The sinners guyde A vvorke contayning the whole regiment of a Christian life, deuided into two bookes: vvherein sinners are reclaimed from the by-path of vice and destruction, and brought vnto the high-way of euerlasting happinesse. Compiled in the Spanish tongue, by the learned and reuerend diuine, F. Lewes of Granada. Since translated into Latine, Italian, and French. And nowe perused, and digested into English, by Francis Meres, Maister of Artes, and student in diuinitie.

¶ Of many other effects, which the holy Ghost worketh in a iustified soule.

THose things which hetherto we haue spoken of, doe not as yet comprehend all those kinds of benefits, which the holy Ghost worketh in the soule of a iustified man, neyther is the bountifulnes of GOD circumscribed within those limits. For it is not enough that the holy Ghost should haue brought man through the gate of Righteousnesse, and entred him into the schoole of Vertue, but after that he is entred, that he should be ayded of the same Spirit,* 1.1 and ledde as it were with the hand in all his wayes, vntill all the waues of this stormy sea being ouer∣come, he enter safe and sound into the hauen of saluation. For after that the holy Ghost hath entred into a iustified soule, by the meditation of the precedent benefit, he doth not sitte there idlely: for it suffiseth him not to beautifie the soule with his pre∣sence, but also he sanctifieth it by his vertue, working in it, and with it,* 1.2 whatsoeuer is necessary vnto saluation. He sitteth there, as an housholder in his house, gouerning it; he sitteth there, as a schoolemaister in his schoole, teaching it; as a Gardiner in his garden, tilling and trymming it: as a King in his kingdom, ru∣ling it; as the Sunne in the world, enlightning it: to be briefe, as the soule in the body, giuing to it life, sence, and motion: not as the forme in the matter, but as an housholder in an house. What then is more happy, what more to bee desired, then to haue within him such a guest, such a guide, such a companion, such a gouernour and tutor, and such an helper? Who seeing that he is all things, doth worke all things in that soule, in which he remaineth and dwelleth. Especially as fire, hee enlightneth our vnderstanding,* 1.3 he enflameth our will, and exalteth it from the earth euen to heauen: He like a Doue, doth make vs sim∣ple, gentle, peaceable, and friends to all: He as a cloude, dooth refresh and coole vs, and defend vs from the heate of the flesh,

doth asswage and moderate our madnes, and the furie of our passions.* 1.4 To conclude, he as a vehement and strong wind, doth moue and incline our will to all good, seperating it, and draw∣ing it from all euill inclinations, vntill at length the iustified bee brought to that passe, that all vices are odious vnto them, which before they loued; and they loue all vertues, which before they hated: as Dauid plainly acknowledgeth that it hapned to him, for he sayth in a certaine place,* 1.5 That hee did hate and abhorre ini∣quitie. And in another place, That hee had as great delight in the way of the testimonies of the Lord, as in all riches. The reason was, because the holy Ghost had instilled and infused into his soule, the vvormewood of earthly things, and the honny of the hea∣uenly commaundements: vvherein thou seest plainly, that wee owe all our good to this diuine Spirit: insomuch, that if we de∣cline from euill, he is the cause of it, and if we doe good, we doe it through him; if wee perseuere in goodnesse, wee perseuere through him, and if a reward be gyuen for our good, it is giuen through him.* 1.6 Therefore it is euident, that it is most truly spo∣ken of Augustine, that when as God recompenceth our serui∣ces, he rewardeth his owne benefits in vs; and so hee rendereth grace for grace, seeing the deserts are of grace.

