THE HYMNE . IESV , behold the hart dilates It-selfe to thee , and consecrates It 's triple power , and al within . But oh ! that heauy burden , sinne , Drawes to the earth , and makes it fal From high aspiring thoughts . Not al , Who now support , giue it repose ; Thou art the Atlas , here enclose Thy selfe within the hart , giue rest To it , which otherwise opprest , With the heauy load , the world , sinks down . Make it despise ( to gaine a crowne ) The earth , it 's Nathir , and with thee It 's Zenith make Eternity .

THE INCENTIVE .

1. WHere our treasure is , there is our hart a a Luc 12. . IESVS is a treasure , wherin our hopes , our riches , and al we haue , are lodged & laid vp in store . Where then shal we better place the hart , then in the hart , the Reliquary of the diuinity it-self , at IESVS feet , the most sure Altar of the miserable , in his hands , the richest Magazin of al graces ?

2. Loe here a hart burning al with loue , how many and what flames it sends forth like a furnace . Happy & thrice happy he , who , but for Heauen , hath no loue , no hart at al !

3. Goe to then , al you pious and sincere harts , come and consecrate your selues to the honour and loue of IESVS . For to whom better ? since what we pay to him we allow our selues ; and what we take from him we quite forgoe and loose for euer .

THE PREAMBLE TO THE first Meditation .

WHo shal seuer vs from the charity of Christ ? ( exclaymes that great Apostle ) tribulation ? or distresse ? or famine ? or nakednesse ? peril ? persecution ? or the sword ? Sure I am , that death , nor life , nor Angels , nor Principa●es , nor vertues , nor present , nor future things , nor fortitude , altitude , nor depth , nor any other creature , can seperate vs from the charity of God , which is in Christ IESVS a a Rom. 8. . This is the fire , which gliding from heauen consumes al things , burnes al things ; yea enkindles such flames as euen the Ocean of euils , wherewith the flowes , & aboundes , c̄a not quenchit . This subtil , actiue , spreading , and deuouring flame , takes force & vigour euen from very crosses and torments themselues , surmounts al things , cleaues to one God , and with an inextricable knot is vnited with him . Whether it be the fire , which alwayes suffers some-what , or actuates this or that , I know not ; this I am sure of , that the liuelyer it puts forth the force it hath , the lesse it yealds to the enemy , and is the hardlyer ouercome . This fire , when once it takes on the litle furnace of the hart , good God! what strange , and how many heates , of loue enkindles it there ! They only know the excesses of this vnquiet feauer , who loue IESVS dearely indeed , & passionately thirst after him .

Now shal you see this languishing hart breake out into frequent , abrupt , and interrupting sighs , and now and then heare certayne briefe interiections withal , cast forth here and there by the poore soule , liquefying with a sweet extasy of loue : Tel my beloued , o blessed spirits , that I languish al for loue b b Cant. 5. and that vnles with the prop of his golden scepter he come , as once Ass●erus to Hester c c Ester 15. & powerfully susteyne & hold vp my fleeting soule , I shal faint at his feet : for now the vnequal and feeble pulse euen mortally beates , and now my face is fouly dight with an asky and deadly colour , the extatical heat now wholy wastes the marrow , so as now remaynes in me nothing which suffers not of this fire .

But anon you wil wonder to see that hart excited with the same loue of God , resuming as it were new strength , to be sodainly caryed and snacht with violence into the thing beloued . I wil rise , said the Spouse extreamly enamoured with her beloued , I wil compasse the Citty , through streets and lanes , I wil seeke whom my soule loues d d Cant. 3. ; nor wil I giue ouer til obteyning my desire I take hold of him . I wil enquire of created things , & aske them , where is my God ? I wil seeke and perticularly demand of al ; nor wil I truely rest satisfyed finding some image only of God in them superficially shadowed , or discouering but a glimmer only of diuine perfections , for these wil but excite my thirst , not quenh it wholy ; but I wil hunt further and constantly seeke him , whom my soules loues e e Cant. 1. . For the hart enflamed with loue , continually machinates & workes something ; nor hath diuine loue learned to be idle : it is alwayes in action , and stil proceedes from vertue to vertue , and if it rest at any tyme , and seeme but to sabothize , it is no longer diuine loue f f Greg. Hom. 30. in Euang. .

