people from their sins Mat. 1.21 Ps. 30.8 Consider 2. This Saviour will come to you to day in the Holy Eucharist to save thy Soul out of her necessities To deliver you from your Spiritual Enemies giving strength and forces to overcome them He will wash and cleanse you with the Sacred Bloud he shed this day And lastly he being the beginning both of the year and of all other things will give you himself as a New-years Gift and Pledge of a happy year being willing to abide continually with you if you will your self O what a benefit Ps. 33.19 Ps 16.7 Consider 3. You must prepare a lodging in your Soul against the coming of your Saviour First by Humility acknowledging your own unworthinesse and his Greatnesse For as the Prophet saith The humble of spirit he will save Secondly by a great confidence in his Goodnesse for He maketh his mercies marvellous and saveth them that hope in him Prepare also a New-years Gift for him saying with David I am thine save me Ps. 118.94 122. Ps. 59.19 Receive thy servant unto Good A contrite and humbled heart O God thou wilt not despise Of our Lords Circumcision 1. Part. COnsider 1. Christ was not subject to the law of Circumcision as being incapable of contracting Original Sin whose remedy it was He would notwithstanding undergo it though most painful 1. To honour the Law in his own Person 2. Not to offend others by his singularity 3. That he might soon begin to shed his bloud for us 4. That having taken upon himself our sins he might also undergo the penalty 5. To give us example of Obedience to the law of God of contempt of all worldly reputation and of mortifying our selves Learn to do even what you are not obliged unto and to seek the mortification of your flesh and cover not the reputation of a Saint seeing you cannot but confesse your self a sinner Consider 2. Probably Christ was Circumcised by his Mother or St. Joseph seeing the Law did not prescribe any certain place or Minister Think with what tendernesse they performed this action with what compassion towards the Child and resignation to the will of God for that they knew he was not subject to the Law Stir up in your self like affections of Compassion Resignation c. Erod 4.26 1 Reg. 18.27 Consider 3. The affections of the Infant How he willingly offereth himself to his divine Father to suffer in satisfaction for your unlawful pleasures how patiently he endureth the pain how at the same time he crieth as an Infant but rejoyceth withall for promoting thus your Salvation He is this day truly become a bloudy Spouse espousing us to himself not as David did Michol in the Prepuces of the Philistines but in his own precious Bloud Excite your self to suffer something for your Spouse who endured so much for love of you Of our Lords Circumcision 2. Part. Luc. 2.21 HIs name was called Jesus Consider 1. After the painful Act of Circumcision is given him a name that is above all names For God honoureth them that suffer any thing for his sake and exalteth those that humble themselves Behold the B. Virgin pronouncing this holy name Phil. 2.9 which she learned of the Angel saying Jesus is his name See how at the first utterance thereof all the Celestials Terrestrials and Infernals bowed their knees how all were transperted with joy but chiefly the Blessed Mother saying with the Prophet I will rejoyce in God my Jesus Do you also rejoyce for the imposing this Sacred Name wherein we must be saved Habac. 3.18 Act. 4.12 Consider 2. The Excellencies of this Name Jesus or Saviour for it expresseth all the divine Perfections 1. Power for that he hath taken us out of the hands of our most powerful enemy 2. Wisdom whereby he over-reached his adversary appearing in the form of a slave and concealing under it that of God 3. Charity whereby without any benefit to himself and with his own great pains and labour he set us at liberty 4. Sanctity for unlesse he had been without all blemish himself he could not have cleansed others from their sins 5. Divinity for none but God could pay the infinite debt of Sin 6. His dominion over all men whom he bought with his precious bloud Truly Oyl poured out is his Name dilating its sweet sent in all manner of Spiritual Graces Cant. 1.3 Consider 3. How highly you ought to reverence this holy Name how greatly to be affected towards it how carefully to labour in propagating its Glory following the counsel of the Apostle All whatsoever you do in word or in work all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Beg of him to make good the exposition of his Name and to save you Say with the Prophet Col. 3.17 Help us O God our Saviour and for the glory of thy Name O Lord deliver us and be propitious to our sins for thy Names sake Ps 78.9 Of our Spiritual Circumcision 1. Part. Jer. 4.4 COnsider 1. Every Christian ought Spiritually to be Circumcised after the example of his Lord and Captain This we are all enioyned in those words of the Prophet Be circumcised to our Lord and take away the prepuces of your hearts ye men of Judah and Inhabitants of Jerusalem lest perhaps mine indignation go forth as fire and be kindled and there be none that can quench it because of the malice of your cogitations Hence conceive how great necessity there is of it and take heed of incurring Gods wrath and indignation Consider 2. This Circumcision as Saint Bernard noteth must be throughout the whole man Ber. ser 1. de Circumc Therefore search your self narrowly cut off all disordinate passions and all manner of superfluities which may any wayes hinder your Spirituall Progresse In the first place you must take away all stiffnesse in judgement and opinion which is the fountain and origin of many evils For hence all manner of Heresies Illusions of the Devil Dissentions Strifes and the like take their beginning Wherefore detest it as the plague and bane of Vertue Learn to submit it willingly to the Church your Superiours and Spiritual Directours whom you have in place of God and as the Wiseman counselleth Lean not upon thine own prudence Prov. 3.5 7. and Be not wise in thine own conceit Consider 3. You must also circumcise Self-love the greatest enemy man hath It blindeth the Understanding it inflames the minde with hurtful desires which drown men into destruction 1 Tim. 6.9 and perdition Such are the desires of having of enjoying the conveniences of this life of being honoured and esteemed by men of having our actions taken notice of and preferred before others likewise the desire of vain and unprofitable knowledge love of vanities and pleasures of this world and the like Cut off therefore all these Mat. 5.31 and cast away from you Deny your self and
clouts for his garments a poor Virgin for his Mother a needy Carpenter for his reputed father Make use of all this by imitation That by bis poverty you may be rich Ibid. Phil. 2.8 4. Of Obedience He humbled himself made obedient c. His birth in Bethleem was an actuall exercise of Obedience to Cesars edict though to his extreme great inconvenience He would observe the generall Laws of Circumcision Presentation c. Though unconcerned therein and in all things obeyed his parents 5. Of Patience Allthough by right of his Divinity he was impassible and by merit of his Innocency unpunishable yet would he in that tender age suffer cold hunger infirmity and want the knife and wound of Circumcision the hardships of travelling the affliction of banishment besides the other common miseries of Infancy whereof he was most sensible as having the perfect use of reason 6. Of love and Charity both towards God and Man directing all that he did and suffered to his honour and our good He shed teares and blood also in his Circumcision not for himself as other Children but to bewaile the offence of God and our sins He took upon him our infirmities and miseries not by constraint or necessity but out of pure love both to satisfy for us and to teach us by his own example all manner of Vertue Return therefore love for love Learn to contemn the world to be humble and obedient to suffer willingly want and hardships and all this for the love of God and your Neighbour Save me O God because waters are entered into my Soule Psa 68.1 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as the Peace and Tranquillity of the Soule Mat. 8.23 COnsider 1. What is read to day in the Ghospel How Christ allayed the tempest at Sea c. Our soule is in this life as in a tumultuous Sea tossed with many stormes and tempests partly from the raging windes of temptations raised by the malignant spirits partly also from the swelling waves of our own passions and concupiscences which unlesse they be kept under will certainly sink us to the bottom of perdition Isa 57.20 The Impious saith the Prophet are as it were the raging sea which cannot be quiet c. O how many famous men being swallowed up in it Exo. 15.5 are sunk into the bottom like a stone Ps 88.10 Consider 2. There is no other remedy against these Tempests then the protection of God Thou rulest over the power of the Sea and the moving of the waves thereof thou doest mitigate For he is the Peace and Tranquillity of the soule appeasing its turbulent motions at his pleasure Mat. sup for to day he commanded the winds and the Sea and there ensued a great calme The like he will do to you at his coming in the Holy Eucharist if you be rightly disposed Mat. 14.31 Consider 3. God often permitteth us to be tossed with the waves of troubles and temptations while he