Book III
Chapter I
Of the inward speech of Christ unto a faithful soul.
Christian.I
WILL hear what the Lord God will speak in me. Blessed is the soul that heareth the Lord speaking in her, and receiveth from his mouth the word of comfort.
Blessed are those ears that receive the whispers of the divine voice, and listen not to the whisperings of the world.
Blessed indeed are those ears that hearken not to the voice which soundeth outwardly, but unto the truth which teacheth inwardly.
Blessed are the eyes which are shut to outward things, but open to those that are internal.
Blessed are they that delight to be at leisure for God, and rid themselves of all worldly impediments.
2. Consider these things, my soul, and shut up the door of thy sensual desires, that thou mayest hear what the Lord God speaketh in thee.
*Christ. I am thy peace, thy life, and thy salvation.
*Keep thyself with me, and thou shalt find peace.
Leave all transitory, and seek everlasting things.
What are all temporal things, but snares? And what do all creatures avail thee, if thou be forsaken by thy Creator?
Forsake therefore all earthly things, and labour to please thy Creator, and be faithful unto him, that thou mayst attain true happiness.
Chapter II
That truth speaketh inwardly, without noise of words.
*Christian.SPEAK,
Lord, for thy servant heareth.
*I am thy servant, grant me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
*Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth. Let thy speech distil as the dew.
The children of Israel said unto Moses, Speak thou unto us, and we will hear thee: let not the Lord speak unto us, lest we die.
*Not so, Lord, not so, I beseech thee; but rather with the prophet Samuel, I humbly and earnestly intreat, Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.
*Let not Moses speak unto me, nor any of the prophets; but do thou rather speak, O Lord God, the inspirer and enlightner of all the prophets; for thou alone, without them, canst perfectly instruct me; but they, without thee can profit nothing.
2. They, indeed, may sound forth words, but they cannot give spirit.
They speak well; but if thou be silent, they inflame not the heart.
They teach the letter, but thou openest the sense.
They bring forth mysteries, but thou unlockest the meaning of them.
They declare thy commandments, but thou helpest to fulfil them.
They shew the way, but thou givest strength to walk in it.
They work only outwardly, but thou instructest and enlightnest the heart.
They water, but thou givest the increase.
They make a noise with words; but thou givest to understand them.
*3. Let not therefore Moses speak unto me,
but thou, my Lord God, the everlasting truth; lest I die, and prove unfruitful, if I be warned outwardly only, and not inflamed within.
Let not the word heard and not fulfilled, known and not loved, believed and not observed, turn to my condemnation.
Speak therefore, Lord, for thy servant heareth; for thou hast the words of eternal life.
*Speak, unto me, to the comfort of my soul, and to the amendment of my whole life, and to thy praise and glory, and everlasting honour.
Chapter III
That the words of God are to be heard with humility, and that many weigh them not.
Christ.SON,
hear my words, words of the greatest sweetness, excelling all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise men of this world.
My words are spirit and life, not to be weighed by the understanding of man.
They are to be heard with silence and to be received with all humility and great affection.
Christian. Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord, and shalt teach thy law: that thou mayest give him rest from the evil days, and that he be not destroyed upon earth.
2. Christ. I have taught the prophets from the beginning, and cease not in these days to speak to
every one; but many are hardened, and deaf to my speech:
Most men more willingly listen to the world than to God; and follow sooner the desires of the flesh, than the will of God.
The world promiseth temporal and small things, and is served with great eagerness: I promise high and eternal things, and the hearts of men are unmoved.
Who is he that serveth and obeyeth me, with such care as the world and the lords therefore are served with?
Blush, therefore, slothful and complaining servant, that they are more eager for destruction, than thou for life.
They rejoice more in vanity, than thou in the truth.
And yet they are often frustrated of their hope; but my promise deceiveth none, nor sendeth him away empty that trusteth in me.
What I have promised, I will give; I will fulfil what I have said, to him that remains faithful in my love to the end.
I am the rewarder of all that are good, and try my servants with strong trials.
3. Write my words in thy heart and think diligently of them; for they will be very necessary in the time of temptation.
*What thou understandest not when thou readest, thou shalt know in the day of visitation.
I am wont to visit my elect two ways; with temptation, and with comfort.
And I daily read two lessons unto them; one reprehending their vices, another exhorting them to the increase of virtues.
He that hath my words, and despiseth them, hath him that shall judge him at the last day.
*4. Christian. O Lord my God, thou art to me whatsoever is good. Who am I, that I dare speak unto thee? I am thy poorest servant and a most vile worm, much more poor and contemptible than I can express.
*Yet remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing.
Thou alone art good, just, and holy: thou canst do all things, thou fillest all things, only the proud thou sendest empty away.
*Remember thy mercies, and fill my heart with thy grace, thou who willest not that thy works shall be empty.
5. How can I bear myself, unless thou strengthenest me with thy mercy and grace?
Turn not thy face from me; delay not thy visitation; take not away thy comfort, lest my soul become as the thirsty land.
*Lord, teach me to fulfil thy will, teach me to live worthily and humbly in thy sight; for thou art my wisdom, thou dost truly know me, and didst know me before the world was made, and before I was born in the world.
Chapter IV
That we ought to live in truth and humility before God.
Christ.SON,
walk before me in truth, and ever seek me in simplicity of heart.
He that walketh before me in truth, shall be defended from evil; and the truth shall deliver him from seducers, and from the detractions of the wicked.
If the truth have made thee free, thou shalt be free indeed.
Christian. Lord, it is true. According as thou saidst, so I beseech thee let it be with me; let thy truth teach me, and keep me and bring me safe to an happy end.
Let it deliver me from all evil affection and inordinate love: and I shall walk with thee in great freedom of heart.
2. Christ. I will teach thee those things that are right and pleasing in my sight.
Think of thy sins with great displeasure and grief, and never esteem thyself any thing for thy good works.
Thou art in very deed a sinner, thou art subject to, and encumbered with many passions.
Of thyself thou always tendest to nothing:
thou art quickly cast down, quickly overcome, quickly troubled, quickly dissolved.
Thou hast nothing wherein thou canst glory, but many things for which thou oughtest to despise thyself; for thou art much weaker than thou art able to comprehend.
3. Make no account therefore of any thing that thou dost.
Let nothing seem great, nothing precious and wonderful; let nothing seem worthy of estimation, nothing high, nothing truly praise-worthy and desirable, but that which is everlasting.
Let the eternal truth above all things please thee. Let thy own great unworthiness always displease thee.
Fear nothing, fly nothing so much as thy vices and sins.
Some walk not sincerely in my sight: but will know my secrets, and understand the high things of God, neglecting themselves and their own salvation.
These often, because I resist them, fall into great temptations and sins.
4. Fear the judgments of God; dread the wrath of the Almighty. But discuss not the works of the highest. Search thine own iniquities, how much thou hast offended, and how much good thou hast neglected.
Some place their religion only in books, some in images, some in outward forms and ceremonies.
Some have me in their mouths, but little in their hearts.
There are others that being illuminated in their understandings, and purged in their affection, continually pant after things eternal; these perceive what the spirit of truth speaketh in them.
Because it teacheth them to despise earthly, and love heavenly things; to neglect the world, and all the day and night to desire heaven.
Chapter V
Of the wonderful effects of divine love.
*Christian.I
PRAISE thee, O heavenly Father, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for that thou hast vouchsafed to remember me a poor creature.
O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, thanks be unto thee, who, with thy comfort refreshest me, unworthy of all comfort.
I ever bless and glorify thee, with thy only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, for ever and ever.
*O Lord God, the holy lover of my soul, when thou shalt come into my heart, all that is within me will rejoice.
Thou art my glory and the joy of my heart.
Thou art my hope and refuge in the day of my tribulation.
2. But because I am still weak in love, I have
need therefore to be strengthened and comforted by thee.
Visit me therefore often, and instruct ♦me
with thy holy discipline.
*Deliver me from evil passions, and heal my heart of all inordinate affections; that being healed within, I may be made fit to love, strong to suffer, and constant to persevere.
3. Christ. Love is a great thing, which alone maketh every burden light, and beareth all the vicissitudes of life.
*For it carrieth a burden without a burden, and maketh every thing that is bitter, sweet and savoury.
The love of Jesus impelleth to do great things, and stirreth up continually to desire greater perfection.
Love will be aloft, and not kept down with any earthly thing.
Love will be free and loose from all worldly affection, lest its inward sight be hindered, lest it be entangled by any temporal prosperity, or subdued by adversity.
*Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing is stronger, nothing higher, nothing more large, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller nor better in heaven or in earth.
Because love is born of God, and cannot rest but in God, above all creatures.
4. He that loveth, flieth, runneth and rejoiceth; he is free and not bound.
*He giveth all for all, and hath all in all; for he resteth in the supreme One, from whom all good proceedeth.
He respecteth not the gifts, but turneth himself above all goods unto the Giver.
Love often knoweth no measure, but is inflamed above all measure.
*Love feeleth no burden, weigheth no pains, desireth above its strength; complaineth not of impossibility; for it thinketh all things possible.
*It is therefore able to undertake all things, and performeth and bringeth many things to pass; whereas he that doth not love, fainteth and sinketh under them.
*5. Love watcheth, and sleeping sleepeth not.
*Being tired is not weary, straitened is not pressed: frightened is not disturbed: but like a lively flame, it bursteth out aloft, and securely passeth through all.
