PArdon mee ( I beseech thee ) my most gracious Lord Jesu CHRIST , thy most unworthy and unhappy Servant , desirous to talke a while with thee , and of thee .

A sinfull man , who unhappily and rashly have fallen into the misery , and filthinesse of sundry sinnes , and much more unhappily am ready to fall into eternall misery , and calamity after the end of this life .

Thou needest not feare this fearfull fall , if thou wilt but doe so much as truly repent thee of thy sinnes committed , and henceforth abstaine from those sinnes whereof thou hast repented . For I , most tender in my compassion towards thee , out of meere love descended from the royall Throne of mine high glory , to unmeasurable dolour and anxiety , all which I willingly suffered in my flesh , in my mind , in my members , and senses , to the end that I might deliver thee from the eternall torments of hell , and bestow on thee the joy of Heaven . Doubt nothing therefore touching thine offences : I will forget them all , so thou forget thine evill affection , and depraved custome . I will forget , ( I say ) and blot out thine iniquity , and as farre distant as the East is from the West , so farre will I divide thee from thy sinne : I will cleanse thee : Neither will I cease till I fulfill thee throughout : that , Where sin hath abounded , grace likewise may superabound . Yet I would beloved , I would be trusted , I would with sighs and teares be intreated , than which no sweeter melody can unto me be tendred .

O my crucified JESU , I know I am dearer to thee than I am to my selfe ; for to thee I am alwayes deare , who ( as it is written ) Lovest all things that are , and hatest nothing of those which thou hast made . But man is not alwaies equally deare to himselfe as he is unro thee : because hee that loveth iniquity , hateth his own● soule .

This have I shewn in the continuall sorrowes of my whole cru●ified life . For I received the Crosse of my Passion in the Womb of my mother , and continually bore it in my heart , and confirmed it with much austerity in my body . So as that I might purposely shew the unmeasurablenesse of the sorrowes of my soule ; my finall passion then approaching , it was my will to sweat blood thorow all my members , and that , ( which lay hid as a secret of my crucifying , from the wombe of my Mother ) with sensible signes , to reveale to my faithfull ones , which seemed fittest to be at my passage , and poin● of death .

I conceive ( my good JESU ) how in that bloudy sweat , with which thou wert deep-died and engrained in all thy members , thy blessed soule wholly suffered , because it is whole in every part of the body , yea and the very life of the body . But tell me what thou requirest of me , for so great anguish continually sustained for me ?

Onely to love me againe . For to this end have I suffered my passion , that I might purchase thy affection .

Surely most worthy art thou to bee loved , because thou art good in thy selfe : and none good but God alone : And because thou art the Lord , delivering from the power and slavery of the Devill : And because thou art God , forgiving sinnes , which none forgiveth but God alone : And because thou lovest those that love thee : Whence it is that thou sayest , I love those that love mee : And because thou hearest those that begge of thee : whence one saith , I have loved the Lord , because hee will heare mee . Thou also , as the peace of charity , comming into the world , to warme and inflame the cold and lukewarme , hast said , I came , that they might have life : to wit , the life of grace in this life , and more abundantly , to wit , of glory in the life to come .

Surely there is nothing , which may so inflame the fire of Gods love in thy heart , as a continuall consideration and meditation of this speech of mine : I came , that they might have life , and that more abundantly . And of that much like unto this : So God loved the world , as he gave his onely begotten Sonne .

Truly wretched and miserable is hee , in whose heart the fire of love is not kindled , when hee considereth these things , wherein the Charity of God hath chiefly appeared . But , ô thou only begotten of God , suffer not my heart to bee so frozen , or benummed with this icy congelation , but rather through thy mercy , in the remembrance of these thy Words , like Snow melting by the heat of the Sunne , let me say with that princely Prophet : My heart is become as melting wax .

Humane impiety before the time of my passion , tooke occasion of being unthankfull : For man being created , but not as then redeemed , said , I am no more bound to God , than other creatures be : For he spake the word , and I was made ; hee hath bestowed no more labour on me than any other brute creature . But now the mouth of these that speak wickedly is stopped , and no place now is left for unthankfulnesse . For I have laboured more in the sole redemption of man , than in the whole frame and fabrick of the World . For of a Master I became a servant , of Rich poore , of Immortall mortall , of the Word flesh , of the Sonne of God the son of man : I suffered reproaches of such as upbraided me , I suffered underminers in my Works , contradicters in my Words , scorners in my Woes , necessities of the flesh , horrour of death , ignominy of the Crosse.

