reprouinges and despising but grace ioyeth for the name of god to suffer theÌ„ both and take them when they come as speciall giftes of God Nature loueth idlenes and fleshlie rest but grace can not be ydle without doeinge some good deede and therefore she seeketh gladlye some profitable labours Nature desireth faire thinges and curious and abhorreth vile thinges and grosse but grace delighteth in meke and simple thinges she despiseth not harde thinges nor refuseth not to be clad in poore olde clothing and simple garmentes Nature beholdeth gladlie thinges temporall she ioyeth at worldlie winninges is heauie for worldlie leesinges and anone is moued with a sharpe word but grace beholdeth things euerlastinge and trusteth not in thinges temporall nor is not troubled with the losse of theÌ„ nor she is not grreeued with a frowarde worde for she hath layde her treasure in God and in ghostlie thinges whiche may not perishe Nature is couetous more gladlie taketh than geueth and loueth muche to haue propertie and priuate thinges but grace is pitifull and liberall to the poore she flieth singuler profite she is content with litle and iudgeth it more blessed to geue then to take Nature inclineth to the loue of creatures to the loue of the fleshe and to vanities and runnings about and to see newe thinges in the worlde but grace draweth a man to the loue of God and to the loue of vertues she renounceth all creatures she flieth the world she hateth desires of the fleshe restrayneth libertie and wandringes about and escheweth asmuch as she may to be seene among recourse of people Nature hath gladlye some outwarde solace wherein she maye faylably delight in her outwarde wittes but grace seeketh onelie to be comforted in God and to delight her in his goodnes aboue all thinges Nature doth all thinges for her owne winninge and singuler profite she may doe nothinge free but hopeth alwaye to haue like profite or better or laude or fauour of the people and coueteth much that her deedes and workes be greatlie pondred and praysed but grace seeketh no temporall thing nor none other reward for her hire but onely God she will no more of teÌ„porall goodes then shall neede for the gettinge of the goodes euerlastinge and careth not for the vayne prayse of the worlde Nature ioyeth greatlie in many freendes kinsfolkes and is glorified much of a noble place of birth and of her noble bloud and kinred she ioyeth with mightie men she flattereth riche men and is merie with them that she thinketh like to her in noblenes of the worlde but grace maketh a man to loue his enemies she hath no pride in worldlie freendes she regardeth not the noblenes of kynne ne the house of her father but if the more vertue be there she fauoureth more the poore then the riche she hath more compassion of an innoceÌ„t then of a mightie man she ioyeth euer in truth and not is falsehoode and alwaye comforteth good men more and more to profite and growe in vertue and goodnes and to seeke daylie more higher giftes of grace that they may through good vertuous workes be made like to the sonne of God Nature complayneth anone for wantinge of a right litle thing that she woulde haue or for a litle worldlie heauines but grace beareth gladlie all needines and wantinges of the worlde Nature inclynethe all thinges to her selfe and to her owne profite as much as she maye she argueth for her selfe and striueth and fighteth for her selfe but grace rendreth all thinges to God of whom all thinges doe flowe and springe originallie She ascribeth no goodnes to her selfe nor presumeth of her selfe she striueth not nor preferâ—eth her opinion before other mens but in euery sentence she submitteth her meeklie â—o the eternall wisedome and iudgement of God Nature coueteth to knowe and to here newe secret thinges she will that her workes be shewed outwarldlie and will haue experience of manye thinges in the worlde by her outwarde wittes she desyreth also to be knowen and to doe great thinges in the worlde whereof laude and praysinge maye folowe but grace careth not for anye newe thinges nor for anye curyous thinges whatsoeuer they be for she knoweth well that all suche vanities commeth of the corruption of sinne and that no newe thinge maye longe endure vpon earth She teacheth also to restraine the outwarde wittes and to eschewe all vayne pleasure and outwarde shewinge and meekelie keepeth secrete thinges that in the worlde were greatlie to be meruayled and praysed And in euerie thinge and in euerie science she seeketh some spirituall profite to her selfe and laude and honour to almightie God She will not that her good deedes nor her inwarde deuotion be outwardly knowen but most desireth that our Lorde be blessed in all his workes which geueth all thinges freelie of his high excellent charitie This grace is a light supernaturall and a spirituall gifte of God and it is the proper marke and token of elect people and an earnest penie of the euerlastinge life for it rauisheth a man fro loue of earthlie thinges to the loue of heauenlie thinges and of a fleshlie liuer maketh an heauenlie person and the more that nature is oppressed and ouercome the more grace is geuen and the soule thorough newe gratious visitations is daylye reformed more and more to the image of God Of the corruption of nature and the vvorthynes of grace The .60 Chapter O Lorde which haste made me to thine image and likenes graunt me this grace that thou haste shewed to me to be so great and so necessarye to the health of my soule that I may ouercome this wretched nature which draweth me alwaye to sinne and to the losinge of mine owne soule I feele in my fleshe the lawe of sinne fighting strongly against the lawe of my spirite which leadeth me as a thral or bondman to obey to sensualitye in manye thinges and I may not resist the passioÌ„s therof but if thy grace doe assist me therin I haue therefore great neede of thy grace and that of the great aboundaunce of thy grace If I should ouercome this wretched nature which alwaye fro my youth hath bene readie prone to sinne For after that nature was vitiate befiled by the sinne of the first man Adam the payne thereof descended into all his posteritie so that that nature which in the first creatioÌ„ was good righteous is nowe taken for sinne and corruption so farre forth that the motioÌ„s that are now lefte vnto nature drawe man alwaye vnto euill And that is for this reason for that the litle strength and mouinge to goodnes that yet remayneth in it is as a litle sparcle of fire that is hid and ouerhilled with ashes that is to saye the naturall reason of man which is all about belapped and ouerhilled with darkenes of ignoraunce whiche neuerthelesse hath power yet to iudge betwixt good and bad and to shewe the distance and diuersitie betwixt true and false Howbeit that