seemeth to sleep so to try our constancy and increase our Crown of glory Besides he is much pleased with the confidence we put in him in such like dangers Whence he reprehended S. Peter for his diffidence saying O thou little of faith why didst thou doubt See therefore with what passions you are most disordered and coming with great confidence to the Holy Eucharist cry out with the Apostles Mat. 8.25 Psa 68.16 Lord save us we perish or with David let not the Tempest of water drown me nor the depth swallow me Luc. 2.41 Of Christs going up to the Temple c. Part. 1. COnsider 1. It was a law among the Jews that all of the Male kinde should thrice in the yeare appear before our Lord at Jerusalem Hence S. Joseph and the blessed Virgin also went He in obedience to the Law she out of devotion to the house of God Christ went up also with them both to glorifie his Eternal father and to give solemn thanks for all benefits received as well general as particular for which end or cause that Law was instituted Learn willingly to visit the house of God as often as you may and to observe exactly the Laws or rules of the place where you live Consider 2. His Parents went every yeare unto Hierusalem c. according to the custom of the festival day to teach you Constancy and Perseverance in good works Besides allthough they had a good custome of going yet they did it not meerly for custome sake but with devotion and spirit which we ought greatly to observe in all matters of Religion and chiefly in frequenting the Holy Sacraments Consider 3. When they returned the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem Our blessed Lord would leave his parents for a time to give us example of renouncing flesh and bloud where the service and honour of God is concerned Whence afterwards he pronounced Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me All carnall friends are to be left for God neither are they to be consulted withall in this point much less to be heard or followed if they prove contrary Whence is that renowned saying of S. Jerome Hieron apud Bern. Ep. 351. Trample over your father trample over your mother and with dry checkes fly away to the standard of the Crosse Of Christs going up to the Temple c. Part. 2. COnsider 1. What Christ did those three days It is probable he remained all that time in the Temple wholy taken up in divine things Barrad Tom. 1. employing himself in prayer and conversing with the Doctors He lay upon the ground lived without any other food then what was very sparing and that perhaps got by begging as some are of opinion out of his great love to poverty so as to fullfill that of the Prophet I am a beggar and poor Psa 39.18 our Lord is carefull of me Consider 2. How he behaved himself among the Doctors Ponder 1. The Modesty of his countenance words and actions wherewith the Doctors were so much taken as to admit him into their company and conversation 2. His Humility in asking questions and harkering to their answers as a learner not as a teacher although he were the Wisdom of God himselfe 3. His Prudence in the questions and answers he made even to the astonishment of them all 4. His Zeal wherewith he acted all purely for the glory of God not out of vain ostentation How contrary doe most Schollars now a days who with pride and arrogancy boast of and foolishly blab out what they know See whither you be not one of them Ps. 37.22 Consider 3. How his good parents grieve for the losse of their son Ponder 1. Their Patience for their sorrow was such that it disturbed not the quiet and peace of their mindes 2. Their Humility in ascribing it to their own fault whereas there was none on their part 3. Their care in seeking after him
the Manger God his Father would honour him and make him known to the Shepherds by Angels and to the Sages by a Star because He that humbleth himself shall be exalted Ponder the words of the Evangelist And there were in the same countrey Shepherds watching and keeping the night-watches over their flock and behold an Angel of our Lord stood beside them and the brightnesse of God did shine round about them Consider 2. Christ would not be made known to the Wisemen about Bethleem because they were proud nor to the rich because they were covetous nor to the noble because they were given to pleasures but to Shepherds that is men that were poor humble laborious vigilant and careful in their office Be you therefore such an one and be watchful over your self that you may deserve to be visited with divine illustrations Consider 3. Such a Shepherd or Pastour was St. Thomas whose Feast you celebrate this day and therefore the Gospel of the good Shepherd is applied unto him For the same reason Christ manifested himself unto him after a special manner towards an eminent degree of Sanctity in this life and is now seen and enjoyed by him in the other to an equal proportion of Glory See his Zeal for the Church of God his Constancy in adversity and Piety in Prosperity and do your utmost to imitate him And if you be to receive to day Christ the chief Pastour in the Holy Eucharist beseech him to instruct you how to feed and govern according to his and St. Thomas his example the flock committed to your charge which in the first place is your own Soul with all its powers faculties and senses then those that are under your charge that by vertue of his divine illustrations you may your self be enlightened all over and with all be a light to others both by word and example For as St. Gregory saith Greg. Ep. 32. l. 7. The flame or fire of the Shepherd is the light of the flock Of the Message sent to the Shepherds 2. Part. Luc. 2.10 11. COnsider 1. Those words of the Angel I evangelize to you great joy c. because this day is born to you a Saviour c. The joys of the world are either base or vain The onely true and solid content is of God and of things appertaining to our eternal Salvation and this joy as our Saviour saith no man shall take from you Jo. 16.22 Think therefore what cause you have to rejoyce for the Birth of this Saviour Mat. 1.21 who saveth his people from their sins from the power and slavery of the Devil from hell and damnation and bestoweth upon them all manner of Spiritual Blessings Grace Vertue and Life everlasting And this to you as much as to all the world besides and even this day and at all times that you will your self Say therefore with the Prophet Habac. 3.18 I will joy in our Lord and will rejoyce in God my Jesus Consider 2. And this shall be a sign to you You shall finde the Infant swadled in clothes and laid in a manger Good God what signs are these of the Messias Lord and Saviour of the world Infancy clouts and manger Who would not have expected he should have heard of Courts Thrones Purple robes c. Try whether you can finde such signs of Poverty and Humility in your heart that thence you may come to know whether or no Christ be as yet spiritually born within you Consider 3. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly Army praising God c. O what heavenly Musick was then heard O with what Angelical Harmony was then first entoned Gloria in excelsis Deo Glory in the highest to God Learn hence to praise and glorifie God in all things And in earth peace to men of good will Hence also learn that peace both interiour and exteriour with God and our Neighbour is a peculiar gift of Christ For Ps. 71.7 There shall arise in those days Justice and abundance of Peace O how much is this Peace to be wished for Yet it is not bestowed but upon men of good will that is rightly subordinate to God For Is 48.22 There is no peace to the impious saith our Lord. Luc. 2.15 Of the Shepherds Adoring 2 Reg. 23.15 COnsider 1. Let us go over to Bethleem c. See their prompt Obedience With the same readinesse ought you likewise to obey divine Inspirations And they came with speed that you may learn to be fervorous in the Service of God For as St. Ambrose saith no body seeketh Christ slothfully Go you also and that frequently over to Bethleem considering the Mysteries that were there exhibited for your Salvation Say with David O that some man would give me drink of the water out of the Cestern that is in Bethleem The Cestern is the Cave the Water is Christ Jer. 2.13 Eccli 1.5 who is the Fountain of Living Water and the Fountain of Wisdom Consider 2 And they sound Mary and Joseph and the Infant c. Whence you may learn that the readiest way to finde Christ is by means of the B. Virgin and the Intercession of Saints See with what Spiritual Joy the Shepherds adore what Presents they offer How afterwards they return again and recount to others what had passed Gloâ—ifying and praising God in all things that they had seen and heard And out of all gather something for your self Consider 3. But Mary kept all these words c. Observe four several sorts of persons then in Bethleem 1. Some passing by did see the Shepherds and the Crib but not finding any thing extraordinary went on their ways without any further notice or feeling 2. Others heard and admired what the Shepherds related unto them but being busied with other affairs thought no more of it 3. The Shepherds themselves adored also and with a lively faith but returned afterwards to their own uncertain with what event 4. Only the B. Virgin and St. Joseph insisted upon the Mystery pondering each particular and bearing them constantly in minde Think what rank you are of or would wish to be Behold thy Saviour cometh Is 62.11 O God save me in thy name Ps. 53.3 Luc. 2.27 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as he is Jesus or Saviour Ps. 129.7 COnsider 1. What is read to day in the Gospel to wit that in his Circumcision His Name was called Jesus that is Saviour and with reason for that to day he sheddeth his first bloud as the earnest penny of our Redemption being to pay the remainder of our Ransome on Mount Calvary so as to make good that of the Psalmist And with him there is plenteous redemption If Joseph and some others were called Saviours for having delivered the people from famine and temporal death how much more Justly is Christ so called who saveth us from that which is everlasting For he saith the Angel shall save his
