their brutish affections Behould how they are all without any repose wihout order and without coÌ„tentmeÌ„t Behould how they despise one another loue but only froÌ„ the theeth outward In a word thou shat see a pittifull coÌ„mon wealth miserable tyrannized by this accursed kinge which may iustly moue thy hart to compassion 2. On the right side behould Iesus Christ crucified who with most hartie loue prayeth for these poore people posessed of the diuel that they may be freed and deliuered from that tirannical thraldome and calling them meekly and curteously vnto him Behould rouÌ„d about him a great troupe of deuout persons euery one in company of his holy Angel Behould the beautie of this kingdome of deuotion O what a goodly sight is it to see this troupe of virgins of men and women whiter then the lillies that assemblie of widdowes ful of holie mortification and humilitie Behould the rancks of diuers marryed folke liuing so sweetly together with mutuall comfort which can not proceede but from heauenly charitie Consider how these deuout soules accommodate the care of theire exteriour house with the care of the interiour and the honest loue of the husband with that of the celestiall bridegrome Behould them all vniuersally and thou shalt see in them all a sweete holy and amiable countenance all of them reuerently giuing eare to our blessed Lord whom euery one would willingly plant in the midst of his hart They are all full of ioy but their ioy is gratious charitable and well ordered they abound in loue one towardes another but their loue is sacred pure and vnspotted Such as suffer afflictions amongst this deuout company nether torment nor trouble them selues nor leese their courage Lastly behould those louely eies of our Lord and Sauiour which sweetly are cast vpon them all to comfort them and how they altogether aspire vnto him 3. Thou hast alredie cast of Sathan with all his woful and execrable troupe by the good affections and resolutions which through Gods grace thou hast coÌ„ceaued notwithstaÌ„ding thou art not yet arriued to the palace of thy king our Lord Iesus nor ioyned with his blessed court of deuout soules but hetherto thou hast alwayes remained between the one and the other 4 The blessed Virgin with S. Ioseph S. Lewis S. Monica a hundred thousand other Saints which are in the squadron of those that liued deuoutly in the middest of the world doe inuite and encourage thee 5. The crucified king of glorie him selfe calleth thee courteously by thyne owne name Come my welbeloud come hither that I may crowne thee Election 1. O vaine world ô abhominable troupe no you shall neuer more see me vnder your baÌ„ner I haue for euer left of your fooleries and vanities O execrable king of pride ô cursed kinge fiend of hell I renounce thee with all thy vaine pompes I detest and defie thee with all thy works 2. And humblie turning my self vnto thee my deer Lord Iesus king of felicitie and eternall glorie I embrace thee with all the forces of my soule I adore thee with all my hart I choose thee now and euer for my king and for my only prince I offer vp vnto thee my inuiolable fidelitie I do homage irreuocably vnto thy 〈◊〉 maiestie and submitt my self wholly to the obedience of thy holy lawes and ordinances 3. O sacred â—…gin my dread and deer ladie I choose thee for my aduocate my guide I render my self vnder thy colours I offer froÌ„ hencefoorth a particular respect reuereÌ„ce vnto thy menâ—…rie 4. O my good Angel preâ—… 〈◊〉 vnto this glorious and sacred asseâ—… and abandoÌ„ me not vntil I arriue to the societie of this blessed companie with whome I say froÌ„ my hart will say for euer Liue for euer my Lord Iesus liue for euer my Lord Iesus Pater Aue. Credo How to make a generall Confession CHAPTER 19. 1. HETHERTO my deer Philotheus haue I set downe the meditatioÌ„s which I thought requisite for our purpose and when thou hast passed them ouer with diligence and deuotioÌ„ then goe with an huÌ„ble but yet courageous spirit to make thy generall ConfessioÌ„ But â— pray thee suffer not thy self to be troubled with any kinde of apprehension The Scorpion is venemous in the wound which ariseth froÌ„ his sting but him self being reduced into 〈◊〉 becomes a fingular remedie agaiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 owne stinging â—o sinne is no 〈…〉 full but when it is coÌ„mâ—…ed but 〈…〉 coÌ„uerted into coÌ„fessioâ—… penaunâ—…â—ecometh wholsome honorable 〈◊〉 and Confession are so precious 〈…〉 sweet a smell that 〈…〉 filthe and disperse the 〈…〉 of sinne Simon the leaper iudged Mary Magdalen to be a sinner and called her so but our mercifull Sauiour denied it and spake no more of her sinnes but of the sweet perfumes which she poured foorth and of the greatnes and odoriferous sent of her inflamed charitie 2. O my Philotheus yf we be trulie humble in our owne eyes and in the sight of God our sinnes will displease vs aboue all things because God is highly offended with theÌ„ but the accusatioÌ„ of our sinnes wil be sweet and pleasauÌ„t vnto vs because God is greatly honored with