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

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In the same book against our wills that now men are become worse and more irreligious more ingrate more vnfaithful more shamelesse and that greater wickednesse and sinnes cannot bee found in the whole world no not amongst the Turkes truly or the Iewes or Pagans then in those places where the worde of the Lord of Protestants is most diligently preached Againe I am compelled to say because Musculus in Prophetia Christi it is true that there are not to bee found no not among the heathen Iewes or Turkes men more selfe-willed in whose mindes the sparkes of all vertues are extinct and amongst whome sinne is accounted nothing then amongst the professors of the Gospell of Protestants amongst whome the Deuill altogether loosed from his chaynes and in free libertie doth florish And that I may in few words tell all it is euen so and this is the estate of vs Lutherans that if any be desirous to see a great multitude of Knaues Athists Vsurers and Coseners hee must goe to some Citty where the Gospell of Protestants is preached and there he shall finde of this sorte of men by multitudes and repeating almost the same wordes in another place he saith The case standeth thus with vs Lutherans that if any bee Musculus Domi. 1 Aduentus desirous to see a great table of Knaues of persons turbulent deceitfull coseners vsurers let him go to any Citty where the Gospell is purely Preached and he shall finde them there by multitudes for it is more manifest then the day light that there were neuer among the Ethnicks Turkes and other Infidels more vnbridled and vnruely persons with whome all vertue and honestie is quite extinct then are among the professors of the Gospel And Iacobus Andreas another Protestant saith The other part and multitude Andreas adu 11. Luc. of Germans doe giue libertie indeede to the Preaching of the worde But there is not perceiued an amendment of manners amongst them but horrible Epicurisme beastly life is seene amongst them in their conuersations compositions of body desires c. In stead of fasting they attend wholly to feastings and drinkings night and day And Melancton a Protestant saith The thing it selfe doth speake Ad cap 6. Math. that in these Countries where the Protestant Gospell was preached almost all their studies are imployed in sumptuous preparations for banquets drunkennesse and exceeding great cuppes c. Such barbarousnes is in the people that the most part perswade themselues if they should fast one day the night following they should dye So these Protestants of the fruites of their owne Doctrine Of the comming of these Epicures Libertines and loose liuers three of the Apostles prophecied saying In the last daies 1 Tim. 3. 1. shall approch perilous times and men shal be louers of thēselues Couetous Haughtie Proude Blasphemous not obedient to their Parents vnkinde wicked without affection without peace accusers incontinent vnmerciful with out benignity Traytors stubborne puffed vp and louers of voluptuousnes more then of God hauing an apparance indeed of pietie euery one his Bible but denying the vertue thereof the keeping of the Law Againe In the last dayes shal come mockers in deceit walking 2 Pet. 3. 3 according to their owne concupicenses Againe my dearest bee mindefull of the Iud. 1. wordes which haue been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ who told you that in the last times shall come mockers according to their owne desires walking in impietie These are they which seperate them selues Sensuall hauing not the Spirit of God whose fruits are Charitie Ioy Peace Patience Gal. 5. 22 Benignitie Longanimitie Goodnes Mildenes Faith Modestie Continencie Chastitie but the Spirit of the Deuill and Flesh whose workes are Fornicatiō vncleannes wantonnes Gal. 5. leacherie seruing of Idols Witchcraft enmities Contentions emulations angers brawles dissention Sects enuyes murders drunkennesse banquettings and such like forbidden workes by the Commandements of God For the discouering of whose deceits out of loue to my Countrey and desire to gaine some who out of ignorance are fallen into these follyes and deceitfull contentments in Carnall liberty and sensuall life I haue written this our Second part of Ease and Rest to shew vnto them the meanes how to attaine vnto true Ioy of minde and Content of heart and suppresse these base desires which are common to men with Beastes that all euills Contentions Strifes Suites in Law the lamentable Ciuill warres of this Land being taken away and true goods and pleasures ingrafted in their places Without feare being deliuered out of the handes of Luc. 1. 74 our enemies wee may serue God in Holines and Iustice Isay 32. 17. before him all our dayes And the workes of iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of iustice Silence and securitie for euer And my people saith God shall sit in the beauty of Peace and in the tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie rest According as it was promised to true Christians by the Prophets in both Testaments saying There shall arise Psal 71. 7 Rom. 14. 16. in his dayes Iustice and aboundance of peace vntill the Moone bee taken away for the Kingdome of God vpon earth is not saith St. Paul meate and drinke but Iustice and Peace and Ioy in the holy Ghost according to the wordes of our Sauiour saying Peace I leaue to you Iohn 14. 27. my peace I giue you not as the world giueth doe I giue to you Not such a Peace or Content as the world giueth to her fauorites doth our Sauiour giue vnto his followers but ●uch a Peace and Content as is ●ithout trouble and seruile ●eare as followeth immediately in his wor●es saying Let not your hearts bee troubled or Luc. 1. 