but for thine owne deedes thou must needly aunswere VVhy then doest thou medle where it needeth not I see and know euery man and euery thinge vnder the sunne I see and beholde and howe it is with euery person what he thinketh what he willeth and to what ende his worke draweth is open to me And therefore all thinges are to be referred to me Keepe thy selfe alwaye in good peace and suffer him that will alwayes searche another mans life be as busye as he will and in the ende shall fall vpon him as he hath done and sayde for he can not deceaue me whatsoeuer he be If thou admonishe anye person for his soule health looke thou do it not to get the thereby anye name or fame in the worlde nor to haue the familiaritie or pryuate loue of any person for suche thinges cause much vnquietnes of minde and will make thee also to lose the rewarde that thou shouldest haue of God and will bring greate darkenes into thy soule I woulde gladly speake to thee my wordes open to thee the secrete misteries of fraternall correction yf thou wouldest prepare thy soule ready against my cōminge and that thou wouldest open the mouth of thy hearte faithfullye to me Be thou prouident wake diligentlye in prayer humble thy selfe in euery thing and thou shalt finde great comfort in God and litle resistence in thy euen christen In vvhat thing the peace of heart and greatest profite of man standeth The 29. Chapter My sonne saith our Lord Iesu I sayd to my disciples thus My peace I leaue with you my peace I geue you not as the worlde geueth but much more then it maye geue All men desire peace but all men will not do that belongeth to peace My peace is with the meeke and milde in hart and thy peace shall be in much paciēce if thou wilt heare me and folowe my wordes thou shalt haue great plentie of peace O Lorde what shall I doe to come to that peace Thou shalt in all thy workes take good heede what thou doest and sayest and thou shalte set all thy whole intent to please me and nothing shalt thou couet or seeke without me and of other mens deedes thou shalt not iudge presumptuously nor thou shalt not medle with thinges that perteine not to thee if thou do thus it maye be that thou shalt litle or seldome be troubled but neuerthelesse to fele at no time any maner of trouble nor to suffer any heauines in body nor in soule is not the state of this lyfe but of the lyfe to come Thinke not therefore that thou haste found the true peace when thou feelest no greefe nor that all is well with thee when thou hast none aduersitie nor that all is perfect for that euery thing cōmeth after thy minde Nor yet that thou arte great in godds sight or specially beloued of him because thou hast great feruour in deuotion and great sweetnes in contemplation for a true louer of vertue is not knowen by all these thinges nor the true perfection of man standeth not in them VVherein then Lorde In offering of a man with all his hart wholly to God not seking him selfe nor his owne will neyther in greate thinges nor in small in tyme nor in eternitie but that he abide alwaye one and yeelde alwaye like thankes to God for things pleasant and displeasant waying them all in one like balance as in his loue Also if he be strong in God that when inwarde consolation is withdrawen he can yet stirre his harte to suffer more if God so will and yet iustifieth not him selfe nor prayseth him selfe therefore as holye and righteous then he walketh in the very true waye of peace and then he may well haue a sure and a perfect hope and trust that he shall see me face to face in euerlasting ioy and fruition in the kingdome of heauen And if he can come to a perfect and a full contempt and despisinge of him selfe then shall he haue full habundance of rest and peace in the ioye euerlastinge after the measure of his gifte Amen Of the libertie excellencie and vvorthinesse of a free mynde The .30 Chapter LOrde it is the worke of a perfect man not to sequester his minde from the beholding of heauenly thinges and among many cares to go as he were without care not in the maner of an ydle or of a desolate person but by the speciall prerogatiue of a free minde alwaye busy in goddes seruice not cleuinge by inordinate affection to any creature I beseeche thee therefore my Lord Iesu most meeke and mercifull that thou keepe me from the busines and cares of the worlde and that I be not ouermuch inquieted with the necessities of the bodilie kinde nor that I be not taken with the voluptuous pleasures of the worlde and the fleshe and that in likewise thou preserue me from all hinderance of the soule that I be not broken with ouermuch heauines sorow nor worldlye dreade And by these petitions I aske not onelie to be deliuered from such vanities as the world desireth but also from suche miseries as greeue the soule of me thy seruant with the common malediction of mankinde that is with corruption of the bodilie feelinge where with I am so greeued and letted that I maye not haue libertie of spirite to beholde thee when I would O Lorde God that art sweetnes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes to me all fleshlie delites which would drawe me from the loue of eternall thinges to the loue of a short and a vile delectable pleasure Let not the fleshe and bloude ouercome me nor the worlde with his short glory deceyue me nor the fiend with his thousand folde craftes supplant me but geue me ghostlie strength in resistinge patience in sufferinge and constancie in perseueringe Geue me also for all worldlie consolatiōs the most sweete consolations of the holy ghost and for al fleshly loue sende into my soule the loue of thy holy name Lo meat drinke cloathinge and all other necessaries for the body be painefull and troublesome to a feruent spirite which if it might woulde alwaye rest in God in ghostly thinges Graunt me therefore grace to vse such bodilye necessaries temperatlye and that I be not deceaued with ouermuch desire to them To forsake all thinges it is not lawfull for the bodilye kinde must be preserued but to seeke superfluous thinges more for pleasure then for necessitie thy holye lawe prohibiteth for so the fleshe woulde rebel against the spirite VVherfore Lord I beseech thee that thy hande of grace maye so gouerne and teache me that I exceede not by any maner of superfluitie Amen That priuate loue most letteth a man from God The .31 Chapter My sonne saith our Lorde it behoueth thee to geue all for all and nothing to keepe to thee of thine owne loue for the loue of thy selfe more hurteth thee then any other thing in this world After thy loue and after thine affection euery thinge
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