If any one loveth, he knoweth what this meaneth.
The ardent affection of the soul crieth aloud in the ears of God, when it saith, My God, my love, thou art wholly mine, and I am wholly thine.
*6. Christian. Enlarge me in love, that with the inward mouth of my heart I may taste how sweet it is to love, and to be melted and swim in thy love.
Let me be possessed by love, mounting above myself with excessive fervour and admiration.
Let me sing the song of love, let me follow thee on high, my beloved: let my soul die away in thy praise, rejoicing through love.
*Let me love thee more than myself, and not myself but for thee, and all in thee that truly love thee, as the law of love commandeth, which shineth out from thee.
*5. Christ. Love is swift, sincere, pious, pleasant, and delightful: strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly; and never seeking itself.
For where one seeketh himself, there he falleth from love.
*Love is circumspect, humble, and upright: not soft, nor light, nor attending unto vain things; but sober, chaste, constant, quiet, and guarded in all the senses.
Love is subject and obedient to superiors, vile, and despicable to itself, devout and thankful unto God, trusting and hoping always in him.
*8. He that is not ready to suffer all things, and to stand to the will of his beloved, is not worthy to be called a lover.
A lover ought to embrace willingly all that is hard and distasteful for his beloved.
Chapter VI
Of a proof of a true lover.
Christ.SON,
thou art not a valiant and prudent lover.
Christian. Wherefore, Lord?
Christ. Because thou givest over thy undertakings for a small difficulty, and too greedily seekest after comfort.
A valiant lover standeth firmly in temptations, and giveth not credit to the crafty persuasions of the enemy.
2. A prudent lover considereth not so much the gift of his lover, as the love of the giver.
He regardeth the love more than the value, and valueth his beloved above all his gifts.
A generous lover resteth not in the gift, but in me above every gift.
3. Know that thy ancient enemy doth ever strive to hinder thy desire to good, and to divert thee from all religious exercises; to wit, from the devout memory of my passion, from the profitable remembrance of thy sins, from the guard of thine own heart, and from the firm purpose of profiting in virtue.
He injecteth many evil thoughts, that he may cause a weariness in thee, to drive thee from prayer and holy reading.
Humble prayer is displeasing unto him; and if he could, he would cause thee to cease from receiving the sacrament.
Care not for him, although he should often set snares for thee.
If he suggest evil thoughts, say unto him,
Away unclean spirit; blush, miserable wretch; thou art very unclean, that bringest such things to mine ears.
Away from me, thou shalt have no part in me; Jesus shall be with me as a strong warrior, and thou shalt stand confounded.
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
Though hosts of men rise up against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid.
The Lord is my helper and my Redeemer.
Chapter VII
That grace is to be guarded by humility.
Christ.THINK,
when thou art in grace, how miserable thou art wont to be without grace.
The way of man is not in his power, but it belongeth to God to comfort when he will, and how much he will, and whom he will; as it shall please him, and no more.
They that are unacquainted in the way of the Lord, unless they govern themselves by the counsel of discreet persons, may easily be deceived and overthrown.
2. And if they will rather follow their own judgment, than give credit to others that are experienced, the event will be dangerous.
Christian. Shall I speak unto my Lord who am dust and ashes?
If I esteem better of myself, behold thou standest
against me, and my iniquities bear true witness against me, neither can I contradict it.
But if I know myself to be nothing, if I renounce all self-esteem, and account myself to be but dust; thy grace will be favourable unto me, and thy light will be near my heart.
And all self-esteem, how little soever, shall be swallowed up, and perish everlastingly.
Thou shewest myself unto me, what I am, and what I have been; for I am nothing, and I knew it not.
And if I be left to myself, behold I become all weakness.
But if thou lookest upon me, I am made strong.
And it is a great marvel, that I am suddenly lifted up, and so graciously embraced by thee, who by my own weight always sink downward.
3. Thy love is the cause thereof, freely preventing me, and relieving me in so many necessities; preserving me also from grievous dangers, and delivering me from innumerable evils.
For by inordinate loving myself, I lost myself; and by seeking thee alone, and loving thee, I have found both myself and thee, and by that love have more deeply brought myself to nothing.
For thou, O most sweet Lord, dealest with me above all desert, above all that I dare hope or ask.
*4. Blessed be thou, my God; for although I be unworthy of any benefits; yet thy bounty, and thy infinite goodness, never ceaseth to do good even to the ungrateful, and them that are far from thee.
*Turn us unto thee, O Lord, that we may be thankful, humble, and holy; for thou art our power, and our strength, and our salvation.
Chapter VIII
That all things are to be referred unto God, as unto their last end.
Christ.SON,
I ought to be thy last end, if thou desirest to be truly blessed.
By this intention thy affection shall be purified, which is often inordinately bent down to itself, and unto creatures.
For if in any thing thou seekest thyself, thou soon fallest into a langour.
Refer therefore all things unto me, for I am he that hath given all.
*2. Out of me, as out of a living fountain, the little and the great, the poor and the rich, draw the water of life: and they that willingly and freely serve me, shall receive grace for grace.
But he that will glory out of me, or be delighted in any good that tends not to me, shall
not be grounded in true joy, nor enlarged in his heart, but shall be many ways incumbered and straitned.
Thou oughtest therefore to ascribe nothing of good unto thyself, nor attribute goodness unto any man; but give all unto God, without whom man hath nothing.
I have bestowed all, and will that all be returned unto me again: and with great strictness, I require thanks.
3. This is the truth that putteth to flight vain-glory.
And if true love enter in, there shall be no envy, or straitness of heart, neither shall there be any place for self-love.
If thou art truly wise, in me alone thou wilt rejoice, in me alone thou wilt hope: for none is good but God alone, who is to be praised above all things, and to be blessed in all.
Chapter IX
That it is a sweet thing to despise the world, and serve God.
Christian.NOW
I will speak again, O Lord, and will not be silent; I will speak in the ears of my God, my Lord, and my King that is on high.
*O how great is the abundance of thy goodness,
O Lord, which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee!
*But what art thou to them that love thee? What to them that serve thee with their whole heart?
*Truly, unspeakable is the sweetness of contemplating thee, which thou bestowest on them that love thee.
In this chiefly thou hast shewed me the sweetness of thy love: in that when I was not, thou madest me; and when I went astray a far off from thee, thou broughtest me back again, that I might serve thee.
2. O fountain of everlasting love, what shall I say of thee?
How can I forget thee, that hast vouchsafed to remember me, even after I had pined away, and perished?
Thou hast shewed mercy to thy servant beyond all my expectation.
Thou hast exhibited thy favour and friendship beyond all my desert.
What shall I return to thee for this favour?
Is it much that I should serve thee, whom all creatures are bound to serve?
*It ought not to seem much unto me to serve thee: but this rather seemeth much and marvellous unto me, that thou vouchsafest to receive into thy service one so poor and unworthy, and to join him with thy beloved servants.
*3. Behold, all is thine which I have, and whereby I serve thee.
*And yet, contrary-wise, thou rather servest me, than I thee.
*Behold heaven and earth, which thou hast created for the service of man, are ready at hand, and all daily perform whatsoever thou dost command.
*And this is little: thou hast also appointed the angels to the service of man.
*But that which excelleth all this is, that thou thyself hast vouchsafed to serve man, and hast promised to give thyself unto him.
4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of benefits?
Would I could serve thee all the days of my life!
Would I were able at least for one day, to do thee worthy service!
Verily, thou art worthy of all service, of all honour, and everlasting praise.
*Verily, thou art my Lord, and I thy poor servant, that am bound to serve thee with all my might; neither ought I ever to be weary of praising thee.
*This I wish to do, this I desire: and whatsoever is wanting unto me, vouchsafe, I beseech thee to supply.
Chapter X
That the desires of our hearts are to be examined.
Christ.SON,
thou must still learn many things, which thou hast not yet well learned.
Christian. What are those, Lord?
Christ. That thou frame thy desires wholly according to my pleasure: and be not a lover of thyself, but a zealous follower of my will.
Thy desires often inflame thee, and that vehemently; but consider, whether thou art moved rather for my honour, or for thine own profit.
If I be the cause, thou wilt be well content, howsoever I shall ordain:
But if there lurk in thee any self-seeking, behold this is it that hindereth thee, and weigheth thee down.
2. Beware therefore thou lean not too much upon any desire conceived without asking my counsel; lest afterward it repent thee, and thou dislikest what before pleased thee, and which thou zealously desiredst as the best.
For every affection that seemeth good, is not presently to be followed: nor every affection that at first seemeth evil to be avoided.
It is expedient to use a restraint even in good desires and endeavours, lest by importunity of desire thou incur distraction of mind, and by
want of self-government be a scandal to others, or being gainsayed by others, thou be suddenly troubled and fall.
But thou oughtest to use violence, and resist manfully thy sensual appetites, and respect not, what the flesh would or would not; but rather to labour, that even perforce it be subject to the spirit.
*Thou dust, learn to obey.
*Thou earth and clay, learn to humble thyself, to bow down beneath the feet of all men.
Learn to break thine own will, and to yield thyself to all subjection.
3. Be zealous against thyself, and suffer not pride to live in thee.
*Shew thyself so lowly, such a little child, that every one may go over thee, and tread thee as dirt under their feet.
*Vain man, what hast thou to complain of?
*Vile sinner, what canst thou answer to them who reproach thee, who hast so often offended God, and so many times deserved hell?
