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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20673	The practise how to finde ease, rest, repose, content, and happines. Written by a religious man of the congregation of St. Elias the prophet, and the order of our Blessed Lady of mount Carmell, restored by the Blessed mother Teresa. The second part. Containing directions how to end all controuersies, and take away all discontentments, and euils, and attaine vnto true ioy of minde, and content of heart, and all good; Practise how to finde ease, rest, repose, content, and happines. Part 2	Doughty, Thomas, fl. 1618-1638.	1619 (1619)	STC 7072.6; ESTC S106011	123,081	516

She that which late lay hid in cloudinesse More bright and cleare then Phoebus beames shall shine CHAP. XXIII The sixt Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their neighbour for God as themselues are the gifts they receiue from the holy Ghost dwelling in them and the fruits which he produceth in them THe mercies which God Almightie sheweth to such as loue him with all their hearts and their neighbours as themselues are so infinite that he doth not onlie dwell in their hearts and soules as in his house and home and manifest himselfe vnto them but also bestoweth inestimable gifts vpon them and decketh and adorneth their soules in this life with his Iewels and produceth in their hearts diuine fruits that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by Isay the Prophet saying Reioycing I will reioyce in our Isa 61. 10. Lord and my soule shal be ioyfull in my God because he hath clothed me with the garments of Saluation and with the garment of Iustice he hath compassed me as a Bridegroome decked with a Crowne and as a Bride adorned with her Iewels For as the Earth bringeth forth her Spring and as the Garden shooteth forth her Seede so shall our Lord God make Iustice to spring in the hearts of all those who loue him according to the words of our Sauiour saying If you loue me Io. 14. 15. keepe my Commandements and I will aske the Father and he will giue you another Comforter that he may abide with you for euer the spirit of Truth he shall abide in you and be in you He Io. 14. 26. shall teach you all things and suggest vnto you all things whatsoeuer I shall say vnto you according to which wordes Saint Paul saith Wee haue 1. Cor. 2. 12. receiued not the spirit of this World but the spirit which is of God Againe If anie haue Rom. 8. 17. not the spirit of Christ the same is not his Whereby we see that the spirit of Christ doth remaine in all those who loue him by whose meanes they become wise learned full of counsell strength knowledge pietie and feare of God according to the wordes of Isay the Prophet saying And Isa 11. 2. the spirit of our Lord shall rest vpon him the spirit of Wisedome and Vnderstanding the spirit of Counsell and Strength the spirit of Knowledge and Pietie and the spirit of the feare of our Lord shall replenish him So here according to good Method wee should speake of the aforesaid gifts or effects of the Spirit of Christ the holy Ghost in vs But hauing occasion to speake of them in our fourth Booke where wee must treat of the interchange of gifts betweene God and Man not to speake twice of them wee deferre them vntill then and proceede to set downe the fruits which the holy Ghost doth produce in the hearts of those who loue him and keepe his Commandements He that beleeueth in me saith Io. 7. 38. our Sauiour as the Scriptures say out of his bellie shall flowe Riuers of liuing Water and this hee said of the Spirit they should receiue which are to beleeue in him Whose fruits or liuing Water Saint Paul setteth downe saying The fruit of the Spirit is Gal. 5. 22. Charitie Ioy Peace Patience Benignitie Goodnesse Longanimitie Mildnesse Faith Modestie Continencie Chastitie These are the delicate fruites vvhich the Holie Ghost doth produce in the hearts of those vvho loue him vvith all their hearts by vvhich they are made beautifull and happie According to the vvordes of Saint Paul saying 1. Tim. 3. 4. For God not by the vvorkes of Iustice vvhich vvee did of our selues as of our selues but according to his great Mercie 2. Cor. 3 5. he hath saued vs by the Lauer of Regeneration and Renouation of the holie Ghost vvhom he hath poured vpon vs abundantly by Iesus Christ our Lord that being iustified by his grace vve may be heires according to hope of life euerlasting The holie Ghost is the Tree of which the Espouse in the Canticles speaking Can. 2. saith Vnder his shadow vvhome I desired I sate and his fruit was svveet vnto my throat Hee brought mee into the Wine-cellar hee hath ordayned in mee Charitie OF THE FIRST FRVIT OF THE Holy Ghost which is Charitie THe first fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Charitie or puritie of Heart goodnesse of Conscience and a Faith not fained for so S. Paul and S. Augustine define Charitie saying The end 1. Tim. 1. Aug. tract 8. in Io. of the Precept is Charitie from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained Whereby they doe easily keepe the Commandements which consist in Charitie and so liue in a happie estate vpon Earth enioying all the blessings which are promised to the Charitable which in some part we haue set down in the former Chapters and more then wee are able to expresse remaine for that Charitie is the bond Col. 3. 