THE FLAMING HART OR THE LIFE OF THE GLORIOVS S. TERESA , Foundresse of the Reformation , of the Order of the All-Immaculate Virgin-Mother , our B. Lady , of Mount-Carmel .

This History of her Life , was written by the Saint her selfe , in Spanish ; and is newly , now , Translated into English , in the yeare of our Lord God , 1642.

I Presume not now , to approach to your Maiesties presence , with designe to begg your Fauours , ( though this , vse to be the case of euery Creature ) but to pay your Maiestie a Seruice , and that , a great one , for the many Princely benefitts , which I haue receiued already , from your gratious hand . For heer , I come to offer your Maiestie a meanes , of magnifying your owne naturall greatnes , by your avowing , & protecting , and enlargeing the glory of an incomparable Saint , S. Teresa . To whome , as I haue well vnderstood that already , yow carry an extraordinary deuotion ; and not only deuotion to her selfe , but affection also , to the holy Religious woemen of her Angelicall Order ; whereof , the English Nation ( which now enioyes the honour , to be also , yours ) hath a Monastery at Antwerpe , which needs not , perhaps , be ashamed , to appeare neer any other of the whole world , whether it be , for their great , & entire contentment in Recollection ; their insatiable , yet most delightfull thirst , after Perfection , & Vnion with our Blessed Lord ; or the euerlasting Feast , of Joy , & Iubily , which they solemnize , both in the harty , & high respects , which they carry to their Reuerend Mother Superiour , and their true , & most tender loue , to one another : so , it will not be vnworthy , either of your owne greatnes , or goodnes , that , when there is question of considering the vertues , & perfections of the Glorious S. Teresa , and the celebrating her praises , and the studying her Life , ( J meane that Life of hers , which she wrote , with that most holy , & wise hand of her owne , which I heer present ) your Maiestie vouchsafe to march at the very head of that whole Troope , which may addresse it selfe , to the imitation of her Heroicall actions , and to the admiration of those incomparable Graces , and Fauours , which the God of Heauen , and Earth , thought fitt to infuse , with his enamoured hart , and omnipotent hand , into that most happy Soule . For , who can euer , be more fitt , to patronize so great a Saint , as she is , then so great a Queen , as your Maiestie ; who , besides your Birth , and renowne , whereof ( to speake after the manner of men ) yow haue so much occasion to bragg , haue also ( in order to Heauen ) shewed such constancy , in the way of Religion , and pietye , as may iustly , ( all things considered ) giue cause to the rest of your owne most eminent Ranke , at least , to shrinke , if not to blush . For my selfe , to begg your Maiesties pardon , for this apparance of presumption , were now , to acknowledge some such fault , as whereof , J acquitted my selfe , before . I will therefore , rather by this meanes , hope to obtaine a Suite for this Seruice ; yea and that , of the most sauory kind , of all other ; & it is , That yow will vouchsafe to imploy the Sacrifice of my whole Life , in obedience to any of your Maiesties least commands . God make , & keep your Maiestie , as healthy , & as happy , as this world can tell how to wish ; yea , and as the other , can tell how to graunt ; & I most humbly aske leaue , to doe your Maiestie all Reuerence , at your Royall Feet .

And now , as the Incomparable S. Augustin , was called , by the consideration of his owne great Sinnes , and God's greater Mercies , to declare his Life , in the neuer enough admired Booke of his Confessions : so also , did the Glorious S. Teresa , the self same thing , in effect , in this Booke ; but , by direction of her Ghostlie Father . Not yet , that he did so much , as incline her to publish her owne imperfections , and sinnes , ( nay rather , he did the direct contrarie ) but onlie to declare her Forme of Prayer ; togeather with the Fauours , which our Lord imparted , to her , therein . But now she , vpon that occasion , would needs make her owne Processe , in view of the World ; & shew ( as incident to the rest ) how ill , she had complyed with Almightie God , from time , to time . And by this meanes , doth she , in effect , weaue that great peice , of rich Cloth-of-gold , and Tislue , which concernes , almost , the Historie of her whole Life ; and now , the same is hungout abroad , to the view of the world .

