The reformed monastery, or, The love of Jesus a sure and short, pleasant and easie way to heaven : in meditations, directions, and resolutions to love and obey Jesus unto death : in two parts.

CHAP. XVIII. Some more particular directions how to order our lives by the love of JE∣SƲS.

FROM the happy and safe cloister of love, wherein thou art entred, look not abroad upon that world that lies in wickedness; Follow not the multitude to do evil; for men take hand in hand, and betray one another to folly and ruine. Gods benefits are lost upon the major part of them; they have no sense of the divine mercies; ungratitude is their proper cha∣racter and their greatest guilt. Rarae fu∣mant felicibus arae; all might easily be happy, if they would love and be thankful.

Read the lives of primitive Saints, and consider them that are now truly religious and good men. Converse with them, and

with them learn to spend thy time care∣fully and well. Time is short and preci∣ous, spend it upon that that will turn to account when time shall be no more. It leads to an endless eternity, and it is given thee, to make that eternity infinite in hap∣piness, as in duration. Indulge not then to idleness, for it will bring temptations upon thee, and make them prevailing. Labour, watchfulness, and prayer, make us victorious over sin, and win the incorruptible crown.

Use all means whereby thou maist be advanced in thy way to heaven; thou canst never work out thy salvation with too much care and diligence. 'Tis good to make sure work in so great a concern; for multi∣tudes perish through carelesness and presumption; and the way to eternal life is streight and narrow. But in the use of such means as I recommend, take heed of deceiving thy self, and rest∣ing in outward observations, making that the end, which is only a way to lead thee to vertue.

Thou maist carry thy Bible about, and read the Gospel, and yet not be a good Christian. Thou maist

go up to the Temple to pray, fast and give alms, and profess the greatest strictness with the Pharisee, and yet still be an hy∣pocrite except thou dost truly love God.

Love therefore, and often think that thou shalt die; for that will much increase thy diligence and thy sincerity. Many in the Church of Rome, put on when they die a Fryers habit, and much confide therein: do thou put on by times thy dying thoughts; consider seriously; and steal time as often as thou canst, to sequester thy self from the world. Gods secret voice is not heard in the croud, and no man meditates in the Market. Retire and think of death, and put on the affections of a penitent; humi∣lity, shame, and sorrow for thy past follies; care and watchfulness for that rest of time which God gives thee to destroy thy sins, and to save thy soul. S. Austin on his death bed, would always have the penitential Psalms, saying that every Christian must die a penitent. So must he live, that would live well; for contrition and morti∣fication will make thee charitable and con∣tented;

will make thee despise the world, and chuse the best and safest course of life, which if some thing hard at the first, will soon by use become easie.

When men have an opportunity to eat and drink, to obtain profit or pleasure, they seldom neglect it, and put it off to un∣certain delays: Now thou canst, if thou wilt, serve God, shew thy love to JESUS, and make sure of heaven, defer it not till time be past, or be worse. Think what thou wouldst advise thy friend to do, and do thou act accordingly.

Often think upon thy reward, and look up to heaven; hope sets the world at work. Jacob's drudgery fourteen years, seemed but a few days to him, because he had Rachel before his eyes, and loved her affe∣ctionately, Gen. 29.30.

All is not to be done to day, go on in the way of love and duty. Our life is a course, not a leap; therefore faint not, and be not displeased with thy self, if thou hast not yet done what must not be finisht, till thy life be so. S. Anthony's impatience was thus reproved and cured by an Angel,

work

now, afterward pray, then refresh thy wearied nature: and after that, return again to thy labour and devotion. Let this be thy course all thy way, and salva∣tion shall be thy end.

Thus, betwixt grace and nature, be∣twixt labour and Religion distribute thy time: and in all these, let the love of JESUS accompany and direct thee, and it will certainly bring thee to his glory; after thou hast in this manner, lived in his favour, thou shalt enter into his joy.

I love them that love me, (saith the Lord) and they that seek me early shall find me, Prov. 8.17.

Notes

• Vae tibi slumen moris humani. Aug.
• Malo cautior esse quam fortior; fortis enim saepe captus est, cautus raris∣sime.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Non Hierosolymis fu∣isse; sed Hierosolymis bene vixisse laudandum. Hieron.
• Deus dat spatium ut pereant crimina non ho∣mines. Prosp. Aquit.
• Nominem Christianum absque poenitentia mori oportere.
• Optimam vitae ratio∣nem deligendam, & brevi consuetudine fiet jucunda.
• Nunc paululum labo∣rando manibus; nunc genibus flexis orando de∣inde corpus reficiendo, post quiescendo, & rur∣sus iterum operando; An∣thoni, sic fac tu, & salvus eris.