it A kind of hart ease and an asswaging of paine it is to haue declared plainly sufficieÌ„tly the disease that tormeÌ„teth vs to a skillfull physician that can cure vs. 3 When thou comest before thy ghostly father imagin thy selfe to be on the mount of Caluary kneeling right vnder the feete of Iesus Christ crucified froÌ„ whome distilleth his most pretious blood on al sides to bathe washe thee from thy iniquitie For although it be not the verie bloud of our Sauiour yet it is the merit and valor of his bloud shed for vs vpoÌ„ the crosse which washeth watereth abundantly the soules of the penitents in euery confessionarie Open then thy hart well to expell thy sinnes by virtue of Confession for according to that measure in which they goe out of thy soule will the grace of God enter in their rome to fill thee brim-full with his blessing 4. But be sure to declare the state of thy soule and all thy sinnes simply plainly and fully satisfie thy conscience in this once for all thy life after and that done hearken to the aduertismeÌ„ts and ordonances of the seruant of God to whome thou confessest and say with holy Samuel in thy hart Speak Lord for thy seruant hearkneth vnto thee Yea my Philotheus it is God whose voice thou hearest in that place for so sayd he vnto his vicars he that heareth you heareth me 5. After that take in hand this protestation folowing which serueth for a conclusion of all thy Contrition ponder it well from the begining to the ending and read it attentiuely and with the greatest feeling that possible thou canst An authenticall protestation seruing to engraue in thy soule a firme resolution to serue God and to conclude the actes of Penaunce CHAP. 20. 1. I wretched sinner heere personally
cōsidering how the waues floting vpō the sands left behind them manie litle cockle-shells perewinkles stalkes of hearbes litle oysters and such like stuffe which the sea cast vp spit as it were vpō the shore thē returning with other waues swept them away swallowed thē vp againe while in the mean time the rocks round about him continued firme and immoueable though the billowes neuer so rudelie beat battered vpon thē out of this sight cōsideratiō I say S. Gregory deduced this goodly cogitation that feeble weak minded men like cockle shelles stalkes of rushes suffer them selues to be tossed vp downe caried somtime by affliction somtime by cōsolation liuing allways at the mercy of the vnconstant waues of chaunce and fortune but that great well grounded courages perseuered stable vnmoued against all kinde of stormes tempests And then presently out of this thought he drew deriued those aspirations affections of holy Dauid Saue me ô Lord for the waters haue pearced euen to my very soule O Lord deliuer me from the deapth of these waters I am plunged in the deapth of the sea and the tempest hath ouerwhelmed mee For at that time this glorious Saint was in great trouble by the wicked vsurpation which Maximus intended ouer his bishoprick S. Fulgētius Bishop of Ruspa being present at a generall assemblie of the nobilitie of Rome to whome Theodoricus king of the Gothes made an oratiō marking the splēdour of so many worthy lords gathered together rancked each one according to their state qualitie O God sayd he how beautifull gorgeous is the heauēly Hierusalem aboue since that earthly Rome heare below is so glorious in her pōpe maiestie if in this transitorie world the louers of vanitie be permitted to shine in such prosperitie what glorie what felicitie is reserued and layde vp in the world to come for the true louers of virtue and veritie S. Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie whose birth hath highly honoured these mountaines of ours was admirable in the practise of these good thoughts A Leueret started and sore pressed by hounds as this holy prelat went on a iourney ran vnder his horse as to the best place of refuge that the imminent danger of death suggested and the hounds barking baying round about durst not presume to violate the sanctuarie to which their prey had taken recourse a sight truly very extraordinarie wherat when all the traine laughed great S. Anselme answered weeping sighing Ah sayd he you laugh at the matter but the poor beast laugheth not the enemies of the soule combatted ill-handled on all sides by multitudes of tentations sinnes do expect besiege her at the narrow passage of death she wholly affrighted seeketh succour and refuge on euery side which yf she find not then do her ghostly enemies laugh and mock at her which when the good bishop had sayd he went on forward in his iourney S. Francis on a time seeing a sheep all alone amidst a heard of goates behold sayd he to his companions how meek is this litle poor sheep among those wanton kids our blessed Lord went in such meek manner among the proud Phariseys And at anothet time seeing a litle lamb deuoured by a hogge ah litle seely Lābkin sayd he weeping for compassion how liuely dost thou expresse the death of my Saueour That great and excellent personage of our dayes Francis Borgia while he