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.

A discourse of spirituall warinesse, and of consideration.

THE XXXIV. CHAPTER.

IF thou wilt tast the chieffest good, thou must sequester thy selfe from all sensual thinges: if thou wilt loue thy selfe well••, thou must hate thy selfe: If thou wilt liue well, mortifie thy selfe: if thou wilt be rich, make thy selfe poore; if thou wilt liue deliciously, afflict thy selfe: if thou wilt liue in security, perseuer alwayes in feare: if thou wilt be exalted, humble thy selfe: if thou wilt be honoured, dispise thy selfe: if thou desire to haue that which is good, endure that which is euill: if thou wilt be blessed, support maledictions. O how great is his wisdome that can performe this! but because they are great matters, they are not graunted to all.

* 1.1 If a man should liue a thousand yeares, and had nothing to doe with∣out himselfe, he should find businesse enough within him, yea he were not able to cōpasse all that was necessary to be done. None should desire

to see, to heare, or to speake, but what were a furtherance to his spiri∣tual profitt, and vpon whatsoeuer occasiō, should proceed no further. He that will not know, shall not be knowne. But vnhappy are we if hauing the giftes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, we doe not know thē: & they that haue then not, seek not to haue them; a man imagineth God ac∣cording to his apprehension, but God is such as he is.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Consider thy selfe.