O how admirable was this love ! What shall I render to my Lord , for all his sorrowes ?

If thou recall to mind , how great things the Lord of Majesty , the Sonne of God suffered for thee , though thou should●t dye a thousand deaths , yet wert thou not equally sufficient to answer me : for the estimate of so great a benefit , exceedeth all meanes of requitall .

As thou best knowest , how much I owe unto thee , the Lord of glory , who subjectedst thy self to death for me , that I might enjoy that happinesse , which neither eye hath seene , nor eare hath heard : recount unto me , I beseech thee , the reasons which caused that most dolorous paine in thy most holy soule . For thou saidst , right now , that in the wombe of thy blessed Mother , thou receivedst the Crosse of thy Passion , and bore it continually to the houre of thy dissolution .

To this end , that thou mightst by affection & compassion become an acceptable sacrifice unto God , wholly inflamed with the fire of Charity , all the rust and rubbish of sin being consumed , and wasted : Consider diligently with a lively heart , how I suffred a double Martyrdome ; one in my body , another in my soule or Spirit . As touching the Martyrdome of my Body consider , that there was never the suffering of any martyr so sharp , so painfull , that it might be compared with my suffering : which I will prove unto thee , by authority , by signe , by reason . First , by authority . For I my selfe crying out of the greatnesse of my sorrows , said , O all yee , who passe by this way , consider and see , if ever there were sorrow like unto my sorrow ! as if I should have said , there was never any .

Secondly , by Signe ; Forasmuch as there were never so many Signes seene in the Martyrdome of any , as at my Passion , implying the sharpnesse and painfulnesse of it : to wit , When the Sunne was darkned , the Earth moved , &c. As if by the dolorous clamours of my passion they had conceived a sense of devout compassion , bemoning me the Son of God , hanging on the Crosse. For it was not in the creature to indure the injury done to the Creatour . Wherein wicked and obdurate hearts are justly reproved , who will not be wrought to compassion , nor softned with a pious devotion , in the remembrance of my death .

Thirdly , I prove unto thee the bitternesse of my passion by reason . Forasmuch as my complexion was most excellent , both by reason of the incorruption of my flesh , as also by reason of the most proportionable union or mixture of the Elementary qualities . For I tooke corruptible flesh of the Virgin , for the freeing of all Originall sinne , that is , of inordinate concupiscence . Now to such a complexion , was required comelinesse of beauty , and strength of body . Because therefore , by how much more proportionable the union is of those Elements and qualities , whereof man is composed and compacted : by so much more difficulty , and violently is he dissolved : hence it appeareth , that the separation of my body and soule was more painfull , than the death of others . Also my blessed flesh , by how much more it was freer from all spot or blemish of sin : by so much also it became more * * In that he was inno●ent , he became more sensible of torment . sensible of torments . Now concerning my Spirituall martyrdome , which I suffered in my Soule ( as I said before unto thee ) it began at such time as I was first conceived in the wombe of my mother , or that my Soule was infused into my body : and continued without intermission 33. yeeres and a halfe , till such time as my Soule was separated from my body upon the Crosse. So as , I became a Martyr even in the Wombe of my Mother . Wherfore I was not so much as one moment , without the most bitter martyrdome of my Spirit : Because whatsoever I suffered in the Night when I was taken , or the Day following when I was slaine , in mocking , reviling , spitting , nayling , and stretching upon the Crosse , &c. This throughly and wholly my most holy Soule long before suffered . But thou art especially to consider , that those dolorous piercing darts of the Virgin , my blessed mother , became the excessivest Object of my sorrowes ; who having a tender and respective eye to all my dolours , in perfect Charity , as became the condition of her motherly excellency , so much grieved for my sorrowes , as was sitting for such a woman to grieve . And all the sorrowes of my Mother , continually wounded my mind . So as , my Mothers Crosse ministred unto mee a new Crosse.

