Granados deuotion Exactly teaching how a man may truely dedicate and deuote himselfe vnto God: and so become his acceptable votary. Written in Spanish, by the learned and reuerend diuine F. Lewes of Granada. Since translated into Latine, Italian and French. And now perused, and englished, by Francis Meres, Master of Artes, & student in diuinity.

THE EIGHT TEMP∣•…•…ation is, a too greedy desire to be wise & learned. CHAP. XXXVIII.

AFter all these temptations an other followeth, which is so •…•…ch greater then the former, as •…•…ath a greater colour & showe •…•…ertue, by which many men are •…•…eiued, especiallye they, that •…•…h an earnest zeale & desire do •…•…ke for the common good. Of •…•…se we will now speak.

This desire, which doth holde •…•…y so earnestly to their studies, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this loue of science & know∣•…•…ge, vnder pretence to help o∣•…•…s, is too much & superfluous. •…•…ll it a loue too much, & desire •…•…erfluous; for when it is mode∣•…•…, and according to reason, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not a temptation, but a law∣dable

vertue, & a very profitable exercise, which is commended 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all kinde of men, but especially 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yong men, who do exercise the•…•… youth in that study, for by it the•…•… eschue many vices, and lea•…•… that, whereby they may we•…•… councell both themselues and o∣thers: but vnlesse it be moderate∣ly vsed, it much hurteth deuot•…•…∣on. Neither is it a matter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greatly to be maruelled at, that thing so laudable, should beco•…•… so hurtful, vnlesse it be modera•…•…∣ly vsed: for this is not so new 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnheard of, but any one may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the excesse of all things, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be it they be profitable and nec•…•…∣sary, is hurtfull. What is more •…•…∣cessary then meate, drinke, m•…•…∣derate exercise, & corporall •…•…∣dicines? All these are good a•…•… necessarie; but vnlesse they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moderately taken, they are hu•…•…

•…•…l, and bring dammage. We say 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same of too much study and •…•…eedines of science and know∣•…•…ge, which certainely is an vn∣•…•…t stepdame vnto prayer: for •…•…s studie taketh vp all the time, •…•…d wholy possesseth a man. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a certaine Philosopher sayth) •…•…e is wise; for it manifesteth •…•…hings, and maketh men wise. •…•…ke maner the study of prayer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contemplation taketh vp all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time, and wholy possesseth a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and requireth that he be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from all other busines, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may more conueniently at∣•…•…d vpon God. Therefore great •…•…e emulation betweene these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 studies, whether ought to •…•…e the chiefest part: neither is •…•…emulation lesser, then that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in times past betweene Leah 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rachel, whether of them had •…•…e right to their husband.

Furthermore studye (besides that it eyther requireth the whole time or the greater part of it, by reason of very many thinges, which are eyther to be searche•…•… into, or to be meditated vpon be∣sides also the labour, which is t•…•… be spent in it) it is also an exercis•…•… which (although it be very spec•…•…∣latiue and theoricke) is wont 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dry vp the remorse full tendern•…•… of the heart, and the iuyce of D•…•…∣uotion.

For together with business•…•… merely corporall, the spirit m•…•… also conueniently attend vp•…•… God: but when as the spirit b•…•… stoweth all his vertue & po•…•… vpon the intellectuall part, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will altogether remaineth idle, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a manner dead, that scar•…•… not a sparke of Deuotion is fo•…•… in a man.

For these causes therefore 〈◊〉〈◊〉

said before, that studie doth very much hurt Deuotion: both be∣cause it consumeth very much •…•…ime, and also, because it dryeth •…•…p the spirit, both which do hin∣der this exercise.

There are certaine men, who •…•…re most strongly set vpon by this •…•…emptation, and that for singular •…•…onsiderations, which the Diuell •…•…ath in this temptation to annoy •…•…an. For the desire of know∣•…•…dge (as Aristotle sayth) in all •…•…en is very naturall; so that the •…•…iuell had not a sweeter baite to •…•…snare our first parents, then the •…•…sire of knowledge: for he said, •…•…t they should be as gods, kno∣•…•…ng good and euill. And per∣•…•…ps because with this baite he •…•…n fished so fortunately, he pro∣•…•…seth to himselfe now a good •…•…ught by the sweetnes of the •…•…e baite: hoping that it will

come to passe, that we being chil∣dren very like to our parents, will be taken with the same bait they were, and be deceiued, as they were, albeit we haue learned by a manifest example, & by the very experiēce of the thing it self, how bitter the end of that way was.