But mine eye hath spared thee, because thy soul was precious in my sight:
That thou mightest know my love and always remain thankful for my benefits.
And that thou mightest continually study true subjection and humility, and patiently endure to be despiseth.
Chapter XI
Of the considering the secret judgments of God, lest we be exalted on account of our good deeds.
Christian.THOU
thunderest forth thy judgments over me, O Lord; thou shakest all my bones with fear and trembling, and my soul is sore afraid.
I stand astonished, when I consider that the heavens are not pure in thy sight.
If thou hast found wickedness in angels, and hast not pardoned them, what shall become of me?
Stars fell from heaven; and am I, who am dust, proud?
2. There is therefore no sanctity, if thou, O Lord, withdrawest thy hand.
No wisdom availeth, if thou ceasest to govern.
No strength helpeth, if thou leavest to defend.
No chastity is secure, if thou dost not protect it.
No vigilance profits, if thy sacred watchfulness be not present.
For if we be left, we sink and perish: but if thou visitest us, we are raised up and live.
We are inconstant, but by thee we are established; we grow cold, but by thee we are inflamed.
3. O how meanly ought I to think of myself! How nothing ought I to esteem it, if I seem to have any good!
O Lord, with what profound humility ought I to submit myself to thy inscrutable judgments: where I find myself to be a very nothing! O unmeasurable height! O unpassable sea, where I find myself to be altogether nothing! Where then is the hiding-place of glory? Where is the confidence I once conceived of my own virtue?
All glorying is swallowed up in the depths of thy judgments over me.
4. What is all flesh in thy sight?
Shall the clay glory against him that frameth it?
How can he be lifted up with vain words, whose heart is truly subject to God?
All the world cannot lift him up whom the truth hath subjected unto itself; neither shall he be moved with the tongues of all his praisers, that hath set his whole hope upon God.
For as for them that speak, behold they are all nothing; they shall pass away, as doth the sound of their words: but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.
Chapter XII
How we are to be affected, and what we are to say, in every thing which we desire.
Christ.SON,
say thus, in every thing; Lord if it be pleasing to thee, let this be thus.
Lord, if it be to thy honour, let this be done in thy name.
Lord, if thou seest it expedient for me, and knowest it to be profitable, then grant me to use this unto thy honour;
But if thou knowest it will be hurtful unto me, and not profitable to the health of my soul, take away this desire from me:
For every desire proceedeth not from the Holy Ghost, though it seemeth unto man right and good.
It is hard to judge rightly, whether a good spirit, or the contrary, incline thee to desire this or that, or whether thou art not moved by thine own spirit.
Many are deceived in the end, who at first seemed to be led by a good spirit.
2. Always therefore, whatsoever seemeth desirable to thee, let it be desired and prayed for in the fear of God, and with humility of heart.
And above all, thou oughtest to resign thyself, and to commit the whole unto Me, and say,
“Lord, thou knowest what is best, let this or that be done as thou pleasest.”
Give what thou wilt, and how much thou wilt, and when thou wilt.
Deal with me as thou thinkest good, and as best pleaseth thee, and is most for thy honour.
Set me where thou wilt, and deal with me in all things according to thy will.
I am in thy hand; turn me, and turn me again, which way soever thou pleasest.
Behold, I am thy servant, prepared for all things; for I desire not to live unto myself, but unto thee: and O that I could do it worthily and perfectly!
3. Grant me thy grace, O most gracious Jesus, that it may be with me, and labour with me, and continue with me unto the end.
Grant me always to desire and will that which is most acceptable unto thee, and best pleaseth thee.
Let thy will be mine, and let my will ever follow thine, and agree perfectly with it.
Let my will and nill be all one with thine, and let me not be able to will or nill any thing else, but what thou willest or nillest.
4. Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world, and for thy sake love to be contemned, and not be known in this world.
Grant that above all things that can be desired, I may rest in thee, may quiet my heart in thee.
Thou art the true peace of the heart, thou art the only rest; out of thee all things are troublesome and unquiet.
In this very peace, that is in thee, the one eternal good, may I sleep and rest. Amen.”
Chapter XIII
That true comfort is to be sought in God alone.
MY soul, thou canst not be fully comforted, but in God, the comforter of the poor, and the helper of the humble.
Wait ♦awhile, O my soul, wait the divine promise, and thou shalt have abundance of all good things.
*Use temporal things, desire eternal.
Thou canst not be satisfied with any temporal good, because thou art not created to enjoy them.
Although thou hadst all created good, yet wouldst thou not be happy or blessed; but in God, that hath created all things, thy whole happiness consisteth.
Vain and short is all human comfort.
Blessed and real is that comfort, which is received inwardly from the truth.
A devout man every where carrieth with him Jesus his comforter, and saith unto him, “Be present with me, Lord Jesus, in every place and time.
*Let this be my comfort, to be willing to want all human comfort.
And if thy comfort be wanting, let thy will, and just proving of me, be unto me as the greatest comfort: for thou wilt not be angry always, neither wilt thou threaten for ever.”
Chapter XIV
That all our care is to be cast on God.
Christ.SON,
suffer me to do with thee what I please: I know what is expedient for thee.
Thou thinkest like a man; thou judgest in many things as human affection persuadeth thee.
Christian. Lord, what thou sayest is true. Thy care for me is greater than all the care that I can take for myself.
*For he standeth very totteringly, that casteth not his whole care upon thee.
Lord, so that my will may remain right and firm towards thee, do with me whatsoever shall please thee.
For it cannot but be good, whatsoever thou dost with me.
2. If it be thy will I should be in darkness, be thou blessed; and if it be thy will I should be in light, be thou again blessed.
*If thou vouchsafest to comfort me, be thou blessed; and if thou wilt afflict me, be thou equally blessed.
Christ. Son, such must be thy disposition, if thou wilt walk with me.
Thou must be as ready to suffer as to rejoice.
Thou oughtest to be as willing to be poor and needy, as full and rich.
3. Christian. Lord, I willingly suffer for thee whatsoever thy pleasure is shall befall me.
I will receive indifferently from thy hand good and evil, sweet and bitter, delightful and sorrowful, and give thee thanks for all that befalleth me.
*Keep me from all sin, and I will neither fear death nor hell.
So thou dost not for ever cast me from thee, nor blot me out of the book of life, what tribulation soever befalleth me shall not hurt me.
Chapter XV
Of suffering injuries; and who is proved to be truly patient.
Christ.WHAT
is it thou sayest, son? Cease to complain, considering my passion, and that of my other saints.
Thou hast not yet resisted unto blood.
Do not say, I cannot suffer these things at the hand of such a person, nor ought I to suffer these things; for he hath done me great wrong, and upbraided me with those things which I never thought of: but of another I will willingly suffer.
Such a thought is foolish, it considereth not the virtue of patience, nor by whom it shall be
crowned; but rather weigheth the persons and the injuries offered.
*2. He is not truly patient, that will not suffer but as much as he thinketh good, and by whom he listeth.
*But the truly patient man mindeth not by whom he is exercised, whether by his superior, or his equal, or by his inferior: whether by a good and holy man, or by a perverse and unworthy person.
*But indifferently from all creatures, how much soever, or how often soever any adversity befalleth him, he taketh all thankfully from the hands of God, and esteemeth it great gain;
*Seeing nothing how little soever, so it be suffered for God, shall pass without its reward.
3. Be thou therefore prepared for the fight, if thou wilt have the victory.
Without a combat thou canst not attain unto the crown of patience.
If thou wilt not suffer, thou refusest to be crowned;
But if thou desirest to be crowned, fight manfully and endure patiently.
Without labour there is no coming to rest, nor without fighting can victory be obtained.
4. Christian. Lord, let that be made possible to me by thy grace, which seemeth impossible to me by nature.
Thou knowest, that I can suffer but little, and that I am quickly dismayed when a small adversity ariseth.
Let every exercise of tribulation be made amiable unto me, and be welcome for thy name; for to suffer and to be troubled for thy sake is very profitable for my soul.
I will confess against me my unrighteousness; I will confess unto thee, O Lord, my infirmities.
It is often a small matter that grieveth and dejecteth me.
I purpose to act with courage; but when a small temptation cometh, it bringeth me into great straits.
It is sometimes a very trifle, from whence great temptations proceed.
And whilst I think myself safe, when I least expect it, I am overcome with a small blast.
5. Behold, therefore, Lord, my frailty, every way known unto thee.
Have mercy on me, and deliver me out of the mire, that I stick not fast therein, and that I may not be cast down altogether.
6. O mighty God of Israel, the zealous lover of faithful souls, let it please thee to consider the labour and sorrow of thy servant, and assist him in all whatsoever he undertaketh.
Strengthen me with heavenly strength, lest the old man, the miserable flesh, not yet fully subject to the Spirit, prevail.
Chapter XVI
That we are to rest in God above all his gifts and benefits.
Christian.ABOVE
all things, and in all things, O my soul, rest in the Lord: for he is the everlasting rest of the saints.
*Grant me, O most sweet and loving Jesus, to rest in thee above all creatures:
Above all health and beauty, above all glory and honour, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and subtilty, above all riches and arts, above all joy and gladness, above all hope and promise, above all desert and desire!
Above all gifts and presents that thou canst impart unto us;
Above all joy and triumph, that the mind of man can receive and feel:
Lastly, above the angels and arch-angels, and above all the host of heaven, above all visible and invisible things, and above all that thou art not, O my God.
