alwaies sufficient cause of teares and sorrow for whether he consider himselfe or weigh the estate of his neighbour he knoweth that none liueth here without tribulation And how much the more throughly he considereth himselfe so much the more is his sorrow Our sinnes and vices in which we are so plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen do minister vnto vs matter of most iust sorrow and harty contrition 5. If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long Eccles 7. thou wouldest without doubt be more carefull in the ameÌ„dment of thy life And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of purgatory Matt. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to seare any kind of austerity But because these things enter not to the hart and we still loue that which delighteth vs therfore we remaine could and void of spirituall vigour 6. Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly coÌ„plaine Pray therfore with all humility to our Lord that he will vouchsafe to giue thee the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet Feed me o Lord Ps 79. with the bread of teares and giue me to drinke with teares in measure CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MISERABLE thou art wher soeuer thou be whithersoeuer thou turnest if thou turnest not thy selfe to God Why art thou troubled when things succeed not as thou wouldest and desirest Who is there that hath all things as he will Eccls. 7. Neither I nor thou nor any man vpon earth There is not any man in this world without some tribulation or affliction though he be a King or a Pope Who thinkest thou theÌ„ is in best case I ruly he that willingly suffereth something for God 2. Many weak feeble men say Behould how well such a one liues how rich how powerful how beautifull how great a man he is Luc. 12. but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heaueÌ„ and thou shalt see that all temporall prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had without solicitude and feare Prou. 19. Iob. 14. The felicity of man consisteth not in hauing aboundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth It is truly misery inough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to be spirituall Eccls. 2. so much the more distastfull is this present life vnto him for he better perceaueth and seeth more cleerly the defects of human corruption To eate to drinke to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to be subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout mind that would gladly be free deliuered from all sinne 3. The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilst he is in this world And therfore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer me O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo be to them that know not their misery much more to theÌ„ that loue this miserable corruptible life For some there be so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labour and begging they scarce get bread to eat yet if they might liue heer alwaies they would care but little for the kingdome of heauen 4. O senslesse creatures and infidels in hart Rom. 3. whoâ—ly buried so deep in earth that they haue no tast nor feeling but of sensuall things But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued 1. Pet. â—1 Heb. 11. The Saints of God the deuout Seruants and friends of Christ respected little what pleased their naturall inclinations or what flourished in this life but with their whole hopes intentioÌ„s they sought after the riches of heauen Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible least they might haue byn drawne to base affectioÌ„s by the loue of visible things Rom. 13. Loose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past 5. Why wilt thou deferre thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and begin and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight now is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Psal 65. Thou must passe through fire and water before thou come to rest Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as we carry about with vs this frayle body of ours we can neuer be without sinne nor liue without tediousnes and griefe Rom. 7. Gen. 3. We would gladly enioy quietnes and be deliuered from al misery but for that we haue by sinne lost our innocency we haue togeather with it lost also our happines And therfore it behoueth vs to haue patience 2. Cor. 5. to expect the mercy of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 6. O how great is the frailty of man alwaies inclined to euill Gen. 6. To day thou confessest thy sinnes and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou purposest to take heed and within an houre thou dost as if thou hadst made no purpose at all We may therfore with great reason humble our selues 2. Mach. 9. and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change Full soone God knowes is that lost by negligence which with much labour was hardly gotten by grace 7. What will become of vs in the end that do so timely begin to wax could Wo be vnto vs if we will now giue our selues to ease as if all were already in peace and security when as yet there scarce appeareth so much as any signe of true sanctity in our conuersation It were needfull that we were taught good manners againe like Children if so perhaps there might be some more hope of our amendment and profit in spirit CHAP. XXIII Of the consideration of death THE houre of death will quickly ouertake thee and therfore look how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare Iob. 9. 14 Luc. 12. Heb. 9. and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of mind O dulnesse and hardnesse of mans hart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Thou shouldest alwaies so order thy thoughts and actions Matt. 25. as if this very day thou wert to depart this life Luc. 12. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death It is better to auoyd sin then to fly death
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.
