The spiritual conflict writen in Italian by a deuout seruant of God ; and lately translated into English out of the same language.

❧The spirituall Conflict. (Book 1)

Non coronabitur nisi qui legiti∣mè certauerit.

2. Tim. 2.

He shall not be crowned that doth not striue lawfully.

Wherein the perfection of a chri∣stian man consisteth: and of foure things necessary to obtaine the same.

Chap. 1. (Book 1)

IF thou hast a desire (most deare daughter in Christ) to attaine vnto the height & top of perfection, and by litle and little to draw neare vnto God,

and to become one spirit with him, (which is the greatest & most excellent enterprise that possibly can be named or im∣magined.) First of all, thou must know wherein consi••••es the truth & perfection of spi∣rituall life: for that many with∣out anye farther cogitation of care, suppose it to be placed in the rigor, and austeritie of life, in maceration of the flesh in waring of haire cloth, inwatch ing, in fasting, and other like sharpenes and bodily labour.

Others, and especially wo∣men persuade themselues that they are neare vnto it when they say many vocall prayers, heare many Masses, and long seruice, frequent the church and Sacraments.

And many other also, (a∣mongest the which you may finde some clad with religious habite liuing in cloisters) per∣suade themselues that this per∣fection whollye consisteth of the frequenting the Quire, in silence, in solitarinesse, and in well ordered discipline. And thus some in these, and some in other external exercises be∣leeue, that the perfect state of spirituall man is founded: but yet notwithstanding it is not so, for although the foresaide exercises are somtimes meanes to obtaine spirite, sometimes fruits of spirite, yet cannot it be saide, that in these onely con∣sisteth christian perfection, and the true spirite: they are without dowt forcible means,

for obtaining the spirit to thos that do wel, and discrectly vse them, for the better getting of strength & force against their proper malice, and frailtie, to arme themselues against the assaults of our common ene∣mies; & to prouide vs of those spirituall helpes, whiche are very necessarie to all the ser∣uants of God, but specially to yong beginners. They are also fruits of the spirit in them that are indeede spirituall and illu∣minated; who chasten their body because it hath offended their Creator, and to subdue and keepe it vnder in his ser∣uice: they keepe silence and liue solitarily, to eschewe euen the least thing that might of∣fend God, and to haue spiri∣tual

ioy and their conuersati∣on in heauen.

They attend to the worship of God, and workes of pietie, they praye and frequent the most holy Sacraments, for the glorie of his diuine Maiestie, & to vnite themselues alwayes more and more in loue with him.

But now vnto others, who place their whole foundation in these aforesayde externall exercises they may minister sometimes (not for anye de∣sert in themselues (for they are almost holy) but through the default of them that vse them) more occasion of ruine, then doe apparant and mani∣fest sinnes: whilst they being only addicted to thē, do leaue

the inward man forsaken, and in the hands of their naturall inclinations, and of the inuisi∣ble diuel; who seeing them out of the right waie, permitteth them not only to continue the aforesaide exercises with great delight, but also to walk accor∣ding to their owne vaine fan∣cie as it were amidst the de∣lights of Paradise, where they perswade themselues to be e∣leuated amongst the quiers of Angells, and seeme in a maner to feele God within them: at which times they finde them∣selues altogether swallowed vp in certaine meditations, full of high curious and delightful points, and as yet were forget∣ting the worlde, and all crea∣tures, they seeme to bee rapt to

the third heauen, but in how great errors they finde them∣selues entangled; and how far they are from that perfection which we goe about to finde, may easily be perceiued, if we consider their life and man∣ners: for these kind of people are wont to bee too much ad∣dicted to their owne iudge∣ment, curious and diligent ob∣seruers, and murmurers at o∣ther mens actions and words; but if they be touched in any one point of their vaine repu∣tation, or debarred from those deuotions whiche they com∣monly vse, or restrained from their accustomed often recei∣uing, they are without measure offended, and disquieted.