14. of perfection and comprehendeth in it whatsoeuer is good and of perfection By it we cleaue to God by it we loue our Neighbours by it wee take away all Euils Wretchednesse and Miseries by it we attaine vnto all good Whereupon Saint Augustine Aug. in epist Ionn tract 5. S●c● 2. q 23. ●●t 8. saith Haue Charitie and haue all things And S. Thomas affirmeth Charitie to be the forme of all other Vertues by which their acts are addressed to their last endes and the end of all Vertues and the Foundation in which they are sustained As all Vertues if they be Vertues of Grace and Fauour making vs acceptable to God are grounded in Charitie as we haue shewed in the sixteenth Chapter so all the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost are founded in Charitie as boughes or branches in the Root according to the words of our Lord saying Whosoeuer shall doe the Will of my Father Mat. ●● 50. keepe his Commandements he is my Brother and Sister and Mother hee is partaker of all Ioyes Comforts Contents and Happinesse whatsoeuer For in Christ Gal. 6. 15. Iesu neither Circumcision auaileth ought nor Prepuce but a new Creature a pure Heart and whosoeuer shall follow this rule Peace vpon them ● Tim. 1. and Mercie all Ioyes and Contentments Whereupon our Sauiour saith He that abideth Io. ●5 6. in me and I in him the same beareth much Fruit And ● Io 4. 17. he that abideth in Charitie abideth in God and God in him And S. Paul saith Charitie 1. Cor. 13. 4. is patient is benigne Charitie enuieth not dealeth not peruersly is not puffed vp is not Ambitious seeketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh not euill reioyceth not vpon Iniquitie but reioyceth with the Truth Whereby is manifest that all the rest of the Fruits of the holy Ghost are founded in Charitie So God grant

to eate of the tree Apoc. 7. ●7 of life which is in the Paradise of my God And the Lamb shall conduct them to the liuing Fountaines of Waters Tenthly their Touch and whole Bodie shal be delighted with delitious Rayment And I saw saith S. Iohn a Apoc 7. 9. great multitude which no man could number in the sight of the Lamb clothed in white Apoc. 19. 7. Robes for the mariage of the Lamb is come his wife hath prepared her selfe And it was giuen to her that she clothe her selfe with silke glittering and White for the Silke are the Iustifications of the Saints Those who lose their liues for the loue of God and innocencie of his Law and othes made to the Prophets shall be crowned with Crownes of glory according to the Scriptures saying Be Apoc. 2. faithfull vntill Death and I will giue thee the Crowne of Life and also they shall for euer beare Palmes of victorie and triumph ouer their Persecutors in their hands as S. Iohn witnesseth saying I saw a great multitude which no man could number standing Apoc. 7. 9. before the Throne and in the sight of the Lamb clothed in white robes Palmes in their hands c. These are they which come out of great tribulation and haue washed their robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe And Virgins who die in Charitie shall sing a Song which none else in Heauen shall sing but they and also they shall accompany our Sauiour wheresoeuer he shall goe according to the words of S. Iohn saying I heard a voice from Apoc. 1● Heauen and the voice which I heard was as of Harpers harping on their Harpes and they sung as it were a new Song before the Seate of God c. and none could sing the Song but those These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he shall goe Eleuenthly the Phantasies of the Charitable shall be delighted with beautifull formes of glorious Bodies according to the words of Saint Paul Now I know 1. Cor. ●3 12. in part but then I shall know as also I am knowne Twelfthly their Memorie shall be pleased with a forgetfulnesse of all Disgustes and Discontents whatsoeuer and with an easie Remembrance of all thinges which belong vnto their Happinesse which shall be easie for that in Heauen there shall be no more Was or Shall be or this Past or To come to be troubled with searching for them in the Memorie but Present for euer and altogether an Eternall Felicitie and Life Mat. 25. euerlasting which is as Boetius sayth a perfit possession Boet. li. 5. Pro. 6. altogether of an endlesse Life The Thirteenth Their Vnderstandings shall be delighted with Diuine Wisedome Vnderstanding Counsell Knowledge c. according to the words of Saint Peter saying If you 1. Pet. 4. be reuiled in the Name of Christ you shall be blessed because the Spirit which is his shall rest vpon you which is as the Prophet Isay sayth the Spirit of Isa 11. Wisdome and Vnderstanding the Spirit of Counsell and Strength the Spirit of Knowledge and Pietie and the Spirit of the Filiall feare of our Lord. The Foureteenth their Wills shall be delighted and fully satisfied and content with the enioying hauing and possessing of God Almightie who is all the good they can desire and shall be as S. Paul saith all in all the 1. Cor. 15. 