¶The first Chapter.
That the loue of God and thy neigh­bour cannot be seperated.

WIth wakefull heede, and diligent mynde, earnest endeuour, and continual carefulnes, it becommeth & behoueth vs, to searche and to learne, how, and what way, we may escape hell torment, and purchace heauens ioy: Sithens nei­ther that torment may be auoyded, nor that ioy procured, except the meanes be knowen, how that one may be shunned, & that other attained. Let vs therfore the more willingly heare, and the more dili­gently consider, the wordes of the Apo­stle, in the which he proposeth these two thinges, to were, that heauens ioy is vn­speakeable: and which is the waye that leadeth vnto life:1. Cori. 2. For he saith, that ney­ther eye hath seene, nor eare hath heard, nor the hart of man conceiued the things which God hath prepared for them that [Page] loue him. Loe now, euen by thys that the Apostel saith, that GOD hathe pre­pared good thinges for them that loue him, it appereath, that loue is both the way, and the meane by the which we a­spire vnto them. But the loue of God, without the loue of thy neighbour cānot be had, as witnesseth s. Iohn, who saith: He that loueth not his brother whom he seeth,1. Iohn. 4 how can he loue God whom he se­eth not? And this cōmaundement haue we from God, that whoso loueth God, shall also loue his neighbour. And thus in theese two loues consisteth that true loue which thapostle speaketh of saying: And yet shew I vnto you a more excel­lent waye.1▪ Cor. 12. This more excellent way is loue, which leadeth to that heauenly coū ­trie, and without the which no man can come vnto it.

But who is in this way? or who know­eth it? Forsoth he that loueth both God and his neighbour. Howe then is God first, and next the neighbour to be loued? We must loue God more thē our selues, and our neighbour as our selues. We [Page] loue God more then our selues, when we in all thinges preferre his pleasure and cōmaundementes before our own wyls. But our neighbour we are not cōmaun­ded to loue aboue our selues, but as our selues, that is: to will, and to wish vnto him all the goodnes which we ought to wyll or wish to our selues, and specially the euerlasting ioy and blysse, and to the attainment thereof to assist, and to helpe him both with bodely & spiritual goodes, as reason requireth, and abilitie permit­teth. In consideration whereof the Lord sayth in the Gospell:Math. 8. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should do vnto you, doo ye euen the same vnto them also. And s. Iohn saith:1. Iohn. 3. Let vs not loue in word, neither in tong, but in deede and veritie. But who are those neyghbours whom we ought thus to loue? Truly all Chri­stian men, Iewes, and Heathen, friendes and enemies.

¶The second Chapter.
¶Why and how God is to be loued.

[Page] SIthens al our soule health then consisteth in loue, why, & how the Lord is to be loued, let vs diligently weigh and consider But to excite, noorish, and increase the loue of God in vs, nothing is so forceble, as the often remembrance, and diligent consideration of his benefites. So great thinges hath he geuen vs, heaped and be­stowed vpon vs, that our soule vtterlye fainteth in the viewe of his bountie and goodnes. But in this case though we be not able to yelde vnto him so many, and so great thankes, as beseemeth our loue, and becommeth our seruice: yet must we not faile, to render him so many, and so great as we can. And see wherefore: to wete, for his benefites, which for his great loue, and free beneuolence, our merites or desertes requiring none suche, the Lord hath moste graciouslye bestowed vpon vs, he is entirelye of vs to bee beloued. But how, or in what sort God is to be lo­ued, that his commaundement, which he so straightly prescribed, and so preciselye wyl haue kept and obserued on our part, [Page] doth manifestly shew and declare.

Geue care therefore, O Man, to that commaundement, which of all other is greatest, and chiefest. Geue eare I say, and heare it diligentlye, print it in me­mory, thinke on it continuallye, and to thy power fulfyll it dayly and hourelye. That commaundement is this:Deut. 6. Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy hart, that is, with al thine vnderstāding, and with all thy soule, that is, with al thy will, and with al thy minde, that is, with al thy memory, that thou mayest reserue & keepe all thy thoughtes, al thy lyfe, and all thy skill and knowledge, to yeld vnto him thine obedience and seruice. But peraduenture, because thou deemest thy selfe to be loued of God but a litle, there­fore thou art not afeard to loue hym a­gaine but lightly. Search therfore, and weigh with thy selfe in thy minde, with what giftes and benefits he hath endued thee already, and what he hath promised to bestowe on thee hereafter: And thou shalt forthwith finde, that thou art boūde to loue him beyond all might, & measure. [Page] But to the end that the loue of God may in thee be quickned, & augment the mor [...] aboundantlye: weighe and consider by whom, why, and to what end mankinde was first created, and what thinges▪ God made for the vse, and ease of man. For this is to be gathered, that of the thinges created, whether they be heauenly or ter­restriall, visible or inuisible, ther is none other cause, but the mere goodnes of the Creator, which is the Lord God onelye one, and alone. Whose goodnes is of such greatnes, that of that blissefulnes, by the which he is most highlie happy, & blessed for euer, he willeth other to be partners, because he seeth it may be imparted, but not diminished. That goodnes therfore which him selfe is, and by the which him selfe is blessed, onely of his free goodnes, and not of necessitie, woulde he impart and communicate vnto others, because it appertaineth to the chiefe good, to haue will to be profitable, and beseemeth the most mightie, not to be hurtfull. But be­cause no man is able to bee partaker of his blissefulnes, but by vnderstanding, [Page] (for the more it is vnderstanded, the more fully it is had) God made a reaso­nable creature, which might not onelye vnderstand the chiefe good, but that by vnderstanding might also loue it, and by louyng, myght possesse it, and by posses­sing, might vse it: and so distinguished that creature, that part might remaine in the purity of him selfe, and not be ioyned with a bodye, as the Aungell, and parte might be coupled to a body, as the soule. The reasonable creature therfore, is de­uided into that whiche hath not, and to that which hath a bodye? That which is voyde of body is called an Aungel. And that which hath bodye, is called a Man, consistinge of the fleshe, and a reasona­ble soule.

The principall cause therfore, why the reasonable creature was ordeyned, is y^e goodnes of God. So that both man, and Aungell, were made bycause of Gods goodnes, for by reason that god is good we are, & in as much as we are, we are good also. But to what ende, was the reasonable creature created? To praise [Page] God, to serue him, and to vse and enioy him. In the which the creature him selfe profiteth, and not God. For God is euer perfit and fulfilled of all soueraine boun­ty, and goodnes, & can neither be increa­sed, nor diminished. And therefore that reasonable creature was created of god, is to bee referred to the goodnes of the Creator, and the profyt of the creature. In so muche that as oft as this question is asked, why or to what ende, the reaso­nable creature was made? The aunswer must be, for the goodnes of the Creator, & the profit of the creature. For it auay­leth the creature to serue God, and both to haue and enioy him.

¶The third Chapter.
¶The cause of the creation of Angels men, and all other creatures.

BOth Aungell therefore, and Man are sayd to be made for God, not bycause God the Creatour, and most blysfull, hath nede of the seruice either of Angell or Man, for hee hath no want of our [Page] goods, but that both Man and Angell, might serue and vse him, whom to serue is to raygne. For in this the seruant re­ceiueth the profit, and not he to whom it is done. And as man was made for god, so the world was made for man, that it might serue hym. Man therefore was placed in such state and degree, both that he shoulde be serued, and that he should serue: that on eche syde, all the goodnes might redound to hym selfe, as well of the seruice which he receiueth, as of that which he doth. For so God would that Man shuld serue him, that not God, but Man myght bee profited by the seruice. And he also would that the world shuld so serue Man, as Man thereby might in like sort be holpen. Al the goodnes ther­fore redoūded to man, both of that which was made for hym, and of that also, for the which him selfe was made. For all thynges are ours sayth the Apostle,1. Cor. 3. the thynges aboue vs, the thynges equall with vs, and the thinges inferiour vnto vs: The thinges aboue vs are ours, to vse and enioy, as God in Trinitie, & tri­nitie in vnitie. The thinges equall with [Page] vs, are ours to agree wyth all: as the Angels, who albeit at this present they be aboue vs, shall in time to come not­withstanding be our Mates, and our e­quals. The thinges inferiour vnto vs, are also ours, to stand vs in stede, and to serue our necessities. As the thynges which pertaine to the Lord and Master, are also the Seruauntes, not by takyng from the Lord or Mayster hys ryght or title, but because they also serue to the vse of the seruant. It is therfore said in certain places of the scriptures, that An­gels doo serue vs, because they for our sakes, are sent forth to minister. In con­sideration wherof the Apostle hath these wordes: Are they not all ministring spi­rites,Heb. 1. that are sent to minister for theyr sakes which shal be heiers of saluation? Neither let this seeme incredible to man in as muche as the creator him selfe, and Kyng of aungels came not to be serued, but to serue, & to geue his lyfe for many. And the aungels are sayde to offer oure prayers, and vowes vnto God, not by­cause they teache or instruct God of our desires or meaninges, who knoweth all [Page] things before they come to passe, as well hee knoweth them after they are done, but bycause they craue to vnderstande Gods pleasure and will touchinge these thinges, and what they shall know to be disposed, according to Gods hest, & com­maundement, that they conuey to vs, ey­ther openly or in secrete:Tobi. 12. Wher vpon the Angell sayd vnto men. When ye prayed I offered your prayers vnto God. In like manner, euen we also, whē we pray we do not teach god, as if he were igno­rant eyther of our desire, or of our nede: but y^e reasonable creature must of neces­sity commit & refer his temporal causes to the eternal verity: eyther by desiring that which he could haue, or by consen­tinge and asking what Gods will is, he shall haue. From the highe habitation of the heauens therfore, doth the souerayne bountye and loue of God drawe downe vnto vs the aungels of God, to enquire Gods will for vs, to visite and to helpe vs, for God, for vs, and for themselues. For god, bycause that as meete is, they imitate the merciful bowels of his loue, and pity towards vs, for vs bicause that [Page] in vs, they haue their own [...] image and lykenes, in great admiration and reue­rence, for them selues, because that with feruent desire and longing, they awayte the supply of their orders by vs.

