THE LIFE OF THE HOLIE FATHER S. FRANCIS WRITEN BY SAINT BONAuenture and as it is related by the Reuerend Father Aloysius Lipomanus Bishop of Veron In his fourth tome of the life of Saintes Hic vir despiciens mundum terrena triumphans Diuitias caelo condidit ore manu BLESSED BE DTHE NAME OF OVR LORD IHS Printed at DOVAY by LAVRENCE KELLAM 1610. APPROBATIO Haec vita S. Francisci per S. Bonauenturam olim conscripta nunc in linguam Anglicam fideliter translata digna est quae in lucem edatur ab omnibus legatur Actum Duaci Calendis Martii 1610. Georgius Coluenerius S. Theologiae Doctor Professor librorum in Academia Duacensi Visitator Censor TO THE RIGHT VVORshipfull and most vvorthy religious gentlman A. B. all happynes in Christ our Lord vvisheth E. H. SVch is that svveernesse and imprisable comforte of spirite Righe VVorshipfull and pious Syr vvhich the readinge of Saintes Liues can effecte in our soules that I fully persvvade my selfe that amongest the exercices beseeminge a Catholike Christiane the readinge and perusinge his present subiecte vvill not be the leaste forcible and efficacious to induce men to embrace vertues Path and constantly to sustaine the manifoulde afflictions vvhich in these our miserable times are moste ordinarie and frequent vvith Gods best belouede seruantes this litle vvorke smalle in quantity yeat riche precious for the mattere it doth treate of containeth the life of that most rare and admirable Sainte S. Francis vvhich came to my handes by meanes of a poore yet euer honeste banished countrey man of myne vvho vvantinge helpe and meanes to publishe it I most vvillingly sett therevnto my helpinge hande to further so good a vvorke vvhich beinge novve perfectede I commende vnto your selfe as one selected and chosen by me vvorthie in manie respectes before others desiringe that you vvoulde vouchsafe to vndertake the patronizinge of this my euer propens duety tovvardes your best deseruinge selfe vouchsafe therefore fauorably to accepte of â—â—y greate goodvvill though shrovvded vnder the veyle of a small presente vvhich I offer not as intendinge thereby to requite or equalize those many benefites of yours for my best endeauours vvilbe farre avvantinge from due proportion and equality seinge that the acceptaunce hereof requireth a nevve kindnese but to renevve and stirr vp in my selfe some memorie of your respectede desertes and accordinge to my povvere to shevve my vvillinge desire to gratifie in vvhat I may your greate good vvill I presente vnto you not that vniuersalle and moste admirable troope of all Gods Saintes for that these you and others may hereafter by some other meanse receaue but this one life in particulare of that most blessed man S. Francis vvherein you may be houlde as in a glasse the full abundance of Angelicall conversation and as in vvhich is compendiously contayned the sume of a perfect life I vvill here omitt to recounte his rare vertues his invincible fortitude his Admirable temperance profound humility patience longanimity most feruent charity immouable fayth dauntles hope and such like innumerable vertues because all these vvilbe exactly manifested vnto you in this treatis yea such is the excelentcie of this Saint that beit spoken vvithout preiudice or derogation to other Saints he is thought by his surmounting holynes to haue atchiued and purchased not the lovvest seate in euerlasting ioy for vvhill the Prince of Angels and greatest of all creatures in naturall dovvries Lucifer him selfe thinking by his arrogante pride to haue ascended and as the scripture saith of him to haue been Similis altissimo Esaye 14. like vnto the highest vvas throvvne dovvne headlong in to the bottomles dongion of hell and euerlasting damnation he by his most rare humility he hath deserued to be exalted and in throvvned in that kingdom vvhich he by his contrary pride irrecouerably lost So as in this vve may see the deuine providence and vnsearchable vvisedome of god allmyghty vvhich revvardeth all according to theite deserts Luc. 1. veryfying this saying Deposuitpotentes de sede exaltauit humiles he hath put the mighty from theire seate and hath exalted the humble and meeke agreing allsoe vvith an other place Luc. 18. Quise exaltat humiliabitur qui se humiliat exaltabitur he that exalteth himselfe shal be humbled ore cast dovvne and he vvhich humbleth him selfe shal be exalted thus vve se hovv he exalteth his Saints vvhill Lucifer and his complices are depriued of that place vvhich theire vniust aspiring could not yealde them and therefore are becom an aprobry to the rest of the blessed Angeles and deadly enimies to mankynde seekynge allvvayes by theire manifould delusions to bringe others into that desperat estate in vvhich they knovve themselues to be for euer for as Saint Peter saith Diabolus tanquam leo rugiens cir