through weakenes of it selfe it is not able to fulfill all that it approueth nor hath not sith the firste sinne of Adam the full light of truth nor the sweetnes of affections to God as it had firste Of this it commeth most mercifull Lorde that in my inwarde man that is in the reason of my soule I delite me in thy lawes and in thy teachinges knowinge that they are good and righteous and holie and that all sinne is euill and to be fled and eschewed and yet in my outwarde man that is to saye in my fleshelie felinge I serue the lawe of sinne when I obeye rather to sensualitie then to reason And of this it foloweth also that I will good but to perfourme it without thy grace I maye not for weakenes of my selfe And sometime I purpose to doe many good deedes but for that grace wanteth that shoulde helpe me I goe backeward and fayle in my doinge I knowe the waye to perfection and howe I shoulde do I see it euidentlye but for that I am so oppressed with the heauye burden of this corrupt bodye of synne I lye still and ryse not to perfection O Lorde howe necessarye therefore is thy grace to me to beginne well to continue well and to ende well for without thee I maye nothinge doe that good is O heauenlye grace without whom our merites are nought woorth nor the giftes of nature nothinge to be pondred neither craftes or riches any thinge to be regarded nor beautie strength wit nor eloquence nothinge maye auayle come thou shortlye and helpe me The gyftes of nature be common to good men and bad but grace and loue are the giftes of electe and chosen people whereby they be marked and made able and worthy to haue the kingedome of heauen This grace is of suche worthynes that â—eyther the gyfte of prophecie nor the workinge of miracles nor yet the gyfte of cunninge and knowledge maye nothinge auayle wihout it ne yet fayth hope or other vertues be not acceptable to thee without grace and charitie O blessed grace that maketh the poore in spirite to be ryche in vertue and hym that is ryche in worldlye goodes maketh meeke and lowe in heart come and descende into my soule and fulfill me with thy ghostlie comfortes that it fayle not nor faynt for werines drynes of it selfe I beseeche thee Lord that I may finde grace in thy sight for thy grace shal suffice to me though I doe wante that nature desireth For although I be tempted and vexed with troubles on euery side yet shall I not neede to drede whiles thy grace is with me for she is my strength she is my comfort and she is my counsayle and helpe she is stronger then all mine enemies and wiser then all the wisest of this worlde She is the maystres of truth the teacher in discpline the light of the hart the comfort of trouble the driuer awaye of heauines the auoyder of dreade the nourisher of deuotion and the bringer of sweete teares and deuoute weepinges VVhat am I theÌ„ without grace but a drie stocke to caste awaye Graunt me therefore that thy grace maye preuent me and folowe me and that It may make me euer busie and diligent in good workes vnto my death So may it be Amen That vve ought to forsake our selfe and to folovv Christe by bearinge of hys Crosse The 61. Chapter My sonne as much as thou canst go out fro thy selfe and frothine owne will so much as thou mayest enter into me and as to desire nothing outwardlie bringeth peace inwardlie into mans soule so a man by an inwarde forsakinge of him selfe ioyneth him to God I will therefore that thou learne to haue a perfect forsaking and a full resigning of thy selfe into my hands without withsaying and complayninge and that thou folowe me for I am the waye I am the truth and I am the life VVithout a waye no man maye go and without truth no man maye knowe and without life no man maye lyue I am the waye which thou oughtest to goe the truth which thou oughtest to beleue the life which thou shalt hope to haue I am the waye that can not be defyled the truth which can not be deceyued and the life that neuer shall haue ende I am the waye moste straite the truth most perfect and the life most soothfast A blessed life and a life vnmade that made all things If thou dwell and abide in my waye thou shalt knowe the truth and truth shal deliuer thee and thou shalt come to euerlastinge life If thou wilte come to that lyfe kepe my coÌ„maundementes If thou wilt knowe the truth beleeue my teachinges If thou wilt be perfect sell all that thou haste If thou wilt be my Disciple forsake thy selfe If thou wilt haue the blessed lyfe despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in heauen meeke thee here in earth And if thou wilt reigne with me beare the Crosse with me for truely only the seruauntes of the Crosse shall finde the life of blessednes and of euerlastinge light O Lorde Iesu forasmuche as thy waye is narowe and straite and is also muche despised in the worlde geue me grace to beare gladlye the despisinges of the worlde There is no seruaunt greater then his Lorde nor any Disciple aboue his master Let thy seruaunt therefore be exercised in thy wayes for therein is the health and the very perfection of lyfe whatsoeuer I reade or heare beside that way it refresheth me not nor delighteth me not fullye My sonne forasmnche as thou knowest these thinges hast reade them all thou shalt be blessed if thou fulfil them He that hath my commaundementes and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I shall loue him I shall shewe my selfe vnto him and shall make him sitte with me in the kingdome of my father Lorde as thou hast sayde and promised so be it done to me I haue taken the Crosse of penaunce at thy hand and I shall beare it vnto my death as thou haste put it to me to doe For the lyfe of euery good man is the Crosse and it is also the way and leader to Paradise and nowe it is begonne it is not lawfull for me to go backe fro it ne it is not behouefull for me to leaue it Haue done therefore my welbeloued brethren go we forth together Iesu shall be with vs for Iesu we haue taken this Crosse for Iesu let vs perseuer and he shal be our helpe that is our guyde and leader â—â— our kinge goeth before vs that shall fyght for vs folowe we hym stronglye dreade we no perils but be we readye to dye stronglye with hym in battayle that we put no blot into our glorye nor minishe not our rewarde by flyinge cowardlye awaye from the Crosse That a man shall not be ouermuche cast into heauynes though he happen to fall into some defaulâ—es The .62 Chapter My sonne patience and mekenes in aduersitie please me more then
let him be kinde and thankefull for such grace as he hath receaued patient when it is withdrawen and praye deuoutlie that it may shortlie come againe Let him be meeke and lowa in spirite that he lose it not agayne through his presumption and pride of hart Of the small number of the louers of the Crosse The .11 Chapter IEsus hath many louers of his kingdome of heauen but he hath fewe bearers of his crosse Manie desire his consolation but fewe desire his tribulation He findeth many felowes at eatinge and drinkinge but he findeth fewe that will be with him in his abstineÌ„ce and fastinge All men would ioye with Christ but fewe would any thinge suffer for Christe Many folowe him to the breakinge of his breade for their bodilye refection but few will folowe him to drinke a draught of the Chalice of his passion Manie maruayle and honour his miracles but fewe will folowe the shame of his crosse of his other vilanies Manie loue Iesu so longe as no aduersitie foloweth to them and can prayse him and blesse him when they receyue any benefit of him but if Iesu a litle withdraw him selfe from them and a litle forsake them anone they fall to some great grudginge or to ouergreat defection or into open desperation But they that loue Iesu purelie for him selfe and not for their owne profite and commoditie they blesse him as hartilie in temptation and tribulatioÌ„ and in all other aduersities as they doe in tyme of consolation And yf he neuer sent them consolation yet woulde they alway laude him and prayse him O how may the loue of Iesu doe to the helpe of a soule if it be pure and cleane not mixt with any inordinate lone to him selfe truelie nothing more May not they then that euer looke for worldlie comfortes and for worldlie consolations be called worldly inarchants and worldly louers rather then louers of God do they not openlye shewe by their dedes that they rather loue them selfe than God yes truelye O where maye be founde anye that will serue God freely and purelye without looking for some rewarde for it agayne And where may be founde any so spirituall that he is cleerelye deliuered and bereft from loue of him selfe and that is truely poore in spirite and is whollye auoyded from loue of creatures I trowe noue suche can be found but it be far hence and in far countryes If a man geue all his substaunce for God yet he is naught and if he doe great penaunce for his sinnes yet he is but litle and if he haue great cunning and knowledge yet he is far from vertue and if he haue greate vertue and brenninge deuotion yet much wanteth in him And that is specially one thing which is moste necessarye to him what is that that all thinges forsaken and him selfe also forsaken he go cleerely from him selfe and keepe nothinge to him selfe of anye priuate loue and wheÌ„ he hath done all that he ought to doe that he feele in him selfe as he had nothinge done nor that he thinke it great that some other might thinke great but that he thinke him selfe truely as he is an vnprofitable feruant for the authour of truth our Sauiour Christe saith when ye haue done all that is commaunded you to doe yet saye that ye be but vnprofitable seruauntes Then he that can thus doe may well be called poore in spirite and naked of priuate loue and he may well say with the prophete Dauid I am vnited in God and am poore and meeke in heart There is none more riche none more free nor any of more power then he that can forsake him selfe and all passinge thinges and that truelye can holde him selfe to be lowest and vilest of all other Of the vvay of the Crosse and bovve profitable patience is in aduersitie The 12. Chapter THe wordes of our Sauiour â—e thought very harde and greeuous wheÌ„ he saith thus Forsake your leife take the Crosse and folowe me But much more greeuous shall it be to heare these wordes at the last daye of iudgement Go ye from me ye cursed people into the fire that euer shall last But those that nowe gladlie heare and folowe the wordes of Christ whereby he counsaileth them to folowe him shall not then neede to dreade for hearinge those wordes of euerlastinge damnation The signe of the Crosse shall appere in heaueÌ„ when our Lorde shall come to iudge the worlde and the seruantes of the Crosse who conformed them selues here in this life to Christe crucified on the Crosse shal go to Christe their Iudge with greate fayth and trust in him VVhy doest thou then dreade to take this Crosse sith it is the verye waye to the kingdome of heauen and none but that In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is defense from our enemies in the crosse is infusion of heauenlie sweetnes in the Crosse is the strength of minde the ioye of spirite the highnes of vertue and the full perfection of all holines and there is no health of soule nor hope of euerlasting life but through vertue of the crosse Take therefore the Crosse and folowe Iesus and thou shalt goe into the lyfe euerlastinge He hath gone before thee bearinge his Crosse and died for thee vpon the Crosse that thou shouldest in like wise beare with him the Crosse of penance and tribulation and that thou shouldest be readie likewise for his loue to suffer death if neede require as he hath done for thee If thou die with him thou shalt liue with him and if thou be felowe with him in paine thou shalt be with him in glorie Beholde then how in the Crosse standeth all howe in dyinge to the worlde lieth all our health that there is no other waye to true and inward peace but the waye of the Crosse and of deadlie mortifyinge of the bodie to the spirite So whether thou wilt and seeke what thou list and thou shalt neuer finde aboue thee nor beneath thee within thee nor without thee more high more excellent nor more sure waye to Christ then the waye of the holy crosse Dispose euery thinge after thy will and thou shalt neuer finde but that thou must of necessitie somewhat suffer eyther with thy will or against thy will and so shalt thou alwaye finde the Crosse for either thou shalt feele paine in thy bodie or in thy soule thou shalt haue trouble of spirit Thou shalt be sometime as thou were forsaken of God Sometime thou shalt be vexed with thy neighbour and that is yet more painefull thou shalt sometime be greeuous to thy selfe and thou shalt find no meane to be deliuered but that it behoueth thee to suffer til it shall please almightie god of his goodnes otherwise to dispose for thee for he will that thou shalt learne to suffer tribulation without coÌ„solatioÌ„ that thou mayest therby learne whollie to submit thy selfe to him and by tribulation to be made more meeke then thou were