But yet , amongst all the excellencies thereof , there is one thing , which displeases manie worthie , wise , & holie men ; or at least , which pleases them lesse , then the rest . And it is , that whensoeuer there is anie question at all , of her self , ( in order , either to Vertue , or Vice , ) she would neuer trust her owne eyes , though they were so cleare , and good , as the world knowes ; but shee resolued , to worke with Perspectiue-Glasses , of different , yea , & euen contrarie kindes . For , when she described her Vertues ; she serued her self , of a Diminishing-glasse ; which made them seem so little , as to be no more , then a kind of Nothing . But , on the other side , when she gaue account of her Imperfections , she would , by no meanes , know them , by anie other name , then of Vices , and Sinnes ; because she tooke a Multiplying-Glasse , to her self ; for feare , least els , those Mole-hills should not seem Mountaines .

Now , in the strength of this wel-meaning , and holie kind of errour , which she incurred ( if anie errour may well deserue so indulgent a name ) she gaue her self too great scope ( if the Reader , would needs take her at her word ) to violate her owne excellent fame , by certaine too venturous dashes of her penn , which was driuen too too hastily on , by the impulse of a kind of inordinate Humilitie . In such sort , as that , if a bodie were disposed , to trust his eyes alone , without his reason , he might be easilie drawne , to passe a verie erroneous Iudgement , vpon her Soule .

For , she will tell you , in twentie places of this Booke , What a grieuous Sinner she was ; What a multitude of great sinnes , she had ( in her conceipt ) committed ; How manie yeares , she had continued , in that dangerous state ; And , in fine , how she conceiued , that her proper place , and particular torments , were prepared , for her , in Hell it self , for the euerlasting punishment of her Sinnes ; which ( she faith ) she felt in Spirit . Whereas yet , in realitie , and sinceritie of truth , it may be cleer enough , ( to such as will vnpartiallie consider , what they are to iudge ; and not looke through the mist , or clowde , of that too great insatisfaction , and seueritie , which she would be sure to carrie towards her self ) that she was alwaies farre , from committing anie Mortall Sinne , in all the course of her Life .

Now , the difference , in point of Iudgement , between our Saint , and others , may well seem to haue proceeded from this occasion , which followes . They looked vpon her whole life , with the eyes of a Religious kind of reason ; And she , with those , euen of a kind of inordinate passion , ( as a man may say ) of deuotion . They , looked vpon her , as men , who being informed , euen by her self , of the Case , are most fitt , through their indifferēcie , to be the Iudge ; Whereas she , looked vpon her self , as a meer Partie ; who must not , in her owne Case , be trusted , by anie meanes , so well , as her Iudge ; especially , when that Iudge , knowes all things , as well as her self , since she declares them to him . Besides , that she expresses cleerly , how diuerse , who were her Ghostlie Fathers , at the times of her greatest imperfection , declared to her , in very positiue tearmes , that she was farre , from commiting Mortall Sinne. And note , that they passed such a Iudgement vpon her , at times , when her self professes , that she Confessed all her Sinnes so entirely , as not to omitt so much , as euen all those Veniall Sinnes , vpon which she could reflect . So that clearly , by the verie worst of her case , if anie such thing , as she had euer done , were doubtfull ; & if her Ghostlie Fathers assured her then , that it was not Mortall , ( as indeed , they did ) what reason could she haue , to be so very highly , and irreconciliably vnsatisfyed with her self ? But the truth is , she pearced so deeply , by meanes of Celestiall grace , into that endlesse , spotlesse Mine , of the Puritie of Almightie God , and the vnlimited Excellentie of his High Maiestie , and the vnspeakable deformitie of the least Imperfection , or frailtie , when once it should be brought to appeare , before that incomparable Claritie , of the King of Glorie ; And , on the other side , she was endued , with such a strange , internall kind of knowledge of her self , that it made ( as I was saying before ) those Moates of her Imperfections , seem Mountaines , when once , they were to appeare , as in God's presence .