cuit 1. Pet. 5. quaerens quem deuoret The deuill like a roringe lyon goeth about seekinge vvhom he may deuoure Against vvhom and vvhose most guilfull procedings vvhat is more avaylable and of greater force then the vertue of Christ his vvounds his and al Saints merits and intercessions vnder vvhose bannour he that fighteth as all Christian Catholiques ought most coÌ„stantly to doe alâ—though often tryed and assalted by spirituall foes yet can he neuer be ouercome and hauing patience to sustayne it vvill redound vnto a greater crovvne of glorie For if vve suffer afflictiones in this vvorlde and for the since are loue of God endure them couragiously vve shall vndoubtedly reape those incomprehensible revvardes 1. Cor. 2. Quae nec autis audiuis nec oculus vidit nec in cor hominis ascendit vvhich neyther eare hath heard nor eie hath see ne nor hath ascended into the hart of man to imagine the molestatioÌ„s and troubles of this present vvorld Rom. 8. are not condigne of the glorie to come as the Apostle saith Non sunt condignae passiones huius temporis ad suturam gloriam quae reuelabitur in nobis neither must vve imagin that if God send afflictions vpon his seruants either temporall or spirituall that he vvithdravveth his loue or zeale of our saluation nay his scourge doth presage greater loue and affection to his tried seruants for he saieth Ego quos amo arguo castigâ— Apoc. 3. vvhom I loue I chasten therefore he often suffereth our spirituall aduersatie to trie vs as he did holie Iob not aboue our povver to resiste but vvith his grace to ouercome 1. Cor. 10. and conquere our enemy Fidelis enim Deus est qui noÌ„ patietur nos teÌ„tari supra id quod possumus sed faciet cum tentatione prouentum For God is faithfull vvho vvill not suffer vs to be teÌ„pted aboue that vve are able but vvill make also vvith temptation issue that vve may be able to sustaine but vvhat should I inculcate patience and perseauerance vnto such an on as your selfe seinge that amongest soe many seruants of God you haue all
thinges necessary so long as he should haue in the world to giue them O inestimable price of poverty by the admirable force whereof even Barbarours cruelty was chaunged into so great a sweetnes of mercy Wherefore it is a thing most horrible and a wickednes vnexcusable for a Christian man to tread vppon so pretious a pearle which an infidell Saracin held in so great a reverence About this time Moricus a Religious man of the Order called Cruciferi being miserably afflicted in an Hospital neare to Assisium with a long and greivouse disease through the violent force whereof the Phisitions were in vtter despaire of his recoverie made humble request to the man of God by a messenger sent for purpose with instant desire that he would vouchsafe to pray for him Whervnto the blessed Father with a willing minde assenting after praier devoutly made taking cartaine crummes of bread into his hand and mingling the same with oyle taken from out of the Lamp which burned before the Altar of the Blessed virgin brought it at lenght as it were to a certaine kinde of electuary which he sent vnto the sicke man by the handes of his brethren saying Beere ye this medicine vnto our brother MORICVS where by the power of Christ will not only restore him vnto perfect health againe but will make of him a strong and hardy warriour and shall further adioyne him perpetually vnto our troupe and company No sooner had this sicke man tasted of that exquisit medecine made confected by the Holy Ghost his invention but rising vp forth with now perfectly whole and well he obtained of God so much strength both of body minde that within a litle while after entring into the Religion of the holy man he was contended with one only slender coate Behold the wonderfull abstinence of the holy man who for a long space tasted neither bread nor wine and wasfed only with rawe meats vnder which also he ware for long time together a coate of maile next to his skinne vsed no other diet than raw meates as hearbes fruits and such like other things as he gathered vpon the earth not tasting for many and soundrie years either of bread or wine All which notwithstanding he still continewed in good health and strenght of body And as the merrits of the vertue of these litle ones of Christ did daily more and more increase so the sweet smell of their good opinion spreading it self ronde about drew many out of divers parts of the world to come in person to see the holy Father Among whom there was a curious inventor of secular songes who having binne for that cause crowned by the Emperour and called the king of verses determined to go see this man of God the contemner of wordly things And finding him preaching in a certaine Monastery at the Castle of Saint SEVERINVS the hand of our Lord comming then vpon him be beheld Saint FRANCIS