74 feare Without feare saith the Prophet Zacharie deliuered from the handes of our enemies we may serue him in holines and iustice all our dayes This is the Ease Rest and Peace which euery where is promised to Christians the followers of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST a peace or content without seruile feare or trouble not as the world giueth peace doth our Sauiour giue peace and Content The peace which the world giueth to worldlings is a feeding of their inordinate Concupiscenses and carnall desires with a Carnall and Sensuall delight mixt with seruile feares Ielousies and troubles The peace and content which our Sauiour doth giue vnto his followers is a peace without seruile feare Iealousie or trouble A Peace which as the holy Ghost saith passeth all vnderstanding A Peace Rest Repose Phil 4. 7. and Content to their bodyes by bringing their passions appetites and carnall affections vnder the obedience of right reason that they may liue in Corporall peace and rest and keepe their bodyes free from seruile slauerie and vile subiection to their inordinate passions which are vnreasonable Masters Peace to their hartes and soules by possessing all good Peace with God by louing him
Againe Rom. 3. 29. Is he God of the Iewes only Is he not also of the Gentiles for it is one God that iustifieth Circumcision by faith and Prepuce by faith Doe we then destroy the Law by faith God forbid but we do establish the Law by denying Iustification by Faith onely without Workes and Iustification by Workes onely without Faith in Christ Iesus he established the Law and the Prophets The same Law-giuer Moyses and the same Law which telleth vs that we ought to obserue it the same also telleth vs that we ought to beleeue Deu. 18. 13. in Christ Iesus A Prophet Act. 3. ●● sayth Moyses shall the Lord your God raise vp to you of your brethren as my selfe And Deu. 18. ●5 it shall be euery soule that shall not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed out of the people So the Apostle by denying Iustification by Workes of the Law onely without Faith in this Prophet our Sauiour and by denying Iustification by faith onely without obseruing the Law saying Not the hearers of Rom. 8. 13. the Law are iust with God but the doers of the Law shall be iustified establisheth the whole Law Faith in Christ and keeping the Commandements of God And for the vnderstanding of many places of S. Paul thou must obserue that the Faith which Saint Paul speaketh of when he saith that we are iustified by faith is a Faith that worketh by Charitie a Faith rooted Gal. 5. 6. and founded in Charitie Eph. 3. 18. So likewise when our Lord promiseth saluation by faith saying He that beleeueth in me Io. 21. 26. shall liue c. He meaneth such a faith as is rooted and founded in Charitie Faith without Charitie being but a dead faith deserueth not the name of faith no more then a dead man deserueth the name of a man As it is an error in speech to discourse of men without addition and meane dead men so it should be an error in speech to speake and discourse of faith without addition and meane a dead faith vvhich serueth those who haue it for nothing else but encrease of eternall Torments According to the Testimonie of our Lord who sayth Hee Luc. 12. 47. that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes Faith Ia. 2. 17. if it haue not Workes is as dead in it selfe Without Loue Aug. in Ioan. trea 10. sayth S. Augustine Faith is vaine the Faith of Christians is with Loue the Faith of Deuils without Loue. Againe If neglecting De Fide et Operib c. 1● tom 4. the Commaundements we might be saued by onely Faith which without Workes is dead how should it be true which he wil say to them whom he shall place on his left hand Goe ye into eternall fire which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels neither doth he find fault with them for that they did not beleeue in him but because they did not good Workes c. So they shall goe into euerlasting combustion there shall be an euerlasting combustion as of Fire and they shall goe into it saith Truth whose not Faith but good Workes he hath declared to be wanting So Saint Augustine Whereby is manifest that Faith is necessarie to Content and Happinesse but not Faith only CHAP. V. That Man cannot be content and happie without embracing and beleeuing the Faith which was planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ the Sonne of God HAuing found out that Faith is necessarie to Mans Content and Happinesse and excluded the Faiths of all sorts of Protestants who defend Iustification by Faith only from euer finding any true Content or Happinesse it followeth to seeke out what Faith is necessarie to Mans Happinesse that we may embrace it and be happie First That it is the faith vvhich vvas planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is manifest to reason for that the Faith which our Lord planted teacheth vs many Truths Secrets and Mysteries which to the greatest Philosophers were not knowne neither in any other Doctrine can or may they be learned as of the Trinitie the Creation and Redemption of the World the Communion of Saints the Forgiuenesse of Sinnes the Resurrection of the Dead the Life to come and many things more of the greatest content and comfort that can be to the heart of Man which were not made known vnto the World but by the Sonne of God our Sauior that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets saying The Orient from on high Luc. 1. 78. hath visited vs to illuminate them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feet in the way of peace Againe The Land of Zabulon and Land Mat. 4. 