¶The fourth Chapter.
¶Of the loue of God towards vs.

THis therfore is most nede­full and necessary, that eue­ry man seuerally do consi­der himselfe, and when he hath attained the ful perfect knowledge of his owne worthynes & dignity (least he do iniury to his creatour) in no wise to loue anye thing, that anye waye is to him selfe inferiour. For the thinges that in them selues considered, do seeme to be beutifull, when they are compared with other, are but homely, and vyle. And as it is great folly, to ioyn foule thinges, w^t fayre thinges, So is it not vnsemely, of those thinges which haue a meane and no counterfayte beutye, to make a com­parison, and to matche them wyth the things that are most fayre, and beutiful. Theefore my soule vew well thine own [Page] beuty, and therby learne and vnderstand what beutye thou shalt loue. But if the sight of thy selfe be so duld, duskt, or darkned, by thine own negligence, that thou canst behold thine owne selfe, neither as it becommeth, nor as it behooueth thee: Why yet doest thou not by the iudgemēt at the least of som other, gather that true estimation of thy self, which thou shoul­dest doo? Thou hast a Spouse, but hys soueraigne beuty thou knowest not, be­cause thou neuer yet saw his face or coū ­tenance. But he seeth thee: and if he saw thee not, he would not loue thee. This Spouse differryng to shewe, or present him selfe vnto thee, hath sent thee giftes, as pledges and tokens of his loue, wherby thou mightest know his affection to­wardes thee. If thou myghtest see hys face, thou wouldest bee nothyng doubt­ful: for then shouldest thou perceiue that he, who is so faire, so comelye, so beuty­full, and so synguler, would not be ena­moured at the syght of thee, if some syn­guler beutye in thee, far passing the beu­ty of euery other creature, dyd not moue and allure him to that loue and affection, [Page] not because it was thyne, [...] hys owne beuty in ther. Therefore what meanest thou? or whereabout goest thou: Be­cause thou canst not see hym presentlye, by meanes of his absence, therefore wilt thou neyther be afearde nor ashamed to do him iniury, and not onelye contemne his synguler loue, but also to yelde thy selfe vassaile to thyne own lust and sen­sualiti [...]? Do not so my Soule, do not so, for if thou bee not yet able to conceaue what one he is, that loueth thee, yet con­sider at the least, the earnest, the pledge, the gage, and the token whych hee hath sent, and geuen thee: for it maye so bee, in and by his gyft which thou hast wyth thee, and in thy possession, thou mayest learne wyth what affection thou ough­test to loue him, and with what zeale and diligence thou shouldest reserue thy selfe for him. His earnest is notable, his gift is great, and noble: For it standeth not with the Maiesty of a great man to geue small thinges, nor with the discretion of a wyse man, for a small thyng to geue great. And yet a great thing is it which he hath geuen thee. But greater is it, [Page] which he loueth in thee. But what is it O my Soule, which thy Spouse in hys kindnes hath geuen thee? Looke vpon the worlde, and examine whether there be any thing therin that doth not seruice vnto thee. Euery creature directeth his course to this ende, to wayte and tende vpon thee, to do thee seruice, to supplye thy neede, and to tender thy profit. And accomplisheth both thy delight and commoditye, according to that which eyther aboundeth in them, or remaineth in thee. The heauen, the earth, the ayre, the sea, and all that in them is, cease not to ac­complish and to fulfyll the same. The circuite of times also, and the annual re­uolution, whych wyth reuiued partes doth renew, and refresh the old, repaire the ruinons, & restore the decayed, with cōtinual sustenance serueth thy purpose. Who then thinkest thou, hath ordayned these thinges? Who hath geuen that cō ­maundement, or prescribed to Nature, with her whole reuenewes as it were, to maintaine thy port? Thou receauest a benefit, and knowest not the Author, the gift is manifest, but the geuer is hidden, [Page] and yet thine owne reason suffereth thee not to be doubtfull, but instructeth thee, that this is not thine own due, but an o­ther bodies benefite. Whatsoeuer he be therfore, he hath done very much for vs. And hee that coulde fynde in his hart to geue vs so much, hath also loued and af­fectioned vs as much. The gift therfore declareth both who loueth, & who must so highly be loued.

And what great folly is it, not to co­uet the loue of one so mighty: and howe wicked and peruers not to loue him that is so louing and louelye? Therefore if thou loue anye thinges contained vnder heauen, loue them as thine Inferiours, loue them as thy seruauntes, as the to­kens of thy Spouse, as the giftes of thy friende, and the benefites of thy Lorde: and in such sort yet, as thou may alwaies remember, that thou art bounde and be­holding vnto hym, and that thou ought to loue those thinges, not for thē selues, but for him, nor with him, but for and by him, & finallye, that thou must loue him aboue them, because he both made them, and gaue them vnto thee.

¶The fift Chapter.
¶Of the fruition of God.

NOwe beware my Soule, that thou (as God forbydde thou shouldest) be not accompted a breaker of thy faith to him, by louing the giftes of the geuer, more then the affection or zeale of the Louer. And yet shalt thou do greater iniurye to hys loue, if thou receyue hys giftes, and doo not recompence his good wyll. Either therfore refuse his giftes, if thou can, or if thou cannot so do, yelde loue for loue, in due quantitie and measure. Loue him for him selfe, loue thy selfe for him: loue him to vse him, and so loue thy selfe that thou may not be hated, but loued of him. Loue him I say in the gifts that he hath geuen thee, loue him to thy vse, and loue thy selfe for hym. For this is pure and chaste loue, that hath in it neither disho­nestie nor filth, nor any thing els that is euyll or transitorie.

Consider therefore (O my Soule) what thinges thou hast receiued, cōmon with all, speciall with some, and syngu­ler or proper to thy selfe alone. And in [Page] all these thynges which hee hath geuen thee, whether they be common, speciall, or proper, loue thy selfe intirely. For to­gether wyth all them, before whom hee hath preferd thee, by singuler giftes, hee hath also loued thee. Thou art loued I say, in euerye creature, thou art loued with all good thynges, and thou art lo­ued aboue all euyll thinges: And if this yet seeme but small vnto thee, that thou art loued aboue all euyl thinges, weygh howe good those thynges are by vertue of creation, that in euery condicion haue receiued lesse goodnes then thou. And first thinke, O my Soule, that the tyme was when thou were not, and that thou receiuedst it by the gift of God, that thou began to bee,

¶The sixt Chapter.
¶Of the free giftes of creation, and regeneration.

IT was therefore the gift of God that thou were made. But hadst thou geuen him any thing before thou were made, or before thou were [Page] created, that in respect therof he shoulde make or create thee? Verelye nothinge haddest thou giuen, neither couldest thou geue before thou were framed, or fashio­ned. Yf God therfore had giuen thee no­thing els but thy being, yet were he to be praysed, and loued of thee for euer. But truth it is, he hath giuen more, in that he hath not onely gyuen it thee, to bee: but also to be both beutifull, and fayre. Nei­ther coulde the bountye of the geuer bee herein finished. For ouer and aboue this he hath giuen more, and therby the more drawen vs to his owne image, and lyke­nes. For this was his meaninge, this was his wyll, and pleasure, to draw thē vnto him by likenes, whō he had drawē to himselfe by loue. He hath therfore gi­uen it vs to bee, and not onely to be, but also to be fayre, and not onely to be faire, but also to liue, so as we may passe, and excell such things as haue no being: and such also as be inordinat, maymed, or imperfit, as neither shapened by forme, nor quickened with lyuing spirite. By mea­nes wherof thou art mightyly endebted O my Soule. For thou haste receiued [Page] much, & of thy selfe thou hadst nothing: & for all these things thou hast no meane to make recōpence, but only to loue. For that which is giuen by loue, no way bet­ter then by loue may againe be requited. And this by loue thou hast also receiued.

