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ANd very day, or certayn∣ly very often, when oc∣casion shall serve lett him re∣collect him selfe, and with a profound humility firmely por¦posing amendment, lett him call to mynde, and particular∣ly confesse before our lord the sinnes of his fore passed life but especially those by which he hath most greviously offen∣ded the divine goodnesse. But it will be indiscretion to dwell
long upon those that belong to the frailty of the flesh, least the remembrance of them and the longer treating of the ould sin breed a newe sin by unlaw¦full delight: In which confes∣sion, contrition and sensible devotion, lett him accustome to lament, more that he hath behaved him selfs contume∣lionsly and ingratfully to words his Creator and father, then that he hath brought him selfe in danger of eternall pu∣nishment.
In the formes of lamenta∣tion and godly complaints which we have prescribed, he need not care for running over many sentences: But let him
take which he will, and as ma∣ny as he will, observing no or∣der if he make choice of only one, or two, or three, which soever thy be, he may re∣peate againe and againe, he shall doe well. We would that he should doe freely accor∣ding to his devotion alwayes avoiding confusion and per∣plexity: I knowe one, that being externally; busied, in his conversion to our lords passion among chaste discour∣ses tooke delight to call to mynde these few words, or the like: O good JESU, ô pious Pastour, ô sweet Master: good JESU, have mercy on me: pious Pastour direct me: sweet
Master teach me: my lord hel∣pe me: Another there was that did take delight torune over so¦metimes more, sometimes fe∣wer of the afor said lamenta∣tions and to expresse them in diversity of words recording to his affection. Let our yoing beginner, as I have said, be free in these things, and let him stirr himselfe to compunction and diligence in his spirituall purpose by meditating, if he please upon death purgatory, judgement, hell and heaven.
Which kinde of meditation, by howe much the neerer it draweth to liberall feare and the love of God by soe much it is the more acceptable to
our lord, and more affectuall for the purifing of the soule: againe by how much the more it participateth of liberall and servile feare by so much is it the lesse profitable: By libe∣rall feare we feare to sin, least we offend our most bountefull lord God, and soe loose his fa∣vour and familiarity. By ser∣vile feare we feare to doe ill, least we should undergoe dam∣nation and punishment: Never∣thelesse it is good to be with drawne from sinning by servile feare but soe, that we stay not there, but passe on to liberall feare: in meditating on eternall glory, let him goe thus or in the like manner to worke: ô
how blessed is that heavenly Hierusalem: the walls whereof consist of most pretious stones: the gates where of shine with most choice pearles: the streets where of are paved with most pure gold: the gardens simile being dekt with flowers most incomprehensibly flourishing. There the sound of joy is per∣petuall: there the canticle of gladnesse is over song by an unwearied quire: there the ju∣bily of exultation is alvvayes renevved there the instru∣ments of the saints doe al∣vvayes resoud: there cinnamon and baulme incessantly breath forth an unspeakable odour of svveetnesse: there is peace and
rest overcoming all sence: the∣re is temperatnesse and calm∣nesse beyonde all human reach there is eternall day and one spirit of all: there is sure secu∣rity, secure eternity, eternall tranquillity quiet happinesse, happy svveetnesse, and svvee∣te mirth: there the just shall shime as the sun in the kingdo∣me of their father. O vvhat hap¦penesse is it to be among the quires of Angells, to have per∣petuall fellovvship vvith the holy Patriarkes and Prophets, vvith the holy Confessors and Virgins and with the most glo∣rious Mother of God. Not to feare, not to be sorrowfull, not to be in anguish, not to be
greived, not to be troubled with tediousnesse, to endure no labour, no impediment, no loathsomnesse, no necessity: O what a wealth of consolation what a sea of delights, what an abundance of joyes, what pro∣fundity of most pure pleasure will it behould that incircum∣scriptible light, to see that mo∣ste amiable brightnesse, to see that unspeakable glory of the moster high Trinity, to see the God of Gods in Sion, to see him not ariddle, but face to fa∣ce, to see also the glorified hu∣manity of the only begotten God for if the visible bravery of the heavens be a pleasant sight, or to behould the glit∣tering