And if God (to bring them

to true knowledge) send them or permit them to suffer any trouble, infirmitie, and perse∣cution, (which neuer happen but by his diuine will, and are the very touchstone of the loi∣altie of his seruants) then they discouer their false foundation and the inward rottennes and corruption of their pride; so that in euery accident, whether it be sorrowfull, or ioyfull, they will not resigne or humble themselues vnder his diuine hand, neither according to the example of his humbled and afflicted sonne, doe they abase themselues vnder euery crea∣ture accompting their persecu tors for their dearest friendes, and imbracing them as the in∣struments of his diuine good∣nesse,

and workers of their spiritual health, true reforma∣tion and mortification.

Wherefore it is most cer∣taine, that all such are in very great danger, for hauing their internall cie dimmed, and be∣holding onely their externall acts, (which are good) they attribute to themselues many degrees of perfection.

And thus puft vppe with pride, they become iudges of others, and there is left no means of their conuersion, but by the extraordinary goodnes and help of God; for it is more easie to reduce to well doing an open and publike sinner, then one that sinnes secretly, and is couered with the cloake of apparent vertue

Thou seest therefore good daughter most plainely, that the trueth of spirituall life, is not to be found in the afore∣said things, in that maner that we haue spoken of. And thou must vnderstand, that it consi∣steth in no other thing, but in a true knowlege of the boun∣tie, and greatnes of God, and of our owne littlenesse, or no∣thing, and naturall inclination to all euill; in the hatred of our selues, and in the loue of God, in the full abnegation of our owne will, and in resigning it to the will of God, subiecting our selues not only to him, but for his loue to euery creature, and all this for no other end, but onely to please him, and bicause he deserues thus to be

loued and serued.

This is the denying of our selues, which our Redeemer doth seeke in vs. This is the obedience whereunto he cal∣leth his faithfull seruants, both by word and example. This is the crosse which by his swee∣test law of loue is laide vppon their shoulders.

To this loue, and tru chari∣ty, so oft and particularly in his last Supper hee inuiteth his deare Disciples, with all his friends and children.

And because thou aspiring to the top of so great perfecti∣on, must vse force with thy selfe, and couragiously ouer∣come thy owne will, both in great and little things: it be∣hooueth thee of necessity with

al redinesse of mind to prepare thy selfe to this combate, sith the crowne of so great a victo∣rie is not giuen, but to them that fight valiantly. This bat∣tel, as of all other, it is the har∣dest: so the victorie gotten by the same, is of all other most glorious and most deare vnto God.

For if thou attend to tread downe and to kill all thy dis∣ordered appetites, and desires, euen the very least; thou shalt doo a thinge more pleasing, and a greater seruice to Al∣mightie God, then if keeping any one of them voluntarilye aliue thou shouldest whip thy selfe till the bloud ran downe; or shouldest faste more then the old Hermets and Ancho∣rites,

or shouldest conuert to good life thousands of soules: for although the conuersion of soules be more deare to our Sauior in it selfe, then the mor∣tification of one sinal passion of our will; yet notwithstan∣ding thou oughtest not to wil or work any thing more prin∣cipally, then that which the same Sauiour most stricktly wills and requires of thee: and hee without doubt is more pleased that thou shouldst la∣bor with thy selfe to mortifie thy passions, then that leauing one vnmortified in thee, thou shouldst serue him in anye other thing, though greater and of more moment in it selfe.

Now then O daughter,

since thou feest wherein Chri stian Perfection consisteth: and that to obtaine the same, thou must take vppon thee a continuall and sharpe warre: it is necessary that thou like a valiant champion and enemie of thy selfe, do prouide thee of foure things, as necessarie ar∣mour, to the end thou mayst get the victorie and remaine a conqueresse in this spirituall battell, and these be, first, di∣strust of thy selfe, second, confidence in God, third, ex∣ercise, fourth, and prayer; of al which by the helpe of God I will intreat particularly and briefely.