She was also of so very sensible a nature ( which I must needs touch againe afterward ) and so easily obliged , and so inseparably engaged , vpon the receauing , euen of poore , weake , little seruices , from mortall Creatures ; & much more , when Celestiall Fauours distilled downe , so very fast , towards her , from that neuer-failing Fountaine of Diuine Mercies ; that , for her , to find her self anie way vngratefull , yea or so much as euen vnmindfull thereof ; and yet , much more , if she should proue so inhumanly vnkind , as , in stead of paying seruices , to commit faults ( how light soeuer they might be ) such errours would seem , in those eyes of hers , ( which still , were fed , from that inflamed hart ) to be really , not very much lesse , then almost , as so manie halfe Sinnes , against the Holie-Ghost . And from this composition of her Minde , ( both in the Naturall , and Supernaturall way ) did grow those profound detestations of her self ; those high exaggerations , of her Imperfections , and Frailties ; those lowde exclamations , against her supposed ingratitudes , and vnkindnesses , towards Almightie God , which broke ( as it were ) euen her owne verie hart , whilst she was thinking ; and deliuered ouer , such feeling arguments of her sad remorse , whilst she was writing , as are able , to strike the water of teares , out of the stonie harts of her Readers ( like the Rod of Moyses , which droue water out of the Rock ) when once , they lend their sight , though neuer so little , to behold that sweet Obiect , of her enamoured thoughts , and expostulations against her selfe .

From hence it is , I say , that she accused her self , after a kind of obstinate manner , whensoeuer she reflected vpon God , & her self ; in order to his Bounties , on the one side , & her discorrespondences , on the other . Whilst yet , when her thoughts were bent , but to expresse the plaine order of things , after a manner meerly abstracted , from those superiour Considerations , she deliuers such truths , concerning her self , as makes all these imputations , which fell so fiercely vpon her Soule , out of her owne mouth , appeare , to be farre different , from that , which she would desire , that they might be thought . And so , in conformitie with this , you ( my Reader ) shall doe well , to consider , in serious manner , how she , who spoke , after a sort , erroneously , ( when she would partially iudge of her actions , in order to the spotlesse Puritie of Almightie God , and his strict Iudgement ) did yet vnfold her self , most litterally truly , when she expressed her self Viâ facti , and related her affections , and actions , as it were , in the Historicall way .

Obserue therefore , how , in this way , she saith of her self , That she was euer Cap. 4. very carefull , not to commit anie Mortall Sinne ; That she had great care of her Conscience , still , forasmuch as cōcerned anie thing of that kind ; and that , if euer she would be so vnhappie , as to commit anie such sinne , that she should neuer be in quiet , till she was disburthened of it ; That she seldome receaued the B. Sacrament , Cap. 5. but with abundance of teares ; That , after she had once tasted of the Regalo's of that Celestiall Banquet , ( which she beganne to doe , when she was young ) she neuer omitted to Confesse anie thing , which she might conceaue to be a Sinne , though it were but Venial ; That she had euer great remorse , Cap. 2. whensoeuer she committed anie offence , against Almightie God ; That she did naturally detest all dishonestie ; and that she conceaued not , that there was , either anie occasion , or anie person , in the whole world , who could possibly ouercome that resolution , in her ; That , difficulties grew after-ward vpon her , by occasion of some Conuersations , which she had ; whereof yet , she Confessing her self , by way of doubt ( as I haue insinuated before ) her Ghostlie Father made her know , that she did not offend God , therein . For , the truth of the case , was this : She was then , a Secular woeman ; and the inclinations , which she had to the person , were capable of being concluded , in a Marriage ; besides , that really , on her part , there was neuer so much , as one impure thought ; That another Spirituall Cap. 8. man , with whome she also consulted shortly after , about matter of her Soule , ( by occasion of some feares , into which she grew then , to fall ) declared to her , that , though she were in the state of neuer so high Contemplation , yet such conferences , and conuersations , as those , were not to be inconuenient , for her ; That she also vnderstood by others , of like condition , that the conuersations , which she vsed , and the contentments , which she tooke , were lawfull ; That she Cap. 7. conceaued not her self , to be in Mortall Sinne ; for , if she had knowne anie such thing of her self , she would neuer haue endured it ; That she was euer a great Cap. 6. enemie , to detraction ; yea and that the world was euer safe in that kind , when she was present ; for , euerie bodie , who knew her , knew also , that she would not , so much , as endure , that this Sinne should euer be committed , in her hearing ; That she was neuer , any way , subiect to Cap. 22. Enuy ; And that she had also , neuer obserued her self , to offend Almighty God , either by Hypocrisie , or euen so much , as Vaine-Glorie ; That she alwayes stuck , so very fast , to the truth of Holie Scripture , and euen to the least Ceremonie of the Holie Catholick Church , that rather then beleiue otherwise , she would endure a thousand deaths ; That she was not cordially addicted , to anie thing , but to serue , and please our Blessed Lord ; And that , in fine , the whole world , seemed to her , to be no better , then a very Hill of Ants.

