Selected quad for the lemma: world_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
world_n	father_n	holy_a	miserable_a	3,417	5	10.5583	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13694	The follovving of Christ Diuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man, Thomas a Kempis, canon-regular of the order of S. Augustine. Whereunto also is added the golden Epistle of S. Bernard. And also certaine rules of a Christian life, made by Iohn Picus the elder, Earle of Mirandula. Translated into English by B.F.; Imitatio Christi. English.	Hoskins, Anthony, 1568-1615.; Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153. Epistola de perfectione vitae. English.; Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494, Regulae duodecim portim excitantes portim dirigentes hominem in pugna spirituali. English. aut; Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name.; Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555?	1615 (1615)	STC 23988; ESTC S111535	135,170	483

plunged that we can seldome contemplate the things of heauen doe minister vnto vs matter of most just sorrow and hartie contrition 5 If thou didst thinke more diligently of thy death then of liuing long thou wouldest without doubt be more careful in the amendment of thy life Eccles 7. And if thou wouldest consider within thy selfe the paines of hell or of Purgatory Mat. 25. I am perswaded it would moue thee to endure any labour or paine whatsoeuer in this world and not to feare any kinde of austerity But because these things enter not to the heart and wee still loue that which delighteth vs therefore we remaine cold and void of spirituall vigour 6 Oftentimes our want of spirit is the cause that our wretched bodies do so quickly complaine Pray therefore 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 with the bread of tears giue me to drink with teares in measure Ps 79. CHAP. XXII Of the consideration of humane misery MIserable thou art wheresoeuer 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 wil 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 then is in best case Truely he that willingly suffereth something for God 2 Many weake and feeble men say Behold how well such a one liues hovv rich hovv povverfull hovv beautifull how great a man he is but lift vp thine eyes to the riches of heauen Luk. 12. and thou shalt see that al temporal prosperity is as nothing full of vncertainty and which rather oppresseth then otherwise for it is neuer had vvithout solicitude and feare The felicitie of man consisteth not in hauing abundance of temporall riches a meane sufficeth Prou. 19. Iob. 14. It is truely misery enough to liue vpon earth How much more a man desireth to bee spirituall so much the more distasteful is this present life vnto him for hee better perceiueth and seeth more clearely the defects of humane corruption Eccls. 2. To eat to drink to watch to sleepe to labour to repose and to bee subiect to all other necessities of nature is doubtlesse a great misery to a deuout minde that would gladly be free and deliuered from all sinne 3 The inward man is much oppressed with these corporall necessities whilest he is in this world And therefore the holy Prophet prayeth with great deuotion to be deliuered from them saying Deliuer mee O Lord from my necessities Psal 24. But wo bee to them that know not their misery and much more to them that loue this miserable and corruptible life For some there bee so dotingly affected vnto it that although with labor and begging they scarce get bread to eate yet if they might liue heere alwaies they would care but little for the kingdom of heauē 4 O senselesse creatures and infidels in hart who lie buried so deep in earth that they haue no taste nor feeling but of sensuall things Rom. 8. But miserable wretches they shall in the end feele to their cost how vile of no esteeme was that which they loued 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 and intentions they sought after the riches of heauen 1. Pet. 51. Heb. 11. Their whole desire was carried vp to those euerlasting treasures which are inuisible lest they might haue bin drawne to base affections by the loue of visible things Lose not thy hope to profit in spirituall matters there is yet time the houre is not yet past Rom. 13. 5 Why wilt thou defer thy good purpose Rise vp in this very instant and beginne and say Now is the time to worke the time to fight novv is it a fit time to amend my selfe When any tribulation or affliction doth befall thee then is the time to merit Thou must passe thorovv fire and vvater before thou come to rest Psalm 65. Vnlesse thou vse violence to thy selfe thou shalt not ouercome thy euill inclinations As long as vvee carrie about vvith vs this fraile bodie of ours vvee can neuer bee vvithout sinne nor liue vvithout tediousnes and griefe We vvould gladly enjoy quietnesse and bee deliuered from all miserie but for that vvee haue by sinne lost our innocencie wee haue together with it lost also our happinesse Rom. 7. Gen. 3. and therefore it behoueth vs to haue patience and to expect the mercie of God till this iniquity haue an end and that which is mortall be swallowed vp of life 2. Cor. 5. 6 O how great is the frailety of man alwaies inclined to euil Gen. 6 To day thou confessest thy sins and to morrow thou committest againe the same which thou didst confesse Now thou proposest to take heed and within an houre thou doest as if thou haddest made no purpose at al. We may therefore with great reason humble our selues and neuer admit any thought of our owne esteeme being so weak as we are and subiect to euery change 2. Mach. 9. 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 doe so timely beginne to wax cold Woe be vnto vs if wee 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 therefore looke how thou liuest To day a man is liuing and to morrow he doth not appeare and being once out of sight he is also quickly out of minde Iob. 9. 14. Luk. 12. O dulnes and hardnes of mans heart who thinketh only on that he seeth and foreseeth not that which is to come Hebr. 9. Thou shouldest alwayes so order thy thoughts and actions as if this very day thou wert to depart this life If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldest not much feare death Luk. 12. It is better to auoid sin then to flie death Sap. 4. If thou be not prepared to day how wilt thou be prepared to morrow Mat. 24. 25. To morrow-day is vncertaine and whether thou shalt see it or no thou knowest not 2 What doth it auaile vs to liue long when we do so little amend A long life doth not alwaies make vs better nay rather it oftentimes heapeth vpon vs a greater load of sins O

