THRICE holy mother of God : Vessell of incomparable election , Queene of Soueraigne dilection , thou art the most louelie , the most louing , and most beloued of all creatures . The loue of the heauenly father pleased himselfe in thee from all eternitie , alloting thy chaste heart to the perfection of holy loue , to th' end that one day thou mightest loue his onely sonne , with an onely Motherly loue , as he had done from all eternitie with a fatherly loue , ô Sauiour IESVS , to whom could I better dedicate a speach of thy Loue , then to a heart best beloued of the well-beloued of thy heart .

But ô all triumphant mother who can cast his eyes vpon thy Maiestie , without seeing him at thy right hand whom for the loue of thee , thy Sonne deigned so often to honour with the title of Father , hauing vnited him vnto thee by the celestiall band of a virginall marriage , to th' end that he might be thy Coadiutour and Helper , in the charge of the direction and education of thy Diuine Infancie ? ô great S. IOSEPH most beloued Spouse , of the well-beloued mother . Ah how often hast thou borne betwixt thy armes , the loue of heauen and earth , till burnt with the sweete embracements , and kisses of this Diuine child , thy soule melted away with ioye , while he tenderly whispered in thy eares , ( o God what content ) that thou was his deare friend , and dearely beloued ●eare Father . It was the custome of old to place the lampes of the auncient Temple vpon flowres of golden Lylies O MARIE and IOSEPH , Paire without compare sacred Lilies of incomparable beautie , amongst which the well-beloued feedes himselfe and his Louers . Alas if I might giue my selfe any hope , that this Loue-le●ter might inflame and lighten the children of light , where might I better place it , then amongst your Lilies , Lilies , where the Sonne of Iustice , the splendour and candour of the eternall Light , did so soueraignely recreate himselfe that he the●e practised the delightes of the ineffable Loue of his heart towards vs ? O well beloued mother of the well-be loued ; ô well beloued spouse of the well-beloued ! prone layed at thy sacred feete who bore my Sauiour , I vow , dedicate and consecrate this little worke of Loue , to the immence greatnesse of thy Loue ; ah ! I coniure thee by the heart of thy sweete IESVS , king of hearts , whom thyne adore , animate my heart , and all theirs who shall reade this writing of thy all puissant fauour , with the Holy Ghost , so that hence-fourth , we may offer vp in holocaust all our affections to his Diuine goodnesse , to liue , dy , and reuiue for euer in the flames of this heauenly fire , which our Sauiour , thy sonne hath so much laboured to kindle in our hearts , that he neuer ceased to labour and trauell therin , euen vnto death ; and death of the Crosse .

THE Holy Ghost teacheth , that the lipps of the heauenly Spouse , which is the CHVRCH , resembles scarlate , and the honie combe whence honie distilleth , to th' end that euery one may know , that the doctrine which she announceth consisteth of sacred Loue , of a more faire vermilion then Scarlate , by reason of the Spouse his blood wherin she is dyed ; more sweete then honie , by reason of the Beloued his sweetenesse , who crownes her with delightes . So this heauenly Spouse when he thought good to giue an entrie to the publication of his Law , streamed downe a number of firie tongues vpon the Assemblie of his disciples , which he had deputed to this office : sufficiently intimating therby , that the preaching of the Ghospell , was wholy designed to the inflaming of hearts .

Propose vnto your selues a fine done amidst the Sunne rayes ; you shall see her change into so many diuers colours , as you behold her diuersly ; because her feathers are so apt to receiue the light , that the sunne spreading his splendour amongst them , there is caused a number of transparences , which bring forth a great varietie of alterations and mutations of colours ; but colours so agreeable to the eye , that they put downe all other colours , yea the enamell of richest iewells ; colours that are glittering , and so quaintly guilt , that the gold giues them more life . In consideration hereof the Royall Prophet saied vnto the Israelites . Although affliction rudly d●ght your face , Yet shall your hew henceforth to men appeare As pigions plumes , when siluers trembling grace , And burnisht gold , doe make their shine more cleare . Truly the Church is adorned with an incomparable varietie of excellent documents , sermons , Treatises , Spirituall bookes , all very comely and pleasant to the sight , by reason of the admirable mixture which the sunne of Iustice makes of his Diuine wisdome with the tongues of his Pastours , which are their Penns , and with their Penns , which sometimes they vse in lieu of their tongues , and doe compose the rich plumes of this mysticall doue . But amongst all the diuers colours of the doctrine which she doth publish , the fine gold of holy Charitie is especially discouered , who makes herselfe be gloriously enteruiewed , gilding all the sciences of Saints with her incomparable luster , and raysing them aboue all other Sciences . All is to Loue , in Loue , for Loue , and from Loue in the holy Church .