*2. For, thou my Lord God, art best above all, thou alone art most high, thou alone most powerful, thou alone most full and sufficient, thou alone most sweet and overflowing with comfort, thou alone most lovely and loving, thou alone most noble and glorious above all things,
in whom all good things are together, and most perfectly, and ever have been and shall be:
And therefore it is too little whatsoever thou bestoweth on me besides thyself, or revealest unto me of thyself, whilst thou are not seen and fully obtained;
For surely my heart cannot truly rest, unless it rests in thee, and surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoever.
3. O my beloved bridegroom, Jesus Christ the most pure lover, the governor of all creatures!
O that I had the wings of true liberty, that I might fly away and rest in thee!
O when shall it be granted me in quietness of mind, to see how sweet thou art my Lord God:
*When shall I fully gather up myself into thee, that by reason of my love to thee, I may not feel myself, but thee alone, above all sense or measure, in a manner not known unto every one?
4. O Jesus, the brightness of the eternal glory, thou comfort of the banished soul, with thee is my tongue without a voice, and my silence speaketh unto thee.
How long doth my Lord delay to come?
Let him come unto me, his poor servant, and make me glad.
Let him put forth his hand, and deliver me from all trouble.
*Come, O come! for without thee I shall have no joyful hour; for thou art my joy, and without thee my table is empty.
A wretched creature I am, until thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence, and settest me at liberty.
5. Let others seek what they please instead of thee; but for me nothing else doth, or shall delight me, but thou only, my God, my hope, my everlasting salvation.
I will not hold my peace, nor cease to pray, until thy grace returneth, and thou speakest inwardly unto me.
Christ. Behold I am here; behold I come unto thee, because thou hast called upon me.
Thy tears and the desire of thy soul, thy humiliation and the contrition of thy heart, have brought me unto thee.
Christian. Lord, I have called thee, and have desired to enjoy thee, being ready to cast away all things for thee.
For thou first hast stirred me up, that I might seek thee.
Blessed be thou, therefore, O Lord, that hast shewed thy goodness to thy servant, according to the multitude of thy mercies.
*6. What hath thy servant more to say before thee, but greatly to humble himself in thy sight, always mindful of his own iniquity and vileness?
For there is none like unto thee in all that is wonderful in heaven and earth.
Thy works are very good, thy judgments true, and by thy providence all things are governed.
Praise therefore, and glory, be unto thee, O Wisdom of the Father! Let my mouth, my soul, and all creatures together praise and bless thee.
Chapter XVII
Of the remembrance of the manifold benefits of God.
Christian.OPEN,
O Lord, my heart in thy law, and teach me to walk in thy commandments.
Grant me to understand thy will, and remember thy benefits; that henceforward I may be able worthily to give thee thanks.
But I know and confess that I am not able to give thee due thanks for the least of thy favours.
I am less than the least of all thy benefits; and when I consider thy bounty, the greatness thereof maketh my spirit to faint.
2. All that we have in our souls and bodies, and whatsoever we possess outwardly or inwardly, naturally or supernaturally, are thy benefits,
and speak thee bountiful, merciful, and good, from whom we have received all good things.
Although one have received more, another less, all notwithstanding are thine, and without thee even the least cannot be had.
He that hath received greater, cannot extol himself above others; for he is greater and better, that ascribeth least unto himself, and is more humble and devout in rendering thanks.
And he that esteemeth himself vilest of all men, is fitter to receive greater blessings.
3. And he that hath received fewer, ought not to repine, nor envy them that have greater store; but attend rather unto thee, and highly praise thy goodness, who bestowest thy gifts so bountifully, so freely, and so willingly, without respect of persons.
All things proceed from thee, and therefore in all things thou art to be praised.
Thou knowest what is fit to be given to every man, and why one hath less and another more.
It is not ours, but thine to judge, who dost exactly know what is meet for every one.
4. Nothing therefore ought so to rejoice him that loveth thee, and acknowledgeth thy benefits, as thy will in him, and the good pleasure of thy eternal appointment.
With this he ought to be so contented and comforted, that he would be as willing to be the least, as another is to be the greatest.
He is as peaceable and contented in the last as in the first place.
*He is as willing to be despised and contemned, and to be of no esteem or account, as to be preferred in honour above all others, and to be greater in the world.
For thy will, and the love of thy glory, ought to be preferred above all things:
And to comfort him more, and please him better than all the benefits which either he hath received or may receive.
Chapter XVIII
Of four things that bring much peace.
Christ.SON,
now will I teach thee the way of peace, and true liberty.
*Endeavour to do rather the will of another than thy own.
*Ever chuse rather to have less than more.
*Always seek the lowest place, and to be beneath every one.
*Continually wish and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee.
Behold such a man entereth into the ♦bounds
of peace and quietness.
2. Christian. Lord, this thy short speech containeth much perfection.
Thou, who canst do all things, and ever lovest the profiting of my soul, increase in me thy grace, that I may fulfil thy works, and work out my own salvation.
My Lord God, be not far from me; my God, consider and help me; for sundry thoughts have risen up against me, afflicting my soul.
How shall I pass through them without hurt? How shall I utterly break them?
Christ. I will go before thee, and will humble the great ones of the earth. I will open the doors of the prison, and reveal unto thee hidden secrets.
Christian. Do Lord, as thou sayest, and let all evil thoughts fly before thy face.
This is my hope, my only comfort to fly unto thee in every tribulation; to trust in thee, to call upon thee from my heart, and to expect patiently thy comfort.
*3. Enlighten me, O good Jesus, with a clear shining inward light, and drive away all darkness from the habitation of my heart.
Repress my wandering thoughts, and drive away those temptations which violently assault me.
Fight strongly for me, and vanquish those evil beasts, these enticing lusts, that so peace may be obtained by thy power, and abundance of thy praise found in the holy court of a pure conscience.
*Command the winds, and the tempests; say
unto the sea, Be still, and to the north wind, Blow not, and there shall be a great calm.
*4. Send forth thy light and thy truth, that they may shine upon the earth; for I am as the earth, without form, and void, until thou enlighten me.
*Pour out thy grace from above, let thy heavenly dew distill upon my heart.
*Supply streams of devotion, to water the face of the earth, that it may bring forth good and excellent fruit.
Lift up my mind, which is pressed down by the weight of my sins. Draw up my whole desire to heavenly things; that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness, it may be irksome to me even to think of earthly vanities.
5. Snatch me, and deliver me from all the unlasting comfort of creatures; for no created thing can fully comfort and quiet my desire.
*Join me unto thee with an inseparable band of love; for thou alone dost satisfy him that loveth thee, and without thee all things are frivolous.
Chapter XIX
Of avoiding curious enquiry into the life of others.
Christ.SON,
be not curious, trouble not thyself with idle cares.
What is this or that to thee? Follow thou me.
For what is it to thee whether that man be such or no? Whether this man do or speak this or that?
Thou shalt not need to answer for others, but shalt give account of thyself.
Behold I know every one, and see all things that are under the sun, and understand how it is with every one; what he thinks, what he desires, and at what he aims.
All things therefore are to be committed unto me; but do thou keep thyself in peace, and let him that acts, act as he will.
Whatsoever he shall have done or said shall fall upon himself, for he cannot deceive me.
2. Be not careful for the shadow of a great name, or for the friendship of many; nor for the affection of particular men.
For these things distract and greatly darken the heart.
I would willingly utter my words, and reveal my secrets unto thee, if thou didst diligently observe my coming, and open the door of thy heart unto me.
Be careful and watch in prayer, and humble thyself in all things.
Chapter XX
Wherein firm peace of heart and true profiting consisteth.
Christ.SON,
I have said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
All desire peace, but all care not for those things that appertain unto peace.
My peace is with the humble and meek of heart; thy peace doth consist in much patience.
If thou wilt hear me, and follow my voice, thou mayest enjoy much peace.
Christian. What then shall I do, Lord?
*Christ. In every thing attend unto thyself, what thou dost, and what thou sayest; and direct thy whole intention unto this, that thou mayest please me alone, and desire to seek nothing besides me.
Of the sayings and doings of others, judge not rashly, neither do thou entangle thyself with things not committed unto thee: and doing thus, thou shalt be little or seldom troubled.
Yet do not esteem highly of thyself, or account thyself to be especially beloved, if thou be in great devotion and sweetness; for the profiting and perfection of a man consists not in these things.
2. Christ. Wherein then Lord?
Christian. In offering thyself with thy whole heart unto the will of God, not seeking thine own, neither in great nor little, neither in time nor in eternity.
So that thou keepest one and the same even countenance with thanksgiving, both in prosperity and adversity, weighing all in an equal balance.
If, when inward comfort is withdrawn from thee, thou preparest thy heart to suffer greater things; and dost not justify thyself, as tho’ thou oughtest not to suffer these so great afflictions, but justifiest me in whatsoever I appoint, ♦and
praisest my holy name; then thou walkest in the true and right way of peace.
And if thou attainest to the full contempt of thyself, then shalt thou enjoy abundance of peace.
Chapter XXI
Of the excellent liberty which humble prayer sooner gaineth than reading.
Christian.LORD,
it is the work of a perfect man, never to slacken his mind from the attentive thought of heavenly things, and to pass without care among many cares; not like a dull sluggard; but by a free mind, adhering to no creature with inordinate affection.
2. I beseech thee, my most gracious God, preserve
me from the cares of this life, lest I be entangled thereby; and from the many necessities of the body, lest I should be caught by pleasure; and from whatsoever is an obstacle to the soul, lest broken with troubles I should be overthrown.