my secrets and vnderstand the high mysteries of God neglecting themselues and their own saluation Eccles 3. and 2. Cor. 3. These oftentimes for that I resist them doe fall into great temptations and sinnes for their pride and curiosity 4 Feare the judgements of God dread the wrath of the almighty But discusse not the workes of the Highest Search thine owne iniquities in how much thou hast offended and how much good thou hast neglected Some carry their deuotion onely in books some in pictures sone in outward signes figures some haue me in their mouthes but little in their harts There are others that being illuminated in their vnderstanding and purged in their affection doe alwaies aspire with an earnest mind to euerlasting happines Esa 29. and are vnwilling to heare of the things of this world to serue the necessities of nature with griefe and these perceiue what the Spirit of truth speaketh in them Psal 24 Because it teacheth them to despise earthly and loue heauenly things to neglect th● world and day and night to desire heauen CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace THE SERVANT I Praise thee O heauenly Father Father of my Lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember mee a poore and wretched creature O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thankes be vnto thee who sometimes with thy comfort refreshest mee vnworthy of all comfort 2. Cor. 1. I euer blesse and glorifie thee with thy only begotten Son the holy Ghost for al worlds O God my Lord the holy louer of my soule when thou shalt come into my heart all that is within me will reioyce Thou art my glory and the exultation of my heart Psal 3. Thou art my hope and my refuge in the day of my tribulation Psal 31. 2 But for that I am yet weake in loue and imperfect in vertue I haue need to be comforted by thee visite me therefore often and instruct mee with thy holy discipline Deliuer me from euill passions and heale my heart of al inordinate affections that being cured within and wel purged I may be made fit to loue strong to suffer and constant to perseuere 3 Loue is a great matter in very truth a great good which alone maketh euery thing that is heauy light and beareth equally vnequall burdens Mat. 11. For it carrieth a burden without a burden and maketh euery thing that is bitter sweet and delightsome The noble loue of Iesus enforceth man to worke great things and stirreth him vp to desire alwayes the most perfect Loue will be aloft and not kept downe with any base things 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 thereof 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 and hath all in al for that he resteth in one Highest aboue all from which all good floweth and proceedeth Hee respecteth not the gifts but turneth himselfe aboue all goods vnto the giuer Loue oftentimes knoweth no measure but inflameth aboue al measure Loue feeleth no burthen weigheth no paines desireth aboue it strength complaineth not of impossibility for that it thinketh all things lawful and possible It is therefore able to vndertake all things and performeth and bringeth many things to effect whereas he that doth not loue fainteth and can doe nothing 5 Loue alwaies watcheth sleeping sleepeth not being wearied is not tired straitned is not pressed frighted is not troubled but like a liuely flame and burning torch breaketh vpwards and passeth through al with great securitie Rom. 8. If any one loueth hee knoweth what this voice cries A lowd cry in the ears of God is the burning loue of the soul which saith My God my loue thou art wholy mine and I wholy thine 6 Enlarge mee in loue that my heart may taste how sweete it is to loue and to be dissolued swimme in thy loue Let me be possessed by loue mounting aboue my selfe with excessiue feruour 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 mee loue thee more then my selfe and not my selfe but for thee and al in thee and truly loue thee as the law of loue commandeth which shineth in thee 7. Loue is swift sincere pious sweet and delightfull strong patient faithful prudent suffering ful of courage and neuer seeking it selfe 1. Cor. 13. For where one seeketh himself there he falleth from loue 1. Cor. 10. Loue is circumspect humble and vpright not remisse not mutable nor attending vnto vaine things sober chast constant quiet and guarded in al the senses Psal 2. Loue is subiect and obedient to Superiours meane and abiect to it selfe deuout thankfull 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 al things and stand to the will of his beloued is not worthy to be called a louer A louer ought to embrace willingly al that is hard and distastefull for his beloued and not to turne away from him for any contrary accidents CHAP. VI. Of the proofe of a true Louer OVR LORD SOnne thou art not yet a strong and prudent louer SER. Wherefore Lord LORD Because thou giuest ouer for a small aduersitie and too earnestly seekest comfort A constant louer standeth firmely in temptations giueth not credit to the crafty perswasions of the enemy As I please him in prosperity so I am not vnpleasant to him in aduersity Phil. 4. 2 A prudent louer considereth not so much the gift of his louer as the loue of the giuer He rather esteemeth the good will then the value and placeth all gifts vnder his beloued A noble louer resteth not in the gift but in mee aboue any gift All therfore is not left if sometimes thou hast lesse taste of mee and my Saints then thou wouldest That good and sweet desire which thou sometimes feelest is the effect of present grace and a certaine taste of the heauenly Country whereon thou must not rely too much for it goeth and commeth But to fight against euil motions of the minde which may happen vnto thee and to despise the suggestion of the diuel is a signe of vertue and great merit Matth. 4. 3 Let not therefore strange fancies forced into thee of any matter whatsoeuer trouble thee Retaine a firme purpose and vpright intention to God Neither is it an illusion that sometimes thou art suddenly rapt on high and presently returnest againe