the preacher of the Crosse of Christ ensigned with two swordes one overthwarr the other in the forme of a Crosse the one of them stretched along from his head to his feete and the other Crosse-wise along his breast from on hand to the other Wherby although he knew not the contenance of the servāt of Christ yet was he fully secured that this very man was he by the admirable apparence of so great a miracle At the sodain aspect whereof being much amased he beganne to propose vnto himselfe better things in his minde and being at the lenght compunct by the force of his words no lesse than if he had bin stricken through with the sword of the spirit issueyng out of his mouth vtterly contemning all secular pompes he conioyned himselfe in profession with the blessed Father Wherevpon the holy man seeing him to be perfectly converted frō the trouble of the world to the peace of Christ called him by the name of Frater Pacificus He afterward increasing in al holinesse before such time as he was made provinciall Minister in France for he was the first that bare that office there merrited once and againe to see the greeke letter T. in the forehaid of holy S. Francis the same being distinguished with such seemely variety of colours as did wonderfully adorne his face and countenance This signe the holy man did reverence with great affection this signe he did commend with frequent speeches and in his letters which he vsually dispatched he evermore with his owne hand subscribed the same Ezech. 9.4 as if all his study were to make the signe T according to the saieing of the Prophet vpon the foreheades of them that sighed and mourned and were vnfainedly converted to Christ Now when the number of brethren was in processe of time increased the carefull Pastor beganne to call them together vnto a general Chapter then to beholden in the place of our Lady of Portiuncula that in the measure of divine distribution he might giue vnto every one his portiō of obedience in the land of their poverty Where although there were great penurie and the brethren sometimes came together aboue fiue thowsand in number yet by the help of Gods mercie they had sufficient foode together with health of body and aboundance of spirituall ioy But for so much as he could not be in body present at the provinciall Chapiters he was therefore in spirit by the diligent care of his governement by the instancy of prayer and by the efficacy of benediction evermore present at them notwithstanding that sometimes by the marvailous power and worke of God he did visibly appeare For as Saint Anthony that worthy preacher who is now a notable Confessour of Christ was preaching in the Chapter at Arles of the title of the Crosse Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes a certaine brother of approued vertue called Monaldus looking as the will of God was towardes the Chapter house doore sawe with is corporall eies the blessed Father Saint FRANCIS lifted vp alofte in the aire ad blessing his brethren with his handes stretched out as it were in the forme of a Crosse At which very time all the brethren did feele thēselues to be replenished with so great vnvsual-a consolation of spirit that the inward testimony which they felt in their hartes did sufficiently secure them of the vndoubted presence of the holy Father though afterwardes it was not only by evident signes but also by the said holy Fathers owne wordes externally confirmed And well it may be believed that the same power of Almighty God which granted the devout and holy Bishop Saint Ambrose to be present at the in tombing of the glorious Bishop Saint Martin to the end that he might with devout reverence honor the devout Bishop deceased did also by an especiall favour present his servant Saint Francis at the sermon of his true preacher Saint Anthony that he might approue the words of truth those especially of the Crosse of Christ whereof himselfe was a continuall
bearer and a most faithfull servant But the Order being now great amplified augmented he did greatly desire that the forme and rule therof by Pope Innocenciâ—s already approved might be Honorius his successor for ever be ratified and confirmed and even then he was by Almighty God admonished with this manner of revelation It seemed vnto him that he was gathering vp from the earth certaine most exceeding small and slender crummes of bread by him to be distributed among a great many hungry brethren of his that stoode in expectance rownde aboute him And fearing to distribute so smalle crummes least perhaps they should fall out of his handes he heard a voice from aboue saing vnto him Francis make one hast of all the crummes and giue vnto them that will eate Vnto which voice he shewing himselfe obedient whosoever did not receiue the distribution devoutly or did make light of the guift already