A mirrour for monkes written by Lewis Blosius.

CHAPTER VII. Every one ought to consider his owne ability and to proceede accordingly.

MOreover let him at∣tempt nothing beyond his strength, but be content with his lott. If he cannot reach as farre as he desireth, lett him reach as farre as he can: And unlesse he flatter himselfe, he may easily knowe what pro¦ceedings he is able to make. Neverthelesse the devine boun¦ty is liberall, infusing it selfe wheresoever it findeth a myn∣de worthyly prepared.

Wherefore if our spirituall practitioner be not yet admit∣ted to the sublimity of contem¦plation and perfect charity lett him thinke himselfe as yet not prepared for the receipt of soe great a good. And what good would it doe him to receave that grace, which he knew not howe to make good use of. Lett him make haste to pull up all vice by the roote, that he may be the fitter. But still with this proviso, that he strive not beyond his strength. Lett him not impatiently try to forerun Gods grace, but humbly to followe it. Lett him not, I say, violently force his spirit thither, whither he cannot

reach: least presuming which he ought not, he tumble himselfe downe headlong by his owne violence, and being crushed be punished for his rashnesse. Lett him soe tend to perfection that unbrideled violence and turbulent solicitude beare no part in his indeavours. Lett him attend the measure of grace given him, and with all remem∣ber, that he shall farre more easily, safely, quickly, and hap∣pily, attayne to the highest degree of contemplation, it is to the comprehending of misti∣call divinity, if he be touched and rapt by the meere grace of God, then if he endeavour to attayne unto it by his owne

labours: Lett him alwayes therefore observe a meane with discretion, least by exces∣se he rum into defects. The bread of teares is good and many when they should re∣fresh themselves surfet by it. For they insist so long in tea∣res, and with so great cōfusion and agitation, that both spirit and body are fayne to lye do∣wne under the too much in∣tent or extended exercise. We confesse that many by discre∣tion and the help of the holy Ghost can long and profitably mourne. And there are many agayne that being internally inebriated with the torrent of pleasure which they take in

God. Do unseasonably urge and spur forward themselfes to greater violence, and desist not from this indiscreet forcing themselfes, untill being hurt and confounded they fall and faynte in themselfes, and are thenceforth made unapt to re∣ceave the sweetnesse of grace. Wherefore the internall heate and violence is alwayes soe to be moderated that the spirit be not extinguished, but com∣forted by it. They whose heads are of a good temper, may mo∣re fervently and strougly insist in fervent aspirations: but they that have weake heads (espe∣cially if the weaknesse growe by indiscretion are not able to

exercise themselfes otherwise then very gently and mode∣ratly. And such can scarrely somtimes admitt a simple com∣punction of mynde, or medi∣tation, or reading wihout hurt yea although they leave their heade on some place. So great is the calamity that procee∣deth of the vice of indiscre∣tions. But lett them not dispai∣re, that are brought to that passe: But lett them diligently (asmuch as in them lyeth) a∣voide the discommodity of this hurte or confusion, and humbly pray to God for the restoring of that which they have spoiled themselfes. If God be pleased to heare them,

lett them be thankfull: if not, lett them blesse our lord: and for his love learne according to his pleasure patiently to en∣dure this misery, which they have done on themselfes. Lett our internall practitioner be∣ware also of all lightnesse of inconstancy and instability. Lett him take in hand those exercises that are good: and lett him goe on with what he hath once begunne, although they like him not: but soe that the pleasure of the holy Ghost be followed in all, the decree of his owne will and appoint∣ment being rejected. For the holy Ghost doth diverse wayes as it were invite us and use to

as bring us by diverse pathes to that wyne celler and bedcham¦ber of divine love: whose in∣stinct we must still obsearve and most readily followe, lay∣ing aside all propriety where∣fore this our spirituall scoller shall often present himselfe to the holy Ghost as a prepa∣red instrument: and which way soever the holy Ghost shall bend and apply, lett him pre∣sently followe: if att any ti∣me he shall be drawne or e∣levated up to the soaring con∣templation and embracements of the cheifest good, lett him freely offer up himselfe: and if the passion of Christ, or any holy meditation and imagina∣tion

occurre, lett him not stay at it, but with all expedition fly thither, whether he is cal∣led by the spirit

When he dout fully stagge∣reth in his purpose not kno∣wing how he ought to procee∣de in his begun enterprise, lett him use the counsell of men that are prudent, expert, and humble: for soe he shall be a greater proficient, then if re∣lying uppon himselfe he pro∣ceede according to his owe in∣ventions.

