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 the reforming of the Imagination.

AFter these two sensuall faculties, there are other two, which pertaine to knowledge; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Imagination, and the Vnder∣standing; which answer to the two former: that both of these appetites may haue his guide, and knowledge conuenient and fit. Imagination, which is the ignobler of these two, is called a power of our soule, greatly weakened through sinne, & which is very haggard to be subiected vnto reason. For oftentimes as a fugitiue seruant, that departeth without licence, it rusheth out of dores, and wandreth throughout the whole world, before we vnderstand where it is. It is a faculty also very greedy, in exco∣gitating

or searching out any matter, which it hath a desire to: and it imitateth hungry doggs, who tosse and turne all things vpside downe, and thrust their snowt into euery dish, now lap∣ping of this, now of that: and although they are beate from it, yet alwayes they returne to their repast fore-tasted. This facul∣ty also is very glib and fleeting, as a wild and an vntamed beast, flying very swiftly frō one mountaine to another, least it should be taken and restrained: for it cannot abide a bridle or a bit: neyther is it willing to be gouerned or managed of man. Not∣withstanding this licenciousnes and naturall wildnes, there are some, that daily make it worser: as they, that bring vp their chil∣dren most deliciously & daintily, permitting them to vage free∣ly, whether so euer they list, and to doe whatsoeuer pleasure wil∣leth them, without any reprehension. Wherefore when as man would, that this imagination should quietly persist in the con∣templation of Diuine things, it is disobedient and immorige∣rous, because it hath accustomed to wander licentiously, neither acknowledgeth it any moderation. Therfore it is needfull that after we haue acquainted our selues with the bad conditions of this beast, that we restraine it, and that we bind it to a cratch, that is, to the consideration of good & necessary things, and that we commaund it perpetuall silence in all-other things. So that, as a little before we haue bound the tongue, that it speaketh not any thing, but good words and to the purpose; so let vs bind our imagination, that it may remaine and continue in good and ho∣ly cogitations, and to all other that we shut the gate against it. Herein we are to vse great discretion, to examine what cogita∣tions are to be admitted, and what to be excluded: that these may be entertained as friends, and those expelled as enemies. They that are negligent and remisse in this respect, doe let of∣tentimes those things enter into their soules, which doe not on∣ly take away the deuotion and feruour of the spirit, but also cha∣rity and loue, in which the life of the soule consisteth. Whilst Isboseth the son of Saul slept on his bed, his murdering seruants came in vpon him, slew him, and tooke away his head. In like manner when as discretion lyeth slumbering, whose duty it is to purge and seuer the fruite from the chaffe, that is, profitable and good cogitations from the bad and hurtfull, those often∣times

enter into the soule, which kill it, and depriue it of life. This diligence is not onely conducent for the preseruation of life, but to keepe silence, and it much furthereth prayer. For an vnquiet and a troubled imagination, doth not suffer a man to pray without variety of cogitations, and vagaries of the sences: but that which is quiet, and reduced into order, very easily per∣seuereth in prayer.

Notes

• A simili∣tude.
• The Imagi∣nation a wanderer and a fu∣gi••iue.
• A simi∣litude.
• 2, Kings, 4.