Another Object of my continuall sorrow , was all those martyrdomes which were at any time done , or to bee done upon any of mine Elect for me . So as , in very truth I say unto thee , that all those paines , griefes , tribulations , persecutions , and miseries , which any man was to suffer , or should suffer aswell in body , as in soule , from Adam , even to the very last man , that shall bee borne to the end of the World : all these I suffered alwayes in my Soule must fully , and through my compassion they did more hurt me , and more sharply grieve me , than any mans corporall paine , which hee actually suffereth , ever personally did . And there are two causes which give sufficient testimony of the truth hereof . One is , because I , in the glasse or mirrour of my Divinity did behold all things created and to bee created , things past , present , and to come , which were to me present . And I , from the very first instant of the infusion of my Soule into my Body , began alwayes to observe , till such time as I gave up my Ghost upon the Crosse , all the paines which I was to endure , and whatsoever all my Elect from the beginning of the world , had at any time suffered , and such as being not yet borne , were to suffer , even to the end of the world : all this I suffered in the inferiour faculties of my Soule . And in each of these was I more inwardly and grievously tormented in my Spirit , than any one could be in his owne proper body , at such time as hee is to suffer tortures or torments .

Another cause which procured so great paine in my Spirit , was abundant love . For love begetteth griefe and heavinesse in the spirit : So as , by how much thy love towards me was more intensive or greater , by so much more is thy soule tormented with my Death and Passion . And because I have alwaies and above comparison loved thee , and every man , more than hee can love himselfe , therefore have I suffered greater paine than all that which any one hath ever suffered upon earth , or was to suffer , or shall suffer to the end of the world . Thou knowest , that when Paul had consented to the death and stoning of Stephen , and did persecute Christians , I said unto him , Saul , Why persecutest thou me ? And yet he persecuted not me in my owne proper person , but in the persons of my beloved friends ; because what good or evill soever befalleth my friends , befalle●h me . And this proceedeth from the great love which I beare unto men . Thus therefore maist thou consider , how and by what meanes my Passion exceeded in paine the passions of all that ever suffered , or shall suffer , because I suffered both in my Body and Soule , and that immaculate , and by nature delicate , and for so long time , to wit , for thirty foure yeeres did I suffer martyrdom in my Spirit , both for my selfe and all my Elect. Laurence in one night was broyled on a gridiron ; Bartholomew in one day was slaine ; Katherine in one houre was broken on a Wheele , &c. All these tortures never hurt any one of them so much in their owne bodies , as they tormented me in my Soule , for thirty foure yeeres . Whence Isay , Truly he hath suffered for our infirmities , and borne our sorrowes . And therefore , I could never laugh , but often weepe , appearing as one of forty yeeres , when I was scarce thirty . Which came to passe , by reason of the continuall Justice , which I incessantly bore for my Passion that was to come , and the suffering of my Elect , which I alwaies clearly beheld , and painfully suffered by strength of imagination . Whereupon I oftimes said unto my Father , Many are my grones : and my heart is sorrowfull . To thee likewise doe I say , that thou maist bee moved with compassion and affection towards mee , that my life is waxen old with heavinesse , and my yeeres with mourning .

Surely , O my good Jesu , as I have heard and understood , no conceit can sufficiently apprehend the depth of those anguishes and sorrowes of thy most holy Soule , nor griefes and passions of thy Body . But a very deepe question doth trouble my mind , to wit , how heavinesse , paine , or anguish could befall thy blessed soule , seeing it was alwaies in great joy through Contemplation of thy Divinitie , which was so amiable to behold , that if the damned in Hell could but behold the amiable countenance of God , as the blessed Spirits doe in the Kingdome of Heaven ; they could bee tormented by no griefe , nor heavinesse , either by the fire of hell , or sight of the Devils in hell .