25. Saints The Fifteenth their Minds and whole Man shall be fully and compleately made happy by the seeing of God Almightie whom they haue and possesse according to the words of our Sauiour saying Blessed are the cleane Mat. 5. in heart for they shall see God August epist 111. 1●2 not as they did in this life vnder that likenesse which his will had chosen and not his nature formed But they shall see him saith S. Iohn as he is in his Diuine Nature Essence and Glory as further witnesseth S. Paul saying We see now by a glasse 1. Cor. 23. 1● in a darke sort but then face to face This seeing of God whom they possesse all in all is as Saint Augustine saith their chiefest good for though Aug. li. trinit ca. 13. many things do concurre together to the making of vs Happy and Content Yet this seeing of God Face to Face and as he is in his glorie is the Fountaine of all good and the accomplishment and perfection of full Happinesse which our Sauiour signifieth saying This is Life euerlasting that Ioh. 17. 3. they know thee the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And the reason is for that God Almightie is onely He which is as he said I am which Exod. ● 14. am and all other thinges being by participation from his Goodnesse depending vpon his Will As it is written For thy Will they Apoc. 4. 11. were and haue beene created All other Pleasures and Contentments which are not God are farre more excellent in God himselfe then they are in themselues or in their owne natures So that take whatsoeuer true Pleasure which in this Life thou art capable to receiue either in Body or Soule and when by happie Vision thou commest to enioy God as I desire thou shouldest thou shalt enioy that same in another degree much more perfitly according to the words of the Prophet saying I shall be filled Lord Ps 16. 15. when thy glory shall appeare And hereupon it commeth to passe that the seeing and enioying of God by blessed vision as he is in himselfe is Happinesse it selfe for that whatsoeuer may truely delight either Body or Soule is there in him found altogether alwaies most perfitly euen in such sort as that it is not possible for thee to imagine wish or desire any Ioy Content or Happinesse whatsoeuer but the same is found in God in his full perfection Whereupon our Sauiour saith If you keepe my Ioh 15. 10. precepts you shall abide in my loue as I also haue kept my Fathers precepts and do abide in his loue These things I haue spoken to you that my ioy may be in you and your ioy may be filled Againe He Ioh 14. 12. that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be beloued of my Father and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe to him that is he will bestow vpon him all Goods Contentments and Happinesse that can be imagined or desired according to the words of God to Moses saying I will shew thee all good Exod. 3● ●● and shewed vnto him Himselfe The Sixteenth they shall be confirmed in this perfect Happie estate that they cannot but loue it and possesse it for euer so our Sauiour calleth it euerlasting life Mat. 25 46. and S. Peter calleth i● an eternall Kingdome where ● Pet. ● ●● there are no Temporal Ioyes or Contentments which are no sooner had then passed But an Eternall Ease Rest Repose and Happinesse and all goods and pleasures alwayes and for euermore remayning without End Which I heartily wish vnto thee deare Reader and so conclude this our Second Part of Ease and Rest with the words of Moyses the Prophet and faithfull Seruant of our Lords humbly beseeching thee to consider That I haue Deut. 30. set before thee Life and Good and contrariwise Death and Euill That thou mayest loue our Lord thy God and walke in his Wayes and keepe his Commaundements and thou mayest liue in the Happinesse of Grace in this Life and Glorie in the other But if thy heart be auerted and thou wilt not heare and deceiued with Error thou adore strange Gods in Spirit and serue them eyther by puplike or priuate breaking of the Commandements of the true and lining God I fore-tell thee this day that thou shalt perish and the Wretchednesse and Miseries spoken of in the foureteenth Chapter of this Booke shall fall vpon thee And I call for witnesse Heauen and Earth that I haue proposed to thee Life and Death Blessing and Cursing choose therefore Life that thou mayest liue and mayest loue our Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleaue to him for he is thy life and the length of thy daies To whom be all honour and glory now and for euermore Amen FINIS IESVS MARIA IOSEPH Errata Page 1. line 18. for this manner ●ead his manner p. 7. l. 1. seeke wherein ● seeke out wherein p. 7. l. 16. as that they ● as they p. 32. l. 21. sinne and malice r. sinne of malice 49 in Chap. 6. the Faith of God planted r. the Faith planted 67. 19 aboue all the r. aboue ●he 77. 22. there hath beene r. there ●ere 78 8. hath so r. haue so 106. 16. Faith the Faith of r. Faith and the Charitie of 109. 14. foun r. founded 112. 16. necessitie be r. necessitie m●st be 123. 4. that r. true 139. 16. in thee r. ●n this 153. in the margent Mal. 3. 7. 203. 15. 8. Iohn r. S. Paul 205. 6. serue ●heir God r. serue God 205. 17. in praise ● in his praise 208. 2. he doth not r. he doth 244. 13. may be r. must be 245. 8. I answere r. I inferre 291. 21. thy low r. thy two l. 22. low Faunes r. two Faunes 333. 16. Mines r. Ruines 369. in the Margent Exo. 33. 397. 14. wast r. vast 417. 1. saith r. say 4●9 2. liberalitie ● liberally

