A spiritual spicerie containing sundrie sweet tractates of devotion and piety. By Ri. Brathwait, Esq.
About this Item
Title
A spiritual spicerie containing sundrie sweet tractates of devotion and piety. By Ri. Brathwait, Esq.
Author
Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673.
Publication
London :: Printed by I. H[aviland] for George Hutton at his shop within turning stile in Holborne,
1638.
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Subject terms
Devotional literature.
Cite this Item
"A spiritual spicerie containing sundrie sweet tractates of devotion and piety. By Ri. Brathwait, Esq." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a16680.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 19, 2024.
Pages
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
A
Christian Diall; By which hee is di∣rected,
how to dispose of
his houres while he is living,
how to addresse himselfe for the
houre of his dying, and how to
close his dayes with a comfor∣table
ending.
Faithfully rendred accor∣ding
to the Originall.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
To the Generous,
Ingenious, and Judicious,
Sir WALTER VAVASOR
Knight and Baronet; together
with his Vettuously accom∣plished
Lady:
R. B. Zealously consecrates this
Christian Diall.
To your Grand-father have I welcom bin,Receive this Gage in memory of him;Whil'st no Sun-Diall may more truly giveThe houre oth' day, than this the way to live.
descriptionPage 230
THE LIFE
of JOHANNES
JUSTUS LANSPERGIUS,
a Carihusian;
Authour of these Medita∣tions
entitled,
A Christian Diall.
IOHANNES
JUSTUS LAN∣SPERGIUS,
borne of honest
parents at Lan∣sperge
a Towne in Bavaria,
after such time as hee had
finished his course in the stu∣dy
of Philosophy at Cullen,
descriptionPage 231
hee gave there the name to
the Order of the Carthusians,
wherein being growne Fa∣mous
for the space of 30.
yeares, both by example of
manners and piety, as also
by writing Books of De∣votion
and Sanctity, he slept
in the Lord the 4. of the
Ides of August, in the yeare
of Christs Nativity,
M.D.XXXIX.
descriptionPage 232
A Christian Diall;
By which he is dire∣cted
how to dispose of
his houres while he is li∣ving,
how to addresse himself
for the houre of his dying,
and how to close his daies
with a comfortable
end••ng.
Faithfully rendred ••cording
to the Originall.
A briefe Institution, with an
Exercise for an happy death: ex∣pressed
in a familiar Conference be∣twixt
God and the Soule.
AS there is nothing,
O Soule, which
may make the love
of the world more
distastfull ••nto thee, or that
may bring thee to so great
descriptionPage 233
contempt of it, and of all
creatures in it, as the consi∣deration
of the shortnesse of
this life, and certainty of
death, whereby all thy ende∣vours,
all thine honours, all
thy pleasures, thoughts, de∣sires,
and all thy joyes shall
perish: So is there nothing
that may solace or refresh the
loving Soule with greater
joy, than the beleefe and hope
she hath to become associa∣ted
to mee, united to me, and
swallowed up in mee: where
there is hereafter no offence,
no sinne, no separation, no
danger, no feare, no sorrow.
Where the Soule full of cha∣rity
may alwaies praise mee,
alwayes magnifie me, become
most perfectly obedient,
most perfectly pleasant unto
descriptionPage 234
mee, and that shee may bee
with mee, where shee may
desire nothing, love nothing,
feele nothing else beside me,
where she may wholly possesse
me, & be wholly possessed by
me. These things, forasmuch
as they cannot firmly nor ••ul∣ly
befall thee in this life, but
then onely, when thou shalt
bee with mee in my King∣dome,
to wit, when all thy
desires shall bee satisfied,
both in praising and loving
mee, and when I shall bee all
i••all. Therefore it is, that
••hou justly cravest, and justly
with thy whole heart de••irest
in that Prayer which I gave
••hee, Let thy Kingdome come.
Wherefore, O daughter, if
thou lovest mee rightly,
••aithfully, fervently: thou
descriptionPage 235
wilt desire with all thine
heart, this Kingdome, that is,
this state or condition; for
this with sighs thou wilt
pray, to wit, that my King∣dome
may come, wherein thou
maist with most sweet love
bee to mee united, wholly in
mee melted and molded.
And because (as I said be∣fore)
this cannot come to
passe but by death, therefore
this Death, which is the gate
and passage to life, is to my
Saints in desire, and life in pa∣tience.
Hence thou seest,
how a soule perfectly loving
mee, feareth not death. For
whath hath such a Soule to
lose by exchange of this mi∣serable-unhappy
life, but the
sta••e of sinning, snares of of∣fending,
occasions of ruine,
descriptionPage 236
deceits of enemies, self-frail∣ty,
feares, with other innu∣merable
Occurrents, which
straiten the Soule, either
ignor••••t, or weake, or luke∣warme,
(not to speake here
of the dangers of the body)
and therefore alwayes fain∣ting
and falling. Manythings
here would the soule have
which shee ought not, or wch
she even knowes nor though
shee would have them. Many
things would shee which she
cannot. In many things is
the soule ignorant, blind,
and walking among Snares,
or in darknesse, whence shee
knows not how to free her
selfe. How then may shee
not worthily wish, how not
rejoyce, that shee is delive∣red
from these sorrowes,
descriptionPage 237
and dangers? Why there∣fore,
O Soule, doest tho••
feare, why dost thou not de∣sire
death? For tell mee
what evill shall death bring
unto thee? If thou fearest
nothing in this world, death
can take nothing from thee.
If thou love any thing in this
world, it is with danger, yea
thou lovest thine owne dan∣ger.
Cease therefore to love
the world before death, that
thou maist nothing at all
feare death. Furthermore,
if thou love me onely in this
life, joy for that thou shalt
dye, for that thou shalt
never enjoy what thou lo∣vest,
before thou dye. But I
know what thou fearest:
Truly, thou lovest nothing
in this world, thou possessest
descriptionPage 238
nothing which thou wouldst
not lose, or grievest to lose;
yet feare and terror surprize
thee, because thou knowest
not whether thou beest wor∣thy
of love or hate; thou
knowest not how thou art
to bee entertained by mee,
whether to rest or punish∣ment.