But now will I begin to tell the how much this thy Spouse, who appeared so excellent when he created thee, vouched­safe to bee humbled, when hee repayred thee. And yet notwithstāding, he that in creating thee, seemed so excellent & high, & that in repayring thee semed so lowly, is no lesse wonderful in the latter worke then hee was in the former. In the for­mer he mightely gaue great thinges vn­to thee, and in the latter hee mercifullye suststeyned sharpe thinges for thee. For to the ende that he myght aduance thee again to that, from the which thon wast fallen, he disdained not to descend hither where thou art, and that it myght fullye be restored to thee which thon hadst lost, hee was willinge to suffer that whiche thou didst deserue. He descended there­fore vndertooke, suffered, ouercame, and restored. He descended to mortallitye, he [Page] toke vpon him freylty: he suffered paine ouercame death, and restored man. Be­hould these thinges, O thou my Soule, and be astonished at these so great won­ders, and at these benefits, exhibited for thy sake. Consider how much he loued thee, that vouched safe to doo so much, & so manye thinges for thee. Thou wast beutyfull by his gyfte, and thou became foule through thyne own iniquitie: A­gaine, thou were clensed and purified by his mercy, his loue yet working on eue­rye syde to helpe thee. In tymes past, when thou were not, he loued to create thee, when thou were foule and yl fauo­red, he loued to beutyfie thee. And final­ly, to shew thee of his loue the feruency, hee woulde delyuer thee from death, by none other meanes, then by dying for thee. And all to vtter therin not so much the benefit of his mercy, as the great ve­hemency of his charity and loue.

With great bounty therfore hath this louing Creator, poured the breath of life into the first Man his creature, but with muche more loue hath hee, for that selfe Man and creature, geuen and bestowed [Page] not his goodes, but him selfe. Greatly then doth this set forth Gods goodnes towardes me, that I am his workman­ship: but much more doth this cōmende it, that he made hym selfe the price of my redemption. The rather, bicause that my redemption was wyth so royall a price performed, that man therein might seme a prisoner, not vnfyt by God to be raū ­somed. O happy fault of myne, for the purging of the which, while my Soue­raigne Lord is drawen with that loue & affection, his loue is opened and reuea­led vnto me, greatly longing and coue­ting to peruse the same. For I should neuer haue knowen hys loue so fullye, had not my great peryls, proportioned myne experience accordingly. O how happelye therefore fell I: that after my fall, was raysed againe more happelye. Ther is no loue greater, no zeale purer, no charitie hollyer, no affection feruen­ter, then that an Innocent vouched safe to dye for me, finding in me no cause to loue or to fauour me. Tell me therefore O Lord, what it is that thou hast so lo­ued in me, and so dearelye loued, that [Page] thou wouldest needes dye for me? what hast thou found in me of that qualitie or nature, that might make thee to be wyl­ling to suffer for me such crueltie?

¶The seuenth Chapter.
¶Of the benefite of God in callyng vs to the fayth.

ANd thou my Soule, to thend thou mayest behold thys loue more perfectlye, and ioy in it more aboundantlye, ponder with thy selfe how many and how wor­thy in comparison of thee, are left, for­lorne, refused, and vtterlye cast awaye, that coulde neuer attayne to the grace which thou hast geuen vnto thee. Sure­ly thou hast heard say, that from the be­ginning of the world to this day, many generations haue passed, all the which without the knowledge of God, and the price of their redemption, are fallen into the lappes of euerlastyng destruction. And hereby appeareth that thy redemer preferred thee before them all, when hee gaue thee his grace so frankly and free­lye, which none of them all could get or [Page] come by: and yet why thou were taken and chosen before them, or why he dealt with thee more louingly then wyth thē, thou canst finde in thy selfe no cause, but onely the mere loue of thy merciful Sa­uiour. Thy Spouse therefore, thy Lo­uer, thy God and thy Redeemer, hath both chosen, & forechosen thee. He hath chosen thee I say in all▪ and hath taken thee from among all, and hath loued thee in all, and called thee also by hys owne name, that the remembraunce and me­moriall of him might remaine with thee for euer. He woold haue thee partaker of his name, and partaker of the truth of his name, bycause hee hath annoynted thee with that selfe oyle of gladnes, with the which him selfe was annointed, that of the anointed thou mightest be anoin­ted, bycause that of Christ thou art called a Christian.

But were thou stronger, were thou wyser, were thou nobler, or were thou ritcher then they all, in that thou hast at­chiued this speciall grace ouer, aboue, & before them all? How manye strong, how many wyse, how many noble, how [Page] manye ritch were there, in those dayes, and yet all they forsaken, haue perished euery one? highly therfore, hast thou stād in his fauoure, and greate I confesse is the bonntye which he hath extended to­wardes thee. For when thou wast foule and polluted, deformed also, and misera­bly defiled, ragged and torne, ougsome, and grysely, and as one that was fulfyl­led of lothsomnes, and enormity, so God thy Lord loued thee, y^t with all the giftes of his grace hee vouched safe to enritche thee. Take this therefore for an absolute resolution, that excepte thou endeuour with great and earnest study, to adorne and decke thy selfe, & to recouer thy first comelines and decency, thou shalt neuer be thought meete to be brought into the Bride chamber of thy spouse, that is glo­rious celestial and heauenly. Now ther­fore, while thou hast tyme, & opportunity, trym and dresse thy selfe O my Soule, sleeke vp thy foreheade, facion thy face, frame thine attyre, fret of thy freckles, rub of thy warts, wash away thy spots, smoth thy wrinkles, be all hansome and cleanlye, amend thy behauiour, and with [Page] all thy might, and mayne, set all thinges in good order, that thou maist be accep­ted of so louinge a Spouse. Prepare thy selfe I say, as becommeth the Bryde of him that is immortall, and as besemeth the Spouses of a Kyng celestial.

¶The eyght Chapter.
¶Of the gift of vertues.

KNow this also O my Soule, that thou haste wherewith to decke, and adorne thy selfe, & yet that thou shouldeste not haue of thy selfe, if God did not geeue it thee. For of him thou haste receiued the vesture, and garment of good workes, with the fruict of almes, fasting and praier, besides diuers other vertues, where­with thou maist be garnished, trymd, and made gorgious, as with a robe of vari­able, freshe, and sundrye colours. And leaste thou shouldest fayle in any poynt, he hath bountefully bestowed vpon thee what so euer is knowen partinent to health, or refection: And what so euer maye repayre comelines, or increase thy beuty. From the which how plenteous [Page] store, and distribution, presenteth it selfe vnto thee on al sydes, I pray thee be ad­uised diligently to thinke on. Thou had­dest nothing, and much was geuen thee, that was geuen thou hadst lost, & it was restored vnto thee, whereby thou art as­sured, that thou shalt neuer be left desti­tute, but in such sort rather, as thou shalt haue many folde occasion to know, and to see, how entirely he loueth thee, that is thy Paramour. He is loth, my Soule to lose thee, and that is the cause why he awayteth thy loyalty with such patience and long sufferaunce, geuing thee leaue, and liberty, accordinge to the multitude of his mercye so often to repent thee, as thou cōmittest any folly. And now re­corde & call to memory, how many maye be foūd which with thee haue receued al that I haue recited, and yet haue not w^t thee obtained that fauour in thē, to haue renued what soeuer they haue impaire [...], which beinge considered, thou haste iust cause to thinke, that thou art yet loued more then they al: for that the things by thee lost, are so beningly restored, which to them, by thē lost, are so strictly denied. [Page] For thou by his grace & bounty wer ne­uer denied to worke wel & wisely. Therfore if thou redely do great things, thou art mercyfullye aduaunced, and if thou hardly do small thinges, thou art wor­thely humbled. For he knoweth what is good for thee, better then thy selfe doest, and therefore if thou wylt haue a good & dutyfull opinion of him, vnderstand and conceiue, that whatsoeuer he doth to thee is both good, and well done. Such is the loue of God towardes vs, that the infir­mitie of man endureth nothing, but that by his goodnes is disposed to our pro­fit. Perhaps thou hast not the grace of strength to do vertues, but whilest thou art shaken with the suggestion of vyces, thou art made more strong in thyne hu­militie. For weakenes with humilitye hath a better sauour in the presence of God, then pride of mynde hath with the strength of vertue. Be not therefore so bold or malapert, as any wai to presume to preiudice Goddes disposition, but al­waies with feare and reuerence addresse thy praiers to God, that he may vouch­safe to helpe thee, as he knoweth it most [Page] fyt and expedient for thee. And that if as yet any euyl remain in thee, he may mer­cifully redresse it, and that if anye good­nes begun in thee, be not yet finished, he may bountifully accomplish it, and final­ly conduct and bring thee to him selfe, by such way as he him selfe best lyketh.

¶The .ix. Chapter.
¶Of the gyft of vnderstanding and knowledge.