But in the meane time lett him not forget carefully to ha∣ve recourse to the remedy of prayer humbly beseeching in all things to be directed and il∣luminated

by our lord: least at any time being deceaved he followe error insteed of truth. And let him alwayes remem∣bet, that he can never perfect∣ly be at leasure for God, vn∣lesse his heart be free and clea∣ne from all things besids God: you have nowe heard, Brother, after a manner howe he shold begin and howe he should goe forward in externall exercises, that desireth to attayne to any excellent degree of a pure life. It shall be your parte not only to heare and reade these things bu also to put them in practise. Which if you doe, and have helpe from above, and that you beginne to be cleare with

in, and that psalmodis and o∣ther offices of divine praise wax sweet unto you, search not to high, but be afraide. For although your heart being inlarged you doe awhile run∣ne the way of Gods comman∣dements, you have not of your selfe inlarged your hearte, but God hath done it. And he that enlarged it can permitt it, his grace being with drawne, to be agayne coupled up and inpri∣soned. The sunne of justice hath shined on you, and cer∣taine scales being taken of, hath illuminated your mynde: but who can hinder him from hiding himselfe, of he be soe pleased. We you therefore

ready: for he will hide himsel∣fe and his amiable brightnesse being once departed, your sen∣ces shall againe be darkned and hindred. Moreover cer∣taine immistions by evill an∣gells will tosse the shiop of your brest: yea peradventure the temptation will be soe strong, that you will thinke all to oppose it selfe against you. You will seeme to your selfe to be wholy given over to satan: and will not have list to open your mouth in Gods praise. Neyther shall this calamity en∣dure a little while. Neyther shall you only once or thrice or six, or ten times be layed hold on by it, but very often,

sometimes more vehemently then at others. But be not de∣jected att this: Neyther thinke any thing sinnisterly of your faulte. For he hath permitted you to be tempted that it may be manifest if you truly love him and that you may learne to pitty, others that are op∣pressed by temptations. He scourgeth and bruseth you, that he may purge you from vice, and prepare you for mo∣re grace. He seemeth to leave you as it were for a time, that you wax not prond, but may alwayes acknowledge that you can do nothing without him: yet neverthelesse he doth not forsake you. He exerciseth

you in these, and the like ad∣versities out of the unspeaka∣ble charity where with he loveth you. For the heavenly spouse useth this kinde of di∣spensation with a fervent soule converted unto him. He visi∣teth her solemnly in the begin∣ning of her new purpose, doth comfort, and illustrat her and after he hath recreated and al∣lured her with his sweete smell he draweth her after him and lovingly meeteth her almost every where, with his mille feeding his new friud.

Afterwards he beginneth to administer to her the solid foo∣de of affliction, and playnly sheweth her howe much she

ought to endure for his name. Nowe she beginneth to be in a sea of troubles: men molest her without, passions trouble her with in: punishments af∣flict her externally, internally she becommeth dejected by pusillanimity: externally she is greived with infirmities, in∣ternally darknesse overcasteth and clowdeth her: the exter∣nall parts are oppressed, the internall dried up: one while the bridgroome hideth him∣selfe from the soule, another while he discovereth himselfe unto her: Nowe he leaveth her as it were in the darknesse and horrour of death, and presently recalleth her to the

sweetnesse of light: insomuch that it may be truly said of him, that he leadeth downe to hell, and bringeth backe againe. By such meanes he tryeth puri∣fieth, humbleth, teacheth, weanes draws & adorns the soule: if he finde her faith∣full in all things, and to be of a good will and holy pa∣tience, and that by long ex¦ercise and his grace she doth mildly and affectionately en∣dure all tribulations and tem∣ptations, then doth he more perfectly joyne her to himsel∣fe, and familiarly make her partaker of his secrets, and binde her farre otherwise to him, then he did at the begin∣ning

