The narrow path of divine truth described from living practice and experience of its three great steps, viz Purgation, illumination & union according to the testimony of the holy scriptures; as also of Thomas a Kempis, the German divinity, Thauler, and such like. Or the sayings of Matthew Weyer reduced into order in three books by J. Spee. Unto which are subjoyned his practical epistles, done above 120 years since in the Dutch, and after the author's death, printed in the German language at Frankfort 1579. And in Latin at Amsterdam 1658. and now in English.

CHAP. II.

IF a Man abstaineth from external Ido∣latry, as also from the Company-keepings, Feastings, Merry-meetings, and Drinkings, from the proud Apparel, and from all such like, that spring out of sin, yet is he not so to rest satisfied: it's true in∣deed, that these ought to be so, that e∣very one should omit what are to be o∣mitted: yet this I say, that however, he is not to be at rest, or to content him∣self thus. For just as he who is to go to ••olen, is not content to pass over the Rhine only, nor stops he there, but con∣tinueth on his journey, until he cometh to Colen: So also we must alwayes be go∣ing forward, and looking still further on to internal Purification, that as the external Conversation is purged, so also must the inward Foundation be purged. Now Christ alone affects that, he cleanseth the Foundation, and takes away sin, and be∣yond

all our endeavour, or workings, expells it by Faith only.

If Satan was so powerful, that he could bring in sin, then is Christ much more powerful, and can both conquer and ex∣pell it. He that experienceth the thing it self, how Christ expelleth sins, and purifieth a Man, he only truly feels the effect thereof.

Before purgation sin may indeed be supposed, that it shall not break forth in∣to fruits, yet is it still present, viz. in the bottom, and thence it must be removed and cast out, if a Man would arrive at Regeneration, and Righteousness be ad∣vanced in him, which renders a Man in∣clinable and chearful to all good whatso∣ever, but loath and heavy to all that is evil: Even as before sin made the Man loath and heavy to good, but ready and chearful to evil.

If evil is not omitted by and through Regeneration, nor good by and through the same Regeneration performed, all things are done forcibly, with regret, a∣gainst our wills, whatever of evil is thus omited, or whatever of good is thus per∣formed:

for there in that case is as yet no renewing, but the old evil stock still re∣maines, which endeavours to effect its proper works, and to produce them in∣to act, and is quite contrary to the new Creature. But when the Victory and Regeneration is obtained, the Man then is prone to all good which he performs, and slow to every evil which he omit∣teth: For whatsoever is proceeded and performed from Regeneration, that is done with delight, and if it be hindred, it breeds Sorrow or Grief.