To the Reader

ALBEIT the treatise that heere ensueth, serue principallie for such, as begin to serue God in Religion, yet neuertheles al the contents thereof, se[…]e as wel alsoe for al those, that trulie and with al theire hart giue them selues to the seruice of our Lord, as in the beginning of this booke was mentioned. But that which ought heere to be aduertised is, that the end of Christian life, to which ar ordeined al Gods commaundments and counsels, and al statutes & voues of Religion, is, as th' Apostle saieth, Charitie. Which although it be so, yet doe we not, in the beginning of this treatise, straite waies speake of this end, but of that, which apperteineth to him, whoe taketh vppon him to instruct a nouice, newlie com out of the world, with such inclinations and wicked customs, as he bringeth from the same. For he that hath this office, must cheefelie at end to destroye and mortifie such euil habites, and inclinations; and to plant in theire place al those vertues that be contrarie to them.

For euen as the Carpenter, which pretendeth to furnish the timber, for building of a palace of som great lord, first of al cutteth awaie the barks of such trees, as be brought from the woode, & then doth sawe, square, and polish them, vntill they be fit for his purpose; so likewise the good maister of nouices, and he that desireth to becom the temple and dwelling place of God, must vnderstand, that first he must cast out of his soule, al the wicked and peruerse customs which he bringeth from the world, and then must adorne and beutifie the same, with the woorks of vertues. And this thing which is the end of him that bringeth vp a nouice, is also a meanes to obteine the true end of the lawe, which is Charitie, as before hath ben saied. For when the passions be once mortified, and vertues planted in theire place; Charitie remaineth as the ladie and Queene of a man: for as our sowle is a spiritual substance, so is she a frind of spiritual things. Neuertheles the affections of this life drawe her downewards, and hinder her from flying vp to heauen, where she hath her neast.

Heerehence it is, that as a stone, which by force of som other thing is holden in a higher place, then his nature requireth, as soone as the impediments, that held it, be taken away, straite wais falleth downe to the center, which is his natural place: in like manner, when the disordred passions of oure soule be once mortified and subdued, which she hath to the things of this world, she sudainlie, being holpen with the grace of God, lifteth her self vp to heauen, which is the proper place of her abode.

This is then the reason, wherefore so greate account is made heere of the mortification of our passions, because these be the chaines, which hold our soule bound, & hinder her from flying vpwards. Vertues also be necessarie together with this mortification, because they be the instruments, which Charitie vseth in alther woorks; no otherwise then our sowle vseth her faculties, and naturall powers in all her functions.