The noblenes of the exercise, & the sweetnes which is in it, do•…•… ioyne thēselues vnto this natura•…•… desire. For it is apparent that the•…•… is not any exercises of mā (to w•…•… of a reasonable creature) fou•…•… more worthy or noble, then tho•…•… which make his better part mo•…•… perfect, that is, his reason, whi•…•… daily becommeth more perfe•…•… by the continuall vse of learnin•…•… This sweetnes is so great, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perdurant, that a certain Philos•…•…∣pher, was not afraid to say; Wi•…•… out the study of learning, I kn•…•… not whether any thing may 〈◊〉〈◊〉

found pleasant & sweet in this life. This appetite also increaseth by a •…•…esire that our own excellēcy may •…•…e aduanced, which affection is •…•…ost powerfull. For it is not to be •…•…oubted, but that one of the espe∣•…•…iall meanes, by which we are lif∣•…•…ed vp to honor is wisedome. And •…•…ecause this loue is bred within •…•…e innermost bowels of man, he •…•…together endeuoureth, y^e he may •…•…mpas that meane, by which ho∣•…•…r is attained, that is, y^e he may •…•…tain vnto learning & wisedom. •…•…o these the pretence of piety, & •…•…le of the cōmon good is added, •…•…hich is promoted by this study: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that this good is worthily to be •…•…sired of all mē; but especially of •…•…ose y^e are more perfect, who are •…•…nt to desire y^e aboue all things. •…•…erfore it hapneth many times, y^e •…•…der the shadow & colour of this •…•…mon good, a mā doth too much

cherish his owne desire and incli∣nation; saying and perswading himselfe, that he doth that purely for Gods sake, which he doth for his owne naturall inclination, or for some base commoditie. For many are the ends (as S. Bernard saith) why a mā desireth to know. For there be some that would know for this end only, that they might know, and it is foolish cu∣riosity: there be some that would know, that they might be knowē▪ and it is foolish vanity: and ther•…•… be some that would know, th•…•… they might sell their knowledg•…•… for money, or for honours, & it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 filthy lucre. There be also so•…•… that desire to know, that th•…•… may edify, and it is charity. A•…•… there be some that would kno•…•… that they may be edified, and i•…•… wisedome. All these ends 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moue the desire, and in choice 〈◊〉〈◊〉

these a man is often deceiued, when he considereth not which •…•…ught especially to moue: and •…•…his error is very dangerous.

But that we may returne vnto •…•…ur purpose, if there be so many •…•…hings, which do allure our heart •…•…nto this exercise, who shall be so •…•…ortified, or who shall be found 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cōstant, that can make resistāce •…•…gainst so many importunate sol∣•…•…citations? If on the one side doe •…•…uite thee a naturall desire of •…•…owledge, and a naturall delight 〈◊〉〈◊〉 study, the noblenes also of the •…•…ercise, & ambition or desire of •…•…nor, which is got by this study: •…•…d on the otherside thine owne •…•…mmoditie, and the profit of the •…•…urch & common wealth do set •…•…aire face on it, and do so ouer∣•…•…d it, that it seemeth right & re∣•…•…isit, who shal be found so strōg 〈◊〉〈◊〉 discreet, that being boūd with

so manifold a chaine, doth not suffer himselfe easily to be led a∣way? Therfore I said that this is a great temptatiō, for it hath many hooks & crooks, by which it lay∣eth hold on the harts of men, and draweth them after it. O how oft when a man is at prayer vpon his knees, do these images & picture•…•… present thēselues before him, sol∣liciting him, that spedily he mak•…•… an end of his prayer, and that h•…•… make hast to the labor of his dai•…•… study: that he reade ouer his beg•…•… lecture, that he make an end of t•…•… booke in his hands; and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth not let y^e day passe witho•…•… some increase of learning, alb•…•… out of this study either none, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very small profit may be hop•…•… Sometimes such is the violence this appetit, y^e the miserable so•…•… many times giueth heauē for ea•…•… and changeth gold for drosse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leaueth the opē gates of y^e abo•…•…∣dant

grace of God, to finde out a barren vain of humane wisedom. O that they knew (who do thus) what great things they be, y^e God cā teach, & that in a short time, & how little it is that the wit of man by his own labor can attaine vn∣to, & how long a time he is about it. But be it that it is much, which man by his own trauell can gaine vnto himself, yet nothing at all or very litle cā it profit him without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diuine wisdome. Though a man •…•…aith the Wiseman, be neuer so per∣•…•…ct (that is in learning) among the •…•…hildren of men, yet if thy wisedome 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord be not with him, he shall be •…•…othing regarded. That of Augu∣•…•…ine is not much vnlike to this; •…•…happy is that mā, who knoweth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 things, but knoweth not thee, ô •…•…rd: happy is he y^e knoweth thee, •…•…ough he know nothing els: but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 y^e knoweth thee & al thing els,

he is not the happier for them, but is only happy for thee. Who kno∣weth not, that one sentēce taught by the Almighty, is more excel∣lent, and of greater consequence then all bookes, then all the wise∣dome of this world, and whatso∣euer Philosophers haue taught? The knowledge of the world, saith Augustine, doth swell and puff vp: but the wisedome of God puffeth not vp, but breedeth loue•…•… it doth not make a man proud & arrogant, but humble and lowly▪ If in that houre, whē God actually teacheth me, I shal turne my bac•…•… vpō him, and if I shal forsake hi•…•… he yet hauing words in his mou•…•… & seeke for earthly maisters, sha•…•… I not offer great iniury vnto th•…•… heauenly teacher? doe I not d•…•…∣spise his doctrine? do I not pr•…•…∣ferre humane wisedome befo•…•… diuine? O how hardly shall t•…•…