3. O my God, who art ineffable sweetness, embitter unto me all carnal comfort, which draws me away from the love of eternal things, by the hope of present delight.
Let me not be overcome, O Lord, let me not be overcome by flesh and blood. Let not the world, and the short glory thereof deceive me. Let not the devil and his subtilty supplant me.
*Give me strength to resist, patience to suffer, and constancy, to persevere.
Give me, instead of the comforts of the world, the unction of thy Spirit; and for carnal love pour into my soul the love of thy name.
Herein, I beseech thee, let thy hand govern me, and teach me, that I may fall into no extreme.
Chapter XXII
That self-love most hindereth our attainment of the supreme love.
Christ.SON,
thou oughtest to give all for all, and to retain nothing of thyself.
Know, that the love of thyself doth hurt thee more than any thing in the world.
According to the love and affection thou bearest to it, every thing cleaves unto thee more or less.
If thy love be pure, thou shalt not be in bondage to any thing.
Covet not that which thou mayst not have. Be not willing to have that which may deprive thee of inward liberty.
It is strange that thou committest not thyself wholly unto me, from the bottom of thy heart, with all things that thou canst desire or have.
2. Why dost thou consume thyself with vain grief? Why art thou tired with needless cares?
Stand to my will, and thou shalt suffer no detriment.
*If thou seekest this or that, and wouldest be here or there, to enjoy thy own will and pleasure; thou shalt never be at quiet, nor free from care:
*For in every thing somewhat will be wanting, and in every place there will be some that will cross thee.
3. It availeth thee therefore not to multiply outward things, but to despise them, and utterly root them out of thy heart.
Unless thou standest stedfast in me, thou mayst change, but not better thyself.
For when occasion of change happens, and is embraced, thou shalt find not only those things
which thou soughtest to fly, but a great deal more.
4. Christian. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of thy Holy Spirit.
Give me to be strengthened in my inward man, and to empty my heart of all uncomfortable care.
*Not to be drawn away with the desire of any thing, either mean or precious; but to look upon all things as passing away, and myself as passing away together with them.
5. Grant me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn above all things to seek and find thee, above all things to relish thee, and to love thee.
And to think of all other things as they are, according to the disposal of thy wisdom.
Chapter XXIII
How we ought to call upon God, and bless him in tribulation.
Christian.BLESSED,
O Lord, be thy name for ever, who art pleased that this temptation and tribulation should come upon me.
I cannot fly it; but must needs fly to thee, that thou mayst help me, and turn it to my good.
Lord, I am now afflicted. I am much troubled with this present suffering.
And now, dear Father, what shall I say? I am in a strait, save me from this hour.
Yet therefore came I unto this hour, that thou mayst be glorified, when I shall have been brought very low, and then delivered by thee.
Let it please thee, Lord, to deliver me; for, what can I do, and whither shall I go without thee?
Grant me patience, Lord, at this time also.
Help me, my God, and then I will not fear, how grievously soever I be afflicted.
2. And now, in these my troubles, what shall I say? Lord, thy will be done, I have deserved to be afflicted.
Surely I ought to bear it; and O that I could bear it with patience, until the tempest be passed over!
But thy hand is able to take even this temptation from me, and to assuage the violence thereof, that I utterly sink not under it, as often heretofore thou hast done unto me, O my God, my merciful God.
And the more hard it is to me, the more easy is this change to the right hand of the Most High.
Chapter XXIV
Of craving the divine aid, and confidence of recovering grace.
Christ.SON,
I am the Lord, that giveth strength in the day of tribulation.
Come unto me when it is not well with thee.
This is that which most of all hindereth heavenly consolation, that thou art slow in turning thyself unto prayer.
For before thou dost earnestly pray unto me, thou seekest many comforts, and triest to refresh thyself with outward things.
And hence it comes to pass that all doth little profit thee, until thou considerest, that I am he that delivers those that trust in me; that out of me is neither powerful help, nor profitable counsel, nor lasting remedy.
But now having recovered breath after the tempest, gather strength again in the light of my mercies, for I am at hand to repair all, not only entirely, but also abundantly.
2. Is there any thing hard to me? Or am I like unto him that promiseth and performeth not?
Where is thy faith? Be firm and constant.
Take courage and be patient; comfort will come to thee in due time.
Wait, wait for me, I will come and heal thee.
Let not thy heart be troubled, neither let it fear.
Believe in me, and put thy trust in my mercy.
When thou thinkest thyself farthest off from me, often I am nearest unto thee.
When thou judgest, almost all is lost, then often is the greatest opportunity of improvement.
That which I have given I can take away; and restore it again when I please.
*3. When I give it, it is mine; when I withdraw it, I take not any thing that is thine; for mine is every good and perfect gift.
If I send any cross, repine not, nor let thy heart fail: I can quickly succour thee, and turn all thy heaviness into joy.
Nevertheless I am righteous, and greatly to be praised, when I deal thus with thee.
As my Father hath loved me, I also love you, said I unto my beloved disciples; whom I sent not to temporal joys, but to great conflicts: not to honours, but to contempts; not to idleness, but to labours; not to rest, but to bring forth much fruit with patience.
My son, remember these words.
Chapter XXV
Of the contempt of all creatures, in order to find out the Creator.
*Christian.LORD,
I stand in need of greater grace, to attain that state wherein no man or creature may be a hindrance to me.
For as long as any thing detains me, I cannot freely take my flight unto thee.
What is more quiet than a single eye? And
what more free than he that desireth nothing upon earth?
And unless a man be free from the affections of all creatures, he cannot freely attend unto divine things.
Long shall he be little, and lie groveling below, that esteemeth any thing great, but the one infinite and eternal good.
For whatsoever is not God, is nothing, and ought to be accounted as nothing.
Christ. Son, thou canst not possess perfect liberty, unless thou wholly renounce thyself.
All who are lovers of themselves are in bondage, full of desires, curious wanderers, seeking self-indulgence, and not the things of Jesus Christ, but often devising and framing that which shall not stand.
For all that is not of God shall perish.
*Keep this short and perfect saying, Forsake all, and thou shalt find all; leave desire, and thou shalt find rest.
Consider this well, and when thou hast fulfilled it, thou shalt understand all things.
2. Christian. Lord, that is not one day’s work; yea, in this short word is contained all perfection.
Christ. Son, thou must not go back, nor straitways be dejected, when thou hearest of the ways of the perfect; but rather be stirred up to higher things, and at least desire and sigh after them.
I would thou wert come to this, that thou wert
no longer a lover of thyself, but didst stand merely at my beck.
Then thou wouldst please me, and all thy life would pass away in joy and peace.
Thou hast yet many things to forsake; which, unless thou wholly resignest up unto me, thou shalt not attain that which thou desirest.
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayst be rich: that is, heavenly wisdom, which treadeth under foot all earthly things.
Cast away earthly wisdom, and all study to please others or thyself.
He that is wise, and well instructed in spirit, standeth fast, not heeding any thing, but that the whole intention of his mind may tend to the right end.
For thus he may continue one, and the selfsame, and unshaken in the midst of so many various events, directing continually the single eye of his intention unto me.
3. And the purer the eye of the intention is, the more steadily doth he pass through various storms.
But in many things the eye of a pure intention waxeth dim, for it quickly looketh upon any delightsome object that occurs.
And it is rare to find one that is wholly free from all blemish of self-seeking.
So the Jews of old came to Bethany to Martha
and Mary, not for Jesus alone, but to see Lazarus also.
The eye of thy intention therefore is to be purged, that it may be single and right, directed unto me beyond the manifold earthly objects that come between.
Chapter XXVI
That God is sweet above all things, and in all things, to him that loveth.
Christian.MY
God and my all. What would I have more, and what greater happiness can I desire?
O sweet and pleasing word! But to him that loveth the word; not the world, nor those things that are in the world.
My God and my all! Enough is said to him that understandeth; and to him that loveth it is pleasant to repeat it often.
For when thou art present, all things please; but when thou art absent, all things disgust.
Thou givest quiet of heart, and much peace, and pleasant joy.
Thou makest us think well of all things, and praise thee in all things: neither can any thing please long without thee.
*But that any thing may be pleasant, thy grace must be present, and it must be seasoned with the sweetness of thy wisdom.
2. What is not tasteful unto him who tasteth thee?
And him who delighteth not in thee, what can delight?
*3. O thou everlasting light, surpassing all created lights, dart the beams of thy brightness from above, piercing the most inward parts of my heart.
Purify, rejoice, enlighten, and enliven my spirit, with all the powers thereof, that I may cleave unto thee with abundance of joy and triumph.
*O when will that blessed hour come, when I shall be filled with thy presence, and thou be unto me all in all!
As long as this is not granted me, I shall not have full joy.
Alas! the kingdom of my soul is not yet in peace.
4. But thou that rulest the raging of the sea, and stillest the waves thereof when they arise, arise and help me:
Scatter the people that delight in war, destroy them in thy might.
Display thy greatness, and let thy right hand be glorified; for there is no other hope nor refuge for me, but in thee, my Lord God.
Chapter XXVII
Of a pure and entire resignation of ourselves, for the obtaining freedom of heart.
Christ.SON,
forsake thyself, and thou shalt find me.
Stand without chusing any thing and without seeking to have any thing as thy own.
Resign thyself, without resuming thy claim.