Fiftly the Diuell not onely causeth them to doe what he will as his captiues slaues but also for the most part maketh them to thinke and beleeue what he will as witnesseth our Sauiour saying Euery one that heareth the Word Mat. 13. 19 of the Kingdome and vnderstandeth not there commeth the wicked one and snatcheth away that which was sowne in his heart To these who do not keepe the Commandements of God the Diuell becommeth so rigorous a Master that they must not onely doe what hee will but also beleeue meditate and thinke what he will so that if either they happen to reade any pious Booke or heare any Christian Speech Sermon or Exhortation the Diuell will not permit them to thinke vpon it long but dwelling in their hearts presently snatcheth it out of their memorie and fantasie and putteth in of his owne suggestions that they can neuer haue for any long space any one good thought but must be occupied continually in thinking vpon such things as it shall please the Deuill to suggest vnto them and sowe in their hearts and soules As further witnesseth our Sauiour saying He that soweth the good Seed Mat. 13. 37 is the Sonne of Man our Sauiour and the Cockle are the Children of the wicked one who doe the workes of their Father the Diuell and the Enemie that sowed them is the Diuell The Diuell according to the testimonie of our Sauiour hath such power and authoritie ouer those who doe not keepe the Commaundements of God that he soweth in their hearts for the most part what he pleaseth insomuch as they must not haue a thought long remayning there that is not of his planting and sowing And from hence ariseth their assurednesse of saluation without keeping the Commaundements of God and the feeling of the Spirit as they call it which is a sensible delight stirred vp by the Diuell in the concupiscible inferior part of their soules whereby hee puffeth them vp with such swelling pride of minde and selfe-conceit of themselues of being endued with the holy Ghost as that presently they contemne the iudgement authoritie and knowledge of all others as inferiour to their owne and of lesse certaintie then is their feeling of the spirit Insomuch as though you alledge vnto them the Oathes of God and Promises and Prophecies of both Testaments Councels Fathers and experience of former Ages nothing will preuaile against their priuate spirit it telleth them that the whole Church generall Councels ancient Fathers all others may be deceiued but they are assured they are not And thus deceiued by the Diuell they liue in this life in a kind of frenzie of spirit in spirituall things like the Diuels in Hell who being confirmed in pride and malice thinke well of themselues and basely of all others For the sixt and last Miserie of this people in this life wee put their Blindnesse which is so great that liuing in all these Miseries they cannot see them to haue compassion of themselues And who is more miserable then he that is in miserie and in danger to fall into eternall miserie and yet can haue no compassion of himselfe Man beeing a reasonable creature and Sinne and breach of the Commaundements of God being a worke done or made against reason and it being a naturall thing for one contrarie to destroy the other Hereupon it commeth to passe that those who liue in breach of the Commaundements of God become blinde in their vnderstandings and void of the true light of reason and true discourse of things passed or to come and so as blinde men without discourse or apprehension of Dangers Doe spend their dayes in sensuall pleasures and in an instant descend into Hell The God of this World saith 2. Cor. 4. 4. Saint Paul hath blinded the eyes of the Infidels that the illumination of the Gospell of the glorie of Christ who is the Image of God might not shine to them That which euerie one loueth hee easily seeth and embraceth and that which hee loueth not though it be before him he will flye from it and not see it and being impossible for these as they confesse to loue God with all their hearts it is impossible for them to see or know his Truths So our Lord said Io. 8. 17. If any man will doe the will of him that sent me loue God with all his heart he shall vnderstand of the Doctrine whether it be of God Againe If any one loue me he Io. 14. 23. will keepe my Word Againe He that saith he knoweth God 1. Io. 2. 4. and keepeth not his Commaundements is a lyar Againe Euery Io. 3. 20. one that doth euill hateth the Light hateth our Sauior who is as he saith Io. 9. 6. the Light of the World And what canst thou expect from the haters of Light but Doctrine of Darknesse and Miserie Our Sauiour speaking of their Miseries in the other life saith that receiuing his Curse they shall goe into fire Mat. 25. euerlasting which was prepared for the Diuell and his Angels that is to say they shall goe into Hell which is as the Prophet Isay saith A profound Isa 30. and spacious roome His food is fire and store of wood the breath of our Lords mouth doth kindle the same like a maine Riuer of Brimstone And there bound hands and feet they shall lye in a Bed of Moathes couered ouer with a Couerlet of Wormes or Lice and bee deliuered vp into the hands of the Diuels to poure out the wrath vengeance and rage of God Almightie vpon them as is manifest by the Scriptures saying Mat. 22. 