16. of Nephtali the way of the Sea beyond Iordan of Galilee of the Gentiles the people that sat in darknesse hath seene great Light and to them that sat in a Country of the shadow of Death Light is risen to them By knowing Truths Verities before the comming of our Sauiour not knowne vnto the World Secondly It is manifest by the Scriptures that the Faith which conducteth vs to Happinesse is the Faith which was planted by our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ for that when the Scriptures say that we are iustified by faith they intend the Faith planted by our Sauior as Iustifying him Rom. 3. 26. that is of the faith of Iesus Christ Againe We also beleeue in Iesus Gal. 2. Christ that we may he iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ Againe Gal. 3. 23. The Scriptures haue concluded all things vnder sinne that the Promise hy faith of Iesus Christ might be giuen Whereby is manifest that none can be truely content or happie who doe not beleeue and embrace the Faith planted vpon Earth by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Sonne of God Wherefore it is necessarie that we seeke it out that thou mayest embrace it and lay a sure foundation of thy happinesse which I will doe in the three next ensuing Chapters CHAP. VI. That our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour vpon Earth is proued by the light of Reason in generall FIrst by reason taken from the vnitie of our Catholike Faith that people of all Nations Tribes and Countries differing in Languages and Gouernment dispersed ouer the whole Earth should all beleeue as one and one as all and all with one voice and in one sense and signification professe one and the same Articles of Faith and those of so deepe vnderstanding high mysteries and secrets as in particular the reason of Man is not able to reach or comprehend is a sufficient demonstration to anie reasonable Man that our Catholike Faith is the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ For as God Almightie is so must his Faith and Religion be God Almightie as Aristotle
Doe good and lend hoping for nothing thereby and your reward shall be much and you shall be the Sonnes of the Highest because himselfe is beneficiall vpon the vnkinde and the euill Be ye therefore mercifull as also your Father is mercifull that thereby you may be happy according to the words of our Lord saying Blessed are the mercifull for Mat. 5. they shall receiue mercie OF THE SIXT FRVIT of the Holy Ghost which is Goodnesse THe sixt fruit is Goodnesse by which they become really and truly good not by Nature but by Grace and communication of the Holy Ghost which produceth in them goodnesse and an abilitie of doing good workes according to the words of our Lord saying Euery good tree Mat. 7. 18. yieldeth good fruits and by their fruits you shall know them Againe He that abideth in me Ioh. 25. 5. and I in him the same beareth much fruit for without me you can do nothing If any abide not in me he shall be cast forth as the branch and shall wither and they the Angels at the day of Iudgement shall gather them vp and cast them into the fire Whereupon S. Paul saith Rom. 11. 22 See the goodnesse and seueritie of God! vpon them surely that are fallen the seuerity but vpon thee the goodnesse of God if thou abide in goodnesse otherwise thou also shall be cut off Againe You were 1. Cor. 6. 21. Fornicators seruers of Idols Adulterers c. but you are Washed but you are Sanctified but you are Iustified in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God because Ioh. 14. 17. he shall abide with you and be in you by whose communication they shall be renewed as S. Paul saith in the Spirit of Eph. 4. 24. their mindes and put on the New Man which according to God is created in Iustice and holinesse of Truth wherby they become truly and really good holy and iust And the excellencie of this fruit is manifest by the words of our Lord where he saith The houre commeth wherein Ioh 5. 28. all that are in the Graues shall heare the voice of the Sonne of Man and they that haue done good things shall come forth to the Resurrection of life But they that haue done euill into the Resurrection of Iudgement And by the words of S. Paul saying Tribulation and anguish vpon euery Soule Rom. 2 ● of man that worketh euill But glorie and honour and peace to euery one that worketh good Doe then good workes Reader that thou mayest attaine vnto true Glorie Honour and Peace which I wish vnto thee OF THE SEVENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Perseuerance THe seuenth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in their Soules who loue him is Persouerance a firme and constant purpose to persist in louing God Almightie with all their Hearts and their Neighbours for God as themselues for euer It is not inough to begin to doe well but to perseuere all the daies of their life in doing good to euery one for many haue begun good courses but for want of perseuerance haue perished Many false Prophets Mat. 24. shall arise and shall seduce many and because Iniquitie shall abound the Charitie of many shall waxe cold But he that shall perseuer vnto the end in a pure Heart a good Conscience and Faith vnfained shall be saued And he that shall ouercome Apoc. 2. 26. sinne and keepe my workes vnto the end I will giue him power ouer the Nations and he shall rule them with a rodde of Iron and as the vessell of a Petter shall they be broken as I also haue receiued of my Father and I will giue him the Morning Starre He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches He that shall ouer-come shall Apoc. 3. 