was yet duke of Gandia going a hunting made to him self a thousand of these deuout conceipts I was wont to admire sayd he recounting it afterward how the faulcons come to hand suffring their eyes to be hood-winckd and their talents to be bound to the pearch that men are so stubborne rebellious to the voice cal of almightie God S. Basil the great sayth that the rose among the thornes briers seemeth to make this exhortation to men Whatsoeuer is most pleasant in this world ô mortal men is entermingled with serow nothing is pure and vnmixed griefs be always companions of myrth and widdowhead of mariage and care of education is ioined with fertilty ahoundance of children shame folowes glory expences waite vpon honours disgust is the sauce of delicate dishes and sicknes pue-felow of health A fair flower is the rose sayth this holy man but yet it filleth me with sadnes putting me in mind of my sinne for which the earth hath been condemned to bring foorth thornes and bryers Adeuout soule beholding the skie and the starres in a faire moon-shine night represented in a cleer fountaine O my God sayd shee these self same starres shall one day be vnder my feet when thou shalt vouchsafe to lodge me in thy holy tabernacle and as the starres of heauen are represented in this fountaine vpō earth Euen so all men of this earth are liuenly represented in heauen in the liuing well of the diuine charitie A nother soule seeing a riuer swiftly flowing cried out in this manner my soule shall neuer take rest vntill she be swallowed vp in the boundlesse sea of the deitie from whence she had her beginning S. Frācisca considering viewing attentiuely a pleasant brooke vpon the banck wherof she kneeled to pour foorth her prayers was rapt into an extasie repeating oft times to her self these words thus sweetly plesantly floweth the grace of my God vnto our harts as this riuerett danceth downe his channell Another looking vpon the fruittrees of an orchard which were all bedecked with their timely blossoms sighed sayd ay me wretch that I am wherfore am I alone without blossom or budd in the orchard of holy churche Another seeing litle chickens gathered together vnder their mothers wings that sat louingly couring ouer them O Lord sayd he preserue vs vnder the wings of thy diuine prouidence Another looking vpon the heliotropium that openeth and shutteth his leaues with the rising and setting of the sunne when shall the time be sayd he O my God that my soule in this manner shall wholly folow the inuitement of thy goodnes and attraction of thy holy spirit Another seeing the flowers which we call pansies faire to the eye but without any sweet odour Ah sayd he such are my thoughts such are my deeds faire in conceipt and shew but in effect fruitlesse and vnprofitable See my Philotheus how easilie and redilie a man may draw good thoughts and holy inspirations from all things great and small that are presented to our sences and vnderstanding in the varietie of this mortal life Most vnhappy be they which do turne aside the creatures from their creatour to chaunge apply them to sinne And happie are they that turne all the creatures to the glorie of their creatour and do employ their fading vanitie to the honour of the euerlasting veritie My custom sayth S. Gregory Nazianzen hath been allways to accommodate and applie all things to my spirituall profit Read the Epitaphe or funeral sermon which
hart 5. I will do all that I can to pull vp by the verie rootes all the plants of sinne frō my hart in particular such and such which doe most annoy me 6. To accomplish this I will constātly embrace the meanes which shall be aduised me and neuer thinck I haue done euough to repaire the ruines of so great offences Conclusion 1. Giue God thanks for expecting thy amendment vntill this houre and blesse him that he hath giuen thee these good affections 2. Offer him vp thy soule franckly and freely that thou maist putt them in execution by the helpe of his grace 3. Desire him to strengthen thee with his heauenly ayde for his deere Sonns pretious death for our blessed Ladies intercessiō the prayers of all his Saints c. Pater Aue. Credo Remember to make a little nosegay of deuotion as aforesaid The fifte meditation of Death CHAPTER 13. Preparation 1. Place thy self reuerently in the presence of God 2. Pray him to inspire thee with his grace 3. Imagine thy self to be extremly sick liyng vpō thy death-bedd without any hope at all of euer escaping Considerations 1. CONSIDER the vncertaintie of the day of thy death O my poore soule thou must out of this body one day but when shall that day be Will it be in winter or in summer In citie or contrie By day or by night Shall it be vnawares or with aduertisment by sicknes or by casuallity Shalt thou haue leasure to confesse thee or not Shalt thou haue the asistance of thy ghostly father or not Alas ô my soule of all these thinges we knowe not one only certaine it is that dye we must and alwayes sooner then we imagin 2. Consider that at that time the whole world shall haue an end so far