NOw tel me O my soule, what recompence shall we make to the Lord, for all the goodnes that we haue receiued of him? For hee hath not contented hym selfe to geue vs onely those good things which he hath geuen to others & the residue of his creatures, but he hath also prouided that in our afflictions we may feele and taste of his loue towardes vs, and ther­by take occasion singularly, and that as well in all our aduersities, as prosperi­ties, to embrace his kyndnes in y^e armes of our loue. Saye we therefore in our selues, & vse we this meditacion: Lord thou hast geuen vs the grace to knowe [Page] thee, and more then to other creatures, thou haste disclosed and opened thy se­cretes vnto vs, by framing our vnder­standyng to conceaue thy hydden miste­ries. Other our Equals, Mates, and companions, as well in age, as dignitye, thou hast left lyinge in ignoraunce, and the darknes of infidelity, but to vs thou haste showen the lyght of thy grace, ve­ritie and truth, more then to other of Adams children. For vnto vs thou haste geuen, capable sence, easy vnderstanding fast memory, strength in working, grace in conuersion, mayntenaunce in prospe­rity, profit in study, wyt in conceyts, cō ­fort in aduersity, and which way souer we tourne, thy grace and thy mercy doth preuēt and go before vs. For right often my Soule, when as to oure selues we semed vtterly wast and consumed, he did sodainly relieue vs, when we wandred and went astray, he brought vs into the way, when we were ignorant, he taught vs, when we were sad, he did comfort vs, when we were fallen, he did reare vs vp, and when we stoode, he did hold and stay vs from falling. Finally he gaue vs [Page] the grace more verelye to knowe hym, more purely to loue him, more sincerely to beleue in him, and more feruently to follow him, then he gaue it to any other of his creatures.

Therefore O Lord my God, the swetenes of my lyfe, the lyght of myne eyes, what recompence shall I make thee for all that thou hast done for me? wilt thou that I shal loue thee, then teach me how, and how greatly I shall do it. For who am I, that I may loue thee, my strength my Lord, my stedfastnes, my refuge, and my deliuerance: my God, my helper, my defender, the horne of my saluation, and my maintainer, what shall I say more? but my Lord, and my God.

¶The .x. Chapter.
¶Of God his prouident care ouer vs.

FOr manifolde & innumerable are the good thynges which thou hast done for me, O lord my God, and of them to think and to speake shall it alwaies be sweete, and pleasant vnto me: the rather if thou Lord shalt make me thankfull, that I [Page] may praise, and loue thee for all thy be­nefites. Loe my Soule, thou hast nowe thy pledge, and thy pledge doth manifest & shew forth thy Spouse. Keepe it ther­fore vntouched, keepe it vndefiled, keepe it vnpolluted, kepe it safe, kepe it whole, keepe it cleane, keepe it sounde. For albeit thou were sometime defiled, thou art nowe made honest, and a Virgin a­gaine, according to the naturall operatiō of his loue, which wonteth to restore pu­ritie to the corrupted, and in them that ar pure, to kepe chastity vnspotted. Oc­cupy therefore thy cogitacion, & alwaies busy thy self in thinking how mercifully he hath dealt with thee, & therin ponder how greatlye hee loueth thee, in that hee neither suffereth his benefit to be wan­ting vnto thee, nor thee to be ignoraunt how diuersly thou enioyest it. And this say I to thee, because that so often as I note or marke the course of his mercy, it seemeth to mee that God doth nothyng els, (if I may so saye) but onely prouide for my saluation. For I see him so who­ly occupied, and busyed in keping of me, as if he had forgotten all other thynges, [Page] onely to attende me: so continuallye is God present with mee, so continuallye doth he offer him selfe ready for me, that which way soeuer I turne me, he neuer forsaketh me: wheresoeuer I become, he neuer goeth from me: whatsoeuer I do, he doth still assist me. Finally he is the perpetuall beholder of all my doinges, and so much as may beseeme, or become his goodnes, as an vnseperable worke­man together with me, he stādeth by me, and doth not onely help, and set forward what wanteth in me, but also pacientlye perfiteth theffect of his workemanship. And hereby it appeareth, that albeit hys face cannot yet be sene of vs, his presēce notwithstandinge is euermore with vs. But what is the pleasāt thing trow you which while I thinke on hym, is wonte not onely to touch me, but also so effectu­ally and sweetely to affect me, that euen presently me thinkes, I am distraitt frō my self, & both drawen and caried hence, but God knowes I wot not whether. Forsooth this it is, that I am altogether altered, and chaunged into an other, and a new creature, and feele my selfe in such [Page] felicity, as I cannot expresse. My con­science is cleared with ioy and solace, all the wretchednes and miseries of my so­rowes forepast, are vtterly forgotten & blotted out of memory. My mynde re­ioyceth, myne vnderstandyng is made bryght, my hart also is lightned, & with longing made ioyfull and pleasant. And now I know not how I see my selfe in an other countrye, and as it were in the armes and bosome of loue I inwardlye hold and embrace, but what I wot nere. And while I labour with all my might continually to keepe it, and neuer to lose it, my Soule wrestleth after a pleasaunt maner, as loth to forgo, that so faine it would haue. And as if it had found ther in the ende of all desires, it highly & vn­speakeablye aduaunceth it selfe for ioye, seeking none other thing, nor desyring any more, but alwaies wel willing to be as it is. And is not this now thinke ye, that most louing and louelye Spouse? Yes verelye, this is that my Lord and God which visiteth me, and yet cōmeth vnto me inuisibly, secrete, and incompre­hensible: This is he, which commeth to [Page] touche me, and not to bee seene of mee: which commeth to admonish me, & not to be comprehended: which cōmeth not to infuse him selfe wholy into me, but in part to be assayed and tasted of me, and neither fulfilleth my desire, nor geueth the fulnes of his own sacictie.

And this is it that chieflye appertay­neth to the earnest of hys betrothyng, that he which in the world to come shall geue him selfe vnto thee my Soule, for euer to be seene & possessed of thee: doth now presently geue but a say or a taste, that thou may know here in this world, how pleasant thou shalt finde hym and feele him in his kingdome. And there­fore it behoueth thee my Soule, yea and standeth with thy dutye, highly to loue thy God, that so diuersly hath benefited thee.

¶The .xi. Chapter.
¶Of the gift of the senses, and of the preseruation of lyfe.

BUt to the end thou mayest be the more kyndled wyth the fire of loue, diligently consi­der whither thy spouse haue [Page] endued thee with any moe benefits then those already recited. For if he haue, thou art the more bounden both for them re­cited, and for them that thou shalt receue hereafter, to shew thy selfe obedient and dutyfull, and to geue him thankes from the bottom of thine hart. For I vnder­stand that my God is dearelye to be lo­ued of me, for that well vsing the trans­gression of my Parents, he hath created me of their flesh, and hath breathed into me the spirite of lyfe, seperating me frō them whych were borne before theyr tyme, or that beyng suffocated in their mothers wombe, semed to be conceaued not to lyue in this world, but to dye. I haue therefore receaued of him, not only to be, but also to be man, and therto haue also attayned the vnderstauding, what difference there is betwene me & a beast. I haue I saye, receaued the shape of my body, and in my bodye the distinction of senses, myne eyes to see, myne eares to heare, my nose to smell, my handes to feele, my mouth to tast, my fete to walk, and that more is then them al, the health of them all. And albeit these are great [Page] things, yet serueth this to augmēt those benefites, that to the seuerall delyght of euerye seuerall sence, God hath created thinges consonant and agreable: as ma­ny thinges brightly shining, many me­lodiouslye sounding, many pleasantlye sauering, many swetely tasting, and ma­ny delectable in feeling. For the proui­dence of the Creatour, to this vse & pur­pose hath geuen to thinges, such diuers and variable qualities, that euerye sense of man might haue wherin to be deligh­ted. In as much as the sight conceaueth one thyng, the hearing an other thing, the smelling an other, the taste an other, the feeling an other. The beuty of cou­lours feedeth the eye, the harmonye of musicke pleaseth the eare, the fragrancye of sauour delighteth the nose, the sweete verder and reales contenteth the taste. And who is able to reherse, or to recken vp all the delightes of the senses, which are so manyfold, that if any man should consider eche one in his kinde, eche one should seeme wonderfull, and straunge­ly enritched. Now manye pleasures to the eyes shew we forth in colours, how [Page] many to the eare heare we, in diuersitie of sounds, by the which men cōmunicat their mindes and meaninges mutually, tell of thinges past, demonstrate the pre­sent, pronosticate thynges to come, and reueale things hidden, priuy and secret▪ So that if the lyfe of man shoulde want them, it might be compared to the rude­nes and brutishnes of beastes.