5. be vested in white garments and I will not put his name out of the Booke of Life and I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches OF THE EIGHT fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Mildnesse or Meekenesse THe eight fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is as Saint Augustine calleth it a Couragious Tract 8. in Ioan. meekenesse or mildnesse which doth moderate the passion of anger and direct them to doe good with mildnesse and zeale as of our Sauiour it is said Behold my Seruant Isa ●● 1. whom I haue chosen my beloued in whom my Soule hath well liked I will put my Spirit vpon him He shall not contend nor cry out neither shall any heare in the Streetes his voice The reede bruised he shall not Mat. 12. ●8 breake and smoaking flaxe he shall not extinguish till he cast forth iudgement vnto victorie Yet when he found in the Temple Ioh. 2. 14. them that sold Oxen and Sheepe and Doues and Bankers sitting he made as it were a whip of little C●rdes and cast them al out of the Temple the Sheepe also and the Oxen and the money of the Bankers he poured out and the Table he ouerthrew to the fulfilling of the Prophecie which said The zeale of thy House Ps 68 10. hath eaten me In like manner our Sauiour saith vnto his Seruants Vnlesse Mat. 18. 3. you be conuerted and become as little Children you shal not enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Whosoeuer therefore shall humble himselfe as this little Childe which sate in the midst of them he is the grea●●● in the Kingdome of Heauen and yet saith That Mat. 10. 27. which I speake to you in the Darke speake ye in the Light and that which ye heare in the eare Preach ye vpon the house tops And feare ye not them that kill the Bodie and are not able to hurt the Soule Who are as the Prophet saith Ps 51. Mightie in iniquitie and loue malice rather then benignitie iniquitie rather then to speake equitie But the wayes of Peace the assents to Sion the paths to Ierusalem they haue not knowne videlicet Learne of me for I am meeke Mat. 11. 2● and humble of heart and you shall finde Rest Because God 1. Pet. 5. resisteth the proud and to the humble hee giueth Grace to finde the assents to Ease and Rest from the wise and prudent in their owne conceits our Lord hath hid them saith our Sauiour and reuealed them to little ones for he Mat. 11. 25. that exalteth himselfe shall be humbled with tribulation and anguish and paines and hee that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted to Ease Content and Rest as S. Peter witnesseth saying Be yee 1 Pet. 5. 6. humble therefore vnder the mightie hand of God that he may exalt you in the time of Visitation into the Ioy of our Mat. 25. 21. Lord which God graunt thee Reader OF THE NINTH fruit of the
Holy Ghost which is Faith THe ninth fruit is Faith not such a Faith as is in Heretikes and Deuils who haue their spirits so full of malice and iniquitie that they thinke it impossible to loue God Almightie with all their Hearts But a Faith in their Hearts rooted Eph. 4. 17. and founded in Charitie that they may be filled vnto all the fulnesse of God and be now no Eph. 3. 19. more Strangers and Forrainers but Citizens of the Saints and the Domesticals of God treating with him in their Soules by Faith that worketh Gal. 5 6. by Charitie A Faith planted in a good Luk 8 15 and very good Heart which hearing the Word doth retaine it and yield fruit in Patience Mat 13 29 some an hundreth fold and other threescore and another thirtie A Faith Light of the World Mat 5 15 shining before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heauen A Faith dilated all ouer the World Teach ye all Nations Mat. 28 19. And they going forth Mar. 16. 20. preached euery where Into Rom. 16. 18. al the Earth hath the sound of them gone forth and vnto the end of the whole World the words of them In the Col. 1. 6. whole World it is and fructifieth and groweth A Faith Wherein God meaning more abundantly to shew the Heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell he interposed an Oath because he had none greater by whom he might sweare he sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and Multiplying shall Multiply thee that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye we may haue a most strong comfort who haue fled to hold fast the hope proposed in our Faith The Faith of Iesus Christ Gal. 3. 22. giuen to them that beleeue The Iustice of God by Faith Rom. 3. 22. 31 of Iesus Christ whereby we doe not destroy the Law but establish the Law according to the words of our Sauiour saying Doe not thinke that Mat. 5. 18. I came to breake the Law or the Prophets I came not to breake but to fulfill A Faith which whosoeuer beleeueth and doth according to that which he beleeueth As the Scriptures say out of his belly shall flow Ioh. 7. 38. Riuers of liuing water And Isa 12. 3. he shall draw waters in ioy out of the Fountaines of our Sauiour and be inebriated with Psa 35. 9. the plentie of the house of God and with the torrent of his pleasure be made drunke OF THE TENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Modestie THe tenth fruit which the Holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Modestie which is a decencie or honest temperature of the motions of the Minde and Bodie by helpe whereof they alwaies square their actions to a beseeming comlinesse pleasing in the sight of God whom they know to be present So S. Paul exhorting the Ephesians saith All naughtie Eph 4 29. speech let it not proceede out of your mouth but if there be any good to the edifying of Faith that it may giue grace to the hearers And contristate not the holy Spirit of God in which you are signed vnto the day of Redemption And againe to Timothie The Seruant of our Lord must 2. Tim. 2 24. not wrangle but be milde towards all men apt to teach patient with modestie admonishing them that resist the Truth Heretikes and Schismatikes least sometime God giue them Repentance to know the Truth and they recouer themselues from the snares of the Deuill of whom they are hold captiue at his will Againe Let your modestie Phil. 4. 