standeth heareth him Ioan. 3. reioyceth with ioy for the voice of the Bridegrome so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my selfe vp to thee with my whole hart Wherfore I offer also and present vnto thee the ioyes feruent desires excesses of mind spirituall illuminations heauenly visions of all deuout harts with all the vertues and praises exercised and to be exercised by all creatures in heauen and earth for my selfe and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou maist be worthily praised and glorified for euer 4. Receaue my Lord God the affections of my hart and desires which I haue to giue thee infinite praise and thankes which according to the measure of thy vnspeakable greatnesse are due vnto thee These I yield thee and desire to yield thee euery day and moment and I doe intreate and inuite all the heauenly spirits and all thy deuout seruants to giue thankes and praises togeather with me 5. Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnify thy holy and sweet name with great ioy and feruent deuotion and let all that reuerently and deuoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receaue it with full faith deserue to find grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for me sinfull creature And when they shall haue obtained their desired deuotion and ioyfull vnion and depart from thy sacred heauenly table well comforted and meruailously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poore and needy soule CHAP. XVIII That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith The voice of the Beloued THOV oughtest to beware of curious and vnprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not sink into the depth of doubt Prou. 25. He that is a searcher of Maiesty◠shal be oppressed by glory God is able to worke more then man can vnderstand A pious and humble inquiry of truth is tolerable so he be alwaies ready to be taught and do endeauour to walke in the sound pathes of the ancient Fathers doctrine 2. Bessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult waies of questions and goeth on in the plaine and assured path of Gods Commandements Many haue lost deuotion whilst they would search after high things Faith and sincere life are exacted at thy hands not height of vnderstanding nor the depth of the mysteries of God If thou doest not vnderstād nor conceaue those things that are vnder thee how shalt thou be able to comprehend those that are aboue thee Submit thy selfe to God and let thy sense be subiect to faith and the light of knowledge shall be giuen thee in that degree as shall be profitable and necessary for thee 3. Some are grieuously tempted about faith and the Sacrament but this is not to be imputed to thē but rather to the enemie Do not regard nor dispute with thy thoughts neither do thou giue answere to the doubts moued by the enemie but belieue the words of God belieue his Saintes and Prophets and the wicked Serpent will fly from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the seruant of God to suffer such things For he tempteth not Infidels and sinners whome he already securely possesseth but he sundry waies tempteth vexeth the faithfull and deuour 4. Go forward therfore with a sincere and vndoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with vnfaigned reuerence And whatsoeuer thou art not able to vnderstand cōmit fecurely to Almighty God God deceaueth thee not he is deceaued that trusteth too much to himselfe Ps 19. c. 118. God walketh with the simple Matt. 11. reuealeth himselfe to the humble giueth vnderstanding to little ones openeth the senses of pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Humane reason is weake and may be deceaued but true sayth cannot be deceaued 5. All reason naturall search ought to follow faith not to go before it nor impugne it For faith and loue do chiefly excell worke in a hidden manner in this most blessed and excellent Sacrament God who is euerlasting and of infinite power doth great and inscrutable things in heauen and in earth and there is no searching of his wonderfull workes If the workes of God were such as might be easily comprehended by humane reason they were not to be called wonderfull and vnspeakable FINIS
