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. VII.

BEcause God exerciseth his judgment so severely in his Children, and yet his judgment is just, it must be well con∣sidered, what becometh us: and that, though we suffer in a wonderful manner, yet is it done unto us with grace and mer∣cy, and that indeed the thousandth part of afflictions, according to our sins, is not inflicted upon us. But God spareth us, and unless it were so, where should we a∣bide? Whence we ought not to be proud, but fearful rather, yea frighted, and to hold our peace. By how much the more a man recedeth from himself, so much the nearer he approaches unto God, and

by so much the more heavily is he punish∣ed also, in respect of nature, which is therefore subjected unto death. If a man should at first know this misery and cala∣mity, he would dye for very grief: but now he cannot be sensible of it, till he falls into it, and then also doth God not∣withstanding lead him thorough it. He falls into the Gulph Scylla, who indea∣vours to avoid the rock Charybdis. For when a man desires to be freed from the legal accusation of his conscience, he comes and is condemned into death, so that en∣deavouring to avoid the difficulty on that part; on the other he falls into it, that is, into a state, where the natural man is condemned. When the Law doth no longer accuse, a man is condemned, like a malefactor, who is first accused, and at length is punished: then the accusati∣on ceasing, he suffers death; by the means of which alone, he is freed from the accusation of the Law. He that trieth this, shall find it no liar, which hath promised to him no sweetness. If it be said: but yet it is well, that the conscience ••s free; though nature may suffer: it is

answered: How good the state of tha•• man is, God knoweth: the truth is, i•• is a miserable condition, but it is accept∣ed of God, and he that is in it, is made nearer to God: But by how much the nearer he is to God, by so much the heavier is his suffering, as to Nature▪ Here the restraining or bridling in of Na∣ture sufficeth not, we must go beyon•• that, viz. we must dye, and we mu•••• perish.

That a man can acknowledge his sin•• is a great gift, but then the affliction als•• is great. He that acknowledgeth his sins God delivers him from them. Th•• vulgar acknowledgment of sins, is not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 He that rightly acknowledgeth himse•••• ••o err, desires to walk in a right way and to decline from that which is erro∣neous: but he to whom the erroneous wa•• is not unpleasant, he abideth in it, a•• defendeth it, nor acknowledges that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 erred, though with his mouth he m•••• profess otherwise. In death, that glo•••• is given to God, which could not be do•••• in life, for in life, a man retains t•••• glory to himself, but in death he la•• down the glory.

Nature hath a way so proper to it self, that it will acknowledge or accept no sort of death, till it be willing or nilling cast thereinto: and then the will, reason, memory, and understanding of a man are so bound, and tied down, that the man thinks, that he alone is smitten, and that no man suffers but himself, and from thence forward he can neither take joy in any thing, nor can he draw comfort from the evils of other men. And that usual saying, that common mischiefs do bring comfort with them, yet is not true in him.

He that is yielded up to the will of God, is without choice: yea his very words, which inferr election, do terrifiy him: for where the virtue of divine will is felt, there such words do excite consternation. There∣fore it is not for him to say: I hope it will be so, or so, or so it shall be; or so it shall not be, and the like: but he saith thus: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hope the Lord will do it. Christ saith: I am the truth. We think that Christ is with us, and that he is such a one as we are by Nature, but thus he is contrary to us, and is our death.