5. be knowne to all men our Lord is nigh Whereupon S. Augustine saith He made Conf. li. 4. ca. 12. these things and is not farre off from them for he did not make them and then goe his waies but of him and in Act. 17. 28. him they are for in him we liue and moue and be And by these meanes they grow and increase dayly in Pietie and tender affection towards God Almightie and liue without any iust cause of reprehension amongst men excelling in ciuilitie and decent behauiour though Modestie is practised in all actions yet it is chiefly noted in the eyes insomuch as of the Foole it is said The eyes of Pro. 17. 24. a Foole are in the end of the Earth gazing after euery thing But the eies of the Eph. 4. 15. Wise are in his Head looking vpon our Lord who is our Head and there so content that he little careth or desireth to see any thing else more then necessitie requireth So the Prophet Dauid saith To thee haue I lifted vp mine Ps 122. eyes which dwelleth in the Heauens Behold as the eyes of Seruants are to the hand of their Master as the eyes of the Hand-maid on the hands of her Mistres so our eies to our Lord God Againe I foresaw our Lord in my sight alwaies because Ps 15. 8. he is at my right hand that I be not moued for this thing my heart hath beene glad and my tongue hath reioiced moreouer also my flesh shall rest in hope OF THE ELEVENTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Continencie THe eleuenth fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the Hearts of those who loue him is Continencie which is a vertue by which mē liuing amongst the occasions of vsing lawfull sensuall pleasures to get the victorie and conquest ouer their carnall appetites do abstaine from them that by denying to themselues hings which many times be lawfull or indifferent they may easily attaine vnto grace and force to ouercome and suppresse their vnlawfull Desires thereby to bring their passions and inordinate affections to a subordination vnder the obedience of right reason and so liue in great libertie of Spirit and latitude of Minde free from consenting to base Desires Wherefore S. Paul saith in the same Chapter That against such there is no Law and addeth the reason for that they haue crucified their Flesh with the vices and concupiscences Continencie in generall consisting in the acts of Abstinence and Mortification doth crucifie or make dead the inordinate desires of the Flesh That the iustification Rom. 8. of the Law might be fulfilled in vs who walke not according to the Flesh but according to the Spirit For they that are according to the flesh are affected to the things that are of the flesh as we see by too much experience in carnall Heretikes who professe publikely in Print That they cannot liue chaste But they that are according to the Spirit are affected to the things that are of the Spirit that is to say to Continencie Chastitie Charitie c. For Rom. 8. the Wisdome of the Flesh is death but the Wisedome of the Spirit life and peace Such as liue according to the concupiscences and desires of the
the Prophet told him Fables such like as these that we may be saued and iustified by onely Faith or only Hope but not as the Law of God which teacheth saying Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God from thy whole heart c. Fourthly It esteemeth them to be malignant people who out of their malice would fraudulently conduct others into Hell and Torments saying Depart from me ye malignant V. 115. and I will search the Commandements of my God which consist in Loue and not in onely Faith or onely Hope If I should haue saith Saint 1. Cor. 13. 2. Paul Prophecie and know all Misteries and all Knowledge and I should haue all Faith so that I could remoue Mountaines and haue not Charitie I am nothing and if I should distribute all my goods for meat for the poore and if I should deliuer my bodie so that I burne and haue not Charitie it doth profit me nothing If wee will beleeue Saint Paul neither Prophecies nor Science nor Knowledge nor Faith nor Almes-deeds nor Martyrdome for the Religion any one professeth is sufficient to the attayning vnto Happinesse without Charitie and so he concludeth saying Now these remaine Faith Hope and Charitie these three but the greater of these is Charitie according to the words of our Lord where he saith He that shall breake one of M●● ● 20. these least Commandements and shall so teach men shall be called the least in the Kingdome of Heauen But he that shall doe and teach he shall be called great in the Kingdome of Heauen So our Sauiour saith I tell Mat. 5. 21. you that vnlesse your iustice abound more then that of the Scribes Pharises you shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Yet the Scribes and Pharises had Faith as witnesseth our Sauiour saying Vpon the Mat. 23. 2. Chaire of Moyses haue sitten the Scribes and Pharises All things therefore whatsoeuer they shall say vnto you obserue yee and doe yee Whereby is manifest that the Scribes preached faithfull and true Doctrine otherwise our Sauiour would not haue wished their Auditors to obserue and doe whatsoeuer they said But they wanted Charitie in themselues to doe good Workes and keepe the Law as witnesseth our Sauiour saying But according Mat. 23. ● to their workes doe yee not for they say and doe not and so for want of Charitie or loue towards God they shall not as our Sauiour sayth enter into the Kingdome of Heauen or euer enioy Rest or Happinesse but endlesse Paines Againe our Sauiour sayth If God were your Father verily Io. 8. 