What neede I tell you of the warb­ling of Birdes, the pleasant melodye of mens voices, or the harmony of musicke in the diuersitie of tunes: For there are moe kyndes of consent and concorde in Musicke, then thought can conceaue, or speeche expresse, all the which notwyth­standing do serue the eare, as thynges create and made to that vse & purpose. And as I haue examplified the delyght of the eare, so may you conceaue y^e plea­sures of taste and feeling, being as plea­sant and as manyfolde as are the other. This therefore by no meanes maye bee gaynsaide, but that the goodnes of God in these is exceedyug wonderfull: But yet is this to be added, so much the more to his glory, as it is our greater benefit, [Page] for my God hath not only made my bo­dy, and beutified the same with diuersi­tie such as is before mencioned, but hath also made it healthy and sounde: that I might neither be noysom to my frends, nor a reproch among straungers. Ney­ther is this the whole that I haue recei­ued, for I am also indued wyth reason, which can vnderstande and conceaue the veritie in euerye thing, and can discerne right from wrong, and good from euyll: and can search for my Creatour, long for and desire him, & that finallye can prayse him, and be cōtented to abide with hym. But if I shal confesse a further truth vn­to ye, nothyng is all thys, in respect of this benefit: namely that it hath pleased my God so to dispose of me, that I shuld be borne, bred and fostered in such a time and season, and in and among such men, and such people, as professing his fayth, and vsing his Sacramentes, may teache and instruct me to beleue, and liue accor­dingly. For this I see denyed to an in­finite sort of men, which I glory and re­ioyce to be graunted vnto me: And yet with the other by all ryght shoulde my [Page] state be all one, alike, and equall. They are forsaken through God hys iustice, & I am called by Gods mercy and grace. I wyll yet nowe proceede and go some­what further, namely in the contempla­tion of his further benignitie, in that my Parentes haue brought me vp in suche state and safetye, that the fire hath not burnt mee, nor the water drowned mee, nor the Deuil possessed me, nor Beastes deuoured me, nor any fall or mischaunce hath caught or destroyed me, but that I am growen vp to competent age to pro­fesse my faith in Gods loue and fauour.

¶The .xii. Chapter.
¶Of the pacience and long suffering of God.

GReat therefore is the pity, and infinite is the mercy (O Lord my God) which thou hast v­sed towardes me. And albeit that thou art in all thy workes wonder­full, yet art thou thought most maruey­lous in the bowels of thy loue. For thou despisest no man, thou reiectest no man, thou abhorrest no man, but onelye suche [Page] but as madly abhorreth, witlesly lotheth or dreadfully doth forsake thee. These are therefore thy giftes, O Lorde, these are thy ritches, these are thy treasures, with the which thou hast endued me in the multitude of thy mercy: namely, that thou hast sundry and often times deliue­red me, when I was in daunger, & that in my synnes thou hast neyther left nor forsaken me, but that when I was vn­myndfull, thou dydst put me in remem­braunce of thee: when I was turned frō thee, thou diddest call me back vnto theer & when I came to thee, thou didst gent­ly receue me, and when I repented, thou didst mercifully pardon me. For not on­lye the synnes which I committed, but those also which by thy protection I es­chewed and escaped, within compasse of thy pardon are benignly conteyned. And as I fel into many synnes and offences, so if thou hadst not saued me, into farre many moe had I fallen and runne head-long. But I well remember me, that by three special meanes thou didst preserue me, from doing the wickednes which o­therwise I had done: that is, by with­drawing [Page] the occasion, in strengthenyng me in resisting, and by keeping and con­tinuing me in the foundnes of affection. For if occasion had bene left at libertye, manifold are the offences which I shuld haue incurred. But so great was the mercye of my Lord and God towardes me, that no such oportunitie could arrest or hold me. And with much ado had I bene stayed from the doubling of myne iniquity, the violence of temptation ther to so greuouslye vrging, as euerye man hath feeling in his owne frailtie: hadst not thou my Lord, with strength assisted me, not onelye to vanquish my lust and appetite, & to treade vnder my feete my fleshly desire, but also to withdrawe my consent from the concupiscence, whych would haue forced me to fulfyl the long­ing and liking which I felt in my mem­bers. But from certain synnes O Lord, thy fauour and indulgence stirred with pity, dyd so far estraunge me, that I vt­terlye abhorred them in my hart, and so hated, and loathed the fylth of their ini­quitie, that no suggestion of the same had might or power to touch me. Neyther is [Page] this O Lord, the least point of thy pity, nor the meanest token of thy goodnes & bounty: that notwithstanding the huge­nes of mine iniquity (wretch that I am) and notwythstandyng that I haue vn­kindly kindled thee, and by doing euyll in thy sight, prouoked thy furye, stirred vp thy mood, and deserued thy wrath a­gainst me: notwithstanding I saye, that I haue greuouslye synned, thou of thy mercy hast paciently suffered, & euen yet doest forbeare to punish my wyckednes.

For if I repent, thou pardonest me, & if I retourne, thou receiuest mee. And while I differre to repent, by presumpti­on or securitye, thou doest pawse in thy patience, and gently tariest for me. When I wander thou doest waifte me into the way of thy verity: againe when I striue or resist, thou doest vanquish, & conqner me. When I loyter, or linger in the lea­ses of fantasy, thou doest either prick me forward, or louingly stay for me. Whē I reuert to thy wayes to walke in thy pa­thes, and to trace thy foote steppes, thou doest forth with receaue, and courteous­ly embrace me. When I am ignorant, y^u [Page] doest teache, and instructe me: when I mourn or lament, thou doest calme & cō ­fort me: when I fall or stumble, thou do­est stay and reare me vp: when I am in decaye, thou doest repayre me: When I craue or aske, thou geuest largely: whē I seke thee, I fynde thee: when I knock, thou openest vnto me. Finally thou art my loadsman to good lyfe, my staffe, and staye to walke by, so as I neither want wyll nor cunning through thy gyfts and grace to walke directly in thy way. And this also O Lord is worthy of admirati­on, that not onely in my youth, before I was able to aske or had discretion to de­sire or know, but also in myne age, when I was able throughe thee, to aske, and [...]aue of thee, when I coulde seeke thee, when I could desire thee, when I could rest in thy mercye, and cleaue faste vnto thee, of thy free grace and bountye thou gauest me many gifts, & then also when I neither craued, nor sought, nor desired them, but retchlesly, and carelesly set all at naught. But yet I esteme this as the greatest benefite which thou haste besto­wed vpō me, that thou gaue to me thine [Page] Angels, to garde and to keepe me from the daye of my birth, tyll the day of my death. The contemplation wherof con­strained not onely a certaine holy father to say: That great is the dignitie of the Elect, whych haue for their Gardians God his holy Angels, but the wyse man also to confesse that the Soules of the righteous are in the hand of God,Sapi▪ 3,

Neither cease I here to commend thy pity, sithens with such patience thou hast borne mine offences. For I rather think my selfe bound to double thy prayse, and to geue thee thankes with all my might: For as muche as thou hast not required me according to my synfulnes, nor suffe­red the earth to swallow me, nor fire frō heauen to touche me, nor lyghtening to burne me, nor the riuers to drenche me, nor any other paine, perill, death, or de­struction (as I haue well deserued) to trouble or afflict me. For when by synne I went away from thee, I not onely de­serued thine anger and indignation, but iustlye also prouoked eche creature of thine to maligne me. And no maruayle, for if any mans thrall or seruant do run [Page] from his Maister, he doth not onelye ex­asperate his Maister against him, bnt al­so all his seruantes, friendes, and fami­lye. Therfore when I displeased thee O Lord my God, Creatour of me, and of al thinges being, I iustly for myne offence moued euery creature to bee offended at me. So that if the whole world should for thy sake conspire to fight against me, or any way els to molest or trouble me, I haue no cause to complaine that I suf­fered wrong or iniurye. For the earth might say vnto me, I ought not to beare thee, but rather to swallowe thee, in as muche as thou hast not bene afearde to fall from my Creator, and to ioyne with his aduersary the Deuil, the authour of disobedience, synne, and iniquity. The Sunne also might vse this language: I ought not to shine, nor geue light to thy health, safety or saluation, but in reuenge of my Lordes quarell, who is both light it selfe, and of light the fountaine, vtter­lye to hyde from thee the beames of my beuty. And thus might euery creature els, controle and taunt me, & thus might they wreake thier Creators iniury, if he [Page] who created them, did not also restraine them, as not willing the death of a syn­ner, but that he should turne, repent him and lyue. It behoueth me therefore O Lord, to be the more humbled vnder thy mighty hand, and to shew my selfe vnto thee so much the more thankfull, obedi­ent, and loyall, as thy great benefites ex­act and require I should bee: least that differring the punishment of my trans­gression, thou chasten me at thy dreadful comming so much the more greuouslye, as thou hast awaited my dutye with pa­tience. And thou my Soule, perswade thy selfe I pray thee, that the long suffe­ring of God hath now long time expec­ted the effect of the election of his prede­stination, which he wyl haue fulfilled in vs, through the excessiue loue which hee hath borne and doth beare vs. For this is the cause why the Lord hath paciently waited, and enclined vnto mee, and that he hath turned his eyes from my sinnes, as vnwilling to see howe often I haue offended him. This is the cause I saye, why hee hath dissembled, that he myght commend his patience, and confirme his [Page] loue. For this cause, as I well remem­ber me, he stroke my hart, and stirred it vp to beholde the scarres of myne owne synnes, and to feele the great griefe and sorenes of the same. And for this cause he lead and conueyed me to the gates of hell, and to the paynes and tormentes prouided for the wicked. And to the end that no hurtful consideration of my sins might remaine within me, he enspired into me a better comfort, and gaue not on­ly hope of remission, but also a full and perfect pardon. And so fully did he par­don mee, that neither reuenge can con­demne me, nor vpbraiding confoūd me, nor imputing diminish his zeale or loue towardes me. Yet there be some in the world, and those no small many, that in such sort pardon iniurie, as though they reuenged it not, & yet they cast it in the teeth. And other ther be also, that albe­it they be silent, hold their tounges, and say nought, yet they reserue the malice in the bottom of their stomake, and vn­der the cloke of silence hide spite and rancour. But neither of these sortes pardo­neth according to y^e rules of Gods loue [Page] and charitye. And therefore very farre from these differeth the most mercyfull nature of God: which alwaies dealeth plainly, and pardoneth and forgeueth so fully and freely, that the constant fayth of the synners that do repent their sins, and forethinke their offences, may wyth Paules wordes be comforted, that wher aboundance of synne was,Roma. 5. there grace is more plentifull. Witnes saint Peter, who after he had thrise denied his Mai­ster,Iohn. 18. by a tripple commaundement was of Christ his Church made a Shepheard and Pastor.Iohn. 21. Saint Paule also of an ene­mie and persecutor of the Gospell,Actes. 8. 9. was made a vessel of election, and a teacher of the Heathen.Math. 9. Euen as Mathew of a tole gatherer was made an Apostle, and the first in the new testament that wrote a­ny Gospell.