haste vouchedsafe to serue man thy selfe and haste promised to geue thy selfe vnto hym VVhat shall I then geue to thee agayne for this thousand folde goodnes woulde to God that I might serue thee all the dayes of my lyfe or at the least that I might one daye be able to doe thee faythfull seruice for thou art woorthye all honour seruice and praysinge for euer Thou art my Lorde and my God and I thy poorest seruant most bounde before all other to loue thee and prayse thee and I neuer ought to ware werye of the praysinge of thee And that is it that I aske and that I desire that is to say that I may alway laude and prayse thee Vouchsafe therfore moste mercifull Lord to supply that wanteth in me for it is great honour to serue thee all earthly thinges to despise for the loue of thee They shal haue great grace that freely submit theÌ„ selues to thy holye seruice And they shall finde also the moste sweete consolation of the holye ghoste and shall haue great freedome of spirit that here forsake all worldlye busines and choose a harde and straite lyfe in this worlde for thy name O free and ioyfull seruice of God by the which a man is made free holy and also blessed in the sight of God O holye state of religion which maketh a man lyke to aungels pleasant to God dreadefull to wicked spirites and to all faythfull people right highlye commendable O seruice much to be embraced and alwaye to be desired by whom the high goodnes is wonne and the euerlasting ioye and gladnes is gotten without ende That the desires of the heart ought to be vvell examined and moderated The 12. Chapter My sonne sayth our Lorde it behoueth thee to learne many thinges that thou haste not yet well lerned VVhat be they Lorde that thou order thy desires and affections wholly after my pleasure and that thou be not a louer of thy selfe but a desirous folower of my wil in all things I knowe well that desires ofte moue to this thing or to that but coÌ„sider well whether thou be moued principally for mine honour or for thine owne If I be in the cause thou shalt be wel contented whatsoeuer I doe with thee but if any thinge remayne in thy harte of thine owne will that is it that letteth and hindreth thee Beware therefore that thou leane not muche to thine owne desire without my councell least happly it repent thee and displease thee in the ende that firste pleased thee Euerye affection and desyre of mans hart that seemeth good and holye is not forthwith to be folowed nor euery contrarious affection or desire is not hastily to be refused It is sometime right expedient that a man refraine his affections and desires though they be good least happlye by his importunitie he fall into vnquietnes of minde or that he be a let to other or be letted by other and so faile in his doinge and sometime it behoueth vs to vse as it were a violence to our selfe and stronglye to resist and breake downe our sensuall appetite and not to regard what the fleshe will or will not but alwaye to take hede that it be made subiect to the will of the spirite and that it be so long chastised and compelled to serue till it be ready to all thing that the soule commaundeth that it can learne to be coÌ„tent with a litle and can delight in simple thinges and not to murmure nor to grudge for any coÌ„trarious thinges that may befall vnto it Hovv vve should keepe patience and continually stryue agaynst all concupiscence The .13 Chapter O My Lord God as I heare say patience is muche necessarie vnto me because of many contrarious thinges which in this life daylie chaunce I see well that howesoeuer I doe order my selfe for peace yet can not my life be without some battaile and sorowe My sonne it is true that thou sayest wherfore I will not that thou seeke to haue suche peace as wanteth temptations or as feeleth not some coÌ„tradictioÌ„ But that thou trow beleue that thou hast found peace wheÌ„ that thou hast many troubles and art proued with many coÌ„trarious thinges in this worlde And if thou saye thou mayest not suffer suche thinges how shalt thou then suffer the fire of Purgatory Of two euils the lesse euill is to be taken Suffer therefore patientlie the litle paines of this world that thou mayest hereafter escape the greater in the worlde to come Trowest thou that worldlye men suffer litle or nothing yes truely thou shalt find none without some trouble though thou seeke the most delicat persons that be But percase thou sayest to me againe they haue many delectations folowe their owne pleasures so much that they ponder but litle all their aduersities VVell I will it be as thou sayest that they haue all that they can desire but howe longe trowest thou that it shall endure Soothly it shal sodenlye vanish awaye as smoke in the ayre so that there shall not be lefte anye remembraunce of their ioyes passed yet when they liued they were not without great bitternes and griefe for ofte times of the same thing wherein they had their greatest pleasure receaued they after great trouble and payne righteouslie came that vnto them that forasmuche as they sought delectations and pleasures inordinatelye that they shoulde not fulfill their desire therein but with greate bitternes and sorowe O howe shorte howe false and howe inordinate be all the pleasures of this worlde Soothlye for dronkenship and blindnes of hearte the worldlye people perceaue it not nor wil not perceaue it but as dombe beastes for a lytle plesure of this corruptible life they runne headlonge into euerlastinge death Therefore my sonne go not after thy concupiscence but turne thee lightly from thine owne wil. Delite thee in god and fixe thy loue stronglye in him and he shall geue thee the asking of thine heart And if thou wilt haue coÌ„solation aboundantlye and wilt receaue the soothfast comfort that commeth of God dispose thy selfe fullye to despise this world and put from thee whollye all inordinate delectations and thou shalt haue pleÌ„teously the comfort of God And the more that thou with drawest thee from the consolation of all creatures the more sweete blessed consolations shalte thou receaue of thy creatoure But soothlye thou canst not at the first come to such coÌ„solations but with heauines and laboure goinge before thy olde custome will somewhat withstande thee but with a better custome it may be ouercome The flesh will murmure against thee but with feruour of spirite it shall be restrained The olde auncient enemy thee freende wil â—et thee if he can but with deuout prayer He shall be driuen awaye and with good bodilye and ghostlye laboures his waye shalbe stopped so that he shall not dare come nigh vnto thee Of the obedience of a meeke subiect after the example of our Lorde Iesu Christe The 14.
my selfe but to thee VVoulde to God it might be worthilye and profitablye and to thy honoure Amen A prayer that the vvill of God be alvvaye fulfilled The 17. Chapter MOst benigne Lorde Iesu graunt me thy grace that it maye be alway with me and worke with me and perseuer with me vnto the end And that I may euer desire and wil that is most pleasaunt and acceptable to thee Thy will be my will and my will alwaye to folowe thy will best accord therewith Be there alwaye in me one will and one desire with thee and that I may haue no power to will or to not will but as thou wilt or wilt not And graunt me that I maye dye to all thinges that be in the world and for thee to loue to be despised and to be as a man vnknowen in this world Graunt me also aboue all thinges that can be desired that I may rest me in thee and fullye in thee pacifye my heart for thou Lord art the very true peace of heart and the perfect rest of bodye and soule and without thee all thinges be greeuous and vnquiet VVherefore in that peace that is in thee one high one blessed and one endlesse goodnes shall I alwaye rest me so may it be Amen That the verye true solace comfort is in god The .18 Chapter VVhat at soeuer I may desire or thinke to my cōfort I abide it not here but I trust to haue it hereafter for if I alone might haue all the solace and comfort of this worlde might vse the delites thereof after mine owne desire without sinne it is certaine that they might not long endure wherefore my soule may not fully be comforted nor perfectly refreshed but in God onely who is the comfort of the poore in spirite and the embracer of the meeke and lowly in heart Abide my soule abide the promise of god thou shalt haue aboundance of all goodnes in heauen If thou inordinatelye couete these goodnes present thou shalt lose the goodnes eternal Haue therfore goods present in vse and eternall in desire Thou mayest in no maner be satiate with temporal goodes for thou art not created so to vse thē as to rest thee in them for if thou alone haddest all the goodes that euer were created made thou mightest not theefore be happy and blessed but thy blessedfulnes and full felicitie standeth only in God that hath made all thinges of nought And that is not such felicitie as is commended of the foolishe louers of the worlde but such as good christen men women hope to haue in the blisse of heauen and as some ghostlye persons cleane and pure in heart sometime doe taste here in this present life whose conuersation is in heauen All worldly solace and all mans comfort is vaine and short but that comfort is blessed and soothfast that is perceaued by truth inwardly in the hart A deuout folower of God beareth alway about with him his comforter that is Iesu and sayeth thus vnto him My Lord Iesu I beseech thee that thou be with me in euery place and euerye time and that it be to me a special solace gladly for thy loue to want all mans solace And if thy solace want also that thy will and thy righteous prouing and assaying of me may be to me a singuler comfort and a high solace Thou shalt not alwaye be angrie with me neither shalt thou alwaye threate me So may it be Amen That all our study and busines of minde ought to be put in God The .19 Chapter My sonne saith our Lorde to his seruant suffer me to doe