incarnation gracious Doctrine moving Examples bitter passion of thy beloved Son My habitation rest shall henceforth be in thy sacred Wounds O Saviour of the World by them I will find entrance to thy bowells of Mercy there discover the overflowings of thy Love-swelling heart towards sinners thy hidden Divinity for by these we have plentifull redemption strong helpes fulnesse of hopes Oh stretch forth thy arms once streached on the Crosse for me embrace my soul languishing to be with Thee Then will I live dy in thy wounded heart by that Gate enter into the citty of my God find whom my soul loveth SECOND DISCOURSE God reveales himselfe HAving now passed by all Creatures who are the Guards of our Earthly Citty in the search of thy Beloved clime up Philothea the mountain of Visions approach Gods Flaming Bush of reuealed Mysteries harken what he there speakes to Thee of the Majesty of his own Essence the Beauty of his heavenly Kingdom the Glory of his blessed Attendants wherby to enflame thy amorous heart with new desires of Communion in happinesse with the already glorifyed Saints Angels Divine Scripture as Gods book discovers those Excellencies of God which reason reaches not he only inspires who invites the humble to ascend higher Hence as from the fountain of Paradice stream forth four sacred delicious Rivers not to be waded through without Divine Helps History describes Gods Wonders to his chosē people wherby to draw their hearts sweetly from things of this world Allegories teach what we must beleive of God Tropes inform us of what must be done or omitted in order to the joyes of Heaven but the pleasant streames of Anagogies which are greatest deepest doe wonderfull enlighten heat raise our spirits up towards God there fix our thoughts loves where our hopes are already placed This Mysticall river empties it selfe in the vast Sea of the Divinity where God One in Essence Three in Persons within himselfe Infinite in Being Happinesse all perfections receives no addition of Good from our best Endeavours nor any detriment by overflowing to us communicating his greatest Guifts amongst us He without change or labour knows produces governs all things in all times places leading each by their speciall wayes to their last Ends. In his glorious Kingdom he is environed with many millions of immortall blessed Spirits who divided into nine Quires make up the Heavenly Hierarchy of Saints Angels happy in the Vision possessiō of God are distinguished by their proper Excellencies of nature grace glory wherin there is no temptation sin or misery feared nor fulnesse of happinesse joy or peace wanting to them all enjoying God in him possessing what soever may compleat the delightfulnesse of that glorious blessed state which Neither Eie has seen nor tongue can rehearse nor can the heart of Man conceive COLLOQUIE Oh how
Oh! how happy are they O Lord who eate drink at thy divine table where they see Thee cleerly love Thee ardently praise Thee incessantly possesse Thee with a fulnesse of ioy Exultation whilst I here perish with hunger thirst in this sacred Mist of thy Divine Essence am not permitted to behold the cleere Light of thy glorious face My soul O God thirsteth to behold Thee as thou art enjoy Thee fully yet thou hidest thy selfe from Me. Reveale thy face to Me O my most amiable God for my soul hath languished after my Beloved Oh when shall I come appeare in the presence of my God RESOLUTION I will night day mourne for the absence of my Beloved oft send missivs of Love holy desires unto him earnestly requesting Him to shew his face to Me therefor I will ever study to render my soul amiable to Him that Nothing may be found in me displeasing to him or which may make him hide his face from Me I will seek out all means whereby I may allure him to exhibite his gracious glorious presence to Me in his own pure Essence therby alleviate the painfulnesse of this my earthly pilgrimage for Thou O Lord hast promised If we aske we shall receive if we seek we shall find if we knock it shall be opened unto us our Ioy shall be full none shall take it from us THIRD POINT The souls repose in God CONSIDERATION COnsider That the sweet Repose of the soul in God is attained sometimes by the naturall Industry of the Affective part thereof aided by certain passing flashes of divine Lights graces whereby making Enquirie through Creatures or contemplating God by what he has revealed of himselfe she discovers him to be very Glorious Amiable then by Anagogicall Motions she sweetly powres herselfe into God by Acts of Admiration Love Adoration Thanksgiving thus takes her Repose in him But this delicious Repose is more efficaciously permanently obtain'd by means of divine