divine Infant Of Holy Communion Heal me O Lord and I shal be healed save me and I shall be saved Jer. 17.14 Consider Christ as the Physician of your Soul Is 61.1 COnsider 1. What is read this day in the Ghospel to wit that Christ healed the Leper and after that the Centurions servant Matt. 8. and that he is the general Physician of all our Souls who therefore came into the world That I should heal saith he the contrite of heart And while he was upon earth wheresoever he came Virtue went forth from him Luc. 6.19 and healed all Consider 2. How many diseases Man is subject unto Our feaver saith St. Ambrose is covetousness our feaver is sensuality our feaver is rage and anger c. So many are our diseases as we have vices Ponder what concern and danger they are of as bringing with them everlasting death how hard to be cured being of the nature not of outward diseases that easily discover themselves but of inward malignities that lie hid from the patient himself and are in a manner rooted in the very substance of the Soul What a happiness were it to be cured of all these and to have a Physician at hand who knows how to apply soveraign remedies against them Is 53.4 Consider 3. We ought to put great trust in this our heavenly Physician 1. Because he is most skillful and knowing all things and that he might have a more experimental knowledge of our necessities He hath born our infirmities and our sorrows he hath carried 2. Because he is most compassionate even thirsting after our health and Salvation and therefore of his own accord asked that man in the Ghospel Wilt thou be made whole 3. To the end he might the more effectually cure us Jo. 5.7 he hath made a most admirable Balsom of his most precious Body and Blood for us to take as a most soveraign remedy Cast your self therefore at his feet and say with the Prophet Have mercy on me Lord Ps. 6.2 because I am weak Dispose your self to obey whatsoever this divine Physician shall prescribe Of Christs flying into Egypt Part 1. Mat. 2.13 COnsider 1. How different are the ways of God from those of men Christ as soon as born is sent into banishment God could have taken Herod away or easily have appeased his wrath or have rendered his Son invisible but he would have him fly Think how derogatory this was to the dignity of the Son of God how full of inconvenience Thus God dealeth with them whom he loveth best Are you greater or better then the Son of God why then do you complain when he permits you to suffer some hardships Take these as tokens of his love and you will bear them the better and that with joy and thanks too Consider 2. God would not have him go to the Sages where he would have been held in honor and veneration and could have wanted nothing but into Egypt a barbarous nation and ever averse from the Israelites far from home from his kindred and acquaintance Thus did he take from his Son during his infancy all manner of comfort help and relief which he might otherwise have had from his friends Why then do you so much seek to be respected and served by all and think much if you suffer any incommodity If you did love and serve Christ in earnest you would rather rejoyce and think it honor enough to be neglected despised and afflicted with and for him It sufficeth the disciple that he be as his Master Mat. 10.25 and the servant as his Lord. Heb. 13.14 Consider 3. Christ as he would be born far from home so would he be banished far from his own Countrey 1. That we should both own and carry our selves as strangers and exiled persons not as Citizens or natives of this world knowing that we have not here a permanent City but we seek that which is to come 2. That those who were afterwards to suffer banishment for his sake might find comfort in his example Learn willingly for the love of Christ to be exiled from your native countrey and friends for true is that saying A man of resolution makes every countrey his own Cic. Tusc 5. Of Christs flying into Egypt Part 2. Mat. sup COnsider 1. Behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph saying Arise and take the Child and his Mother and fly into Egypt Ponder the particulars 1. The Angel commandeth in the name of God who is our Supreme Lord. 2. He delivereth it not to the Virgin though the more worthy but to Joseph as head of the Family Thus God doth first Illuminate Superiors by himself then us by them 3. He appeareth in sleep recommending thereby Gods care of us who while we are at sleep is watching for our good 4. He bids him take the Child and his Mother without care of any thing else O that Jesus and Mary were your onely care and love 5. He assigneth him the place he is to go to Learn hence â—ot to be your own chuser but to take all from the hand of God place imployment prosperity adversity c. Pro. 20.24 Ps. 90.10 Consider 2. Those words of the Angel Be there until I shall tell thee He could have told him determinately till such or such a time but God would not have them know it that they might the more depend on his providence Be not in your affairs sollicitous for the future as to time place and other circumstances learn to depend in all things on the divine providence for the steps of man are directed of our Lord as the Wiseman saith And He hath given his Angels charge of thee that they keep thee in all thy ways Follow this conduct not your own ways and you will ever live in security Consider 3. Who arose and took the Child and his Mother by night c. Ponder here S. Josephs perfect obedience 1. In submitting his judgement whereas there wanted not many things which he might have objected against so sudden a departure 2. In readily conforming his will notwithstanding the many difficulties that represented themselves 3. In his prompt and exact execution in every particular rising that very time of night with breaking his sleep and rest and leaving all that he had uncertain of returning any more 4. In performing all this with great chearfalness knowing he did therein the will of God Compare and reform your Obedience in all things to this perfect Example Of Christs flying into Egypt Part 3. Matt. 2.14 ANd retired into Egypt Consider 1. How without delay they put themselves upon their journey Ponder the tender affection of the Mother and compassion towards her Child beginning even now from his infancy to train himself up to hardships and how notwithstanding she resigneth her self to the will of God Think also how the divine Infant freely offereth himself to his eternal Father even in these
the Divel from us 2. It alâ—ayeth the heat of Concupi cence Apoc. 22.2 3. It clearseth the heart from sin 4. It appeaseth the wrath of God 5. It enlightneth the understanding 6. It inflameth the will 7. It spiritually delighteth the memory 8. It confirmeth the whole man in good 9. It freeth from everlasting death 10. It multiplyeth our merits 11. It bringeth us to Paradise 12. It raiseth the body to life How great is the multitude of thy sweetness O Lord Ps. 30.20 which thou hast hid for them that fear thee Consider 3. The Mustardseed discovereth not its Vertve unless it be bruised but being well bruised or ground it discloseth its heat and relish In the same manner you must before hand by frequent meditating and serious consideration beat upon and bruise this divine seed of the Eucharist otherwise you will not understand its Vertue Wherefore ruminate it well pondering its secret and hidden Vertues and withall think what disposition it requireth in you and then to your great benefit you will perceive what a soveraine heat and relish it hath If there are six Weekes after Epiphany then in the sixth repeat the Meditations of the fifth For by reason it seldom falleth out that there are so many weekes it seemed needless to provide distinct Meditations for the sixth Week Or els make the Meditations of the four and twentith Week after Pentecost of the Parables which that year are to be left out Things to be noted concerning the Meditations of our Lords Passion THe Holy Church from Septuagesme leaveth off her Allelluias and Canticles of Joy and disposeth us to mourning and the memory of our Lords Passion for therefore is this Sunday called Septuagesme saith Rupertus because it beginneth the seventh week before Passion Sunday Wherefore it hath seemed good from thence to enter into the Meditations of the Passion wherein though many affections may be exercised for the Colloquies as appeareth by what hath been said in the Preface yet chiefly seven are noted by some as most proper to this Subject the which because we can not with our intended brevity insert in every Meditation we have thought good to touch them briefly in this place The Affections are these Admiration Compassion