The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

Of the contrarietie of vices and vertues, and certaine breife aduertise∣ments and exercises of them.

THE LI. CHAPTER.

THe holy Father S. Francis affirmed, that where true charity is, there can neither be feare nor ignorance; Where there is a ioy∣full and voluntarie pouerty there is neither enuy nor auarice; where there is Meditation of God, there is no care: where the feare of God is keeper of the house, there the deuill cannot enter; where there is discretion and mercy, there is neither superfluity nor deceipt. Now I tell you there is no man in the world can in any sort haue one of the said vertues, If he doe not first die to himselfe, and he that real∣lie possesseth one hath all: with that one, he erreth not in the rest, and he that erreth in one, erreth in all the other, and is in that case as if he had not any; they are of such valew, that each one of

it selfe confoundeth vices and sinnes: holie wisdome confoundeth the deuill with all his malices: holy simplicitie confoundeth the prudence of the deuill, the world, and the flesh: holy pouertie confoundeth enuie, auarice, and seculer desires: holy humilitie confoundeth pride, with all worldly honoures, and what soeuer is in them: holy charity confoun∣deth all diabolicall and carnall temptations and pleasures: holy obe∣dience confoundeth all naturall will and sensuall affection, subiecteth the body to obedience of the spiritt, rendreth and maketh a man hum∣ble and subiect, not only to all men, but euen to other irreasonable* 1.1 creatures. The Apostle saith: the letter killeth but the spiritt giueth li∣fe: they are killed by the letter, who seeke to know only, to be repu∣ted learned and wise of the world: by this meane to purchase honours and richesse, with anxiety to aduance their kinred and freindes: and in a word, not for themselues, but for the body or for others. And they are quickened of the spiritt, who referre all the learning and knowledge they haue, and desire to haue, only to the prayse and honour of the di∣uine maiesty, and who appeare before God, by the example of their life, and with wordes full of edification, offring vnto him that goodnes which is entierlie his owne. In this sort it is, that the seruant of God may know if he really haue his spiritt: for if the flesh glorie in the worckes it doeth, by meane of the grace of God as its owne, it is then a signe that he is of the deuill: But if in the said worckes, he neuer∣thelesse repute himselfe vile, and acknowledge himselfe a most grei∣uous sinner, he is then truely of God, and God is in him: Happy is the seruant that neither speaketh nor doeth any thinge, for hope of recompence in this world, but for the loue of God, nor lightlie speaketh, what commeth to his mouth, but prudently and in due time, disposeth his propositions and answeares. Wretched also is the Reli∣gious that buryeth in his hart the graces which he receaueth of God, or that commanicateth them for subiect of vaine glorie, desiring ra∣ther to manifest them verballie then to God; for he hath alreadie receaued his reward, and they who haue heard him, haue bin litle edified therby. These are wordes of life, and he that shall rumina∣te and accomplish them, shall finde true life, and in the end obtaine saluation of God. They that seeke not to tast how sweete God is, and that loue darcknes more then light, neglecting to obserue the* 1.2 commandementes of God, are by his Prophett accursed of him, who sayeth: Cursed are they who erre from thy commandemen∣tes: but how blessed and happie are they that loue God, and per∣forme the saying of the gospell: Thou shalt loue thy Lord thy* 1.3 God, with all thy hart, with all thy soule, and withall thy will: Lett vs therefore, My Brethren, loue and prayse God day and

night: Our Father which art in heauen, because it is necessary to pray al∣wayes, without intermission: and lett vs haue charity and humility,* 1.4 and doe almose deedes, that they may cleanse our soules from spot∣tes of sinne, for euerie thing appertayning to the world tourneth to ruine, men must leaue it, and carry with them onlie the recompen∣ce and reward of charitie and the almose they haue done, wherof they shall receaue recompence of God: And therfore it is good to fast from vices and sinnes, flying all occasions of them, and to keepe vs from all kinde of superfluitie, though lawfull, and we must frequent churches, and honour Preistes, in respect of the dignity they haue with God: and especiallie the Religious that haue re∣nounced the world, to doe more good then others, and by their example we also must renounce it, if not entierlie, att least in part. Lett vs loue our ennemies, and doe good to them that hate vs: lett vs obserue the preceptes and counsailes of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST, renouncing our selues, and liuing vnder the sweet yoke of his obedience. Lett vs not be wise according to the flesh, but simple, humble, and pure, keeping our sences mortified, and pri∣de trodden vnder foot, considering our basenes vnworthie to be su∣periour to others as they would we should be. Lett vs imitate our Lord, and carry his crosse vpon vs, lett vs suffer together with him, who hath endured so much for vs wretches in this world, and bestoweth on vs so many benefittes, and far greater will hereafter, and to whome all creatures ought to giue prayse, honour, and glorie in heauen, in earth, in the sea, and in the depth, because he is our vertue and our force, who only is good, only most high, onlie almighty, meruaylous and glorious, and only holy, praysed and exalted for euer Amen. I Brother Francis your seruant with the greatest humilitie I can, prostrate on the earth and kissing your feet, doe beseech you by the bowels of the cha∣ritie of God, to receaue these wordes and others of our Lord IE∣SVS CHRIST, to effect and obserue them with due humilitie and cha∣ritie, assuring all them, that shall receaue, vnderstand, and effect them, and shall by wordes and example teach them to others, therein perseuering to the end, that the Father, the Sonne, and holie Ghost, will giue him his benediction. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Cor. 3.
• * 1.2

  Psal. 118.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 22.
• * 1.4

  Luc. 18.