Would God their life had byn answerable to their learning then had their study reading byn to good purpose Tit. 1. How many perish in this world by reason of vaine learning who take little care of the seruice of God Rom. 1. And because they rather choose to be great then humble Matt. 18. 23. therfore they vanish away in their own thoughts He is truly great that is great in charity He is truly great that is little in himselfe and that maketh no accompt of the height of honour He is truly wise that accompteth all earthly things as dung that he may gaine Christ Phil. 3. And he is truly learned that fulfilleth the wil of Christ and forsaketh his owne CHAP. IV. Of Prudence and Foresight in our actions VVE must not giue eare to euery suggestion or instinct but ought warily 1.10.4 leasurly to pōder things according to the wil of God But alas such is our weaknesse that we rather often belieue and speake euil of others then good Those that are perfectly vertuous Gen. 3. do not easily giue credit to euery thing that is told them for they know that human frailty is prone to euill Iac. 3. and very subiect to faile in words 2. It is great wisdome not to be rash in thy proceedings Frou 19. nor to stand stifly in thine own conceipts Prou. 17. as also not to belieue euery thing which thou hearest nor presen ly to relate againe to others what thou hast heard or dost belieue Consult with him that is wise and of a good conscience and seeke to be instructed by a better then thy selfe rather then to follow thine owne inuentions Prou. 15. Eccl. 1. A good life maketh a man wise according to God and giueth him experience in many things How much the humbler one is in himselfe and more subiect and resigned vnto God so much the more prudent shall he be in all his affaires and enioy greater peace and quiet of hart CHAP. V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures TRVTH not eloquence is to be sought for in holy Scriptures Ech part of them is to be read with the same spirit it was made Rom. 15. We should rather search after spirituall profit in Scriptures then subtility of speach We ought to read deuout and simple bookes as willingly as high and learned 1. Cor. 2. Let not the reputation of the writer offend thee whether he be of great or small learning but let the pure word of truth moue thee to read Search not who spake this or that but marke what is spoken 2. Men passe away Ps 110. Luc. 21. but the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer God speaketh vnto vs sundry waies without respect of persons Rom. 2. 10. Col. 3. Our owne curiosity often hindreth vs in reading of the Scriptures when as we will examine and discusse that which we should rather passe ouer without more adoe If thou desire to reape profit read humbly plainly and faithfully neuer desire the estimation of learning Inquire willingly and heare with silence the words of holy men Prou. 1. 18. dislike not the Parables of Elders for they are not recounted without cause CHAP. VI. Of inordinate desires and affections VVHENSOEVER a man desireth any thing inordinatly he is presently disquieted in himselfe The proud and couetous can neuer rest The poore and humble in spirit liue togeather in all peace The man that is not vvholy dead in himselfe is quickly tempted and ouercome in small and trifling things The weake in spirit and that is yet in a manner subiect to his appetites and prone to sensible things can hardly withdraw himselfe altogeather frō earthly desires And therfore he is often afflicted when he goeth about to retire himselfe from them and easily falleth into indignation when any opposition is made against him 2. And if he hath follovved therin his appetite he is presently disquieted with remorse of conscience for that he yielded to his passion which profiteth him nothing to the obtaining of the peace he sought for True quiet of mind therfore is gotten by resisting our passions not by obeying them There is no peace in the hart of a carnall man nor of him that is addicted to outward things but in the spirituall and feruent CHAP. VII Of flying vaine Hope and Pride HE is vaine that putteth his trust in men or creatures Hier. 17.1 Be not ashamed to serue others for the loue of Iesus Christ nor to be esteemed poore in this world Ps 30. Presume not vpon thy selfe but place thy hope in God Do what lieth in thy power and God will assist thee Trust not in thine own knowledg Hier. 9. nor in the wisdome or prudence of any liuing creature but rather in the grace of God who helpeth the hūble and humbleth the presumptuous and proud 2. Glory not in wealth if thou haue it nor in the power of thy friends but in God who giueth all things and aboue all desireth to giue thee himselfe Extoll not thy selfe for the stature and beauty of thy body which is dissolued and disfigured with euery little sicknes Take not pleasure in thy naturall gifts or wit least thereby thou displease God to whome appertaineth all the good whatsoeuer nature hath giuen thee 3. Esteeme not thy selfe better then others Exod. 3. 