Compunction Love Hope Thanksgiving Imitation 1. Admire in each Mystery the dignity of the Person that suffereth and the greatness of the paines which he freely undergoeth Is. 63.1.2 Who is this that cometh from Edom with died garments from Bosra Why then is thy cloathing red and thy garments as theirs that tread in the Wine-press 2. Condole with him as Childeren doe with their Parents in their adversities Brothers with one another Spouses with their beloved Servants with their Masters for Christ is as much to you as all these 2. Reg. 18.33 Who would grant me that I might dye for thee Absolom my son my son Absolom 3. Be confounded and full of Compunction for that your sins are cause of all his Sufferings for from whom would not that draw teares which from Christ drew so much bloud Psa 50.5 I doe know mine Iniquity and my sin is before me allwayes 4. Love him that is so loving to you and suffereth so much for your sake Lord said S. Ambross I owe more to your injuries for my redemption Ambr. l. 1. in Luc. then to your works for my creation 5. Hope and promise your self all good that your heart can wish for for he that hath given himself How will he not also give us all things Rom. 8.32 6. Give him every where thanks for having suffered so much for you Chryso hom 26. in Mat. The best keeper of benefits saith S. Chrysostom is a faithful Memory of them and constant profession of Gratitude 7. Lastly Imitate your Lord and Captaine in sufferings reproches and injuries Hath he suffered so much for you and what have you or what will you suffer for him Christ suffered for us saith S. Peter leaving you an example that you may follow his steps Let my beloved come into his garden and eat the fruit of his Apple trees Cant. 5.1 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as the Master of the Vineyard of your Soul Mat. 20.1 COnsider 1. Your soul and the soul of every man is a particular Vineyard belonging to the great Householder of whom we read to day in the Ghospel c. Make account therefore that he will come to day to visit your soul his Vineyard to gather some fruit out of it Imagin that he saith with the spouse in the Canticles Cant. 7.12 Let us rise early to the Vineyards let us set if the Vineyard florish if the flowers be ready to bring forth fruits Jer. 2.21 Consider 2. This divine householder hath omitted nothing on his part that might make you a fruitful Vineyard I planted thee saith he by his Prophet an elect Vineyard all true seed c. He hath sowed within you many seeds of true piety he hath hedged you in with holy Laws he hath provided you with the benefit of the Holy Sacraments as so many Presses and Conduits of his Grace Isa 5.4 c. Finally what is there that I ought to doe more to my Vineyard saith he himself and baâ—â— not done to it Procure therefore to yeeld him ripe fruit See whither he may not say of your Vineyard I looked it should yeeld grapes and it hath yeelded wild grapes that is sowr and unpleasant grapes for then he will powr out upon it that heavy curse that followeth I will lay it wast it shall not be pruned and it shall not be digged and bryars and thorns shall overgrow it and I will command the cloudes that they rain no shower upon it Which his infinit goodness avert Cant. 8.12 Ps. 1.3 Consider 3. You must therefore Husband your Vineyard carefully against his coming Prime all superfluities by Mortification Digg and dive deeply into your soul by a profound knowledge of your self Root out by contrary acts the bryars of vitious habits and by the teares of compunction water the dry affections of your heart Lastly let your Vineyard be before you by continually looking to it And it will give its fruit iâ— its time Christ inviteth all men to contemplate his Passion Ps. 68.21 COnsider 1. Christ with all reason doth complain that having suffered so many and so great paines and torments for man man should be so ungrateful as not vouchsafe to think of them I expected somebody that would be sory together with me and there was none and that would comfort me and I found not Therefore Isay The Just peri heth Ps. 57.1 and there is none that considereth in his heart Think what it is to consider in ones heart to wiâ— with compassion and compunction Thren 1.12 Consider 2. Nothing can we doe more acceptable to Christ then often to meditate on his passion for which cause he lovingly inviteth all unto
and Wisdom of God himself is so obedient at the Altar Be ever gratefull and endeavour to come allwayes worthily to this divine Mystery Of the Institution of the B. Sacrament Part 2. COnsider 1. Christ would institute this divine Mystery immediatly before his Passion 1. To testify the excess of his love towards men in preparing for them a heavenly banquet and inestimable present even then when they were contriving his death 2. To manifest the desire he had of ever remaining with us even corporally for being now to depart out of the world he would notwithstanding leave himself after a special manner to abide with us for ever 3. To leave us a perpetuall Memorial of his Passion and a living Sacrifice The Sacrifices of the antient law ceasing by his death by which the fruit and vertue of his Passion might be applyed to us 4. To make us the more sensible of his love bequeathing himself unto us by his last will and Testament Jo. 6.57 Consider 2. Christ did institute this Sacrament under the formes of bread and wine 1. That so he might the straighter be united with us becoming meat and drink to us penetrating our very bowels and incorporating himself with us 2. To signify that he doth work in our Soules what bread and wine doth in our bodies that is nourish conserve and augment our Spiritual life so as even to transform us into himself He that eateth me the same also shall live by me 3. That as bread is made one masse of many graines and wine one liquor of many grapes so by participation of this divine Sacrament the hearts of the faithfull are made one Spirit and therefore it is properly called Communion or union of many among themselves and of all with Christ Ps. 115.4 Consider 3. Allthough in each Sacramentall forme the entire body and bloud of Christ is contained without any reall Separation of one from the other yet Christ would institute the Sacrament in two different formes the better to put us in mind of his Passion and to signify that thereby all his pretious bloud was entirely separated from his body namely by his sweat in the garden by whips at the pillar by the thornes by the nayles and by the lance on the Cross Think what you can return to our Lord for his infinite love towards you expressed in this Sacrament Say with David I will take the Chalice of Salvation by grateful remembrance and compassion and I will invocate the name of our Lord. Of our Lords Sermon after Supper Part 1. Jo. c. 14.15 16.17 COnsider 1. Christ after the Communion of his Body had that long Sermon to the Apostles which is in S. John for that is the time wherein he is wont to treat more at large with the faithfull Soul and would likewise with you but that you leave him presently after Communion or doe not harken to him and therefore profit little In that divine Sermon our Lord performed the part 1. Of a Master delivering such things as he would chiefly have observed 2. Of a Comforter allaying his Disciples griefe for his future absence shewing how expedient it was for them 3. Of an Intercessor on our behalf to his Eternal Father praying him to preserve us See you observe what he enjoyneth and be thankfull for the rest Jo. 15.9 Consider 2. As our Master he doth chiefly recommend unto us the love of God and of himself above all things As my father hath loved me I also have loved you Abide in my love Think whither you love him as he hath loved you and yet there can be no comparison between yours and his love for his is infinitly beneficial to you but yours wholy unprofitable to him Notwithstanding out of pure love to you and to gain yours to himself he hath given you his own flesh and bloud for meat and drink and his life upon the Cross for your Redemption Ibid. v. 13. And greater love then this no man hath Are you ready to lay down yours for him Jo. 14.15 Ibid. v. 23. Consider 3. If you love me saith he keep my commandements And again If any one love me he will keep my word The proofe therefore of love Greg. hom 30. saith S. Gregory is the performance of deeds If you love Christ resolve to doe and suffer somthing for him at least put on the affection of compassion for his sufferings and leave it not off all this time of Lent Offer up your fasting and whatsoever you may suffer thereby in union with his paines and dolours Of our Lords Sermon after Supper Part 2. Jo. 15.12 Jo. 13.34 COnsider 1. After the love of God Christ doth earnestly recommend the love of our Neighbour This is my precept And A new commandement I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you He calleth it his and a new commandement because he renewed it being fallen to decay And New as to the manner and perfection requiring that our love be like his that is universall to all friends and enemies without respect to deserts or recompence even with our own temporal incommodity and if need be with loss of life In this all men shall know that you are my Disciples if you have love to one another Ibid. See you be his disciple in this and take to heart what he going now to die inculcated in such weighty termes Jo. 16.24 Consider 