་ XV: If fo be any thing had been better, and more conducing to the falvation of men, than fuffering, doubtlefs Chrift would have shown it both by word and example. For both the Difciples that followed him, and all others that did, or fhould hereafter defire to follow him, he manifeftly exhorteth to the bearing of the Crofs, and faith: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, and follow met. Wherefore after having read, and ranfack'd all things, be this the fum and final conclufion of the matter, that, through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of GOD. 1 Matth. xvi. 24. g Acts xiv. 22. The End of the Second Book. N 2 OF Of the inward Speaking of Chrift to the faithful Soul. I. I Will hearken to what the Lord from his own mouth receiveth the word of a Pfal. lxxxv. 8. confo confolation, Bleffed are the ears, which entertain the fweet found of the divine whif per, and are deaf to the babblings of this world. Yea, manifeftly bleffed are the ears, which hearken not to the voice that foundeth from without, but to the Truth that teacheth from within. Bleffed are the eyes, that are shut to exterior objects, but intent and fixed upon interior. Blessed are thofe, who penetrate into internal things, and by holy exercises make it their business daily to prepare themselves more and more for the understanding of heavenly fecrets. Bleffed are thofe perfons, whofe whole delight is the fervice of GoD, and who for that end difengage themselves from all worldly incumbrance. II. Confider these things, O my Soul, and fhut the doors of thy fenfes: That thou mayst be able to hear what the Lord thy GOD fpeaketh within thee, Thus faith thy Beloved. JESUS-CHRIST. I. I am thy falvation, thy peace, and thy life. Keep thy felf close to me, and thou shalt find peace. Difmifs all tranfitory things, feek thofe that are eternal. What are all temporal things, but delufions? And what fignify all N 3 the the creatures, if thou art forfaken of the Creator? Wherefore renouncing all things, render thy felf well-pleafing, and faithful to thy Creator; to the end thou mayft be able to lay hold of true happiness. CHA P. II. That Truth Speaketh inwardly, without noife of Words. I.Peak, Lord, for thy fervant hear ISPe eth. I am thy fervant, give me understanding, that I may know thy teftimonies. Incline my heart to the words of thy mouth: Let thy speech diftil as the dew. The children of Ifrael in times paft faid unto Mofes, Speak thou unto us, and we will hear: Let not GOD Speak unto us, left we died, I pray not in this wife; no, Lord, I pray not fo: But rather with the Prophet Samuel I humbly and affectionately entreat: Speak, Lord, for thy fervant heareth. Let not Mofes fpeak unto me, or any of the Prophets: But fpeak 1 Sam. iii. 1O. b Pfal. cxix. 125. d Exod. xx. 19. Deut. xxxii. 2., thou thou rather, Lord God, the infpirer and inlightener of all the Prophets: Because thou alone without them art able perfectly to inftruct me, but they without thee will profit me nothing. II. They can indeed repeat the found of thy words, but they give them not their life and their spirit. They fpeak admirably, but if thou art filent, they warm not the heart. They administer the letter, but thou openeft the fenfe. They utter the mysteries, but thou givest understanding to unlock their meaning, They publish thy commandments, but thou affifteft to fulfil them. They fhew the way, but thou giveft the ftrength to walk in it. They act only from without, but thou instructest, and enlighteneft the heart. They water outwardly, but thou giveft the encrease. They pierce the ear with the voice of their cry, but thou givest understanding to the hearing, III. Let not therefore Mofes fpeak unto me, but thou, my Lord GoD, thou Truth e ternal; left I die, and prove fruitless, if I be admonished only from without, and not inwardly inflamed: Left the Word heard, but not done; known, but not loved; believed, but not kept, turn to my condemN 4 nation. |