Amidst these symptomes of this disease , the mind obteynes three things , and proues them in it-selfe : for first , how much soeuer it occupyes it-self in difficult things , and seriously attends , to its owne abasement , to a perfect cont̄ept of worldly things , to represse vntamed and vnbridled appetites , yet al these acts , most worthy and heroical , it puts in the last place , yea when it workes and effects the most , thinks it hath done as good as nothing , and lastly accounts the tyme so long spent in the lists of vertue to be exceeding short , which euen the sacred Scriptures record of the Patriarch Iacob , whom the beauty and loue of the faire Rachel had so taken & enveigled , as he reckoned yeares very tedious for toyles , as weekes for dayes , dayes for moments g g Gen. 29. . I haue yet said but litle : The hart which is enamoured with IESVS , thinks it cannot be broken or tamed with anything , and therefore dares prouoke euen death it-self , & chalenge it to a single fight , as not his match , to scorne its weapons , and not so only , but insolently to insult vpon this pale Goddesse , who yet is she which tramples the Crownes and Scepters of Kings and Caesars , subdues the armed Sampsons and layes them at her foot , forbids the Alexanders , not satisfyed with one world , to spread their Ensignes any further ; lastly , puts the Hel●n●●s , as deformed , vnder a base yoke . What more ? This hart is so impatient of rest , delayes , al things , as while most ardently it loues and seekes the onelie IESVS , and groanes after him , it holds a moment for a yeare , regards not any thing els , nothing likes , nothing pleaseth , nothing satiates or recreates a whit , as to whom , besides IESVS , al things are nauseous and but dreames vnto it . Lastly , for his sake , after whom it sighes and languishes with the heat of thirsting loue , scorning the stinking lakes of wordly pleasures , and the filthy mire of the Aegyptian bogs , like a Stag nigh perishing with thirst and deadly wounds , with a rapid course and willing mind , rushes through the brakes and craggy rocks of precipices , and hastes to the founteynes of endles waters , to God the liuing spring h h Psal. 41. .

Oh inexhaustible spring of loue , quench this thirst , satiate this hunger ! O beauty so antient i i August . Conf. lib. 10. cap. 21. and so yong ! take here possession of the hart deuoted to thee . Be this I pray a Temple , a Chapel , an Altar consecrated to the true and only Godhead . Admit the incense k k Exod. 37. & 40. in an odour of sweetnes , which shal hereafter fume from this golden table , nor euer suffer , o God of my hart , the place thus duly dedicated to thy honour and loue , to be euer once defiled with sordityes or crimes , but rather may it euer and euer stand inuiolable and vntouched .

I. MEDITATION .

The Preparatory Prayer . Actiones nostras quaesumus , &c.

FIRST PRELVDE .

IMagin God being in Heauen , seated on the Cherubins , most highly blessed , and in essential perfection infinit , to require here on earth an Inne to lodge in .

2. PRELVDE .

Imagin the Tabernacle erected of old , through diuine precept , by Moyses a a Exod. 26. there the Temple by Salomon b b 3. Reg. 6. most sumpteously and magnificently built , and therein the Propitiatory reposed whence diuine Oracles were afforded to men .

The hart of a pious man & a Temple of the Godhead , and hath three parth with it , whereof the first the mind , is to be seen in the vpper place . Here God in the production of things , as in a high Altar , proposeth the omnipotency to be seen and worshiped in the gouern'ment of them the highest wisdome , and the infinit goodnes in the conseruation . The interiour part of the Temple is the other portion of the hart , the wil ; and here that infinit either goodnes , or beauty aboue al things , exhibits it-self most amiable . Lastly for the out most face of the whole Temple stand the exteriour senses which , as reason , & true piety would , religiously obey the wil commanding duly diuine things .

2. Point ▪ Moreouer , the Consecration of this T̄eple , the hart I meane deuoted vnto God , is performed with the same ceremonies , our Temples rightly dedicated are . The manner of sanctifying Temples is , to strew the pauements al with ashes ; to affige twelue Crosses on the wal ; to burne as many tapers set before them , to haue water blessed after the solemne formulary of Processions , and in the Ashes sprinckled on the ground , the Greeke & Latine Alphabet scored out . So his hart that would be the Oratory of the God-head , should first be imbued with humility and the knowledge of his owne nothing ; be illustrated with excellent faith , signed with the loue of the Crosse and mortification , as wel inward as outward , be instructed by the Holy Ghost ; and lastly , in like manner , purely , and holily to be cleansed , with the heauenly waters of diuine graces .