O daughter, thou oughtst
not to bee too curious after
the knowledge of these
things, yea it is not expedi∣ent
for thee to know them.
Stand constantly, although
thou feare; in hope and af∣fiance,
both living and dy∣ing,
set thy rest upon mee.
Thou canst not live well of
thy selfe, neither canst thou
dye well of thy selfe. Thou
hast both from mee. What,
descriptionPage 239
if I shall give thee grace to
live holily, shall I not also
give thee grace to die happi∣ly?
Seeing thou hast all
things from mee, exp••ct••••
all things of mee, how can••••
thou expect the one, and
despaire of the other?
Of thy selfe thou canst nei∣ther
live well, nor dye well.
Put thy trust th••re••ore in m••,
cast thy thought upon mee,
ground all thy feare and care
upon mee. As thou canst re∣sist
no tentation, avoid no
sinne living, so neither dy∣ing.
If I forsake thee no•• li∣ving,
if I faithfully prevent
tentation, and moderate it in
thy life, that thou maist
beare it: I am ready to doe
the very same unto thee at
thy death, that thou maist
descriptionPage 240
vanquish it. Never goe to
fight with thine owne wea∣pons,
but rely on mee. If
thou rely on mee, I will
fight for thee. And if thou
have mee fighting with thee
and for thee, what hast thou
to feare, who art nothing of
thy selfe? And as concerning
the condition or quality of
death, feare nothing. There
is no kind of death that can
hurt the just: for the just
man, with what death soever
hee shall bee surprized, shall
bee at rest. Wherefore, let it
trouble thee nothing, whe∣ther
thou die at home or a∣broad,
in thy bed or in thy
field: neither art thou to
feare, whether the death bee
naturall or violent, which
takes thee away. For if one
descriptionPage 241
kind of death were more
unhappy than another, all
my Saints (surely) were most
unhappy, the most part
whereof in times past, in the
judgement of the world, and
eye of flesh, most unhappily
ended this life. Which of
mine holy Martyrs dyed a
naturall and timely death?
Whom hath not the vio∣lence
of the Crosse, racke,
fire, or sword extinguished?
Nothing therefore shall it
hurt thee, whether thou
dyest of the plague, or an a∣poplexy,
or any other kind
of death, in the bed, or in
the field. Onely watch, that
thou maist bee found in faith,
hope and charity: and no death
or kinde of Buriall shall
harme thee. But forasmuch as
descriptionPage 242
speaking to thee, I likewise
speake to them, who are as
yet imperfect in my love; I
advise you all in this, that
yee love innocence, and hate
iniquity. If thou hast at any
time sinned, what Soule soe∣ver
thou bee, cease, grieve,
repent, that thou hast sinned,
so long as thou livest. Yet
so repent, if thou wishest to
thy selfe a fruitfull repen∣tance,
that thou returne not
againe to thy sins, or to thy
former state of sinning. Al∣wayes
expect death, and pre∣pare
thy self for it, as if thou
wert at this very present to
dye. But lest some devout
institution should be wāting
to the weake in spirit, by
which supported, they may
learne in some sort how to
descriptionPage 243
dye, I will adde something
more to these. First there∣fore, thou oughtest to re∣member
what mine Apo∣stle
saith, and what Truth it
selfe speaketh, Yee have not
here an abiding City, but ye se••ke
for one that is to come; unto
which here in this world, no
otherwise than in a journey
yee walke as Pilgrimes.
Now your Pilgrimage is
ended, when your life is clo∣zed.
Death therefore is the
very last line, running be∣twixt
this exile wherein yee
are, and the Countrey whereto
yee goe; so as, there is no o∣ther
gate, by which yee may
passe from this valley of your
Pilgrimage, and enter your
Countrey, your heavenly in∣heritage,
but by death. Death
descriptionPage 244
then most certainly doth
wait for you, like as a most
certaine end is limited to
your life. But this difference
there is betwixt the good
and evill, that here in your
Pilgrimage yee all travaile
mixtly, all, I say, albeit not
all in a right way; yee long
after your blessed Countrey:
all yee, so long as yee are
in your journey, although
yee wander, may returne un∣to
the true way. But when
yee shall come to the end of
your journey, in the gate it
selfe, that is, at the point of
death, yee are discerned, that
Some of you may passe from
exile unto life, others to mi∣sery
and eternall death. It is
not then lightly to bee con∣sidered,
nor negligently ob∣served,
descriptionPage 245
how every one is to
bee prepared before death
come. For there yee leave all
things after you, in which
yee trusted. Bee they riches,
honours, friends, or any o∣ther
vaine thing whatsoever,
they shall availe you nothing
at the houre of death, but
leaving these behind you, ye
shall goe naked unto the Tri∣bunall
of God, to receive
according to your works.
What blindnesse, nay what
madnes is it then, to rejoyce
here in your journey, to
love fraile things, which
profit nothing; to neglect
the time and occasion of li∣ving
well, and as if without
all sense of God, through
drousinesse and drynesse of
mind, to rellish those things
descriptionPage 246
onely which are of the flesh,
to have in pursuit those
things onely which are out∣ward,
and not at all to consi∣der
the dangerous state of the
inward man, and so to come
unto death? Alas; how in∣numerable
are those misera∣bly
wretched ones who are
here deceived, with the love
of the world ensnared, and
••y drawing after them the
yoake of the Devill, how un∣happily
slaved? And thus un∣expectedly
they come unto
death, with hearts both hard∣ned
and blinded. Alas; how
unhappy is the end of their
life, with whom there was
never Meditation of death,
nor preparation for health?
Such things therefore are
to bee rejected, as hinder the
descriptionPage 247
spirit, delight the flesh;
Such things to bee relinqui∣shed
as are not expedient;
In such sort is every one to
live every houre, as if that
were his very last, wherein he
should dye and goe to judge∣ment.