in his owne throne If thou couldest purge thy selfe perfectly of all creatures Iesus would willingly dwell with thee Whatsoeuer thou puttest in men out of Iesus is all no better then lost Trust not nor rely vpon a reed full of wind for that all flesh is as hay and all the glory therof shall wither away as the flower of the field Esa 4. 3. Thou shalt quickly be deceaued if thou looke only to the outward shew of men And if in them thou seekest thy comfort and profit thou shalt often feele losse If thou seekest Iesus in all things thou shalt surely find Iesus But if thou seekest thy selfe thou shalt also find thy selfe but to thy owne harme For man doth more hurt himselfe if he seeke not Iesus then the whole world and all his aduersaries could annoy him CHAP. VIII Of familiar conuersation with IESVS VVHEN Iesus is present all is well and nothing seemeth difficult but when Iesus is absent euery thing is hard When Iesus speaketh not inwardly vnto vs our comfort is nothing worth but if Iesus speake but one word we feele much consolation Ioan. 11. Did not Mary Magdalen presently rise from the place where she wept when Martha said vnto her Thy maister is heere and calleth thee Happy is the houre when Iesus calleth from teares to spirituall ioy How dry and hard art thou without Iesus How foolish and vaine if thou desire any thing out of Iesus Matt. 16. Is not this a greater losse then if thou shouldest loose the whole world 2. What can the world profit thee without Iesus To be without Iesus is a grieuous hell and to be with Iesus is a sweete Paradise If Iesus be with thee Rom. 8. no enemy can hurt thee He that findeth Iesus findeth a good treasure Matt. 13. yea a good aboue all goods And he that leeseth Iesus leeseth too much and more then the whole world He is most poore that liueth without Iesus Luc. 12. and he most rich that is well with Iesus 3. It is a great skill to know how to conuerse with Iesus Prou. 8. and a great wisdome to know how to keep Iesus Be humble and peaceable Iesus will be with thee Be deuout and quiet and Iesus will stay with thee Thou maist driue away Iesus loose his grace if thou giuest thy selfe to outward things And if thou shouldest driue him from thee and leese him vnto whom wilt thou fly and what friend wilt thou then seeke Without a friend thou canst not well liue and if Iesus be not aboue all a friend vnto thee thou shalt be too too sorrowfull and desolate Thou doest therefore foolishly if thou doest trust or reioyce in any other It is better for thee to haue all the world against thee Gal. 6. then Iesus offended with thee Amongst all things therefore that be deare vnto thee let Iesus alone be thy chiefest beloued 4. Loue all for Iesus but Iesus for himselfe Iesus Christ alone is especially to be beloued who alone is found to be good and faithfull aboue all friends For him in him Matt. 5. let aswell friends as foes be deare vnto thee and all these are to be prayed for Luc. 6. that all may know and loue him Neuer desire to be singularly commended or beloued for that appertaineth only vnto God who hath none like vnto himselfe Neither do thou desire that the hart of any should be set on thee nor do thou set thy hart on the loue of any but let Iesus be in thee and in euery vertuous and good man 5. Be pure and free within and intangle not thy hart with any creature Thou oughtest to be as it were naked carry a pure hart to God if thou wilt consider and proue see how sweet our Lord is And truly vnlesse thou be preuented and drawne by his grace thou shalt neuer attaine to that happines to forsake and cast away all that thou alone maist be vnited to him alone For when the grace of God commeth vnto a man then he is strong and nothing is hard vnto him And whē it goeth away he is poore weake and as it were left vnto the will of whomsoeuer will afflict him In this thou oughtest not to be deiected nor despaire but to resigne thy selfe with all indifferency vnto the will of God and to beare all things that befall thee for the glory of Christ for after winter followeth summer after night commeth day and after a tempest faire weather CHAP. IX Of the want of all comfort IT is no great matter to despise humane comfort when we haue diuine It is much and very much to be able to want both humane and diuine comfort Phil. 2. and for the honour and glory of God to be willing to endure desolation of hart and to seeke himselfe in nothing nor to regard his owne merit What great matter is it if thou be cheerfull and deuout at the comming of heauenly grace This houre is wished for of all men He rideth easily whome the grace of God carrieth And what meruaile if he feele not his burden who is borne vp by the Almighty and led by the greatest guide 2. We are alwaies willing to haue something for our comfort and a man doth hardly put off and forsake himself The holy martyr S. Laurence ouercame the world with his Prelate because he despised whatsoeuer seemed