foorth as concerneth thee that is there shall be no more world for thee yea it will turne vpside downe before thyne eyes for then the pleasures the vanities the worldly ioyes the fond affections of our life will seeme vnto vs like flying shadowes and fadinge cloudes Ah wretched caytiue that I am for what trifles and bables haue I offended almightie God Thou shalt then euidently see that we haue offended him for iust nothing Contrary-wise at that houre al deuotion pietie and other good workes will seeme vnto thee the greatest and sweetest treasure in the world O wherfore did I not follow this faire and pleasant path At that sorrowfull time thy sinnes which before seemed vnto thee but litle moule-hilles will appeare biggar then huge mountaines and thy deuotion so litle that thou wilt scarcely be able to perceiue it 3. Consider the longe languishing farwells that thy distressed soule wil then giue to this world how sorrowfully shee will bid adieu to riches to honours to vanities to vaine company to pleasures to pastimes to frindes to neighbours to parents to kinsfolke to husband to wife to children and in a word to all creatures and finally to hir owne bodie which she must likewise leaue al pale wrinckled hideous loathsome and most detestably stinking 4. Consider the impressiōs that one shall haue to lift vp or lay hand on this thy body the great hast that euen thy best frindes will make to carrie thy carcasse out of doores and to hide the same full deepe vnder the ground far inough from their sight behoulding and this done how seeldome afterwardes the world will thinke vpon thee surely no more then thou thy selfe hast thought vpon other men who haue deceased before thee God haue mercie on his soule say they and there is all O death how art thou to be pondered How art thou terrible pittiles and without compassion 5. That at this departure from the body the soule taketh his way on the right hand or the left Alas alas wither then shall thine goe what way shall it take surely no other then that which it hath heretofore begunne in this world Affections and resolutions 1. Pray earnestly to God and cast thy selfe with trembling loue beiwixt his armes Alas ô my Lord receaue me into thy protection at that dreadfull day make that last houre happie and fauourable vnto me and let rather all the rest of my life be nothing else but dayes of sorrowe affliction and calamitie 2. Despise the world Seeing I know not the houre wherein I must leaue thee ô wretched world I will no more set my loue vpon thee O you my deare frindes knisfolkes and allies suffer me to bearge you only that affection which is compatible with an holie amitie and may therfore last eternallie for why should I vnite my selfe vnto you in such sort as that afterwardes we should be forced to breake the knot of amitie betwixt vs 3. I will therfore from this very instant prepare my selfe for that perillous houre and take that care which is requisite to end this iorney happelie I will secure the estate of my conscience to the vtmost of my abilitie and take present order for the reformation and amendment of such and such defaultes Conclusion Giue thankes vnto God for these resolutions which he hath infused and giuen vnto thee and offer them againe thankfully louingly and lowly vnto his majestie Entreat him a new to giue thee a happie death for the death of his dearly beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Implore the asistance of the B. Virgin thy Angel gardian and all the Saintes in heauen Pater Aue. Credo And bind vp a sweete posie of myrhe to recreate thy soule the day following The Sixt Meditation of Iudgment CHAPTER 14. 1. Place thy selfe in the presence of God 2. Pray him to asist thee with his grace Considerations 1. AFTER the time that God hath ordayned for the continnance of the world and after a number of dreadfull signes and horrible presages the terrour wherof shall make men wither for feare and anguish a cōsuming fire coming like aflood shall burne and reduce to ashes euery thinge that is vpon the face of the earth nothing which we see excepted nothinge to be priueledged from this fiery deluge 2. After this flood of flames and lightninges all men shall arise from their graues excepting such as already be risen and at the summoning of the Archangels voice they shall appeare before the iudgment throane in the valley of Iosaphat But alas with what difference For the one sort shall arise with glorifed bodies casting foorth rayes of exceeding light and the other in bodies or rather in carrions most hideous and loath some to behould 3. Consider the maiestie wher with the soueraigne Iudge will appeare enuironed with all the armies of his Angells and Saintes Before him shall be borne triumphantly his sacred Crosse shining much more brighter then the sunne a standart of grace to the good and of righour and terrour to the wicked 4. This soueraigne Iudge by his redouted commandemēt and which shall sodainly and in a moment be put in execution shall seperate the good from the bad placing the one