But as we are not ignorant that all the light of the day proceeds from the Sunne , and yet doe ordinarily saie , that the Sunne shines not , saue onely when it doth openly send out its beames here or there . In like manner though all Christian doctrine consist of sacred Loue , yet doe we not indistinctly honour all Diuinitie with the title of DIVINE LOVE , but onely those parts of it , which doe contemplate the birth , nature , properties , and operations thereof in particular .

Now it is certaine , that diuers writers , haue admirably handled this subiect ; Aboue all the rest those auncient Fathers , who as they did louingly serue God , so did they speake diuinely of his Loue . O what a pleasure it is to heare S. PAVLE , speake of heauenly things , who learn't them euen in Heauen it selfe . And how good a thing it is to see those soules that were nurced in the bosome of Loue , write of its sweetenesse I For this reason , those amongst the schoole men that discoursed the most and the best of it , did also most excell in pietie . S. THOMAS made a Treatise of it , worthy of S. THOMAS : S. BONAVENTVRE , and Blessed Denis the Carthusian , haue made diuers most excellent ones of it , vnder sundrie titles : and as for Iohn Garson , Chancelour of the vniuersitie of P●●l● , Sixtus Senensis speaks of him in this sort : He hath so worthily discoursed vpon fiftie properties of Diuine Loue , which are drawen here and there out of the Canticles , that he alone may seeme to haue hit the number of the affections of Diuine Loue . Verily he was a man exceeding learned , iudicious and deuote .

Yet that we might know that this kind of writing is performed with more felicitie by the deuotion of Louers , then by the learning of the learned , it hath pleased the Holy Ghost that diuers women should worke wonders in this kind . Who did euer better expresse the heauenly passions of heauenly Loue then S. CATHARINE of Genua . S. ANGELA of Folligni , S. CATHARINE of Sienna . S. MATILDA ?

In our age also diuers haue wrote vpon this subiect , whose workes I haue not had leasure to read distinctly , but onely here and there so farre forth as was requisite , to discouer whether this might yet find place . Father Lewes of Granado , that great Doctour of pietie , left a treatise of the Loue of God in his Memoriall , which is sufficiently commended , in saying it is his . Stella , a Franciscan made a very affectiue one , and profitable for Praier . Christoph : Fonceca an Austine , put out yet a greater , wherein he hath many excellent things . Father Richeome of the Societie , hath also published a booke , vnder the title of the Art of louing God by his Creaturs , and this Authour is so amiable in his person , and in his singular writings , that one cannot doubt but he is yet more amiable by writing of Loue it selfe . Father Iohh of IESVS MARIA a discalced Carmelite , composed a little booke , which is also called the Art of louing God , which is much esteemed . The great and famous Cardinall Bellermine did also a while agoe giue into light a little booke intituled , The little Ladder to ascend vnto God by his creaturs , which cannot be but admirable , comming from so deuote a soule and so learned a pen , which hath wrote so much , and so learnedly in the Church her behalfe . I will saie nothing of Parenetique that floode of Eloquence , who flotes at this houre through all France , in the multitude and varietie of his sermons , and noble writings , the straight spirituall consanguinitie , which my soule hath con●racted with his , when by the imposition of my hands he receiued the Caracter of Episcopall dignitie , to the great happinesse of the Diocese of Belley , and to the honour of the Church , besids a thousand bands of a sincere friendshipe which tyes vs together , permits me not to speake with credit of his workes , amongst which this Parenetique of Diuine Loue , was one of the first sallies of the incomparable fulnesse of wit , which euery one admires in him ,

Further , we doe see a goodlie and magnificent Pallace which the R. Father Laurence Paris , a Capucine Preacher erected in the honour of heauenly Loue , which being finished , will be a compleat course of the Art of louing well . And lastly the B. Mother Teresa of IESVS , hath written so accuratly of the sacred motions of Loue , in all the bookes she hath left vs , that a man is astonished to see so much eloquence , masked in so profound humilitie ; so great soliditie of wit , in so great simplicitie : and her most learned ignorance , makes the knowledge of many learned men appeare ignorant , who after a great tormoile in studies , blushe , not to vnderstand that which she so happily puts downe touching the practise of holy Loue . Thus doth God raise the Throne of his Power , vpon the Theather of our infirmitie , making vse of weake things to confound the strong .