3. Point Now then the hart thus dedicated , with so many , and so chast ceremonies , is so in the power and worship of the diuinity , as hereafter without a great sacriledge , and a hainous crime , it may not be violated ; & therefore thence forth , by no meanes , should euer any sordityes be seen there , or , as things prophane , the idoles c c Ezech. 8. of worldly fantasies , be there suffred to haue admittance .

4. Point . The Oratory of the hart should rather be dressed & adorned with the worthy tapistries of vertues and heauenly ornaments ; and great care be had , that neither by night nor day the incense of prayer , the fire of diuine loue d d Leuit. 6. the gold e e Apoc. 3. of charity be wanting , or frequent vowes , prayers ; holocausts , or the rest of victimes euer faile .

THE COLLOQVY .

ARe we then to thinke that God truly inhabits on the earth ? Since if Heauen , and the Heauens of Heauens be not able no conteyne thee , how much less , this house ? a a 3. Reg. 8. What ? My deare then ( O loue ! ) it 's euen thy place , thy Temple , b b Reg. 18. thy seat , thy Tribunal ? My IESVS the delight of my soule , gr̄at this day I beseech thee , thy diuine presence may consecrate my hart to thee , as I truely , freely , and voluntarily vow , giue , and dedicate the same to thy Maiesty . Possesse it with the best right and assure it with so firme a tye , as I may not recouer it againe by any law or tyme surely I wil not ; but from this Propitiatory , begin thou to giue Answeres ; yea send downe from heauen , the fire of the Holy Ghost , now presently to consume the hoasts , and holocausts laid on thy Altar .

Pater . Aue.

THE HYMNE . MYne eyes are open now I see The nets & snares prepare for me The world , and flesh haue laid their baits T' allure my hart , the diuel waits . While pleasures of a moment [ past E're th' are enioyd ] entice : He last But first protectour , midst those ginnes , Midst snares , & tangling nets of sinnes Lies lurking : And when he'spies The bird ensnared , out he flies : OIESV , may my prayer be he●●● , Spread forth thy nets , I am thy bird To catch my hart , 'a Pitfal make Set lime-twigs , doe but touch & take .

THE INCENTIVE .

1. THe world , with silke & golden chaines , the diuel , with horrid and crooked irons , the flesh with libidinous flames of Hel , through force , through craft , through industry , here openly , and here couertly labour very busily to ensnare , and entrap man's hart . Vnlesse , good IESV , thou as from an ambush dost speedily reskue it , with thy succours , it is lost , it is vndone .

2. Looke , what the world sets forth to sale are al laid open , but the wines she carouseth in her golden cup lye hid the brimms are al besmeared with honny , the gal with in is it , that hurts , that kils . Happy he who by diuine power can wel acquit himself of these snares , these nets .

3. And now behold how amourously good IESVS . loues , embraceth , puls this hart vnto himself , and hugs and clings it to his hart , Doe so good IESV ; place my hart in thy Heauen ; I say , with thy delights and loue , fil , and ouerflow it .

THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation .

HElp here , O Lord of Saboth ! Loe bring thy succours hither . The enemies invade thy Sanctuary to pollute the same ; they seeke the sacred fires to extinguish them ; they violate the Altar of Holocauste to ouerthrow 〈◊〉 ; they bring in strange and foraine incense , sacrilegiously to burne to their Numens a a Leuit. 10. Send downe thy auxiliary bands from heauen ; the confederate host of Angels , those spirits , which weild and brandish thine armes ; els certainly al things wil demolish and vtterly perish : Traynes are set on euery side , nette and snares laid euery where . God gingerly and take heed if you be wise . Here the world that cheating and perfidious Mounte-banck fete forth his wares , to sals , precious indeed and specious to the eye at first , but whem you heed them bitter , alas meer trumpery and counterfeit stuff . The purse this pedlery merchant shewes you , beleeue me , is puffed vp with wind rather then filled with coyne . The diadems glittering al of gold , or rather glasse , amid the few and bastard gemm's , affright with thornes and briars . The cheynes of gold or iewels take which you wil , like iron fetters , honour not , but onerate , and straightly bind . What apparel ? The Silk-wormes excrements , with vs being rare , and scarce , are therefore deare ; for with the Thracians long a goe , these silks haue been but little worth ; nor wil they like vs , if not wrought ; or interwouen with gold and glitter here and there , with sparckling gemmes . But to what end ? forsooth to shroud our nakednes and deformity with a precious mantle . With these allurements then the world seekes to intice to it the hart , and to that end promises huge mountaynes of gold , but yet performes besides the blasts and fickle winds of words , euen iust nothing . For what law can he keep or true fidelity , that wants them both ? It is much for it to afford one a vulgar fame , to puffe an empty breath of a little glory which by and by scarce sensible , it blowes another way . For as often as you purchase the grace , not of the vulgar only , but euen of Princes also with the least offence it is suddainly snatched away from you and leaues you gaping after it , with a light smatch only .