receaved were presently marked with a leaprous infection All which the holy man did the next morning after relate vnto his brethren sorrowing much that he could not vnderstand the mistery of the vision But the next day following as he persisted watchfull in praier he heard a voice from heaven speke vnto him Francis the crummes which thou sawest in the night past are the wordes of the Gospell the host is the Rule and the leaprousie iniquity Being therefore desirous before he sought the confirmation of his Rule to reduce the same as being hitherto more largely compiled out of sundry parts of the Ghospell vnto a more compendious forme and methode according as the vision did purporte vnto him he went vpp with two of his companions into a certaine hill wherevnto he was by the Holy Ghost conducted He fasted with bread water and there contenting himselfe with bread water during the time of his fast he caused the same to be written according to that which the spirit of God suggested vnto him as he was yet persevering in fervent prayer Which being there by him in this manner finished and himsefe now comming downe from the montaine he gaue the same to his Vicar to keepe who within few daies confessing himselfe to haue lost it by fault of negligence the holy man went againe the second time into the solitary place of the desert presently renewed the same againe as if he had taken the wordes from out of the mouth of God And shortly after obtained according to his owne desire to haue the same confirmed by the foresaid Pope HONORIVS in the eight yeare of his Popedome Wherevpon taking occasion with great fervency to perswade his brethren a new to the observance of the rule he avowed vnto them that he had not thereinto inserted any thing out of his owne industrie but had simply and plainly written downe all every point eueÌ„ in such sorte as had binne from God revealed vnto him S Francis caused his rule to be written as he had receiued by diuine renelation Which that it might the more manifestly appeare as being confirmed and approved by the testimony of God himself within few daies after the signes Marks of our Lord Iesus were imprinted vpon him by the finger of the living God as it were the Bull of the chiefe and most supreame Bishop Christ himselfe aswell to the absolute confirmatioÌ„ of the Rule as also to the commendation of the Author thereof as shall be hereafter set downe in convenient place after we shall hane declared his excellent vertues THE FIFTH CHAPTER Of the austerity of his life and how the Creatures of God gaue sollace vnto him NOvv when the holy servant of God Saint Francis did perceive that many were by his exaÌ„ple incouraged with fervencie of spirit to carry the Crosse of Christ himselfe also like a good leader of the army of Christ was therby animated daily more and more to attaine vnto the crowne of victory by the exquisite perfection of most invincible vertue For coÌ„sidering the sayng of the Apostle that Se with what seuerity of disciplines the holy Father did mortifi the concupiscence of his flesh Se also his wonderful abstinenâ— They who are of Christ haue crucified their flesh together with their vices and concupiscenses he to the ende he might in his owne body beare the armour of the Crosse did with so great severitie of discipline restraine his sensuall appetites that scantly he allowed vnto himselfe the very things that were necessary for the sustentation of nature Vsing evermore this maÌ„ner of saying that It could not be but marueilous hard to fatisfie the necessities of the body yet not to condiscen vnto the euill inclination of sensuall desirs for which cause in time of health he would hardly be induced to eat of boiled meats or at least wise very seldome if he did at any time he vsed either to put ashes amonghst it or els by mingling of water with the saÌ„e to make the meat vnsavoury What shall I speake of his moderate drinking when as he would scarrely drink of cold water sufficient to alay the violence of his thrist He ever invented new waies of more perfect abstinence and by exercise did daily more more increase therein and although he had already attained vnto the highest degree of perfection yet some thing alwaies he did as a new beginner innovate punishing with afflictions his fleshly concupissence Neverthelesse at such times as he weÌ„t abroade to preach the Gospell he did conforme himselfe in the quality of his meate according to the custome of the persons that did entertaine him but at his returning home againe then did he strictly obserue the rigour of most parsimonius abstineÌ„ce And so in all respects vsing austerity towards himself curtesie towards his neighbour obedience to the Gospell of Christ he was an example of edification to others not only by abstaining but even also by eating The bare ground he vsed most