13. Bind his hands and feete and cast him into vtter darkenesse Againe Ps 149. This glorie is to all his Saints to doe reuenge in the Nations chastisement among the Peoples to bind their Kings in Fetters and their Nobles in Iron Manicles Againe Ps 139. Thou shalt cast them downe into fire in miseries they shall not stand vp Againe Isa 14. Thy Pride is drawne downe into Hell thy Carkas is fallen the Moathe shall be strowed vnder thee and Wormes shall be thy Couering And lying thus in this wofull and lamentable estate they shall be giuen vp into the hands of Diuels to heape yet more Torments vpon them as witnesseth the holy Ghost saying Eccl. 39. There are spirits created to reuenge and in their furie they haue fortified their Torments When the finall Day shall come they shall poure forth the force and rage of him that created them Fire Haile Famine Death teeth of Beasts Scorpions and Serpents And besides these Torments their Eyes shall be tormented with vgly shapes of Diuels together with the horror of the Place wherein as Iob sayth Iob. 10. 21. no order but a perpetuall horror doth remaine Their Eares shall be tormented with horrible Schrikes Lamentations Rorings Curses and Blasphemies of Diuels and damned Soules He loued Cursing sayth Ps 108. the Prophet

So Saint Augustine God Almightie who is in all places and euerie where present is inuisible to the eyes of the bodie and visible to the pure cleane of heart yet not so visible to the cleane of heart in this life as that they shall see him as he is in his essence or diuine nature or as he inhabiteth Light 1. Tim. 6. 16. not accessible whom no man hath seene yea neither can see and Exo. 33. liue but as S. Paul saith in 1. Cor. 13. a darke sort in comparison of the blessed seeing of him in the other life or as the Saints say in such sort as his Will hath chosen and not his Nature formed whose delights are as he saith to be with the children of men Whereupon Pro. 8. 31. S. Augustine saith What doe I Li. Con. li. 10. ca. 6. loue when I loue thee my Lord I doe not loue the beautie of Bodies nor the glorie of Time nor the brightnesse of Light nor the sweete melodie of all kind of delightfull Songs nor the pleasing smels of Flowers and Oyntments and Spices not Manna and Honey nor Members acceptable to the embracements of the Flesh I doe not loue these when I loue my God and yet I loue a certaine Light and a certaine Voice and a certaine Odor and a certaine Meate and a certaine Imbracing when I loue my God the Light the Voice the Odor the Meate the imbracing of my inward Man where doth shine to my Soule that which Place doth not comprehend and where doth sound that which Time doth not take away and where doth smell that which a puffe of Wind doth not scatter and where doth taste that which eating doth not diminish and where doth cleaue that which satietie doth not take away This is that which I loue when I loue my God So great are the mercies of God Almightie and so infinite is his loue towards them who loue him with all their hearts that since they are not capable liuing in this life of seeing his substance and Diuine Nature Essence Deitie and Glorie hee will accommodate himselfe so as that they shall finde know and see him as they may and so enioy the greatest Ease Rest Content and Happinesse that they are capable of in this life and rest in some sort satisfied quiet and content as a Stone in his Centure Fire in his Sphere and Ayre in his Region according as in other places our Lord sayth Io. 17. 3● This is life euerlasting that they know the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And againe I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce and your ioy no man shall take from you and in that day you shall not aske any thing because they had by seeing our Lord all that they could desire and all Ease Rest and Content that in this life they were capable of so much content and so great that wee cannot expresse it but by saying that they had more then ynough of Rest and Content Thy friends are Ps 138. honoured too much Insomuch as there ariseth many times a pious contention betweene our Lord and a soule that loueth him who knowing her owne vnworthinesse how vnworthie shee is of any such fauours desireth to loue him and shew her loue towards him onely for his goodnesse without receiuing in this life such infinite rewards and therefore with thankfulnesse and humilitie as farre as resignation to his will permitteth refuseth the acceptance of his great contentments and fauours And then God Almightie being as it were more ouercome with these her humble proceedings poureth them out vpon her the more for in louing her humilitie and making great account of her resignation and desire of louing him onely for his goodnesse as vpon one fit to receiue greater fauours hee will communicate his goodnesse more abundantly vnto her and so they both rest as it were more then satisfied God Almightie in the humilitie resignation and faithfulnesse of the soule that loueth him and the soule that loueth him in the infinite mercies of her Lord. Thou must not thinke that I put Content and Happinesse in Visions Reuelations Gustes Consolations or spirituall delights such errors be farre from me but I put them in Charitie and diuine Loue the louing of God Almightie with all thy heart and thy neighbor for God as thy selfe according to the Precept and speake of those spirituall delights as they doe fill and satisfie Loues motions and so both giue content and encrease thy content and happinesse by mouing thee the more to loue his Diuine Maiestie as hauing tasted of his goodnesse according to the prayer of S. Paul for the Ephesians saying Hearing of your Eph. 1. 