The Thyrd Treatise, Which Conteineth An Instrvction. and Rvle to Live Wel, Generall to All Sort of…
THE greatest, and most important affaire of all that be in ths world (for which onelie man was created, and for which were created all things els that be in the woorld, and for which the Creator, and lord of al things came him self into the woorld, preached, and died in the same) is the saluation & sanctification of man. He then that ernestlie, and with al his hart desireth to take in hand this so greate an enterprise (in comparison of which, al that is vnder heauen, is to be esteemed as nothing) the summe of al that he ought to doe, consisteth in one onlie thing, to wit, that a man haue in his mind a most stedfast, and determinate purpose, neuer to commit anie mortal sinne, for anie thing in the world, be it goods, be it honour, be it life, or anie like thing whatsoeuer. In such sort, that euen as a faithful wife, and a faithful captaine be resolued to dye, rather then to commit anie treason, th'one against her husband, and th'other against his king; so likewise a good Christian man ought to haue this determination, to neuer commit this kind of treason against God, which is donne by one mortall sinne. And by mortal sinne we vnderstand heere breeflie, whatsoeuer thing is donne against anie of the commaundements of God, or our holie mother the Catholique Church.
But albeit there be diuers sorts of these sinnes, yet the most ordinarie in which men ar woont most to fall, be fiue; to wit, Hatreds, Carnalities, Othes in vaine, Theftdoms, and Detraction or diffaming of our neighbours, and other such like. He that shall with drawe him self from these, shall easilie auoide all the other sorts of sinnes. This is the abridgment of al that, which a good Christian ought to doe, comp[…]ehended in fewe woords, and this is sufficient for his saluation. Yet because to accumplish this obligation, is a thing that hath greate difficultie, in respect of the great snares, and daungers of the woorld, and of the euil inclination of our fleash, and of the continual combats of the enimie; therfore a man must help him self with al such things, as may further him to this purpose, and in this poinct consisteth the kaye of this affaire.
The first Remedie
NOW amongst those things, the first is to consider deepelie, how great an euil one mortal sinne is, that so a man may prouoke him self to the abhorring, and detesting of it: and for this end he must consider twoe things, amongst manie others. The first is, what is that, which a man loseth thorough mortall sinne. The second is, how much almightie God detesteth and abhorreth mortall sinne. As concerning the first, a man thorough mortal sinne, commeth to lose the grace of God, and together with it all the infused vertues, which proceede from the same. And albeit faith, and hope be not lost by mortall sinne, yet by the same is lost at that verie instant, the right & claime to euerlasting life, which is not giuen but to such woorks, as be donne in grace. There is also lost the amitie of God, the adoption and title of the children of God, the entertainment and cherishing of children, and the fatherlie prouidence, which almightie God hath of those, whome he taketh to be his children. There is lost also the fruite and merite of all those good woorks, which a man hath donne from the time that he was borne, euen vntil that present howre. There is likewise lost the participation, and communication of such good woorks, as a man doeth at that present; and finallie by sinne is lost God him self (whoe is infinite goodnes) and is gotten hell (which is infinite euil) seeing it depriueth vs of God, and dureth for euer. Heerehence it ensueth, that the soule, which before was the liuing temple of God, and the spowse of the holie Ghost, remaineth the slaue of the diule, and the denne of Satan. And this in breefe is that, which is lost by sinne.
But now, how much almightie God abhorreth sinne, we may vnderstand by the terrible punishments, that he hath vsed against it, euen from the beginning of the world: especiallie by the punishment of that greate Angel: and of that first man; 1 and of al the vniuersal world with the waters of the diluge; and of those fiue cities, which were burned with flames of fiar from heauen; and of the destruction of Ierusalem & Babylon; and of manie other cities, kingdoms and empires; and aboue all, by the punishment which is giuen in hell to sinne, and much more by that so wonderfull, and terrible punishment and sacrifice, which was donne vppon the shoulders of Christ, whome God would haue to die, by this meanes to destroie, & banish out of the world a thing, which he so greatlie abhorred, as is sinne. He that shall deepelie and with attention consider these things, can not but remaine astonied, to see the facilitie, with which men at this time commit sinne. This is then the first thing, which helpeth exceeding much to eschew and abhorre sinne.
The second Remedie
THE second helpeth also heereunto, which is to auoide the occasions of sinnes with wisdome, such as be gamings, naughtie companies, conuersations of men with women, and principallie the daungerous sight of our eyes, and other such like things. For yf man be become soe fraile through sinne, that of him self he falleth from his owne proper state, and sinneth. what wil he doe, when occasion shall pluck him by the sleeue, alluring him with the presence of the thing set before his eys, and with the opportunitie and facilitie to sinne? much more sith that is true which is commonlie saide, that the iust man sinneth by reason of the coffer set open before him.