¶The .xiii. Chapter.
¶Of the gift of continencie.

BVt after all theese thynges which are right many as you see, God also gaue mee the gift of continencie. Conti­nencie [Page] I meane, not onely from carna­litie, but also from all other vices, whatsoeuer they be called. So that I, who in former tyme coulde scantlye forbeare a thyng three dayes together, can nowe through Gods helpe forbeare it for euer. And thereby finde occasion right iustlye to say,Luke. 1. that he that is mighty, hath done great thinges for mee. But some man perhaps thinketh, that continencie is a matter of ease, and light of importance. But so thinke not I, I wyll ensure you, for I knowe what enemies it hath, and of what might they be, and therfore how needeful it is for it to be sturdy & strong to resist and withstand suche a broode of impiety.

The first and chiefe enemy that conti­nency hath, is our owne flesh, whilest it lusteth and coueteth agaynst the spirite. And what a familiar enemy is this trow you? Or how perilous is the conflict that groweth hereby? Or how secrete & how sore is the fi [...]ht like to be, wher the ene­my hath such might and oportunitye to hurt? Truly my Soule, this foe is most daūgerous, most sterne, most cruel, most [Page] vnnaturall and tirannous. Neither is ther any way to flee, or to escape her, nor any meanes or policy to put her to flight but maugre our heades we must beare her about vs, because she is euer lynked and tyed vnto vs. And therefore what is more perilous, wretched or miserable, then to be not onelye forced to feede and sustaine her, but also to be prohibited to do her hurt or harme? Thou seest then what neede thou hast, carefullye to be­ware and to kepe thy selfe from that foe, whom thou sufferest to sleepe in thyne own lappe and bosome. But well were thee (my Soule) hadst thou none other enemie, or if this one were al, thou were thrise happy and fortunate. But alas the while, ther is one other as stout, sturdy, cruel, daungerous, & hurtful as she, & as hard also to be escaped, whersoeuer thou doest bestow thy selfe. For he doth enui­ron and compasse thee round about. And which way soeuer thou conuert or turne thee, he is ready and at hand to assault & encounter thee. This enemy is this pre­sent wicked world, which by fiue gates, which are thy fyue senses, woūdeth thee [Page] with his dartes, and shifteth in death at thine own wyndowes.

The third is that common aduersarye sworne deadlye foe, to all Adams poste­ritie, that old subtile Serpent I meane, which is more crafty and wylye then all other creatures either ar or can be. This enemy is he, whom no eye can discerne, & therefore to auoyde him, passeth mans abilitie. For sometime he assaulteth vs openly, and violently, sometime he stea­leth on vs secretlye and guilefullye, and alwaies continueth his crueltie and ma­lice, seekyng to oppresse vs by myght, sleight, or pollicie. And who is able to endure all this? Or who is fyt to encoū ­ter this Champion? Verely no man, but hee that hath loued vs, and that by hys triumphāt death hath atchiued this vic­torie for vs. Thou maiest therfore know O my Soule, howe hard & difficult it is to be continent, and what God geueth to make it easy for vs. And therby the more entirely to loue him for assisting vs with his grace, when we shoulde otherwyse faynt through our own frailty & weake­nes. For onely in the Lord haue we this [Page] power and might, to withstand the force of this tripple batterye, mayntayned a­gainst vs with suche force and violence. And he it is, and none other but he, that confoundeth thy foes, and all them that trouble thee. It is onely God I say that treadeth vnder foote for vs, not onelye our flesh, & all our fleshly concupiscence, but also the world wyth all worldly va­nities: and finally the Deuil with al his wicked suggestions. Haue not I there­fore iust cause to confesse,Luke. 1. that hee that is mighty hath done great thynges for me?

¶The .xiiii. Chapter.
¶Of the gift of hope.

BVt yet moreouer, our God and Sauiour hath geuen mee the grace so to conforme my selfe to hys wyll by obedience, that I am fully assured through faith in his promise, that finally I shall enioy his kyngdome and blysse. And this grace consisteth in three especi­all pointes: The detestation and hate of my synnes forepast, the contempt & dis­daine [Page] of present pleasures, & the desire & longing after the ioyes to come, which to attain he hath geuen me the hope, and supporteth the same by three things also, which strengthen and confirme my hart in marueilous sort, and so animate and encourage me, as no want of woorkes, nor lacke of merites, nor consideration of priuate commodities, nor deepe esti­mation of the heauenly blisse shalbe able to cast me downe frō the tower of hope, but that my Soule therein shall be roo­ted for euer. And if ye long to knowe what thynges these are, they are these that followe.

First I consider the loue of hym that adopted me: Secondly the truth of him that dyd promise mee: And thirdlye, the might of him that redeemed me. Now therfore let my fleshly thoughtes repine and murmour as them list, and say: who art thou? or how great is heauens ioy? or by what merites doest thou hope to attaine it? For I wyll confidently aun­swer, I know in whom I haue beleued, and am fully assured, and wholy resol­ued, that God in hys soueraygne loue [Page] hath chosen and adopted me, and that he is true in his promises, and able to per­forme them: and that he may do in hea­uen, and in earth, whatsoeuer hee wyll. And for theese merites ought I to loue my God and sauiour. For it is the wor­king of great grace and mercy, that whē I flee frō God, he doth folow me: when I feare to come nye him, hee doth allure me: when I despaire, hee doth recom­fort mee: when I am vnthankfull, hee doth styll benefit mee: when I commit vncleanes, hee doth clense me: when I delight in vanities, hee sheweth me hys truthes: whē I lye bound in the bonds of vnsoluble wickednes, and custome of euil, he loseth me frō them, setteth me at libertie, and finally from the world, doth draw me to his kingdome.

¶The .xv. Chapter.
¶Of God his bountie, of our iniquity, and of thankes geuing.

BVt yet now (my Soule) behold & consider those gifts of gods good­nes, which are onelye knowen to thy selfe: As w^t how gladsome and [Page] comfortable chere Christ offereth hym selfe vnto thee, renouncing the world, & with what delicates hee refresheth thy hunger, and with what store of mercy he doth enritch thy pouertie. What secrete affectious he doth enspire into thee, and with how pleasant a cup of loue he doth make thee merrye, when thou folowest his pathes, forsaking things transitory. Is it a thing small, trowest thou, vyle or contemptible, that of his onelye & mere mercy he calleth thee a fugitiue, thrall, & rebell, from thy restles gadding, to hys setled home, and plentyfullye refresheth thee with spirituall consolation: For if thou were tempted, he sustained thee: if thou were in daunger, he relieued thee: if thou wer sorowful, he comforted thee: if thou were wauering, he dyd confirme thee. How often also were thou ready to wyther away for feare, when he louing­ly stoode by to cherish thee? And when to quenche thy drouth, hee infused hym selfe into thee? Neither canst thou for­get how often with his spirituall lyght he clered thine vnderstāding, sense, rea­son, and feeling, when thou wer singing [Page] or reading any spiritual thing. And yet in thy memory it is rise also, how often when thou were in praier, hee rauished thee with vnspeak able desire from all thinges that are earthlye, to delight thy selfe in the pleasure of that euerlastyng and heauenly Paradise. I leaue here to speake of the great woorkes of mercye, which it pleased his Maiesty to doo, and woorke by mee, least anye part of that praise, honor and glory, which is onelye his own, should any way seeme to be as­cribed to me. For in the iudgement of man the grace of the geuer, and the feli­citie of the receauer, seeme so vnited and knit together, that he is not onely pray­sed, who is onely prayse worthye, but he also commended, whom God in hys workes doth make but his instrument. And the receauer made partner of the praise with the geuer, which to the glory of God is not a lyttle iniurious. For what hath any man that he hath not re­ceiued?1. Cor. 4. Why then is he praised that hath freely receaued, for that in the which hee hath nothing deserued? To thee there­fore O my God, be all laud, glory, praise [Page] and thankesgeuing, but to me thy crea­ture shame and confusiō, that haue done so much euil, and receiued so much good. Se now therfore O my Soule, that not onely Gods bountye, but also our own iniquitie doth highly commend the loue of God towards vs. For if this be great liberalitie, to geue muche to them that haue deserued nothing, how greatly shal or ought that goodnes to bee esteemed, that requireth thē with good, who haue merited euil? O what loue is this which no wickednes or iniquity is able to ouer come? Some thinges there bee whych God mercyfully pardoneth, other there be which he bountifully geueth. For he pardoneth our vices, and geueth vs his vertues, alwayes as readye to forgeue, as to geue: being on the one side louing, and on the other syde liberal.