with thee what I will for I knowe what is best and most expedient for thee Thou workest in many thinges after thy kindlie reason and after as thy affection and thy worldlie pollicie stirreth thee and so thou mayest lightlie erre and be deceued O Lorde it is true all that thou sayest thy prouidēce is much more better for me then all that I can doe or say of my selfe VVherfore it may well be sayde and verified that he standeth very casuallye that setteth not his wholle trust in thee Therefore Lorde while my witte abideth stedfast stable doe with me in all thinges as it pleaseth thee for it may not be but well all that thou doest If thou wilt that I be in light be thou blessed and if thou wilt that I be in darkenes be thou also blessed If thou vouchsafe to comfort me be thou highly blessed And if thou wilt that I shall liue in trouble and without all cōfort be thou in likewise muche blessed My sonne so it behoueth to be with thee if thou wilt walke with me as readye must thou be to suffer as to ioye and as gladlie be needye and poore as wealthy and riche Lorde I will gladlie suffer for thee whatsoeuer thou wilt shall fal vpon me Indifferētly will I take of thy hande good and bad bitter and sweete gladnes and sorowe and for all thinges that shall befal vnto me hartily wil I thanke thee Keepe me Lorde from sinne and I shall neither dreade death nor hel Put not my name out of the booke of life and it shall not greeue me what trouble soeuer befal vpon me That all temporall miseries are gladly to be borne through the example of Christe The 20. Chapter My sonne sayth our Lorde I descended from heauen and for thy health haue I takē thy miseries not compelled therto of necessitie but of my charitie that thou shouldest learne to haue patiēce with me not to disdayne to beare the miseries wretchednes of this life as I haue done for thee for from the first houre of my birth vnto my death vpō the crosse I was neuer without some sorowe or paine I had great lacke of temporall thinges I heard great cōplaintes made on me I suffered beningely many shames rebukes for my benefites I receaued vnkindnes for my miracles blasphemies for my true doctrine many reproufes O Lorde forasmuche as thou wert founde patient in thy life fulfilling in that moste specially the will of thy father it is seeming that I moste wretched sinner beare me patiently after thy will in all thinges and as long as thou wilt that I for mine owne health beare the burden of this corruptible life for though this life be tedious and as an heauy burden to the soule yet neuerthelesse it is nowe through thy grace made very meritorious and by exāple of thee of thy holie saints it is now made to weak persons more sufferable cleere and also muche more comfortable then it was in the olde lawe when the gates of heauen were shet and the waye thitherwarde was darke and so fewe did couet to seeke it And yet they that were then righteous and were ordeined to be saued before thy blessed passion and death might neuer haue come thither O what thankes am I bounde therfore to yeelde to thee that so louingly haste vouchedsafe to
THE FOLOVVING OF CHRIST TRANSLATED OVT of Latin into Englishe newlie corrected and amended VVherevnto also is added the golden Epistle of Sainct Bernarde And nowe lastelie the rules of a Christian lyfe made by Iohn Picus the elder earle of miraÌ„dula Anno. 1585. Cum Priuilegio The introduction HEreafter foloweth a booke called in Latin Imitatio Christi that is in Englishe the folowing of Christe wherein be coÌ„teyned foure litle bookes VVhich booke as some men affirme was firste made and compyled in Latin by the famous Clerke master Iohn Gerson Chauncellour of Paris And the sayed foure bookes be nowe of late newly translated into English in such maner as hereafter appeareth And though three of the first bookes of the sayd foure bookes haue bene before this time right well and deuoutlie traÌ„slated into Englishe by a famous Clerke called master VVilliam Atkinson which was a doctour of diuinitie Yet for as muche as the sayde translatour for some cause him mouinge in diuers places left out muche parte of some of the Chapters and sometime varied from the letter as in the thirde chapter and in the. 18 and. 19. chapters of the first booke and also in diuers other chapiters of the sayde three bookes will appeare to them that will examine the Latin and the sayd first translation together Therefore the sayed 3. bookes be eftsones traÌ„slated into English in such maner as hereafter foloweth to the intent that they that list maye at their pleasure be occupied with the one or the other after as their deuotion shall stirre them when they haue seene theÌ„ both And after the sayde three bookes foloweth the fourth booke which was first translated out of Frenche into Englishe by the right noble and excellent Princes Margaret late Countesse of Richmondo and Darbye mother vnto the noble Prince of blessed memorie Kynge Henry the. 7. father vnto our late Ioueraine Lord Kinge Henry the. 8. And for as muche as it was translated by the sayed noble Princes out of Frenche it coulde not folowe the Latin so nigh nor so directlie as if it had bene translated out of Latin And therefore it is nowe translated out of Latin and yet neuerthelesse it keepeth the substaunce and the effect of the first translation out of Frenche though sometime it varie in wordes as to the Reader will appeare And in the latter ende after the fourth booke is a short morall doctrine which is called The spirituall glasse of the soule And it is right good and profitable to euery person ofte tymes to looke vpon it A preface to the booke folovvinge AMonge manye Treatises which haue bene put out both in Latin and Englishe in this perillous worlde to seduce the simple people to bring them from the vnitie of the Catholike Churche into peruers and abhominable errours there hath bene also in tyme past before made by diuers learned and vertuous men many good Treatises which yf men woulde be so diligent to looke vpon as they are curious to looke on the other they shoulde not so soone fall from the true knowledge of Christes doctrine and the right sense of holie Scripture whiche euer hath bene taught by continuall succession in his holie Churche of the holie ghost the spirite of truth who shall euer remayne with it And amonge many of these good Treatises there is one called the Imitation or folowinge of Christe whiche in my iudgement is excellent and the more it is seriouslie and aduisedlie reade and looked vpon the more it shall like euery Christian Reader who will set his minde earnestlie to folow Christ his steppes Let them proue by reading euery day a chapter wheÌ„ they haue best leasure and I doubt not but they shall finde my sayinges true I haue reade it ouer very many times and the more I reade the more I like it and finde profite to my soule health It teacheth the true mortification of the fleshe to the spirite accordinge to the right sense of holie Scripture and the doctrine of 5. Paul VVhich I consideringe desired the Queenes highnes printer to take the paynes eâ—â—sones to imprint it seeinge the other is worne awaye whiche was verie faultie in many places And in this he hath done his diligence in correction thereof as you shall well perceyue in conferring them together Thus fare you well in Christ and praye for them that haue taken paynes in this behalfe Hereafter folovveth the chapters of this present booke OF the Imitation or folowinge of Christe and of the despisinge of all vanities of the world Cap. 1. Fol. 1. Against vayne seculor cunning and of a meeke knowinge of our selfe Cap. 2. fol. 2. Of the teachinge of truth cap. 3. fol. 3. That light credence is not to be geuen to wordes cap. 4. fol. 5. Of the reading of holy Scripture cap. 5. fol. 6. Of inordinate affections cap. 6 fo 6. That vayne hope and elation of minde are to be fled and auoyded cap. 7. fo 7. That much familiaritie is to be fled cap. 8. fo 7. Of meeke subiection and obedience and that we shall gladlye folowe the counsayle of other cap. 9. fo 8. That we shoulde auoyde superfluite of wordes and the companye of worldlye lyuinge people cap. 10. fo 9. The meanes to get peace and of desire to profite in vertues cap. 11. fo 9. Of the profite of aduersitie cap. 12. fo 11. Of temptations to be resisted cap. 13. fo 11. That we shall not iudge lightlye other mens deedes nor cleaue muche to our owne will cap. 14. fo 14. Of workes done in charitie cap. 15. fo 14. Of the sufferinge of other mens defaultes cap. 16. fo 15. VVhat shoulde be the life of a true religious person cap. 17. fo 16. Of the examples of holy fathers cap. 18. fo 17. Of the exercises of good religious persons cap. 19. fo 18. Of he loue of onelines sileÌ„ce cap. 20. fo 20. Of compunction of the hart cap. 21. fo 22. Of the consideringe of the miserie of mankinde and wherein the felicitie of man standeth cap. 22. fol. 24. Of the remeÌ„braunce of death cap. 23. fo 26. Of the iudgement and of the payne that is ordeyned for sinne cap. 24. fol. 28. Of the feruent amending of all our lyfe and that we shall speciallye take heede of our owne soule health before all other cap. 25. fo 31. The Chapters of the seconde booke OF inward conuersation cap. 1. fo 34. Of a meeke knowinge of our owne defaultes cap. 2. fo 37. Howe good it is for a man to be peacefull cap. 3. fo 38. Of a pure minde and a simple intent cap. 4. fo 39. Of the knowing of our selues cap. 5. fo 39. Of the gladnes of a cleane conscience cap. 6. fo 40. Of the loue of Iesu aboue all thinges cap. 7. fo 42. Of the familier freendship of Iesu cap. 8. fo 42. Of the wanting of all solace and comforte cap. 9. fo 44. Of yelding of thankes to God for his manyfolde graces cap. 10. fo 47. Of the
the bodie of Christe cap. 6. fo 142. Of the discussing of our owne conscience of the purpose of amendement cap. 7. fo 142. Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse and of a full forsaking of our selfe cap. 8. fo 144. That we ought to offer our selfe all ours to God and to praye for all people cap. 9. fo 144. That the holye communion is not lightly to be forborne cap. 10. fo 146. That the body of Christ and holy Scripture are moste necessarie for the health of mans soule cap. 11. fo 148. That he that shall be housled ought to prepare him selfe thereto with great diligence cap. 12. fo 150. That a deuoute soule shoulde greatlie desire with all his hart to be vnited to Christ in this bâ—essed Sacrament cap. 13. fo 151. Of the burning desire that some deuout persons haue had to the body of Christ cap. 14. fo 153. That the grace of deuotion is gotten through mekenes forsaking of our selfe cap. 15. fo 154 That we shoulde open all our necessities to Christ and aske his grace cap. 16. fo 155. Of the burning loue and great affection that we should haue to receyue Christ cap. 19. fo 161 That a man shall not be a curious searcher of this holye Sacrament but a meeke folower of Christ subduing alwaye his reason to the fayth cap. 18. fo 157. Here endeth the Table Of the Imitation or folovving of Christe and of the despising of all vanities of the vvorlde The firste Chapter HE that foloweth me sayeth Christe our Sauiour walketh not in darknes but he shall haue the light of life These be the words of our Lorde Iesus Christ whereby we be admonished and warned that we shall folowe his teachinges and his maner of lyuing if wee will truely be illumined be deliuered from all blindnes of hearte Let all the study of our heart be therfore from heÌ„ceforth to haue our meditation wholly fixed in the lyfe in the holy teachinges of Iesus Christe for his teach inges are of more vertue of more ghostlye strength then are the teachinges of all Angels and Saintes And he that thorough grace might haue the inner eye of his soule opened into the soothfast beholdinge of the Gospels of Christe should finde in theÌ„ Manna that is to say spirituall foode of the soule but it is often times seene that some persons which ofte heare the Gospelles of Christ haue litle sweetenes therein and that is for that they haue not the spirite of Christe VVherefore if we will haue the true vnderstanding of Christes Gospels we must study to conforme our life to his life as nigh as we can VVhat auaileth it a man to reason high secrete misteries of the Trinitie if he lack meekenes wherby he displeaseth the Trinitie Truely nothinge For high curious reasons make not a man holie nor rightwise but a good lyfe maketh hym beloued with God I had rather feele compunction of hearte for my sinnes then onely to knowe the diffinitioÌ„ of compunctioÌ„ If thou couldest all the Bible without the booke and also the sayinges of all Philosophers by hart what should it profite thee without grace and charitie All that is in this worlde is vanitie but to loue God and onely to serue him This is the most noble and the moste excellent wisdome that may be in any creature by despisinge of this world to drawe daylie neerer and neerer to the kingedome of heauen It is therefore a great vanitie to labour inordinatlie for worldly riches which shortlye shall perishe and to couet honor or any other inordinate pleasures or fleshlie delightes in this lyfe wherby a man after this lyfe shall be sore and greeuouslye punished Howe great a vanitie is it also to desire a longe life and litle to care for a good life to heede thinges present and not to prouide for thinges that are to come to loue thinges that shortlie shall passe away and not to haste thither where is ioy euerlastinge Also haue this common prouerbe ofte in thy minde That the eye is not satisfied nor fullye pleased with the sight of any bodilye thinge ne the eare with hearing and therfore studye to withdrawe the loue of thy soule from all thinges that be visible and turne it to thinges that be inuisible For they that folowe their sensualitie hurt their owne conscience and leese the grace of God Against vayne seculer cunning and of a meeke knovvinge of our selfe The 2. Chapter EVery man naturallye desireth to knowe but what auaileth knowledge without the dreade of God A meeke husbaÌ„d man that serueth god is muche more acceptable to him theÌ„ is a curious Philosopher which consideringe the course of heauen wilfully forgetteth him selfe He that wel knoweth him selfe is vile and abiect in his owne sight and hath no delight in the vaine praisinges of man If I knewe all thinges that be in this world without charitie what should it auaile me before God that iudgeth euery man after his deedes Let vs therfore cease from the desire of suche vaine knowledge for ofteÌ„ times is founde therin great distruction and deceipt of the enemy wherby the soule is muche hindred and let from the perfect and true loue of God They that haue great cunninge desire commonly to be seene and to be holden wyse in the worlde and there be many thinges that the knowledge of them bringe but litle profite and fruit to the soule and he is verye vnwyse that taketh heede to any other thinge then to that which shall profite hym to the health of his soule VVordes feede not the soule but a good life refresheth the minde and a cleane conscience bringeth a man to a firme and stable trust in God The more cunninge thou haste if thou liue not thereafter the more greeuouslie shalte thou therefore be iudged for the misusinge thereof Therefore raise not thy selfe into pride for any crafte or cunninge that is geuen vnto thee but haue therefore the more feare and dreade in thy heart for certayne it is that thou must hereafter yeelde therefore the strayter accompt If thou thinke that thou knowest many thinges and hast great cunninge yet knowe it for certaine that there be many mo things that thou knowest not and so thou mayest not rightwisely thinke thy selfe cunning but oughtest rather to coÌ„fesse thine ignoraunce and vncunninge VVhy wilt thou preferre thy felfe in cuÌ„ning before other sith there be many other more excellent and more cunning then thou and better learned in the law If thou wilt any thinge learne and knowe profitably to the health of thy soule learne to be vnknowen and be glad to be holden vile nought vncunninge as thou art The most high and the moste profitable cunninge is this a man to haue a soothfast knowledge and a full despisinge of him selfe Also a man not to presume of himselfe but alwaye to iudge and thinke wel and blessedly of other is a signe a token of great wisdome and of great perfectioÌ„
how vnwise how vayne and how vncunning thou art when thou desirest any thing beside Iesu truely that desire is more hurtfull to thee than if thou haddest lost all the worlde VVhat may this worlde gene thee but through the helpe of Iesu To be without Iesu is a payne of hel and to be with Iesu is a pleasaunte Paradise If Iesu be with thee there maye no enimie greue thee he that findeth Iesu findeth a great treasure that is best aboue all other treasures and he that Ioseth Iesu loseth verie muche and more than all the world He is most poore that liueth without Iesu and he his moste riche that is with Iesu It is great cunning to be well cōuersaunt with Iesu and to keepe him is right great wisedome Be meke peacefull and Iesu shall be with thee be deuout and quiet and Iesu will abyde with thee Thou mayest anone dryue awaye thy Lorde Iesu and loose his grace if thou applye thy selfe to outwarde thinges and if through negligence of thy selfe thou loose him what freende shalte thou thē haue VVithout a freende thou mayest not long endure and if Iesu be not thy freende moste before all other thou shalt be verie heauye and desolate and be lefte without all perfect frendship And therefore thou doest not wisely if thou trust or ioye in any other thinge beside him VVe shoulde rather choose to haue all the worlde against vs then to offende God and therefore of all that be to thee lefe and dere let thy Lorde Iesu be to thee moste lefe and dere and moste specially beloued to thee aboue all other and let all other be beloued for him and he onelie for him selfe Iesu is onelie to be beloued for him selfe for he onelie is proued good and faythfull before all other freendes In him and for him both enimies and freendes are to be beloued and before all things we ought meekely with all diligence to praye to him that he may be beloued and honoured of all his creatures Neuer couer to be singulerly loued or commended for that belongeth onelye to God which hath none lyke vnto him and desire not that any thinge be occupied with thee in thy harte ne that thou be occupied with loue of any creature but that thy Lorde Iesu may be in thee and in euery good man and woman Be pure cleane inwardly without letting of any creature as nigh as thou canste for it behoueth thee to haue a right cleane and a pure hart to Iesu if thou wilt knowe and feele howe swete he is And verily thou mayst not come to that puritie vnlesse thou be preuēted and drawen through his grace that all other things set apart thou be inwardlye knyt and vnited to him VVhen the grace of God cōmeth to a man then is he made mightie and stronge to doe euery thinge that belongeth to vertue and when grace withdraweth then is he made weake feeble to doe any good deede and is in maner as he were lefte onely to payne and punishmentes And yf it happen so with thee yet dispaire not ouermuch therfore nor leaue not thy good deedes vndone but stande alwaye strōglye after the will of God and turne all thinges that shall come to thee to the laude and praysinges of his name For after winter commeth somer and after the night commeth the daye and after a great tempest sheweth agayne right cleare and pleasaunt weather Of the vvanting of all solace and comfort The 9. Chapter IT is no great thinge to despise mans comfort when the cōfort of God is present but it is a great thinge and that a right great thinge a man to be so stronge in spirit that he may beare the wantinge of them both and for the loue of God and to his honour to haue a readie will to beare as it were a desolation of spirite and yet in nothinge to seeke him selfe nor his owne merites VVhat proofe of vertue is it if a man be mery and deuout in God when grace commeth and visiteth the soule for that houre is desired of euery creature He rideth right safely whom the grace of God beareth supporteth and what maruell is it if he feele no burden that is borne vp by him that is almightie and that is led by the soueraigne guide that is God him selfe VVe be alwaye glad to haue solace consolation but we would hane no tribulation nor we will not lightly cast from vs the false loue of our selfe The blessed Martyr Saint Laurence through the loue of God mightily ouercame the loue of the worlde and of him selfe for he despised all that was likinge and delectable in the worlde And Sixtus the Pope whom he most loued for the loue of God he suffred meekelie to be taken frō him so through the loue of God he ouercame the loue of man for mans comfort he chose rather to folow the will of God Doe thou in like wise and learne to forsake some necessary and welbeloued freende for the loue of God and take it not greeuouslie when thou art left or forsaken of thy freende for of necessitie it behoueth worldlie frendes to be disseuered It behoueth a man to fight long and mightilye to striue with him selfe before he shall learne fully to ouercome him selfe or be able freely and readlly to set all his desires in God VVhen a man loueth him selfe and much trusteth to him self he falleth anone to mans comfortes but the verie true louer of Christe and the diligēt folower of vertue falleth not so lightlye to them neither seeketh much such sensible sweetenes ne such bodely delites but rather is glad to suffer great harde labours paine for the loue of Christ Neuerthelesse when ghostlye comfort is sent to thee of God take to meeklye and geue humble thankes for it but knowe it for certain that it is of the great goodnes of God that sendeth it to thee and not of thy deseruing and looke thou be not therefore lift vp into pride nor that thou ioye much thereof neither presume vainely therein but rather that thou be the more meeke for so noble a gifte and the more warie and fearefull in all thy workes for that time will passe awaye and the time of temptation will shortlye folowe after VVhen comfort is withdrawen dispayre not therefore but meekelye and patiently abide the visitation of God for he is able and of power to geue thee more grace and more ghostly comfort then thou haddest first Suche alteratiō of grace is no new nor straunge thinge to them that haue had experience in the waye of God for in great Saintes and holye prophetes was many times founde like alteration VVherefore the prophete Dauid sayth Ego dixi in abundantia mea non mouebor in aeternum That is to saye VVhen Dauid had aboundance of ghostly comfort he saide to our Lorde that he trusted he should neuer be remoued from such comfort But after when grace withdrewe he saide Auertisti faciem