Now , this was the verie truth of the Case ; and this was the state of our Saints Soule , from the first , to the last . And yet , vpon the cōsiderations , which I touched before , this Blessed , and Heauenlie Creature ( I say , Heauenlie , euen whilst she was yet , vpon Earth ) would needs conceaue her self , once , in Prayer , not only to see , but euen to feele her self , to be in those verie torments of Hell , which she held her self ( as hath been sayd ) to haue deserued , for her sinnes ; and which , indeed , would haue been litterally , and finally true , if our Lord had not preuented her , and accompanied her , and conducted her , by his Holie Spirit , and Heauenlie grace ; without which , what liuing Creature can be safe ? But that , otherwise , she had actually committed such sinnes , as for which , hose eternall torments might be , indeed , deserued , seems to be but an vngrounded , and vnsound opinion , in realitie of truth . For , the constant excellencie of her Life , was such , as that , she beganne , at the first , where others might be glad , to end it ; ( namely , with feruent , and inflamed desires of Martyrdome , euen when she was scarce eight yeares old ) and both continued , & finished the same , afterward , in such vertue , and expresse sanctitie , of the highest kind , as that the world , may be rather willing , then able , to admire it , to such a proportion , as it deserues . And therefore , that conceipt of her great Sinnes , and of her deserued place also , in Hell , seemes partly to haue had the true foundation , vpon the iealous , and sollicitous , and curious , enamoured , and inflamed Affections , of the faithfull , watchfull , loyall , laborious thoughts , of our Glorious Saint ; which tended , almost euer , towards a complying , in most perfect manner , with the duties , to which she held that she was liable , in her self ; and with the Inspirations , by which she was so constantly sollicited , and called vpon , and , as it were , euen Courted , by the powerfull , and pretious hart , of our Blessed Lord ; and partly , yea and peraduenture cheifly , by the ill quarter , which she conceiued , and acknowledged her self , to haue kept sometimes , with our Blessed Lord , by not corresponding with his heauenly grace , and not complying , with his holie Inspirations ; and commiting some neglects in that kinde ; whilst yet she was so enarnestly moued , by his Diuine Maiestie , to giue-ouer certaine naturall affections , and recreations , of hers . In regard of which vnkindnesse towards Almightie God , she might haue congruously deserued , to be depriued of God's grace afterwards ; and then she might also haue falne , by degrees , not only into greater faults , but euen into greiuous Sinnes , which might truly haue been then ascribed , to her former , lesser offences . And so it was meerly , the vnspeakeable goodnes of Almightie God , and no merit of hers , that she was not permitted to fall , by degrees , euen as low as Hell it selfe , Like a man , who , in a small distemper of bodie , neglects the helpe of Phisitians , and growes thereby afterward , into mortall diseases & death .

Now therefore , in all such things , as might concerne the estimation , which she made of her self , in order , either to the excellencie , or deformitie , of her life , there is ( and let the Glorious Saint forgiue me this errour , once , of speaking truth ) no credit at all , to be giuen her ; because that subiect , lyes but in the way of discourse ; & all things in effect , of that nature , vse to be iust , of that verie colour , whereof those Glasses be , through which they are seen ; and I haue already shewed , that hers , were of the partiall Cutt. But as for those other things , which occurred to be set downe , by her , in the Historicall way , or els , which are related , as hapning to the person of the writer , in the way of fact , whether it were more or lesse ; as namely , that she did , and suffered , and sayd , and heard , and felt , & saw , whatsoeuer she affirmed , in those kinds , whether it were in the Naturall , or Supernaturall way , there can be no question made , as I haue shewed els where , but that all , was most certainly , & euen most punctually true . For els , she either must deceiue , or be deceaued ; whereof the former were a great impietie ; ( but farre enough from her ) & the latter ( all circumstances considered , and especially , in parriculars of that nature ) no lesse , then a most impertinent absurditie , to be either affirmed , or beleiued ; as was partly touched before .