12. least perhaps in the sight of God who knoweth what is in man thou be accompted worse then they Iob. 9. Be not proud of thy good workes for the iudgments of God are farre different frō the iudgments of men and that of ten offendeth him which pleaseth them If there be any good in thee belieue that there is much more in others that so thou maist the better keepe within thy hart the precious treasure of humility It is no preiudice vnto thee to esteeme thy selfe worse then all the world but it hurteth thee very much to preferre thy selfe before any one The humble enioy continuall peace but in the hart of the proud is enuy and often indignation CHAP. VIII That too much familiarity is to be shunned LAY not thy hart open to euery one but treate of thy affaires with the wise and such as feare God Eccl. 8. Conuerse not much with yong people and strangers Flatter not the rich neither do thou appeare willingly before great personages Keep company with the humble simple deuout and vertuous and confer with them of those things that may edify Prou. 5. Be not familiar with any woman but in generall commend all good women to God Desire to be familiar with God alone and his angels and fly the knowledge of men 2. We must haue charity towards all but familiarity with all is not expedient Sometimes it falleth out that the fame of some person that is vnknowne is much esteemed whose presence notwithstanding is not gratefull to the eies of the beholders We thinke sometimes to
as long as aduersities happen not Many praise and blesse him as long as they receaue any comfort from him But if Iesus hide himself and leaue them but a while they fall either into complaint or into too much deiection of mind 2. But they that loue Iesus for Iesus and not for some comfort of their owne blesse him in all tribulation and anguish of hart as well as in the greatest cōfort And although he should neuer giue them comfort they notwithstanding would euer prayse him and alwaies giue him thankes 3. O how powerfull is the pure loue of Iesus Phil. 2. which is mixed with no selfe-loue nor proper interest Are they not all to be called hirelings that euer seeke comforts Do they not shew themselues to be rather louers of themselues then of Christ that alwaies thinke of their commoditie gaine Where may one be found that will serue God without looking for reward 4. It is hard to find any one so spirituall that is free from the loue of all earthly things For where is any that is indeed poore in spirit and free from all affection of creatures Far hence Prou. 31. and from the end of the world is his price If a man should giue all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should do great pennance yet is it little And if he should attaine to all knowledg he is yet far off And if he should haue great vertue and very feruent deuotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him Matt. 16. What is that That leauing all he forsake himselfe and go perfectly from himselfe and retaine nothing of selfe-loue And when he hath done al that he knoweth to be done let him thinke that he hath done nothing 5. Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirme himselfe to be an vnprofitable seruant as our Sauiour hath sayd When you shall haue done al things that are commanded you say We are vnprofitable seruants Luc. 17. Then may he be truly poore in spirit and naked and say with the Prophet Psal 24. I am alone and poore yet no man richer no man more powerfull no man more free thē he that can leaue himselfe and all things and put himselfe in the meanest and lowest place CHAP. XII Of the high way of the holy Crosse VNTO many seemeth hard this speach Deny thy selfe take vp thy Crosse Matt. 16. and follow Iesus But it will be much harder to heare that last word Get yee away from me Matt. 15. yee cursed into euerlasting fire For they that now willingly heare and follow the word of the Crosse shall not then feare to heare the sentence of euerlasting damnation This signe of the Crosse shall be in heauen when our Lord shall come to iudgment Then all the seruants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselues vnto Christ crucified shal draw neer vnto our Lord with great confidence 2. Why therfore fearest thou to take vp the Crosse which leadeth thee to a kingdome In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is protection against our enemies in the Crosse is infusion of heauenly sweetnes in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is ioy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity There is nor health of the soule nor hope of euerlasting life but in the Crosse Take