This is the most fruit∣full,
profitable, & soveraigne
counsell, O Daughter, that
thou maist live after this
manner, and that death may
be to thee no terrour. Now
then, if not continually,
yet frequently, should that
houre bee presented before
thee, as if it were before
thine eyes, wherein thy soule
going out of thy body shall
be judged for all thy workes,
words, and thoughts. This
therefore oughtst thou even
at this present to injoyn thy
descriptionPage 248
selfe, that thou maist live so
even now, to the end thou
maist be found so prepared,
is thou wouldst thy selfe
to bee prepared, whenso∣ever
death shall undoubtedly
come. It is the property of
a most sottish and senselesse
heart, to deferre amendment
of life to that time, when
time expireth, when thou
canst live no longer, when
now thou art not to amend
thy life, but to appeare be∣fore
God as thou art already
amended. Surely, not sinnes
only, but even all things doe
leave thee going out of this
life. Thou art not then pro∣perly
said to leave thy sins,
when thou canst now sin no
more: But if whilest thou
hast ability to sin, thou cease
descriptionPage 249
from sin; true repentance is
never to be called late: but
this which is deferred to the
end of thy life, it is to be fea∣red
that it is seldome true.
For if through feare of dam∣nation
only, being even now
to die, thou sorrowest, and
art ready for the avoiding of
punishment to performe any
taske, be it never so extreme,
to obtaine pardon: Thou
sorrowest not out of charity,
in that thou hast offended
God, but out of selfe-love, for
that thou wishest to thy selfe
good and not evill. For thou
sorrowest, because thou hast
brought to thy selfe eternall
damnation by thy sinnes:
Wheras, if thou rightly sor∣rowest,
for this only wouldst
thou sorrow, in that thou, so
descriptionPage 250
disobedient unto me, so un∣thankfull
to me, so reproach∣full
to me, hast not exhibited
due honour and reverence
unto me: whom thou ough∣test
with al affection to have
honored, whatsoever should
befall thee. Whereas now,
forasmuch as thou only sor∣rowest
for thy selfe, if dan∣ger
were avoided, or no re∣venge
on sinne inflicted,
thou wouldst never lament,
though thou hadst offended
me a thousand yeares toge∣ther.
True Repentance, which
reconcileth the soule unto
me, springeth from Charitie,
and bewaileth this especial∣ly,
that shee hath so greatly
and grievously contemned
and offended mee her best,
greatest, gracioust, and most
descriptionPage 251
faithfull LORD GOD,
her Creator and Redeemer.
Hence, I say, is his heart
wounded, for as much as so
unthankfully, so disobedient∣ly,
and so proudly, being bu••
dust and nothing; hee hath
lifted up his head against me
Whosoever therefore desi∣reth
to dye happily, let him
(as mine A postle admonish∣eth
him) live soberly, justly, and
holily. An evill death follow∣eth
not a good and just life
but precious in my sight is th••
death of my Saints; yea, after
what sort of death soever
they die, that is, whether
they dye by water, or fire, or
in bed. But to prepare thee
all the better for death, the
Meditation whereof is the
life of every wise man; take
descriptionPage 252
here along with thee this
short exercise, by which eve∣ry
one may instruct and ad∣dresse
himselfe, that he may
take a course to be found in
that state, in which he may
not feare to dye.
Wholesome Admo∣nitions,
teaching a
Christian how to
dye well,
WHATSOEVER
dying thou wouldst
wish that thou hadst done,
doe the same even now.
Whatsoever thou wouldst
have done, doe not commit
this unto others to be done
after thy death, but doe thou
descriptionPage 253
it thy selfe, for if thou thy
selfe bee negligent of thine
owne salvation, and a tray∣tour
to thy selfe, how shall
strangers tender thy happi∣nesse?
Doe not repose trust
in uncertaine and vaine pro∣mises:
neither commit thy
selfe to doubtfull events. So
live and so doe, that thou
maist bee safe in thy consci∣ence,
and as if thou wert this
day to dye. Never goe to
sleepe, till such time as thou
hast examined the expence
of the day, with the condi∣tions
and actions of thy life.
Discusse and call to judge∣ment
thine heart, and exa∣mine
all thy senses, and whe∣ther
thou art become better
or worse this day. Never goe
with that conscience to
descriptionPage 254
sleepe, with which thou da∣rest
not dye. If thou findest
thy selfe in that state, where∣in
thou fearest to dye, search
out the cause of this feare.
For (peradventure) some sins
are in thee, whereof thou
hast not as yet repented, or
refusest to confesse; or else
thou forbearest to abstaine
from sinne, and occasions of
sin, or thou takest upon thee
some profession, office, or
vocation, which I admit not
of; or thou continuest in ha∣tred,
or in the unjust possessi∣on
of others goods, or too
much affected to the desire
or delight of temporall af∣faires,
or taken with the in∣ordinate
love of some crea∣ture,
or drowned with the
delight of earthly and visible
descriptionPage 255
things (as of honour and
riches) thou canst not turne
thy selfe to mee, tasting no∣thing
of those things, which
are of the Spirit, but onely
let loose to outward things,
and loathing those which
are divine, therefore it is that
thou fearest death: Because
thy soule guiltie of evill in
her-selfe, foretelleth what
torments shall befall her after
death. If any of these shall
be in thee, thou oughtest to
abhorre, pursue, and with all
thine endevour to free thee
of them. For which purpose,
and the better effecting of so
glorious a designe, it may
helpe thee much to imitate
my steps, embrace my crosse,
and with rigour of mind, and
with holy hatred commen∣ced
descriptionPage 256
against thy selfe, to de∣nounce
warre upon all thy
vices, to have a purpose to
sinne no more, frequently
and infatigably to renue the
same, with no infirmitie or
pusillanimity to be dejected,
to contemplate the exam∣ples
of me and my Saints, to
commend thy selfe to the
prayers and exhortations of
good men, to give way to
my inward and divine inspi∣rations,
to exercise prayer
and holy reading, never
to admit of idlenesse, to
love silence and retirednesse.
These and such like doe
change the naughtinesse of
the mind, and chase away the
feare of death. When thou
shalt come in the end of eve∣ry
day, say thus to thy selfe:
descriptionPage 257
Now is my life become
shorter by one day. Eare∣ly
when thou risest, say thus
to thy selfe: O Gracious
God, now am I nearer to
death by one Night.
An Exercise,
whereby earely, or
whensoever thou willest,
thou maist poure out thy
heart unto God, for
a good death.