appeering standing in the presence of God euerlasting and of all the court of heauen hauing considered the exceeding mercie of his diuine goodnes towards me most vnworthie and miserable caytife whome he hath created of nothing preserued susteined and deliuered from so manie dangers endowed with so manie benefits But aboue all considering the incomprehensible sweetnes clemency wherwith this most good God hath so bountifully tollerated me in my iniquities so often and so louingly inspired me inuiting me to amendment and so patiently expected my penance conuersion vntill this N. yeare of my age notwithstāding all my vnthanckfulnes disloyaltie and infidelitie wherby differring my conuersion despising his graces I haue so impudently offended him Hauing moreouer cōsidered that at the day of my Christening I was so happely holily vowed and dedicated vnto my God to be his childe and that contrary to the profession which then was made in my name I haue so many and sundrie times so execrably and detestably profaned violated my soule imploying it opposing it against his diuine maiestie At length recalling my self prostrating my self in hart and mind before the throne of his diuine iustice I acknowledge confesse and yeald my self lawfully attached conuicted of high treason againste his diuine maiestie guiltie of the death passion of Iesus Christ by reason of the hainous sinnes which I haue cōmitted for which he died and suffered the torment of the crosse so that consequently I am worthie to be cast away and damned for euer 2. But turning my self towards the throne of the infinit mercie of the self same eternall God hauing detested from the bottom of my hart with all my force the iniquities of my life fore-passed I most humbly require crane pardon grace and mercie with entire absolution from my crime through virtue of the passion and death of the same Saueour redeemer of my soule vpon whome relying as vpon the only foundation of my hope I confirme againe advowe and renew the sacred profession of loyall seruice and fidelitie made in my name behalfe vnto my God at my Baptising renouncing the diuel the flesh and the world abhorring their execrable suggestions vanities and concupiscences for all the time of this present life and for all eternitie And conuerting my self vnto my most gracious and mercifull God I desire deliberate purpose and fully resolue irreuocablie to honour him serue him and loue him now and for euer giuing him for this end and dedicating and consecrating my spirit with all his faculties my soule with all her functiōs my hart with al his affectiōs my bodie with all his sences protesting neuer more to abuse any one part of my being or nature against his diuine will and soueraigne maiestie to whom I offer vp and sacrifice my self in spirit to be to him a loyall obedient faithfull creature for euer without euer vnsaying reuoking or repēting me of my promise 3. But yf alas through suggestion of myne enemie or through humane frailtie I chaunce at any time to transgresse in any thing whatsoeuer this my purpose and resolution I protest and determin frō this verie houre through the grace and ayde of the holy Ghost to arise againe so soone as I shall perceaue my fall so to returne a new to the diuine mercie without any stay or delay whatsoeuer This is my will intention and resolution irreuocable inuiolable which I aduowe and confirme without reseruation or exception in the same sacred presence of my God and in the sight of the triumphāt churche and in the face of the churche militant my mother who vnderstandeth registreth this my declaration in persō of him who as her officer hearth me taketh my confession in this action 4. Let it please thee ô my eternall God allmightie and all good Father Sonne and holy Ghost to confirme strengthen me in this resolution and to accept this my cordiall and inward sacrifice in the odour of sweetnes And as it pleased thee to lightē me with thy holy inspiration to giue me the will to purpose fully so graunt me also force and grace to performe it perfectly O my God thou art my God God of my hart God of my soule and God of my spirit and for such do I reuerently thanckfully and louingly acknowledge honour and adore thee now and for euer Liue ô Iesus A deuoute manner to receaue absolution CHAP. 21. 1. THIS protestation ended be verie attentiue and open the eares of thy hart to heare the wordes of thy absolution which the Sauiour of thy soule him self sitting vpon the throne of his mercie will pronounce from aboue in heauen before all his Angells and Saints at the same time that the priest in his name doth absolue thee heere beneath vpō earthe So that all that glorious troupe of the blessed citizens of heauen reioicing at this happie successe of thine will sing a spirituall canticle with incomparable ioye and all giue the kisse of peace felowship vnto thy hart now sanctified and reestablished in grace 2. Behold here my Philotheus an admirable contract which passeth between thee and thy God by which thou makest so happie a peace with his diuine maiestie for