vp therfore thy Crosse and follow Iesus thou shalt go into life euerlasting Luc. 14. He is gone before bearing his Crosse and is dead for thee on the Crosse Ioan. 19. that thou maiest also beare thy Crosse desire to dy on the Crosse with him For if thou dyest with him thou shalt also liue with him And if thou be his companion in payne 2. Cor. 1. thou shalt be partaker with him also in glory 3. Behould in the Crosse al doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life vpon it for there is no other way vnto life and vnto true inward peace but the way of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification Go where thou wilt seeke whatsoeuer thou wilt thou shalt not find a higher way aboue nor a safer way below then the way of the holy Crosse Dispose order all thinges according to thy will and iudgment yet thou shall euer find that of necessity thou must suffer somewhat either willingly or against thy will so as thou shalt neuer fully auoide the Crosse For either thou shalt feele payne in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 4. Somtimes thou shalt be forsaken of God somtimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbours which is more oftentimes thou shalt be irksome to thy selfe neither canst thou be deliuered or eased by any remedy or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it For God will haue thee learne to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholy to him and become more humble by tribulation No man hath so liuely a feeling of the passion of Christ as he who hath chaunced to suffer the like The Crosse therfore is alwayes ready euery where attendeth thee Thou canst not escape it whither soeuer thou flyest for whersoeuer thou goest thou carriest thy selfe with thee and shalt euer finde thy selfe both aboue and below without within which way soeuer thou doest turne thee alwayes thou shalt find the Crosse and euery where of necessity thou must haue patience if thou wilt haue inward peace and deserue an euerlasting Crowne 5. Yf thou beare the Crosse willingly it will beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shal be an end of suffering though heere there shall not Yf thou beare it vnwillingly thou makest for thy selfe a new burthen and increasest thy loade and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it Yf thou cast away one Crosse without doubt thou shalt find another that perhaps a more heauy 6. Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could euer auoyd Which of the Saintes in the world was without Crosses and tribulations Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was neuer one houre without paine of suffering so long as he liued Christ saith he ought to suffer Luc. 24. rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory and how doest thou seek any other way then this high way which is the way of the holy Crosse 7. The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seeke rest and ioy Thou art deceaued thou art deceaued if thou seekest any other thing then to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries Iob. 7. and inuironed on euery side with Crosses And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heauier Crosses he oftentymes findeth for the loue he beareth to
and thy prayer directed vnto Christ without ceasing If thou canst not contemplate high and heauenly things rest thy selfe in the passion of Christ and dwell willingly in the wounds of his sacred body For if thou fly deuoutly vnto his holy wounds and to the precious markes of his passion thou shalt feele great comfort in tribulation neither wilt thou much care for being despised of men and wilt easily beare the wordes of slaunderous tongues 5. Christ was also in the world despised and in great necessity Matt. 1.12.5.26 Ioan. 15. forsaken by his acquaintāce friends in the middest of slaunders Christ would suffer and be contemned darest thou complaine Christ had aduersaries and backbiters and wilt thou haue all men thy friends benefactours For what shall thy patience be crowned 2. Tim. 21. if no aduersity happen vnto thee If thou wilt suffer no aduersity how wilt thou be the friend of Christ Suffer with Christ for Christ if thou desire to raigne with Christ 6. If thou haddest once perfectly entred into the hart of Iesus and tasted a little of his burning loue then wouldest thou not weigh thy owne commodity or discommodity but wouldest rather reioyce at flaunders when they should chance to be cast vpon thee for the loue of Iesus maketh a man to despise himselfe A louer of Iesus of truth a true spirituall person and free from inordinate affections can freely turne himselfe vnto God and lift himselfe aboue himselfe in spirit and with great ioy of his soule rest in God 7. He that iudgeth of all things as they are Esa 54. and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God