Unum necessarium, or, The great duty of a Christian: in two tracts : the one, Of adhering to God, written in Latin, by Albertus Magnus, the other, Of the love of God, written in high- Dutch, by John Staupitz / both faithfully translated into English for the promoting of primitive Christianity.

CHAP. X. Actual and sensible Devotion is not so much to be minded, as the adhe∣ring, or cleaving to God with our Will.

MOreover, do not thou greatly mind actual Devotion, sensible sweetness, or tears; but let it suffice thee

to be by good will in thy intellect, with thy Mind united to God, within thy self, forasmuch as nothing is more pleasing to God, than a Mind strip'd naked of Phantasms, Images, and Reptesentations of the Creatures. It becomes therefore a truly devout Person, to estrange himself from all Creatures, that he may nakedly, and readily intend, apply himself, and adhere to God alone, within himself. Wherefore deny thy self, that thou mayest nakedly follow Christ thy Lord God, who being truly Poor, Obedient, and Chast, humbled himself, and suf∣fered for us, and at whose Life and Death many were greatly offended, as appears from the History of the Gospel. Now as we see that a Soul separate from its Body, doth not mind, or take notice what becomes of it, whether it be burnt, hang'd, abus'd, or cursed; and is not at all troubled or grieved for any injuries that are done to it; but has all its thoughts fixed upon that ever present Now of Eternity, and the one thing ne∣cessary our Saviour speaks of in the Gos∣pel; In like manner be thou also af∣fected to thy Body, being so unconcern'd

with it, as if thou wast already out of the Body, and have always thy mind fixed upon the Eternity of thy Soul in God, and earnestly direct and level thy thoughts at that one thing, of which Christ saith, But one thing is needful: and by this means thou wilt feel great incomes, and assistance of Grace, for the attainment of true nakedness of Mind, and simplification of Heart. And most certain it is, that this one thing, is most present to thee, and will appear so, as soon as thou shalt have rid thy self from thy imaginary representations, and all other intanglements; and thou wilt soon find, that now thou canst with a naked, free, and ready mind apply thy self, and cleave to God; and by this means thou shalt be invincible in all things what∣soever that can happen to thee, as the Holy Martyrs, Fathers, and all the Elect and Blessed Saints were; who despising and rejecting all things, only minded the Eternal Salvation of their Souls in God: And being thus armed within, and united to God by Good will, they contemned all the Things of the World,

even as if their Souls already had been actually separated from their Bodies.

Consider well therefore, how great the power is of a good will united to God; yea, how by this impression of God upon the Soul, as by its virtual and spiritual Division from the Flesh, the Soul comes to look upon the outward Man as if it were none of hers; and is so unconcern'd at any thing that is done to it, or its flesh, as if they were done to another Body; for he that cleaves to God, becomes one Spirit with him. Wherefore do thou never dare in the least to think or imagine any thing in the presence of the Lord thy God within thee, which thou wouldest blush that Men should hear, or see; and that be∣cause of the highest Reverence which is due to the Divine Majesty, in his Ho∣ly Temple. It is also fit and just, that all thy thoughts be erect and lifted up to God alone; and that the view of thy mind be fixed only upon him, as if there were nothing at all besides him, and by close cleaving unto him, enjoy him, which is a perfect Commencement and Anticipation of the Life to come.

Notes

• Luke 10.42.