2. Christ doth also much recommend unto us the use of prayer Vntill now you have not asked any thing in my name Aske and you shall receive Whatsoever you shall aske in my name Jo. 14.13 that will I doe c. So friendly an invitation cannot but ground a great confidence The poor and needy are provoked and even pressed to receive benefits and he inviteth that is both able to make good his word and cannot deceive Only we must be careful to pray in due manner to wit in Christs name that is only for such things as appartain to our Salvation and with Preseverance Jo. 16.2 Consider 3. Christ our Lord doth arimat his Disciples and all that follow him to endure patiently reproch torments and death it self in his cause Our of the Synogogues they will cast you The hour cometh that every one which killeth you shall think that he doth service to God He encourageth them Jo. 15.20 1. By his own example The servant is not greater than his master If they have persecuted me you also will they prâ—sâ—cute 2. In delivering it as a signe of Predestination Ibid. v. 19. Because you are not of the world therefore the world hateth you 3. By proposing the reward Jo. 16.20 Your sorrow shall be turned into joy Here offer your self to suffer whatsoever for Christ Christ is Sorowful and prayeth in the Garden Mat. 26.30 Jo. 18.1 COnsider 1. An Hymn being said He went forth with his Disciples beyond the Torrent Cedron where was
a Garden that where began our ruine there might also begin our reparation As he went He began to feare and to be heavy and sad Saying My soul is sorrowful even unto death Marc. 14.33 Mar. sup v. 37. 〈…〉 that is my grief is equal to the pangs of death and such as would take away my life did I not reserve it for other torments Christ could have been free of all this and have gon to suffer with a pleasant heart for that the Joys of the Beatifical Vision which he ever possessed were able to have drowned what grief soever But he would take upon him also these Interiour afflictions that he might be like to us in all things and with all instruct us by his example how to behave our selves in the like sufferings Luc. 22.40 Consider 2. When he was come to the place be said to them Pray least you enter into tempration Then being gon forward a little Mat. 26.38 he fell upon his face praying and saying My Father if it it possible let this Chalice pass from me Nevertheless not as I will but as thou Ponder 1. His profound Rererence in prostrating himself 2. His filial and fiducial Love in the tender name of Father 3. His perfect Resignation Not as I will but as thou 4. His continuing therein for a whole hour Ibid. v. 40. Could you not watch one hour with me Take this as a partern to pray by and compare your prayers with it Learn hence chiefly to resign your self perfectly to God in all things saying Not as I will but as thou Consider 3. Christ like a good Pastour carefull of his flock even in that great distress and in the heat of his prayer visits his Disciples but finds them a sleep the first second and third time Presently after Communion they were so fervorous as to offer themselves to die for their Master but now cannot so much as hold up their heads in prayer See whether you doe not as easily resent from your good purposes They formerly watched all night for their worldly interest in fishing Now when it concerned their Souls good though commanded to watch they sleep without care Take heed of sloth tediousness and forgetfullness in spiritual things whereby the Soul doth truly slumber and sleep The Souls sleep Aug. in Psal 62. saith S. Augustin is to forget God Luc. 22.43 Christ is comforted by an Angel and sweateth bloud COnsider 1. Christ having left his Disciples and being in prayer the third time There appeared to him an Angel from Heaven strengthening him Good God! So far did our Lord give himself over to griefe as to borrow comfort from his own creature Observe here how God sendeth comfort at last to those that persever in prayer Think what reasons the Angel might use in comforting our Lord representing unto him the necessity of his Passion The Glory that would thereby redound to his Father and himself The Redemption of Mankind and the like the which allthough he understood better himself yet would he not refuse the proffer of comsort that you should not disdain to learn of and be beholding to your inferiours Consider 2. And his sweat became as drops of bloud trickling down upon the Earth See how all over his body it gusheth forth of the pores and imbrueth the earth Beseech him to wash your soul also with the same Detest your own coldness in prayer who can scarce let fall one single teare for your sinns Ponder the causes of so strange a sweat 1. The lively apprehension of all his torments as if they had been then present 2. A deep resentment of the sinns which notwithstanding would be committed and of Mens Ingratitude for whom in vaine he suffered those torments Condole with your Saviour and grieve that you were also cause of his so great affliction Consider 3. And being in an Agonie he prayed the longer Learn hence the more you are afflicted the more to persist in prayer Christ could easily have freed himself from this Agony or strife between the flesh and the spirit but would suffer it to give us example of resisting our passions even to the shedding of our bloud Think how easily notwithstanding you let your self be overcome by them and for the least feare give over your good purposes Wherefore in like occasions Doe manfully Psa 26.14 and let thy heart take courage and expect our Lord. Deliver me from my Enemies O my God from them that rise up against me defend me Ps 58.2 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as your Captain Mat. 4.1 COnsider 1. What Job saith The life of man upon Earth is a warfare Job 7.1 We are in a continual conflict with three most fierce enemies that are allways working our ruine the Flesh the World and the Divel Christ as we read in this days Ghospel would be tempted by the Divel and fight hand to hand with him to train us up like a good Commander by his own example Therefore David cryeth out Ps 143.1 Blessed be our Lord my God who teacheth my hands to battel and my fingers to War Ps 17.40 Consider 2. How much it doth import us not to be overcome in this War where we fight for an Eternity View your self throughly and see in what particular you are most weak and defective and in what manner of encounters you are more frequently wounded Rely on the defence and conduct of this your Captain who is to come this day into your Soul For He will gird you with strength to battel He will protect and guard you If camps stand together against you Ps 26.3 your heart shall not feare Ps 142.9 Consider 3. Souldiers are wont to be sworn to their Captain So ought you to yours This duty you have once performed in Baptisme by renouncing the Divel and his pomps But O how often have you playd the Renegade and shamefully left your colours Yeeld your self now up again to your Captain renew your Oath and promise from hence forwards a more exact Obedience Cast forth of your heart whatsoever may be suspected to have confederacy with his and your own enemies Say with the Prophet Deliver me from mine enemies O Lord to thee I have fled teach me to do thy will because thou art my God Mat. 26.46 c. Christ meeteth Judas and his followers Zachar. 11. COnsider 1. Christ having ended his prayer Said to his Disciples Rise let us goe behold he approcheth that shall betray me And As he yet spake behold Judas one of the twelve came c. Observe Judas his diligence in his wicked design The other Apostles sleep and are scarce roused up at the third call But Judas watcheth to betray his Master How buisy are men in their temporal affaires how careless in their spiritual Deplore this extreme folly of the world Judas one of the twelve came O prodigious ingratitude He who was so highly favored by his Master cometh
sake hath endured far greater in all kinds and at the hands of the bâ—sest sort of people Of S. Peters denying Christ Part 1. Mat. 26.69 COnsider 1. S. Peter having followed our Lord into Caiphas his house and standing with the rest at the fire There came to him one wench saying thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean but he denyed before them all saying I wot not what thou sayest c. He who but some few houres before said Though I should dye with thee I will not deny thee now at the first word and that of a woman Ibid. v. 35. out of shame and fear fouly denyeth that he ever knew him O how many are there now a days who not out of humility but out of a shameful â—ear of what the world would say or think of them Luc. 22.57 dare not own any Christian or Vertuous action nor profess themselves disciples and followers of Christ See you be none of these Mat. 26.74 Consider 2. Peter being still in the same company and taâ—ed by divers of being Christs Disciple he persisteth in his denyall the second and third time neither minded he the first cock crowing or at least cared not but Began to curse and to swâ—are that he knew not the man Observe the different effects of good and evill company Peter among his fellow disciples was so fervorous as to offer to dye for his Master in this lewd company he disoweneth even to know any such man Learn hence to avoid evill company and conversation for as the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.33 saith Evill communications