O Omnipotent, eternall
God, my Creator and
Lover, I praise, laud, adore,
and blesse thee, for that thou
so mercifully and patiently
hast suffered mee, groveling
descriptionPage 258
in my sins and my unthank∣fulnes,
even unto this houre,
to which thou of thy good∣nesse
hast brought mee, en∣riching
me with thy benefits,
conferring this life with
things necessary for this life
upon me, with an angelicall
guardian protecting me, and
inlarging towards mee thy
mercy, who am injuriously
••nworthy, and a spectacle of
misery. Ah gracious God,
who knoweth whether the
terme of my life shall be pro∣••ogued
to the evening? O
what death shall I desire? O
••ost mercifull Lord, God,
and Father, give unto mee
contrition, whereby with all
mine heart I may bewaile my
sins, and my offending thee.
And doe not suffer my soule
descriptionPage 259
to goe forth from her bodie,
till she be reconciled to thee
in mercy, adopted to thee by
grace, adorned with thy me∣rits
and vertues, inflamed
with most perfect chari∣tie,
and accepted according
to thy all-good-will and
pleasure. O most gracious
Lord Jesu Christ, if this I
desire of thee do please thee,
grant it unto me, although I
bee most unworthy to bee
heard of thee; grant unto
me, I beseech thee, for thine
infinite mercies, and the me∣rits
of thy passion, that I may
bee purged in this life from
all my sins, that dying, and
through vehement and true
contrition pricked, and in
most ardent charitie to thee
united, I may goe out unto
descriptionPage 260
thee, my most sweet Redee∣mer,
being forthwith freed
and secured from all damna∣tion,
and future affliction.
Notwithstanding, O most
loving Jesu, I doe offer and
resigne my selfe unto thee,
whether it be to poverty, pe∣nury,
or any other extremi∣tie,
for thy glories sake, ac∣cording
to thy good-will
and pleasure: beseeching thee
only this, that thou wouldst
bee mindfull of my frailty,
vilenesse, weaknesse, and mi∣sery,
as also of thy goodnesse
and charity, that thou woul∣dest
never forsake mee, nor
depart from mee, but that
thou wouldst alwayes whol∣ly
governe and possesse mee,
according to thy good plea∣sure.
Amen.
descriptionPage 261
An oblation of
Christ and his me∣rits
to his Fa∣ther.
O Omnipotent most gra∣cious
Father, I doe of∣fer
unto thee all those pains,
dolours, reproches, stripes,
and rebukes, all adversities,
extremities, and labours of
thine onely begotten Jesu
Christ, the Lambe immacu∣late,
which hee suffered in
his body for me; likewise all
his actions, and every of his
members afflicted for me, his
bloud shed for me, and with
prophane feet trampled; also
descriptionPage 262
his most noble and devout
Soule, separated from his
lovely Body for me, his me∣rits
likewise and infinite ver∣tues.
Likewise the powers
or faculties of his Soule and
body, and all those vitall
parts in him, given up unto
death for mee, albeit insepa∣rably
united to his Divini∣ty:
yea, the whole Christ,
thy blessed Sonne, God and
man, omnipotent and in∣firme,
despicable and glori∣ous,
doing wonders and
hanging upon the Crosse,
these (I say) doe I offer unto
thy sacred Majesty, to the
expiation and satisfaction
of all my sins, and of all the
world, and to the mortifica∣tion
and extinction of all
mine evill passions, affecti∣ons,
descriptionPage 263
and vices, to the supply
of all my negligences, and to
thy praise, and thanksgiving
for all thy benefits. O God
be mercifull unto me a mise∣rable
sinner, for his sake.
Have mercy on mee for the
love of Jesu Christ, thy be∣loved
Son.
descriptionPage 264
THE DYING
mans Diary,
Or
A Christians
Memento mori;
Divided into a five
dayes Exercise.
THere are, who all
the yeare long
present the figure
and feature of
Death before them by some
certaine Exercise, and pre∣pare
themselves no other∣wise
descriptionPage 265
for death, than if they
were even then to dye, and
that for the space of five
dayes continually. The first
day, they meditated of the
griefes & infirmities which
goe before death, and hor∣rour
of death: unto all
which they resigne them∣selves.
The next day, they
thinke of their ••ins, confes∣sing
them with so great dili∣gence
and intention, as if
they were to dye presently
after their confession. There∣fore
they spend this day in
sighs and teares. The third
day, they come unto the bles∣sed
Eucharist with all the
fervour they may, receiving
it as their Viaticum in their
passage from this their ex∣ile.
The fourth day, they
descriptionPage 266
make continuall supplicati∣ons
unto God, for the un∣ction
of the Holy Spirit,
whereby they might be illu∣minated,
and the hardnesse
of their hearts mollified:
And this they do, as it were,
for extreme unction. The fifth
day, they become most fer∣vent
Supplicants unto God
for a spirituall death: wher∣by
they may perfectly dye to
the world & to themselves,
and live with God. And to
everie of these dayes may be
applyed proper Psalmes and
Prayers, as also divine invo∣cations,
& giving of thanks,
for all benefits conferred by
God upon them all their life
long.
descriptionPage 267
Profitable Counsell
for one approaching
neare the point
of death.
O Daughter, seeing thy
selfe in this extremitie,
prepare thy soule for God; so
order and dispose here in thy
life time of thy goods tem∣porall,
that after thy death
no difference nor debate
may arise. It is most profita∣ble
for thee to dispose of thy
goods in thy life time, and
to redeeme thy sins, whilest
thou livest, with works of
mercie. Whatsoever thou
wouldest recommend to o∣thers
to doe for thee, labour
descriptionPage 268
to doe it of thy selfe. For if
after death thou go to eter∣nall
torment, the Provision
of a Will, a pompous Fune∣rall,
Almes and Doales after
death, what will these availe
thee, when thou art damned?