And be it , my deare Reader , that this Treatise which I now present , come farre short of those excellent workes , without hope of euer comming nigh them , yet haue I such confidence in that pa●re of heauenly Louers , to whom I dedicate it , that it may be some wayes seruiceable vnto thee , and that there , thou shalt meete with many wholsome considerations , which thou shouldst not else where so easily find , as againe thou maist els where find many rare things , which are not here . Yea me thinkes , my designe fals not in with theirs , saue in generall , in so much as the glorie of Diuine Loue is all our aimes . But this you shall know by reading it .

Truly myne intention was onely , simply and nakedly with art or varnish , to represent the Historie of the Birth , progresse , decaye , operations , proprieties , aduantages , and excellencies of heauenly Loue . And if besids all this thou findest somwhat else they are certaine superfluities which are hard for such an one as my selfe , who write amidst many distractions , to auoyd . Howbeit I hope , nothing therin shall be without some profit . Nature her selfe , who is so skilfull a work woman , proiecting the production of grapes , produceth withall , as by a certaine prudent inaduertance , such an abundance of leaues and vine-branches , that there are very few vines , which are not in the season to be pruined and cut .

Writers often are handled to harshly , the Censures that are made of them being precipitated , ordinarily with more impertinencie , then they practised imprudence in taking vpon them to publish their writings . Precipitation of iudgment doth greatly endanger the Iudges conscience , and the innocencie of the Accused : Diuers doe write foolishly , and diuers also doe censure grosly . The sweetnesse of the Reader , makes his reading sweete and profitable . And my deare Reader , to haue thee more fauourable , I will here render thee a reason of some passages , which might peraduenture , otherwise put thee out of humour .

Some , peraduenture , may apprehend , that I haue saied too much , and that it was not requisite , to bring downe the discourse euen from its heads . But I am of opinion , that heauenly Loue is a Plant , like to that which we call Angelica , whose roote is no lesse odoriferous then the bole , and branches . The 4. first bookes , and some chapters of the rest , might without doubt haue bene omitted to the liking of such soules as onely seake the practise of holy Loue , yet all of it will be profitable vnto them if they behold it with a deuote eye , While others also might haue disliked , not to haue had the whole continuance of that which belongs to the Treatise of Diuine Loue . Certes I tooke as I ought , into my consideration the condition of the wits of this age wherein we are . It doth much import one , to know in what Age he writs .

I cite the Scripture , sometimes in other termes , then are found in the vulgar Edition . O good God , my deare Reader , doe me not therefore the wrong to thinke , that I would goe from that Edition : ah no ; for I know the Holy Ghost hath authorised it by the Holy Councell of Trent , and that therefore all of vs ought to stick to it : but contrariwise I make no other vse of the other versions , but onely to serue this , when they explicate and confirme the true sense therof . For example . That which the heauenly Spouse saieth to his Spouse , THOV HAST WOVNDED MY HEART , is wonderfully cleared by the other version , THOV HAST TAKEN AWAY MY HEART , or , THOV HAST SNACHED AWAY , AND RAVISH●D MY HEART . That which our Sauiour saieth , BLESSED ARE THE POORE OF SPIRIT is much amplified and declared , by the Greeke , BLESSED ARE THE BEGGARS OF SPIRIT , and so of others .

I haue often cited the sacred Psalmist in verse , and it was done to recreate thy mind , and through the facilitie which I found in it by reason : of the sweete translation of Philipe de Portes , Abbot of Tiron , which notwithstanding I haue not precisely followed ; yet not out of any hope I had to be able to doe better then this famous Poet. For I should be too impertinent , if , neuer hauing so much as thought of this kind of writing , I should pretend to be happie in it ; in an age and condition of life , which would oblige me to retire my selfe from it , in case I had euer bene engaged therein . But in some places where the sense might be diuersly taken , I followed not his verse , because I would not follow his sense ; as in the Ps. 132. where he hath taken a latin word , for the fringe of the garment , which I apprehended , was to be taken for the coler , wherevpon I translated it to myne owne mind .