then men He that can liue spiritually make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of deuout exercises A spiritual mā quickly recollecteth himselfe because he neuer yieldeth ouer himselfe wholy to outward things He is not hindred by outward labour or busines which may be necessary for the time but as things fall out so he frameth himselfe vnto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth little for the vaine inuentions and peruerse inclinations of men So much is a man hindred and distracted how much he draweth matters vnto himselfe 8. If all went well with thee and thou hadest thy hart well purged all things would fall out to thy good and profit But many things displease and often trouble thee Rom. 5. 1. Cor. 4. because thou art not yet perfectly dead vnto thy selfe nor free from the affection of earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the hart of man as the impure loue to creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of heauen and often receiue internall ioy CHAP. II. Of humble submission RESPECT not much who is with thee or who is against thee Endeauour and take care that God may be for thee in euery thing thou doest Haue a good conscience Ps 27. and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hould thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord wil help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliuer thee and therfore thou oughtest to resigne thy selfe vnto him It belongs to God to help and to deliuer from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the better keeping of humility that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himselfe for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and deliuereth the humble he loueth and comforteth the humble vnto the humble man he inclineth himselfe vnto the humble he giueth great grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him vnto glory Matt. 11. Vnto the humble he reuealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inuiteth him vnto himself The humble when he hath receaued confusion is in peace for that he resteth in God and relieth not on the world Do not thinke that thou hast profited any thing vnlesse thou esteeme thy selfe inferiour to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable man FIRST keep thy selfe in peace and then maist thou pacify others A peaceable man doth more good then he that is well learned A passionate man turneth good into euill and easily belieueth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good 1. Cor. 15. He that is well in peace is not suspitious of any But he that is discontented troubled is tossed with diuers suspitions he is nether quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speake and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do Matt. 7. He cōsidereth what others are boūd to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himselfe First therfore haue a carefull zeale ouer thy selfe Act. 1. and then thou maist iustly shew thy selfe zealous of thy neighbours good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine owne deeds and thou wilt not receaue the excuses of others Gal. 6. It were more meet that thou didest accuse thy self and excusedst thy brother 1. Cor. 13. If thou wilt be borne withall beare also with another Behould how farre off thou art as yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moued with indignation but only against himselfe It is no great matter to conuerse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition 〈…〉 for that is naturally pleasing to all and euery one willingly enioyeth peace and loueth those best that agree with him But to be able to liue peaceably with the vnquiet peruerse minds or with the disorderly or such as contradict vs is a great grace and very commendable 3. Some there are that keep themselues in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselues nor suffer others to be in peace they are troublesome to others but alwaies more troublesome to themselues And others there are that keep themselues in peace and labour to bring others vnto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering then in not feeling aduersities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himselfe in peace He is a conquerour of himselfe a Lord of the world friend of Christ and heyre of heauen CHAP. IIII. Of a pure mind and vpright intention VVITH two wings man is lifted vp from earthly vanities that is with simplicity purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity fixeth the eyes of the soule in God Purity apprehendeth and tasteth his sweetnes No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing els but the will of