sinnes and wretchednes sith thou dreadest here sometime the face of a mortal man VVhy doest thou not nowe prouide for thy selfe against that daye sith thou mayest not then be excused nor defended by none other But euery man shall then haue ynough to doe to answere for him selfe Nowe thy labor is fruitfull and weeping is acceptable thy mourning is worthye to be hearde and thy sorowe also is satisfactory purging of sinnes The pariēt man who suffereth iniuryes and wronges of other and yet neuerthelesse soroweth more for their malice then for the wrong done to him selfe hath a wholsome and blessed purgatory in this worlde and so haue they that gladly can praye for their enemies and for them that be contrarious vnto them and that in their heart can forgeue those that offend them and tary not Idge to aske forgeuenes And so haue they also that more lightly be stirred to mercye then to vengeance and that can as it were by a violēce breake downe their owne will and strongly resist sinne and labour alway to subdue their body to the spirite It is better nowe to purge sinne and to put away vsce then to reserue it to be purged hereafter But verilye we deceaue our selues by inordinate loue that we haue to our bodily kinde VVhat shall the fyre of purgatorye deuoure but thy sinne truelye nothing Therefore the more thou sparest thy selfe nowe and the more thou folowest thy fleshly liking the more greeuouslye shalt thou wayle hereafter and the more matter thou resch seruest for the fire of purgatory In suche thinges as a man moste hath offended shall he moste be punished The slouthful persons shall be there pricked with burning prickes of yron and gluttons shall be tormented with great hunger thirste The lecherous persons and louers of voluptuous pleasures shal be filled ful with brenning pitche and brimstone and enuious persons shall wayle and howle as doe madde dogges There shal no sinne be without his proper torment The proude man shal be filled full with all shame and confusion and the couetous man shall be pined with penurie neede One houre there in paine shall be more greuous then here a hundred yece in moste sharpest penaunce There shall be no rest nor consolation to the damned soules but here sometime we feele reliefe of our paynes and haue sometime consolation of our frendes Be now sorowful for thy sinnes that at the day of iudgemēt thou mayest be saued with blessed Saintes Then shall righteous men stande in great constancie against them that haue wronged them and oppressed them here Then shall he stande as a Iudge that here submitted himselfe meekelye to the iudgement of man Then shall the meeke poore man haue great confidence and trust in God the obstinate proude man shal quake breade Thē shall it appeere that he was wise in this worlde that for the loue of God was content to be taken as a foole and to be despised and set at nought Then shall it also please him muche the tribulation that he suffereth patiently in this world and all wickednes shall stop his mouth Then euery deuout person shall be ioyful and glad and the vnreligious persons shall wayle and dreade Then shall the fleshe that hath beene with discretion chastised ioy more then if it had beene nourished with all delectation and pleasure Then shall the vile habite shine cleere in the sight of God and the precious garmentes shall xare foule and lothsome to beholde Then the poore cottage shall be more allowed thē the pallace ouer gilted with golde Then shall more helpe a constant patience thē all worldly power and riches Then shall meeke obedience be exalted more high then all worldly wisedome and pollicie and then shall a good cleane conscience make vs more gladsome and mery then the cunning of all philsophye Then the despising of worldly goodes shalbe more of valure then all worldly riches treasure Then shalt thou haue more comfort for thy deuout prayinge then for all thy delicate feedinge Then shalt thou also ioye more for thy silence keepinge then for thy long talkinge and iangling Then good deedes shall plenteouslie be rewarded and faire wordes shall litle be regarded Then shall it please more a straite life and hard penance here then all worldlie delectation and pleasure Learne nowe therefore to suffer the small tribulations in this worlde that thou mayest then be deliuered from the greater there ordeyned for sinne Firste proue here what thou mayest suffer hereafter And yf thou mayest not nowe suffer so lytle a payne howe shalt thou then suffer the euerlastinge tormentes And yf nowe so litle a passion make thee impatient what shall then doe the intolerable fire of purgatorie or of hell Thou mayest not haue two heauens that is to saye to ioye here and to haue delectation here and after to ioye also with Christe in heauen Moreouer if thou haddest lyued alwaye vnto this daye in honours and fleshlye delectations what should it profite thee nowe if thou shouldest this present instant departe the worlde Therefore all thing is vanitie but to loue God and to serue him He that loueth God with all his heart dreadeth neither death torment iudgement nor hell for a perfect loue maketh a sure passage to God but if a mā yet delite in sinne it is no meruaile though he dreade both death and hell And though suche a dreade be but a thral dread yet neuerthelesse it is good that if the loue of God withdrawe vs not from sinne that the drede of hell constraine vs therto He that setteth apart the drede of God may not longe stand in the state of grace but soone shall he run into the snare of the deuill and lightlye shall he therewith be deceaued Of the feruent amendinge of all our life and that vve shall speciallie take heede of our ovvne soule health before all other The .25 Chapter MY sonne be wakinge and diligent in the seruice of God and thinke ofte wherfore thou art come and why thou haste forsakē the world was it not that thou shouldest liue to God and be made a spirituall man yes truelie Therefore stirre thy selfe to perfection for in short time thou shalt receaue the full rewarde of all thy laboures and from thenceforth shall neuer come to thee neither sorowe nor dreade Thy labour shalbe litle and short and thou shalt receaue therefore againe euerlastinge rest and comfort If thou abide faythfull and feruent in good deedes without doubt our Lorde will be faythfull and liberall to thee in his rewardes Thou shalt alwaye haue a good trust that thou shalt come to the palme of victorie but thou shalt not set thee in a full suretie thereof least happlie thou waxe dul and proude in heart A certaine person which often times doubted whether he where in the state of grace or not on a time fell prostrate in the Churche and sayde thus O that I might knowe whether I shoulde perseuer in vertue to the
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
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
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.