Offer these Oblations to me
now whilest thou art living,
that thou mayest not onely
be delivered from thy sins,
but by increasing in my
grace, never fall into damna∣tion,
but by my preventing
grace preserving thee from
sin, persevere in good works
even to the end. When death
draweth neare, see that thou
wholly free thy selfe then
from all unnecessarie cares
and imployments, strive to
meet me immaculately, affe∣ctionately,
faithfully, pro∣mising
descriptionPage 269
nor presuming no∣thing
of thy works, but
through my assured mercie
to obtaine Salvation: And
in this faith committing
and commending thy selfe,
and all thou hast in this
world, to my providence
and good pleasure, receive
the Sacraments humbly and
devoutly. Those peculiar
priviledges and graces al∣so,
which have power in
them through my merits,
and are given by mee
as a treasure unto the
Church (albeit many oft∣times
abuse them, as they do
other most holy things) if
thou canst have them, cause
them to be applyed unto
thee. For even this, verie
holy persons of both sexes,
descriptionPage 270
and famous for their mira∣cles,
have formerly done.
An Exercise, where∣in
the sick person with
sighs and groanes (because
otherwise it can scarcely be
done) may resigne himselfe unto
God, and fervently desire,
that he may deserve to
be joyned unto
him.
O Most faithfull Lover,
most mercifull Lord Je∣su
Christ, grant unto mee,
that with heart and mind I
may feele, what I say: As the
Hart brayeth for the rivers of
water, so panteth my Soule after
thee, ô my God. I have chosen
to be an Abject in the house of
descriptionPage 271
the Lord, rather than to dwell
in the Tabernacle of sinners.
Blessed are they that dwell in
thy house, ô Lord, for ever and
ever shall they praise thee. My
Soule hath thirsted after thee, ô
God, when shall I come and ap∣peare
before thy face? Why art
thou sorrowfull, ô my Soule, and
why art thou so disquieted with∣in
mee? Trust in the Lord;
therefore will I now confesse my
selfe unto him, the Salvation of
my countenance, and my God.
Shew the light of thy counte∣nance
upon thy servant, ô Lord,
save me for thy mercies sake. Let
me not be confounded for ever, for
I have called upon thee. Be not
far from mee, ô my God. Looke
downe upon mee and help mee, ô
my God. The poore is left unto
thee, Thou wilt be the Orphans
descriptionPage 272
helper. Thou art my refuge in
my tribulation, which hath com∣passed
mee: O my joy deliver me
from these that encompasse mee.
Make hast to helpe mee, ô Lord
God of my Salvation. For thou
art my strength, and my refuge,
my helper and my protector. Doe
not then leave me, nor despise me,
ô God of my salvation. Behold
I come unto thee, ô my God,
whom I have despised and offen∣ded:
for the whole earth is full
of thy mercie. Therefore doe I
flie unto thee, my most mercifull
Father. Receive mee according
to thy word, when thou sayest;
(I WILL NOT THE
DEATH OF A SIN∣NER)
and let mee live, and
confound mee not in my hope. O
my God, I doe not pray un∣to
thee, for a life temporall,
descriptionPage 273
but I call upon thee for the
Salvation of my Soule, who
art life eternall. O my sweet
Lover, O my Lord God, for
as much as I have offended
thee; for that I have negle∣cted
thine inspirations and
admonitions, for that I have
at any time loved ought be∣••ide
thee, or without thee,
for this, O my Lord God,
for this doe I grieve: And I
beseech thee, that thou
wouldest give unto mee so
much grace, as I may with
all mine heart grieve a••d la∣ment
during everie moment
of my life. Would to God
that I might poure out and
offer unto thee everie drop
of my bloud with teares, for
griefe and love, into thy most
sweet heart. O sweet Jesu, I
descriptionPage 274
neither desire nor expect of
thee life nor death, but thy
good will and pleasure:
may it be done unto mee ac∣cording
to thy will. If it
be thy will, O my sweet Je∣su,
that I shall dye, receive
my spirit: And although I
come in the Evening, as the
verie last of all, grant unto
mee, that I may receive eter∣nall
rest with thee, and in
thee. But if it be thy will
that I shall live longer, O
sweet Jesu, I purpose this,
and I crave the assistance of
thy grace for this, to amend
the rest of my life, and to of∣fer
my selfe wholly as a burnt
Sacrifice unto thee, to thy
glorie, and according to thy
good will and pleasure. O
most desired Jesu, for as
descriptionPage 275
much as I have consumed my
life in sin, to the reproch of
thy glorious name, nor to
this day have begun to
serve thee: grant unto mee,
that I may now at last per∣fectly
begin, and employ all
the powers of my Soule an••
Body, and all the remainder
of my time given mee by
thee, to thy glorie, and ac∣cording
to thy best and most
perfect will.
O most mercifull Jesu, be
thou neare mee in these my
paines and miseries, with
which I am straitened, and i••
any more grievous than
these shall come upon mee,
for that I have deserved not
onely more grievous, but
most grievous by reason of
my sins: grant that I may
descriptionPage 276
patiently beare them. O
sweet Jesu, if I had never at
any time sinned, nor at thine
hand evilly deserved, not∣withstanding
to thy glorie,
and for thy love, good will,
and pleasure, I offer and re∣signe
my selfe unto thee, ei∣ther
in these or any other
punishments, to deale with
mee according to thy will,
not my worth, but in the
multitude of thy mercies, on
which I relye, and on which
I call, that by thy power
thou wouldest raise and
rouze up the frailtie of my
flesh, and strengthen with
longanimitie, and confirme
with patience the pusillani∣mitie
and instabilitie of my
Spirit: that I may not ••all
downe, as one either vanqui∣shed
descriptionPage 277
with tentation, or faint
through pusillanimitie: but
swallowed up with the most
burning heat of thy love, I
may onely sigh after thee,
onely desire thee, and leave,
loath, and contemne the
world, with all that is in it:
giving thee thanks with all
mine heart, for all things,
whether ministring unto me
occasion of joy or sorrow.
O most loving Jesu, I
chuse thee, I wish thee, I de∣sire
thee, I meet thee, and I
renounce whatsoever thou
art not in mee: what thou
willest, I will: what thou
nillest, I nill: whatsoever
thou abhorrest, I abjure.
