Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. LI.

In what manner God makes himself to be felt, and in what manner God makes him∣self to be seen.

HAving oftentimes said, that to those persons who are entred into the kingdome of God, accepting the grace of the Gospel, God makes them to feel his presence, and to the same he lets his presence to be seen through a glasse darkly, as S. Paul speaks; I come now to say, That it is without all comparison a greater favour which God doth to them, to whom God lets his pre∣sence be seen, then that which he doth to them, to whom he doth make his presence to be felt; inasmuch as he that sees it, it is necessary that he should feel it; but it is not necessary that he that feels it, should see it: I would say, inasmuch as sight cannot stand without feeling, but feeling may be without seeing. That this may be well understood, I say, that as I understand it, then a man feels the presence of God, when loving, and believing, being confident, and hoping, and when praying, and working, and understand∣ing, he doth really and indeed feel that he is moved and enabled by the holy Spirit to love, to believe, to have confidence, and to hope, and also to pray, to work, and to understand, feel∣ing that the holy Spirit is that which doth in∣spire him to love, to believe, to have confidence,

and to hope. And it is he himself that prayes, works, and understands in him: for so it is, that in all these exercises, feeling the favour of the holy Spirit, he feels the presence of God. Furthermore I say, that then a man sees the presence of God, when by the gracious favour of God it is shewed unto him, in what manner God sustains all the things which he hath crea∣ted in their proper being in which he created them; and in what manner God fayling them, or with-drawing himself from them never so little, they would fail in their beings. To make clear this Consideration, I imagine that which is ordinarily seen in the house of a Prince, where all they that abide in his house, do de∣pend of him, and are sustain'd by him in that degree and in that dignitie, in which he hath placed them; and the Prince dying all the whole house breaks up, and ceaseth to be; in such sort as he that was Secretary, is now so no longer: The same I say of all the other Officers of the house, who all of them in the Princes death loose that being, which the Princes life gave unto them.

Passing on forwards, I consider that which by experience is understood in a man, who is so far a man inasmuch as his soul stayes in his bo∣dy, that being altogether sustained by the bene∣fit thereof. I would say, that the members of the body exercise their own offices so long

as the soul abides within the body; the soul de∣parted, the body dissolves and returns to earth; in such manner, as they are now no more eyes, which were formerly eyes, the same I say of all the members of the body, all which, the soul being departed from the body, loose that being which they had by the presence of the soul in the body.

In the Princes house because I am able with my wit and judgement to consider and see that which I have said, it is sufficient to see, and con∣sider the presence of the Prince, his providence, his bounty, liberality, and justice, inasmuch as he maintains his house with good order, and with good government. And inasmuch as I am able with my wit, and discourse to understand by experience, that the soul being parted from the body, a man ceaseth to be that which he was, every one of his members ceasing to ex∣ecute the office which it exercised: I am able also to understand by experience, that the be∣ing which the body hath, comes by the soul, and that the soul is she that governs every one of the members of the body as is meet, ma∣king them to serve to that for which they were created. And so I understand that there are in the soul providence, and discretion, and all the other good qualities annexed thereunto. But in God, inasmuch as I am not able either with my wit, or by experience to understand in what man∣ner

all things depend of him, in such sort, as he failing them, they fail; I cannot by my self see that which is in the Princes house, nor understand that which I understand in a man; albeit by that which I hear spoken, and by that which I read, I may imagine it: But wanting the seeing, and vvanting the understanding by experience, I cannot certifie my self in it, un∣till God himself let me see, and understand how this is, shewing me his presence, which I un∣derstand consisteth in this, to see how all things depend on him, and are united to him; he gi∣ving to them life, motion, and being. Further∣more I understand, that it would be great sa∣tisfaction to the Princes favourite servant, when the Prince were unalterable, and immortall, to see that his being and his sustentation in that degree comes to him from the Prince, and de∣pends upon the life of the Prince. And I under∣stand also, that it would be very great satisfa∣ction to see really, and indeed in what manner the being and sustentation of his body depends upon his soul. And I understand that it is with∣out any comparison much higher, and more ex∣cellent then any of these, that satisfaction, that glory, and that content which those persons feel in themselves, who in any sort whatsoever, see in what manner God sustains and maintains all things, giving unto them a being, and giving unto them life, in such manner as without him

they would cease to be, and to live. For in this vision they know, and feel themselves favoured of God, and in the same they quiet themselves, and assure themselves in their own minds; un∣derstanding that they are sustained and gover∣ned by him, who hath all things in his own po∣wer. And in the same vision in a new manner they know in God omnipotency, wisdome, ju∣stice, mercy, truth, and fidelity; and knowing this, they grow in the love of God, in faith, and in the confidence of God, and in patience, with which they hope for eternall life. And so that comes to passe which I said in the begin∣ning, that a man seeing the presence of God begins to taste in part in this present life, that which he shall taste intirely with Jesus Christ our Lord.