corrupt good manners Consider 3. Some particular circumstances of S. Peters fall which all the Evangelists doe set down at large to teach us to be warie by others harmes 1. The occasion or cause of this fall was that vaine presumption of himself Mat. 26.33 Allthough all shall be scandalized in thee I will never be scandalized 2. His Negligence in prayer yeelding to sleep when he should have watched in prayer by Christs express command Ibid. v. 41. Watch ye and pray that ye enter not into temptation 3. The instrument of this fall was a Woman as was that of Adams first Sin Admire and tremble to see the pillar of the Church cast down at the voice of a Woman 4. His sin increased by degrees passing from a simple denyall to execration and open Perjury Learn to resist the very beginnings of evill and to be greatly concerned for small defects Eccli 19.1 for he that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little Of S. Peters denying Christ Part 2. COnsider 1. Our Lord turning looked on Peter Lue. 22.61 â—â—rad To. 4 l. 6. c. 21. S. Aug. l. 1. de Gratia c. 45. While Peter was actually denying our Lord the third time Jesus happened to be led down from the upper roome where he was condemned to the lower Court where Peter was and gratiously looked upon his sheep that was perishing Or as some doe expound with the interior eyes of his mercy looked vpon him a far of and by his grace moved him to repentance See how in the midst of his own afflictions he forgetteth not his ungrateful Disciple Ps 24.16 With the same eyes O Lord have respect to me and have mercy on me Mat. 26.75 Consider 2. The Conversion and Repentance of S. Peter And going forth he wept bitterly not out of the servile fear of punishment but out of love and sence of his ingratitude in offending so good a Lord Master and Benefactor He rightly understood that of Jeremy Jer. 2.19 That it is an evill and a bitter thing to thee to have left thy Lord thy God Doe you also procure to understand it a right that you may henceforwards keep your self from falling O How often have you not only in bare words but by deeds denyed your Lord and offended him perhaps more then Peter but have not as yet duely lamented your fault as he did Theod. Hist Consider 3. The long Pennance S. Peter performed for this denying his Master He is said to have bewailed it his whole life time breaking forth into teares as often as the Cock-crowing or other occasion refreshed the memory of his sin in so much that his eyes were become as two fountaines of teares and his continual weeping had made furrows in his cheekes Be confounded to see that nothing dryeth up sooner then your teares Persever therefore in works of Pennance and as Ecclesiasticus admonisheth Eccli 5.5 Of sin forgiven be not without feare Of Judas his Despair Mat. 27.3 COnsider 1. Then Judas that betrayed him seeing that he was condemned repenting him returned the thirty silver pieces c. Saying I have sinned betraying just bloud Think what an unquiet mind Judas carried after his treacherous and Sacrilegious fact so that he could take no joy in the money for which he sold his Lord but the worm of his guilty conscience gnawing his heart he brought it back whence you may learn that Sinners reap no soâ—id content out of their wickedness but much pain Aug. l. 1. Coaf c. 11. disquiet and trouble Lord you have ordained it saith S. Augustine and accordingly it is in are that every disordinat mind is its own punishment Therefore in Job it is said of the Impious Job 15.21 The sound of terrour is allways in his eares Mat. sup Consider 2. The answer of the Wicked Priests What is that to us look thou to it They are little concerned for their Neighbour whether he perish or not and like Cain will not be their brothers guardians Not so the good ones who with all endeavor labour to pull their neighbour out of the depth of sin They doe not say What is it to us look you to it but doe help and asist whom and what they are able some with charitable offices others by their prayers They are tender to all in compassion 1 Cor. 9.22 and with the Apostle To all men become all things that they may save all These you must also procure to imitate Mat. sup Consider 3. He went and hanged himself with an halter See how one sin is the punishment of another despaire of treachery God often permitting us to fall the second time in punishment of the first sin that you may learn to shun all Take notice of the fubtile wiles of the Divel who at first provoketh to sin and afterwards taking away all hopes of pardon casteth the Sinner headlong into damnation by despaire Observe also how desperat and mad are the determinations of a troubled conscience so that the Wise man had reason to say Sap. 17.10 A troubled conscience doth allways presume cruell things Lastly from this final ruine of an Apostle He that thinketh himself to stand let him take heed least he fall 1 Cor. 10.12 I have sinned what shall I doe to thee O Keeper of Men Job 7.20 Of Holy Communion
the other women that followed Weep not upon me but weep upon your selves and upon your Children c. For if in the green wood they doe these things in the dry what shall be done Christ was a fresh green and juicy stock full of all manner of grace and perfection all we sinners are as so many dry sticks fit for nothing but the fyre If then the green wood was in that heat of suffering for the sinns of others how will the dry withered sticks burn in Hell or Purgatory for their own And if God the father did so severely chastize the offences of his slaves in the person of his most innocent Son how much more will he punish them in the offenders themselves Eccla in Off. Def. when That day shall once come the day of wrath calamity and misery Weep therefore for your self now that you may not hereafter be forced to weep for ever I will expect our Lord who hath hid his face from the house of Jacob and I will wait for him Is 8.17 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as a hidden God Is. 45.15 COnsider 1. What is read to day in the Ghospel how Christ hid himself from the Jews that would have stoned him Jo. 8.59 in memory whereof the Crosses this day are covered in the Churches and Christ himself by Isaie is termed a hidden God Verily thou art God hidden the God of Israel a Saviour And speaking of him in his Passion he saith Is. 53.3 His look as it were hid and despised He hid his Divinity under the disguise of flesh and bloud his glory with the Ignominy of his Passion and both his flesh and Divinity under the formes of bread and wine so that the Psalmist with reason said of him Ps. 30.20 How great is the multitude of thy sweetness O Lord which thou hast hid for them that fear thee Seq in festâ— Corp. Chr. Consider 2. In the Eucharist not only the flesh it self of Christ is hidden from our senses for the greater merit of our faith but also its Vertue and efficacy whence it is that not all that come to this Sacrament doe taste of its sweetness and delight nay it is no less then death to the bad as it is life to the good And even among the good it worketh in every one very different effects so that it may deservedly be called a hidden Manna and a white counter and a new name written Apoc. 2.17 which no man knoweth but he that receiveth it Ibid. Consider 3. If you desire to know the sweetness of this hidden Manna 1. Be Master of your self and your Appetites for To him that overcometh saith our Lord I will give the hidden Manna 2. Be humble and little in your own eyes Mat. 11.25 Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to little ones Cant. 2.14 Deut. 32.13 1 Cor. 10.4 3. Hide your self in the holes of the Rock in Christs wounds and Meditation of his Passion and so you will come truly to suck honey out of the Rock For The Rock as the Apostle saith was Christ Of Crucifying our Lord. Part 1. COnsider 1. Being come to the place appointed for execution our Lord is again stripped naked of his clothes in the sight of so great a multitude before the insolent Souldiers and them that sought for nothing more then subject of scorn and laughter He beareth patiently this Ignominy due to our Sins and giveth us thereby in his own person a lively example of Evangelical poverty Then to the end that no sense might be without its torment Mat. 27.34 They gave him wine to drink mingled with gall And when he had tasted he would not drink Ambr. in Luc. c. 25. Not for the galls sake saith S. Ambrose but for that he refuseth such bitternesses as are mingled with wine For our Saviour would swallow down the bitter pills of his Passion without the mixture of any sweetness Be ashamed for seeking dainties for your palat and for murmuring when they are not afforded Is. 55.8 Consider 2. The Circumstance of Place It was a high hill exposed to the view of all for the greater Ignominy full of deadmens bones for the greater horror and loathsomness Our Lord made choice of an obscure place to be born in thereby to conceal his glory but would dye hanged up a loft openly in the sight of all and in the middle of the Earth as some observe for the greater infamy How different O Lord are your cogitations from our cogitations and your ways from our ways We strive what we can to conceale whatsoever is in us that may turn to our disgrace and divulge alâ— that makes to our praise and commendation Is. 53.7 Consider 3. The Circumstance of Time On the most solemn festivity of Easter at what time all the people were wont to flock to Jerusalem at brode light and in the very heat of Noon day to signify the fervor of his Charity wherewith as with fire this holocaust was consumed For he was offered because himself would and at what time he would and where he would and with whom he would but withall would doe it in that manner that he might teach us by his own example to contemn all things Of Crucifying our Lord. Part 2. Gen. 22.9 COnsider 1. All things being now ready for his crucifying he is insolently thrown down by the Executioner upon the Cross See how obediently he placeth himself thereon and like Isaac when he lay on the Alter upon the pile of wood offereth himself in Sacrifice to his Eternal Father See how he stretcheth forth his hands to the holes whereto they were to be nailed for Adams stretching forth his to the forbidden fruite Hear the hideous sound of the hammers knocking the nailes into his Sacred hands and feet See the streames of bloud running down upon the ground and learn by the example of our Lord to crucify your flesh Galat. 