To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
BEhold thou hast, my dearely be∣loved in Christ, a The Parlour of the Soule, which thou hast so long time desired. Having now lately written The spirituall Glasse, both for
thy selfe and mee, I had purposed to have added nothing thereto: how∣beit afterwards, I could by no meanes satisfie thy desire, unlesse I an∣nexed unto it, The spiri∣tuall Iewell, Crowne, and Casket, all which this our Parlour containeth. Which truly came later to the Presse than thou wished: but take it in good part, being done by the p••rpose and ordi∣nance of God. Now if thou setting aside some∣times thy more weigh∣tie cares and employ∣ments, become deligh∣ted
with the reading of such simple bookes as are published by mee (as thou seemest to be de∣lighted) I doe advise thee that first thou en∣ter into this Parlour, and diligently consider and discusse those things which are therein: And afterwards that thou take into thy hand that Psychagogia, which I have collected some yeares agoe, out of Au∣gustine and Gregorie. For the doctrine of the Fa∣thers set downe in these two Books, shall migh∣tily comfort and con∣firme
thee being of so good disposition, and inflame thee to the love of God & thy heavenly Countrey. Let it not be tedious to thee ofttimes to read over these and such like devout works, yea, though thy reading afford small or no sweet relish to the palate of thine heart. For too de∣licate is he, who casteth aside all such holy and wholesome directions as he had once read, or heard, and will not read nor heare them any more. I give thanks un∣to my Lord Jesus, for
that thy Brother, after such time as he had read over that Tract of mine entitled, Comfort for the weak hearted, and now by mee published, hee be∣comes now lesse affli∣cted with inordinate feare, than before. Let him ascribe that reliefe, as received solely from God and his holy Do∣ctors, who speake unto him in that Tract of comfort. He does well surely, to grieve and sor∣row for that hee hath offended God without measure or number all the by-past time of his
life: neverthelesse hee is to have his affiance and confidence in the boundlesse sweetnesse of Gods mercie. Let him thinke how most of those who had slaine Christ, afterwards recei∣ved pardon by beleeving in Christ: to the end truly, that all men should learne, that no crimes or offences are so grievous, which God most gracious and full of the fatnesse of mercie, will not forgive to such as are faithfull Converts and true Peni∣tents before him. For it
is an especiall propertie ••est becomming our most holy God, to have mercie and spare these, who humble themselves before him, and heartily ••eg pardon of him. Rightly doth thy Bro∣ther confesse that at all times he is verie imper∣fect: yet let let him re∣member, that the imper∣fect cost Christ as deare as the most perfect. That inconstancie or in∣stability of mind, where∣with hee saith, that hee is afflicted in his prayer, is common to innume∣rable servants of God.
There is no cause then that hee should be here∣by so much amated. For if hee suffer this di∣straction against his will, and strive wirh his best endevour to be∣come attentive, his pray∣er humbly poured forth in this distraction, is ofttimes more usefull and fruitfull, than if it were performed with great attention of heart. For God approveth his desire, affection, and de∣vout endevour, and pur∣geth the soule with such like griefes as these, or else conserveth and a∣dorneth
it being purged and purified from these distractions. Exhort him alwayes, that hee be of good courage. If with a patient and resig∣ned heart, hee suffer for the love of God his af∣flictions, and want of health, whereof almost hee daily laboureth, hee need not doubt, but so soone as he shall lay off this grievous, onerous, and bitter load of cor∣ruptible flesh, hee shall enjoy eternall joy and health. Goe to then, my Beloved, let us ob∣serve our selves, I pray
thee, vigilantly, and so endevour to live circum∣spectly, as becommeth true Christians, who beare both the style and state of Christianitie. Let us passe over all the residue of our present life profitably. In all things that wee doe, let us wirh sing••enesse of heart principally respect the praise and glorie of God. Let us love Iesus, who loveth us with a most ardent and unmea∣surable love. For his honour let us mortifie in us as much as wee may, our owne proper
and depraved wills and vices. Let us subject and conforme us in all things to Gods will. Let us beare a mind humble and resigned: continually desiring and studying to please God. For by this meanes wee shall at last come to that chiefe and most joyfull good: which that wee might possesse, wee were created to the image of God, and re∣deemed with the preti∣ous bloud of Christ. Wee shall come, I say, unto God, who is the amiable abysse & foun∣taine
of all light, life, beautie, excellencie, sweetnesse and abun∣dance. Then shall wee be truly blessed, seeing the vision of all beautie infinitely exceeding and excelling all the sense-attracting objects of this whole world: for wee shall behold in the light of glorie the melli∣fluous countenance of God, and in him, by a most sweet fruition of him, shall wee rest, and obtaine imperturbable peace. Then shall wee abound with unspeaka∣ble joy, & shall be fully
satisfied, and shall per∣fectly love, and praise God for evermore. O how great felicitie is it to attaine to the cleare vision of God; and a∣gaine, how great infeli∣citie, to be deprived of it, and to be drenched in hell, and there horribly to be tormented with∣out end! Farewell in the Lord, and pray for mee.
That excellent part of the Dialogue composed by D. Henricus Suso, wherein the praises and profits of affli∣ctions are expressed, and ma∣ny other precepts usefully delivered, some few dayes
since I inserted in my Com∣fort for the weake hearted, that I might gratifie thy brother. He shall easily procure it, so soone as it shall be reprin∣ted. As touching the say∣ings of the aforesaid Suso, which thou desirest should be sent unto thee, here re∣ceive them, as I have compi∣led them for thee, and addressed them to thee.
Conclave animae.