Let vs therefore confesse our syns vn­to hym: Let vs I saye confesse that we haue our sinnes from our selues, that he maye pardon them, & our vertues from him, that he maye continue and encrease them. And let vs endeuour without all ceasyng, that wee appeare neyther vn­thankfull [Page] for that which he pardoneth, neither yet vnmyndefull of that which he geueth. This I say let him endeuour that beleueth in God, or earnestlye desy­reth to be his louer. For true loue ney­ther hideth nor dissembleth anye thyng. What therfore worketh the diligent con­sideration of all these thinges, but mar­ueilously to withdraw the mynde of the louer from all other loue to loue God a­lone, who hath geuen all this? But if any man conceaue that God hath geuen vnto him what soeuer is foresayde, and doubteth not yet to loue him but lyght­ly, let him be assured that ther is no man but that if he seeke, he may finde occasiō why to thinke him selfe to God most be­holding, and with all his power most di­ligently to thanke him, whyle lyfe and breath shall prolong his daies. He ther­fore who wanteth any thing necessary to further hys soule health, ought neyther to murmour against God, nor to accuse him. For he doth all thynges vpon iust occasion, diligent deliberation, and ad­uised iudgement, & hath mercy on whom he wyl, iudgeth whom he wyll, and har­deneth [Page] whom hee wyll. And is able not onely to geue to whom he wyll, but also to take away from whom he wyl, what, and when best standeth with hys plea­sure. Right good is it then, and also fyt and necessary, that he who hath not those thinges which be needeful for him, shuld not onely be sad and sory, but also labour and praye to get and attaine them: And then when he hath gotten them, to shew him selfe grate and thankfull vnto God for them.

¶The .xvi. Chapter.
¶Of the benefit of Christ his death and passion.

GReat therefore and many, nay rather infinite & innumerable are the benefites, O Lord my God, which thou hast heaped vpon me: And for them am I bounden euer more, both to loue and prayse thee. For what soeuer goodnes I haue pre­sentlye, or what soeuer I haue had in times past, or what soeuer I shall haue in time to come, it commeth from thee (thou Authour of al goodnes) frō whom what soeuer is good in deede, or so ac­compted, [Page] doth issue, flow & procede. But yet one thyng is there, whych more then these all doth inflame, vrge, and mooue me, to set my whole delight, and all my loue vpon thee.

This I say specially, O my Lord Ie­su, makes thee to me both louinge, and amiable, that thou vouched safe of thy mere mercy, to suffer for me most shame full and cruell death, in accomplishinge the worke of my redemption. This one­lye, this wholly, and this more then all thinges, doth chalenge vnto it, euen by speciall desert, all our lyfe, all our labour all our seruice, and loue. This is yt▪ I say, that better stirreth, swetelyer seketh, and greatlyer encreaseth oure deuotion toward thee, thē all thine other kindnes or goodnes towardes vs. For in this worke of our reconsiliation made by the bytter panges of his passion, the vniuer­sal creatour was so oppressed with pain and trauayle, that he was nothinge lyke wearied in the workmāship of y^e whole world. For of the world, and of al things in the world,Psal. 32. he onely sayd the worde, and they were made, he gaue the commaun­dement, [Page] and they were created. But for the restauration of mau kynd, the paines and the sorowes which he suffered, are in all respects manifolde, maruailous, & vnspeakeable? Behold therfore how he loued vs, that for no neede or necessitye on his owne behalfe, but onelye for the loue which he bare to vs, woulde beare, and sustaine such paines and so meruai­lous. Iustly therefore haue I sayde, and may I say, that this one thinge excelleth all other his benefites. For though it be greatly to be wayed, and also to be este­med for no small token of bountye, that a man contenteth himselfe, or condescen­deth frankly to gyue his goodes to ano­ther, yet is this much more and infinitly incomparable to geeue, and be stowe a mans own selfe for his neighbour. And thoughe this bee an argument of greate loue, and charity, to geue a mans lyfe for his friendes: yet is this a plaine profe of great affection to dye for foes, and ene­myes, as the sonne of God did, when he dyed for vs. For whē we were enemies to God, we wer recōciled by the death of his sōne.Roma. 5. Hardely saith Paul dieth a mā [Page] for a iust mā, but he neuertheles dyed for y^e wycked, the iust for the vniust, that he might present vs blameles in the syght of his father. And from heauen became he exiled and banished, that he might re­store vs to the ioyes of that kingdome.

O how vnspeakeable therefore is this loue and charitie? Or what tounge can expresse the sweetenes of thys affection? Or how marueilous a mercye was thys I pray you, that God for man should be­come man, or that God for man shoulde dye in the flesh? and to be tempted in all thinges belonging to mans infirmitie,Hebr. 4. synne onely excepted: For behold it shal forthwith appeare to the eye of thine vnderstanding, with how great a raunsom man was redeemed: which by reason of his synne was iustlye enthrauled to the Deuil, and the most dreadfull sentence of death and damnation. Neither is it to be hidden, that if man had not ben raun­somed, accordyng to gods good mercye exhibited in his sonne, with the Deuill & his aungels hee had beene lost for ener. And all this doo I tell thee, that thou mayest haue some feeling how much mā [Page] is bounde to bee louyng to God for al­thinges: and not onely paciently, but al­so willinglye, and with all the might of power and feruencye, to abyde and en­dure sorrow and griefe for him, that suf­fered for vs such extremitie of griefe and sorrow.Actes. 14. For by many tribulations must we enter into the kingdome of god. Let my Soule therefore (O my Lord Iesu) hold and embrace thy blessed bodye cru­cified, and let it drincke a sweete draught of thy most precious bloud, by deepe im­printyng of thy passion in my mynde & memory. Yea let this pleasant remem­braunce so possesse my memorye, that no obliuion or forgetfulnes bee able to ab­scure it. But geue me grace to iudge of my selfe as Saynt Paule dyd,1. Cor. 2. namelye, that I know nothing but Christ Iesu, & him also crucified: so that vayne errour be not suffered to withdrawe my know­ledge from the soundnes of faith. Final­ly let this wonderful loue towardes me challenge to it selfe all my loue to thee? that no worldlye desyre haue power to swalow me. For this I know O Lord, that the hart or mynde that is fulfylled [Page] with the loue of thee, can neyther bee straightned with feare, nor defiled with lust, nor torne with wrath, nor aduaun­ced with pride, nor wasted with vayne glory, nor styrred with madnes, nor vn­bowelled with ambition, nor shroonken with couetousnes, nor ouerthrowē with sadnes, nor consumed with enuye, ney­ther yet corrupted with anye other vice, while in the sweetenes of thee it resteth constant and immoueable. He therfore that to his Seruauntes geueth so great thinges in this world present, how great trow you, doth he reserue for them, and lay vp in store, in the world to come?

The thinges yet that he presently ge­ueth, are temporall, but those which hee promiseth to geue hereafter, are eternal, & incomperably better then all the tem­porall goods of the world. For tempo­ral goods are painfully gotten, and ea­sely wasted. And when we haue them su­rest, Lord what a care it is to kepe them, what sorow to lose them, and what end­les payne and trauaile to recouer them againe? But the ritches of the world to come, are neuer lost, neuer diminished, [Page] but alwayes possessed with ioy & quiet­nes, as things euermore longed for, and neuer hated or loathed. For hee that to these heauenly ritches is once aspired, & hath gotten them into hys handes and possession, shall bee as well assured that he shall neuer lose them, as he hath ear­nest desire neuer to forgo them.

¶The .xvii. Chapter.
¶Of the benefit of God his promise.