Christian. Lord, how often shall I resign myself? And wherein shall I forsake myself?
*Christ. Always and every hour, as well in little things as in great; I except nothing, but require that thou be naked and void of all things.
Otherwise how canst thou be mine, and I thine, unless both within and without thou art free from all self-will?
2. Some resign themselves, but with some exception; for they put not their whole trust in God, and therefore they study how to provide for themselves.
*Some also at first offer all; but afterwards being assaulted with temptation, return again to that which they had left, and therefore they go not forward in virtue.
These shall not attain to the true liberty of purity of heart, nor to the favour of my sweetest familiarity,
unless they first make an entire resignation, and a daily oblation of themselves unto me.
3. I have often said unto thee, and now again I say the same; forsake thyself, resign thyself, and thou shalt enjoy much inward peace.
* Give all for all; seek nothing, require back nothing, abide purely and with a firm confidence in me, and then thou shalt enjoy me.
*Thou shalt be free in heart, and darkness shall not have any power over thee.
*Let this be thy prayer, let this be thy desire; that being stript of all selfishness, thou mayst follow naked the naked Jesus, and dying to thyself, mayst live eternally with me.
Chapter XXVIII
Of the good government of ourselves in outward things, and of recourse to God in danger.
Christ.SON,
thou oughtest with all diligence to endeavour, that in every place and action of business, thou be inwardly free, and master of thyself, and that things be under thee, and not thou under them.
That thou mayst be lord of thy actions, not a servant or a hireling, but rather a freeman, and a true Hebrew, enjoying the liberty of the sons of God:
Who stand above the things that are present, and view the things which are eternal:
*Who look on transitory things with the left eye, and with the right behold the things of heaven:
Whom temporal things cannot draw to cleave unto them; but they rather draw temporal things to serve them, in such a way as they are appointed by the Creator of all, who hath left nothing in his creatures without due order.
2. If thou remainest stedfast in all events, and dost not weigh by the outward appearance, the things which thou seest and hearest; but presently in every affair dost enter with Moses into the tabernacle, to ask counsel of the Lord, thou shalt hear the divine oracle, and return instructed, concerning many things both present and to come.
Always fly to the closet of thy heart, earnestly craving the Divine favour.
For the scripture testifieth, that therefore were Joshua and the children of Israel deceived by the Gibeonites, because they asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
Always commit thy cause to me, I will dispose well of it in due time.
Wait for my ordering of it, and thou shalt find it well for thy good.
Christian. Lord, I most willingly commit all unto thee, for my care can avail little.
*O that I cleaved not too much to future events, but offered myself with all readiness of mind to thy good pleasure!
3. Christ. Son, a man often earnestly labours for what he desireth; and when he hath gotten it, he beginneth to be of another mind.
For men’s affections do not long continue fixed on one thing.
It is therefore no small thing for a man to forsake himself, even in the smallest things.
4. The true profiting of a man consisteth in the denying of himself.
But the old enemy ceaseth at no time from tempting, but day and night layeth grievous snares, if haply he may cast the unwary into them.
Therefore watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
Chapter XXIX
That man hath no good of himself, nor any thing whereof he can glory.
Christian.LORD,
what is man, that thou art mindful of him; or the son of man that thou visitest him?
What hath man deserved, that thou shouldst give him thy grace?
Lord, what cause have I to complain, if thou forsakest me; or if thou dost not that which I desire?
Surely, Lord, I am nothing, I can do nothing,
I have nothing that is good of myself, but in all things I am defective, and do ever tend to nothing.
And unless thou help and inwardly instruct me, I become altogether cold and dissipated.
2. But thou, O Lord, art always the same, and endurest for ever; always good, just, and holy, doing all things well, justly and holily, and disposing all things with wisdom.
But I, that am more ready to go backward than forward, do not ever continue in one estate; for seven times are passed over me:
Yet it is soon better with me, when it so pleaseth thee, and when thou vouchsafest to stretch forth thy helping hand.
For thou alone canst help me without the aid of man, and so strengthen me, that my countenance shall be no more changed, but my heart shall be turned to thee alone, and there shall rest.
3. Thanks be unto thee, from whence all proceedeth, as often as it goeth well with me:
But I am mere vanity in thy sight, an inconstant and weak man.
Wherefore then can I glory? Or for what do I desire to be esteemed?
For nothing? But this is most vain?
The true glory and holy rejoicing is for a man to glory in thee, and not in himself:
To rejoice in thy name and not in his own
virtue; nor to delight in any creature but in thee.
Praised be thy name, not mine: magnified be thy work, not mine.
Let thy holy name be blessed; but to me let no part of men’s praise be given.
Thou art my glory, thou art the joy of my heart.
In thee will I glory and rejoice all the day; but as for myself I will not glory, but in my infirmities.
4. Let the Jews seek honour one of another; I will desire that which is from God only.
For all human glory, all temporal honour, all worldly highness is vanity and folly.
O my truth, my mercy, my God, most blessed Trinity; to thee alone be praise, honour, power, and glory for evermore.
Chapter XXX
That our peace is not to be placed in men.
*Christ.SON,
if thou placest thy peace in any one, because he thinketh like thee, and liveth with thee, thou shalt be unstable and entangled,
But if thou hast recourse unto the ever-living and eternal truth, a friend going from thee or dying shall not grieve thee.
*The love of thy friend ought to be grounded in me; and for me he is to be beloved, whosoever he be who is dear to thee in this life.
No friendship can avail, or continue without me; neither is that love true and pure, which is not knit by me.
Thou oughtest to be so dead to such affections toward men, that thou shouldst wish to be without all friendship purely human.
2. But he that attributeth any good unto himself, hindereth God’s grace from coming unto him.
For the grace of the Holy Ghost ever seeketh an humble heart.
When thou casteth thine eyes on creatures, the sight of thy Creator is taken from thee.
Learn to overcome thyself in all things for the love of thy Creator; and then thou shalt be able to attain to divine knowledge.
How little soever the thing be, if it be loved and regarded inordinately, it defileth the soul, and hindereth the enjoyment of the supreme good.
Chapter XXXI
Against vain knowledge.
Christ.SON,
let not the fair speeches and subtle sayings of men move thee: for the
kingdom of God consisteth not in word but in power.
Labour to mortify thy sins; for that will profit thee more than the knowledge of many difficult questions.
2. When thou hast read and knowest many things, thou must ever return to one principle.
*I am he that teacheth man knowledge, and giveth unto babes a more clear understanding than can be taught by man.
He to whom I speak, shall quickly be wise, and he shall profit much in the spirit.
Woe be to them that enquire many curious things of men; and little mind the way how to serve me.
*The time will come, when the Master of Masters shall appear, Christ the Lord of angels, to hear the lesson of all, that is, to examine the conscience of every one.
And then he will search Jerusalem with a candle, and the hidden things of darkness shall be laid open, and the arguing of men’s tongues shall be silent.
*3. I am he that teacheth without the noise of words, without the confusion of opinions.
I am he that teacheth to despise earthly things, to disdain things present, to seek the everlasting, to relish things eternal, to fly honours, to suffer injuries, to place all hope in me, to desire nothing out of me, and above all things ardently to love me.
I am the teacher of truth, the searcher of the heart, the discerner of the thoughts, the promoter of good actions, distributing to every one as I judge meet.
Chapter XXXII
Of putting our trust in God when we are evil spoken of.
Christ.SON,
stand firm, and put thy trust in me: for what are words but words? They fly through the air, but hurt not a stone.
If thou be guilty, see that thou be willing to amend: if thou be innocent, suffer this willingly for God.
It is but a small matter to suffer a few words, if thou hast not yet the courage to endure hard stripes.
Give diligent ear to my words, and thou shalt little regard ten thousand words spoken by men.
*2. Christian. O Lord God, thou just judge, strong and patient, thou who knowest the frailty and wickedness of man, be thou my strength, and my whole trust, for my own conscience sufficeth me not.
Thou knowest that which I know not, and therefore in every reproof, I ought to have humbled myself, and to have borne meekly.
Vouchsafe mercifully to pardon me as often as I have failed herein, and give me grace to bear it better hereafter.
For thy abundant mercy is more available to me for the obtaining of pardon, than my fancied justice for my defence, since I cannot see to the bottom of my conscience.
Although I know nothing by myself, yet I cannot hereby justify myself: for without thy mercy no man living shall be justified in thy sight.
Chapter XXXIII
Of eternity, and the shortness of this life.
Christian.O
MOST blessed mansion of the heavenly city! O most clear day of eternity, which night obscureth not, but the highest truth ever enlighteneth!
A day of continual joy, of perpetual quietness, and never changing into a contrary state!
O that that day would once appear, and all these temporal things were at an end!
To the saints above it shineth with everlasting brightness; but to those that are pilgrims upon earth, it appeareth only afar off, and through a glass.
O good Jesus, when shall I stand to behold
thee! When shall I contemplate the glory of thy kingdom! When wilt thou be unto me all in all!
O when shall I be with thee in thy kingdom, which thou hast prepared for thy beloved from all eternity!
2. Comfort my banishment, assuage my sorrow; for my whole desire sigheth after thee.
My God, be not far from me, depart not in thy wrath from thy servant.
Cast forth thy lightning and disperse them; shoot out thine arrows, and consume all the imaginations of the enemy.
Gather in, call home my senses unto thee, make me forget all the things of this world:
Grant me to cast away speedily the imaginations of wickedness.