Help , help againe O Heauen ! Behold here a new enemy at hand the Stygian Dragon , as anciently as subtlily trayned vp in this field , that Serpent I meane now so long since cast downe to hel b b Isaye . 14. from Heauen and that degree of dignity he aymed and aspired to . The Deuil , I say , that Calumniatour , assayes to rush into thy hold , and that he may hauock and disturb al things rangeth vp and downe like a fel Lyon in a horrible manner , that with his dreadful roaring if he crush not the hart altogeather , at least he may shake it shrewdly . Imagine him an Aspike , his throat to swel with poyson his tooth already fastened in the wound , the very venome now ready to come forth , where the soule is as good as dead already . Conceiue him a Basiliske : this as king of serpents , is more pernitious then the rest , as he , which with the only eyes inspireth death , like a theif enchants the eares with a false whistle and gently distils into the hart a pest with al : When being gotten in soaking the humour thence he pines it vp , and kils it quite ? Or shal I cal him a Crocadille ? You haue then a sworne enemy no lesse of our saluation then of the heauenvly Court , for he faines our human teares , puts on our effects to deceiue the better . Nor doth Proteus so transforme himself into euery figure , as this pragmatike of the world turnes and winds himself euery way into each slight . Nor doth this warriour vse alwayes the same weapons or manner of fight for now he takes prosperity for armes , and now aduersity ; nor leaues he any tyme or place for truce or respite . Help therefore , ô you Citizens of heauen , help I say ! In this combat the Anihonyes , the Hilarions , and the rest of Moncks , most stout Champions , tremble , sweat , and chaunge ther colour ; who surely were not ignorant of the forces of this Aduersary . Is the Casket of the hart repleat with celestial riches ? with pride and presumption of mind he breakes it open , steales the treasure . Is the hart emptie and void of the riches of vertues and the ornaments of diuine graces ? with despair he attempts to perpetrate any horrible fact ; and alwayes bends the artyllery on that side he notes to be weaker then the rest , where he batters sore and shakes the wal , while happily the soule attends the lesse or makes the lesse resistance . And holdst thou thy peace yet , ō God of Hosts ? nor sendst thou as yet , thy subsidiary spirits , with Michael their inuincible Captain , to appose a new and stand against this Pest , to chace , pursue , to put to flight , and then so bound to cast it into the inmost dungeon of Hel , where being once shut vp , there may appeare no way for it , to issue forth ?

Ay me poore wretch ! the external forth thus foyled , the enemy begins to rage at home , the flesh rebels and proud for the good successe of the noble victoryes got vpon those stout aduersaryes of hers , tosseth the warlike fire-brands of concupiscence , here the fires are more dreadful farre then were the Grecians flames . Water , water , I cal for ? Rayn down from Heauen whole clouds of graces , O the only prop , and stay of my hart , my God ; quench with diuine showers , those fiery weapons , fordged with the hellish coales ; c c Ephes. 6. wherewith this impudent brat of Vulcan , Venus wicked imp , lasciuiously armed dares to assalt this hart ; which thou thy self wouldest haue for Palace , Tower , and Temple .

II. MEDITATION .

THE HYMNE . I Saw a little glimps of light As I lay slumbring in the night , Which through a cranny of my wal Glaunc'd on mine eyes & therewith-al , I heard one speake , and rapping hard , While al my doores were lockt & bar'd With that I half awakt lookt round , And in my hart a theife I found Discouered by the light . The wals Were bare , & naked , while he cals Who stood without , more light appeares , T' augment my hopes , & lessen feares ; Then , IESV , I cry'd out , come in , Here 's nonght but a priuation sinne .

THE INCENTIVE .