The third Remedie
THE third thing that helpeth also for this purpose, is to resist in the beginning of temptation with greate speede and diligence, & to quenche the sparkle of euil thoughts, before it be kindled in the hart: for in this sort a man resisteth with greate facilitie and merite. But in case he make delaie, then is the labour in resistance much increased, and he committeth therby a new sinne which at the least is venial, and somtimes deadlie. Now the manner of refisting euil thoughts, is to se[…]liuelie before the eys of oure sowle, the image of our Sauiour Christ crucified, with al the angwishes and painful passion, which he suffred to destroie sinne, and by the same to demaund his assistance. Somtimes likewise it is very good, to make with greate speede the signe of the Crosse vppon our hart, thereby to driue away more easilie, the naughtie inwarde thought, with this externall signe.
The fourth Remedie
IT helpeth also verie much for this, that a man examine his conscience euerie night, before he goe to sleepe, & see wherin he hath sinned that daie, and accuse him self therof in the presence of almightie God, requesting pardon, & grace to amend the same. Let him also, in the morning when he riseth, arme and fortifie him self with praier, & with a new determination against such a sinne, or such sinnes, to which he seeeth him self most inclined; & let, him there vse more diligence and circumspection, where he feeleth more daunger.
The fist Remedie
IT helpeth likewise verie much to eschew, so much as maie be, venial sinnes, because they doe dispose vs to mortal sinnes. For euen as those that doe greatlie feare death, doe prouide, as much as is possible, to escape those diseases, that doe dispose to that end; so also ought they, that desire to escape mortal sinnes (which be the death of the soule) to eschewe likewise, with all possible diligence, venial sinnes, which ar the diseases that doe dispose vs to deadlie sinnes.
Moreouer he that is careful and faithfull in a little, it is to be esteemed that he wil be faithful likewise in much; and that he, that vseth diligence to eschew the lesser euils, shall be the more secure from the greater. And by venial sinnes we vnderstand in this place, idle talke, inordinate lawghing, eating, drinking, and sleeping more then is necessarie, time euil spent, light lies, and others the like, which although they doe not depriue vs of Charitie; yet doe they quenche the feruour of the same.
The sixt Remedie
WE ar also much holpen hereunto by the seue[…]e, and sharp treating of our flesh, as wel in eating and drinking, as also in sleeping and clothing, and in al the rest: which flesh being a fountaine, and prouoker of sinnes, the more feeble and weake it is, the more feeble and weake shal the passions, and appetites also be, which shal proceede of it. Forlike as the drye & barren ground bringeth fourth plantes weake, and of smale substance; but contrari-wise the batteful and fertile grownd, especiallie that which is wel watered and dounged, bringeth foo[…]th trees very greene, and verie mightie: so likewise it fareth with oure bodie, as much as concerneth the passions, which doeproceede from the same, according as it is better, or woorse dealt withall, or more, or lesse subdued. True it is, that al this must be donne with discretion and moderation, although this counsel, as the woorld goeth now a daies, be needeful to few. Yet to obteine this, a man must, as often as he goeth to table not onlie blesse the same, but also lift vp his hart to God, and demaund this temperancie, and procure, whiles he eateth, to obserue it.
The seuenth Remedie
IT helpeth also much for this purpose, to take diligent and straite account of our toung, because this is the part of our bodie, with which we offend God more easilie, and often; for the toung is a verie slippery membre, which slippeth verie quicklie into maine kindes of silthie, colerick, boasting, and vaine words, and somtimes also into lyeing, swearing, cursing, murmuring, slaundering, flattering, and the like. For which cause the wise-man saieth, In much speeche there shal not want offence. 2 And againe, Death and life ar in the power of the tounge. And therfore it is verie good counsel, that as manie times as thou shalt haue occasion to talk of such matters, and with such persons, by which thou maist doubte of som perill, either of murmuring, bragging, lyeing, or of vaine-glorie &c. thou doe first lift vp thy eyes to God, and commend thy self vnto him, and saie with the Prophet. Pone Domine custodiam ori meo, 3 & ostium circumstantiae labijs meis, That is to saie. Apoint, O lord, a custodie or garde to my mouth, and a dore of circumstance vnto my lippes. And with this also, whilest thou art in communication, be wel aduised in thy words (as he that passeth ouer a riuer vppon some stones, that lie ouerthwarte the same) that thou slippe not into anie of these perils.
