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. V. For what end the Scripture was given, and how we ought most exactly to satisfie con∣science, also concerning the difference between humane righteousness, and that which availeth before God.

To U. of W.

MOst dear Lady, having this occasi∣on offered, I was willing to write a few lines unto thee, giving thanks to you all, for your friendly inclinations of heart towards us: The eternal God grant, that that bond, in which we being bound, together in him, and do profess a mutu∣all union to the true members, may be∣come more firm, and may grow in Christ our Lord, according to his holy will, to his glory and our death. As to what concerns my condition, it is indeed, at present, such as is tolerable to the flesh, as long as it shall please God, for the bond of death remains in my heart, and in my members, and all the rest is known unto the Lord. The Lord himself take us all

into his protection, that we may be pre∣served in his fear, this dangerous time, which, as I conjecture, cannot be done, but by most hard sorrows.

O would to God, we could, at length, come even unto the death of Christ, and feel it in our souls, which indeed is set before our eyes in the holy Scriptures, yet somewhat shadowed. O Lord, grant unto us that life, which the Scrip∣ture every where beareth witness of, yet oftentimes, by so frequent exercises of so many various readings, a man is but kept back, and distracted, when, as yet, it's in the first place necessary, that every one should observe himself in the acts of hearing, speaking, thinking, working, and in all else, where a man is busied a∣bout any other matters in things of thi•• life, and that all these be, to his utmost put to the examination of his judgment and that he most exactly endeavours & in all, hath a care to satisfy his own con∣science; for so long as the accusatio•• thereof endureth, by the guilt of an•• (though the least) transgression; it's im∣possible that peace an be found in h••

Soul. Because as long as any one does not satisfy his own conscience, he is will∣ingly kept a prisoner under sin. But the difficulty of this way hindereth many, as much as that which the Scripture saith, that no man can stand before God in his own proper righteousness; which is very true. However yet, if we are willing to trace thorough this most rocky way of our conscience, even to its utmost limit, it is necessary, that, at length, we should come to a mortification, and destructi∣on of all our laborious endeavours, and then will our own righteousness shame us: On the contrary we all would dye, before ever we have lived, and glory that we have renounced our own righ∣teousness, when as even yet we stick in the midst of our sins, breaking forth into outward acts. But the matter is to be otherwise, and more accurately consider∣ed, if we desire to make a proficiency in the Lord: for that life which we live in the flesh, is dead, in the sight of God, nor hath no liveliness in it, in his account. Yea furthermore, that life, which our Soul enjoys, whilst it confideth in, and

s bottomed on these or these things, must also be changed for a death, and it's by no means to be permitted, that the enormities thereof should rejoyce in its progress. For this life, which our Soul hath taken to herself, after this manner, springs from no where else, then from out of that imaginary righteousness, and holiness which we fancy is to be found in us, and which tickles us with a strange kind of sweet flattery, and privately is very pleasing to us, yea and gives to our Souls, a kind of tranquillity. These things are hid so deeply in a man, and deceive us with such dissimulation, as if all were well with us; whence it is, that all things are ascribed unto Christ, be∣cause the man knows, that no such thing can be attained to, but by Christ. These are those things, whereof the Scripture maketh so often mention, viz. our own proper righteousness, our own proper works, our own proper holiness, and all such like, viz. if we trust too much to any of these means, which were grant∣ed unto us from the Lord, and stick ra∣ther unto them, then to the only lo••e

God. For to love God, is no other thing, then most accurately to do that which he willeth, not for the hope of any salvati∣on, or of any good things whatever; for the Love of God it self thus puts a man on, that he cannot do otherwise. And here it is, that we are able to search into the most inward corners of our hearts, whether or no we seek ourselves else where either in Soul or body, and whether we serve God, and love him for this end, that our souls may gain salvation.

But here, for the most part, it will be an∣swered; that whatever things are done, are done, only for love: yet nevertheless men do perform these things out of the terrour, and the impulse of their own conscience, as the scripture witnesseth. I say not all this, because I would detract in the least from good works, & set light by them, but rather that we should go on further, & not to rest here: nor am I willing we should sit down, in a private kind of peace, of having gained some steps only, before we be come unto the end, nor till the scope, for whose sake all this is done, be duly attained. And though there be others behind us; who follow up after us,

being yet a great way off; yet it is incum∣bent on us, because of our greater know∣ledge received, to put out this our talent to the highest interest, we can possibly, that in us may be found constant perseverance, if so be, at length, we can arrive, perhaps, to a true dying, having no need more to reiterate so often our renewing of death, so that all may together, and at once, remain buried also in Christ's death eternally; a more certain essential sort of death, (as I may so say) following us into that better state or condition.

Most beloved Lady, receive I pray thee, these my letters kindly, if perhaps they may prove to be of any use to thee in thy holy endeavors, and that we may, come at length, to the total renouncing our flesh, that then we may be judged according to the rule of righteousness, which the Law requires by Christ. For in Christ, sin is utterly condemned to death, and as much as we are planted together with him in the likeness of his death so much also shall we, thorough his resurrection, be received into the new∣ness or the Spirit, who then performs in

Man the office of a Governour, and is to him in the stead of his life, whose place, before this, our flesh supplied: all that is beyond this, the Lord himself will mani∣fest to us, when we come thither.

If therefore we have our inward senses rightly exercised by the Lord, and do firmly adhere to him with continued pray∣ers, then will he kindle in thy heart some living light, which my dead writings can never effect, by means of which, be∣ing inflamed with a greater zeal, to re∣nounce all flesh, we shall be able to of∣fer to the Lord our hearts emptied, and set free by a meer, and pure submission unto, and a firm purpose of remaining, and persevering in his will: so will the thing prosper, and our work will more happily succeed. But why this work will succeed with so much difficulty, and with such a length of time, this is the rea∣son, because somewhat still will stick close to the heart, which we cannot wholly renounce: for when but one half of the heart is yielded up, the offering remains impure, nor is it accepted: whence it is that the Scripture commands us to have a

great care of or to watch such a heart, which seeks double ways, and carrieth upon either shoulder, and halts on ei∣ther leg, &c. For we cannot at the same time satisfy the flesh (conscience hinder∣ing us) and conscience too, (the flesh hindering us) therefore it is necessary, that we yield our selves up wholly, as a pure offering, and grateful to the Lord, for such a one is received by the Lord, and blessed of him, that thenceforth he may bring forth fruit, and at length, that thence may arise the righteousness that is available before God. Unto which may the Lord promote us, and keep us by his infinite mercy in Christ our Lord and Saviour. The Lord preserve us, that we may persevere in his grace, ac∣cording to the tenour of his most holy Will.