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
shew to me and to all faythful people that will folow thee the very true and straite way to thy kingdome Thy holy life is our way and by thy patiēce we walke to thee who art our head and gouernour And if thou Lorde haddest not gone before and shewed vs the way who woulde haue endeuoured him to haue folowed howe many shoulde haue taried behind if they had not seene thy blessed examples goinge before VVe be yet slowe dull nowe we haue seene and hearde thy signes and doctrines what shoulde we then haue beene if we had seene no such light goinge before vs Truelie we should haue fixed our minde and loue whollye in worldlye thinges from the which keepe vs Lorde of thy great goodnes Amen Of patient suffering of iniuries and vvronges and vvho is truely patient The .21 Chapter My sonne what is it that thou speakest why complainest thou thus ceasse ceasse cōplaine no more consider my passion and the passions of my saintes and thou shalt well see that it is right litle that thou suffrest for me Thou hast not yet suffred to the shedinge of thy bloud and truelie thou haste litle suffred in comparison of them that haue suffred so many thinges for me in time past and that haue bene so strongly tempted so greeuouslye troubled and so manye wayes proued It behoueth thee therefore to remember the great greeuous thinges that other haue suffred for me that thou mayest the more lightly beare thy litle griefes and if they seeme not litle to thee loke thy impatiēce cause not that but neuertheles whether they be litle or great studie alwaye to beare them patientlie without grudginge or complayninge if thou may and the better that thou canst dispose thee to suffer them the more wiselier thou doest and the more merit shalt thou haue and thy burdē by reason of thy good custome and of thy good will shall be the lighter Thou shalt neuer saye I can not suffer this thinge of such a person nor it is not for me to suffer it he hath done me great wronge and layeth vnto my charge that I neuer thought but of another man I will suffer as I shall thinke Suche maner sayinges be not good for they consider not the vertue of patience nor of whom it shalbe crowned but they rather consider the persons and the offences done vnto them Therefore he is not truelie pacient that will not suffer but as much as he will and of whom he will for a true pacient man forceth not of whom he suffereth whether of his Prelate or of his felowe that is egall vnto him or of any other that is vnder him nor whether he be a good man and a holye or an euill man and an vnworthy but whensoeuer any aduersitie or wronge falleth vnto him whatsoeuer it be and of whom soeuer if be and howe ofte soeuer he taketh all thankfullie as of the hande of God and accompteth it as a riche gifte and a great benefite O God for he knowweth well that there is nothinge that a man may suffer for God that may passe without great merite Be thou therefore readie to battall if thou wilt haue victorie without battaile thou mayest not come to the crowne of patience and yf thou wilt not suffer thou refusest to be crowned VVherefore if thou wilt needlie be crowned resist stronglie and suffer patientlie for without laboure no man may come to rest nor without battaile no man may come to victorie O Lorde Iesu make it possible to me by grace that is impossible to me by nature Thou knowest well that I may litle suffer and that I am cast downe anone with a litle aduersitie wherfore I beseeche thee that trouble and aduersitie may hereafter for thy name be beloued and desired of me for truelie to suffer and to be vexed for thee is verie good and profitable to the health of my soule Of the knovvinge of our ovvne infirmities and of the miseries of this life The .22 Chapter I Shall knowledge against me all my vnrighteousnes and I shall confesse to thee Lorde all the vnstablenes of my hearte Ofte times it is but a litle thinge that casteth me downe maketh me dull and slowe to all good workes and sometime I purpose to stande stronglie but when a litle temptation cōmeth it is to me greate anguishe griefe and somtime of a right litle thing a greeuous temptation riseth and when I thinke my selfe to be somewhat surer and that as it seemeth I haue the higher hande sodenly I feele my selfe nere hand ouercome by a light temptatiō Beholde therfore good Lord beholde my weaknes and my frailnes best knowen to thee before all other haue mercy on me O Lord and deliuer me from the filthy dregs of sinne that my feete be neuer fixed in them But this is it that ofte grudgeth me sore and in maner cōfoundeth me before thee that I am so vnstable and weake and so feayle to resist my passions And though they drawe me not alwaye to consent yet neuerthlesse their cruell assaultes be very greeuous vnto me so that it is in maner tedious to me to liue in such battaile but yet such battaile is not all vnprofitable to me for thereby I knowe the better myne owne infirmities for I see well that such wicked fantasies doe rise in me muche sonner then they go awaye But would to God that thou moste strongest God of Israell the louer of all faythfull soules wouldest vouchsafe to beholde the labour and sorowe of me thy poorest seruant and that thou wouldest assist me in all things that I haue to do Strength me Lord with heuenlye strength so that the olde enimie the fiende nor my wretched flesh which is not yet fullye subiect to the spirite haue not power nor lordship ouer me against whom I must fight continuallye while I shall lyue in this miserable life But alas what life is this where no trouble nor miserie wanteth where also euery place is full of snares of mortall enimies for one trouble or temptation goinge awaye another commeth and the first conflict yet duringe many other sodenlye ryse more then can be thought Howe may this life therefore be loued that hath suche bitternes and that is subiect to so many miseries And howe may it be called a life that bringeth forth so many deathes so many ghostly infections and yet it is beloued muche delighted of in many persons The world is ofte reproued that it is deceiptful and vaine and yet it is not lightly forsaken especiallye when the concupiscences of the fleshe be suffered to haue rule Some thinges stirre a man to loue the worlde and some thinges to despise it the concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eye and the pride of the hart stirre man to loue the worlde But the paines and miseries that folowe of it causeth hatred and tediousnes of it agayne But alas for sorowe a litle delectation ouercommeth the minde of thē that be much set