And though sometimes, that
〈◊〉〈◊〉 is contrarie to this
will in mee, may be incident
descriptionPage 278
unto mee, I beseech thee, O
my God, that thou wouldst
not impute it unto mee, nor
judge mee according to that
depravednesse of Will in
mee, but according to this
Election of my mind, by thy
grace wrought in mee. Be∣cause
I contradict all those
things which I ought not
to will: yea, though (which
for thy mercie sake avert) I
hereafter vanquished, should
consent unto, yet now doe
I accurse and abjure them.
O most loving Jesu, if it
please thee, and redound to
thy glorie, grant unto mee
that I may be pre••erved in
this life from all sins and pu∣nishments,
into which after
death I ought otherwi•••• to
come, to which I am sub∣ject,
descriptionPage 279
or may possibly come,
and that thou wouldst re∣ceive
my Soule by the hand
of thy mercie, immediately
from this life to eternall
joyes.
O Lord Iesu Christ receive
my Spirit, &c.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
A
CHRISTIANS
LAST-WILL,
OR
TESTAMENT. Containing
A PROTESTATION
or Testament, not unpro∣fitable
to be repeated, or me∣ditated
of everie Christian
at the point of
death.
Composed, as may
be probably gathered, by
JOANNES LANSPER GENSIS,
and faithfully rendred ac∣cording
to the
Originall.
descriptionPage 281
A
CHRISTIANS
LAST-WILL,
OR
TESTAMENT.
Containing
A Protestation or Te∣stament,
not unprofitable to
be repeated, or meditated of
everie Christian at the
point of death.
Composed, as may be pro∣bably
gathered, by JOANNES
LANSPER GENSIS, and
faithfully rendred ac∣cording
to the
Originall.
IN the name of the
Father, and the
Son, and Holy
Ghost. I. M. an
unhappie Sinner, redeemed
descriptionPage 282
with the most precious
bloud of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and that for his great
love towards mee, no merit
of mine, doe confesse and
acknowledge publikely, or
by this hand-writing, or in
these words, before the Om∣nipotent
God, and before
the whole hoast of Heaven,
and before you, so many as
stand here as witnesses about
me, (if necessitie shall so re∣quire)
that I am, and desire
so to dye, a son truly obedi∣ent
to the holy Catholique
Church, with that ••inceritie
as becommeth a Christian.
And I beleeve and confesse
generally, all and everie part,
particle, portion, or article
of the Christian faith, to the
beleefe whereof everie Chri∣stian
descriptionPage 283
stands bound: especial∣ly
all those particular points
whether plainly expressed,
or necessarily implyed in the
twelve articles of Christian
faith, for as much as they
were delivered unto us, from
the holy Spirit, by the
twelve Apostles, and recom∣mended
to us for Evangeli∣call
truth. And I farther be∣leeve
and adhere to their in∣ter
pretations, or expositi∣ons,
yet not to all or everie
one, but to those onely,
which were published by
the holy Fathers, received,
admitted, ••pproved and con∣firmed
by the most sacred
Councells, and tried by the
truest touch-stone of infalli∣ble
Scripture. And to be
briefe, I beleeve whatsoever
descriptionPage 284
a Christian ought truly to
beleeve. In which faith so
immoveable and firme, I re∣joyce
with all mine heart to
dye, holding and offering
this writing in mine hand, as
a most impregnable and in∣vincible
shield against all the
insults, assaults, deceits, and
subtilties of the Devill. And
if it so come to passe (which
God forbid) that by instiga∣tion
of the Devill, or vio∣lence
of sicknesse, I should
thinke, speake, or doe any
thing contrarie to mine At∣testation
aforesaid, or
should fall into any aposta∣cie,
diffidence, or despera∣tion:
I wholly revoke and
reverse that, whatsoever or
howsoever it shall be, here in
the presence of you all, and
descriptionPage 285
make it as voyd and of no
effect, as if I were distraught
of my wits when I did it.
Wherefore I appeale unto
you all that are here present,
and to thee, O holy Angell,
to whose guard I am com∣mitted,
that yee beare wit∣nesse
of this my Protestation
before the Omnipotent
Judge. Now, for as much as
concerneth my selfe, I doe
pardon and forgive all inju∣ries
of what nature, qualitie,
or condition soever, as have
beene done mee, desiring
heartily that the like may
bee done to mee by those,
whom I have at any time of∣fended,
either in word or
deed. I doe likewise crave
and desire with all mine
heart, that I may bee made
descriptionPage 286
partaker of all good works,
which either are already
done, or shall be hereafter
done by holy men through
the whole Church: when∣soever,
or whereinsoever
their office or ministerie
may be usefull to mee:
but principally of the most
bitter Passion, and most in∣nocent
death of our Lord
Jesus Christ. And may this
my naturall, voluntarie, and
desired approch of death,
stand through his merits and
mercies, for all my sinnes.
And I wish to God that I
had never at any time sin∣ned,
either against God, or
his Lawes, or my Superi∣ours,
or my Neighbours, or
my selfe.
Lastly, I give thanks to
descriptionPage 287
mine Omnipotent God, for
all his benefits bestowed up∣on
me, and I commend my
body and soule into his
hands, and to the bitternesse
of the Passion of our Lord
Jesus Christ, to whom be
praise, and honour, and
dignitie for ever∣more,
Amen.
descriptionPage 288
AN
ELEGIE OF
St. Dionysius, a Car∣thusian,
of the judgement
of death, and the sun∣drie
casualties
thereof.
TO Earth returnes, whats'ere from Earth
had birth;Flower fades, shade vades, what's bred
is brought to Earth.Nought judge I long that doubtfull
bound can stay,To morrow day may be my onely day.Short is that day to day: which well may beMy day, my doome, a fearefull day to me.A fearefull horrid day, when all my storeIs clos'd in clay, and I can earne no more.Who thinks his dayes long ('las) he thinks amisse,Nor long nor safe is one whole day of his.In vaine speake I of dayes, dayes not exprest,When not one day nor houre can promise rest.
descriptionPage 289
Thy long liv' d hopes (if so thou like) extend,Yet nought of nought, shall come to nought i'th'end.Thou••ands, ten thousands, thousand thousands wereOn Earth, now Earth, whose names lye buried here:This onely rests, that each receive his hire,Good works deserve good gifts, ungodly fire.Behold the fearefull judge, thy finall doome!Prepare thy selfe, this dreadfull day will come.Feare then and quake, compose, direct thy mind,Live to dye now, and suffer what's assign'd.
descriptionPage 290
An Epistle of
Ludovicus Blosius,
written to an especi∣all
friend, upon the per∣fecting
and publishing
of his worke
entituled,
The Parlour of the Soule.