commonly as a bed for his weried body He slept often on the bare ground and tooke his sleep oftentimes sitting leaning his head vpon a piece of woode or a stone and resting alwaies contented with one coate he served our Lord in cold and nakednesse Whetevpon it being one time demaunded of him how he could with so thinne a garment defende himselfe from the extreame sharpenesse of the winter cold Behold his great austerity in his apparell he answered with afervour of spirit If we were inwardly toucht by fervent desire with the flame of the heavenly couÌ„try we should easily be able to indure this eternall colde He could not abide softnes of apparell but asperous clothing he much esteemed affirming that S Iohn Baptist was in that respecte commended by the mouth of God himselfe And therefore if at time he found any kinde of easefulnes in such garmens as had bene given vnto him he vsed to weare litle cords into the inner side therof alluding vnto the words of truth that softnes of apparell was not to besought for
then instructed them with holy speeches that passing through the desert of this world they should like forraniers and strangers as true Hebrewes in povertie of spirit continually celebrate the Passeover of our Lorde vnderstanding therby his passage out of this world vnto his Father And for because in the asking of Almes he was not ledde with desire of gaine but with the liberty and freedome of spirit God therefore the Father of the poore see med ouer him to beare a speciall care and protection For it happened that the servant of God being surprised with sicknesse in a certaine place called Noceria he was from thence convaied towards Assisium by certaine solemne Messengers which the people of that Citty had out of their great devotion sent for that purpose vnto him Who bringing with them the servant of Christ came to a certaine poore village called Sarthianum where as well the time of the day as hungar also requiring meate they went out to provide but finding no meate to be bought for money they returned emptie to the place againe To whom the holy man said for this cause ye haue founde nothing because you trust more in your Flies than you doe in our Lord. For he called their pieces of mony by the name of Flies But returne said he to the houses wherby you passed before and humbly desire the Almes of the inhabitants offering the loue of God for a reward vnto them Neither do ye out of a false estimation hereof conceiue as of a thing either of bashfullnesse or basenes for you to vndertake considering that the great Almes giver hath now after sinne by his aboundant goodnesse graunted disposed of all thinges in Almes both to the wotthy vnworthy Wherevpon his conductours being warfairing men setting shame a side and craving Almes with a willing minde made better market for the loue of God than for their mony For by the divine in stinct of God the poore inhabitants were so compunct in heart that they freely offered not only their goodes but themselues also therewithall And so it came to passe that the same degree of wāt which mony could not relieue euen that did the riche poverty of Sainct FRANCIS aboundantly supply At such time as the holy man lay sick in an Ermitage nigh to Reate a certaine Phisitian reforted oftentimes with timely endeavour ynto him But the servant of Christ not being able to giue a reward vnto him answereable to his paines and labours the most liberall God who would not dismisse him without a present requitall recompensed his godly industrie in his poore servants behalfe with this newe and vnvsuall benefite For this Phifition having about that very time newly built him a house wherevpon he had bestowed the whole summe of all his former gaines and labours the same by meane of a wide rifte in the wall reaching from the toppe to the bottome of the foundation was ready to fall to the grounde in so much as it seemed impossible by any art or numane industrie to be prevented But he having great confidence in the meritts of the holy man did with great zeale of faith request the brethren that some thing might be given vnto him which the man of God had toucht with his handes Having therefore at length with great instancy of intreatie obtained some litle parcell of his haire he put the same over night within the rift of the wall which he rising betimes in the morning founde to be shut and conioined againe with so strong firme a solidity that neither could he pul out the Reliques which he had inclosed therein nor yet could he finde any marke of the former division Whereby it was through the goodnesse of God provided that he who diligently ministred vnto the decaied body of the holy servant of God did prevent the danger of his own dwelling house which was ready to fall to the ground Another time also the man of God desiring to go vnto a