clearnesse of the starres, to see the glorious beutye of the sun, to see the shining of the palefaced moone, to con∣sider the gratfull light of the aire, to contemplate the ele∣gant neatnesse of birds, flowers, grasse and colours, to listen to the sweete chanting, of nigh∣tinger als and larkes, to heare the melodious harmony of Harpe and Lute, to smell to the fragrant Roses and Lillyes, to drawe the breath that spices and perfumes send forth, to taste the deliciousnesse of di∣verse palate pleasing fruits: if I say, there be soe great pleasure in these things, what a torrent of most sincere de∣light
light will it be perfectly to contemplate that immense beauty, and perfectly to taste that infinite sweetnesse from whence all beauty, all sweet∣nesse of things created floweth downe to us: The spring tyde representh unto us the state of eternall felicity, and the future resurrection: for then we see heaven earth, trees and all things els with a certaine new grace to be decked with admireable ornaments: not withstanding there is greater difference beweene that which it represently, and that which is represented, then betweene noone and midinght. Blessed therefore, yea thrice blessed is
that heavenly Hierusalem whe¦re nothing wanteth that may please and whence all things are banished that may displea∣se, where almighty God is happily praysed for ever. Let him learne purely to frequent the joyes of this supernall cit∣ty, to love and desire them, yet not soe much for his one profitt, as for the profitt and honour of God. Although in∣deed the meditation of eter∣nall life may be more sincerely practised by him, that hath bin a proficient in internall con∣versation, then by him that hath scarcely attayned to the begining of his owne mortifica∣tion, and knoweth better ho∣we
to seeke himselfe then God. In our above related medita∣tion let a novice exercise him∣selfe continually for the space of one, three, or six monthes, yea for a whole yeare or more: untill he perceave with in him∣selfe an absolute contempt of the world and himselfe, and that he begineth to feele the fervent purpose of a spirituall life to take roote in him. Som∣me are with more difficulty, some more easily turned to the better. And some, whome it pleaseth God ont of his moste infinite favour moste liberally to prevent are presently chan∣ged. In the meane time he may also employ himselfe in than∣kesgiving
in praysing God, and other prayers: but let his chei∣fe employment be in reasona∣ble mourning for, and perse∣cuting of his sinnes. Let him not be troubled if he cannot drawe teares externally for he lacketh not teares internally, that truly hateth all sinne and iniquity.
Nowe after he hath in some measure reformed the image of God with in himselfe by healthfull bitternesse of mour∣ning and contrition, he may with greater confidence and profitt imitate the above pro∣posed example of exercise.
Therefore lett him take cou∣rage, and fervently prepare
himselfe for a more intimate familiarity with the heavenly briedegroome. But as long as he is weake or colde he shall kindle in himselfe the fire of divine love by serious medita∣ting on the incarnation or pas∣sion of the only begotten son∣ne of God, sweetly conferring with his soule concerning the∣se things. By which medita∣tion being once inflamed, let him compose himselfe by prayer and aspirations, desi∣ring, by them to unite his spi∣rit to the cheifest good. If he often persist by this meanes to drawe his heart to the love of God, he shall soone bring himselfe to that passe, that
presently at the first conven∣tion of his mynde or aspira∣tion without any premedita∣tion he may be able to separa∣te himselfe from creatures and their imagination, and plunge himselfe in the sweetnesse of divine love. Then he shall not so much need to remember each, particular sinne of his li∣fe past in his penance before God, and with sorrowe to di∣rect the insight of his heart unto him, for soe might his freedome and affection to∣wards good be hindred: but ra∣ther let him amorously direct his heart to God himselfe de∣testing whatsoever may sepera∣te or with drawe him from him
neyther do we meane that he should negligently forget his sinnes: but so to remember them, that the remembrance hinder not a greater profitt, therefore lett him confesse them dayly to God rather summarily then particulerle. Truly we have a more present remedy against lesser sinnes, when we turne to God by a sweete and effectuall affection of love, then when we tedious∣ly bisi our selves in the consi∣deration of them, and severe punishment of them. Let him therefore cast them away into the bottomlesse depth of Gods divine mercy and goodnesse, that like a sparkle of fire in the
midest of the sea they may the∣re perish. Let him endeavour to reject quite and cleane all inordinate pusillanimity, and superfluons scruples of con∣science, and perplexed diffi∣dence whensoever they arise. For vnlesse they be presently lopped of they doe diverse wayes chooke up the alacrity of the mynde, and very much hinder our internall going for∣ward.