delightsome in the world and for the loue of Christ the patiently suffered the high Priest of God S. Syxtus to be taken from him whome he most loued He ouercame therfore the loue of man by the loue of the Creator and he rather chose the diuine pleasure then humane comfort See thou also learne to forsake some necessary thing and a beloued friend for the loue of God Be not grieued when thou art forsaken by a friend knowing that we all at length must be separated one from another 3. A man must fight long and with a constant mind before he get the victory and be able to place his whole hart in God When a man confideth in himselfe he easily slideth vnto humane comforts But a true louer of Christ and a diligent follower of vertue giueth not himselfe to such solace nor seeketh sensible sweetnes but rather forcible exercises and to sustaine hard labours for Christ 4. When therfore spirituall comfort is giuen thee from God receaue it thankefully but know that it is the gift of God not any desert of thine Be not puffed vp ioy not too much neither do thou presume vainely but be rather the more humble for that grace and more wary and fearefull in all thy actions for that houre wil passe away and temptation will succeed Whē consolation is taken from thee despaire not presently but with humility and patience attend the heauenly visitation for God is able againe to giue thee greater consolation This is not new nor strange vnto them that haue experience in the way of
me and let it deliuer me from all euill affection and inordinat loue and I shall walke with thee in great freedome of hart 2. I †Our Lord. will teach thee sayth the Truth those things that are right pleasing in my sight Thinke of thy sinnes with great sorrow and grief neuer esteeme thy selfe any thing for thy good works Thou art in very deed a sinner and subiect to many passions Of thy selfe thou alwaies tendest to nothing and art quickly cast downe and ouercome quickly troubled quickly dissolued Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory 2. Cor. 4. but many thinges for which thou oughtest to humble and despise thy selfe for thou art much weaker then thou art able to comprehend 3. And therfore let nothing seeme much vnto thee whatsoeuer thou doest Let nothing seem great nothing precious and wonderfull nothing worthy of estimation nothing high nothing truly commendable and to be desired but that which is euerlasting Let the eternall Truth aboue all things please thee Let thy owne great vnworthines alwaies displease thee Feare nothing blame and fly nothing so much as thy sinnes and vices which ought to displease more then the losse of any thing whatsoeuer Some walk not sincerly in my sight Eccles 3. 2. Cor. 3. but led by a certaine curiosity and pride will know my secrets and vnderstand the high mysteries of God neglecting themselues and their owne saluation These often times for that I resist them do fall into great temptations sinnes for their pride and curiosity 4. Feare the iudgments of God dread the wrath of the almighty But discusse not the works of the Highest Search thine owne iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their deuotion only in bookes some in pictures some in outward signes and figures some haue me in their mouths but little in their harts Esa 29. There are others that being illuminated in their vnderstanding and purged in their affection do alwaies aspire with an earnest mind to euerlasting happines and are vnwilling to heare of the things of this world and do serue the necessities of nature with griefe Ps 24. and these perceaue what the spirit of truth speaketh in them Because it teacheth them to despise earthly Ps 1. and loue heauenly things to neglect the world and day and night to desire heauen CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of diume grace I praise * The Seruant thee o heauenly Father Father of my lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poore and wretched creature 2. Cor. 1. O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thanks be vnto thee who somtimes with thy comfort refreshest me vnworthy of all comfort I euer blesse and glorify thee with thy only begotten Sonne and the holy Ghost for all worlds O God my lord the holy louer of my soule when thou shalt come into my hart all that is within me will reioyce Psal 3. Thou art my glorie and the exultation of my hart Thou art my hope Ps 31. and my refuge in the day of my tribulation 2. But for that I am yet weake in loue and imperfect in vertue I haue need to be comforted by thee visit me therfore often and instruct