RIght highly therefore is God to bee loued in his promises, in asmuch as he hath behight vs greater thinges, then he­therto hee hath geuen vs. For hee hath promised vnto vs rest from paine, liber­tie from thraldome, securitie from feare, comfort from sorrow, resurrection from the dead, and after that our bodyes are raysed vp agayne, suche full and perfect blysse as neuer shall haue ending. Final­lye he hath promised him selfe vnto vs, euen as he sware to our fathers,Luke. 1. that hee would geue him selfe for vs. Great therfore are the promises of God & vnspeak­able, and for these, and in these will God [Page] be loued of vs: and in such sort and ma­ner as it behoueth vs.

But if thou wylt know in what sort it behoueth vs to loue God, vehementlye to desire to haue the promise performed, is onely the maner that in this our loue is of duty required. The promise of God yet, how soeuer it bee desyred, is muche lesse desired, then it ought for to be. And howe soeuer the Louer of God profi­teth, and increaseth in louyng hym, hee ought styll to profite, and to encrease to more. For the earnest and true longyng after God in some respect, hath no mean nor measure, when as it can neuer so ex­ceede, that it maye be thought to muche. And where as in al other thinges impa­ciencie is euer blamed, vehement impa­ciencie of the delay in the expectacion of gods promises, that is, to haue and pos­sesse God, deserueth laud and praise, as a thing most commendable. For the more a man loueth God, and the more he lon­geth after hym, the impatiencie in that delaye tormenteth the more, & the hope which is differred, sore vexeth the soule. But these precious iewels in this world [Page] promised, are onelye had and enioyed in the heauenly palace. And therfore of that good whych is chiefe of all goodnes, what it is, and how it is, shal first be de­clared.

¶The .xviii. Chapter.
¶Of the consideration of the Deity & ioyes of heauen.

LEt vs styrre vp therefore and aduaunce all our vnderstan­ding, as far forth as the grace of God may assist it, to waigh and confider how great the onelye and proper ioy of the chosen is there, where the place is prepared for them. That is to say, that onely high soueraigne good, which is lyfe, lyght, blyssefulnes, wyse­dome, eternitie, and such other like: and yet is but onelye one in nature most ex­cellent, and high good, sufficing to it self in all thinges, needing or wanting no­thing: and which all haue neede of, not onely to be, but also well to be. Thys good is God the Father, thys is the word, that is, the Sonne of the Father, and this is that one and common loue, [Page] to the Father and the Sonne, namelye that holy Spirite, which from them both equally doth issue and proceede. And that which euerye one of these is in parson particularly, the same is the whole Tri­nitie, the Father, the Sonne, & the holye Ghost. For euery singuler parson of this Trinitie, is doubtles nothyng els but that high soueraigne vnitie, of the god-head I meane,Luke. 10. and the Deitie, which can neither be multiplied, encreased, nor al­tered.

Moreouer, this is that onely one thing which is needefull and necessarye. And that onely is necessarye, in the which all good is, or which of it selfe is the onelye one, and aloue good. For if eche seuerall good thing, be good and delectable, then thinke with thy selfe how delectable that good is, which containeth in it the plea­sure and delight of all that is good, and not suche as wee fynde, or taste in Gods creatures, but so far differing in al kinde of excellency, as the Creator in worthy­nes doth excell the creature. For if lyfe created be good, howe good is that lyfe which did create it? If health made, or [Page] geuen be good, how good is that health that made or gaue it? If the wisedome amiable, that consisteth in y^e knowledge of thinges y^t be made, how amiable is y^t wisedome that made all those things of nothing? Finally, if in things delectable the delight be great and manifold, howe great is the same in him that made, and ordained what soeuer is delectable? O how happye is that Soule, which maye haue vse of that good? What shall hee haue mysse of, that hath it? or what shal he not want, that lackes it? For who so hath that, shall together haue the goodes both of body and soule: and those suche also, so passing and so excellent, as ney­ther eye hath sene,1. Cor. 2. nor eare hath heard, nor the hart of man hath thought or con­ceaued. Why then wander we through so manye thinges, to seeke the goodes of our bodie and soule?

Let vs rather loue that one God in whom is all that good is, and it shall be inoughe and sufficient for vs. Let vs longe after that simple good, which of it selfe is all good, and we shalbe well, and shall nede to seeke no further. For what [Page] louest thou O my flesh, or what desirest thou, O my Soule? There and in that same selfe good, that is: in thy Soue­raigne Lord God, is doubtles al whatsoeuer ye loue, or desire. To speake there­fore of the goods of the heauenlye king­dome, or to conceaue or vnderstād them, no man cloathed in the flesh, suffiseth, or is able. For in truth they are much grea­ter & better, then eyther they are thought or perceyued to bee. For the kingdome of God excelleth all fame, passeth all praise, surmounteth all cunning, & excel­leth what soeuer glorye is thought most royall or famous. The kingdome of god therfore is full of light, and peace, chari­tye and patience, woorshippe and glory, pleasure and delight, euerlasting in ioy, perpetuall in blisfulnes, and replenished with all other goodes, what soeuer are vnpossible to bee spoken, or comprehen­ded. And yet ought I not therfore to be mute or silent, but to say so muche as I can: Bycause I cannot saye so much as I woulde. For bycause we beleue that God is vnspeakable, it is not forth with reason to thincke our selues not bounde [Page] to speake of him that we can, or are able. Neyther is this tollerable, y^t we shoulde not beleue of that life euerlasting, which God by his promise hath sealed vnto vs more a great deale, theu is sette forth in wryting. For neyther can the toung, nor the pen expresse so much, as the hart can comprehende, and yet the hart which is of greatest capacity, and of al things con­ceaueth most profoundly, and depely, is farre to light to comprise the Maiesty of God, his ioyes and glory. Of the lyfe to come therefore, we must earnestly beleue that it is both euerlastiug in it selfe, and euerlastinglye happy: And that ther is assured security, and secure tranquility, peaceable pleasantnes, blysfull eternity, and eternall blisfulnes, wher is perfytte loue, no feare, no dread, no want of day: But cherefull motion, and one spirite a­mong all, assured of the sight of God, & there to abyde in his ioy, where that cy­tye is, which is the blessed congregation of all Aungels and Saintes, glistering & shyning in the righteousnes of Christ. There I say wher euerlasting saluation aboundeth, where truth reigneth, where [Page] no man deceaueth, nor can bee deceaued? where no happye man can bee cast out or exiled, nor whither anye wretch may bee drawen or aduaunced. This is the blysse­full contemplatiue life, to the which such as come by faith fruitfull and charitable, shall be made lyke to the blysseful spirits, and raigne in Gods kingdom with them for euer. For what they beleued here, that shal they see there, and beholding the substance of their Creatour, wyth pure hartes, and innocent eyes, shall triumphe in ioy euerlasting, and through the pos­session of gods loue in mutuall charitie, shall be eche together with other, & ioy­ned with their God in vnitye & concord. And hauing receiued the priuiledge of the heauenlye countrye, as perpetuallye en­fraunchized into the same, shall enioy the benefit long before promised.

There shall be such gladnes, and suche plenty and store of heauenly solace, aboū ­ding in the fulnes of gods goodnes and grace, that to their Lord god soueraygne geuer of such giftes, they shal incessantly yelde thankes and prayse wythout anye kynde of yrksomnes conceaued, in the v­sing, [Page] or hauing of gods so manyfold bles­singes. For the hartes of euery one shall there be open eche to other, as corporall thynges are here sene with the syght of our bodelye eyes. And so perfect and so cleane shall mens consciences bee there, that they shall haue continuall cause to thanke God for their puritie, & not blush nor be ashamed for their former offences, in as muche as neither synner nor synne shall be there, wher power is taken from all men to synne any more. Neither shall they which be perfectly blessed, bee igno­rant of anye mysterie of secrete, for they shall see him in whom all secretes are o­pened,1. Cir. 13. & that face to face, as them selues are sene. For then shall mankynde in all perfection be made so absolute, that from thence foorth it shall neuer bee altered or chaunged, but of that substance of Man, by glorification transformed into the likenes of his most blessed Maker, al the na­turall goodes earst receiued of God, and disfugured by mans synne in this wret­ched worlde, shall there in that blysse bee repaired to better, that is to say: vnder­standing shall be without errour, memo­rye [Page] without obliuion, thought without wandering, charitie wythout fayning, sense wythout offence, health wythout sicknes, myrth without sorrow, pleasure without paine, life without death, agility wythout impediment, fulnes wythout lothsomnes, and soundnes without dys­ease. For whatsoeuer in this life, eyther the violence of beastes, or rage of misfor­tune hath impaired in mans body, what soeuer sycknes hath feebled, or crueltye wasted, or dysease putrified, or age in it selfe combersome hath benummed or cō ­sumed, shall all againe in the glorious re­surrection be renued & restored, and the whole bodies with all their lymmes and members vnited to their soules, shall to­gether be endued with incorruptible na­ture. And therefore who soeuer in that blyssefulnes, is blysfully possessed, shall by no distance of place, difference of me­rite, nor any other meane what soeuer it be, at any tyme bee seperated from the full fruition of God, in the ful­nes of hys glory.