I haue saied nothing which I haue not learn't of others : yet it is impossible for me to remember whence I had euery thing in particular ; But beleeue it , if I had drawen any great peeces of remarke out of any Authour , I would make a conscience not to let him haue the deserued honour of it ; and to deliuer you of a suspition which you may conceiue against my sinceritie in this behalfe , I giue you to know , that the 13. Chap. of the 7. booke , is extracted out of a Sermon which I made at Paris at S. IOHN'S in Greue , vpon the feast of the Assumption of our B. Ladie . 1602.

I haue not alwayes expressed how one Chapter followes another , but if you marke , you will easily find the connection . In that and diuers other things I had a care to spare myne owne labour , and your patience . After I had caused the Introduction to a deuote to life be printed , my Lord Archbishope of Vienna , Peter villars , did me the fauour to unite his opinion of it , in termes so aduantagious to me , and that little booke , that I dare neuer rehease it ; and exhorting me to applie the most of my leasure to the likes workes ; amongst many rare aduises wherewith ●e gratified me , one was , that as farre forth as the matter would permit , I should be short in the Chapters . For euen as , quoth he , the Traueller knowing that there is a faire Garden some twentie or twentie fiue pa●es out of his way , doth easily diuert , for so small away , to goe see it , which he would not doe , if it were further distant ▪ euen so one that knowes that there is but a little distance betwixt the beginning and end of a Chapter , doth willingly vndertake to read it , which he would not doe , though the subiect were neuer so delightfull , if a long time were required to the reading of it . And therefore I had good reason to follow myne owne inclination in this respect , since it was agreeable to this great Personage , who was one of the most saintly Prelats , and learned Doctours that the Church had in our age , and who , at the time that he honored me with his letter , was the most auncient of all the Doctors of the Facultie of Paris .

A great seruant of God aduertised me not long a goe , that by addressing my speache still to Philothie in the Introduction to a deuote life , I hindered many men to profit by it ; for that they did not esteeme the aduertissements made to a woman , worthy of a man . I admired that there were men , who to be thought men , did showe themselues so little men , in effect . For I leaue it to your consideration , my deare Reader , whether deuotion be not as well for women as men ; and whether weare not to read the second epistle of S. IOHN with as great attention and reuerence which was addressed to the holy Ladie Electa , as the third which he directeth to Caius : and whether a thousand thousand Epistles , and Treatises of the auncient Fathers of the Church ought to be held vnprofitable to men , for that they are addressed to holy women of those times . But againe , it is the soule which aspires to deuotion that I call Philothie , and men haue soules as well as women .

Neuerthelesse to imitate the great Apostle in this occasion who esteemed himselfe lyable to euery one , I changed my addresse in this Treatise , and speake to THEOTIME : but if peraduenture there should be any women ( and such an impertinencie would be more tolerable in them ) who would not read the instructions which are made to men , I beseech them to know , that THEOTIME , to whom I speake , is mans spirit desiring to make progresse in holy Loue , which is as well in men as in women .

This Treatise then is made for a soule alreadie deuote , to aduance her in her designe ; and for this cause , I haue bene forced to speake many things lesse knowen to the common sort , which consequently will appeare obscure : The bottome of a science is alwayes hardest to be founded ; and few Diuers are found , who will , or knowes how to diue for Pearles , or other precious stones in the middest of the Ocean . But if you haue a free heart to diue into this writing , it will truely happen to you as to Diuers , who , saieth Plinie , being in the deepest gulfe of the Sea , clearely discouer the light of the Sunne . For you shall find euen in the darkest places of this discourse , a good and amiable light . And verily as I doe not follow those who dispise certaine bookes , which treate of a life supereminent in perfection , so would I not speake of this supereminencie . For neither can I censure the Authours , nor yet authorise the censures of a doctrine which I vnderstand not .