cleaneth to thee more or lesse If thy loue be pure simple and well ordered thou shalte be without inordinate affection to any creature Couete therefore nothing that is not lawfull for thee to haue and haue nothing that may let thee from ghostlye trauayle or that maye take from thee inwarde libertie of soule It is meruail that thou committest not thy selfe fullye to me with all thy heart with all thinges that thou mayest haue or desire VVhye art thou thus consumed with vaine sorowe why art thou weried with superfluous cares Stande at my will and thou shalt finde nothing that shall hurt or hinder thee but if thou seeke this thing or that or wouldest be in this place or in that for thine owne profite and for thine owne pleasure thou shalt neuer be in rest nor euer free from some trouble of minde for in euery place shal be found something that will mislike thee Transitorie thinges when they be had and greatly multiplied in the world do not alway helpe mans soule to peace but rather when they be despysed and fullie cut out of the loue and desire of the hart and that not to be vnderstand onely of golde and siluer and other worldlye riches but also of desire of honours and praysinges of the worlde which shortlye vanisheth and passeth awaye as doth the smoke with the winde the place helpeth little yf the spirite of feruour be awaye Also the peace that a man getteth outwardelye shall not long stande whoâ—e if it be voyde from the true inward peace of hart that is to say though thou chaunge thy place yet it shall litle amende thee vnlesse thou stande stedfast in me for by newe occasions that shall daylie rise thou shalte finde that thou hast fled percase muche more perillous and muche more greuous thinges than the first were A prayer for the purginge of mans soule and for heauenlye vvisdome and the grace of God to be obteyned and had The 32. Chapter COnfirme me Lorde by the grace of the holye ghost and geue me grace to be stronge inwardlye in soule and auoyde out thereof all vnprofitable busines of the worlde and of the fleshe that it may not be led by vnstable desires of earthlie thinges And that I maye beholde all thinges as they be transitorie and of short abidinge and me also to go with them for nothinge vnder the Sun may longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite O howe wise is he that feeleth and vnderstandeth this to be true that I haue sayde Geue me Lord therefore heauenlye wisedome that I maye learne to seeke thee and to finde thee and aboue all thinges to loue thee and all other thinges to vnderstande and knowe as they be after thorder of my wisedome and none otherwise and geue me grace also wiselie to withdrawe me from them that flatter me and patiently to suffer theÌ„ that greue me for it is great wisedome not to be moued with euery blast of wordes nor to geue eare to him that flattereth as doth the mairmayde The waye that is thus begon shall bring him that walketh in it to a good and a blessed ending Agaynst the euill sayinges of detractours The 33. Chapter My sonne saith our Sauiour Christ thou shalt not take it to griefe because some persons thinke euill or say euill of thee that thou wouldest not gladlye heare for thou shalt yet thinke worse of thy selfe and that no man is so euill as thou arte If thou be well ordred inwardlye in thy soule thou shalt not muche care for suche flyinge wordes And it is no litle wisedome a man to keepe him selfe in silence and in good peace when euill wordes be spoken to him and to turne his heart to God and not to be troubled with mans iudgement Let not thy peace be in the heartes of men for whatsoeuer they say of thee good or bad thou art not therefore a nother man but as thou art thou art VVhere is the true peace and glorie is it not in me yes truely Therefore he that neither desireth to please man nor dreadeth not to displease him shall haue great plentie of peace for of inordinate loue and vaine dread commeth all vnquietnes of heart and vnrestfulnes of minde Hovve almightie God is to be invvarldlye called vnto in time of tribulation The 34. Chapter LOrde thy name be blessed for euer that thou wouldest this temptation and tribulation should fal vpon me I maye not escape it but of necessitie I am driuen to flee to thee that thou vouchsafe to helde me and to turne all into gohstlye profite O Lorde I am nowe in trouble it is not well with me for I am greatly vexed with this present passion And nowe moste best beloued father what shall I say I am nowe taken with anguishes and troubles on euerye side saue me in this houre but I trust that I am come into this houre that thou shalt be lauded and praysed when I am perfectlye made meeke before thee and that I am clerely deliuered by thee be it therfore pleasaunt to thee to deliuer me For what may I most sinneful wretch doe or whither may I goe without thee Giue me patieÌ„ce nowe at this time in all my troubles helpe me my Lord God and I shall not feare ne dread what troubles soeuer fall vpon me And nowe what shal I say but that thy will be done in me I haue deserued to be troubled greeued and therefore it behoueth that I suffer as long as it shall please thee but woulde to God that I might suffer gladlye till the furious tempestes were ouerpassed and that quietnes of hart might come againe Thy mightie hande Lorde is stronge ynough to take this trouble from me and to aswage the cruel assaults thereof that I doe not vtterly fayle as thou hast ofte times done to me before this time the more harde that it is to me the more light it is to thee And when I am clerely deliuered by thee then shall I saye This is the changing of the right hande of him that is highest that is the blessed Trinitie to whom be ioye honour and glorye euerlastingly Amen Of the helpe of God to be asked and of a full trust to recouer through deuout prayer our former grace The .35 Chapter My sonne I am the Lorde that sendeth comfort in tyme of tribulation come therefore to me when it is not well with thee This is it that letteth thee most that thou turnest thee ouer slowlie to me for before thou pray hartilie to me thou seekest many other comforts and refreshest thy spirites in outwarde thinges And therefore all that thou doest litle auayleth thee til thou canst beholde and see that I am he that sendeth comfort to all that faithfully doe call to me and that there is not without me any profitable counsayle nor perfect remedie But nowe take a good spirite to thee and after thy troubles be thou comforted in me in the light of my mercie
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