swinke and sweate both day and night But alas for sorowe for the goods euerlasting and for the rewarde that may not be esteemed by mans haâ—â—e and for the high honour glory that neuer shall haue ende men be slowe to take any maner of payne and labour Be thou therefore ashamed thou slowe seruaunt of God that they be founde more ready to workes of death then thou art to works of life and that they ioy more in vanitie then thou in truth and yet they be ofte deceyued of that that they haue most trust in but my promise deceueth no man nor leaueth no man that trusteth in me without some comfort That I haue promised I will performe that I haue sayd I will fulfill to euery person so that they abide faythfully in my loue dread vnto the ende for I am the rewarder of all good men and a strong prouer of all deuout soules VVrite my wordes therefore in thy hart diligeÌ„tly and ofte thinke thou vpoÌ„ them and they shall be in time of temptatioÌ„ much necessarie vnto thee That thou vnderstandest not when thou readest it thou shalt vnderstande in the time of my visitation I am wont to visite my seruauntes two maner of wayes that is to say with temptation and with consolation and two lessons dayly I reade vnto them one wherby I rebuke their vices another whereby I stirre theÌ„ to encrease in vertues and he that knoweth my wordes and despiseth theÌ„ hath that that shall iudge him in the last day A prayer to obteyne the grace of deuotion The .4 Chapter Lord Iesu thou art all my riches and all that I haue I haue it of thee But what am I Lorde that I dare thus speake to thee I am thy poorest seruaunt a worme most abiect more poore and more dispisable than I can or bare say Beholde Lorde that I am nought that I haue nought and of my selfe I am nought worth thou art only good righteous and holy thou orderest all things thou giuest all things thou fulfillest all things with thy goodnes leauing only the wretched sinner barrain and voyde of heaueÌ„ly comfort Remember thy mercies and fill my harte with thy manifolde graces for thou wilte not that thy works in me be made in vaine How may I beare the miseries of this lyfe vnlesse thy grace and mercy doe coÌ„fort me therin Turne not thy face from me defer not thy visiting of me ne with drawe not thy comforts from me lest happily my soule be made as dry earth without the water of grace and as it were a thing vnprofitable to thee Teache me Lorde to fulfill thy will and to liue meekly and worthily before thee for thou art all my wisedome and running and thou art he that knowest me as I am and that knewest me before the world was made and before that I was borne or brought into this lyfe Hovve vve ought to be conuersant before God in truth and meekenes The 5. Chapter MY sonne sayth our lord Iesu walke before me in truth and meekenes and seeke me alwayes in simplenes and playnnes of hart He that walketh in truth shall be defended from all perils and daungers and truth shall deliuer him froÌ„ all deceyuers and from all euil sayings of wicked people If truth deliuer thee thou art very free and thou shalt litle care for the vayne sayinges of the people Lord it is true all that thou sayest be it done to me after thy saying I beseeche thee that thy truth may teache me and kepe me and finally leade me to a blessed ending and that it may deliuer me from all euil affections and from all inordinate loue that I may walke with thee in freedome of spirite and libertie of harte Then truth sayth agayne I shall teache thee what is acceptable and liking to me Thinke on thy sinnes paste with great displeasure and sorowe of harte neuer thinke thy selfe worthy to be called holy or vertuous for any good deedes that thou hast done but thinke howe great a sinner thou art beâ—apped and bounde with great and manifolde sinnes and passions and that of thy selfe thou drawest to nought soone fallest soone art ouercome soone troubled and soone art thou broken with labour and payne and thou hast nothing whereof thou mayst righteously glorifie thy selfe but many things thou hast wherfore thou oughtest to despise thy selfe for thou art more vnstable and more weake to ghostly works then thou knowest or mayst thinke Let nothing therfore seeme great to thee nothing precious nothing worthy any reputation nor woorthy to be praysed in thy sight but that is euerlasting Let the euerlastinge truth be most liking moste pleasaunt to thee aboue all other thinges and that thine owne sinne and vilenes be moste misliking and moste displeasaunt to thee Dreade nothing so much nor reproue nothing so much neyther let any thing be to thee so much hated nor flee nothing so muche as thy sinnes and wickednes for they should more displease thee then should the losse of all worldly thinges Some there be that walke not purelye before me for they through pride and curiositie of theÌ„ selues desire to searche and know high thinges of my godhead forgetting them selues the health of their owne soules such persons fall oft times into great leÌ„ptations and greeuous sinnes by their pride and curiositie for the which I am turned against them leaue them to theÌ„ selues without helpe or counsaile of me Dreade therfore the iudgemetes of God the wrath of him that is almightie and discusse not nor searche his secretes but searche well thine owne iniquities How ofte how greeuouslie thou haste offended him howe many good deedes thou haste negligeÌ„tlie omitted lefte vndone whiche thou mightest well haue doone Some persons beare their deuotion in bookes some in images some in outward tokens and figures some haue me in their mouth but litle in their heart but some there be that haue their reason cleerely illumined with the light of true vnderstandinge whereby their affectioÌ„ is so purged and purified from loue of earthly thinges that they maye alwaye couete desire heauenlie thinges in so much as it is greeuous to theÌ„ for to heare of earthly likinges and it is to them also a right great payne to serue the necessities of the body and they thinke all the time as lost wherein they go about it Suche persons feele and knowe well what the spirite of truth speaketh in their soules for it teacheth them to despise earthlie thinges and to loue heauenlie thinges to forsake the worlde that is transitorie and to desire both daye and night to come thither where is ioy euerlastinge to the which bringe vs our Lorde Iesus Amen Of the meruaillous effect of the loue of God The .6 Chapter BLessed be thou heauenlie father the father of my Lorde Iesus Christe for thou haste vouchesafed to remember me thy poorest seruant and somtime doest comfort me with thy gracious presence that am
Chapter My sonne saith our Sauiour Christe he that laboureth to withdrawe him from obedience withdraweth hym from grace And he that seeketh to haue priuate thinges loseth the thinges that be in common If a man can not gladlie submit him selfe to his superiour it is a token that his fleshe is not yet fullie obedient to the spirite but that it ofte rebelleth and murmureth Therefore yf thou desire to ouercome thy selfe and to make thy fleshe obeye meekelye to the will of the spirit learne first to obeye gladlye to thy superiour The outward enemye is the sooner ouercome yf the inner man that is the soule be not feebled nor wasted There is none worse nor any more greeuous enemye to the soule then thy selfe if thy fleshe be not well agreeinge to the will of the spirite It behoueth the therfore that thou haue a true despisinge and contempt of thy selfe yf thou wilt preuayle against thy fleshe and bloud But forasmuch as thou yet louest thy selfe inordinatlie therefore thou fearest to resigne thy will whollie to another mans will But what greate thinge is it to thee that art but doste and nought if thou subdue thy selfe to man for my sake when I that am almightie moste highe God maker of all thinges subdued my selfe mekelye to man for thy sake I made my selfe moste meeke and most lowe of all men that thou shoudest learne to ouercome thy pride through my meekenes Learne therefore thou ashes to be tractable learne thou earth and dust to be meeke and to bowe thy selfe vnder euerye mans foote for my sake learne to breake thine owne will to be subiect to all men in thine heart Rise in great wrath against thy selfe and suffer not pryde to reygne in thee but shewe thy selfe so litle and obedient and so noughtie in thine owne sight that as thee thinkes all men maye righteouslye go ouer thee and tread vpō the as vpon earth or claye O vaine man what haste thou to complaine O thou fowle sinner what mayest thou righteously say against them that reproue thee sith thou haste so ofte offended God and haste also so ofte deserued the paynes of hell But neuerthelesse my eye of mercie hath spared thee for thy soule is precious in my sight that thou shouldest thereby knowe the greate loue that I haue to thee and be therfore the more thankful to me againe and geue thy selfe to perfect true subiection and meekenes and to be ready in hart patiently to suffer for my sake thine owne contemptes and despisings whensoeuer they shal happen to fal vnto thee Amen Of the secrete and hid iudgementes of God to be considered that vve be not proude of our good deedes The .15 Chapter LOrd thou soundest thy iudgementes terribly vpon me and fillest my body bones with great feare and dreade my soule also trembleth very sore for I am greatly astonied for that I see that heauens be not clene in thy sight for sith thou foundest default in angels and sparedst thē not what shall become of me that am but vile and stinking carreyne Stars fel from heauen and I dust and ashes what should I presume Also some people that seemed to haue great workes of vertue haue fallen full lowe And suche as were fed with meate of aungels I haue seene after delyte in swynes meate that is to saye in fleshlye pleasures VVherefore it may be well sayde and verifyed that there is no holynes nor goodnes in vs if thou with drawe thy hand of mercy from vs nor that no wisedome maye auayle vs if thou Lorde gouerne it not nor any strength helpe if thou ceasse to preserue vs no sure chastitie can be if thou Lorde defende it not nor any sure keeping may profite vs if thy holy watchfulnes be not present for if we be forsaken of thee anone we be drowned and perishe but if thou a litle visite vs with thy grace we anone liue and be lifte vp agayne VVe be vnstable vnlesse thou confirme vs we be colde and dul but if by thee we be stirred to feruoure of spirite O howe meekely and abiectly ought I therfore to iudge of my selfe how much ought I in my heart to despise my selfe though I be holden neuer so good and holy in sight of the world and howe profoundly ought I to submit me to thy deepe and profound iudgementes sith I finde in my selfe nothinge els but naught and naught O substaunce that may not be pondered O Sea that may not be sailed in thee and by thee I finde that my substaunce is nothing and ouer all naught where is nowe the shadowe of this worldlye glorie and where is the trust that I had in it Truelie it is vanished awaye through the deepenes of thy secrete and hidde Iudgementes vpon me VVhat is fleshe in thy sight how may clay glorifye him selfe against his maker how may he be deceaued with vain prayses whose heart in truth is subiect to god All the worlde may not lift him vp into pride whō truth that God is hath perfectly made subiect vnto him nor he may not be deceaued with any flattering that putteth his whole trust in God For he seeth well that they that speake be vaine and nought and that they shall shortly faile with the sounde of wordes but the truth of God alway abideth Hovv a man shall order him selfe in his desires The .16 Chapter My sonne sayth our Sauiour Christ thus shalt thou say in euerye thing that thou desirest Lorde if it be thy will be it done as I aske and if it be to thy praysing be it fulfilled in thy name And if thou see it good and profitable to me geue me grace to vse it to thy honoure But if thou knowe it hurtfull to me and not profitable to the health of my soule then take from me suche desire Euery desire cōmeth not of the holy ghoste though it seeme rigteous good for it is sometime full harde to iudge whether a good spirit or an euil moueth thee to this thing or to that or whether thou be moued of thyne owne spirite Many be deceued in the ende which first seemed to haue beene moued of the holy ghoste Therfore with dreade of God and with meekenes of heart it is to desire and aske whatsoeuer commeth to our minde to be desired and asked and with a whole forsakinge of our selfe to committe all thinges to God and to saye thus Lorde thou knowest what thing is to me moste profitable doe this or that after thy will geue me what thou wilt asmuch as thou wilt and when thou wilt Doe with me as thou knowest best to be done and as it shall please thee and as shall be moste to thy honoure Put me where thou wilt and freelye doe with me in all thinges after thy will Thy creature I am and in thine handes leade me and turne me where thou wilte loe I am thy seruaunt ready to all thinges that thou commaundest for I desire not to lyue to