as much as giuing thy selfe to him thou gainest him thy self also for life euerlasting It remaineth onely to take penne in hād subscribe with a ioyfull hart to the act of thy protestation and afterward thou shalt goe to the sacred Altar where God on the other side will reciprocallie signe and seale thy absolution and the promise which he makes vnto thee of the kingdome of heauen putting him self by his venerable sacrament as a sacred seale signet vpon thy renewed hart 3. Thus I trowe Philotheus thy soule wil be wholly purged from sinne and all sinfull affectiōs Yet because these affectiōs are easilie bredd borne a new in the soule through our failtie our rebellious cōcupiscēce which may well be mortified but neuer wholie extīguished while we liue in this mortall life I will giue thee some instructions which being well practized may preserue thee hereafter from mortall sinne and from all inclination or affection therof so that it may neuer hencefoorth find place in thy hart And for so much as the self same instructions serue also for a more perfect and higher purification of the soule before I deliuer them I will say a word or two of this absolute and perfect puritie of mind whervnto I would so willinglie conduct thee That we must purifie our selues from the affections which we haue to veniall sinnes CHAPTER 22. 1. AS the day light encreasing we see by degrees more cleerly in a looking glasse the spottes and blemishes of our countenance euen so as the inward light of the holy Ghost illustrates our consciences we see more plainly and distinctly the sinnes inclinations and imperfections which may hinder vs to attaine vnto true deuotion And the very same light
and although they do it for the loue of God men will call it cowardlinesse pusillanimitie lack of courage behold heere is another abiect euil One hath a cancker on his arme and another vpon his face the first hath only the disease which is bad enough but this other iointly with the disease hath contempt shame and abiection in all companie What say I then of louing abiection I say that we must not only loue the harme it self which we do by the virtue of patience but we must also loue the contempt the shame the vilenes basenes and abiection therof which we doe by the virtue of humilitie 3. Againe there be some virtues that seeme abiect and contemptible other that are honorable and respected by all men Patience meeknes plaindealing simplicitie humility it self are of the number of those virtues which worldly men hold as vile and abiect contrariwise they make great estimation of wisdome fortitude and liberalitie There be also diuerse actions of the self same virtue wherof some be contemptible and others honorable to giue almes and to pardon iniuries and offences are both of them acts proceeding from charitie and the first is honoured of all men the last most base in the eyes of the blind world A young gentleman or gentlewoman that will not disorder them selues with a companie of dissolute mates in prating dauncing drincking superfluous pompe and curiositie of apparell shal be scoffed at and censured by others and their laudable modestie termed hypocrisie or affected sanctitie To loue these censures to reioyce in that the world hath this opinion of vs is to loue our owne abiection Behold againe another sort of abiection which we must loue We goe to visit the sick many of vs together if I be sent to the most miscrable that is to me an abiection in the iudgement of the world and for that cause will I embrace it more willingly but if I be sent to visit a person of more qualitie it is an abiection according to iudgement of the spirit for there is not 〈◊〉 so much virtue nor merit and therefore I will loue this abiection likewise One falleth in the midst of the street and not only receaueth damage therby but is also shamfully laughed at this is an abiection which we must make much of 4. There are some defects also which haue no other harme in them but only the shame that they bring with them and humilitie though it require not that one should committ them of sett purposes yet it requireth that one disquiet not him self for hauing fallen into some such defect These defects which I now speak of be certaine fooleries inciuilities inconsiderate acts or words which as we ought to eschew before they be committed to obay ciuilitie and prudence so when they are once committed we must be content with the reproache that commeth therby and accept it willingly that so we may folow the rule of holie humilitie I say yet more yf I chaunce to disordre my self through passion or dissolution or to speak some vndecent words wher with God and my neighbour are offended I will repent my self hartelie with true sorowe for the sinne committed and procure to repare the harme or offence done to my neighbour the best that possible I can but I will be content and right glad with the shame contempt and abiection which therby I haue incurred and if the one could possibly be separated from the other I would sincerely cast away the sinne and earnestly