5.24 with the vices and concupiscences as the Apostle teacheth Ps 21.18 Consider 2. What excessive torment must our blessed Lord feel in those tender parts and full of sinews especially being violently stretched out and probably also disjoynted to make them reach to the holes so as to fullfill that of the Prophet They have digged my hands and my feet they have numbred all my bones Compassionat your deare Lord and grieve for having been cause of these his torments by your sins Bern. ser de Nativit Acknowledge O man saith S. Bernard how grievous your wounds are that is your sins for which it was necessary our Lord should be wounded Consider 3. Our Lord being nailed to the Cross is pulled up on high and violently let down again into the trench they had made to fasten the Cross in to the unspeakable increase of all his torments O what a spectacle was this to the World to Angels 1 Cor. 4.9 and
to Men Of compassion and astonishment to the Angels of scorn and derision to the wicked of compunction and example to the Just and a Sacrifice most acceptable to the Eternal Father Fall at the feet of the Crucifix take up the sacred bloud that falleth down and speak what affection shall suggest Of Crucifying our Lord. Part 3. COnsider 1. What Christ might doe say or think hanging on the Cross and in those hideous torments when he received no comfort either exteriourly from men or interiourly in his Soul If he stirred his body it was tormented a fresh by the wounds of his hands and feet whereon the whole weight of his body did hang. If he moved his head the thorns were stroken in the deeper and yet not the least sigh or moan or complaint was heard to proceed from him but he offered all to his Eternal Father for your and others sins Mat. 27.39 c. Consider 2. And they that passed-by blasphemed him The Priests the Souldiers and all sorts of men They upbraided him 1. With Impotency He saved others himself he cannot save 2. With Arrogancy as vainly taking upon him the title of King If he be King of Isarel let him come down 3. As counterfeiting himself Son of God and presumptuously relying thereon He trusted in God let him now deliver him if he will c. 4. As boasting of himself Vah thou that destroyest the Temple of God and in three days doest reedify it To all this he holdeth his peace as a dumb sign or mark exposed to all manner of contradiction So as to be filled with reproches Thren 3 3â— Is 53.5 Consider 3. Christ would not come down from the Cross nor shorten the durance of his pains as easily he might but would continue in them to the last breath without admitting any manner of comfort that you might also learn to persever in good even untill death Take notice also that he suffered all this for our sins He was wounded for our iniquities he was broken for our sins Take heed therefore lest returning to sin Hebr. 6.6 you crucify again to your self as the Apostle speaketh and to your own ruine the Son of God Of Christs first word on the Cross Father forgive them c. Luc. 23.34 Luc. 9 3â— COnsider 1. Christs was given to the world by his Eternal Father as a Doctor or Master to teach us the way of Salvation This is my beloved Son bear him Hear him then from the Cross as his Pulpit or chaire reading seven admirable lessons unto you and seek to prove a diligent disciple in his schoole that you may say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.2 I judged not my self to know any thing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucifyed Is. 53.12 Consider 2. Christs first Lesson is of loving our Enemies and praying for them Father forgive them for they know not what they doe He doth not call fire down from Heaven upon his persecutors as did Elias nor curseth them as Elizeus but asketh pardon for his enemies and as Isaie saith prayeth for the transgressors fullfilling by deeds what before he commended in words Pray for them that persecute Mat. 5.44 and abuse you See whether you doe so I say not only for your enemies that persecute you but for your familiars and neighbours who may perhaps offend you with some light word or injury Consider 3. More particularly each circumstance Who is it that prayeth The Son of God Whom doth he pray His Eternal Father Where On the tree of the Cross At what time When he was quite spent and exhausted with suffering and now ready to dye In what manner Not sitting or lying at his ease but strait erected upon his feet and stretching forth his hands In what termes Not many but full of affection and mingled with sighs teares and blood For whom for sinners for his enemies persecuters and tormenters What doth he ask Mercy Before whom To the hearing of all even his Adversaries that you might learn Mildnes and Charity towards all and in all occasions Of the Second Word Luc. 23.43 This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Is. 53.12 COnsider 1. It was none of the least Ignominies which our Saviour suffered to hang between two theeves as their ringleader making good that of the Prophet And he was reputed with the wicked He was born between two silly beasts and would dye between two theeves to give us example of Humility though in Heaven he be seated between the Father and the Holy Ghost Ambr. in Luc. c. 23. Even he himself as S. Ambrose speaketh was a theefe by Mistery laying wait for the Divel to steale away his weapons and on the Cross robbed him of a theefe O Lord rob me thus of my heart that it may serve you alone Ambr. sup Consider 2. Those words of Christ This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Admire the riches of Gods Bounty and Longanimity He takes up infamous robbers and makes them his sons and heires of his Kingdom and this at the first word without any put-ofs or delays This very day thou shalt be with me He giveth the theef incomparably more then he demanded of him He craved only a remembrance and Christ promiseth him a Kingdom for as S. Ambrose saith Our Lord ever bestoweth more then is demanded of him and his grant is larger then the Petition Who would not love and willingly serve such a Lord Job 33.27 Consider 3. Three several sorts of sufferers in these three that were put to the same death of the Cross some deservedly but impatiently as the bad theef Others though deservedly yet patiently as the good theef Others again both undeservedly and withall patiently as Christ our Lord. Seek to be one of the two later sorts at least be of the second and confess with holy Job I have sinned and indeed I have offended and as I was worthy I have not received for you are truly worthy of many stripes Of the Third Word Woman behold thy Son Jo. 19.25 COnsider 1. And there stood beside the Cross of Jesus his Mother Ponder how his blessed Mother and other devout persons stood neer the Cross Whence you may learn that the lovers of Christ are also lovers of his Cross and the neerer they stand to this the more they shew their love to him Think how his B. Mother was afflicted when she saw her son and that such an one so barbarously used S. Bonav Your Son O Virgiâ— saith S. Bonaventure suffered in his body you in mind The several wounds which were all over his body met together in one within your heart Yet she gave not the least sign of impatience not did she any thing misbeseeming her person that you might learn to compassionat Christ together with her and withall to suffer your own adversities with courage Jo. sup Consider 2. Woman behold thy Son He calleth her