Irradiations wherby our bountifull Espous compassionating the languors of the soul fainting in the search of him dissipates the Mist wherin we hitherto sought Him opens the treasures of his Majesty shews his amiable face more plainly to her infusing into her an attractive sweetnesse by his more cleer gracious presence whence still arise new Illustrations of the soul discoveries without end of Gods Intensive extensive Perfections most delicious streamings of the heart towards her Beloved by sublime acts of Love Adoration Whence proceed a hearty compunction for the sins committed by the World against so gracious glorious a Father of pure Lights restlesse strivings to be inseparably united with God transformed into him by likenesse in the powers operations of the spirit at length has a most amorous slumber in God For although the heart still watcheth in contemplation of the Beauty of her Beloved yet she sweetly sleepes in his Embracements wherby she is oft so abstracted from herselfe all feeling of sensible Creatures that she seems wholly out of herselfe through excesse of admiration Love causing an unexpressible sweetnesse Tranquillity Joy in all the Regions of the Soul This is a most sublime degree of Happynesse Philothea nor may it be attained but by a permanent Contemplation most ardent Love of God in himselfe by extraordinary Illustrations heats of divine Grace Wherefor let it not suffice Thee to have sued oft to be admitted unto a tast of these delicious Wines of thy Beloved no Philothea Thou must be importune with God for it closing up thy heart to all earthly cōforts imaginable powring it forth night day by sighs earnest Entreaties ere God will come to Thee by an open discovery of his amiablenesse make his aboad with Thee by stronger friendshipps lead thee forth to the pleasant Orchards of his divine Love admitt thee to a sweet Repose in himself AFFECTION How happy wouldst thou be My soul were there an universall silēce in al the Regions of the soul no Clouds of distractions a cleernesse freedom in contemplating embracing our Most Glorious God! O that this Orient Sun would arise in my heart dissipate the Mist wherein I now labour sigh after my Beloved then may I discover how beautifull how amiable how desirable he is Nor shall I then care for any earthly comforts but shall ever rejoyce in the fulnesse of content ioy of my heavenly Espous be filled with his sweetnesse O Incomprehensible O Ineffable Sweetnesse above Honey honey-comb the odour of sweetest spices RESOLUTION I will for ever abandon all desires of earthly consolations only thirsting after comforts from God the Fountain Abysse of all sweetnesse And therefor I wil ever keep my Mind fixt on God earnestly craving to be admitted unto his amiable presence delicious Embracements opening my heart to entertain work with all his Irradiations of himselfe into Me Attraction of Me unto himselfe to take my Repose in him For Thy lipps O most Lovely above Men Angels are as a Honey combe distilling honey milk are under thy tongue the odour of thy garments as the odour of Frankincense THE EVENING EXERCISE FIRST DISCOURSE Loves Ascents NO sooner is the Soul entred the Paradice of her God there admitted to the delicious Embracements of her heavenly Espous but he opens the spring of his speciall graces powres into her heart pure plentifull streames of Divine Love gentlely flowing in her with an excesse of sweetnesse consolation On the pleasant banks of this sacred River God plants two living Trees one of Light to cleer the Understanding the other of fire to enflame the Will each bearing twelve most delicious Fruits which are the Effects of the Unitive Life of the soul transformed in to God by Love Oh Philothea how happy wilt thou be maist be admitted to set by these Chrystall streams repose under the shade of this Tree of Life tast its fruit First God Awakes the soul fainting through long Enquirie frequēt sighs after her Beloved during her aboad search of Him in the divine Mist then he powres into her a most delicious Savour feeling of his more immediate cleer presence which so seizeth on the heart that it presently fills it with an Over-swelling Ioy which makes the Eyes overflow with Teares of love the tongue by Spirituall Cantiques witnesse the inward Jubily of the spirit Whence often proceeds a Spirituall inebriation which renders the soul unable to discern where she is or what she doth sometimes causeth faintings swoundings of the body in which state the heart feeles a wonderfull Opening or dilatation to welcome the caresses of her divine Espous wherby she is Wounded deep with Love Languishes with new desires of she knows not what it is or how to expresse it thus she falls