BEhold thou hast,
my dearely be∣loved
in Christ,
aThe Parlour of the Soule,
which thou hast so long
time desired. Having
now lately written The
spirituall Glasse, both for
descriptionPage 291
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
descriptionPage 292
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
descriptionPage 293
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
descriptionPage 294
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
descriptionPage 295
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
descriptionPage 296
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.
descriptionPage 297
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
descriptionPage 298
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
descriptionPage 299
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
descriptionPage 300
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
descriptionPage 301
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
descriptionPage 302
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
descriptionPage 303
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.
descriptionPage 304
CERTAINE
choyce or se∣lect
sayings
of
D. Henricus Suso.
Of the love of the world,
And
Of the love of God.
THat most holy
and beloved
man of God,
Henricus Suso,
lamenting the
infelicitie of such, as intan∣gled
in vaine love, and
wholly given over to this
descriptionPage 305
present world, doe neglect
God and their owne salvati∣on,
exhibiteth his com∣plaint
be••ore God after this
manner. Truly, O Lord, it
is a thing much to bee la∣mented,
that so many hearts
fit for holy love, so many ex∣cellent
and beautifull soules
stamped with Gods image,
which by a spirituall wed∣lock
with thee contracted,
might become Q••eenes and
Empresses, and have domi∣nion
over heaven and earth,
should so foolishly and im∣prudently
estrange them∣selves
from thee, deject them∣selves
so basely, and perish
so wittingly. Surely I am
perswaded, that if the in∣ward
eyes of all men should
so see thee, as I see thee, all
descriptionPage 306
transitorie love would be
forthwith extinguished in
them. I cannot sufficiently
admire, O Lord, (albeit I
stood sometimes far other∣wise
affected) that any ones
soule should possibly rest in
any thing but in thee, the
most vast and unbounded
depth. O incomprehensible
good, and inwardly to be
embraced! O most sweet
Lord, how well is it with
that soule which onely lo∣veth
thee, and which thou
with the divine streames and
beames of thy grace, excel∣lently
enlightenest, and to
to thy selfe more nearely
joynest and couplest! What
heavenly and mellifluous
consolation doth such a
soule draw from thee, what
descriptionPage 307
secret delights of sacred love
doth shee conceive in thee?
Thou art the boundlesse Sea
of most pure and inestimable
pleasures. What amiable∣nesse,
comelinesse, beauty so∣ever
can by any meanes be
conceived, all that above all
measure, is to be found in
thee plenteously stored. No∣thing
that is pleasant, grate∣full,
or plausible, can bee
found in any creature, which
is not in a most pure and ex∣quisite
manner infinitely
more aboundant and excel∣lent
in thee. So often as I
behold the formes of beauti∣full
objects, when I take a
view by inward contempla∣tion
of heaven, earth, woods,
and fields, and of the whole
world, all these things seeme
descriptionPage 308
to convent, and summon my
heart in these words:
Con∣sider
how amiable and
beautifull he is, who hath
made us, who is the foun∣taine
of all beautie.
O
Lord Jesus what joy doe I re∣ceive
from thee? Surely,
while I doe thinke, how I
am beloved of thee, the most
high God; whatsoever is
within mee, melteth through
the joy which I conceive of
thee. For this therefore doe
I rejoyce in my mind, for as
much as thou art so good, as
thou vouchsafe••t to be my
friend, as I constantly hope,
and confidently trust.
descriptionPage 309
Of the Passion
of our Lord.
THe same Suso in a Dia∣logue
bringeth in the
eternall wisdome, that is
Christ Jesus, talking with
his Minister of his Passion,
after this manner: The heart
of man is much more grate∣full
unto me, if it be freed of
earthly love, and by perpe∣tuall
diligence intentive to
imitate the excellent exam∣ple
of my life, than if hee
should follow mee with con∣tinuall
laments, and should
shed so many teares as there
be drops of raine which fall
from the aire. For in the
descriptionPage 310
suffering of my most bitter
death, this especially have I
intended & aimed, that men
sho••ld imitate mee: albeit
pious and devout teares bee
likewise verie acceptable un∣to
me. If thou canst not re∣member
my most bitter Pas∣sion
with watrie eyes, doe it
notwithstanding, with a
cheerefull mind, for these
unmeasurable good things
which thou derivest from it.
But if neither joyfully nor
dolefully thou canst medi∣tate
of it, yet with a drie
heart to my praise trace cur∣sorily
over it. For so shalt
thou performe an office of
observance, no lesse gratefull
to me, than if with teares of
compassion and sweetnesse
of affection, thou shouldst
descriptionPage 311
wholly melt into a floud of
devotion. For by this means
shouldst thou effect a work
through love, without re∣spect
unto thy selfe. But to
the end that this my Passion
may pierce nearer thine
heart, and thou become more
affected to it, heare what I
shall speake unto thee.
The soule which hath
bound her selfe in many sins,
may with the treasure of my
Passion so much enrich her,
and apply it to her, that
though she deserved a thou∣sand
yeares to be punished,
and with a thousand kinds
of exquisite tortures to be
afflicted, in a short time both
the sin and punishment due
for the same may sue release,
and in her passage hence
descriptionPage 312
comfortably depart in peace,
and bee translated to hea∣ven
as her true resting
place. But this must be done
by this meanes; by weigh∣ing
and discussing with a
contrite heart frequently
and fervently the greatnesse
and multitude of those odi∣ous
sins, wherewith so irre∣verently
shee ••a••h offended
the eyes of her heavenly Fa∣ther;
afterwards for works
of Satisfaction, as hee is not
to omit them, so is hee to
disvalue them, as such, that if
compared with his sins, they
are no more than one drop
of water in comparison of
the maine sea; but hee is to
advance and extoll wonder∣fully
the greatnesse of my
Satisfaction, seeing the verie
descriptionPage 313
least drop of my pretious
bloud, which everie where
streamed from my whole bo∣dy,
had beene sufficient for
taking away the sins of a
thousand worlds: of which
Satisfaction of mine, never∣thelesse
so much everie one
applyeth to himselfe, as hee
conformeth himselfe to mee
in suffering with mee, and
as hee humbly and seriously
crowneth the smalnesse of
his satisfaction, in the infi∣nitenesse
of my Expiation.