1. HOw often hath IESVS , to enter into the Tower of thy hart , assayled it with armes , to wit , with the engines of loue ; that to the Angels thou mighst I be a Paradise , to him a Heauen ; if thou let him in . O iron hart ? O hart of Adamant ? God stil is knocking at thy Gates , and is not yet admitted in .

2. But how great is the fauour of this louing Numen ? God , euen God himselfe attendes thee , pryes , and lookes about him , watching tyme and place to enter in , that he might sweetly rest with thee . But thou sticktst vpon it , while the Angelical spirits stand amazd thereat , as I may say , either at this goodness of God , or thy pertinacity , yet thou art nothing mooued .

3. Oh vngrateful hart ! oh perfidiousnes ! To whom wilt thou yeald them , if to so patient and sweete a louer peeuishly thou holdst out longer . If thou flyest as coylie as constantly he sues ?

THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation .

O Fayrest soule among the faire , awake ; for what Lethean sleep oppresseth thee ? Thy little IESVS , the purest ioy and delight of Heauen , raps at the doore : the golden locks of his head are wet yea trickle with the nightly dewes ; his singers stil the primest mirrh ; a a Cant. 5. he wholy drowned and melt with al beates at the gate of thy hart . Open then and let him in Alas how thy doores are frozen with the rock of Caucasus ! How soundly thou sleepest , oh slug , O fooslish soule ! Or is it the noyse perhaps of the Ghests thou hast admitted in already , which so taked vp , and stupifies thine eares , as thou canst not heare thy beloued's voyce ? Oh Ghests , or hanting Ghosts I may cal you rather ! Oh sinister affections ! Oh inordinate appetits ! What a tumult haue you made here ? And thou , a stony hart ! How long hast thou been so hard to heare , and deafe , as not to aduert the Spouses voyce , who to blesse & enrich thee , meerly pushed , with what winde of beatitude I know not , hath touch'd on this vnfaithful Port ? Alas ! stay I beseech thee , stay a-while , most radiant Sunne , nor with thy swifter steedes , make hast away ; for if thou once substractst thy self , I feare thou wilt goe farre enough , and be long absent ; a fauour freely offred once , and lost by a repulse , is not easily recouered . The diuine hand pow●● out it's benefits for a day , an hower , a moment only , it lists not alwayes to attend to worke miracles , or to be curing maladyes : the Angel moues the water of that Poole , b b Probatica , Ioan. 5. but on a certaine time of the day ; if thou suffrest occasion once to slide away , or be taken by another , thou art to attend the returne of another Angel-mouer . Hasten therefore , O fayrest of al beautyes ; what ? sleepst thou yet ? shake off this sluggishnes . Is there a mutiny at home then quiet the tumults , commaund silence , bid the doore be set open . And if thy Spouse now wearied with thy demurrs should chance to diuert from thee , and goe his wayes , follow him at the heeles with cryes , & prayers , and trying him out-right , vrge him hard , that he would deyne to returne againe to his Sanctuary . If yet being called vpon he goe flying stil away . Like a she-Goat or nimble pricket on the mountaines of Bethel : c c Cant. 2. double thy cryes , put out thy throat , & cry aloud , Draw me after thee and we shal ruun d d Cant. 4. my beloued . If the watchmen of the wals lay hold on thee , and beat thee cruelly , yea take away thy cloke from thee : let al these mischiefs moue thee nothing ; the prey thou huntst for with al these same , is cheap enough . Sigh therefore and groane the while , and priuily shoot forth the fiery shafts of vehement loue ; and if thou canst , wound him flying with the alluring tresses e e Cant. 4. of thy desires , with which chaines at least , so thrown vpon him , stay his flight : and when thou art so happy as to ouertake him , now grown at length more slack , through flight , thy wound , and chaines so hampering him pray entreat , and beseech him , by the holy Wounds of his body ; For his ancient and faithful mercies sake , f f Psal. 88. Isaiae 55. he would please to permit himself to be led back againe to his Spouses house . But see you hold him fast g g Cant. 3. nor let him goe ; he is a lightning , and passeth in an instant ; he is a Sunne whose reuolution is without rest , nor euer stops but at the voyce of the true Iosue , and the couragious soule , fighting valiantly against the Gabaonites . h h Iosue . 10.