liuely Sacramēt and whatsoeuer wanteth in me I beseeche thee my Lorde Iesu most holie blessed that thou beninglye and gratiouslie supplie in me for thou haste vouched safe to call all to thee saying Come ye all to me that labour and be charged and I shall refreshe you I labour in the sweate of my bodie and am tormented with the sorowe of mine heart and charged with sinnes trauayled with temptations intriked and oppressed with many euill passions and there is none that may helpe or that maye deliuer me ne that maye make me safe but thou Lorde God my onely Sauiour to whome I commit me and all mine that thou kepe me and lead me into life euerlastinge accept me and take me into the laude glorye of thy name that haste ordeyned to me thy bodie and bloud to be my meate and drinke and graunt me Lorde I beseech thee that by the ofte receauinge of thy high misterie the feruour of deuotion maye daylie increase in me Of the vvorthines of the Sacrament of the Aultar and of the state of priesthood The .5 Chapter IF thou haddest the puritie of Angels and the holines of S. Iohn Baptist thou shouldest not for that be worthie to receaue nor touche this holy Sacrament for it is not graunted for the merites of man that a man shoulde consecrate and touche the Sacrament of Christe and take to his meate the breade of Angels It is a great misterie and it is a great dignitie of priests to whome it is graunted that is not graunted to Angels for priests onely that be duely ordeined in the Church haue power to singe Masse and to consecrate the bodye of Christ for a priest is the minister of God vsinge the worde of consecration by the commaundement and ordinance of God and God is there the principall doer and the inuisible worker to whom is subiect all that he willeth and all obeyeth to that he commaundeth Thou oughtest therefore more to beleeue almightie God in this moste excellent Sacrament then thine owne wit or any other visible tokē or signe And therefore with dreade and reuerēce it is to go to this blessed worke Take heede then diligentlie and see from whēce this mistery and seruice commeth that is geuen vnto thee by the touchinge of the handes of the bilhop Thou aste nowe made a priest and art consecrate to sing Masse Take heede therefore that thou faithfullye and deuoutlye offer thy sacrifice to God in due time and that thou keepe thy selfe without reproufe thou haste not made thy burden more light but hou arte nowe bounde in a straiter bonde of discipline and of muche more high perfection then thou were before A priest ought to be adorned with all vertues and to geue other example of good life his conuersation shoulde not be with the common people nor in the common waye of the worlde but with Angels in heauen or with perfect men in earth that be best disposed to serue God A priest also clothed in holye vestimentes beareth the place of Christ that he should humblie and meekly praye to our Lorde for him selfe for all the people he hath before him and behinde him the signe of the Crosse of Christ that he shoulde diligently remember his passion he beareth before him the Crosse that he maye diligently behould see the steppes of Christ and study feruentlye to folow them and behinde him also he is signed with the Crosse that he should gladly and meekly suffer all aduersities for the loue of God he beareth the Crosse before him that he shoulde bewayle his owne sinnes and he beareth it behinde hym that he maye through compassion beweepe the sinnes of other and knowe him selfe to be set as a meane betwene God and al the people and not to ceasse of prayer and holye oblation til he maye deserue of almighty God mercy grace VVhen a priest saith Masse he honoreth God he maketh Angels glad he edifieth the Chruche he helpeth the people that be a liue and geueth rest to them that be deade and maketh him selfe partaker of all good dedes Of the invvarde remembraunce and exercise that a man ought to haue afore the receauinge of the bodye of Christe The 6. Chapter LOrde when I thinke of thy worthines and of my great filthines I tremble stronglie and am cōfounded in my selfe for if I receaue thee not I flie the eternall life and if I vnworthylie receaue thee I runne into thy wrath VVhat shall I then do my good Lorde my helper my protectour comforter and right sure Counsailer in all my necessities Teache me good Lorde the right waye and purpose vnto me some readie erercise conuenable to the receauinge of this holye misterie for it is necessarye vnto me greatlie profitable to knowe howe deuoutlie and reuerentlie I ought to prepare mine heart to receaue it or to consecrate so great and so goodlie a Sacrifice as it is Of the discussing of our ovvne conscience and of the purpose of amendment The 7. Chapter IT behoueth thee aboue all thinges with soueraigne reuerence and profounde meeknes of hart and with full fayth and humble intent to the houour of God to celebrate take and receaue this holie Sacrament examine diligentlie thy couscience by true contrition and meeke confession and make it cleane after thy power so that thou know nothing that greueth or biteth thy cōscience or that may let thee to go frelie vnto it haue displeasure of all thy sinnes in generall for thy daylie excesses and offences haue sighinges and sorowinges more speciall And if the time will suffer it confesse vnto God in secrete of thine heart the miseries of all thy passions weepe and sorowe that thou art yet so carnall and worldly so vnmortified from thy passions so full of motiōs of concupiscences so vnware and so euill ordred in thy outward wits so oft wrapped in vayne phantasies so muche inclined to outwarde and worldlie thinges so negligent to inwarde thinges so redie to laughinge and dissolution so harde to weepinge and compunction so readie to easie thinges and to that that is likinge to the fleshe so slowe to penance feruor of spirite so curious to heare newe thinges and to see fayre thinges so lothe to meeke and abiect thinges so couetous to haue muche so scarse to geue so glad to holde so vnaduised in speakinge so incontinent to be still so euill ordred in maners so importune in deedes so greedie vpon meate so deafe to the word of God so quicke to rest so slowe to laboure so attentiue to fables so sleepye to holye vigils so hastie to thende so vnstable to take heede to the waye to the ende so negligent in the seruice of God so dull and so vndeuout to go to Masse so drye in thy housell so soone fallen at large to outwarde thinges so seldome gathered together to inwarde thinges so soone moued to anger and wrath so lightlye stirred to the displeasure of other so readie to iudge so rigorous to