certaine desert where he might more freely attend vnto contemplation for so much as he was weake and feeble he was carried vppon a certaine poore mans Asse And when as the same poore man by reason of following the servant of Christ and passing with him over the mountanouse places in the extreamest heats of the yeare was then so wearried with the painfullnes and length of his iourney that he seemed to fainte through the excesliue heat of his thirst he instantly beganne to crie after the holy man Beholde I die for thirst vnlesse I may be presently refreshed by the benefit of some draught of drinke Wherevppon the man of God incontinently alighting downe from the Asse fixed his knees vppon the grounde Praying vpon his knees and lifting his handes tovvardes heauen he obtained his petition and streetching forth his armes to heaven ceased not to pray vntill he perceived himself to be heard But his praier being ended at lēgth make haste saith he vnto the man and goe to yonder rocke for there thou shalt finde a spring of liuely water which Christ hath mercifully provided out of the stone for thee to drinke Woonderfull without doubt is the favourable goodnes of Almighty God which doeth so easely incline it selfe vnto his servants desires The Thirstie man drank from out of the rock of that comfortable and refreshing water which was by the efficacie of praier produced and filled his cuppe out of the most hard and flintie stone In this place never had there binne water seene before neyther could there any since be founde as hath well appeared by diligent enquirie and experience But in what wonderfull manner Christ did by the merites of his poore servant multiplie the meate in the Sea considering that we are hereafter to set it downe in place conveniēt thus much only it shall be sufficient in this place to haue rehearsed Exod. 17.6.4 Reg. 4.43 that out of a small proportion of Almes bestowed vpon him he delivered the Marriners for many daies togeather from the perill of famine of death that thereby it may be well observed that the servant of Almighty God even as he was like vnto Moyses in bringing water out of the Rock so was he also like vnto Elizeus in the multiplication of victualls Good cause therfore it is that all diffidence should farre away departe from the servants and followers of Christ For if the poverty of Saint Francis were of so plentifull sufficiency that by a wonderfull vertue it did so farre forth supply the wants of them by whome he was holpen in his neede that they wanted neither meate drink nor house when mony arte and nature did faile them much more shall it deserue to obtaine those thinges which are by the accustomed order of Gods divine prouidence cōmonly vouchsafed and granted vnto all men If I say the drienesse of the rocke haue at the voice of a poore man yeelded drinke aboundantly to the thirstie then shall nothing in the world denye service vnto them who haue forsaken
as yet perverse he seemed to haue drawen nigh to the beholding of that mirrour of eternal light by the marveilouse brightnes wherof the sight of his minde did behold things absent in body from him as if they had binne verely present before him For vpon a time his Vicar held a Chapter but he in the meane while remained aparte in his Cell at praier as a mediatour betweene the brethren and God And when one of them vnder some cloake and pretext of defence did not submit himselfe vnto discipline the holy man even then beholding the same in spiritâ—e called one of the brethren and saied vnto him Brother I haue seene the Diuell sitting vppon the backe of that disobedient brother him straitly to hold his neck who being spurred on wardes by such a rider and contemning the raines of obedience did follow the sway of his owne violent motion And when I did pray vnto God for the brother sodeinely the Diuell with shame departed Goe therefore and say vnto him that he doe forthwith submit his nock vnto the yoke of holy obedience He therefore being by the Messenger admonished and presently converted vnto God did humbly prostrate himselfe at the Vicats fete Another time also it chaunced that two of the brethren came from a farre of to the Ermitage of Grecium to see the man of God and to returne with his benediction which they had now long time desired But comming thither and not finding him because he was then returned from publique place to be solitary in his Cell they departed away pensiue and desolate And see euen as they were in going the holy man whereas according to humane vnderstanding he coulde haue no knowledg either of their goeing or comming yet neverthelesse contrary to his vsual manner came out of his Cell and calling aloude after them according to their desire did blesse them with the figne of the Crosse in the name of Christ Ther came two brethreÌ„ vpon a time from the laÌ„d