It is true , that both in her Supernaturall Prayer , and yet more , in her Visions , and Reuelations , there are manie things , which surpasse anie Vnderstanding , which is but meerly Humane ; but so also , are there in finit other Particulars , in the Ecclesiasticall Historie , concerning other Saints , which , howsoeuer they seem , and are strange , yea and much more strange then these , yet are they generally , and most iustly admitted , to the degree of Morall beleif . For , as we Catholiques , are instructed , & taught , that , on the one side , we must not be so light , or rather in fine ( to the end , that things , may haue their right names ) not so very weake , and foolish , as to beleiue strange , and supernaturall things , without a mightie deale of authoritie , and proofe , ( * * Note this great , & most certaine Truth . yea and the Church her self , doth most bitterly Excommunicate , whatsoeuer Creature in the world , who shall knowingly propound anie false thing of this kinde , to be beleiued ) so on the other side , that they , are most iustly to be held , both rash , and childish , and foolish , who beleiue not that , which multitudes of the most , and wisest , and worthiest , and learnedst , and holiest men beleiue . Though yet still , in all these Cases ( wherein the Church hath not expresly declared her self ) we are not , to beleiue things , with Diuine Faith , but only with a Morall , & humane beleif ; no , nor euen so much as that , but only , when they are so abundantly proued to be true , as that they can not rationally , be denyed , or euen doubted , by anie prudent , pious man . For , to resolue to beleiue nothing at all , which is eleuated aboue the ordinarie course of naturall things , or which surpasse a man 's owne capacitie , and his explicit , and deciding iudgement , at the present time , is not only ( as I was saying ) a very foolish , but euen a childish , and ridiculous kind of thing .

I must heer , put you also in minde , how , particularly , it is found in Holie scripture , that there are innumerable instances ( and especially , in the Reuelations , of the Blessed , and Beloued Apostle , S. Iohn ) which are incomparably more repugnant , both to reason , and euen to Common sense , then anie thing , which is related heer . And as , ( how difficult and strange soeuer , those things of holy Scripture be ) they must yet , be as entirely beleiued ( and that , vpon the price , of a mans being otherwise , an Heretique , or a verie Pagan ) as the Blessed Trinitie it self ; because , in fine , the least tittle of Holie Scripture , is as fully , and entirely , to be beleiued , as the verie Diuinitie it self , of Almightie God ; since the verie least , and lowest point of our Faith , depends vpon the self same formall reason , and ground , with the highest , & greatest : So also , whosoeuer shall not receaue , whatsoeuer is deliuered , by the Saints , and great Seruants of Almightie God , concerning such things , as passe in their owne Soules , through the entercourse , and commerce of his Diuine Maiestie ( cuius deliciae , are , to be , cum filiis hominum ; whose delight consists , in visiting , and regaling the Soules of his dearest , and most deuoted Seruants ) the same being considered , by holie , and wise & learned Discerners , and Tryers , and Iudges of Spirit , ( whereof there is neuer want , in God's Church ) and so , the Catholique Christian World , growing by degrees , to accept thereof , in the way of giuing a iust admittance , & a pious Morall credit to what is related , that man , I say , shall be neither pious , nor prudēt , who reiects it ; and he shall be an ignorant foole , if he deride it .

Nor is also anie of my Readers , to be scandalized a whitt , if he chance to heare Saints speake , of some materiall and corporeall kindes of things , which are represented to them , in their Visions ; as namely Rings , or Crownes , or Chaines , or Mantles , or Darts , or the like ( whereof there is some little mention , euen in this Booke ) anie more , then he hath cause to be scandalized , at the Horses , & Riders , and Trumpets , and Seales , and Pretious Stones , wherewith the Celestiall Ierusalem was paued , in the Reuelation of S. Iohn . For , though I say not , that he is necessarily bound , in the qualitie of a good Catholique Christian , to beleiue the Particulars , which are represented in this Booke , after anie grosse materiall way , with the same kind of infallible , Supernaturall Faith , which he is strictly , and precisely obliged to allowe , to all things , which are contained in Holie Scripture ( vpon the price , as I was saying ) of being otherwise , an Heretique , or a Pagan ) yet I presume to say ( and it seemes to be most true , and certaine ) that when such particular Supernaturall Fauours , as aforesayd , are vouchsafed by Almightie God , to his Saints , and are also admitted , and embraced , by multitudes of the learnedst , and wisest , and holiest persons of the world , that man will be neither holie , no nor so much as learned , or wise , who not only shall reiect that , which he hath no will to approue , but deride also that , which he hath not witt , or grace ; to vnderstand . In a word , the Visions expressed in Holie Scripture , must be all beleiued , by Diuine Faith , in their true sense , whatsoeuer that falls out to be ; and not the Visions of Saints , with that , but with a farre inferiour kind of Faith ; till the Holie Catholique Church , both haue defined them , and propounded them also , to be beleiued , by her Children .