It is true , that my pure and blessed soule was glorified , albeit my Body was mortall . For my Soule , from the very instant of her conception , and ever after , even when I was upon the Crosse , was as * * O Sacred-Secret mystery , requiring of us no curious discussion , but serious devotion ! glorious , and in as great joy and delight , in respect of her superiour faculties , as she is at this day in heaven , sitting at the right hand of God my Father . But in respect of her inferiour faculties , she was in a continuall and incessant heavinesse , and sorrow for the causes aforesaid . Which could not bee by course or order of Nature , that in one and the selfe-same soule together , and at once , there should be so great joy , and so great heavinesse , for this was miraculous and supernaturall . Because , according to the course of nature , joy and delight doe expell sorrow and griefe , so as they cannot suffer together in one and the selfe-same soule . And to the end , thou maist more clearely understand these things , I would have thee to know , that the Source and Fountaine of all my sorrowes , was that high and ineffable divine dispensation , whereby it was forbid mee , that the influence of my glorie , and fruition thereof , which were in the superiour faculties of my Soule , should redound to the inferiour , for otherwise shee had felt no sorrow . But because this influence was by the divine dispensation prohibited mee , therefore did I at once perfectly enjoy all joy , according to the Superiour faculties , and perfectly suffer and become most vehemently afflicted , according to the Inferiour faculties . And thus miraculously hath the power of my Father , joyned anguish with greatest sweetnesse , and highest power with lowest weaknesse . Because that this influence prohibited me , was altogether repugnant to the course of Nature . For naturall it is , and according to the course of Nature , that the Superiour powers or faculties redound to the inferiour , and the Inferiour have impression in the Superiour . And by how much this Dispensation was more wonderfull , by so much was my sorrow more sharpe and dolefull . Thou art to know also , that I kept my naturall strength during my Passion , even to the point of death . Whereby it followeth , that my Passion was more dolorous .

Surely , hee is worthy of death , who refuseth to live to thee , my LORD JESU , who laidst down thy life for us . Yea , though alive , yet he is * * He is dead in trespasses who liveth not in the remembrance of Christs Passion , by washing his precious wounds with pious teares of holy compassion . dead , who in the remembrance of thy most bitter continuall Passion , and representation of thy Crucifying , beareth not thy pricks in his body , by sharpnesse of repentance : and upon the altar of his heart , crucifieth not himselfe for thee , by making a Crosse for himselfe to represse carnall delights .

He that will come after mee , let him deny himselfe , and take up his Crosse dayly , and follow me .

O Jesu , the power of God , and the wisdome of God , give me the understanding of these words .

In these my words , I have proposed three things to a reasonable man , made to the Image of God ; to wit , * * Three ●●ngular precepts of Christian imitation . Servitude , Lowlinesse , Sharpnesse . Servitude is implyed in denying himselfe : Lowlinesse , in bearing of my Crosse : Sharpnesse , in imitation of mee . That hee , who by disobedience fell from the state of a threefold felicity , might rise againe by Obedience , being humbled with the affliction of a threefold misery . For he had fallen from himselfe , from society of the Angels , from the sight of God , that is , from Dignity , Liberty , Felicity . Let him therefore heare my counsell , that by denying himselfe , Christs counsell . that is , his owne proper will , hee may regaine his owne Liberty ; by taking up his Crosse , that is , by chusing to bee contemned , and disvalued by others , hee may regaine the Angels society : By following me , that is , by imitating the steps of my Passion , by chastising of his flesh , he may regaine the sight of my glory .

Truly , it is meet and right , yea necessary , that they suffer with thee , who will reigne with thee , that they imitate thee , who will enjoy thee .

Happy is this sentence of thine owne mouth . Happy , yea three and fourefold happy is he , who alwaies considereth how strait and narrow , how bitter and sharpe the way is , which leadeth to life , when it behoued me to suffer , that I might enter into my glory . If I bought my owne glory at so high a rate : Who shall have it altogether freely , and for nothing ? Therefore , there is no other way , by which thou canst come to the heavenly reward , but by labours and afflictions . That Rich man , who chastised not himselfe with labours of repentance in this world , is now in eternall paine in hell . But the Poore man , with the dolour and labour of this miserable life , hath purchased a crowne of eternall glory .

Woe is mee , that I am allured with the sweetnesse of carnall delights , and deceived with the vanity of secular joyes ; when as I ought to imitate thee , whom I read to have oft sorrowed and lamented , but once in Spirit to have rejoyced . Mary thy Virgin-Mother once rejoyced in a So●g . O how of●en hath the sword of sorrow gone thorow her Soule ! Iohn , thy forerunner , Paterne and Preacher of repentance , rejoyced once in his mothers wombe , but how often may wee well beleeve that hee lamented after his comming from her wombe ?