This Sampson h h Iosue . 10. carryes the gates of the Citty with him , when he feeles himself but tampered in the enemyes snares , bind him , if you catch him ; tye him fast , with the triple cord of loue , for this is hardly broken k k Eccl. Lastlye if now being caught he try , as once the Angel did with Iacob , by wrasling to strugle and escape away , tel him roundly , I wil not let thee goe til thou giuest me thy blessing l l Gen. 3. But hola thou happyest of soules thou doue , thou darling , take heed thou sufferest not thy self to be ouer-seen so any more ; but as soone as thy beloued's voyce shal sound the word that IESVS comes , boldly and confidently open both the leaues of thy hart vnto him , receiue him ; hug him in thy armes , in thy besome , in thy bowels with thy whole hart .

III. MEDITATION .

The Preparatory Prayer . Actiones nostras quaesumus , &c.

FIRST POINT .

THE louer IESVS , after a weary search in vayne , of a quiet place to rest in , hauing spent therein a long and tedious night a broad with his head euen hoary with the serene and nightly dewes a a Cant. 5. knockes at the gate of thy hart , b b Apoc. 3. and because thou lockst him out ; greeues and complains against . thee .

2. Point . I wil seeke out the cause of these so tedious and irksome delayes , or what is it that stope so our eares , that we cannot perceiue the sound & voyce of him that raps at the doore . Surely it is , because the inordinate passions doe mutiny and tumultuate with in vs , and stirre vp , not one only , but many deafe and dismal tempests , now of anger , now pusilanimity , now self loue , and many others ; iust as it happens in a wel-freqūeted Tauerne , where the Ghests make such a noyse among themselues , as one cannot heare another , that one knowes not who comes in or who goes forth , or who knocks at the gate ; such a world there is of Ghests within , such a rabble of al sorts .

3. Point . I wil weigh the danger , least IESVS suffering a repulse so auerted , turne a side into some by-wayes and corners , so as after he may not be found with the miserable Spouse any more ; whose complaints are read in the Canticles c c Cant. 3. in this manner . I wil seeke whom my loues soule , in the streets & lanes , saying , Haue you seen whom my soule loues ? The watchmen of the Citty , haue met with me , smit me , and wounded me . d d Cant. 5. Which hurts , wounds , and teares , surely had not been if she had but presently set open her doores to her beloued .

THE COLLOQVY .

SHAL be framed much after the manner of the earnest instance made heretofore , by the two Disciples going to Emaus a a Luc. 24. saying : Mane nobiscum Domine . Come into the secret Closet of my hart ; for if thou once but turnest thy back , who can follow thee , or euer looke to ouertake thee , that Giant , who in a moment runst from Heauen to earth , like a lightning and thunder-bolt in an instant casts forth a flash , and vanishest with al ; and if thou getst not a place to harbour with vs , like a nimble kid or faune , thou takest thy flight to the mountaynes of Bethel , b b Cant. 2. to the heauenly Quyers of blessed spirits . I know somtimes , the stormes of my inordinate concupiscences arising make such obstre perous noyse with in me , as the pulses sound without cannot be heard ; but yet doe thou good IESV , through thy power , wherewith thou art able to doe al things breake the brazen barres of the gate , trust back the iron bolts , and so the doores vnlockt , enter into thy house and Sanctuary .

Pater . Aue.

THE HYMNE . MY sinnes I thought l●y out of sight , But now I see , al comes to light , When he to search doth once begin , Who finds an Attome of a sinne See there an ougly monster breaths , An other here , wish horrid wreathts , Is lurking in this darksome caue . Oh had I sooner what I haue Of light ; I think no loathsome beast Had in my hart , made-vp his nest . Oh IESV , stil thy beames dissilay , Al this is but the breake of day . Vouchsafe to send with lustre heat , To make it lightsome , feruent , neat .

THE INCENTIVE .

1. SO long as IESVS is absent from my hart . Ah me ! what monsters ? what sordityes ? what Gorgons ? what wicked fiends ? what hels are centered there ?

2. When IESVS enters into the hart , and therein pours his light , Good God ? what foule , what horrible prodigies of vices the mind discouers there which the eyes had neuer yet detected ? I say while IESVS puts forth his rayes , what bestial manners ? what perfidiousnes ? what blots of an vngrateful mind ? what haynous crimes are represented in this detestable hart ?