*Succour me, O thou, the everlasting truth, that no vanity may move me.
*Come, heavenly sweetness, and let all impurity fly from thee.
Pardon me as often as I think upon any thing besides thee in prayer.
I truly confess, that I am wont to be subject to many distractions.
For oftentimes I am not there, where I stand or sit; but I am rather there whither my thoughts carry me.
Where my thoughts are, there am I; there are often my thoughts where my actions are.
But blessed is that man, that for thee, O Lord, dismisseth all creatures, violently resisteth nature, and through fervour of spirit, crucifieth the lusts of the flesh: that so with a serene conscience he may offer pure prayer unto thee, and be meet to be admitted into the angelical choirs, all earthly things both outwardly and inwardly being excluded.
Chapter XXXIV
Of the desire of everlasting life, and how great rewards are promised to those who fight valiantly.
Christ.SON,
when thou perceivest the desire of everlasting bliss given thee from above, open thy heart wide, and receive this holy inspiration with thy whole soul.
Give most ardent thanks to the heavenly goodness, that dealeth with thee so favourably, visiteth thee mercifully, stirreth thee up fervently, sustaineth thee powerfully, lest through thine own weight thou fall down to the things of earth.
Neither dost thou obtain this by thine own thought or endeavour, but by the mere condescension of heavenly grace:
To the end that thou mayst make a farther progress in holiness and humility, and prepare thyself for future battles:
And that thou mayst cleave unto me with the whole affection of thy heart, and serve me with fervent desire.
2. Ask not that which is delightful and profitable unto thee, but that which is acceptable to me, and for my honour.
For if thou judgest aright, thou oughtest to prefer and follow my appointment, rather than thine own desire.
I know thy desire, and have heard thy frequent groans.
Thou wouldst now enjoy the everlasting habitation; and thy heavenly country, replenished with all joy, now delights thee.
But that hour is not yet come; as yet there is another time, a time of war, a time of labour and trial.
Thou desirest to be filled with the supreme good, but thou canst not attain it for the present.
I am the supreme good: patiently wait for me, until the kingdom of God come.
3. Now therefore be humbly obedient unto all, and regard not who said or commanded this:
But take great heed, that whether thy superior, inferior, or thine equal, require any thing of thee, or insinuate their desire, thou take it all in good part, and endeavour to fulfil it with a sincere will.
Let one seek this, another that; let him glory
in this, the other in that, and be praised a thousand times; but do thou neither rejoice in this, nor in that, but in the contempt of thyself, and in my good pleasure and honour alone.
This art thou to wish, that whether it be by thy life or by thy death, God may be always glorified in thee.
Chapter XXXV
How a person in heaviness ought to give up himself into the hands of God.
Christian.LORD
God, holy Father, be thou blessed both now and for evermore; because as thou willest, so it is done, and what thou dost is good.
Let thy servant rejoice in thee, not in himself, nor in any thing else; for thou alone art the true gladness, thou art my hope and my crown, thou art my joy and my honour, O Lord.
What hath thy servant, but what he hath received from thee, even without any merit of his?
Thine is all that thou hast given, and whatsoever thou hast made.
I am poor, and in labour from my youth: and sometimes my soul is sorrowful even unto tears;
sometimes also it is troubled, by reason of the evils which hang over my head.
2. I long after the joy of peace, I earnestly crave the peace of thy children, that are led by thee in the light of thy comfort.
If thou givest peace, if thou pourest into my heart holy joy; the soul of thy servant shall be full of gladness, and shall become devout in thy praise:
But if thou withdrawest thyself, he will not be able to run the way of thy commandments, but rather he will bow his knees, and smite his breast, for it is not with him as it was heretofore, when thy candle shone upon his head, and he was protected under the shadow of thy wings, from the temptations which violently assaulted him.
*O righteous Father, and ever to be praised, the hour is come that thy servant is to be tried.
Behold, dear Father, meet it is that in this hour thy servant suffer something for thy sake.
O Father, ever more be honoured, the hour is come; that for a short time thy servant should outwardly be oppressed, but inwardly live with thee.
That he should be a little despised, humbled, and made abject in the sight of men, and worn down with heaviness; that he may rise again with the morning of the new light, and be glorified in heaven.
Holy Father, thou hast so appointed it; and this is fulfilled which thyself hast commanded.
3. It is a favour to thy friend, that he may suffer and be afflicted in the world for the love of thee, how often soever, and by whomsoever, thou permittest it to fall upon him.
Nothing cometh to pass on earth without thy counsel, without thy providence, or without a cause.
It is good for me, Lord, that thou hast afflicted me, that I may learn thy righteous judgment, and cast away all haughtiness of heart, and presumption.
*It is profitable to me, that shame hath covered my face, that I may rather seek to thee for comfort than to men.
4. I have learned also here to dread thy unsearchable judgments, who afflictest the just with the wicked, but not without equity and justice.
I give thee thanks, for that thou hast not spared my sins, but hast worn me away, inflicting sorrows, and sending griefs within and without.
There is none under heaven that can comfort me, but thou my Lord God, the heavenly physician of souls, that strikest and healest, bringest down to hell, and bringest back again.
Let thy correction be upon me, and let thy rod instruct me.
5. Behold, dear Father, I am in thy hands, I bow myself under the rod of thy correction:
Strike my back and my neck, that my perverseness may be conformed to thy will.
Make me an holy and humble disciple of thine (as thou art wont to do) that I may be ready at every beck of thy pleasure.
I commend myself and all that is mine unto thee to be corrected.
It is better to be corrected here than hereafter.
Thou knowest every thing, and there is nothing in the conscience of man hidden from thee.
Before things are done, thou knowest that they will come to pass, and hast no need that any should teach thee, or admonish thee of those things which are done on earth.
Thou knowest what is expedient for my profiting, and how fit tribulation is to scour off the rust of my sins.
Do with me according to thy good pleasure, and disdain me not for my sinful life; better and more clearly known to none than to thee alone.
6. Grant me, O Lord, to know that which ought to be known, to love that which ought to be loved;
To praise that which pleaseth thee most, to esteem that which is precious unto thee, to despise that which is contemptible in thy sight.
Suffer me not to judge according to the sight of the outward eyes, nor to give sentence according to the hearing of the ears of ignorant men.
But to discern invisible and spiritual things
with a true judgment, and, above all things, ever to search after thy good will and pleasure.
Chapter XXXVI
That a man ought to esteem himself not worthy of any comfort.
Christian.LORD,
I am not worthy of any comfort nor of any spiritual visitation.
And therefore thou dealest justly with me; when thou leavest me poor and desolate.
For though I could shed a sea of tears, yet I were not worthy of thy comfort.
For, alas, I deserve nothing but to be punished, in that I have grievously offended thee in many things.
But thou, O merciful God, who willest not that any should perish, to shew the riches of thy goodness, vouchsafest to comfort thy servant above the manner of men:
For thy comforts are not like the words of men.
2. What have I done, O Lord that thou shouldest bestow any heavenly comforts upon me?
I remember not that I have done any good, but have been always prone to sin and slow to amendment.
This is true, and I cannot deny it: if I should say otherwise, thou wouldst stand against me, and there would be none to defend me.
What have I deserved but hell and everlasting fire?
I confess in very truth, that I am worthy of all scorn and contempt, and it is not fit that I should be numbered among thy saints.
3. What shall I say, guilty as I am, and full of all confusion?
I have nothing to say but this; I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned; have mercy on me, pardon me;
*Suffer me a little, that I may vent my grief, before I go into the land of darkness, a land covered with the shadow of death.
What dost thou require of a guilty and miserable sinner, but that he humble himself for his offences?
Of true contrition and humbling of the heart, ariseth hope of forgiveness; the troubled conscience is reconciled to God; the favour of God which was lost, is recovered; man is preserved from the wrath to come, and God and the penitent soul meet together with an holy kiss.
4. Humble contrition for sin is an acceptable sacrifice unto thee, O Lord, savouring much sweeter in thy presence than the perfume of frankincense.
This is also the pleasant ointment which thou wouldst should be poured upon thy sacred feet.
For thou never despisest a contrite heart.
Chapter XXXVII
Of the different motions of nature and grace.
Christ.SON,
mark diligently the motions of nature and grace, for they move in a very subtle manner, and cannot be discerned but by him that is spiritually enlightened.
All men pretend some good in their words and deeds; and therefore under the shew of good many are deceived.
Nature is crafty, and seduceth, entangleth, and deceiveth many, and always proposeth herself for her end:
But grace walketh in simplicity, useth no deceit, and doth all things purely for God’s sake, in whom also she finally resteth.
2. Nature will not willingly die, nor be kept down, nor be overcome, nor be subject to any:
But grace studieth mortification, resisteth sensuality, seeketh to be subject, is willing to be kept under, and will not use her own liberty.
She loveth to be kept under discipline, and desireth not to rule any, but always to live and remain wholly subject to God; and for God, is ready humbly to obey all men.
Nature striveth for her own advantage, and
considereth what profit she may reap by another;
But grace considereth not what is profitable unto herself, but what is profitable to many.
Nature willingly receiveth honour and respect.
But grace faithfully attributeth all honour and glory unto God.
3. Nature feareth shame and contempt;
But grace rejoiceth to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.
Nature loveth ease and bodily rest;
But grace cannot be idle, but willingly embraceth labour.
Nature seeketh to have those things that are beautiful, and abhorreth that which is mean or coarse;
But grace delighteth in plain and humble things, and despiseth not rough things, that are old and mean.