15. faith that is in our Lord Iesus and loue towards all the Saints I cease not to giue thanks for you making a memorie of you in my prayers That God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glorie giue you the spirit of Wisdome and of Reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your heart illuminated that you may know what the hope is of his vocation and what are the riches of his inheritance in the Saints Thou mayest be happie and neither haue Vision nor Reuelation nor yet many sensible spirituall Consolations yet more cause there is for thee to hope that thou art in a happie estate the more thou partakest of the Promises which God Almightie hath promised to such as are happie and loue him with all their hearts and so saith Blessed are your Mat. 13. 16. eyes because they see the Sonne of God and your eares because they heare God Almightie speaking and preaching And Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Iona Mat. 16. 17. because flesh and bloud hath not reuealed it vnto thee And againe he sayth Learne of me Mat. 11. 28. for I am meeke and humble of heart and you shall finde rest that is himselfe who is all the Content and Rest that wee either shall finde or can hope to attaine vnto in this life or in all eternitie Whereupon it is said Seeke God and Ps 68. 33. thy soule shall liue not that thou shalt be happie by onely seeing him in this life but by louing him hee being an infinite Good and the chiefest Good of all Goods and onely sufficient to satisfie thy heart with complete content For by seeing him hee will so pierce thy heart with his loue and wound thy soule and all thy affections with the excellencie of his Goodnesse that thou wilt say with S. Paul I esteeme all things to Phil. 3. 8. be detriment and as dung that I may gaine Christ Though thou wert the greatest King Queene Prince or Emperour of the Earth as great as were Assuerus and Ester who reigned ouer the Medes and Persians an hundreth twentie seuen Prouinces Est 1. yet wouldest thou heartily say with Queene Ester to our Lord Thou knowest Est 4. 16. Lord my necessitie that I

Holy Ghost which is Faith THe ninth fruit is Faith not such a Faith as is in Heretikes and Deuils who haue their spirits so full of malice and iniquitie that they thinke it impossible to loue God Almightie with all their Hearts But a Faith in their Hearts rooted Eph. 4. 17. and founded in Charitie that they may be filled vnto all the fulnesse of God and be now no Eph. 3. 19. more Strangers and Forrainers but Citizens of the Saints and the Domesticals of God treating with him in their Soules by Faith that worketh Gal. 5 6. by Charitie A Faith planted in a good Luk 8 15 and very good Heart which hearing the Word doth retaine it and yield fruit in Patience Mat 13 29 some an hundreth fold and other threescore and another thirtie A Faith Light of the World Mat 5 15 shining before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heauen A Faith dilated all ouer the World Teach ye all Nations Mat. 28 19. And they going forth Mar. 16. 20. preached euery where Into Rom. 16. 18. al the Earth hath the sound of them gone forth and vnto the end of the whole World the words of them In the Col. 1. 6. whole World it is and fructifieth and groweth A Faith Wherein God meaning more abundantly to shew the Heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell he interposed an Oath because he had none greater by whom he might sweare he sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and Multiplying shall Multiply thee that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye we may haue a most strong comfort who haue fled to hold fast the hope proposed in our Faith The Faith of Iesus Christ Gal. 3. 22. giuen to them that beleeue The Iustice of God by Faith Rom. 3. 22. 31 of Iesus Christ whereby we doe not destroy the Law but establish the Law according to the words of our Sauiour saying Doe not thinke that Mat. 5. 18. I came to breake the Law or the Prophets I came not to breake but to fulfill A Faith which whosoeuer beleeueth and doth according to that which he beleeueth As the Scriptures say out of his belly shall flow Ioh. 7. 38. Riuers of liuing water And Isa 12. 3. he shall draw waters in ioy out of the Fountaines of our Sauiour and be inebriated with Psa 35. 