me with thy holy discipline Deliuer me from euill passions and heale my hart of all inordinate affections that being cured within and well purged I may be made fit to loue strong to suffer and constant to perseuere 3. Loue is a great matter Matt. 11. in very truth a great good which alone maketh euery thing that is heauy light and beareth equally vnequall burthens For it carrieth a burthen without a burthen and maketh euery thing that is bitter sweet and delightsome The noble loue of Iesus enforceth man to worke great things and styrreth him vp to desire allwaies the most perfect Loue will be aloft and not kept downe with any base thinges Loue will be free from all worldly affection to the end his inward sight be not obscured that he be not intangled with the desire of any transitory gaine or troubled with the want therof Nothing is sweeter then loue nothing stronger nothing higher nothing more ample nothing more pleasant nothing fuller nor better in heauen or in earth for that loue hath his beginning from God and cannot rest but in God aboue all creatures 4. He that loueth flyeth runneth and reioyceth he is free and not held in He giueth all for all hath all in all for that he resteth in one Highest aboue all from which all good floweth and proceedeth He respecteth not the guifts but turneth himselfe aboue all goods vnto the giuer Loue oftentimes knoweth no measure but inflameth aboue all measure Loue feeleth no burthen waieth no paines desireth aboue it strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawfull and possible It is therfore able to vndertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to effect wheras he that doth not loue fainteth and can do nothing 5. Loue alwaies watcheth Rom. 8. and sleeping sleepeth not being wearied is not tyred straitned is not pressed frighted is not troubled but like a liuely flame and burning torch breaketh vpwards and passeth through all with great security If any one loueth he knoweth what this voice crieth A lowd cry in the eares of God is the burning loue of the soule which sayth My God my loue thou art wholy mine and I wholy thine 6. Enlarge me in loue that my hart may tast how sweet it is to loue and to be dissolued and swimme in thy loue Let me be possessed by loue mounting aboue my selfe with excessiue feruour and admiration Let me sing the song of loue let me follow thee on high my beloued let my soule faint in thy praises reioycing with loue Let me loue thee more then my selfe and not my selfe but for thee and all in thee that truly loue thee as the law of loue commandeth which shineth in thee 7. Loue is swift 1. Cor. 13. sincere pious sweet and delightfull strong patient faithfull prudent suffering full of courage and neuer seeking it selfe 1. Cor. 10. For where one seeketh himselfe there he falleth from loue Loue is circumspect Ps 2. humble and vpright not remisse not mutable nor attending vnto vaine things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in all the senses Loue is subiect and obedient to Superiours meane and abiect to it selfe deuout and thankefull vnto God trusting and hoping alwaies in him euen then when God imparteth no sweetnes vnto it for without sorrow none liueth in loue 8. He that is not ready to suffer all things and stand to the will of his beloued is not worthy to be called a louer A louer ought to imbrace willingly all that is hard and distastfull for his beloued Rom. 8. and not to turne away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP. VI.
Of the proofe of a true Louer SONNE †Our Lord. thou art not yet a strong prudent louer Wherfore * The Seruant Lord Because †Our Lord. thou giuest ouer for a small aduersity and too earnestly seekest comfort A constāt louer standeth firmely in temptations giueth not credit to the crafty persuasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity Phil. 4. so I am not vnpleasant to him in aduersity 2. A prudent louer considereth not so much the guift of his louer as the loue of the giuer He rather esteemeth the good will then the value and placeth all guifts vnder his beloued A noble louer resteth not in the gift but in me aboue any gift All therfore is not left if somtimes thou hast lesse tast of me and my Saints then thou wouldest That good and sweet desire which thou somtimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certaine tast of the heauenly Country wheron thou must not rely too much for it goeth and commeth But to fight against euill motions of the mind which may happen vnto thee Matt. 4. and to despise the suggestion of the diuell is a signe