Nature respecteth temporal things, rejoiceth at earthly gain, sorroweth for loss, is moved with every little injurious word;
But grace thinketh on that which is everlasting, and cleaveth not to temporal things; she is not troubled at losses, nor disquieted with hard words; because she hath placed her treasure and joy in heaven, where nothing perisheth.
4. Nature is covetous, and doth more willingly receive than give; she loveth her own things;
But grace is bountiful to all, shunneth private interest, is content with a little, thinketh it more blessed to give than to receive.
Nature inclines to the creatures, to her own flesh, to vanities and wanderings;
But grace draweth unto God, and unto goodness, renounceth creatures, flieth the world, hateth the desires of the flesh, restraineth wanderings abroad, blusheth to be seen in public.
Nature is willing to have some outward comfort, wherein she may be sensibly delighted;
But grace seeketh comfort in God alone, and delighteth above all visible things in the highest good.
5. Nature worketh all for her own profit; she can do nothing but for benefit she hopeth to obtain, either that which is equal or better, either praise or favour, and coveteth to have her works and gifts much esteemed:
But grace requireth no other reward than God alone; nor desireth more of temporals, than may serve her for the obtaining of things eternal.
6. Nature rejoiceth to have many friends and kinsfolks; glorieth in noble place and birth; is obsequious to the powerful, fawneth upon the rich, and applaudeth those that are like herself;
But grace loveth her enemies, and is not puffed up with multitudes of friends, nor esteemeth place or birth, but where it is joined with virtue:
She rather favoureth the poor than the rich; hath more tenderness for the innocent than the
powerful; rejoiceth in the true, not in the deceitful:
Always exhorting good men to labour for more excellent gifts; and by goodness to resemble the Son of God.
Nature quickly complaineth of want and trouble; grace with constancy endureth need:
Nature coveteth to know secrets, and to hear news; she will appear abroad, and make proof of many things by her own senses; she desireth to be known, and to do those things for which she may be praised and admired:
But grace careth not for hearing curious matters;
She teacheth to restrain the senses, to avoid vanity and ostentation; and in every thing and every knowledge to seek the praise and honour of God.
She will not have praise, but desireth that God should be praised in his gifts, who of mere love bestoweth all things.
Chapter XXXVIII
Of the corruption of nature, and efficacy of Divine grace.
Christian.O
LORD, my God, who ♦hast created me after thy likeness, grant me this grace which thou hast shewed to be so necessary
to salvation, that I may overcome my wicked nature, which draweth me to sin and perdition.
For I feel in my flesh the law of sin contradicting the law of my mind; neither can I resist, unless thy most holy grace, infused into my heart, assist me.
2. O Lord, how exceeding needful is thy grace for me to begin any good work, to go forward, and to accomplish it;
For without it I can do nothing; but in thee I can do all things.
Arts, riches, beauty, strength, wit, eloquence, are of no value with thee, O Lord, without thy grace.
3. O most blessed grace, that makest the poor in spirit rich in virtue, and makest the rich in many blessings, to be humble in heart;
Come, come down unto me, replenish me early with thy comfort, lest my soul should faint for weariness and dryness of mind.
O Lord, thy grace is sufficient for me, though other things that nature desireth be wanting.
If I be tempted and vexed with many tribulations, I will not fear any evils, while thy grace is with me:
This is stronger than all enemies, and wiser than all the wise.
Let thy grace, O Lord, always prevent me, and
follow me, and make me ever diligent in good works, through Jesus Christ thy Son. Amen.
Chapter XXXIX
That we ought to deny ourselves and imitate Christ.
Christ.FOLLOW
Me, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I am the way, which thou oughtest to follow; the truth which thou oughtest to trust; the life which thou oughtest to hope for.
I am the strait way, the supreme truth, the true life: yea, the blessed life, the uncreated life.
If thou remainest in my way, thou shalt know the truth, and the truth shall make thee free, and thou shalt lay hold on everlasting life.
2. Christian. Lord Jesus, forasmuch as thy life was poor and contemptible unto the world, grant me grace to imitate thee in suffering worldly contempt.
For the servant is not greater than his Lord, nor the disciple above his Master.
Let thy servant be exercised in thy life, for therein my salvation consists.
Whatsoever I read or heard besides it, doth not refresh or delight me fully.
3. Christ. Son, now thou knowest these things, happy shalt thou be if thou do them.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me;
And I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him, and make him sit with me in the kingdom of my Father.
Christian. Lord Jesus, as thou hast said and promised, so let it come to pass.
I have received the cross, I have received it from thy hand; I will bear it, and bear it till death, as thou hast laid it upon me.
Truly the life of a Christian is the cross; but yet it is a guide to paradise.
I have begun, I may not go back, neither is it fit to leave that which I have undertaken.
Behold, our King goeth before us, who also will fight for us.
Let us follow him manfully, let none be dismayed, but be ready to die valiantly in the battle, and let us not blemish our glory by flying from the cross.
Chapter XL
That a man be not too much dejected when he feeleth some defect.
Christ.SON,
patience and humility in adversity are more pleasing to me, than much devotion in prosperity.
Why art thou grieved for every little trifle spoken against thee?
Although it had been much more, thou oughtest not to have been moved.
But now let it pass; it is not the first that hath happened, nor is it any new thing, neither shall it be the last.
Thou art valiant enough, as long as no adversity happeneth.
Thou canst give good counsel, and strengthen others with thy words; but when tribulation cometh to thy door, thou art destitute of counsel and strength.
I yet live, saith the Lord, ready to help thee, and to give thee greater comfort than before, if thou puttest thy trust in me, and callest devoutly upon me.
2. Be patient, and prepare thyself to greater sufferings.
All is not lost, if thou feelest thyself afflicted, or grievously tempted.
I am he, who will strengthen with health them that mourn, and raise up unto glory those that know their own infirmity.
3. Christian. Lord, blessed be thy word, more sweet unto my mouth than honey, and the honey-comb.
What should I do in tribulations, unless thou didst comfort me with thy holy words?
What matter is it, how much and what I suffer,
so I may at length attain the port of salvation?
Grant me a good end. Grant me a happy passage out of this world!
Be mindful of me, O my God, and direct me in the right way to thy kingdom. Amen.
Chapter XLI
Of searching the secret judgments of God.
Christ.SON,
beware thou disputest not of high matters, nor of the secret judgments of God.
Why this man is left, and that man taken into favour; why this is so much afflicted, and that so greatly advanced:
These things are beyond the reach of man; neither can reason search out the judgments of God.
When the enemy therefore suggesteth these things unto thee, answer; thou art just, O Lord, and thy judgments are right.
And again, the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Thy judgments are to be feared, not to be discussed; they are such as cannot be comprehended by the understanding of man.
2. Neither enquire or dispute of the merits of saints, which of them is holier than the other.
3. I know both the first and the last: I embrace all with inestimable love.
I am to be praised in all my saints; I am to be blessed above all things, and to be honoured in every one.
Chapter XLII
That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone.
Christian.LORD,
what is my trust in this life? Or what is my greatest comfort of all things under heaven?
Is it thou, my Lord God, whose mercies are without number?
Where hath it been well with me without thee? Or when could it be ill with me, when thou wert present?
I had rather be poor for thee, than rich without thee.
I had rather chuse to be a pilgrim on earth with thee, than to possess heaven without thee.
*Where thou art, there is heaven; and there is death and hell, where thou art not.
Thou art my desire; and therefore I cannot but sigh, and cry, and pray unto thee.
For I have none to trust in, none that can help me in my necessities, but thee alone, my God.
*Thou art my hope, thou art my trust, thou art my comfort, and most faithful unto me in all things.
2. All men seek their own; thou only seekest my salvation, and turnest all things to my good.
Although thou exposest me to divers temptations and adversities; yet thou orderest all this to my advantage, who art wont to try thy beloved a thousand ways.
In which thou oughtest no less to be loved and praised, than if thou didst fill me with heavenly comforts.
3. In thee therefore, O Lord God, I put my whole hope and refuge:
On thee I rest in all tribulation and anguish.
For I find all to be weak and inconstant, whatsoever I behold out of thee.
*For neither can my friends avail, nor strong helpers aid, nor wise counsellors give any profitable answer, nor the books of the learned comfort, nor any wealth deliver, nor any secret or pleasant place defend: if thou thyself dost not assist, help, strengthen, comfort, instruct, and keep us.
4. For all things that seem to make for peace, without thee are nothing, and bring indeed no felicity at all.
Thou therefore art the end of all that is good, the height of life, the depth of wisdom:
*And the strongest comfort of thy servants is, to trust in thee above all things.
To thee therefore do I lift up mine eyes; in
thee O my God, the Father of mercies, I put my trust.
*Bless and sanctify my soul with thy heavenly blessing, that it may be made thy holy habitation, and the seat of thy eternal glory:
*And that nothing may be found in the temple of thy glory, that may offend the eyes of thy majesty.
According to the greatness of thy goodness, and the multitude of thy mercies, look upon me, and hear the prayer of thy poor servant, who is far exiled from thee in the land of the shadow of death.
*Protect and keep the soul of thy servant, amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life, and by thy grace accompanying me, direct it by the way of peace to the country of everlasting light. Amen.
An Extract of the
CHRISTIAN PATTERN:
Or, a treatise on the imitation of Christ. Written in Latin by Thomas a Kempis.