42. you would loue me for from God I proceed Whereby our Sauiour giueth vs to vnderstand that such as doe not loue God with all their hearts according to the Commaundement haue not God for their Father and are not the sonnes of God but of the Deuill As in another place he sayth You are of your Father the Deuill and the desires Io. 8. 43. of your Father you will doe who though he beleeue that there is a God as S. Iames witnesseth Iam. 2. yet hee doth not loue God with all his heart and keepe his Commandements Whereupon it is written of our Sauiour That for this appeared 1. Io. 3. 8. the Sonne of God that he might dissolue the workes of the Deuill bring men to loue God Almightie vvith all their hearts and winne them to keepe his Law and so saith of the reprobate Iewes I haue Io. 5. 42. knowne you that the loue of God you haue not in you And of the elect Apostles You haue Io. 16. 27. loued me Loue being the fulnesse of the Rom. 13. 19. Law the want of loue is the worke of the Deuill in the hearts of all the wicked and the loue of God the workes of our Lord in the hearts of the elect Whereupon our Sauiour saith Verily verily I Io. 8. 15. say vnto you if any man keepe my word hee shall not see death for euer and yet againe saith He that loueth me not keepeth not my words So loue God Almightie with all thy heart and thou shalt not see death for euer He that loueth not abideth in Io 3. 14. death dead to Grace in this life and to Glorie in the other By which is manifest that happie life cannot be without the louing of God Almightie with all our hearts Insomuch as if thou haddest Happinesse and Content and yet diddest not loue it with all thy heart thou shouldest not be happie as witnesseth S. Augustine saying He is not De Ciuitat li. 14. ca. 15. happie of whom happie life is not beloued Which thou mayest find true by experience seeing thy selfe and all others to take comfort and content in that which they loue and not in that which they neglect Whereupon S. Paul sayth If any man loue not 1. Cor. 16. 2. our Lord Iesus Christ be he Anathema his bodie cut off from the communion of the Catholike Church vpon earth and his soule excluded from the ioyes of Heauen CHAP. XI How to attaine vnto the loue of God and how to loue his diuine Maiestie with all our hearts SEeing that Diuine Loue or Charitie is necessarie to the Content and Happinesse of Man it is requisite also to set downe the meanes by which thou mayest attaine vnto this Diuine Loue or Charitie that thou mayest be happie Charitie saith S. Paul is 1. Tim. 1. 15. from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained So that the first thing which thou oughtest to doe if thou desire to loue God Almightie with all thy heart is to separate thy selfe for a time from all other affaires and businesses onely to attend vnto the examining of thy Conscience how thou hast spent thy life past and to call to minde all thy cuill thoughts words deeds and vniust actions which haue stayned and made filthie thy heart and soule to confesse them with contrition and sorrow to one of the Pastors of the Church of God to whom God Almightie hath giuen authoritie to forgiue sinnes saying Whose sinnes you shall forgiue Io. 20. 23. they are forgiuen that thy sinnes being forgiuen thou mayest haue a cleane and pure heart fit to receiue Diuine Loue or Charitie and God Almightie will bestow it vpon thee according to his Word saying Returne to me and I Mat 3. 7. will returne to you No bodie putteth new Wine Mat. 9. 17. into old Bottles otherwise the Bottles perish But new Wine they put into new Bottles and both are preserued together So if thou wilt receiue the new Wine of Diuine Loue and Charitie thou must first lay away thy old Conuersation Eph. 4. 22. the old Man which is corrupted according to the desires of Error thy selfe-loue proper iudgement priuate spirit inordinate appetites and passions and by sorrow for thy sinnes and Penance be renued in the spirit of thy mind and put on the new Man
and you that haue no siluer make hast buy and eate come buy without siluer or without any exchange wine and milke why bestow you siluer not for bread Boetius li. 2. Pro. 4. and your labour and not for satietie O mortall men why seeke you for your happinesse abroad which is placed within your selues Hearing heare you me Isa 55. and eate that which is good and your soules shall bee delighted with fatnesse with content vpon Earth and happinesse for all eternitie in Heauen Blessed is the man whose will Ps 1. is in the Law of our Lord and in his Law shall meditate day and night all things whatsoeuer he shall doe shall prosper To them that loue God all Rom. 8. 28. things cooperate vnto good to such as according to purpose are called to bee Saints Loue thou God Almightie with thy whole heart and thy Neighbour for Gods sake as thy selfe and all things will be pleasing all things delightfull all things profitable all things that to thee which thou wouldest desire or wish in Charitie or the loue of God and our Neighbour is satisfied and filled all our affections Charitie Col. 3. 14. is the bond of perfection which comprehendeth in it all other vertues Charitie 1. Cor. 13. 4. is patient is benigne Charitie enuieth not dealeth not peruersly is not puffed vp is not ambitious seeketh not her owne is not prouoked to anger thinketh no euill reioiceth not vpon iniquitie but reioiceth with the truth suffereth all things beleeueth all things Charitie 1. Tim. 4. 