retaine the abiection 5. But though we loue the abiection and contempt which foloweth some euel or defect of ours we must not neglect the redresse of the ill that caused it by conuenient and lawfull meanes especially when the euil is of some consequence and importance As if I haue some deformed loathsome disease vpon my face I will procure to haue it cured but not to haue men forget the deformitie which it caused Yf I haue committed some foolery which is offensiue to no man I will not excuse my self at all because although it was a defect and a fault it is not permanent and therfore it needeth no excuse but onely for the abiection shame or contempt which befalls me for it and to excuse that is against humilitie But if through my vnaduisednesse and follie I haue offended or scandalized any man I will make amends for the offence by some probable excuse because it containeth a permanent ill and that charitie obligeth me to blot out and deface if I can 6. To conclude it happeneth some times that charitie commandeth vs to remedie and wipe away the abiection contempt which we incurre because our reputation good name is necessarie for the edification of our neighbours And in that case though we remoue abiection contempt from our neighbours eyes least he should be scandalized or troubled therby yet must we carefully lock it vp like a pretious Iewell in our hart that we our selues may be edified therby 7. Perchaunce thou wouldst learne of me Philotheus which abiections amongst all are to be esteemed best and I tell thee plainly in one word that those are most profitable to our soules and most acceptable to God which happen to vs as it were by chaunce or by the course condition and estate of our life because we choose thē not but receaue them only from the hands of God that sends them whose election and choice we know is always better for vs then our owne But yf we were to choose them our selues then the greatest are the best for vs and those are to be esteemed greatest which are most contrarie to our inclinations so that they be conformable to our vocation for to speak the truth once for all our owne choice spoileth in a manner and bringeth to naught all our virtues O who will giue vs the grace to say from our hart in all sinceritie with that great king I haue made choice to be an abiect in the house of God rather then to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners None certainly can giue vs this grace deare Philothee but he that to exalt vs liued and died for vs in such manner that he was esteemed the outcast of men and the most abiect of the people I haue told thee many things Philotheus which no doubt will seeme somwhat hard vnto thee when thou considerest them but beleeue me they will be sweeter then sugar or hunny to thee when thou dost put them in practize How to keep our good renowne in the practize of humility CHAPTER 7. 1. HONOVR praise and glorie are not giuen to men for euerie ordinarie virtue but for some excellent and notable virtue for by prayse we seek to perswade others to esteeme the excellency of some man in whome such a virtue excelleth by honour we protest that we our selues do esteeme him therfore glorie in my iudgemēt is nothing els but a certaine lustre splendour or shining brightnes of reputation which ariseth frō the
aduancement or progresse which we haue made for as for examining our sinnes that 's for confessions and for such as neuer thinck vpon going forward in pietie and deuotion 2. Yet neuerthelesse we must not labour to exactlie and curiouslie in examining euerie one of these articles or interrogatories but fayre and softlie considering with quiet and repose of mind in what estate our hart hath beene in euerie one of them since our resolution and protestation and what notable defects we haue committed therin 3. But to make a shorter abridgement of all we may reduce the whole examination to the searche and suruay of our passions and yf it be tedious and troublesome to consider so exactlie what we haue been we may in this manner folowing examine our selues how we haue behaued our selues In our loue towards God our neighbour and our selues In hatred toward sinne in our selues and sinne in others for we must desire the extirpation of the one and the other In desires of riches honour estimation passetimes In feare of danger to fall into sinne and of losse of goods of this world for we may feare the one and the other too much In hope placed more then needs in the world in fading creatures or to litle in God and godlie thinges In sadnes yf it were to excessiue and for transitorie vanities In ioye and gladnes yf ouermuch and for vnworthie matters To conclude in a worde what affection doth predominate thy hart what passion doth most of all possesse it in what doest thou principallie goe awrie for by passions of our soule we may iudge of our estate examining them and as it were feeling and tasting them one after another As he that is skillfull on the lute by touching the diuerse straines of his instrument finds which string is out of tune and