to loue the world and dryueth out of their hartes all heauenlie desires insomuch that many accompt it as a ioye of Paradise to liue vnder such sēsible pleasures and that is because they neither haue seene nor tasted the sweetnes in God nor the inwarde gladnes that cōmeth of vertues But they that perfectly despise the worlde and that studie to liue vnder holie discipline be not ignoraunt of the heauenlie sweetnes that is promised vnto ghostlie liuers and they see also howe greeuouslie the world erreth and howe greeuouslie it is deceyued in diuers maners Hovve a man shoulde rest in God aboue all thinges The 23. Chapter ABoue all thinges and in all thinges rest thou my soule in thy Lorde God for he is the eternall rest of all Angels and saintes Geue me Lord Iesus this speciall grace for to reste me in thee aboue all creatures aboue all helth and fayrenes aboue all glorye and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all cunninge and pollicie aboue all riches craftes aboue all gladnes of bodye and soule aboue all fame and praysing aboue all sweetnes and consolation aboue all hope and repromission aboue all merite and desire aboue all giftes rewardes that thou mayest geue or sende beside thy selfe and aboue all ioy and mirth that mans heart or minde may take or feele And also aboue all Angels and Archangels and aboue the company of heauenlie spirites aboue all thinges visible and inuisible and aboue all thing that is not thy selfe For thou O Lord God art most best most highest most mightest most sufficient and most full of goodnes moste sweete moste comfortable moste fayre moste louinge moste noble and moste glorious aboue all thinge in whom all goodnes is together perfectlie and fully hath beene and shall be And therefore whatsoeuer thou geuest me beside thy selfe it is lytle and insufficient to me for my heart may not rest nor fullye be pacifyed but in thee so that it ascendeth aboue all giftes and also aboue all maner of thinges that be created O my Lorde Iesu Christ moste louing spouse moste purest louer and gouernoure of euerye creature who shall geue me winges of perfect libertie that I may fite high and rest me in thee O when shall I fullie tende to thee and see and feele how sweete thou art whē shall I wholly gather my selfe together in thee so perfectlye that I shall not for thy loue feele my selfe but thee onelie aboue my selfe and aobue all bodilie thinges and that thou visite me in such wise as thou doest visite thy faythfull louers Nowe I ofte mourne and complaine the miseries of this life and with sorowe and woe beare thē with right great heauines for many euill thinges happen daylie in this lyfe which ofte times trouble me and make me verie heauie greatlie darken mine vnderstanding They hinder me greatly and put my minde from thee and so encomber me many wayes that I can not haue free minde cleane desire to thee nor haue thy sweete imbracinges that to thy blessed Saintes be alwaye present VVherefore I beseeche thee Lorde Christ Iesu that the sighinges and the inwarde desires of my hart with my manifolde desolutions may somewhat moue thee and incline thee to heare me O Iesu the light and brightnes of euerlasting glory the ioy and comfort of all christien people that are walking labouring as pilgrimes in the wyldernes of this world my harte cryeth to thee by still desires without voyce and my silence speaketh vnto thee and sayth thus How longe carieth my Lorde God to come to me verilie I trust that he will shortlie come to me his poorest seruant and comfort me and make me ioyous glad in him And that he will deliuer me from all anguishe and sorowe Come Lord come for without thee I haue no glad daye nor houre for thou art all my ioye gladnes and without thee my soule is barren and voyde I am a wretche and in maner in prison and bounde with fetters till thou through the light of thy gracious presēce vouchsafe to visit me and to refresh me and to bring me againe to libertie of spirite and that thou vouchsafe to shewe thy fauourable and louinge countenance vnto me Let other seeke what they will but trulye there is nothinge that I will seeke nor that shall please me but thou my Lorde God my hope and euerlastinge helth I shall not cease of prayer till thy grace returne to me againe that thou speake inwardly to my soule saye thus Lo I am here I am come to thee for thou haste called me thy teares the desyre of thy hart thy meeknes and thy contrition haue bowed me downe and brought me to thee And I shall saye agayne Lorde I haue called thee and I haue desyred to haue thee ready to forsake all things for thee thou first haste stirred me to seeke thee VVherefore be thou alwaye blessed that haste shewed suche goodnes to me after the multitude of thy mercy VVhat hath thy seruant Lorde more to doe or saye but that he meeken him selfe before thy maiestie and euer haue in minde his owne iniquitie There is none like to thee Lorde in heauen nor in earth thy workes be good thy iudgementes be righteous by thy prouidence all things be gouerned VVherefore to thee which art the wisedome of the father be euerlasting ioy glory and I humbly beseech thee that my body and soule my harte and tounge and all thy creatures maye alwaye laude thee and blesse thee Amen Of remembringe of the great and manyfolde benefites of God The 24. Chapter OPen mine hart Lorde into the beholding of thy lawes and in thy cōmaundements teach me to walke geue me grace to knowe and to vnderstand thy will and with great reuerence and diligent consideratiō to remember thy manyfold benefites that I may from henceforth yeld to thee due thankes for thē againe But I knowe and confesse it for truth that I am not able to yeld to thee condigne thankinges for the least benefite that thou hast geuen me for I am lesse then the least benefite that thou hast geuen And whē I beholde thy noblenes and woorthines my spirite dreadeth and trembleth very sore for the greatnes therof O Lord all that we haue in body in soule inwardly outwardlye naturally or supernaturallye they be thy benefites and shew thee openly to be a blessed and good benefactour of whom we haue receiued such giftes And though one hath receaued more and another lesse yet they all be thy giftes without thee the least can not be had and he that hath more receaued may not rightfully glorify him selfe therein as though he had gotten it by his owne merite nor exalt him selfe aboue other nor disdayne other nor despise his inferiours therfore for he is greatest and moste acceptable to thee that least ascribeth to him selfe and that is for suche giftes the more meeke and deuout in yeldinge thankes to thee for
haue thou full trust for I am nere to thee to helpe thee and to restore thee againe not onelie to like grace as thou haddest first but also to muche more in great aboundance Is there anye thinge hard or impossible to me or am I like to him that sayeth a thinge and doeth it not where is thy fayth Stand stronglie and perseuerantlie in me be stedfast abiding my promise and thou shall haue comfort in such time as it shall be most expedient for thee abide abide and tary for me and I shall come soone and helpe thee It is temptation that vexeth thee and a vaine dread that feareth thee much But what auayleth such feare of dreade for thinges that perchaunce shall neuer come but that the ghostlye enemye woulde thou shouldest haue sorowe vpon sorow Beare therefore patienlye thy troubles that be present and drede not ouermuche those that be to come for it suffiseth to euery daye his owne malice It is a vaine thing and vnprofitable to be heauy or glad for thinges that perchaunce shal neuer happen nor come but it is the vnstablenes of man that he will be deceaued so lightly to folowe the suggestion of the enemie for he careth not whether he maye deceiue by true suggestion or by false nor whether it be by loue of thinges present or by dreade of thinges to come Therfore be thou not troubled neither drede but trust stronglie in me in my mercy haue perfect hope for when thou weenest that thou art right farre from me ofte times I am right neere vnto thee and when thou weenest that all is lost then ofte times foloweth the greater reward It is not therefore all lost though some thinge happen against thy will and thou shalt not iudge therein after thy outwarde feelinge neyther shalt thou take anye griefe so sore to hart but that thou shalt haue good trust to escape it nor thou shalt not thinke thy selfe all whollie forsaken of me though I sende thee for a time some heauines and trouble for that is the surer way to the kingdome of heauen and doubtles it is more expedient to thee and to other of my seruauntes that ye sometime be proued with aduersities then that ye haue alway all things after your wils I know the hid thought of man and that it is much expedient to the health of the soule that he be lefte sometime to him selfe without ghostlie sauour or cōfort least haply he be raysed vp into pride and thinke him selfe better then he is That I haue geuen I maye take awaye and maye restore it againe when me shall list VVhen I geue a thing to anye person it is mine owne that I haue geuen and when I take it awaye againe I take none of his for euerye good gifte and euery perfect rewarde commeth of me If I sende to thee trouble or heauines in what wise soeuer it be take it gladly disdain it not neither let thy heart fayle thee therin for I may anone lifte thee vp againe and turne thy heauines into great ioye and ghostlye gladnes And verilie I am righteous and much to be lauded and praysed whē I doe so with thee If thou vnderstande a right and beholde thy selfe truelie as thou art thou shalt neuer be so directlie heauie for anye aduersitie but rather thou shalt ioye therein and thinke it as the greatest gifte that I spare not to scourge thee with such trouble and aduersitie for I sayde to my disciples thus As my father loueth me I loue you and yet I sent them not forth into the world to haue temporall ioyes but to haue great battailes not to haue honours but despites not to be ydle but to labor not to rest but to bringe forth much good fruite