of vertue and great merit 3. Let not therfore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoeuer trouble thee Retaine a firme purpose and an vpright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddainly rapt on high and presently returnest againe vnto the accustomed vanities of thy hart For thou dost rather vnwillingly suffer them then commit them and as long as they displease thee thou striuest against them it is a merit and no losse 4. Know that thy ancient enemy doth euer striue to hinder thy desire to good and to diuert thee from all deuout exercise to wit frō the worshiping of Saints from the deuout memory of my passion frō the profitable remembrance of thy sinnes from the guard of thine own hart and from the firme purpose of profiting in vertue He thrusteth many euill thoughts into thy mind that he may cause a wearisomnes horrour in thee to draw thee from deuout prayer and reading Humble cofession is displeasing vnto him and if he could he would cause thee to cease from receauing the Sacrament of my Body Trust him not nor care for him although he should often set snares of deceipt to intrap thee Charge him with it when he suggesteth euill and vncleane thoughts vnto thee Say vnto him Auant filthy spirit blush miserable wretch thou art filthy that bringest such things into myne eares Matt. 4. 16. A way from me wicked deceauer thou shalt haue no part in me but Iesus shal be with me as a strong warriour and thou shalt remayne confoūded I had rather dye and vndergo any torment then to consent vnto thee Hould thy peace and be silent I will heare thee no more though thou shouldest worke me many troubles My Lord is my light and saluation Ps 26. whom shall I feare If whole armies should stand togeather against me my hart shall not feare Our Lord is my helper and my Redeemer 5. Fight like a good souldiar Ps 26. 1. Tim. 6. and if thou sometimes fall through frailety recouer greater forces then before trusting in my more aboundant grace and take great heed of vaine pleasing of thy selfe and pride This brings many into errour and makes them sometimes fall into almost incurable blindnes Let the fall of the proud foolishly presuming of themseues serue thee for a warning and a perpetuall humiliation CHAP. VII That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility SONNE †Our Lord. it is more profitable safe for thee to hide the grace of deuotion not to extoll thy selfe nor to speake much nor to esteeme much therof but rather to despise thy selfe and feare it as giuen to one vnworthy therof This affection is not to be cleaued vnto which may be quickly changed into the contrary Thinke when thou art in grace how miserable and needy thou art wont to be without it Neither doth therin only consist the profit of spirituall life when thou hast the grace of comfort but when thou humbly resignedly and patiently sufferest the withdrawing therof so that thou be not then lesse diligent in the exercise of prayer nor suffer thy selfe to passe ouer the rest of thy accustomed good works but that thou willingly performe what lieth in thee according as thou art able vnderstandest to be fit not neglecting thyself wholy for the drinesse and trouble of mind which thou feelest 2. There are many that when it succeedeth not well with them presently they become impatient or slouthful Hierem. 10. Rom. 9. The way of man is not alwaies in his power but it belongeth to God to giue and to comfort when he will how much he will whome he will as it shall please him and no more Some vnaduised persons haue ouerthrowne themselues for the greedy desire which they had of the grace of deuotion attempting more then they were able to performe not waighing the measure of their weaknes but following rather the desire of their hart then the iudgment of reason And because they presumed on greater matters then was pleasing to God they quickly lost their grace Esa 14. They were made needy and left in a deiected estate that built themselues nestes in heauen to the end that being humbled and impouerished they may learne not to fly with their owne wings but to liue in hope vnder my fethers They that are yet new and vnacquainted in the way of our Lord vnles they gouerne themselues by the counsaile of discreet persons may easily be deceaued and ouer throwne 3. And if they will rather follow their owne iudgment then giue credit to others that are experienced their end will be dangerous if they cannot be drawne from their owne conceipt Seldome those that are wise in their owne opinion suffer themselues humbly to be gouerned by others Psal 15. 