When I hung upon the Crosse , I promised Paradise to none , but one that was upon the Crosse. Such are upon the Crosse , who cruci●ie their flesh , with the vices and concupiscences thereof . Upon the Crosse also I prayed onely for such as sinned negligently , not for such as sinned wittingly . For so long as they are such sinners , they are excluded from the embraces of me that was crucified ; who with hands spred upon the Crosse , embraced all , for whom I suffered . If thou wilt therefore ascend after me , and reigne in heaven with mee , thou must follow mee by the way of the * * The way by the Crosse , is the way to the Crown●● . Crosse , by which I have entred into my glory . Look for no easier way ; in the way which I have gone before thee , thou must follow . For if thou stray from my steps , thou shalt perish . Attend diligently , that thou maist know , by what way thou maist ascend into Heaven . At such time as I came into the World , I descended by a * * The Christians Ladder , conducting him to Christ his Saviour . Ladder that had three steps , to wit , of humility , whence it is read of me , Thou shalt finde the Babe : of Poverty , whence it followeth in the same place , Wrapped in cloaths : And of austerity , as ensueth , laid in a manger . And by these steps I afterwards returned to heaven . These steps mine excellent Apostle Paul intimateth , writing thus of me ; He emptied himselfe , behold the step of Poverty ! Taking vpon him the forme of a Servant : behold the step of Humility ! becomming obedient even unto death : behold the step of Austerity ! But whither hath this Ladder of three steps brought mee ? Heare what followeth . For this cause therefore hath the Lord exalted him , and given him a name which is above all names . Fooles therefore and mad-men are they , who would ascend up into heaven after me by a Ladder that hath steps contrary to these ; to wit , by Richesse , Delights , and Honours . Surely , this Ladder leadeth to Hell , as the first did to Heaven .

It is a great shame for the servant to bee feasting and idling , while his Master is suffering and labouring .

Whosoever devoutly meditateth of this my Passion , cannot but bee ashamed to follow the pleasure of the flesh . The memory of my crucifying , crucifie●h all vices . In the paines of my Passion , all the delights of the flesh , and of the world are condemned : which , if thou wouldest subdue without difficulty , thou must devoutly remember my Passion , and sweetly delighting thy selfe in it , sincerely cleave to my wounds ; yea , if thou wouldst foile and resist the Devill , who especially pursueth and persecuteth the religious , and restraine him from annoying thee , thou oughtest dayly and devoutly to remember my Passion . But necessary it is , that they imprint the example and fimilitude of my Crucifying in their manners , who imprint the signe of my Crosse for their defence in their foreheads ; that by his Law they may bee formed , by whose Faith they are armed . For otherwise , he disloyally beareth the stampe of his King , whose will he doth not observe . Neither doth hee rightly protect himselfe with his signe , whose command he doth not obey .

O good Jesu , vouchsafe to bestow on my hearing a fuller joy , by recounting to mee thy most unworthy Sinner , the rest of those benefits and fruits , arising from the dayly remembrance of thy most holy Passion .

The memory of my death , by a dayly ruminating thereof , ought to burne upon the altar of thy mind , for many reasons .

First , because thou canst doe nothing more acceptable unto mee , than to exercise thine heart in my most holy Passion , with love , compassion , reverence , and imitation . Whereof thou canst not doubt , being assured thereof by many authorities of holy Scripture . Wherefore I doe advise thee to stamp my painfull love , and loving paine in thy soule , and to be thankfull unto me , saying : * * The Christians Signet with his Posie . Set me , as a signet , upon thine heart : As if he should say , Love mee , as I love thee . Remember not onely how great things I have done for thee , but how sharpe and unworthy things I have suffered for thee , and see if thou doest not give mee an ill requitall , if thou doest not love mee . For tell mee , who loves thee as I doe ? Who desireth to be loved of thee , as I doe ? Set me , therefore , as a signet upon thine heart , that thou maist love me with all thy strength : upon thine arme , that thou maist performe those things which please mee with all thine affection : upon thine heart , that whatsoever is deare unto thee , thou maist set aside for me , and alwaies preferre me , and alwaies more and more love me .