9. the plentie of the house of God and with the torrent of his pleasure be made drunke OF THE TENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Modestie THe tenth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Modestie which is a decencie or honest temperature of the motions of the Minde and Bodie by helpe whereof they alwaies square their actions to a beseeming comlinesse pleasing in the sight of God whom they know to be present So S. Paul exhorting the Ephesians saith All naughtie Eph 4 29. speech let it not proceede out of your mouth but if there be any good to the edifying of Faith that it may giue grace to the hearers And contristate not the holy Spirit of God in which you are signed vnto the day of Redemption And againe to Timothie The Seruant of our Lord must 2. Tim. 2 24. not wrangle but be milde towards all men apt to teach patient with modestie admonishing them that resist the Truth Heretikes and Schismatikes least sometime God giue them Repentance to know the Truth and they recouer themselues from the snares of the Deuill of whom they are hold captiue at his will Againe Let your modestie Phil. 4. 5. be knowne to all men our Lord is nigh Whereupon S. Augustine saith He made Conf. li. 4. ca. 12. these things and is not farre off from them for he did not make them and then goe his waies but of him and in Act. 17. 28. him they are for in him we liue and moue and be And by these meanes they grow and increase dayly in Pietie and tender affection towards God Almightie and liue without any iust cause of reprehension amongst men excelling in ciuilitie and decent behauiour though Modestie is practised in all actions yet it is chiefly noted in the eyes insomuch as of the Foole it is said The eyes of Pro. 17. 24. a Foole are in the end of the Earth gazing after euery thing But the eies of the Eph. 4. 15. Wise are in his Head looking vpon our Lord who is our Head and there so content that he little careth or desireth to see any thing else more then necessitie requireth So the Prophet Dauid saith To thee haue I lifted vp mine Ps 122. eyes which dwelleth in the Heauens Behold as the eyes of Seruants are to the hand of their Master as the eyes of the Hand-maid on the hands of her Mistres so our eies to our Lord God Againe I foresaw our Lord in my sight alwaies because Ps 15. 8. he is at my right hand that I be not moued for this thing my heart hath beene glad and my tongue hath reioiced moreouer also my flesh shall rest in hope OF THE ELEVENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Continencie THe eleuenth fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Continencie which is a vertue by which mē liuing amongst the occasions of vsing lawfull sensuall pleasures to get the victorie and conquest ouer their carnall appetites do abstaine from them that by denying to themselues hings which many times be lawfull or indifferent they may easily attaine vnto grace and force to ouercome and suppresse their vnlawfull Desires thereby to bring their passions and inordinate affections to a subordination vnder the obedience of right reason and so liue in great libertie of Spirit and latitude of Minde free from consenting to base Desires Wherefore S. Paul saith in the same Chapter That against such there is no Law and addeth the reason for that they haue crucified their Flesh with the vices and concupiscences Continencie in generall consisting in the acts of Abstinence and Mortification doth crucifie or make dead the inordinate desires of the Flesh That the iustification Rom. 8. of the Law might be fulfilled in vs who walke not according to the Flesh but according to the Spirit For they that are according to the flesh are affected to the things that are of the flesh as we see by too much experience in carnall Heretikes who professe publikely in Print That they cannot liue chaste But they that are according to the Spirit are affected to the things that are of the Spirit that is to say to Continencie Chastitie Charitie c. For Rom. 8. the Wisdome of the Flesh is death but the Wisedome of the Spirit life and peace Such as liue according to the concupiscences and desires of the

Flesh are dead to Grace in this life and to Glory in the other But such as liue according to the wisedome of the Spirit in Continencie and Chastitie by mortifying their inordinate appetites shall liue with the life of Grace in this life of Glory in the other and in Temporall peace of minde in this life and Eternall in the other Because the Wisedome of the Rom. 8. 13. Flesh is an enemie to God for to the Law of God it is not subiect neither can it be for if you liue according to the Flesh you shall die but if by the Spirit you mortifie the deedes of the Flesh you shall liue For whosoeuer are led by the Spirit of God and mortifie the deeds of the Flesh they are the sonnes of God But if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the Spirit of Continencie and Mortification the same is not his but the Deuils Whereupon Saint Paul yet further saith I say walke Gal. 5. 16. in the Spirit that is in doing acts of Mortification and Continencie and the lust of the Flesh you shall not accomplish for the Flesh lusteth Gal. 5. 