thy Creatour and be faithfull vnto him that thou maist attaine vnto true happines CHAP. II. That truth speaketh inwardely without noyse of VVordes SPEAKE Lord The Seruant for thy seruant heareth I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may know thy testimonies 1. Reg. 3. Ps 118. Stir vp my hart to heare the wordes of thy mouth Let thy speach descend as the dew into my soule The children of Israel in times past said vnto Moyses Speake thou vnto vs and we shall heare thee Let not our Lord speake vnto vs least perhaps we dye Exod. 20. Not so Lord not so I beseech thee But rather with the Prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 3. I humbly and earnestly intreat speak Lord for thy seruant heareth Let not Moyses speake vnto me nor any of the Prophets but thou rather speake my Lord God the inspirer and enlightener of all the Prophets for thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me but they without thee can profit nothing 2. They can pronounce words but they giue not spirit They speake maruelous well but if thou hould thy peace they inflame not the hart They deliuer the letters but thou openest the sense They bring forth mysteries but thou disclosest the vnderstanding of sealed thinges They declare thy commaundemēts but thou helpest to fulfill them They shew the way but thou giuest strength to walke it They worke only exterioutly but thou instructest and enlightnest the hartes They water outwardly but thou giuest fruitfulnes They sound forth wordes but thou giuest vnderstanding to the hearing 3. Let not therfore Moyses speak vnto me but thou my Lord God the euerlasting truth least perhaps I should dye and become without fruit if I be warned outwardly only and not inflamed within least the word heard and not fulfilled knowen and not loued belieued not obserued should increase my iudgment Speake therefore Lord for thy seruant heareth 1. Reg. 3. for thou hast the words of euerlasting life Speake vnto me to the comfort of my soule and to the amendment of my whole life Ioan. 6. and to thy prayse and glory and euerlasting honor CHAP. III. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not SONNE †Our Lord. heare my words wordes of great comfort excelling al the knowledg of the Philosophers and wise men of this world My wordes are spirit and life not to be waighed by the vnderstanding of man Ioan. 6. They are not to be drawne to vaine liking but to be heard with silence and to be receaued with al humility and great affection And I said * The Seruant Psal 93. Blessed is the man whō thou shall instruct O Lord and shalt teach thy law that thou maist giue him quietnes from euill daies and that he be not destroyed vpon earth 2. I saith our †Our Lord. Heb. 1. Lord haue taught the Prophets from the beginning and cease not continually to speake to euery one but many are deafe and giue no eare to my speach The greater number doe more willingly listen to the world then to God follow sooner the desires of their fleshe then the will of God The world promiseth temporall small things and is serued with great diligence I promise most high and eternall thinges and the hartes of men are nothing moued with it Who is he that serueth and obeyeth me with equall care to that with which the world the Lords therof are serued Esa 23. Blush Sidon saith the sea And if thou aske the cause heare wherefore For a little prebend a long iorney is vndertaken for euerlasting life many will scarce once lift a foote from the ground A thing of small value is sought after greedily for a penny somtimes there is great contention for a vaine thing and sleight ptomise men doubt not to toile day and night 3. But alas for an vnchangeable good for an inestimable reward for the highest honour and glory without end they are loath to take the least paines Blush therefore flouthfull and complayning seruant that they are found more ready to distruction then thou to life They reioyce more at vanity then thou at truth Rom. 1. Matt. 24. And yet they are somtimes frustrated of their hope but my promise deceaueth none nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me I will giue that which I haue promised I will fulfill that which I haue said Apoc. 2 but to him that remaines faithfull in my loue to the end I am the reward of all good Matt. 5.15 and do try my deuout seruants in forcible proofes 4. Write my words in thy hart and thinke diligently of them for they will be necessary in time of tēptation What thou vnderstandest not when thou readest thou shalt know in the day of visitation I am wont to visite my elect two seuerall waies to wit with temptation and comfort And I dayly read two lessons vnto them one reprehending their vices another exhorting them to the increase of vertues He that hath my words despiseth them hath within himselfe that shall iudg him at the last day A prayer to implore the grace of denotion 5. Lord * The Seruant my God thou art all that I can desire