Nor yet are yow , my Reader , whosoeuer you may be , to be idly scandalized , by any meanes , at the Formes , whereby things are represented sometimes , in the Visions , and Reuelations of Saints ; and this , vpon another , and that a very substantiall reason , which followes heer . For , the important busines , in those cases , is , that our Blessed Lord , is pleased to imprint , at such , and such times , vpon the Soules of such , and such of his deare Seruants , such , or such a kind of vertue , or Fauour , or Strength , as himself is pleased to designe , for the comfort , progresse , and perfection , of that Seruant of his . And so , that Seruant , consisting both of a Bodie , and a Soule , his Diuine Maiestie is also gratiously pleased , manie times , to affect both the Bodie , and the Soule , togeather , with a sensible kind of feeling of that grace ; Those outward demonstrations ( which speake , but , as it were , to the Bodie ) seruing cheifly , but to denote , and describe , in that sort , to the whole man , the influences , and impressions , which then are made , and powred out , into the Soule .

But now it will come fittly in , ere long , to show you that part of the Epistle Dedicatory , or Preface , which the Famous Dominican Father , & Doctour , Father Lewis de Leon , thought fitt to write , both in honour of S. Teresa herselfe , & of those Primitiue Daughters also of hers , who were first Founded at Madrid . For thereby , you will easily discerne , what a Race , that Glorious Saint had runne ( eauen like some Gyantesse ) in the way of our B. Lord ; as also how close , those Children followed their holy Mother . Of which Mother , I shall not heer , haue roome to reflect , though I should but touch , & goe ; vnless withall , I would make this Preface , as long as the very Life it selfe . And therefore , you must giue mee leaue , to adiourne you , for more ample satisfaction of this expectation , to those dropps , which I may , perhaps , both be able , and willing to deriue , and draw , out of that Sea of her Perfections , if I shall finish another small Discourse , and Description of the Saint , which I intend to make , and place , as by way of Preface , both to certaine Exclamations , or loude Aspirations , whereby that enamoured Soule of hers , found meanes to vent it selfe to Almighty God ; as also , to two short Relations , which she made for her Ghostly Father , in writing , concerning the Degrees , by which , she passed on , in the exercise of vertue , and in the vse also of Prayer , that so , the said Ghostly Father , might be the abler to direct , & instruct her . In the meane time , I shall only say , in very few words ( by way , as it were , of Antepast , till the Feast come in ) That she was Of very antient , noble Birth ; Of choyce Breeding ; Of a gratious , & louely person ; Of an humour , highly acceptable , and agreable , to the whole world , which knew her ; Of a melting , and bleeding Nature ; Of most Loyall , true , & tender Freindship ; Of a sweet , & charming way , in conseruation ; Of great significancy , and elegancy of speech in her expression , though naturall , and round , and without affectation ; & in particular , her Talent was rare , in abounding with the choycest Comparisons , which can be found . Her felicity was also great , in negotiation ; for she was owner of a solid witt ; a steddy , & sound iudgement ; and deep wisdome . She had a hart , as open as day , in the exercise of bounty ; Her compassion was most eminent , to wards the releife of all Creatures in miserye ; & so especially , was her sollicitude , to consolate , & regale all such , in all occasions , as were intrusted to her care ; whilst yet she would needs be vnkind , and euen , as it were , cruell , to her selfe alone .

Aboue all things , she was a most perfect Louer of Truth , & so full of matchless candour , & sincerity , in all expressions , & vpon all occasions , that she would no more haue euen so much , as but disguised it , and much lesse varyed from it , in the least kind , ( especially , when the question had , any way , concerned her owne aduantage ) then she would haue sold her selfe , for a Slaue .