17. against the Spirit so these are enemies one to another and combate for the victorie If the inordinate lust and desires of the Flesh preuaile so farre with thee as that they bring thy Will Reason and Soule to consent to their desires then the inordinate lust and concupisences of the Flesh are Lords and Masters and thy Will Reason and Soule become slaues to their owne vassals and thou becommest a beast and a beastly man to runne after thy fleshly Lusts and Concupisences like the wilde Asses and beasts of the Forrest and that is thy life and felicitie If thy Soule or vpper part make continent and mortifie thy Lusts and Carnall desires and inordinate appetites of thy flesh then thy Soule or vpper part is Lord and Master and thou liuest like a man or reasonable creature and not like a beast and commest by perseuerance in Continencie and Mortification to enioy these delicate Fruits of the Holy Ghost which heere we treate of And for this cause the Life of Man is Iob. 7. called a Warfare For the Flesh Gal. ● ●7 lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh for these are aduersaries one to another that not what things soeuer you will those you doe without combate But combating the lust of the Flesh with Continencie and Mortification which are the fruits of the Spirit you come to enioy inestimable libertie of doing alwaies by combate what you will and will nothing but that which is reasonable according as it is written Where the Spirit of our 2 Cor. 3. 17. Lord is there is Libertie Againe Brethren you are called Gal. 5. 13. into Libertie And S. Paul setting down wherein this libertie consisteth saith Make Gal. 5. ●3 not this Libertie an occasion to the Flesh but by Charity serue one another For the Law is fulfilled in one word Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thy self This is the Libertie vnto which we are called a Libertie of doing good alwaies and when we will by being conquerers ouer the inordinate lust of our Flesh and wicked temptations of the World and Diuell by the assistance of the Holy Ghost his gifts and fruits in vs. Who shall deliuer me saith Rom. 7. S. Paul from the bodie of this death the Grace of God by Iesus Christ our Lord. Again The Grace of God our Sauiour 1. Ti● 2. 1● hath appeared to all men instructing vs that denying impietie and worldly desires we liue soberly and iustly and godly in this World expecting the blessed hope and comming of the glory of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ Whereby thou seest deare Reader the excellencie of Continencie since that by instructing thee how to deny impietie and worldly desires it will bring thee to liue soberly and iustly and godly in this world euen as one that continually expecteth the comming of the great God to Iudgement which is the greatest Happinesse we can attaine vnto in this life according to the words of our Lord saying Blessed is Luk. 12. 43. the Seruant who when the Lord commeth he shall finde so doing verily I say vnto you that ouer all things which he possesseth he shall appoint him OF THE TVVELFTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Chastitie THe twelfth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Chastitie which is an abrenuntiation of carnall pleasures and sensuall delights not absolute necessary to Nature wherby they attaine to perfect libertie of Spirit and freedome of Minde and easily and without impediment attend vnto the Exercises of the Heauenly Ierusalem according to the words of S. Paul saying He that is 1. Cor. 7. 23. without a Wife is carefull for the things that pertaine to our Lord how he may please God But he that is with a Wife is carefull for the things that pertaine to the World how he may please his Wife and he is diuided amongst many Masters that he cannot easily serue and loue God with his whole heart according to the Commandement So likewise S. Paul saith The Woman vnmarried and the 1. Cor. 7. 34. Virgine thinketh on the things that pertaine to our Lord that shee may be holy both in Bodie and Spirit But she that is married thinketh on the things that pertaine to the World how she may please her Husband And this I speake to your profit not to cast a snare vpon you but to that which is honest and that may giue you power without impediment to attend vpon our Lord. If thou wouldest obserue it thou shalt finde that the thing which hindreth thee from meditating and practising spirituall courses pious exercises of life is thy vnchast minde which seeking after the fornications of the World and Flesh perpetually distracteth thee frō well doing or thinking by hir vntame thoughts and wandring discourses after the sensual pleasures vanities of the Earth which if by Chastitie of minde thou couldest cut off thou shouldest as S. Paul affirmeth not onely meditate vpon the things that pertaine to our Lord and be holy both in Bodie and Spirit but also without impediment attend vpon our Lord and liue an Angelicall life vpon Earth according to the words of our Sauiour saying They Luk. ●0 35. that shall be counted worthy of the Resurrection from the dead neither Marry nor take Wiues neither can they dye any more for they are equall to Angels Whereby thou seest the excellencie of chaste Life that it will free thee from Worldly cares and distractions and will indue thee with such a facilitie in seruing God as that thou shalt be able as S. Paul saith to 1. Cor. 7. attend vpon our Lord without impediment And this is sufficient in part to shew vnto thee the Ioy Ease Rest Repose Content and Happinesse which God Almightie