Of the holy
Eucharist.
IN that selfe-same Dia∣logue
of Suso, the wis∣dome
descriptionPage 314
incarnate discoursing
of the holy Eucharist, saith to
his Minister; The least gift
that proceedeth from mee in
the venerable Sacrament, shi∣neth
and beameth much
more gloriously unto all e∣ternitie,
than any splendour
of this visible Sun, and is
much more brighter and
clearer than the verie bright
Day-star it selfe. Briefly, it
adorneth thee much more
excellently, by a certaine e∣ternall
comelinesse & beau∣tie,
than at any time any
Summer, be it never so plea∣sant,
beautifieth the earth.
But dost thou not (perhaps)
doubt whether this most il∣lustrious
Divinitie of mine
be more bright than any Sun,
and my most excellent soule
descriptionPage 315
more sparkling than any
Star, and my glorious body
more delightfull than the
pleasantnesse of any Sum∣mer?
All which in verie
truth thou conceivest in the
Eucharist. Where I am the
Bread of life to the devout
and well-prepared: but to
the unworthy, who conti∣nue
by affection or action in
mortall sins, I am a tempora∣rie
Plague here, and an eter∣nal
curse hereafter: for on
these waiteth certaine dam∣nation,
unlesse they be re∣conciled
to mee by true re∣pentance.
Surely, if any one
were endued with the natu∣rall
puritie of all the An∣gels,
& renowmed with the
the integritie and sanctitie
of all the Saints, and ador∣ned
descriptionPage 316
with the good works of
all mortall men; yet, though
thus accomplished, were not
hee worthy to receive mee
in the Sacrament. But when
man doth all that hee can,
nothing more is required at
his hands, seeing wha••soever
is wanting through him, I
supply in him. But far bet∣ter
it is to come to this ve∣nerable
Sacrament in love,
than to abstaine from it
through feare.
Of resigning, deny∣ing,
and mortifying
himselfe.
SVso likewise wrote these
singular sentences tou∣ching
descriptionPage 317
resigning and denying
ones selfe. A perfect life con∣sists
not especially in this,
that thou abound in com∣fort,
but that thou submit
and resigne thy will to the
divine will. That thou hum∣bly
obey his will in the bit∣ter
sop of affliction, and the
sweet syrupe of consolation;
and that thou place and de∣base
thy selfe under the feet
of all men. For nothing is
more pleasing to the su∣preme
Angelicall spirit him∣selfe,
than in all things to sa∣tisfie
the divine will: In so
much, as if hee knew that it
would redound to the
praise of God, to pull up
nettles, or other weeds by
the root, he would most de∣siredly
performe this taske
descriptionPage 318
before all others. There is
no Resignation more per∣fect
or excellent, than to be
resigned wholly in the for∣saking
of himselfe: neither
ought any one to bee too
much grieved in mind, if he
have small experience of spi∣rituall
sweetnesse: Let him
rather think how hee is un∣worthy
of it. A true Resig∣nation
of himselfe to the will
of God, both in affaires cer∣taine
and uncertaine, with∣out
all doubt freeth and se∣cureth
man from all perils
and occurrents, causing him
to rejoyce with true peace
in all things. So great is the
pietie and benignitie of
God, that hee can by no
meanes at any time forsake
him, who with a confident
descriptionPage 319
heart relyeth on his good∣nesse,
and recommendeth and
resigneth himselfe wholly
to his Divine Providence.
True submission, depression,
and abnegation of ones selfe,
is the root of all ver••ues, of
all health and happinesse. It
grieveth one surely to bee
wise and eloquent, and not∣withstanding
to be enjoyned
silence: to be by others dis∣esteemed,
derided, iujuried,
to heare himselfe calumnia∣ted
and traduced, and not to
defend & revenge his cause:
or for a wise and honoura∣ble
man to give place to a
naughtie wretch, and one of
no reckoning, a••d not to
withstand it: and yet all
this is nothing else surely
than by deniall of himselfe,
descriptionPage 320
to become conformable to
the excellent patterne of
Christ. Now albeit, in suf∣fering
affliction wee be not
alwayes of a mind equally
resigned, yet are wee not to
conclude therefore, that
••ope of salvation is taken a∣way,
or the grace of God
lost: so that wee doe not
kick and rebell against God
with a stubborne mind.
Works, exercises, and in∣structions,
whether perfor∣med
with our owne proper
will, or affection derived
from it, although they may
seeme joyes, yet are they of
small consequence, so long
as denying and resigning of
our selves bee not joyned
with them. It becommeth a
man that is partaker of rea∣son,
descriptionPage 321
to doe these works not
out of a naturall propension,
or appetite, like bruit beasts
following the instinct of
nature, but with reason, to
the praise of God, and for the
love of God, so as hee in no
place seek his owne private
gaine, delight, praise, re∣ward,
but onely God. So to
deny, mor••ifie, and relinquish
our selves ought wee, that
wee may in no case refuse to
bee disvalued, or suffer ad∣versitie
for God, that wee
may diligently refraine both
our tongue▪ and senses, suf∣fering
no inordinate delight
to possesse us, or the desire
thereof to surprize us. As a
Plate or Lamell of gold set
unto our eyes, doth no lesse
hinder our sight, than a
descriptionPage 322
plate of iron: so it beho∣veth
us to renounce, and re∣move
from our minds all in∣stable
mortall creatures, be
they never so noble, if wee
will enjoy that most excel∣lent
Good, which is God.
In true deniall, the whole
Summe of Perfection consi∣steth:
without which none
shall profit, what way soever
hee turne him. Almightie
God grant us grace, that
with incessant endevour wee
may perpetually strive to de∣ny,
mortifie, relinquish, re∣signe,
goe forth of our
selves, and dis-esteeme our
selves. Amen.