The flowers of Lodowicke of Granado. The first part. In which is handled the conuersion of a sinner. Translated out of Latine into English, by T.L. doctor of phisicke

¶ The conclusion of all those thinges which hetherto haue beene spoken of the priuiledges of vertues.

CHAP. 16. (Book 16)

THou hast heard therfore my brother, which, and of what kind those twelue priuiled∣ges be, which are graunted to vertue in this life; which are as it were twelue excellent and woorthy fruites of that tree, which S. Iohn saw in the Apocalips: which was so planted by a flood, bearing twelue fruites, euery moneth yeel∣ding his seuerall fruite. For what other thing may this tree be, next

the sonne of God, then vertue it selfe, which yeeldeth the fruite of holines and life? And what other fruites thereof are there then those which wee haue reckoned vp in all this part? For what fruite is more pleasant to the sight, then the fa∣therly prouidence whereby GOD preserueth his, the deuine grace, the light of wisedome, the consolation of the holy Spirit, the ioy of a good conscience, a good euent of hope, the true liberty of the soule, the in∣teriour peace of the hart, to be heard in our prayers, to be helpt in tribu∣lations, to be prouided for in our necessities: Finally, to be assisted, and to receaue ghostly consolation in death? Euery one of these priui∣ledges is truly so great in it selfe, that if it were plainely knowne, it should suffice man to loue and em∣brace vertue, and amende his life: and it should also bring to passe that a man should truly vnderstand, how wel it is said by our Sauior; Whoso¦euer forsaketh the worlde for Gods sake,* 1.1 shall receaue a hundreth fold in this lyfe, and possesse lyfe eter∣nall.

Beholde therefore (my brother) what a benefit it is that heeretofore I haue declared vnto thee, see wher∣vnto I inuite thee, Consider if any man will say thou art deceaued, if for the loue thereof, thou shalt leaue the worlde, and all that is therein. One onely inconuenient hath this good (if it may be termed an in∣conuenient) by reason it is vnsauo∣rie to the reprobate; namely, be∣cause it is vnknowne vnto him. For this cause (sayth our Sauiour) the Kingdome of heauen is like vnto a treasure that is hidden: For this good is a very treasure in deede but hidden; not to those that possesse it, but to others. The Prophet very well acknowledged the price of this treasure, who said: My secret to my selfe,* 1.2 my secret to my selfe: Little cared he whether other men knew his treasure or no. For this good is not as other goods are, which are not goods, vnlesse they be knowne by others: for which cause they are not goods of themselues, but only in the opinion of the world, & therfore it is necessary that they be known of him, that by that meanes they may

be called goods. But this good ma∣keth his possessour good & blessed, and no lesse warmeth his hart, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 only knoweth it himselfe, then if all the world knew it. But my tong is not the key of this secret deske, much lesse of all those things which hetherto haue been spoken, for what so euer may be spoken by humane tongue, is much lesse & abiect then the truth of the thing it selfe. The key is the diuine light, and the expe∣rience, & vse of vertues. This will I that thou ask at Gods hands, & thou shalt find this treasure, yea God him selfe, in whō thou shalt find al things; & thou shalt see with how great rea∣son the Prophet said; Blessed is the people whose God is our Lord,* 1.3 For what can he want that is in possessi∣on of this good? It is written in the book of the kings, that Helcanah the father of Samuel, said vnto his wife that bewailed her selfe because shee was barren & had no children; Anna why weepest thou?* 1.4 and why doost thou not eate? and wherfore is thy hart troubled? am not I better vnto thee then ten sonnes? well then, if a good husband which is to day, & to¦morrow

is not, is better to his wife then ten sonnes, what thinkest thou of God, what shall hee be to tha•• soule that possesseth him? what do•• you meane? whether looke you▪ whatintend you? why leaue you the fountaine of Paradise, and drinke you of the troubled cesternes of thi•• worlde? why followe you not the good counsaile which the Prophe•• giueth, saying: Tast, and see howe sweet our Lord is?* 1.5 why doe we not often passe this Ford? why doe we•• not once tast this banquet? Trust the wordes of our Lord and begin, and hee afterward will deliuer you out of all doubt. In times past that Serpent into which Moses rod, was transformed, seemed a farre off ter∣rible and fearefull, but being neer•• and handled by the hand, it retur∣ned into his former state. Not with∣out reason, sayth Salomon. It 〈◊〉〈◊〉 naught,* 1.6 it is naught, saith euery bui••er, but when he is gone he glorieth▪ The like happeneth daily to thos•• men that are conuersant in this af∣faire. For not knowing in the be∣ginning the value of this merchan∣dize (because they are not spirituall,

no•• haue any feeling of that which lyeth there-vnder,) out being car∣n••ll, they thinke it to be deere and of no value: But when they begin to tast how sweet our Lord is, they presently glory of their reward, be∣cause there is no price worthy of so great a benefit. Consider how that Merchaunt in the Gospell ioyfully sould all that which he had, that he might buy the field in which he had found the treasure: wherefore ther∣fore doth not a Christian contende hearing this name, to know what it is? Truly it is a thing to be won∣dred at: If some toy-boaster should assure thee, that in thy house, and in such a place, a treasure were hidden, thou wouldest not cease to digge, and seeke, and prooue, if that were true which hee saide. But wh••reas God himselfe aff••rmeth▪ that there li••th an incomperable treasure hid∣den in thy mind, wilt thou neuer be perswaded to seeke it out? O how quickly shouldst thou find this trea∣••u••e, if thou didst onely know how neere our Lorde is to all those that ••ruly call vpon him? Howe manie men were there in this world, who

weying their sinnes, and perseuering in prayer, haue obtayned the remi••∣sion of their sinnes in lesse then on•• weekes space, haue opened th•• earth, and (to speake more aptl•••• haue found a new heauen, and a new earth, and began to feele in them••selues the Kingdome of God? How great is that which our Lord doth▪ who sayth: At what time so euer a sinner shall repent him of his sinnes I will no more remember them▪ How great is this that this most lo••uing Father dooth, who vppon th•• short and scarce ended prayer or th•• prodigall Sonne, could not con∣taine himselfe any longer, but tha•• hee embraced him, and receaue•• him with great ioy into his house▪ Returne therefore (my brother) to this gracious and bountifull Fathe•• lift vppe thy heart in time conueni∣ent, ••nd faile not incessantly to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 At the gates of his mercy, and ass••••redly beleeue▪ that if thou perse∣uer with humility, hee will at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aunswere thee; and shewe thee the secret treasure of his loue, which when thou h••st ap••rooued, thou shalt say with the spouse in the Can∣••••cles.

If a man shall giue all the substance of his house for loue,* 1.7 hee s••all esteeme it as nothing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Math. 19.
• * 1.2

  I••say, 24.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 143.
• * 1.4

  1, Reg▪ 1.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 33.
• * 1.6

  Prouer. 10.
• * 1.7

  Cant. 8.