Secondly , thou oughtst continually to remember my Passion , because by it thou art led by the hand to the love of God . For by my Passion , I have shewne to thee the quantity of my affection . And love deserveth love againe . Understand what I say ; I would not reedeme man with praier , for so oft times man freeth man from captivity . Nor with the price of gold and silver : for so sheep and Oxen are bought : but with the price of my bloud , that by the price of the thing bought , my love might bee weighed . Do not therfore dis-esteeme thy worth : consider oft times thy price . If I had redeemed man with gold or silver , it might have beene thought , that the soule of man had beene comparable ● to temporall riches . That which is redeemed , is more precious than that by which it is redeemed : Therefore the soule of man is more precious than my bloud .

Thirdly , ●or stirring of devotion ; Whence it was that Sampson found an Honeycombe in the mouth of a dead Li●n . I am the Lion of the Tribe of Iud● , in whose death the honeycombe of devotion is found , wherewith the spirit of man is refreshed . O that thou wouldst seriously consider , how upon the Crosse my mouth appeared like one halfe-alive , open , and my tongue bloudy ; surely , if thou hadst an heart of iron , it would have melted with compassion and devotion .

The fourth fruit arising from the memory of my Passion is , that in it is found a guard of defence against all Enemies . Whereupon my Apostle Peter ; Christ suffered for you , arme your selves likewise with the same mind . And I say ; Enter into the rocke . As a Souldier , who unable to withstand his enemy in the field , flyeth to his Tents . Briefly , the * * Med●tation of Christs Sacred Passion , a soveraigne receit against Satans temptation . Enemy shall prevaile nothing against him , whom the daily exercise of my Passion doth delight .

The fifth is , because with no exercise is man so much enriched as with my merits , applied to him , and made his , by the hand of faith ; for the foundation of all grace , and the root of merit , ( as it hath sole relation to me , and derived to man by Faith in me ) consisteth in the sorrow of heart and body , for my Crosse. For this cause mine Elect Apostle said ; I have esteemed my selfe to know nothing , but JESUS CHRIST , and him crucified . And that devout sonne of my blessed mother , Bernard , * * A Christians Philosophie . It is my highest philosophy ( said hee ) to know CRIST JESUS , and him Crucified . But thou oughtst to grieve , because there are many enemies of my Crosse. For the lovers of pleasures are my persecutours ; they are guilty of my death , not as authors or fautors , but as contemners 〈◊〉 my death : These are they , who make the merit of my Passion in them of no effect ; who make themselves unworthy of mine heavenly blessing , & unspeakable glory : who living in their delights , laugh at the mysterie of my Passion ; who tread mee the Sonne of God under their feet , and lay reproach upon the Spirit of Grace . A carnall life is an injury unto God , contempt of my Crosse , and redoundeth to the contumely of all the blessed Trinitie .

The sixt is , the allaying of the labours and dolours encountring man in his way of repentance , and life of Religion . For a devout faithfull Souldier hath no feeling of his owne wounds , when hee seeth the wounds of his loving Captaine . And to this end have I contemned all earthly goods , that I might shew how they were to bee contemned : and sustained all adverse things , that I might teach how they were to bee sustained .

I conceive and contemplate by this which thou ( my good Jesu ) hast said , that albeit this sentence was very unjust , and therefore execrable in respect of thee , because man had no power over God , the wicked over the just : yet in respect of us , it was manifold common modious and profitable : and the reason hereof is amiable and venerable ; because hee wholly reversed that sentence pronounced upon the first man , for sinne . For the sentence of a dolefull exclusion was denounced against him . Whence it is written , The Lord cast out man from the Paradise of pleasure , and set an Angell to keepe the way of the tree of life . But happy and honourable was thy sentence , because 〈◊〉 called back a banish'd man , for by this sentence the Sonne for the servant was injuriously cast out of his inheritance , by the husbandmen of the Vineyard , the Law of Moses . Therefore thy Apostle saith , That Jesus might sanctifie us , hee suffered without the gate . And well it was that he suffered without , that he might bring us back againe to within : for we have entrance by his bloud . But I beseech thee ( most loving Jesu ) from the very inward affection of mine heart , by those paines , with which , as with most sharp arrowes , thy most sweet heart was pierced , and those of the Virgin thy blessed Mother , at the hearing of that sentence of thycondemnation ; that I may deserve through thy merits , to be delivered in the houre of my death , and the last day of judgement , from thatsharp and terrible word of the sentence of eternall damnation , which thou wilt thunder out against the reprobates : Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire , prepared for the Devill and his angels .