8. neuer falleth away is profitable to all things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that to come Whereupon Saint Augustine saith The Apostle Paul Tract 8. in Ioan. initio when against the workes of the flesh hee would commend the fruits of the spirit put Charitie as head saying the fruits of the spirit is Charitie and then putteth the rest in order as rising from this head and bound to it which are Ioy Peace Longanimitie Benignitie Goodnesse Faith Mildnesse Continence Chastitie Which the Saint shewing to be true by experience addeth For who doth well reioice but he who loueth some good wherein he may reioice who hath any true friendship or peace with any but with him whom he sincerely loueth who deth long perseuere in doing good workes vnlesse he be hot in louing who is benigne but he that loueth those whom hee may helpe who is good vnlesse hee bee made by louing who is faithfull to saluation but by that faith which worketh by loue who is courageously meeke but whom loue doth moderate who doth abstaine from that which may make him filthie but hee that loueth something by which hee may be honested Worthily therefore doth our good Master so often commend Loue as though it were onely to be commended without the which other goods can nothing profite vs and which cannot bee had without other goods wherewith a man is to bee made good so Saint Augustine And according to these words of Saint Augustine are the words of Saint Paul saying Circumcision is nothing and Prepuce is nothing 1. Cor. 7. 19. but the obseruation of the Commaundements of God Againe In Christ Iesu neither Gal. 5. 5. Circumcision auaileth ought nor Prepuce but Faith that worketh by Charitie Againe Thes 3. 12. Our Lord multiplie you and make your Charitie abound one towards another and towards all men as we also in you to confirme your hearts without blame in holinesse before God and our Father in the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his Saints Who when hee shall come to Iudgement if wee will beleeue himselfe shall condemne to euerlasting paines all those who wanted Charitie towards their Neighbours and haue broken this Precept Thou shalt loue thy Neighbour as thy selfe Iewes Gentiles and Heretikes who doe not beleeue the Oathes of God and the Faith planted by our Lord are alreadie Ioh. 3. 18. iudged because they doe not beleeue in the Name of the onely Sonne of God And shall arise onely to receiue their finall doome and damnation with such Catholikes as had Faith but wanted Charitie To feede Mat. 25. the hungrie giue drinke to the thirstie harbour the stranger couer the naked visit the sicke c. These for all their faith if we will beleeue the Iudge himselfe shall goe into punishment euerlasting which was prepared for the Diuell and his Angels But the Iust such as feede the hungry giue drinke to the thirstie c. shall goe into life euerlasting according to the Prophecies Our Lord Ps 144. keepeth all that loue him and he will destroy all sinners Whereupon S. Paul sayth That the 1. Tim. 1. 5. end of the Precept is Charitie from a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained From a pure Heart according to the words of our Lord Happie are the cleane of Mat. 5. 8. heart for they shall see God and a good Conscience according to the words of S. Peter With modestie and feare 1. Pet. 3. 15. hauing a good Conscience that in that which they speake euill of you they may be confounded which calumniate your good conuersation in Christ A Faith not fained not such a Faith as Protestants haue who faine that they are assured to be saued without keeping the Commaundements of God when neither the Apostles nor Prophets make any mention of any such thing but a Faith founded vpon the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the Ephe. 2. 20. highest corner Stone A Faith which doth establish the Law Rom. 3. 31. a Faith conioyned to a good Conscience according to the words of S. Paul Hauing Faith 1. Tim. 1. 19. and a good Conscience which certaine repelling haue made shipwracke about the Faith Saint Augustine speaking of this definition of Charitie sayth Charitie is our fruit Tract 8. in Ioan. which the Apostle defineth of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained by this we loue one another by this wee loue God neyther should wee loue one another with true loue but by louing God For euery one doth loue his Neighbour as himselfe if hee loue God for if hee doe not loue God hee doth not loue himselfe Since all Content and Happinesse consisteth in louing of God and all other things for God hee depriueth himselfe of all true good and content who doth not loue God with all his heart as in another place the said Saint further confesseth saying Let vs heare De mo●ib Ecc. Catho O Christ what end or rest of goods thou prescribest vnto vs that is without all controuersie the end or rest to which thou commandest vs to encline vnto with all loue Thou sayest thou shalt loue the Lord thy God from thy whole Mat. 22. 37. heart and with thy whole soule and with thy whole mind Thither we are altogether to tend to
