The practise of Christian workes. Written in Spanish by the R. Father Francis Borgia, sometymes Duke of Gandia, and the third generall of the Society of Iesus. Togeather with a short rule, how to live well. Englished by a father of the same society. VVhereunto are adioyned certaine pious meditations vpon the beades: translated also out of the Spanish

them greater then that of the di∣uells: Who I say, would it not confound, who hath experience of Gods so great patience, and seeing his iustice executed in so rigorous a manner towardes the Diuells, yet so mercifully affoar∣deth him respight and tyme of pennance? And this ought to mooue euery one the more, for that men are wont to vse that diligence in perswading others to leaue sinne, which yet we read not any where was done to Luci∣fer. Neither do men draw others their like into sinne by wordes and signes alone, as Lucifer did, but also by importune perswa∣siōs, intreaties, money, by threats by honour, by life, and by what∣soeuer other wayes they can: in so much as the malice of men may seeme in this respect to ex∣ceed

the malice of Lucifer. And this alone ought so far to depres∣se and abate our pride, and to put so great a confusion into vs, as by it at least in some part, that pu∣nishment might be recompensed which our sinnes deserue in hell.

To this is further added, that the wickednes (not to say the madnes) of men, proceedeth so far sometymes, as it is wont also to prouoke the Diuell to tempt them, and to present them as it were weapons to kill them∣selues: in so much as they may seeme to do very ill, who are wont to lay all the fault and blame of their hurt vpon the di∣uell, whereof themselues are the cause. And if those, who haue drawne others into a mischiefe, dare scarcely for very shame stand amongst them before a Iudge of

this world, of how great confu∣sion thinke you must he needs be full, who considereth himselfe to be presented togeather with the Diuells before the Tribunall of Christ?

And if a man would seri∣ously bethinke himselfe of these things as he ought, he might ve∣rily (yea & ought to) be as much confounded for his own malice while he manifestly vnderstan∣deth, how sore punishments he hath deserued for his sinnes, not only in this life, but in that also which shall neuer haue an end. So doing, all will seeme light to him, that he suffereth in this life, if he cōpare it with that, which he was to suffer and endure in hell, if God should deale with him according to his deserts. And therefore let him with all

confusion and shame, both ac∣knowledge his owne misery, & craue that mercy which not∣withstanding he thinketh him∣selfe most vnworthy of.

And to the end none, who thinketh himself free from those euills, of which we haue spoken before, may be perswaded, that there is not any cause, wherefore he should be much confounded: let euery one so thinke touching that matter with himselfe, that there is no cause, why he should esteeme lesse humbly of himself, but is more bound to be asha∣med in himselfe, for that the on∣ly grace of God doth euery mo∣ment deliuer him from so many and so great euills, which if it were not alwayes present, who is there that would not fall into the pitt of sinne, and become

worthy of euerlasting punish∣ment? And sith he hath escaped them through Gods mercy, what thankes then doth he not owe to him? And certes, they haue great cause to be confounded, who notwithstanding they do conti∣nually make an experiment of Gods so great mercy towardes them, are neuertheles so ingrate∣full to him. And they ought to humble themselues so much the more, the lesse worthy they ac∣knowledge themselues of Gods grace: and it is their part to do nothing lesse in the seruice of God, then they would do, if they were drawne and deliuered out of Hell.

If euery one would but consi∣der this obligation rightly, and vnderstand that he is able to ren∣der God very little for the great∣nes

of his benefits, he would not be discouraged at all, but would comfort himselfe with that ad∣monition of the Prophet, when he sayth: Let not the humble, confoū∣ded, he turned away from thee: the poore and needy shall praise thy name.

Againe, if a man hath ma∣ny thinges, for which he may confound himselfe before the di∣uells, he hath no lesse cause to confound himselfe before the rest of the damned, when he vn∣derstandeth, that many are con∣demned to euerlasting torments, but for one sinne only. Where∣fore what is it meet for him to thinke of himselfe, who knoweth himselfe to haue com∣mitted so many and so grieuous sinnes? And verily he that ap∣prehendeth these thinges at the hart, ought to go as far beyond

them, if he be able, in confoun∣ding himself, as he goeth beyond them in sinnes.

And if you consider them who are in Limbo, and with how great mercy God hath deliuered you from many dangers, that are wont to happen; and brought you at length to the grace of bap¦tisme, that you might not fall in∣to that misery: there is in truth great cause, why you should la∣ment your so great ingratitude, and wash it away with teares: and so much the more, for that they, who are in Limbo, neuer committed any mortall sinne: and you, as often as you haue cō∣mitted it, so often haue deserued hell. And if they for a lesse sinne are thrust down into a deep place or dungeon, with what face dare you liue vpon earth, who haue

so often offended God most grie∣uously? And with what eyes dare you contemplate the vision of God, whereof they are for a far lesse fault depriued? And if you consider these thinges aright, you will not dare, I know, to be∣hould them, who are in Limbo, with attentiue eyes, while you compare your owne sinnes with theirs.

But the consideration of them, who are in Purgatory, ought to confound vs so much the more, for that they, though now in a safe place, and deliue∣red out of so great euills of the world, certaine also not to offend God any more, and gotten into an harbour, be neuertheles in paynes: but we are both turmoy∣led in stormes, and vncertaine of our saluation, and what shall be∣come

of vs at last, liuing among most crafty, and most cruell ene∣myes, and continuall dangers. And if any be confounded the lesse, for that he vnderstandeth, that they are punished deserued∣ly for their sinnes: Let him so thinke, that some are peraduen∣ture there tormented by occasion of his either example, or bad counsaile, or scandall, or negli∣gence drawne into sinne: & that many are detayned & held there the longer, for want of his help by prayers, and other suffrages. And let this consideration con∣found him, whosoeuer he be, for that he hath beene an occasion vnto them of their suffering, and paynes, and hath giuen them no help, or little at all towards their ease and releasement: and let him thinke, that their owne faults,

and his, be the cause, that he knoweth not, whether they are to be purged with the fire of Pur∣gatory alone.