of labour whereof the auncentier brother gaue soundry scandals vnto the yonger But when the were both come to the Father he asked of the yonger how the brother his companion had behaved himselfe towards him in the way Who answearing surely well enough The Father replied Beware brother least vnder the pretence of humility you make a lie for I know I know but marke a while and you shall see The brother marveiled very much how he by force of the spiritte could haue knowledg of things that were donne so farre from him But within fewe daies after that other brother who had given the scandall vnto him not having asked pardon of the Father nor yet having receaved due discipline for the same seting nought by his Order did forsake his covent In whose fall and ruine two things are at once to be considered namly the vprightnesse of Gods divine iustice and the singuler perspicuity of his propheticall spiritte But in what manner of wise by force of Gods mighty power he did exhibite himselfe present vnto them that were absent from him it is evidently to be seene out of the things before recited if it be well recalled to minde how he being absent from the brethren neverthelesse appeare vnto them transfigured in a fiery Chariotte and how also he presented himself vnto them in the forme of a Crosse at the Chapter of Alres The which we ought to belieue to be donne by Gods heavenly disposition that by the marveilouse apparition of his bodily presence it might manifestly appeare how present and ready at hand his spiritte was vnto the light of externall wisedome which is more moveable then all moveable things Sap 7.24 and reaching every wheare by her o Wne puritie doth transfuse herself through nations into holy soules Mat. 11.25 Psal 70.16 Mat 16.17 and ordainâ—th the frends and prophetts of God For the most bigh and superexcellent Doctor is accustomed to discover his hidden misteries vnto simple persons and litle ones according as first it appeared in David that finguler Prophert and afterwards in the prince of the Apostles S. Peter and now at length in the poore litle one of Christ Saint Francis For these whereas they were but simple according to the course of humane learning wereby the instruction of the holy Ghoste made right excelleÌ„t renowned The on a Shepheard to feede the flock of the Sinagogue ledde out of Egipt The other a Fisher to replenish the net of the Church with the manifold numbers of believers And this last a Marchant adventurer to buy the pearle of Evangelicall life with the sale and distribution of all that he had for the loue of Christ THE TWELFETH CHAPTER Of the efficacâ— of his preaching and of his gifte in Curing THE right loyall seruaunte and faithfull minister of Christe Sainct Francis to the end he might both faithfully and perfectly accomplish all the things committed vnto him did most especially addict himself vnto those exercises of vertue which by revelation of the holy spiritte he knewe to be most pleasing to his beloved Lorde Vpon occasion whereof it chaunced him to fall into a greate agonie of a certaine kind of doubtfulnesse which for many daies together at his returne from prayer he did purpose vnto his familiar brethrene to be by them determined What councel said he doe ye giue vnto me my brethrene What doe ye commende vnto me Whither that I should attend vnto prayer or trauel abroad to preache For I litle one that I am beinge simple and rude of speache haue receaued at Gods hands a greater grace in praying than in speaking There seemeth also in prayer to be a gaine and heaping vp of graces but in preaching a certaine kind of distribution of the gifts from heauen receaued in prayer a gaine appeareth to be a purifiyng of the inward affections and an vniting of them vnto the one true chiefest good together with a strengthening of vertue but in preaching a bedusting of the spiritual feete a distraction about many things and a slackening In prayer breiflly we speake vnto God and therin also we heare him and leading as it were an Angelicall life we doe converse among Angells wheras in preaching we must condiscend in many things vnto men and liuing according vnto humane custome among them we must thinke vpon humane things we must see them speake of them heare them But one thing is yet to be saied on the contrarie parte which seemeth to ouer ballance all these things before the face of God namely that the only begotten sonne of God who is the very height of wisedome it self did come downe from his Fathers bosome for the salvation of soules that instructing the world by his owne example he might preache the worde of salvation vnto men whom he was to redeeme with the price to cleanse with the lauer and to sustaine with the Cup of his most holy and sacred blood not reserving any thing vnto himselfe which he did not liberally bestowe