vpon one sinner that doth Penance And againe Luc. 15. 10. I say to you that there shall be ioy before the Angels of God vpon one sinner that doth Penance Neither at this must thou maruell since a soule that loueth God becommeth by his grace so beautifull as that God Almightie taketh her for his Spouse and liueth with her in chaste delights as in his bed-chamber house and home whereof we are to speake in the next Chapters Beautie corporall is a proportion of the members with a certaine sweetnesse of the mixture of colours Beautie spirituall is a portion of vertues with a certaine sweetnesse of diuine splendor which is of such excellencie that it cannot be expressed vnto thee but by changing literall sense of wordes into spirituall so abstract from thy senses that thou mayest in some part vnderstand what the Scriptures say of the Beautie of a soule louing our Lord and keeping his Commaundements vnder these tearmes How beautifull Cant. 4. art thou my Loue how beautifull art thou Thy eyes as it were of Doues besides that which lyeth hid within thee Thy haires as the flockes of Goates which haue commed vp from Mount Galaad Thy teeth as flocks of them that are shorne which haue commed vp from washing all with twinnes and there is not a barren amongst them Thy lippes as a Scarlet Lace and thy Speech sweet as a piece of Pomegranats so are also thy cheekes besides that which lyeth hid within Thy necke is as the Tower of Dauid which is built with Bulwarkes and thousand Targuets hanging on it all the Armour of the valiants Thy low breasts are low Faunes the twinne of a Roe which feedeth among the Lillies Thou art all faire O my Loue and there is not a spot in thee So the Scriptures in expressing the beautie of a Soule endued with Charitie and louing God Almightie with all her heart Whereupon S. Augustine sayth How shall Aug. in epist Ioan. tract 9. we become faire or beautifull but by louing him who alwayes is beautifull As much as the loue of him doth encrease in thee so much doth thy beautie encrease because Charitie is the beautie of the soule And how great happinesse it is to haue this beautie of soule or cleanenesse of heart our Lord himselfe in few words setteth it downe saying Blessed are the cleane of heart for they shall see God For Mat 5. this cause God Almightie was incarnate and suffered death that hee might dissolue sinne and present vs to God immaculate and pure that we might see him and enioy him in seeing and enioying of whom is consummated all our happinesse For this saith S. Iohn 1. Ioh. 3. 8. appeared the sonne of God that hee might dissolue the workes of the Deuill and present vs to God pure and immaculate according to the words of S. Paul saying Whereas you were Col. 1. 21. sometime alienated and enemies in sense in euill works yet now he hath reconciled you in the body of his flesh by death to present you holy and immaculate and blamelesse before him And againe Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hath blessed vs in all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ as he chose vs in him before the constitution of the world that we should be holy and immaculate in his sight in Charitie And yet adding sayth Christ loued the Church and Eph. ● 15. deliuered himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it cleansing it by the Lauer of Water in the Word that hee might present to himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it may be holy and vnspotted So if it be a Content vnto thee to haue and possesse Beautie corporall or cleane Linnen soft Apparrell stately Pallaces rich Gardens which are nothing but a proportion of earthly thinges mixt with varietie of workes or colours how farre greater a Content and Happinesse would it be to thee to haue a pure Heart and Soule a good Conscience and Faith not fained Which the loue of God and keeping his Commaundements would bring thee vnto as affirmeth S. Paul saying The end of the Precept is 1. Tim. 1. 5. Charitie of a pure Heart and a good Conscience and a Faith not fained from the which things certaine straying are turned into vanitie of words desirous to be Doctors of the Law not vnderstanding neither what things they speake nor of what they affirme As wee see by experience in the Solifidians of this Age. And this for the first spirituall Content and Happinesse of such as keepe the Commaundements CHAP. XIX Of the second spirituall Content and Happinesse which such enioy as loue God Almightie with all their hearts and their Neighbours as themselues which is to be beloued of God Almightie WE see by experience that to loue and not to enioy or not to be beloued againe is painefull so hauing put all our Content and Happinesse in louing his Diuine Maiestie with all our hearts and all other things for him if we should not be beloued of his Diuine Maiestie nor enioy him we could not be content or happie So supposing that thou firmely beleeuest that God Almightie is faithfull in all his Promises and cannot lye or deceiue but will performe whatsoeuer hee hath promised if there bee no impediment on thy behalfe it is necessarie to shew vnto thee how hee hath promised to loue such as loue him with all their hearts and to make them his Children Sonnes and Coheires with our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and endue them with his Spirit the holy Ghost his gifts and fruits and maintaine his Oath and Couenant with them which hee spoke to Abraham and his Seed for euer And first for the Promises to loue them that loue him and keepe his Precepts he saith He that hath my Commandements Io. 14. 21. and keepeth them hee it is that loueth me and hee that loueth me shall be beloued of my Father and I will loue him Againe If any man Io. 14. 23. loue me he will keepe my Word and my Father will loue him Againe If you keepe my Precepts Io. 1● 10. you shall abide in my loue as I also haue kept my Fathers Precepts and doe abide in his loue Againe Io. 16. 27. The Father himselfe loueth you because you haue loued mee Againe Hee that keepeth 1. Io. 2. 5. his Word in him in verie deed the Charitie of God is perfited Whereby wee see that God Almightie cannot but loue those who loue him with all their hearts and heereupon ariseth all these amorous tearmes of chast loue betwixt God Almightie and a soule that loueth him so often spoken of in the Scriptures and repeated in the workes and writings of the Fathers as Spouse and Espouse Kisse me with the kisse of his mouth my loue my beloued my beautifull one How beautifull art thou my loue my sister Spouse most beautifull