that which thou wouldest not leaue vndone that thou wouldest do That which is pleasing to others shall goe well forwards that which thou wishest shall not speed That which others say shal be heard what thou sayst shall be nothing regarded Others shall aske shal receiue thou shalt aske not obtaine 5 Others shall bee great in the praises of men but of thee there shall be no speech to others this or that shall be committed but thou shalt be accounted fit for nothing At this nature will sometimes repine and it is much if thou endurest it with silence In these and such like a faithfull seruant of our Lord is wont to be tried how he can deny and ouercome himselfe in all things There is scarce any thing wherein thou hast such need to mortifie thy selfe as in seeing and suffering those things that are contrary to thy will especially when that is commanded which seemeth vnto thee inconuenient or to little purpose And for that thou being placed vnder authority darest not resist a higher power therefore it seemeth hard vnto thee to walke at the becke of another and to leaue wholy thine owne opinion 6 But consider Sonne the fruit of these labours the end neere at hand and the reward aboue all measure and thou shalt receiue no griefe therby but great comfort of thy patience For in regard of that little of thy will which now thou willingly forsakest thou shalt alwaies haue thy will in heauen There thou shalt haue all that thou wilt or canst desire there thou shalt enioy all good without feare of loosing it there shal thy will be euer one with me it shall desire nothing strange or priuate there no man shall withstand thee no man complaine of thee no man hinder thee nothing come against thee but all things desired shall bee there together present and delight thy whole desire and fulfill it to the highest degree there I will giue thee glorie for the reproach which heere thou sufferedst a garment of praise for former griefe for the lowest place a seat of an euerlasting Kingdome there shall the fruit of obedience appeare the labour of pennance reioyce and humble subjection shall bee gloriously crowned 7 Now therefore bow thy selfe with great humility vnder the hands of all and regard not who said or commanded this but take great heede that whether thy Superiour or thy Inferiour or thine equall require any thing of thee or doe insinuate their desire thou take it all in good part and endeauour to fulfill it with a sincere intention Let one seeke this another that let him glorie in this the other in that and be praysed a thousand thousand times but doe thou neither reioyce in this nor in that but in the contempt of thy selfe and in my pleasure and honour a lone This art thou to wish that whether by life or death God may be alwayes glorified in thee CHAP. L. How a desolate person ought to offer himselfe into the hands of God THE SERVANT LOrd God holy Father thy holy name be now and for euer blessed because as thou wilt so is it done and what thou dost is good Let thy seruant rejoyce in thee not in himselfe nor any thing else for thou alone art the true gladnes thou art my hope and my crowne thou art my joy and my honor O Lord. What hath thy seruant but what he receiued from thee euen without any desert of his 1. Cor. 4. Thine is all that thou hast giuen whatsoeuer thou hast made I am poore and in labours from my youth and sometimes my soule is heauy vnto teares somtimes also it is troubled in it selfe by reason of passions which rise against her Psal 87. 2 I desire the joy of peace I craue the peace of thy children that are fed by thee in the light of comfort If thou giue peace if thou infuse holy joy the soule of thy seruant shall 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 wil not be able to runne the waies of thy Commandements but rather hee 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 shadow of thy wings from the temptations which violently assault him 3 O righteous Father and euer to be praised the houre is come that thy seruant is to be proued Behold 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 didst fore-know should come that for a short time thy seruant should outwardly bee 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 and 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 whom soeuer thou permittest it to fall vpon him Without thy counsell and prouidence and without cause nothing is done in earth Psalm 118. It is good for mee Lord that thou hast humbled me that I may learne thy righteous judgments and cast away al haughtines of hart presumptiō It is profitable to me that shame hath couered my face that I may rather seeke to thee for comfort then to men I haue learned also hereby to dread thy inscrutable judgment that afflictest the just with the wicked but not without equity and justice 5 I giue thee thanks that thou hast not spared my sinnes but hast worne me away with bitter stripes inflicting sorows sending griefs within and without There is none vnder heauen that can comfort mee but thou my Lord God Tob. 13. the heauēly Phisitian of souls that strikest healest bringest into hell and drawest out againe Psal 17. let thy correction be vpon me and let thy rod instruct me 6 Behold beloued Father I am in thy hands I bow my selfe vnder the rod of thy correction let my neck shoulders feel the stripes of thy chastisement that my crookednes may be conformed to thy wil. Make me a deuout humble disciple of thine as thou art wōt wel 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 here then hereafter 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 knowst that they wil happen hast no need that any should