in patience and good workes My sonne remember well these wordes that I haue spoken to thee for they be true and can not be denyed Hovv vve should forget all creatures that vve might finde our Creator The .36 Chapter LOrde I haue great neede of thy grace that of thy great singuler grace or that I may come thither where no creature shall let nor hinder me from perfect beholdinge of thee for as longe as anye transitorye thinge holdeth me or hath rule in me I maye not flye freelye to thee He coueted to flye without let that sayde thus VVho shall geue me winges like to a doue that I may flie into the bosome of my sauiour into the holes of his blessed woundes and rest me there I see well that no man is more restfull nor more likinge in this world then is that man who alway hath his minde and whole intent vpwarde to God and nothinge desireth of the world It behoueth him therfore that would perfectlie forsake him selfe beholde thee to surmount al creatures and him selfe also through excesse of minde to see and behold that thou maker of all things hast nothing amōge all creatures like vnto thee but a man be cleerely deliuered frō the loue of creatures he may not fullie tend to his Creator And this is the greatest cause why there be so fewe cōtēplatiues that is to say because there be so fewe that willinglye will sequester them selues from the loue of creatures To cōtemplation is great grace required for it lifteth vp the soule and rauisheth it vp in spirit aboue it selfe And except a man be lift vp in spirite aboue him selfe and be clearelie deliuered from all creatures as in his loue and be perfectly and fullie vnited to God whatsoeuer he can or whatsoeuer he hath either in vertue or cunning it is but litle worth afore God Therefore he shal haue but litle vertue long shall he lye still in earthlie likinges that accounteth any thing great or worthy to be praysed but onelie God for all other thinges besides God are nought for nought are to be accoūted It is great difference betwene the wisdome of a deuout man lightened by grace and the cunninge of a subtill and studious clerke and that learninge is muche more noble and muche more worthy that commeth by the influence and gracious gifte of God than that that is gotten by the labour study of man Many desire to haue the gifte of contemplation but they will not vse suche thinges as be required to contemplation And one great let of contemplation is that we stande so longe in outward signes and in sensible things take no heede of perfect mortifying our body to the spirit I wote not howe it is nor with what spirit we be led nor what we pretend we that be called spirituall persons that we take greater labour and study for transitory thinges than we doe to knowe the inwarde state of our owne soule But alas for sorowe anone as we haue made a litle recollection to God we ten forth to outwarde thinges and doe not search our owne conscience with due examination as we shoulde do nor we heede not where our affection resteth newe sorowe
and whatsoeuer they finde in creatures they referre it all to the laude and praysing of the Creatoure for they see well that there is great difference betwixt the Creator and creature eternitie and time and betwixte the light made the light vnmade O euerlastinge light farre passinge all thinges that are made sende downe the beames of thy lightninges from aboue and purifye glad and clarifie in me al the inward parties of my heart Quicken my spirite with all the powers thereof that it may cleaue fast and be ioyned to thee in ioyfull gladnes of ghostlye rauishinges O when shall that blessed hour come that thou shalt visite me glad me with thy blessed presence so that thou be to me all in all As longe as that gifte is not geuen to me that thou be to me all in all there shall be no full ioye in me But alas for sorowe mine olde man that is my fleshly liking yet liueth in me and is not yet fully crucified nor perfectly deade in me for yet striueth the fleshe strongly against the spirit aud moueth great inward battayle against me and suffereth not the kyngdome of my soule to lyue in peace But thou good Lorde that hast the lordship ouer al the power of the Sea doest aswage the streames of his flowinges Aryse and helpe me breake downe the power of myne enemies which alwaye moue this battayle in me Shewe the greatnes of thy goodnes let the power of thy right hande be glorified in me for there is to me none other hope nor refuge but in thee onely my Lorde my God to whom be ioy honour and glorye euerlastingly Amen That there is no full suretie from temptation in this lyfe The 40. Chapter OVr Lorde sayeth to his seruaunt thus Thou shalte neuer be sure from temptation and tribulation in this lyfe And therefore armoure spiritual shal alway as long as thou liuest be necessarie for thee Thou art amoÌ„g thine enemies and shalt be troubled and vexed with them on euery side and but if thou vse in euery place the shielde of patience thou shalt not long keepe thee vnwounded And ouer that if thou set not thy hart stronglie in me with a readie will to suffer all thinges patientlie for me thou mayest not longe bear this ardoure nor come to the reward of blessed saints It behoueth thee therfore manly to passe ouer many thinges and to vse a stronge hande against all the obiections of the enemie To the ouercommer it promiseth Angels foode and to him that is ouercome is left much miserie If thou seeke rest in this lyfe howe then shalt thou come to the rest euerlastinge Set not thy selfe to haue rest here but to haue patience and seeke the true soothfast rest not in earth but in heauen not in man or anye creature but in God onelie where it is For the loue of God thou oughtest to suffer gladlie all thinges that is to saye all laboures sorowes temptations vexations anguishes needines sickenesse iniuries euill sayinges reprouinges oppressions confusions corrections and despisinges These helpe a man greatlie to vertues these proue the true knight of Christe and make redye for hym the heauenlie crowne and our Lorde shall yeelde him againe euerlastinge rewarde for this short laboure and infinite glorie for this transitorie confusion I â—owest thou that thou shalt haue alwaye spirituall coÌ„fortes after thy will Naye naye my Saintes had them not out manye great griefes and diuers temptations and great desolations but they bare all with great patience and more trusted in me then in them selues for they knewe well that the passions of this worlde be not able of them selues to get the glorye that is ordeined for theÌ„ in the kingdome of heaueÌ„ VVilt thou looke to haue anone that whiche others coulde not get but with great weepinges labours Abide paciently the comming of our Lorde doe manfully his bidding be coÌ„forted in him mistrust him not nor go not backe from his seruice for paine nor for dread but lay forth thy body and soule constantlye to his honour in all good bodylye and ghostly laboures And he shal reward thee againe moste plenteouslye for thy good trauayle and shal be with thee and helpe thee in euery trouble that shal befall vnto thee So may it be Amen Against the vaine iudgementes of men The 41. Châ—pter My sonne fixe thy hart stedfastly in God and dreade not the iudgmeÌ„tes of man where thine owne conscience withnesseth thee to be innocent and cleare It is right good and blessed sometime to suffer such sayinges and it shall not be greeuous to a meeke harte whiche trusteth more in God than in him selfe Many folke can saye many thinges and yet litle fayth is to be geuen to their sayinges to pleâ—â—e all men it is not possible For though S. Paule laboured all that he might to haue pleased al people in God did to all men all that he coulde for their saluation yet neuerthelesse he coulde not let but that he was sometime iudged of other He did for the edifyinge and health of other as much as in him was but that he shoulde not sometime be iudged of other or not be despised of other he coulde not lette wherefore he committed all to God that knoweth all thinge and armed him selfe with patience and meeknes against all thinges that might be vntruelye spoken against him And neuerthelesse sometime he answered againe lest that by his sileÌ„ce hurte or hinderance might haue growen to other VVhat art thou then that dreadest so sore a mortall man this daye he is and to morowe he appeareth not dread God and thou shalt not nede to dread man VVhat maye man do with thee in wordes or iniuries he hurteth him selfe more than thee and in the ende he shall not flee the iudgement of God whatsoeuer he be Haue alwaye God before the eye of thy soule and striue not agayne by multiplyinge of wordes And if thou seeme for a time to suffer coÌ„fusion that thou hast not deserued disdayne thou not therefore nor through impatience minishe nor thy rewarde but rather lifte vp thy harte to God in heauen for he is able to deliuer thee from all confusion and wronges and to rewarde euery man after his desert and muche more then he can deserue Of a pure and a vvholle forsakinge of our selfe and our ovvne vvill that vve might get the freedome of spirite and folovve the vvill of God The .42 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lorde forsake thy selfe and thou shalt finde me StaÌ„d without election and without folowinge of thine owne wil also without al proprietie thou shalt much profite in grace and if thou whollie resigne thy selfe into my handes and take nothinge to thee againe thou shalt haue the more grace of me O Lorde howe ofte shall I resigne me vnto thee in what thinges shall I forsake my selfe Alwaye and in euery houre in great thinges and in small I except none for in all thinges I will finde
men despisable in the worlde thou shouldest anone meken thy selfe lowe to the grounde and shouldest rather couete to be subiect to all men then to haue soueraintie ouer anye one person and thou shouldest not desire to haue mirth and solace in this worlde but rather tribulation and paine and thou shouldest thē accompt it as a great winning to be despised and taken as naught amonge the people O if these thinges sauoured well to thee and deepely pearced into thy hearte thou shouldest not once dare complaine for anye maner of trouble that shoulde befall vnto thee Are not all painefull thinges and moste greeuous laboures gladlye to be suffered for the ioyes euerlasting yes verilye for it is no litle thinge to win or lose the kingdome of heauen Lifte vp thy face therefore into heauen and beholde howe I and all my Saintes that be with me in heauē hadde in this worlde great battall and conflict and nowe they ioye with me and be comforted in me and be sure to abide with me and to dwel with me in the kingdome of my father without ending Amen Of the daye of eternitie and of the miseries of this lyfe The 53. Chapter O Blessed mansion of the heauenlie Citie O moste cleerest daye of eternitie whom the night maye not darken but the high truth that God is illumineth and cleereth the daye alwaye merie alwaye sure and neuer chaunging his state into the contrarie VVoulde to God that this daye might once appere and shine vpon vs and that these temporall thinges were at an end This blessed daye shineth to Saintes in heauen with euerlastinge brightnes and claritie but to vs pilgrimes in earth it shineth not but a farre of as through a mirroure or glasse The heauenlye Citizens knowe well howe ioyous this daye is But we outlawes the childrē of Eue doe weepe and wayle the bitternes and tediousnes of this daye that is of this present lyfe