The holy Patriarch Ioseph,* 1.7 was not content to giue to hys brethren corne, which they came to buy in Egipt, but he more∣ouer commaunded, that the money which they brought to buy the corne, should be put in theyr sacke mouthes. After the same manner the Lord dealeth with his; for he giueth vnto thē life euerlasting, and he also gyueth them grace and a lawdable lyfe, by which they may come to this eternall life. Here-vnto a∣greeth that,* 1.8 which Eusebius Emissenus sayth, hee therefore is worshipped that he may haue mercy, and hee hath had already mercy, that he might be worshipped. Therefore let a man di∣ligently examine his life, & let him consider, (as the same Doc∣tour admonisheth him) what great good hee hath doone, from howe many euills, adulteries rapines, thefts, fraudes, and sacri∣ledges the Lord hath deliuered him; and then he shal know, by how many meanes he is bound vnto him.* 1.9 For as Saint Augu∣stine sayth, all sinnes are to be accounted as forgiuen, from the which God doth keepe thee, least they be committed. There∣fore,

sayth hee, doe not loue him a little, as from whom a little was forgiuen, but rather loue him much, from whom much is gyuen vnto thee. For if hee loue, to whom it is giuen that hee may not repay, how much more ought he to loue, to whom it is gyuen that he may haue and possesse. For whosoeuer from the beginning remaineth honest, hee is gouerned of him; and whosoeuer of one dishonest is made honest, of him he is amen∣ded; and whosoeuer is dishonest to the end, of him he is forsa∣ken. Which seeing that it is so, what other thing shall we doe, then cry out with the Prophet,* 1.10 Let my mouth bee filled with thy praise, that I may sing of thy glory, and of thy greatnesse euery day. Vpon which wordes,* 1.11 Saint Augustine dooth thus comment. What is this euery day? Without intermission; in prosperitie, because thou doost comfort mee, in aduersity, because thou doost correct mee. Before I was, because thou madest mee; when I was, because thou gauest mee health; when I dyd of∣fend, because thou pardonest me; when I was conuerted, be∣cause thou helpest me; when I perseuered, because thou crow∣nest me. So fully let my mouth be filled with thy praise, that I may sing of thy glory euery day, and all the day long.

If the sonne of God himselfe dyd gyue thankes to hys Fa∣ther for a fewe Barley loafes,* 1.12 as it is in the Gospell, what great thanks ought we to giue, for thys great benefit, that wee are so sanctified by his holy Spirit, that we are made his Temple, and the dwelling and seate of the most sacred Trinitie? If wee are bound to giue thanks for our nourishment, whereby our Being is vpholden, how great thanks are wee bound to giue him, for this our well Being. For we doe not prayse a horse, because he is a horse, but because he is a good horse: nor wine, because it is wine, but because it is good wine: nor a man, because hee is a man, but because he is a good man.

If therefore so many wayes we be bound to him, who hath created vs, how much more are wee bounde to him that hath made vs good? If wee owe so much vnto him for the gyfts of our bodies, how much more doe wee owe for the gyfts of our mindes? if so much for the gyfts of nature, how much more for the gyfts of grace? To conclude, if so great things be due vnto him, because he hath made vs the sonnes of Adam, how much

more, that he hath made vs, of the vnhappy sonnes of Adam, the sonnes of God? For much better is the day, in which wee are borne to eternitie, (as sayth Eusebius Emissenus) then in which we are borne to the dangers of thys world. Behold bro∣ther, another chayne and linck, which with the former benefits may binde & tye thy hart to desire vertue, & to serue the Lord thy God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Graces wai∣ting vpon the holie Ghost.
• * 1.2

  After what manner the holy Ghost sitteth in y^• soule of a righteous man, and what hee doth there.
• * 1.3

  The holy Ghost is fire. A Doue. A cloude.
• * 1.4

  A wind.
• * 1.5

  Psalm, 118, Psalm, 119,
• * 1.6

  Augustine vpon the 144. psalme.
• * 1.7

  Gene, 42
• * 1.8

  In his 8. ho∣milie of the Passeouer.
• * 1.9

  To a cer∣taine Vir∣gine.
• * 1.10

  Psalme, 71,
• * 1.11

  Augustine vpon the 71. psalme.
• * 1.12

  Iohn. 6,