Who am I that dare speak vnto thee I am thy poorest seruant Gen. 18. and a most vile worme much more poore and contemptible then I can or dare expresse Remember Lord that I am nothing haue nothing and can do nothing Thou alone art good iust and holy thou canst do all things performest all things leauing only a sinner voide of all good Call to mind thy mercies and fill my hart with thy grace who wilt not that thy workes be voyd 6. How can I support my selfe in this miserable life vnlesse thy mercy and grace comfort me Psal 68. Turne not thy face from me delay not thy visitation draw not away thy comfort least my soule become as earth without water vnto thee Lord teach me to fulfill thy will Ps 142. teach me to line worthily and humbly in thy sight for thou art my wisdome thou dost perfectly know me and didest know me before the world was made and before I was borne in the world CHAP. IIII. That we ought to line in truth and humility in the sight of God SONNE * Our Lord. walke in my sight in sincerity and truth and euer seeke me in playnes of hart Gen. 17. Sap. 1. He that walketh in my sight in truth shall be defended from euill incursions and truth shall deliuer him from seducers and from the detractions of the wicked 1. Ioan 8. If truth shall haue deliuered thee thou shalt be truly free and shalt not care for vaine speaches of men Lord * The Seruant it is true According as thou saist so I beseech thee let it be done with me and keepe me bring me to a happy end Let thy truth teach
things and haue little true mortification I know not what it is nor by what spirit we are lead nor what we pretend we that seeme to be called spirituall that we take so much paynes and so great care for transitory and base thinges and scarce or seldome thinke of our owne inward profit with full recollection of our senses 4. Alas presently after a sleight recollection we breake forth and weigh not our workes with diligent examination We mind not where our affections lye nor bewaile the impurity and many faults that are in all our actions For all flesh had corrupted her way Gen. 6. 7. therfore did that generall floud ensue Sith our inward affection then is much corrupted it must needs be that our action proceeding therof be corrupted as a signe of the want of inward vigour From a pure hart proceedeth the fruit of good life 5. We aske how much one hath done but how vertuous his actions are is not so diligently considered We inquire whether he be strong rich beautifull handsome a good writer a good singer or a good labourer but how poore he is in spirit how patient and meeke how deuout spirituall is seldome spoken of Nature respecteth outward things grace turneth herselfe to the inward vertues That is often deceaued this hath her trust in God to the end she be not deceaued CHAP. XXXII Of the denrall of our selues and forsaking all our affections SONNE †Our Lord. thou canst not possesse perfect liberty vnlesse thou wholy deny thy selfe All such as be louers of themselues are bound in setters Matt. 16. 19. they are couetous curious wanderers seekers of ease and not of those thinges that appertaine to Iesus Christ but oftentimes deuising and framing that which will not continue For all shall perish that proceedeth not from God Keep this short and complete word Forsake all thou shalt find all Leaue thy inordinate desires thou shalt find rest Consider this well and when thou hast fulfilled it thou shalt vnderstand all 2. Lord * The Seruant this is not one dayes worke nor childrens sport yea in this short sentence all the perfection of Religious persons is included Sonne †Our Lord. thou must not go back nor straight waies be deiected whē thou hearest the way of the perfect but rather be stirred vp to more worthy noble attēpts or at least to conceaue an earnest desire thereof I would it were so wel with thee and thou wert come so far that thou wert no longer a louer of thy self but didst stand meetly at my beck and at his whom I haue appointed a Father ouer thee then thou shouldest exceedingly please me and all thy life would passe away in ioy and peace Thou hast yet many thinges to forsake which vnlesse thou wholy resigne ouer vnto me thou shalt not attaine to that which thou desirest I counsell thee to buy of me purified gould Apoc. 3. that thou mayst become rich that is heauenly wisdome which treadeth vnderfoot all base and earthly things Set little by the wisdome of this world and esteeme not of the contentment of men nor thine own fancyes 3. I said that thou shouldest buy the meane and base things with the precious and those that were with men of great esteeme For true heauenly wisdome seemeth very base and of small accompt and is scarce thought of by men for that esteemeth not highly of it selfe nor seeketh to be magnified vpon earth which many praise from the teeth outward