16. A little knowledg with humility and a slender vnderstanding is better then great treasures of learning with a vaine selfe-liking It is better for thee to haue lesse then much of that wherof thou maist be proud He doth not discreetly that wholy giueth himself ouer to mirth forgetting his former pouerty and the chast feare of God which feareth to loose the grace which he hath obteyned Neither is he vertuously wise that in time of aduersity or any tribulation whatsoeuer yeildeth to despairing thoughts and thinketh and imagineth of me lesse confidently then he ought 4. He that will be ouer secure in time of peace 1. Thess 5. shall be often found in time of warre too deiected and fearfull If thou couldest alwaies continue humble and lowly within thy selfe and temper gouerne thy soule well thou shouldest not so soone fall into danger and offence It is good counsell that when thou conceauest feruour of spirit thou shouldest thinke what
will become of thee when that light shal leaue thee Iob. 17. And when that doth happen remember the light may returne againe which for thy instruction and my glory I haue withdrawne for a time 5. Such proofe is often more profitable then if thou shouldest alwaies enioy prosperity according to thy desire For merits are not to be waighed in a man by the number of visions and comforts which he hath or by his knowledg in Scriptures or by his being placed in high degree but in that he is grounded in true humility and replenished with diuine charity if he alwaies purely entirely seeke the honour of God if he esteeme himselfe nothing and with a sincere hart despise himselfe and reioyce more to be despised and humbled by others Ps 83. then to be honoured CHAP. VIII Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God SHAL * The Seruant I speake vnto my Lord sith I am dust and ashes If I esteeme better of my selfe behould thou staÌ„dest against me Gen. 18. and my iniquities beare true witnes neither can I speake against it But if I abase and esteeme nothing of my selfe cast of all selfe-conceipt and as I am accompt my selfe to be dust thy grace will be fauourable vnto me and thy light will be neere vnto my hart and all estimation how little soeuer shal be swallowed vp in the depth of my nothing and perish euerlastingly There thou shewest my selfe vnto me what I am what I haue byn and whither I am come for alas I am nothing and I knew it not And if I be left to my selfe behould I become nothing a masse of infirmity But if thou suddainly looke vpon me I am presently made strong and filled with new ioy And it is a great meruaile that I am so suddainly lifted vp and so graciously imbraced by thee that of myne owne waight alwaies sinke downward 2. Thy loue is cause heereof freely preuenting me and releeuing me in so many necessities preseruing me also from grieuous dangers and as I may truely say deliuering me from innumerable euills For surely by euill louing my selfe Ioan. 12. I lost my selfe and by seeking thee alone sincerly louing thee I haue found both my selfe and thee and for thy loue haue more deeply brought my selfe to nothing For that thou o most sweet Iesu dealest with me aboue all desert and aboue all that I dare hope and request 3. Blessed be thou my God for although I be vnworthy of all good yet the noblenes of thy bounty and thy infinite goodnes neuer ceaseth to do good euen to the vngratefull Matt. 5. and to them that be turned away far froÌ„ thee Turne vs vnto thee o Lord that we may be gratefull humble and deuout for thou art our safety our power and our strength CHAP. IX That all things are to be reserred vnto God as vnto the last end SONNE †Our Lord. I ought to be thy chiefest and last end if thou desire to betruly blessed With this intention thy affection shall be purified which is oftentimes inclined inordinatly to it selfe and vnto creatures For if in any thing thou seeke thy selfe thou presently faintest and driest vp within thy self Direct therfore all thinges chiefly vnto me for I am he that haue giuen all Eccles 1. Consider euery thing as flowing from the highest good and therfore all things are to be reduced vnto me as vnto their first beginning 2. Out of me as out of liuing fountaines the litle and the great the poore the rich Ioan. 4. do draw the water of life and they that willingly and freely serue me shall receaue grace for grace 1. Cor. 1. But he that will glory out of me or be delighted in any particuler good shall not be grounded in true ioy nor enlarged in his hart but shall be many waies hindred and straitned Thou oughtest therfore to ascribe