holy Ghost come vnto him, who maketh so little account of him. But if there were but a few, who do erre in this, my cōplaint should be lesse. But what shal I say when in a maner the whole world lieth buried in this errour? One repor∣•…•…eth of the streight of Megallan, •…•…hat of three ships scarcely one •…•…erisheth in it: but in this sea, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hundred ships scarcely one is •…•…aued. O how many auditours & •…•…isciples hath the world at this •…•…ay, and how few hath Christ? •…•…nd that which is lamentable to •…•…e hearde, they that should be •…•…ought vp in Christianity, and in •…•…hristes schoole, and they that •…•…tely are become conuerts, and •…•…ue receiued inauguration into •…•…e faith, that time they should •…•…end vpon this holy exercise, •…•…hereby the old man with all his •…•…ts and desires might be shaken

off, and the new man put on, as though this world was a labour but of few dayes, and of a short time, whē they haue scarcely ope∣ned their eyes, and new begun to make an acknowledgmēt of God, presently they bestow themselues vpon the reading of heathen Phi∣losophers, and vpon humane stu∣dies, in which they spend many yeares, where they do not heare the name of Christ once mentio∣ned. Which studies, albeit they b•…•… after a certaine maner necessary•…•… by reason of y^e change of times, & importunity of hereticks; yet th•…•… are to be esteemed as punishmē•…•… of our life: seeing that they stea•…•… away so great a part of our tim•…•… & do banish vs for so many ye•…•… from the most sweet embraces 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ. Especially if we cōsider, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the writings, & al the learni•…•… of the Heathen, as Nazianz•…•…

saith, are as the scourges & plages of Egypt, which are entred into •…•…he Church by reason of our sins. But now, because the miserable estate of our life hath brought vs •…•…nto this streight, we must looke •…•…ut a conuenient time to bestow •…•…pō this study: that is, we must la∣•…•…our aboue all things, that our works be first well grounded, and •…•…hat the building of vertue haue a •…•…ure & firme foundatiō, especially 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nouices and yong beginners, y^e without losse and dammage they •…•…ay be able to beare the weight •…•…f this study. But it is lamentable, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those, who are yong and tender 〈◊〉〈◊〉 only feede on y^e milk of Christ, •…•…hould be called frō his breasts to •…•…e huskes of heathen Philoso∣•…•…hers, where nothing is found •…•…ut subtilties and sophistications. •…•…or tell mee I pray thee, if wee •…•…ell consider of it, what other

other thing is this, thē that which Pharao did in times past, that he might destroy the people of God, when he commaunded that the male children should as soone as they were borne be cast into the waters of Egypt, and drowned: and what other thing do we hea•…•… in these our times, then that h•…•… that is borne againe and renued 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ, before he begin to i•…•…∣crease, and receiue the regen•…•…∣rate strength of a new man, th•…•… he is headlong cast into thes•…•… waters, that he may be choake•…•… and lose that earnest of the spiri•…•… he hath receiued?

To all things there is an appoi•…•…∣ted. time, sayth the Wiseman, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time to embrace, and a time to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 far from embracing. Certainly th•…•… is the time to embrace God, a•…•… by this embrace to lay such ste•…•… fast hold on his loue, that mu•…•…

water shal not be able to quench it. Afterwards the time wil come, to bee farre off from imbracing, that we may promote the profit of our neighbor.

What other thing would God signifie, when he commaundeth •…•…hat the man that hath taken a •…•…ew wife should not goe a war∣•…•…re, neyther that he should bee •…•…harged with any publike busi∣•…•…es? What meaneth he, when hee •…•…rbiddeth that no worke should •…•…e done with the first borne bul∣•…•…cke, nor that the first born sheep •…•…ould bee sheared; vnlesse this •…•…de of first borne, of which we •…•…w speake, which ought to bee •…•…e from all bonde and burthen, •…•…t hee may bestowe all his •…•…ngth, and whatsoeuer he hath •…•…n his owne proper benefit? •…•…ey goe against all these com∣•…•…undements, who pu•…•…loyne a∣way

the time from the studye of true wisedome, and bestow it vp∣on humane.

Notes

• All immo∣derate things are hurtfull.
• Great is the emula∣tion be∣tweene th•…•… studie of science & prayer.
• Gen. 3.
• The study of know∣ledge wor∣thy the ex∣cellencie of man.
• Bernard in his 36. ser. vpon the Cant. Diuers ends of knowledge
• Sap. 9.
• Augustine in the fift booke of his Con∣fessions.
• He repre∣hendeth them, who bestow that time vpon hu∣mane stu∣dies which they should bestow vpon di∣uine.
• Heathen studies the plagues of Egypt.
• Eccles. 3.
• Deut. 24.
• Deut. 15.