but in their life they are far from it yet is it the precious pearle which is hidden from many Matt. 13. CHAP. XXXIII Of Inconstancy of hart and of directing our finall intentions vnto God SONNE †Our Lord. trust not to thy affection that which now is will quickly change into another As long as thou liuest thou art subiect to mutability euen against thy will so that now thou art merry now sad now quiet now troubled now deuout now distracted now diligent now idle now heauy now light But he that is wife and well instructed in spirit remaineth alwaies one in the middest of these changes not heeding what he seeketh in himself or which way the wind of mutability bloweth but that the whole intention of his mind may tend as it ought to the most perfect and best end For so he may continue one the selfe same without any change in the midst of so many sundry chaunces directing alwaies the sincere eye of his intention vnto me 2. And how much purer the eye of the intention is Matt. 6. so much the more constantly doth he passe through the variety of many cōtrary waues But in many things the eye of a sincere intention waxeth blind for it quickly looketh vpon some delight some obiect that occurreth And it is rare to find one that is wholy free from all blemish of seeking himselfe So the Iewes in times past came into Bethania to Martha and Mary Ioan. 11. not for Iesus alone but to see Lazarus also The eye of our intention therfore is to be purged Matt. 6. that it may be sincere pure and to be directed vnto me neglecting the multitude and variety of earthly obiects CHAP. XXXIIII That God is sweet aboue all things and in all thinges to him that loueth BEHOVLD * The Seruant my God and all things What would I haue more and what can I desire more happy O sweet and comfortable word but to him that loueth the word not the world nor those things that are in the world My God and all things Inough is said to him that vnderstandeth and it is pleasant to him that loueth to repeat it often For when thou art present all things do yield delight but when thou art absent al becomes irksome Thou giuest quiet of hart and much peace and pleasant ioy Thou makest men think well of all and praise thee in all things neither can any thing please vs long without thee but if it be pleasant and delightsome thy grace must be present it must be seasoned with the sweetnes of thy wisdome 2. What can be distastfull vnto him to whome thou art pleasing And whome thou delightest not what can be pleasant But the wise of the world 1. Cor. 1. Rom. 8. 1. Io. 2. and that haue their contentment in sensuall things cannot attaine to thy wisdome for in the world is much vanity in the flesh is death But they that follow thee by the contempt of worldly things mortification of the flesh are proued to be truly wise for they are changed from vanity to truth from flesh to spirit To these God is sweet and what good soeuer is found in creatures they wholy referre vnto the praise of their Maker Notwithstanding great yea very great is the difference betweene the sweetnes of the Creatour and of the creature of eternity and of time of vncreated and created light 3. O euerlasting
this man is forsaken and he assumed to so great grace why also this man is so much afflicted and he so greatly aduanced These things exceed all humane power neither can any reason or discourse of any man search out the iudgment of God When the enemy therfore suggesteth these things vnto thee or some enuious people demand theÌ„ of thee answere that of the Prophet Psal 118. Thou art iust o Lord and thy iudgment is right And againe The iudgments of our Lord are true and iustified in themselues Psal 1â— My iudgments are to be feared not to be discussed for they are such as cannot be comprehended by the vnderstanding of man 2. In like manner I aduise thee not to inquire nor dispute of the merits of the Saints which of them is holier then the other and which is greater in the Kingdome of heauen These things oftentimes breed strife and vnprofitable contentions 1. Tim. 2. they nourish also pride vaine glory from whence do vsually spring enuy and dissentions whilst one wil needs foolishly haue this Saint preferred and the other another To desire to know and search out such things is to no purpose but to displease the Saints of whome they speake For I am not the God of dissension but of peace which peace consisteth rather in true humility then in exalting our selues 3. Some are carried with zeale of affection to loue these or those most but this loue is rather humane then diuine I haue made all the Saints and haue giuen them grace I haue made them partakers of my glory I know the merits of euery one I haue preuented them in the benedictions of my sweetnesse I foreknew my beloued before the beginning of the world Ioan. 15. I chose theÌ„ out of the world they