I haue touched many points of Diuinitie ; not with a Spirit of contradiction , but simply proposing , not so much what long agoe I learned in the schooles , as that which the care I haue had of soules , and the experience of 24. yeares I haue spent in preaching , hath made me apprehend to be most to the glorie of the Ghospell and the Church .

For the rest , diuerse men of note from diuerse places haue signified vnto me , that certaine little Pamphlets haue bene published , vnder the onely first letters of their Authours name , which light to be the very same with myne ; which made some beleeue that they were my workes not without touch of scandall to such as apprehended thereby that I had bidden Adieu to my wounted simplicitie , to puffe vp my style with words of ostentation , my discourse with vaine conceits , and my conceits with a loftie and plumed eloquence . For this cause , my deare reader I will tell thee , that as such as graue or cut in precious stones , hauing their sight dazled by keeping it continually fixed vpon the small stikes of their worke , doe willlingly hold before them some faire Emerald , that by beholding it from time to time , they may be recreated in it's greenesse , and relieue their weakned sight . So in this Presse of businesse , which my function dayly drawes vpon me , I haue still some proiects of certaine treatises of pietie , which at my leasure I looke vpon , to reuieue and vnwearie my mind .

Howbeit , I doe not professe my selfe a writer ; for the dulnesse of my spirit , and the condition of my , life , exposed to the seruice and approch of many , would not permit me so to be . Wherefore I haue written very little , and yet haue published lesse , and to complie with the Councell and will of my friends , I will tell thee what I haue written to th' end that thou maist not attribute the praises of another mans labours to him , who of himselfe deserues them not .

It is now 19. yeares agoe , that being at Thonon a little towne situated vpon the Lacke of Geneua , which by little and little began at that time to be conuerted to the Catholike faith . The Minister , Enemye of the Church , cryed all vp and downe , that the Catholike Article of the Reall Presence of our Sauiours bodie in the Eucharist , did distroye the Symbole and the Analogie of Faith ( for he was glad to mouth this word ANALOGIE not vnderstoode of his Auditours , that he might appeare learned ) and vpon this the rest of the Catholike Preachers , with whom I was , pressed me to write some thing in refutation of this vanitie ; I did what seemed fitting , framing a briefe meditation vpon the Creede to confirme the Truth , and all the copies were dispersed in this Diocese , where now I find not one of them .

Soone after his Highnesse came ouer the Mountaines , and finding the Bailiwike of Cablaies , Gaillard , and Ternier , which are about Geneua , well disposed to receiue the Catholike faith , which had bene banished thence by force of warrs and reuoults , about 70. yeares past , he resolued to reestablish the exercise thereof in all the Parishes , and to abolish the exercise of Heresie : And whereas on the one side this great Happinesse had many obstacles , according to the considerations , which are called reasons of state , and yet on the other side , diuers , as yet not well instructed in the truth , made resistance against this so much desired establishment , his Highnesse surmounted the first difficultie by the inuincible constancie of his Zeale to the Catholike Religion , and the second , by an extraordinarie sweetnesse and prudence . For he made the chiefe and most obstinate be called together , and made a speach vnto them with so louely and pressing an eloquence that in a manner being all vanquished by the gentle violence of his fatherly loue towards them deposed the armes of their obstinacie at his feete , and their soules into the hands of the Church .

Licence me my deare Reader , I praye thee , to speake this worde by the by , one might praise many rich actions of this great Prince , amongst which I see the proofe of his vnspeakable valour , and militarie knowledge , which he makes now admired through all Europe . But for my part , I cannot sufficiently extoll the establishment of the Catholike Religion in these three Bailiwikes , which I haue euen now mentioned , hauing discouered in it so many markes of pietie suted with so great a varierie of actions of Prudence , Constancie , Magnanimitie , Iustice , and mildnesse . Me thought , I discerned in this little Peece , as in an abridgment , all that is praised in Princes , who haue in times past with most feruour striuen to aduance Gods an the Church her glorie . The stage was but little , but the actions long . And like as that auncient Artist was neuer so much prized for his great Peeces , as he was admired for making a shipe of Yuorie , stored with all her furniture , in so little a forme , that the wings of a bee did couer it : So I esteeme more that which this great Prince did at that time , in this small corner of his Dominions , then many more specious actions , which others extoll to the heauens .