tunes it by stretching it vp or letting it downe so after we haue as it were touched and examined the tune of our passions of the loue hatred desire feare hope sadnes or ioye that is in our soule yf we find them discording from the tune which we would strike and from the proportionable harmonie of our soule which is to be sett to the glorie of God we may make them accorde by bringing them to their due tune and proportion with Gods grace and by councell and aduice of our ghostly father Affections to be exercised after this examination CHAP. 8. AFTER thou hast duly pondered euery poinct of the examination and considered at what stay thou art and to what thou art come then exercise the affects of thy soule as foloweth 1. Giue God thancks for that amendment be it but litle which thou hast found in thy life since thy generall resolution last made and acknowledge that it was his only mercie that caused it in thee and and for thee 2. Humble thy self reuerently before his maistie acknowledging vnfainedly that yf thou haue not much profited in pietie it hath been through thine owne default because thou hast not faithfully courageously and constantly answered the inspirations illustrations and motions which he hath often imparted vnto thee in prayer and by manie other wayes 3. Promise him sincerely that thou wilt for euer praise him for the inestimable fauours bestowed vpon thee and especially for drawing thee frō thy bad inclinatiōs by this present amendment 4. Demaund pardon of him for thy vnfaithfulnes disloyaltie for not corresponding with his inspirations and graces 5. Offer him vp thy hart to the end he may be the sole maister and Lord of it 6. Beseech him to make thee faithfullie accomplishe his will heerafter 6. Inuoke the Saincts of heauen our B. Ladie thy good Angell thy patron Ioseph and the rest to whome thou hast an especiall deuotion to helpe thee with their intercession Considerations proper to renew our good purposes CHAP. 9. 1. THIS examination being made and diligentlie conferred with some worthie expert and skillfull guide to learne the qualitie of thy faults and the fit remedies for them beginne those meditations folowing making one of them euery day and in it spend the ordinarie time which other dayes thou appointedst to passe in thy meditation with the self same method preparation and affections which thou hast vsed heertofore in the meditations set downe in the first part placing thy self first of all in the presence of God and then imploring his grace to establish thee in his holy loue and seruice The first consideration of the excellency of our soule CHAP. 10. 1. CONSIDER the nobilitie and excellēce of thy soule endewed with an vnderstanding which knoweth not only all this visible worlde but moreouer vnderstandeth that there are inuisible Angels and a happie Paradise that there is a soueraigne God vnspeakeable most good most mighty that there is an eternitie of immortall spirits and withall knoweth the meanes how to liue well in this visible world and to associate her self with the angels in heauen and to attaine to the familiaritie and frindship of God him self for euer 2. Thy soule hath also a free-will of a most noble excellencie which is able to loue God and cannot hate him considered in him selfe Loe what an excellent soule thou hast As no corruptible or ill-sauouring thing can stay the litle Bees but onely flowers are their rest only vpon them do they setle their flight so thy hart can find no repose but in God alone no creature else cā fil or satisfie it Remember hardly recount with thy self all the dearest and greatest entertainments wherwith thou hast euer occupied thy hart and iudge in good sadnes whether they were not all full of vnquiet of molestations of restlesse and stinging thoughts importunate cares with which thy poore hart was most miserably distract and afflicted 3. Alas thy hart runneth hastely and headlong after the creatures of this world thincking it possible to appease its desites in them but so soone as thou meetest with them and tastest them thou art as readie to beginn againe as before for nothing is able to content thy hart God would not permitt that it should find rest in any place no more then the Doue that Noah sent out of the Arke that so it might allways earne to returne to God from whence it came Ah how admirable is this naturall beautie of thy soule and why then doest thou endeuour to withhold her against her will to serue these fading creatures 4. Oh my faire and louely soule mayst thou say thou canst vnderstand and loue God him self and wherfore doest thou entertaine thy self in things inferiour to God thou mayest yf thou wilt pretend eternitie wherfore doest thou hunt after moments This was one of the chiefest complaints of the prodigall child that wheras he might haue feasted deliciously at his fathers table he was forced through his owne willfullnesse to feed at the troughs of his swine O my soule thou art capable of God him self woe be to thee yf thou rest contented with any thing lesse then God Lifte vp thy