it self by reason of passions which rise against her 2. I desire the ioy of peace I craue the peace of thy children that are fed by thee in the light of cōfort If thou giue peace if thou infuse holy ioy the soule of thy seruāt shal be full of heauenly sweetnes and shall become deuout in thy praise but if thou withdraw thy selfe as very often thou art wont he will not be able to runne the waies of thy commandements but rather he boweth his knees and knocketh his breast for that it is not with him as it was yesterday and the day before when thy light shined vpon his head and he was protected vnder the shaddow of thy wings from the temptations which violently assaulted him 3. O righteous Father and euer to be praised the houre is come that thy seruant is to be proued Be hould Father it is fit that in this houre thy seruant suffer something for thee O Father worthy of eternall honour the houre is come which from all eternity thou didest foreknow should come that for a short time thy seruant should outwardly be oppressed but inwardly liue for euer with thee he should be a little despised and humbled and made as an abiect in the sight of men and much afflicted with passions infirmities that he may rise againe with thee in the rising of new light and be clarified in heauen Holy Father thou hast so appointed it and wilt haue it so and this is fulfilled which thy selfe hast commanded 4. It is a grace and a fauour to thy friend to suffer and to be afflicted in the world for the loue of thee how often soeuer and by whomsoeuer thou permittest it to fall vpon him Without thy counsell and prouidence Ps 118. and without cause nothing is done in earth It is good for me Lord that thou hast humbled me that I may learne thy righteous indgments and cast away all haughtines of hart presumptiō It is profitable to me that shame hath conered my face that I may rather seeke to thee for comfort then to men I haue learned also heerby to dread thy inscrutable iudgment that afflictest the iust with the wicked but not without equity and iustice 5. I giue thee thanks that thou hast not spared my sinnes but hast worne me away with bitter stripes inflicting sorrowes sending griefs within and without There is none vnder heauen that can comfort me Tob. 13. but thou my Lord God the heauenly Phisitian of soules Psal 17. that strikest healest bringest into hell and drawest out againe let thy correction be vpon me and let thy rod instruct me 6. Behould beloued Father I am in thy hands I bow my selfe vnder the rod of thy correction let my neck and shoulders feele the stripes of thy chastisement that my crookednesse may be conformed to thy will Make me a deuout humble disciple of thine as thou art wont well to do that I may be ready at euery beck of thy diuine pleasure I commend my selfe and all mine vnto thee to be corrected It is better to be rebuked heere then heerafter Thou knowest all and euery thing and there is nothing hidden in the conscience of man which can be hidden from thee Before things are done thou knowest that they will happen and hast no need that any should teach thee or admonish thee of those things which are done on earth Thou knowest what is expedient for my good and how much tribulation is fit for purging the rust of my sinnes Do with me according to thy desired pleasure and despise not my sinfull life better and more clearly knowne to none then to thee alone 7. Graunt me Lord to know that which is to be knowne to loue that which is to be beloued to praise that which pleaseth thee most to esteeme that which is precious vnto thee to despise that which is contemptible in thy sight suffer me not to iudge according to the sight of the exteriour eyes nor to giue sentence according to the hearing of the eares of ignorant men but to determine of visible and spirituall things with a true iudgment aboue all things euer to search after thy will and pleasure 8. The senses of men are often deceaued in their iudgments the louers of the world are also deceaued in louing only visible things What is a man the better for that he is esteemed great by man The deceiptfull man deceaueth the deceiptfull the vaine the vaine the blind deceaueth the blind and one feeble likwise another whilst he exalteth and praiseth him For how much euery one is in thy sight so much he is and no more sayth humble S. Francis CHAP. LI. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in workes of humility when force is wanting for higher exercises SONNE †Our Lord. thou art not able alwaies to continue in the feruent desire of vertue nor to persist in the high pitch of contēplation but thou must sometimes of necessity by reason of originall corruption descend to inferiour things and beare the burthen of this corruptible life euen against thy will and with irksomenes As long as thou carriest a mortall body thou shalt feele trouble and heauines of hart Thou oughtest therefore in flesh oftentimes to bewaile the burthen of flesh for that thou canst not alwaies perseuere in spirituall exercises and diuine contemplation 2. It is then expedient for thee to fly to humble and exteriour works and to refresh thy selfe with good vertuous actions to expect with a firme confidence my comming and heauenly visitation to beare patiently thy banishment and the drinesse of thy mind till thou bee visited againe by me and deliuered from all anxiety For I will make thee forget thy former paines and enioy inward quietnes I wil lay open before thee the pleasant fieldes of holy Scripture that with an enlarged hart thou maist begin to run the way of my commaundements And thou shalt say that the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glory to come Rom. 8. that shall be reuealed in vs. CHAP. LII That a man ought not to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes LORD * The Seruant I am not worthy of thy comfort nor of any spirituall visitation and therfore thou dealest iustly with me when thou leauest me poore and desolate For if I could shee l teates like a soe yet I were not worthy of thy comfort For alas I deserue nothing but to be scourged and punished in that I haue grieuously and often offended thee and sinned in many things All things therfore duely considered I am not worthy euen of the least cōfort But thou mild and mercifull God who wilt not that thy workes do perish to shew the riches of thy goodnesse in the vessels of mercy euen beyond his desert vouchsafest to comfort thy seruant aboue humane measure For thy comforts are not like to the vaine words of men 2. What haue I done o