An Ample Declaration of the Christian DoctrineChapter 13. Of the seauen gifts of the Holie Ghost

Scholar. Which be the seuen gifts of the Holie Ghost?

Master. They are those which the Prophet Isaie hath taught vs, to wit, Wisdome, Vnderstanding, Counsaile, Fortitude, Knowledge, Pietie, and the Feare of our Lord.

Scholar. Whereto do these gifts help vs?

Master. To attaine to the perfection of Christian life: For they are as the ladder, by which wee clime vp, from the state of sinne by diuers degrees, euen to the highest of sanctitie. But you must knowe, that the Prophet numbreth these steppes comming downwards. For he did see as it were a ladder which came from Heauen. Neuertheles we will recoont the ascending, as going vpwards & ascending from earth to heauen. The first degree then is, the Feare of our lord, which doth terrifie a sinner, whē he thinketh that he hath God almighty his enemiet the second degree is Pietie: For he that feareth punishment which God threatneth against a sinner, beginneth to become godlie, & desireth to obey and serue God, and to worke his holie will in all things. The thirde degree is Knowledge, for that hee who desireth to worke the will of God, demaundeth of God that he will teach him, his holie commandements, & God partly by Preachers, partly by books, & partly by inwarde inspirations, teacheth him all that is necessarie. The fourth degree is Fortitude, for hee that knoweth, and is willing in all thinges to serue God, findeth many difficulties & tentatiōs of the world the flesh & the diuel. And therefore god at that time of need giueth him the gift of Fortitude, that he may ouercome al difficulties. The fift degree is Counsell, for when the diuell cannot preuaile by force, he turneth himself to decepts, and vnder pretence of good, prouoketh the just man to fall: yet God doth not abandon him, but giueth him the gift of Counsell, by which he preuaileth against the deceipts of the enemy: the sixt is the gift of Vnderstāding, for when a mā is wel exercised in actiue life, and hath had many victories against the diuel, god doth draw him & exalt him to contemplatiue life, and with the gifte of vnderstanding, maketh him to vnderstande and penitrate diuine Mysteries. The seauenth, is the gift of Wisdome, which is the cōplement of perfection For he is wise that knoweth the first cause of all thinges, and according thereto, formeth al his actions: which none can doe, but hee that joyneth perfect charitie, to the gift of vnderstanding. For by the vnderstanding he knoweth the first cause, and by charitie, hee directeth and disposeth all thinges vnto it, as vnto the last ende. And because wisdome joyneth the affection to vnderstanding, therefore it is called wisdome, that is, sauorie knowledge, as Saint Barnard teacheth vs.