no good vnto thy selfe nor attribute the praise of vertue vnto any man but giue all vnto God without whome man hath nothing I haue bestowed all 1. Cor. 4. and will that all be returned to me againe and with great seuerity I require thanks 3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vaine-glory And if heauenly grace and true charity enter in there shall be no enuy nor grudging of hart neither shall there be any place for selfe loue For diuine charity ouercommeth all enlargeth all the forces of the soule If thou vnderstand aright in me alone thou wilt reioyce in me alone thou wilt hope for none is good Matt. 19. Luc. 18. but God alone who is to be praised aboue all things and to be blessed in all CHAP. X. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God NOVV * The Seruant I will speake againe Lord and will not be silent I will say in the eares of my God my Lord and my King that is on high O how great is the multitude of thy sweetnes Lord Ps 30. which thou hast hidden for those that feare thee But what art thou to them that loue thee What to them that serue thee with their whole hart Truely vnspeakable is the sweetnes of thy conteÌ„plation which thou bestowest on them that loue thee Gen. 1. In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetnes of thy charity Ps 118. Matt. 15. for that when I was not thou madest me and when I went astray far off from thee thou broughtest me back againe that I might serue thee and hast commanded me to loue thee 2. O fountaine of euerlasting loue what shall I say of thee How can I forget thee that hast vouchsafed to remember me euen when I withered away and perished Thou hast vsed mercy with thy seruant beyond all the expectation of my hart and hast bestowed thy grace and friendship beyond all merit What shall I returne vnto thee for this grace Psal 115. For it is not graunted to euery one to forsake all things to renouÌ„ce the world and to vndertake a life of religion and perfection Is it much that I serue thee whome all creatures are bound to serue It ought not to seeme much vnto me to serue thee Iudic. 16. but this rather seemeth much and meruailous vnto me that thou vouchsafest to receaue into thy seruice one so poore and vnworthy to ioyne him with thy beloued seruants 3. Behould all is thine which I haue 1. Cor. 4. and wherby I serue thee And yet in very deed thou rather seruest me then I thee Behould heauen earth which thou hast created for the seruice of man are ready at hand and do daily performe whatsoeuer thou dost command and this is little Ps 90. Heb â—1 yea thou hast also appointed the Angels to the seruice of man But that which exceedeth all is that thou thy selfe hast vouchsafed to serue man and promised to giue thy selfe vnto him 4 What shall I
of peace and most quiet rest Matt. 6. 2. Lord * The Seruant Matt. 5. this thy short speach containeth much perfection It is little in words but sull in sense and aboundant in fruit For if it could exactly be kept by me then should I not so easily be troubled For as often as I feele my selfe vnquiet afflicted I find that I haue straied from this doctrine But thou that canst all things and euer louest the good and profit of my soule increase in me thy grace that I may fulfill thy words and perfect mine owne health A Prayer against euill thoughts 3. My * The Seruant Ps 70. Lord God be not far from me my God haue regard to helpe me for sundry thoughts haue risen vp against me and great feares afflicting my soule How shall I passe through them without hurt How shall I breake them I saith he †Our Lord. wil go before thee and will humble the glorious of the earth I will open the dores of the prison Esa 45. and reueale vnto thee the hidden secrets Do * The Seruant Lord as thou saiest let all euill thoughts fly from before thy face This is my hope and my only comfort to fly vnto thee in all tribulation to trust in thee to call vpon thee from my hart and to expect patiently thy comfort A Prayer for enlightening of the mind 4. Enlighten * The Seruant me good Iesu with the clearnes of inward light expell all darknes of my hart Represse the many wandring thoughts and beate downe the fury of the rēptations which violently assault me Fight strongly for me and vanquish the euill beasts that is the alluring concupiscences that peace may be made in thy vertue and aboundance of thy praise sound in thy holy Court which is a pure conscience Command the winds and tempests say vnto the sea Matt. 3. Be still and to the north-wind Blow not and a great calme shall ensue 5. Send forth thy light and thy truth Psal 42. that