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.

EPIST. XV. How Youth is to be supported during its weakness.

To F. S.

DEarest F. We hope it will so be, that the Lord will direct all to the best end, and will stretch forth his help∣ing hand to that young man to make his voluntary entrance, that he may be brought to a greater firmness, seeing that he is not yet exercised in the ways of the Lord, and he still flourisheth in his Youth. But the hand of the Lord is liberal towards young and old, and is stretched forth with plenty of grace, where, and whensoever he shall please.

Therefore the Lord (I hope) will re∣member this weak one, and will hear his dayly complaint, and in his time will help him; for when all the creatures sail, and all remedies vanish away, and

there is no other deliverer found or in∣vented, then will God alone, of necessity, present himself as a Deliverer: For the Lord will look back upon all such, whose hearts he hath of purpose put in the wine∣press of tribulations, that being left naked∣ly poor of all evils, so as they appear dryed up, yet after they shall thus be sub∣jected to his judgments, they shall not want retribution, but shall abound in his blessing by the communion of the blood of Christ poured forth, and of his eter∣nally prevailing merits, and of the re∣conciliation made betwixt God his fa∣ther, and our miserable humane na∣ture.

It would be profitable for him, if he should remain with thee, all the win∣ter, that so he might enjoy a further in∣troduttion, and should learn more firm∣ly to set his feet in the ways of the Lord•• now when he is yet of an infirm age, and is more infirm in zeal: for it is our duty to lend a hand to the weak, and to be a prop to them, as it was done for us, in our youth: although I my self have not extended my age very much: yet have

the bonds of death bowed me down un∣der the judgment of the Lord, in the prosecution of my misery with continu∣ed terrours: The Lord have pitty on me, and graciously discover to me his countenance shining with the light of grace, and so enlighten the darkness of my heart!