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. XVI. A fair admonition to his Cosin German; wherein he very greatly demonstrates a most tender care of his Soul, hitherto had with solicitousness.

To M. D. W.

MOst beloved Cosin, I was altoge∣ther obliged to write, in what state our affairs are, for though hitherto for some good space of time, we have been somewhat separated as to bodily pre∣sence, yet I am assured in the Lord, that we were so much the more diligent∣ly excited to a mutual care, by an inward presence of mind. The Lord knoweth, how mindful I am of thee, and how

much care I have for thee in the midst of my most sad conversation, filled with all griefs, and in my constant combate. But I trust in the eternal God, and his providence, that he will with stretched out arms lead and keep us all under his own discipline.

Now because I have crept thorough many dangers of mind, how great the power of corrupted nature is, is very plainly manifested in me, by and tho∣rough the power of God; though that also is come to pass by and thorough in∣numerable anxieties, in all which yet, the glory of God every where revealeth it self, upon which account I am deeply concerned with a most vehement sollici∣tousness for those who are my fellow-sufferers in these straights, to whom the Omnipotent God will reach out his hand, and seasonably set before their eyes the virtue of his grace, which lyeth hid un∣der those sufferings, that at last the man may be stirred up to the desire of the true cross of Christ our Lord, in which all the treasures of divine grace are known in their highest beauty, without which

no man can be set free from out of the chains of his nature.

And here indeed there is need of great caution, and we must diligently adhere to the Lord both day and night; for often times nature cloathed with the outward shew of good, presents her self to us, but if she be tumbled down into death, then will her fruits be at length tru∣ly made known, and the power of God will shine forth so much the more glori∣ously. The Lord of his mercy be mind∣ful of us all, that we may wisely order our conversation, and the forces of all our enemies being all overcome and broken, we may at length arrive true∣ly at the true brightness of God. For the wall of separation hindering that clarity, is great, which it behooveth with unwearied labour to diminish tho∣rough the benefit of the cross, and with daily torture of mind to destroy.

Yet the eternal and merciful Lord pierceth thorough all darkness as doth the Sun, and so refresheth those that are in an agony, with their pains, that his grace and glory never shine forth more

clearly, then from under sufferings; al∣though whilst we yet remain subject to vanityes, and are still captives to crea∣tures, that claritude is still very much diminished; for so long as we yet are bu∣sied about images, the efficacy of truth (which seeing it is to be without any image, cannot then be united to them) is very wonderfully hindred. For God is but one only, and to know him from the very bottom of our hearts, is all the skill, and is such as is never learned in an undisturbed life.

Dearest Cosin, I do open to thee as it were the interiour bosom of my mind, shewing, whither all my labour tendeth, and at what mark all my whole being, and all my words and thoughts do aim at with grief, and which I continually, with tears of heart, pour forth before my God, and do with hope, account the Lord will not reject me poor wretch, but chastise in his way, and will bless with increase my labour after the decease of my nature. My Cosin, as to what concerns those friends who have chang∣ed their dwelling, their outward con∣dition

is as yet tolerable, as also the outward conversation both of the Mo∣ther, and of them also is full of piety, even as formerly: But if we look fur∣ther, even to the utmost power of nature, and to the very bottom of the Soul, about these, the business have not so well succeded, even as neither can these be attributed to them all in common, nor are they wont to be given, or receiv∣ed by words, and admonitions. To the Lord therefore I commit them, who in his own time, and according to his own good pleasure will advance those persons higher. For they earnestly list∣en, and are delighted with my present discourses: but how pleasant they be to them even in their very Souls, the Lord knoweth, for I do not appre∣hend that their progress forwards is yet so great: and perhaps, the Lord will yet for some time keep them so.

But for my part, I order my conver∣sation, for the most part, with my self only, because many discourses and ad∣monitions to others, do very much di∣sturb me: when yet all concerns, as well

inward as outward, I freely would so deliver up and oblige to the Lord, that I would think, say, or do nothing but to the Lord alone; yet how much difficulty I shall every where find in all these, the Lord himself knoweth.

Yet he who is faithful, is never left destitute of power, as most miserable I do find thorough the mercy of God, who helpeth my arm to fight.

As to our other familiar she-friend, she receiveth all with her whole heart, and a willing mind, whither they con∣cern the understanding, or the will: but because of that sollicitous care wherewith she is involved in outward things not a few, as also because of her trade, the true fruit cannot yet spring forth from the true root. But the Lord who is faith∣ful, administreth, as I perceive, all means for the removing away by divers suffer∣ings, these hindrances, and of bringing forth this fruit with deep pangs, so that I hope, at length, that the death of na∣ture will follow in the end. The Lord look in mercy upon her, as likewise on us all, that in his time, and according to

his good pleasure we may come to the true essence of divine clarity, and that we all being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of our life, now and for ever inces∣santly, in inaccessible clarity, Amen. In the year 1552.