chose not me first I called them by grace I drew them by mercy I led them through sundry temptations I haue sent theÌ„ great inward comforts I haue giuen them perseuerance I haue crowned their patience 4. I know the first and last I imbrace all with inestimable loue I am to be praised in all my Saints I am to be blessed aboue all things to be honoured in euery one whom I haue thus gloriously exalted and predestinated without any precedeÌ„t merits of their owne He therfore that contemneth one of the least of my Saints Iac. 2. honoureth not the greatest for that I made both the lesse and the greater Sap. 6. And he that dispraiseth any of my Saints dispraiseth also me and all the rest in the Kingdome of heauen All are one by the band of Charity they thinke the same they will the same and are all knit togeather in one perfect band of loue 5. But yet which is much more high they loue me more then theÌ„selues and more then their owne merits For being rauished aboue themselues and drawne out of the affection of themselues they tend wholy vnto the loue of me in which also they rest enioying me with vnspeakable glory Nothing can put them backe nothing presse them downe for being full of euerlasting truth they burne with the fire of vnquenchable charitie Let therefore carnall and earthlymen that can affect no other but priuate ioyes forbeare to dispute of the state of Saints They adde and take away according to their owne fancies not as it pleaseth the euerlasting Truth 6. There is in many great ignorance specially in those that be slenderly enlightned and these can seldome loue any with perfect spiritual loue They are alwaies much drawne by a naturall affection and humane friendship to this man or to that according to the experieÌ„ce they haue of themselues in their earthly affections so they frame an imagination of heauenly things But there is an incomparable distance betweene the things which the imperfect frame in their conceipts and those which illuminated persons do see by reuelatioÌ„ from aboue 7. Beware therfore my Sonne that thou treat not curiously of these things Eccli 3. which exceed thy knowledg but rather so apply thy endeauours that thou maist at least haue the meanest place in the Kingdome of heauen And if any one did know which of the Saints exceeded others in sanctity or is esteemed greater in the Kingdome of heauen what would this knowledg auaile him vnlesse he should thereby humble himselfe the more in my sight and stirre vp his mind to praise my name with greater feruour His labour is much more acceptable vnto God that thinketh of the greatnes of his sinnes and his want of vertues how far off he is from the perfectioÌ„ of the Saints then he that disputeth of their greatnes It is better to pray to the Saints with deuotion tears and to craue their glorious suffrages with an humble mind then to search their secrets with vaine curiosity 8. They are well and right wel contented if men could content theÌ„selues and refraine from these vaine discourses They glory not of their owne merits for they ascribe no good vnto themselues but attribute all to me who of my infinite charity haue bestowed my blessings vpon them They are replenished with so great loue of my Godhead and so superaboundant ioy that there is no glory nor happines that is or can be wanting vnto them All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselues and neerer and deerer vnto me And therfore thou haft it writteÌ„ Apoc. 4. That they did cast their Crownes before God and fell down vpon their faces before the Lambe and adored him that liueth for euer 9. Many inquire who is greatest in the Kingdome of God that know not whether they shall euer be numbred there amongst the least It is no small matter to be euen the least in heauen where all are great for that all there shall be called and shal be indeed the Sonnes of God The least there shall be great among thousands and the sinner of a hundred yeares shall die Matt. 18. For when the Disciples asked who was the greater in the Kingdome of heauen they receaued this answere Vnlesse you be conuerted become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen Whosoeuer therfore shall humble himself as this little child he is the greater in the Kingdome of heauen 10. Woe be vnto them that disdaine to humble theÌ„selues willingly with little children Matt. 6. For the low gate of the Kingdome of heauen will not giue them entrance And woe be to the rich that haue their comforts heere for whilst the poore enter into the Kingdome of God they shall be wayting without Reioyce you â—hat be humble and you that be poore Matt. 5. be you glad for yours is the Kingome of God if you walke according vnto truth CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone LORD * The Seruant what trust haue I in this world Or what is the grea test