they may shine vpon the earth for I am empty and vnprofitable earth vntill thou impartest thy light vnto me Powre out thy grace from aboue wash my hart with heauenly dew giue waters of denotion to wash the face of the earth to bring forth good and perfect fruit Lift vp my mind ouercharged with the waight of sinne draw vp my whole desire to heauenly treasures that hauing tasted the sweetnes of celestiall happines it may loath to thinke of earthly vanityes 6. Take me violently to thee and deliuer me from all vnstable cōfort of creatures for no created thing can fully quiet satisfie my desire Ioine me vnto thee with an vnspeakable band of loue for thou only fillest the mind of him that loues thee and without thee all things are distastfull CHAP. XXIIII Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others SONNE †Our Lord. Eccls. 3. 1. Tim. 5. be not curious trouble not thy selfe with idle cares What is this or that to thee do thou follow me For what is it to thee whether that man be such or no or whether this man do or speake this or that Ioan. 21. Thou shalt not need to answere for others but shalt giue accompt of thy selfe Gal. 6. Why therfore dost thou trouble thy selfe Behould I know euery one what he is and do see all things that are vnder the sunne and do vnderstand how it is with euery one what he thinketh what he would and at what his intention aymeth All things therfore are to be committed vnto me but do thou keepe thy self in good peace and suffer the vnquiet to do as they will Whatsoeuer they shall haue done or sayd shall fall vpon themselues for they cannot deceaue me 2. Desire not too great fame in this world nor to be knowne to many nor to haue the priuate loue of men for these things breed distractions and cause great darknes of hart I would willingly vtter my words and reueale my secrets vnto thee if thou didest diligently obserue my comming and didest opē the dore of thy hart vnto me Be carefull and watch in prayer and humble thy selfe in all things CHAP. XXV VVherin doth the firme peace of the hart and true profit consist SONNE †Our Lord. I haue sayd Peace I leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the world giueth do I giue to you All do desire peace but all care not for those things that appertaine vnto true peace Ioan. 4 My peace is with the humble meeke of hart Thy peace shall be in much patience If thou wilt heare me and follow my voyce thou maist enioy much peace What * The Seruant then shall I do In †Our Lord. euery thing attend vnto thy self what thou doest what thou sayst and direct thy whole intention vnto this that thou maiest please me alone and desire or seeke nothing out of me Of the sayings and doings of others iudge nothing rashly neither do thou intangle thy selfe with things not cōmitted vnto thee and doing thus it may be thou shalt be little or seldome troubled 2. But neuer to feele any trouble at all nor to suffer any griefe of hart or body is not the state of this life but of euerlasting rest Thinke not therfore that thou hast found true peace if thou feelest no sorrow nor that then all is well if thou haue no aduersary nor that it is perfect if all things be done according to thy desire Neyther do thou then esteeme highly of thy selfe or imagine thy selfe to be especially beloued if thou be in great deuotion and sweetnes for in these things a true louer of vertue is not tried neither doth the profit and perfection of man consist in hauing them 3. Wherin * The Seruant then Lord In †Our Lord. offering thy selfe from the very bottom of thy hart vnto the diuine seruice not seeking thine own interest or commodity neither in great nor little neither in time nor eternity so that with equall countenance thou maist persist in thanksgiuing both in prosperity and in aduersity waighing all things with an equall ballance If thou be of such courage and so patient in hope that when inward comfort is withdrawne from thee thou prepare thy hart to suffer greater matters and not iustify thy selfe as though thou oughtest not to suffer these and so great afflictions but iustify me in whatsoeuer I appoint and praise my holy name then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace and thou shalt haue vndoubted hope to see my face againe with great ioy And if thou attaine to the full contempt of thy selfe then shalt thou enioy as great aboundance of peace as thy banishment may permit CHAP. XXVI Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer better deserueth then reading LORD * The Seruant it is the worke of a perfect man neuer to slack his mind from