by naturall reason and which men truelye illumined with grace beholde by heauenlye contemplation Beware therefore my sonne to treate curiously of suche thinges for they passe thy knowledge and endeuour thy selfe that thou mayest be worthy so be nūbred with the least Saint that shall come to heauē And if percase a man might knowe who were holyer or who should be taken greater in the kingdome of heauen what shoulde that knowledge auayle him but if he would therby the more meeke him selfe and the more ryse thereby into the laude and praysinge of my name truelie nothinge Therefore he is much more acceptable to God that thinketh on the greatnes of his sinnes and of the littlenes of his vertues and howe farre he is from the perfectiō of the least Saint that is in heauē then he that argueth of their greatnes or of their litlenes or blessednes of life forgettinge them selfe It is better also with deuout prayers with weepinges and teares meekelie to praye to Saintes and to call to them for helpe then vaynelie to searche for their perfection They be verie well contented with the ioye that they haue if men woulde refrayne themselues from suche vayne arguments They glorifie not them selues of their merites ne they ascribe no goodnes to themselues but they referre all goodnes to me for they knowe well that I of my infinite goodnes and charitie haue geuen all vnto them And they be so muche fulfilled with loue of the godhead and with ouerpassing ioye that no glorie maye want in them nor anye felicitie And the higher that they be in heauen the meeker be they in them selues and the more nighe and the more louing to me Therefore it is written in the Apocalips that Saintes in heauen layde their crownes before God and fell prostrate on their faces before the meeke lambe that is Iesu and they woorshipped him as their Lorde God that is and shalbe lyuing euermore without ending Amen Manye searche who is highest in heauen that knowe not whether they shall be worthy to be numbred with the least that shall come thither for it is a great thinge to be the least in heauen where all be great for all that shall come thither shall be called the sonnes of God and so shall they be in deede the lest there shall be counted for a thousande and a sinner of a hundred yere shall be set at naught VVhen the Apostles asked amōg them selues who shoulde be greatest in the kingdome of heauen they heard this answer of Christ but ye sayde he be conuerted from your sinne and be made meeke as litle children ye maye not enter into the kyngdome of heauen He therefore that meeketh him selfe as this litle childe he shalbe greatest in the kingdome of heauen VVoe then be to them that disdayne to meeke them selues with litle children for the meeke part of heauen will not suffer them to enter into it wo also be vnto the proude riche men that haue their cōsolation here for when the good poore men shall enter into the kingdome of God they shall stande weepinge and waylinge without Ioye ye then ye that be meeke and poore in spirite for yours is the kingdome of God so that ye walke and houlde your iorney assuredlye in the waye of truth That all our hope and trust is to be put in God onelye The 64. Chapter O Lorde what is the trust that I haue in this life or what is my moste solace of all thinges vnder heauen Is it not thou my Lorde God whose mercy is without measure where hath it beene well with me without thee or when hath it not beene well with me thou being present I had leuer be poore with thee then rich without thee I had leuer be with thee as a pilgrime in this world then without thee to be in heauen for where thou art ther is heauē and where thou art not there is both death and hell Thou arte to me all that I desire and therefore it behoueth me to sigh to thee to crie to thee hartily to praye to thee I haue nothinge to trust in that maye helpe me in my necessities but onelye thee for thou art my hope thou art my trust thou art my comforte and thou arte my moste faithfull helper in euerye neede Man seeketh that is his but thou seekest my health and profite and turnest all thinges into the best for me for if thou sende temptations and other aduersities thou ordeinest all to my profite for thou art wont by a thousande wayes to proue thy chosen people In whiche proufe thou art no lesse to be lauded and praysed than if thou haddest fulfilled thē with heauenlie comfortes In thee Lorde therefore I put my trust and in thee I beare patientlye all my aduersities for I finde nothinge without thee but vnstablenes and follie for I see well that the multitude of worldlye freendes profiteth not nor that stronge helpers nothinge maye auayle ne wise counsayler geue profitable counsayle ne cunninge of doctours gyue consolation ne ryches delyuer in tyme of neede ne secrete place any thinge defende yf thou Lorde doe not assist helpe comforte counsail informe and defend For all thinges that seeme to be ordeined to mans solace in this world if thou be absent be right nought worth nor maye not bring to man anye true felicitie for thou art the ende Lorde of all good thinges the highnes of lyfe and the profounde wisedome of all things that is in heauen and in earth VVherfore to trust in thee aboue all thinges is the greatest comfort to al thy seruauntes To thee therefore I lifte mine eyes and in thee onely I put my trust my Lorde my God the father of mercy blesse thou and halowe thou my soule with thy heauenlie blessinges that it may be thy dwelling place and the seate of thy eternall glorie so that nothinge be founde in me at any tyme that maye offende the eye of thy maiestie Beholde me Lorde after the greatnes of thy goodnes and of thy manyfolde mercies and graciouslye heare the prayer of me thy poorest seruaunt outlawed and farre exiled into the countrey of the shadowe of death defend and keepe me amonge the manyfolde perils and daungers of this corruptible lyfe and direct me through thy grace by the waye of peace into the countrey of euerlastinge clearnes without ending Amen Finis Hereafter foloweth the fourth Booke of the folowinge of Christe which treateth moste speciallye of the Sacrament of the aultare Prologue COme to me saith our Lorde all ye that labour and be charged and I shall geue vnto you refection And the breade that I shall geue vnto you shall be my flesh for the lyfe of the worlde Take it and eate it for it is my bodye that for you shall be geuen in sacrifice doe ye this in remembrance of me for who so eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloud he shal dwell in me and I in him These wordes that I haue sayde to you be
