VII. A zealous Reclufe bears patiently, and performs readily whatsoever is commanided him. A negligent and lukewarm Reclufe hath tribulation upon tribulation, and of all creatures is the moft miferable; because he is deftitute of the fupport of inward and fpiritual comforts, and is forbid to have recourfe to outward and worldly ones. A diforderly undisciplin'd Monaftick hazards the fafety of his foul, and is in great danger of an irrecoverable fall. He that would live more at large, and is always feeking relaxation and liberty, will find every thing too strait for him; because fomething or other will be always difagreeable to, and grating upon him.

VIII. How do fo many other religious perfons do, who live under the ftricteft difcipline in their Cloifters and Convents? They live fecluded from the world, go out but rarely, eat miferably, are cloathed courfly, work much, talk little, watch late, rife early, pray long, and obferve with utmoft exactnefs all their duties. Confider the Carthufians, the Ciftertians, and Monks and Nuns of feveral Orders; how every night they rife to chant the praises of GOD. And therefore it would be a fhame for thee to be backward to, and cold and lukewarm in fo K 3 holy

holy an exercife, at a time when fuch multitudes of religious fouls are joyfully met to celebrate the divine praifes.

1

IX. O that we had nothing elfe to do, but with heart and mouth to praise the Lord our GoD! O if thou never stoodst in need of meat, drink, or fleep; but couldest always praife GOD, and attend spiritual exercises only! Then wouldest thou be incomparably happier than now, when thou art so often interrupted by the numerous infirmities and neceffities of the body. Would to God these neceffities were no more, but were changed all into fpiritual repafts, and foul-refreshments, which now alas! we have but now and then a taste of

X. When a man is come to this pitch, to feek confolation from no created thing, then firft doth God begin to be perfectly relifhing to him: Then alfo will he entertain with chearfulnefs and contentment every event befalling him. Then neither profperity fhall exalt him, nor the trifle of adverfity deject him: But he fixes his heart entirely and confidently in God, who is to him all in all with regard to whom nothing perifheth, nothing dieth, but all things live unto him, and are ever at beck, ever ready to be used and disposed according to the good pleasure of his will, XI. Re

XI. Remember evermore the end and upfhot of things, and that time once loft, is irrecoverable. Without great pains and diligence thou fhalt never acquire the virtues: From the moment thou beginneft to cool and flag in thy purfuit, thou fhalt alfo feel an inward diforder, and unquietnes of fpirit. But if thou intend the concerns of thy foul with warmth and vigour, thou fhalt find great peace, and perceive thy yoke to become eafier, and thy burden lighter, partly through the grace and affiftance of GOD, partly through thy own zeal and love of virtue. The fervent and diligent foul is ready prepared for all things. It is matter of greater travail and toil, to refift vices and paffions, than to fweat at bodily labours. He that is not careful to avoid fmall miscarriages, will infenfibly flide into greater. Thou fhalt always have joy in the evening, if thou haft fpent the day profitably. Watch over thy felf, ftir up thy felf, thyself, admonish thy felf; and whatever becomes of others, neglect not thy felf. So much the greater advance fhalt thou make, by how much the greater violence thou offereft to thy felf. Amen. ! Lhow

The End of the First Book.

I.

T

CHAP. I.

Of the Internal Life.

HE Kingdom of GOD is within you', faith the Lord; turn thee with thy whole heart to the Lord; and leave this miferable

world, and thy foul fhall find reft. Learn

• Luke xvii, 241.

to

to despise exterior things, and to give thy felf up to the interior, and thou fhalt perceive the Kingdom of GOD to come into thee. For the Kingdom of GOD is peace and joy in the Holy Ghoft, which is not given to the wicked. Chrift will come unto thee, and fhew thee his confolations, if thou prepare for him a worthy manfion within thee. All his glory, and beauty is from within, and there his delight is to be. He makes frequent vifits to the internal man, holds fweet conferences with him, infuses his comforts into his heart, fills him with abundance of peace, and treats him with a most amazing familiarity.

II. Come on then, faithful Soul, prepare thy heart for this Bridegroom; to the end he may vouchfafe to come unto thee, and inhabit in thee. For thus he faith: If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Make room then for Chrift, and deny entrance to all others. When thou hast Christ, thou art rich, and wanteft nothing else. He will be thy purveyor, and faithful steward in all things, fo as thou shalt not need to have

b Rom. xiv. 17 John xiv. 23.

any