of her conversion: Be not therefore troubled, when ve∣hement temptation scourgeth you but as if you receaved a tooken of his love remayne faythfull and invincible in your agonies, saying with blessed Job: Although he shall kill me, I will trust in him during this storme it will be somewhat hard for you to be present at the divine office, by reason of the too much instability and cloudinesse of your mynde. Not withstanding be patient and gently do what lyeth in your power. The night will passe away darknesse will be dispersed and light will take place againe. But as long as it

is yet night take heed you be not found idle and negligent: if you have no list to pray, sing, or meditate, then read. If your minde loath reading write, or manfully, exercise your selfe for the time, in some other ex∣ternall worke, in the meane time diligently rejecting the troubles of vaine cogitations. If drowsinesse doe unseasona∣molest you, so that it grevious∣ly depresse you, you shall peradventure (time and place permitting) do better if some∣what pertinently to the ho∣nour of God, leaning your head somewhere, you slum∣ber a little, then if inexorably you resist it: for if by labour

you thinke to drive it away, as long as you labour you shall be free: But that once paste, and you betaking your selfe to your spirituall exercises, it will easily returne if you slee∣pe lett it not be deepe, nor long: soe that it last no longer, then one may read one, or two, or three Psalmes: for so your spirit being as it were re∣newed, will arise with more expedition and alacrity. They that knowe not howe to be∣have themselves soberly in ea∣ting, drinking, and the custo∣die of their sences, if thy fly to this remedy, it is to be fea∣red least they rather aggrava∣te, then alleviate this disease:

and falling into a deepe and long sleepe miserably loose their time by sluggishnesse: watch carefully against those temptations by with the devill endeavoureth to encline the mynde to those things that are indecent and vitious: Be sure to reject them in the very be∣ginning, before they take pos∣session of you with in for unles∣se you repell the adversary at the first onset, if he gett en∣trance, he will presently clap bolts on your soule: and you being destitute of liberty and force will hardly be able to re∣sist. But if you have behaved your selfe negligently and he fetter you, doe not yeild soe,

but deny your consent, and strive against him even by cree∣ping on the ground, and pray to our lord in the strength of your spirit, that freeing your bonds he will restore you to liberty, or at least preserve you from giving consent. But knowe that many times you shall more easily overcome the adversary suggesting any filthy impious, and absurd thing, if you contemne and sett light by his barking, and soe passe them over, then if you strive long with him, and with great labour endeavour to stop his wicked mouth; But if he over much importune you, and being repelled once or twise

do still come on a fresh, you must meete with him on play∣ne termes, that being over∣throwne in plaine grounde he may fly away with disgrace. Nowe he setteth on us many wayes: for sometimes he see∣keth to ensnare us secretly and under pretence of piety: sometimes he setteth uppon us openly and with open fury: so∣metimes he creepeth by little: sometimes he breaketh forth sodenly and unlooked for so∣metimes he layeth siege to us by spirituall and internall mea∣nes, sometimes by corporall and externall adversayes or prosperities: wherefore we must alwayes have recourse

to the aide of our lords passion, and cry to God with teares. But as I have already said, soa∣re not too high by reason of the grace, which peradventu∣re you have. For what have you, that you have not recea∣ved why doe you glory, as if you had not receaved, take heed therefore that by noe meanes you open the windo∣we of your heart to the blast of vaine glory or the aire of selfe complacence: see you brag not see you boaste not abroade of what you have receaved: But keepe your secret to your selfe, let it abide with you: unlesse you happen to reveale it humbly and modestly to so∣me

intimate and secret friend for spirituall utility or consola∣tion or that you be compelled by obedience, or other mani∣fest necessity, or great profitt. See that you beleeve not, that you have receaved the gift of God by your owne merits and labours: but rather judge your selfe unworthy (as indeed you are) of all grace and consola∣tion, and worthy of all confu∣sion and dereliction. Compa∣re your selfe with those that are more holy, that by consi∣deration of their perfection you may the better acknow∣ledg your owne imperfection: humble and deject your selfe: place your selfe unfaynedly

belowe all men: but you will say howe can I doe this conside¦ring that many with out feare or shame live moste debau∣chedly which I neyther doe, nor will doe: what shall I cast my selfe belowe them: shall I place them above me: I say you shall.