short and euill full of sorowes and anguishes where man is often times defiled with sinne encōbred with passions inquieted with dreades bounden with charges busied with vanities blinded with errours ouercharged with labours vexed with temptations ouercome with delightes vaine pleasures of the world and greeuouslie tormented sometyme with penurie and neede O Lorde when shall the ende come of all these miseries and when shall I be cleerelie deliuered from the bondage of sinne when shall I onely Lord haue minde on thee and fully be made glad and mery in thee whē shall I be free without letting and in perfect libertie without griefe of bodie soule VVhen shal I haue sadde peace without trouble peace within and without and on euery side stedfast and sure O Lorde Iesu when shall I stande and behoulde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorie And when shalt thou be to me all in all and when shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou haste ordeyned to thy elect people from the beginning I am lefte here poore and as an outlawe in the lande of mine enemies where daylie be battailes great misfortunes Comfort my exile asswage my sorow for all my desire crieth to thee It is to me a greeuous burden whatsoeuer the worlde offereth me here to my so lace I desire to haue inwarde fruition in thee but I can not attayne therto I couet to cleue fast to heauenlie thinges but temporall thinges and passions vnmortified pull me awaye downward In minde I woulde be aboue all temporall thinges but whether I will or not I am compelled through myne owne default to be subiect to my fleshe Thus I moste wretched man fight in my selfe and am made greeuous to my selfe whiles my spirits desireth to be vpwarde and my fleshe downewarde O what suffer I inwardlie when in my minde I beholde heauenly things and anone a great multitude of carnall thoughtes enter into my soule Therefore Lorde be not longe frō me neither depart in thy wrath from me thy seruant Send to me the lightnes of thy grace and breake downe in me all carnall thoughts Sende forth the dartes of thy loue breake therewith all phantasies of the enemy Gather the wits and powers of my soule together in thee Make me forget all worldlie thinges graūt me to cast awaye and whollie to despise all phantasies of sinne Helpe me thou euerlastinge truth that no worldlie vanitie hereafter haue power in me Come also thou heauenlie sweetnes and let all bitternes of sinne flie farre frō me Pardon me and mercifully forgeue me when I thinke in my prayer of any thinge but of thee for I confesse for truth that in time past I haue vsed my selfe verie vnstable therein for many times I am not there where I stande or sit but rather I am there where my thoughtes leade me for there am I where my thought is and there as my thought is accustomed to be there is that that I loue and that ofte times commeth into my minde that by custome pleaseth me best and that most desireth me to thinke vpon VVherefore thou that art euerlastinge truth sayest VVhere as thy treasure is there is thy heart VVherefore if I loue heauen I speake gladlie of heauenlie thinges and of such thinges as be of God and that pertaine most to his honoure and to the glorifyinge and worshippinge of his holy name And if I loue the worlde I ioye anone at worldlie felicitie and sorowe anone at his aduersitie If I loue the fleshe I ymagine ofte times that pleaseth the fleshe and if I loue my soule I delight muche to speake and to heare of thinges that be to my soule health And so whatsoeuer I loue of them I gladlye heare and speake and beare the images of them ofte in my minde Blessed is that man that for thee Lorde forgetteth all creatures learneth truelie to ouercome him selfe and with the feruour of spirite crucifieth his fleshe so that in a cleane and a pure conscience he maye offer his prayers to thee and be worthy to haue companye of blessed Angels all earthlie thinges excluded from him and fullye set apart Amen Of the desire of euerlastinge life and of the great revvarde that is promised to them that stronglye fight agaynst sinne The 54. Chapter My sonne when thou feelest that a desire of euerlastinge blisse is giuen vnto thee thou couetest to go out of the tabernacle of thy mortal bodie that thou might clearelie without shadowe beholde my clearenes Open thine harte and with al the desires of thy soule take that holie inspiration and yeelding most large thankes to the high goodnes of God that so worthilie doth to thee so beninglie visiteth thee so brenninglie stirreth thee and so mightelie beareth thee vp that through thine owne burden thou fall not downe to earthilie likings and thinke not that that desire commeth of thy selfe or of thine owne workinge but rather that it commeth of the gifte of grace and of a louelie beholdinge of God vpon thee that thou shouldest profite
of Abraham My soule coueteth to receiue thy body my hart desireth to be vnited with thee betake thy selfe to me Lord and it suffiseth for without thee there is no comfort nor without thee I may not be nor without thy visitation I may not liue and therefore it behoueth me ofte times to goe to thee and for my health to receiue thee leste happilye if I should be defrauded from that heauenlie meat I should faile in the waye So thou sayedst thy selfe moste mercifull Iesu as thou were preaching to the people healedst them of their sicknesses I will not let thē returne into their houses fasting lest they fayle by the waye Doe with me therefore in like maner that hast left thy selfe in this glorious Sacrament for the comfort of all faithfull people Thou art onely the true refection of the soule and he that worthily eateth thee shall be partaker and heire of eternal glorie it is necessarie to me that so oft do offende so soone ware dull and slowe that by ofte prayers and cōfessions I may renewe my selfe purifie my selfe and kindle my selfe to quicknes feruour of spicite lest happily by long abstaining I might fall from that holy purpose for the wittes of man and woman be from their youth proude and readie to euil and but this heauenly lie medicine do helpe man maye anone fall to worse and worse therefore this holy communion draweth a man from euill and comforteth him in goodnes If I nowe be ofte times so negligent and slouthfull when I am cōmaunded what should I be if I receiued not that biessed medicine nor sought not for that great helpe And though I be not euery daye apte nor disposed to receyue my Creator neuerthelesse I shall take heede to receyue him in times conuenient so that I maye be partaker of so great a grace for it is one of the moste principall consolations to a faithfull soule that is to saye that as long as he is as a pilgrime in this mortall bodye that he ofte remember his Lorde God and receyue him that is his onely beloued aboue all thinges It is a marueilous goodnes of the great pitie that thou Lorde haste against vs that thou Creatour and geuer of Iyfe to all spirites vouchestsafe to come to a poore creature and with thy godhead manhood to refresh his hunger and neede O happie is that man and blessed is that soule that deserueth deuoutlie to receiue his Lorde God and in that receiuinge to be fulfilled with a spirituall ioy O howe great a Lorde doth he receiue howe welbeloued a gest doth he bringe into his house howe ioyous a felowe doth he receiue howe faithfull a freeude doth he accept howe noble a spouse doth he imbrace that receiueth thee For thou art onelie to be beloued before all other and aboue all thinges Let heauen and earth and all the ornamentes of them be still in thy presence for whatsoeuer they haue worthy laude or praise they haue that of the larges of thy gift and yet they maye not be lyke to the honour and glorie of thy name of whose wisedome there is no number nor measure That many commodities be geuen to them that deuoutly receaue this holye Sacrament The 4. Chapter O My Lorde God preuent thy seruant with the blessinges of thy sweetenes that he may deserue to go reuerently and deuoutly to this high Sacrament Stirrs vp my hart into a full beholdinge of thee and deliuer me from the great slouth and ydlenes that I haue bene in in time passed visite me in thy goodnes and geue me grace to taste inwardlie in my soule the sweetnes that is hid secretlie in this blessed Sacramēt as in a most plenteous fountaine Illumine also mine eyes to see and beholde so great a misterrie strengthen me that I maye alwaye faythfullie and vndoubtedly beleeue it for it is thy operation and not the power of man thy holie institutiō and not mans inuention And therefore to take and to vnderstand these thinges no man is sufficient of him selfe and they also ouerpasse the subtility of all Angels and heauenlye spirites VVhat may I then moste vnworthy sinner earth and ashes searche and talke of so high a secret but onelye that in simplenes of hart in a good stable fayth and by thy commaundement I come to thee with meeke hope and reuerence and beleue verily that thou art here present in this Sacrament God and man Thou wilt therefore that I shall receaue thee and knit my selfe to thee in perfecte charitie VVherefore I aske thee mercy and desire that thou geue me thy special grace that I maye from henceforth be fully molten and relented into thee flowe in thy loue and neuer after to intermit my selfe with any other comfort This moste high and moste worthy Sacrament is the life of the soule and body the medicine of all spirituall sicknes wherby all vices be cured passions refrayned temptations ouercome and diminished the greater grace is sent vertue increased and faith stablished hope strengthed and charitie kindled and spread abroade Thou haste geuen and ofte times geuest manye great giftes by this Sacrament to thy beloued seruantes that deuoutly receaue thee for thou thereby art the stronge vpholder of my soule the repairer of all the infirmities of man and the geuer of all inward consolation and of cōfort in tribulation and from thee deepnes of their owne desection thou raysest them againe into a strong hope of thy preseruation and renewest them and lightest them inwardlie with a newe grace so that they that felte them selues before receauing of that blessed Sacrament heauy and without affection after when they haue receaued it haue founde them selues changed into a great ghostly feruour And all this thou doest to thy elect people of thy great goodnes that they may see and knowe openlye by experience that they haue nothing of them selues but that all grace and goodnes that they haue they haue receaued of thee for of them selues they be colde dull and vndeuoute and by thee they be made feruent quicke in spirite and deuout folowers of thy will who maye go meekly to the fountaine of sweetnes but that he shall bringe awaye with him great plentie of sweetnes or who may stande by a great fyre but he shall feele great heate thereof and thou Lorde arte the fountaine of all sweetnes and the fyre alwayes brenning and neuer faylinge and therefore though I maye not drawe the fulnes of that fountaine nor drinke thereof to the full I shall neuerthelesse put my mouth to the hole of the heauenlie pipe that I maye take some litle droppe thereof to refreshe my thirst so that I be not all dried away And though I be not all heauenlye and brenninge in charitie as the Seraphins and Cherubins be neuerthelesse I shall endeuour me to set my selfe to deuotion and to prepare mine heart that I maye get some litle sparcle of the brenninge of heauenlie life through the meeke receuing of this