spirite and lyfe VVith hovve great reuerence Christe is to be receaued The firste Chapter O My Lorde Iesu Christe eternall truth these wordes aforesayde be thy wordes albeit they were not sayde in one selfe time nor written in one selfe place And for that they be thy wordes I will thankefully and faithfullie accept them They be thy wordes and thou haste spoken them and they be now myne also for thou haste sayde them for my health I will gladlye receyue them of thy mouth to the end they maye be the better sowen and planted in mine heart Thy wordes of so great pietie full of sweetnes and loue greatly excite me But Lorde my sinnes feare me greatlie and my coÌ„science not pure to receaue so great a misterie draweth me sore abacke The sweetnes of thy wordes prouoketh me but the multitude of mine offeÌ„ces charge me verie sore Thou commaundest that I shall come vnto thee faythfullie if I will haue part with thee receaue the nourishinge of immortalitie and couete to obteyne the glorie and life eternall Thou sayest Lorde come ye to me that laboure and be charged and I shall refreshe you O howe sweete and howe amyable a worde is it in the eare of a sinner that thou Lorde God wilt bidde me that am so poore and needie to the Communion of thy moste holie bodie But what am I Lorde that I dare presume to come to thee Loe heaueÌ„ and earth may not comprehende thee and thou sayest come ye al to me VVhat meaneth this moste meeke worthynes and this louelie and frendly biddinge howe shall I dare come vnto thee which knowe not that I haue done any thinge wel Howe shall I bringe thee into mine house which so ofte haue offeÌ„ded before thy face Angels and Archangels honor thee righteous men dreade thee And thou sayest yet Come ye all vnto me but that thou Lorde haddest sayde it who woulde beleue it to be true And but thou haste commaunded it who durst attempt to go vnto it Noe that iust man laboured an hundred yere to make the shippe to the end he might be saued with a fewe of his people Howe maye I prepare me then in an houre to receaue thee with due reuerence that art maker and Creatour of all the worlde Moyses thy seruant and great familier and speciall freende made the arke of timber not corruptible whiche he couered with right pure golde and put in it the tables of the lawe And I a corrupt creature how shall I so lightlie date receaue thee that art maker of the lawe geuer of grace and lyfe vnto all creatures The wise Salomon kinge of Israel edified a meruelous temple to the praysinge of thy name in the space of seuen yeres and by eight dayes halowed the feast of the dedication of the same he offred a thousande peacible hostes and put the arke of God in the place made readie for it with great melodie of clarions and trumpetres Howe dare I then that am moste poore amonge other creatures receaue thee into mine house who scarcelie haue well spent one houre of time or one halfe hower of my life O my good Lorde howe muche studied they to please thee and howe litle is it that I doe Howe litle time take I when I dispose me to be houseled seldome am I gathered together in thee and more seldome and I purged fro hauinge my mind ouermuch on worldlie thinges And certainly no vnprofitable thoughts ought to come into the holie presence of thy Godhead nor no creatures ought there to haue place for I shall not receaue an Angel but the Lorde of Angels into my heart Neuerthelesse there is great difference betwene the arke of God with his reliques and thy most pure precious bodie with his vertues which are mo then can be spoken and betwene the Sacrifice of the olde lawe that was but a figure of the newe lawe the true hoste of thy precious bodie whiche is the accomplishement of all the olde sacrifice VVhy then am I not more inflamed to come to thee why do I not prepare my selfe with greater diligeÌ„ce to receaue this holie and blessed SacrameÌ„t sith the holy auncient fathers the patriarches prophetes Kinges and Princes with all the people haue shewed so great affectioÌ„ towardes thy seruice in time passed The moste deuout blessed Kinge the Kynge Dauid went before the arke of God and honoured it with all his strength alwaye remembringe the great benefites before geueÌ„ vnto the fathers he made Organes of diuers maners also Psalmes which he ordeyned to be songe and he him selfe sang them with great gladnes and ofte times with his harpe he beinge fulfilled with the grace of the holie ghost taught the people of Israel to laude and prayse God with all their heart and dayly with their mouth to blesse him preache his goodnes And yf there were shewed then so great deuotion and remembraunce of laude and praysinge to God before the arke of the olde testament howe muche reuerence and deuotion ought we then nowe to haue in the presence of this holy Sacrament and in the receauinge of the moste excellent bodye of our Lorde Iesu Christe Many runue to diuers places to visite reliques of Saintes and meruayle greatlye when they heare of their blessed deedes they see great buyldinges of temples and beholde howe their bones and holie reliques be couered with silke and lapped in golde and loe thou my Lorde God thou arte present here with me vpon the Aultar the most holie Saint of Saintes maker of all thinges and Lorde of Angels Ofte times there is great curiositie and vanitie in the sight of suche thinges and litle fruite and amendemeÌ„t is had thereby and that speciallie where there is so light recourse and waueringe without anye contrition goinge before But thou my Lorde God my Lorde Iesus Christ god and man art here wholle present in the Sacrament of the Aultare where the fruit of euerlastinge health is had plenteoustie as ofte as thou art worthilie and deuoutlie receaued But if that shall be done fruitfullie there maye be no lightnes curiositie nor sensualitie but stedfast fayth deuoute hope and pure charitie O God inuisible maker of all the worlde howe maruaylousâ—ye doest thou with vs howe sweetelie and howe graciouslie disposest thou all thinges to thy chosen people to whom thou offerest thy selfe to be taken in this glorious Sacrameut Certainlie it surmounteth all vnderstandinge and it draweth the hartes and kindleth the affection of all deuout men The true faythfull people that dispose all their life to amendement receaue ofte times through this glorious Sacrament great grace and deuotion and great loue of vertue O meruaylous and secretlie hid is the grace of this Sacrament the which faythfull people of Christ doe onelie knowe for infidels and they that liue in sinne maye haue thereof no maner of experience In this Sacrament spirituall grace is geuen and the vertue that was lost in their soule is repayred and the