Whosoever thou art that arrayest thyself to love God, if thou wilt neither be deceived nor deceive, if thou wilt be saved and not fail, if thou wilt stand and not fall, study to have this name Jesus constantly in mind. If thou doest so the enemy shall fall, and thou shalt stand, the enemy shall be enfeebled, and thou shalt be strengthened — therefore seek this name, Jesus, hold it and forget it not. Nothing so quenches flames, restrains evil thoughts, cuts away venomous affections, or alienates from us vain occupations.
This name, Jesus, truly held in mind, roots up vices, plants virtues, brings charity or love to men, gets men savouring heavenly things, wastes discord, informs peace, gives everlasting rest, or does away heaviness of fleshly desires. All earthly desires, all earthly things, it turns into heaviness. It fills those that it loves with spiritual joy; so that worthily it may be said. All shall be glorified in thee, that love thy name, for thou shalt bless the righteous. The righteous deserved to be blessed, for he hath truly loved this name, Jesus. He is called righteous, because he seeks earnestly to love Jesus. What can fail to him who unceasingly covets to love Jesus? He loves and he desires to love, for thus we know the love of God to stand; for the more we love, the more we covet to love.
It is said, They that eat me shall not hunger, and they that drink me, shall not thirst. Therefore the love of Jesus by itself is delectable and desirable. Therefore no joy shall fail those that covet earnestly to love him whom angels desire to behold. Angels see him always, and ever desire to see him; for they are so fulfilled that their filling does not away their desire, and they desire so that their desire does not away their fullness. This is full joy, this is glorious joy. Therefore all men shall be glorified that love thy name. — If they loved not, they should not be glorified, and those that love most, shall joy most. For of love proceeds joy, therefore he that loves not shall for ever be without joy.
Therefore many caitiffs think to joy with Christ, but as they love not his name, Jesus, they shall sorrow without end, whatever they do. And if they give all things that they have to poor men, unless they love this name Jesus, they shall labour in vain. For only such shall be gladdened in Jesus who have loved him in this present life. Those that defoul him with vices and foul thoughts, and turn not again, there is no doubt but they are put out from the glory of God. Therefore he shall not see the glory of God, that hath not joyfully loved this name Jesus.
Be the wicked man done away that he see not the glory of God — righteous men seek glory and life, and they find it in Jesus whom they loved. I went about by coveting and riches, and I found not Jesus. I went about by the swallow of lusts, and I found not Jesus. I ran by wantonness of my flesh, and I found not Jesus. I sat in company of worldly mirth, but there I found him not. I sought him in highness of myself, but there I found him not. In all these things I sought him, but I found him not. For he let me know by his grace that he is not found in the land of easy and soft living. Therefore I turned by another way and sought him by poverty; and I found Jesus — born into the world poor, laid in a cradle and wrapped in poor rags. I went by sharp sufferings, and I found Jesus weary in the way, tormented with hunger, and thirst, and cold; filled with slanders and reproofs. I sat by myself, fleeing the vanities of the world, and I found Jesus fasting in the desert, and praying by himself in the hill. I went about in penance and pain, and I found Jesus, bound fast, hand and foot, to a pillar of stone, and from the head to the feet all torn with scourges. I found Jesus hanging on the cross, fast nailed hand and foot, having gall given him to drink, and dying on the cross. Therefore Jesus is not found in riches, but in poverty; not in delicacies, but in penance; not in idle and wanton joying, but in bitter weeping and mourning; not among many, but in a lonely place; not in soft nourishing of body, but in pain of body.
In truth, an evil man finds not Jesus; for he sees him not where he is. He enforces himself to seek Jesus in the joys of this world, where he shall never be found. O ye worldly and fleshly caitiffs, ye are led away from the joy of God, and deceived with the devil’s fraud, not abiding the blessed hope, nor desiring the coming of the glory of God. Worthily shall ye suffer everlasting death, for ye follow this life, which ye know shall not long be had here. Truly your eyes are blinded — the devil hath put them out; for that which ye see, ye believe not. When ye behold a man dying, and yet dread not death, ye are confused or ruined, for the Lord hath despised you; ye are accursed and made abominable. All holy angels and lovers of Jesus Christ shall be fulfilled with great joy, when your reprovable company shall all be damned to everlasting fire. Woe be to you rich men! Woe to you proud folk! Woe to you lechers! Woe be to all willing to do sin. For your hire shall be yielded to you — torment of hell, ready for you from the beginning of the world. I know that ye must go down thither, for from your wicked customs neither joy of heaven nor torment of hell can call you. Whereto therefore say ye idly, “We shall be saved in Jesus; while ye cease not to hate him, without whom ye cannot have health? Who, not loving Jesus, hopes to be saved — truly, lacking faith, he accuses himself as under condemnation. Verily he loves health who unweariedly keeps the name of Jesus in himself.
I wonder not that a man, being tempted, falls, who hath not the name of Jesus lasting in his mind. Securely hath he chosen to be in holiness for God, when he especially chooses this name Jesus. Truly this name cleanses the conscience, makes the heart clear and clean, and drives away fear. It gets a man warmth of love, lifts up the mind to heavenly melody, and chases away the watchful fiends.
Oh thou good name! Oh thou sweet name! Oh glorious name! Oh healthful name! Oh name to be desired! Wicked spirits may not abide thee, when they behold Jesus, either in mind, or hear him named in mouth. I sought to love Jesus, and ever the more I grew perfect in his love, so much the sweeter his name savoured to me. Therefore blessed be the name of Jesus for ever and ever, and so be it. Amen.