3. At these portents the very Angels tremble . Yet goe thou on , my most sweet IESVS ; Illuminate the darksom corners of the foule , cleanse this foule infamous stable . Amid this Cymerian darknes , with glimps of thy light bewray me to my self that being hateful to my self , I may abhorre and shune my self and so at length may fly to thee , loue nothing els but thee . Oh the only Darling of my soule ! O only loue of my hart , my little IESVS !

THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation .

LOrd enter then into the Tower set open to thee , and dismantled wholy ; which thou long since hast purchased with the price of thy bloud , and in this thy triumphal entry , as it were , so shoot forth the diuine rayes of thy countenance , that the clouds being vanished quite and slunck away , the strange portents of vices , and restles Enemyes , which lurke therein , may be constrayned to fly away . Search Lord with thee shining lamp of thy knowledge al the hidden corners of this thy Sanctuary . Ay-me ! what horrible beasts haue we here ? What harpyes , what hydreas , or other monsters , more foule and virulent then these , harbour in this Porch of Hel ? Ambition auarice , those base and detestable beasts , here set vp their rests here the ominous screechoules , here the black and fatal progeny of rauens , haue built their nest . Oh! my Dearly beloued , goe on ; Search with thy lanterne a a Soph. 1. the closest corners of the hart , and discouering the swarine of lewd concupiscences , which here euen pester the miserable hart , crush & destroy them quite . I haue groan'd to thee long , but hitherto my sighs were intercepted , and the broken sound of my strayn'd voyce , the stronger out-cryes of the Enemyes , haue so choaked and stifled , as we could not be heard . Aboue al things ( for hence must you begin ) survey , and illumine , my God , the abstruse and winding corners of my mind ; and bringing in the light of the knowledge banish thence foule ignorance of things euen necessary for the conseruation of thy Sanctuary . Alas what a faint and languishing light of faith haue we here ? vnles it borrow force of thy light , it cannot dissipate the fogs , nigh palpable , which here haue place : whereas if thou shal but shead the lightest beame of thy presence thereinto , streight shal infidelity , apostasy , ignorance of thy mysteries , or any other errour blinding the mind , euen banish quite .

Goe forward then , bring thou thy clearest lamp , into the inmost cabins of my wil. Alas ! how foule it is ? How like it is Augias stable , or a sty for Swine ? I blush thereat . How crooked and vntoward is my wil from thine , my God , who are euen rectitude , sanctity and goodnes it-self ? Correct , direct this crookednes of mine ; frame my vowes and effects to the most iust square and norme of thy diuine wil. But now bring that both of thine into the regions of the memory . Ayme ! what corners and windings haue we here againe , of brawles , of enmityes , which frequent thoughts of iniuries feede , foster , & cherish , whereas indeed they should not once be thought vpon . But as soone as thou shalt shine therein I know wel those foule notes of ingratitude , vnmindfulnes of benefits ; memory of ini●ries , deeply rooted , shal cleane be expunged thence : Goe further now if you please , into those blind holes , search there with in those blacke and vgly dens ; I say those secret allyes of the hart and bowels . Oh how I tremble-at it , to see how many snakes there are ! What spiders , what scorpions , and other such like plagues , and alas ! what a huge swarme there is of them ? How many busy buzzing gnats ; peeuish wasps , il-fauoured butterflyes ! What a vast throng of wormes there is , and what a stench from thence exhales to heauen-wards !

O thou most burning Sunne , who with da●ting of thy rayes heretofore , didst sodainly scortch and wither the greene and flourishing Iuy , b b Ion. 4. soake and dry vp the noxious humour of concupiscence , which enuirons the hart , til thou hast quite exhausted al. The cloudy Pillar c c Num. 1. in times past , detecting a farre off , the snares of the Enemy , as a faithful Guide of the way , went before and conducted the people ; So let thy heauenly rayes of thy countenance strike then with a dread and horrour , who haue the face , or rather are so impudent , as to dare once hostily to inuade the hart by thee so rescued , saued , and purchased for thy self . Be there no night hereafter in this place , but let a cloudles , seren , and perpetual day here raigne : and as in the seats of the blessed Spirits , the Sunne , nor Phebe's face is to be seen , but thou Sunne of iustice plac'd in the midst of a most bright and quiet Kingdome ; spreadst round about and sendst forth a glorious light : d d Apoc. 21. so , ( I beseech thee ) shine , burne , and flame forth in this little orbe of my hart , O immense light , O dateles and infinit verity of my God .