The eight Remedie
IT helpeth also verie much to this ende, not to entangle thy hart with too excessiue loue of anie visible thing, whither it he honour, goods, children or anie other temporal thing; forsomuch as this loue is a great occasion, in a manner of al the sinnes, cares, fantasies, vexations, passions, and disquietnes that be in the world. For which cause the Apostle saieth, 4 that Couetousnes (which is the ouergreedie affection of temporall things) is the roote of all euills. And therfore a man must liue alwaies with attention, and carefulnes, that he suffer not his hart to cleaue ouermuch to these temporall things; but rather pluck it back alwaies, with the bridle, when he perceiueth that it rangeth abrode fantasticallie, and not desire things more then they deserue to be desyred: that is to saie, as things of small account, as fraile, vncertaine, and such as passe awaie in a moment, withdrawing his hart from them, and fixing it whollie vppon that cheefest, onlie and true felicitie.
He that shal loue temporall things after this manner, wil neuer despaire for them, when he wanteth them, neither wil he be dismaied, when they ar taken from him, neither wil he commit infinite sorts of sinnes, which the louers of these things doe commit, either to obteine them, or to increase them, or els to defend them. Herein consisteth the keye of al this busimes: for vndoutedlie he that hath so moderated this loue, is now becom lord of the world and of sinne.
The ninth Remedie
TO this likewise helpeth exceeding much, the vertue of almes-deedes and of mercie, by which a man deserueth to obteine mercie at Gods hands; and this is one of the strongest weapons, that a man hath against sinne, for which cause the Ecclesiasticus saith. Water quencheth the burning fiar, 5 and Almesdeedes doe resist sinnes. And againe in an other place. The almes of a man is a pouche with him, and it shal keepe the grace of a man, as the apple of the eye; and afterward it shall rise againe, and yeeld them retribution, to euerie one vppon theire head: it shall fight against thine enemie, more then the shield of astrong man, and more then the speare. Let a man also remember, that al the foundation of Christian life, is Charitie, and that it is the marke, by which we must be knowen to be the disciples of Christ; and that the signe of this Charitie is Almes, and mercie toward such as besicke, poore, afflicted, in prison, and towards alother mise[…]able persons, whome we ought to helpe and succour, according to oure possibilitie, with woorks of mercie, with comfortable speeches, and with deuoute praiers, beseeching God for them, and releeuing them with such things as we haue.
The tenth Remedie
THE reading of good bookes, is also a greate helpe vnto this; as the reading of naughtie bookes, is a greate hinderance and impediment: for the woord of God is oure light, oure medicine, oure foode, oure maister, oure guide, oure weapons, and all oure good; seeing it is it that filleth oure vnderstanding with light, and ou[…]e sowle and wil with good desires, and thereby helpeth vs to recollect oure hart, when it is most distracted, and to stirre vp our deuotion, when it is most sluggish and drowsie. True it is, that this reading (yf we mind to take profit thereof) must not be a sleightie, or negligent careles running ouer of books, without due weighing of the same, and much lesse for onlie curiositie sake, but contrariwise, it must be ioined with humilitie, and a desi[…]e to take profit thereby.
The eleuenth Remedie
IT is likewise a great help for this purpose, to walke so, a though we were alwaies in the presence of God, and to ha[…]e him as present before our eyes, as much as is possible, as a witnes of our dooings, a iudge of our life, & a helper of our weake nes, desyring him alwaies, as such a one, with deuout and humble praiers, to help and succour vs with his grace. But this continual attention ought to be had, not onlie vnto God, but also to the ordering and gouernment of oure life; in such sort, that we haue alwaies one eye fixed vppon him, for to reuerence him, and desire him of his grace; and the other vppon that which we haue to doe, to th'end that in nothing we passe the compasse of reason. And this sort of attention and watchfulnes, is the principall sterne of our life; wich manner of attention, yf we can not continue alwaies towards God, let vs yet at the least procure, to lift vp our hart to him oftentimes, betwixt daie and night, with som breefe praiers, which we must alwaies haue readie for this purpose. And amongst these is greatlie commended by Cassianus that verse of king Dauid which saieth. Deus in adiutorium meum intende: 6 Domine ad adiuuandum me festina. That is, O God, bend thy self to mie helpe: o lord, make hast to succour me: or other such like as these be, which ar easilie to be found in the same Prophet, almost in euerie place. When we goe to bed, S. Iohn Climacus saith, that we must put our selus in such sort, as yf we were to lie in a sepulchre, that by this manner of lying, we maie be moued to think of the howre of death which we expect. And it shall not be amisse, that a man, to this end, saie ouer him self a responsorie, such as is woont to be saide ouer a dead bodie. When in the night we awake out of sleepe, let vs saie, Gloria Patri, & Filio, & Spiritus sancto, or som such good and deuout woords. And in the morning, when we open our eyes, 7 let vs saie: Deus, Deus meus ad te deluce vigilo. That is, O God, my God, earlie doe I watch vnto me. or els, Diligam to Domine fortitudo mea; dominus firmamentum meum, & refugium meum, & liberator meus. I will loue thee o lord my strength; our lord is my fortresse, and my refuge, and my redeemer. Or som v[…] hat like this. As often as the clock striketh, let vs saie. Blessed be the time, in which my lord Iesus Christ was borne, & died for me: be mindful, o mie lord, of me in the howre of mie death. And let vs then think, that we haue one houre lesse of life, & that by little & littel, this daie wil be ended. When we goe to table, let vs think how God is he that giueth vs to eate, and that made al things for our vse; and let vs thank him for the foode which he giueth vs, and consider how manie there be that want that, which to vs is superfluous, and how easilie we possesse that, which others haue goten with so great trauail and daungers. When we be tempted of the enimie, the greatest remedie is to runne with al speede to the Crosse, & there to behold Christ dismembred and disfigured, out of whome issue streames of bloud, and so to call to mind, that the principall cause, wherfore he put him self there, was to destroy sinne, & to praie him with all deuotion, that he suffer not, that so abominable a thing reigne in our harts, which he with so great paines endeuoured to destroie. And so we must saie with all our hart. O mie lord, whoe hast put thie self vppon the Crosse, to the end that I offend the not, maie it be that this is not sufficient to make me withdraw mie self from sinning! permit not this, o lord, I beseeche thee, for these thy most holy woundes; forsake me not, o my God, seeing I com to thee, or els shew me som other better harborough, where I may haue mie refuge. If thou, o lord, leaue me, what shall becom of me? whoe shall defend me? Help me, o lord my God, and defend me from this dragon, seeing I can not defend my self without thee. It shalbe also verie good, to make som times with speede the signe of the Crosse vppon our hart, yf we be in place, where we may doe it, so that we be not noted of others. And in this manner, temptations, wil be to vs an occasion of a greater croune, as also to make vs lift vp our hart to God more often: and in such sort the diule whoe came, as they saie, for wool, wil goe backe shorne.
The twelfth Remedie
AN other remedie is to frequent the Sacraments, vhich be certaine heaueulie medicines that God hath ordeined against sinne, as remedies of our frailtie, prouokers of our loue, stirrers vp of our deuotion, forwarders of our hope, releeuers of our miserie, treasures of the grace of God, paunes of his glorie, and testimonies of his loue. And therfore the seruants of God ought alwaies to giue him thanks for this benifit, & to help them selues with this so greate remedie, vsing it in due times, som more, som lesse, according as they seele deuotion, & according to the fruite of theire auauncement, & the counsell of theire ghostlie fathers.
The thirtenth Remedie
AN other remedie is praier, which hath for office to ask grace at Gods hands, as the Sacraments haue for office to giue the same grace, & so the reward correspondent to praier, is to obtaine grace, when it is made as it ought to be. And therefore let a man with praier, amongst all other his petitions, principallie demaunde this of oure Lord, that he will deliuer him from the snares of his enimie, and neuer permit that he fall into anie mortal sinne.
These be the principal remedies, that we haue against all kind of vices; to which I wil adde heere brieflie other three, no lesse profitable thē manie of the former. Amongst these the first is to flie idlenes, which is as it were the roote of al vices, for, as it is written, 8 Idlenes hath tougth much euill. The ground that is not labou[…]ed, becommeth ful of thornes, and the water that standeth still, is filled with toades, & other silthines: so likewise the sowle of one that is idle, is filled with vices, and is made a framer and inuentour of new euils.
The second remedie is Solitarines, which is the mother and gard of innocencie, for somuch as it cutteth of from vs at one blowe, the occasions of all sinnes. This is a kind of remedie, which was sent from heauen to the blessed father Arsenius, whoe heard from a-boue a voice, that said vnto him. O Arsenius flie, keepe silence, and be quiet. Therfore the seruant of God must cast of, and forsake, as much as is possible, al visitations, conuersations and compliments of the worlde; for that ordinarilie these ar neuer without murmuring, scoffing, malice, fables, and such like things. And yf anie should complaine of this, let him suffer theire sayings for the loue of vertue: for it is lesse inconuenience, that men should complaine of him, then that God should be angrie with him.
The third remedie, wich is verie profitable as wel for this, as for manie other things, is to breake with the world, not forcing what shall be spoken of him, as long as he giueth no actiue scandall. For yf all these feares & respects be wel examined, and weighed in equall ballance, they wil be in the end but blastes of wind, and buggebeares to feare children, which ar afraid of euerie shadowe. To conclude, he that maketh anie greate account of the world, 9 can not be the true seruant of God. Yf I should please men, saith th' Apostle, I should not be the seruant of Christ.
Footnotes
Chapter 17 of 23