A treatise of adhering to God; written by Albert the Great, Bishop of Ratisbon. Put into English by Sir Kenelme Digby, Kt. Also a conference with a lady about choyce of religion.

CHAP. I. Of the utmost and highest perfection that it is possiblefor a man to arrive unto in this life.

I Have been casting with my selfe, how I might frame for my owne use, a compleat & perfect draught (as far forth as our nature is capa∣ble of in this lifes banishment and peregri∣nation) of what is the highest and noblest action for a man to employ himselfe a∣bout. And surely this is none other, then a ready, vigorous, constant and immedi∣ate adhesion unto God Almighty; by a totall abstraction (as much as is possible) from all creatures whatsoever. For, the end of Christian perfection is Love and Cha∣rity; by which a Soule cleaveth to her Creatour. And unto this adhesion of Charity, every man in particular is un∣dispensably obliged under paine of loo∣sing

Heaven, so far forth as concerneth the obeying Gods commands, and the con∣forming himselfe to his Divine will: which obedience shutteth out whatsoe∣ver is repugnant to the essence and habit of Charity; and consequently all mortall sinnes. But religious persons have a further obligation then this, by having bound themselves to Evangelicall perfection, and to such duties, as though they be but of counsill and superogation, yet by them the way is made more ready, and more secure to bring the observers of them to their journeys end; which is the possession, and fruition of God. And the observance of these shutteth out not only what is de∣structive to Charity; but also all other obstacles that may in any wise hinder or loose the fervour and activity of Charity, or that may retard or slacken the soules union with God Almighty, which is in a great measure performed, by an intire and efficacious abrenunciation of all creatures whatsoever; even of our owne selves.

Now seeing that God is a spirit, and that he ought to be adored in Spirit and in truth; Joh. 4. (that is to say, by knowledge and love, by understanding and affection voide of all mixture with any corporeal species,

or materiall imaginations) hence it is that we are thus taught in the Gospel; when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, that is, into the inner roome of thy heart) and shutting the doore, Mat. 6. to wit, of thy senses, there with a pure heart, a good con∣science and a firme faith, pray to thy father in spirit and in truth in secret. All which is done, when a man laying aside all other affaires and thoughts, withdraweth himselfe wholy into himself: & then shut∣ting out, and forgetting all created objects whatsoever, the superiour part of his soule onely powreth out before Jesus Christ her desires to her Lord God, in deepe si∣lence, and with confident security; and in so doing, dilateth, diffuseth, drowneth, inflameth and resolveth herself into him, through the violence of love with the whole weight of her heart, and with the utmost straining of all her faculties and powers.