woman not Mother that he might not seem to regard flesh and bloud who was wholy employed in doing the will of his Eternal Father and that he might not the more deeply wound her afflicted heart with the tender name of Mother He commends unto her his Disciple S. John and in him all Christians that she who is so powerful with God might be a Mother to us She willingly accepteth the charge so that she is deservedly stiled by the Saints The Mother of the living S. Epiph. l. 3. hom 78. Hym. Ave Maris stella Recommend your self therefore unto her saying with the Church shew your self a Mother Eccli 13.20 Consider 3. Behold your Mother To wit so as to have recours unto her as a child to his Mother and that you love respect and assist her as your own parent Teaching us herein to be careful of our parents to our last breath Observe how he recommends Virgin to Virgin Be therefore a lover of Chastity if you desire to be ranked among the sons of Mary For like to like and as the Wise man saith Every man will associat himself to his like Imitat S. John in devotion to your Sacred Mother who from that hour took her to his own Behold thy King cometh to thee meek Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as a milde King Mat. 21.5 COnsider 1. What is said this day in the Ghospel Behold thy King cometh to thee meek Thou art the same my King and my God Ps. 43.5 which commandest the Salvations of Jacob. At other times we may take him as the King of Majesty the King of Glory a powerful King and exceeding dreadful But in his Passion he would shew himself a milde King who when he suffered threatened not c. 1 Pet. 2.23 And therefore to day sitteth upon an Ass a gentle tame beast Ps. 98.1 Ps. 103.3 who at other times is said to sit upon the Cherubs and walk upon the wings of the winds With this mildness he will come to you in the Eucharist wherein that you might not dread his Majesty he lyeth hid under the disguise and form of most delicious food and suffereth himself with admirable patience and longanimity to be taken into the mouths and brests even of his enemies Ps. 22.2 Consider 2. How much you ought to wish that this King may come and raign in your soul and subdue all your unruly passions For he is both of infinit wisdom and power to govern and protect you and as infinitly rich and bountiful to reward and Crown you Our Lord ruleth me saith David and nothing shall be wanting to me Wherefore if you will want nothing deliver your self to be ruled by him Consider 3. You must duely prepare your soul to receive your King so that he may come to visit you in his mildnes not in his fury and indignation Goe forth therefore to meet him like the Children of Jerusalem carrying with you fresh green branches of good works spead your garments in his way and cast under his feet at least in affection all earthly and worldly concerns sound forth and sing his prayses and say with the Prophet I will exalt thee my God the King Ps. 144.1 Ps. 5.3 and I will bless thy name for ever And Attend to the voice of my prayer my King and my God Of the fourth Word My God my God c. Mat. 27.46 COnsider 1. About the ninth hour Jesus cryed with a mighty Voice saying My God my God why hast thou forsaken me A loud cry and voice are signs of excessive griefe for our Lord was left all alone in his sufferings which continued a long time with exceeding great torment destitute of all manner of comfort which might arise from the Inferiour part of the soul forsaken of his own people even Disciples forseeing withall that the greatest part of the world would forsake him to whom all those bitter torments of his would prove in vaine so that now was truly fullfilled that of Jeremy the Prophet Thren 2.13 Great is thy destruction as the Sea who shall heale thee Consider 2. Christ our Lord could easily have freed himself from these interious anguishes of mind by giving way to the joys of the Beatifical vision which possessed the Superiour Powers of his Soul to overflow also the inferiour but would endure them all that he might be the more like to us in all things and withall to instruct us how to behave our selves in time of Desolation Dryness in Devotion and Trouble of mind which are incident to persons even of the greatest Vertue and Perfection Learn therefore to stand resolutly in like occasions to betake your self to prayer and to hold out with patience in expectation of Gods divine assistance Habac. 2.3 Because coming he will come saith the Prophet and he will not slack Ps. 25.2 Consider 3. If God the Father left his beloved Son in this manner wonder not if he seem to leave you to your self for some time without all comfort Nay such Desolations are signs of his love sent us for tryall of our Constancy and inlargement of our Crown Whence it is that David said Prove me O Lord and tempt me burn my reines and my heart Offer your self in like manner Only beg of him with the same Prophet that when he leaves you Ps. 118.8 he forsakes you not wholy Of the fifth Word I thirst Jo. 19.28 COnsider 1. Jesus knowing that all things were now consummate c. He saith I thirst Christ had a double thirst Corporal and Spiritual His Corporal thirst was most vehement and inflamed with his last nights restless watching weariness interiour affliction and effusion of so much bloud Our Blessed Lord would also suffer this torment for our instruction neither would he quench his own thirst Ps. 77.16 Judic 15.19 who brought forth water out of the Rock for his people that thirsted in the desert and afforded Sampson in his thirst drink out of the jawe of an Ass that you might learn to suffer hunger thirst and other corporal incommodities Consider 2. And they putting a sponge full of Vinegre about Hyssope on the top of a cane offered to his mouth not to refresh but to torment him a new Ps. 135.25 Ps. 144.17 What a potion was this for the Son of God who giveth food to all flesh And filleth every living creature with blessing How much better drink doth â—ie afford us of his own pretious bloud in the Holy Eucharist Ps. 22.5 And your chalice inebriating O Lord how good is it Be ashamed for being so nice in your drink and perhaps complaining also if it happen to be any thing stale harsh unpleasant c. Mat. 5.6 Consider 3. Christs spiritual thirst which was chiefly of three things 1. Of obeying his Heavenly Father and fullfilling whatsoever was written of him 2. Of suffering yet more to which purpose he openly proclamed his thirst
whereby he might be the more tormented not refreshed 3. Of effectually redeeming whole Mankind for whom he dyed Strive to imitate him in all these Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Justice for they shall have their fill Of Christs last Words and Death Jo. 19.30 COnsider 1. Jesus therefore when he had taken the Vinegre said It is consummate He congratulated with himself 1. For having performed the will of his Heavenly Father Phil. 2.8 being made Obedient unto death even the death of the Cross 2. For having fullfilled the Prophecies and figures that were of him Mat. 5.18 of which he said I came not to breake the Law but to fullfill 3. For being come to an end of all his labours which he endured to the very last drinking up the chalice prepared for him to the bottom dregs and all Well therefore might he say to his Eternal Father I have consummated the work which thou gavest me to doe c. And I come to thee Jo. 17.4 10. Luc. 23.46 Judic 7.20 Consider 2. The Last Word Father into thy bands I commend my Spirit He said it with a loud voice in sign of Triumph over Death Sin and the Divel So Gedeon with broken pitchers and loud cry proclaimed Victory over the Madianits He teacheth us withall how to recommend our selves to God at the hour of death and what we ought chiefly to be carefull of at that time casting off all thoughts of wordly affaires Beseech our Lord that death may not so steal upon you at unawates as to prevent these or the like good affections Jo. 19.30 Consider 3. And bowing his head he gave up the ghost O unspeakable Mystery The Sun of glory is ecclipsed The Temple of the living God is dissolved The Author of life yeelds to death O how true is that of the Apostle You are bought with a great price Wherefore Glorify 1 Cor. 6.20 and beare God in your body but much more in your mind See that you be not more insensible then the sensless creatures themselves The Sun was darkened and the veile of the Temple was rent in the midst The Earth did quake and the rocks were reat Luc. 23.45 Mat. 27.51 and the graves were opened c. Be ashamed and confounded for your sins Teare a sunder the double veile of self-love and will that hangeth between God and you Tremble at the account you are to give for Christs death and Passion Rent your hard heart by true Contrition And lastly quit the loathsome Grave of Sin and Tepidity Arise sit up Jerusalem lose the hands of thy neck c. You were sould for nought and without silver you shall be redeemed Is 52.2 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as your Redeemer Ps. 110.9 COnsider 1. The benefit of our Redemption which the Church doth most particularly solemnize all this holy time We were all under the Tyranny of the Divel cast off from the face of God by demerit of our sins nor was there any one that could free us from this slavery no creature being sufficient to pay our ransom We were all lost for ever When behold the only begotten Son of God sent redemption to his people offering himself in Sacrifice for our sins being truly our Father Is. 63.16 our Redeemer as Esaie speaketh from the beginning such is his name 1 Pet. 1.18 Consider 2. At what rare we were redeemed namely Not with corruptible things Gold or Silver but with his own pretious bloud And whereas one single drop had been aboundantly sufficient he would notwithstanding powrâ— it all forth and suffer so many bitter torments Ps. 129.7 Because with our Lord there is mercy and with him plenteous redemption Besides not content with redeeming us once he hath left himself unto us in the Eucharist so that allthough you should often fall into the Enemies hands you might have wherwithall to free your self again O unspeakable love Return the best thanks you are able Consider 3. This Redeemer will come to day into your soul to free you from the reliques of your former captivity and to lose the bands of vitious habits if any be in you Prepare your self therefore to meet him Bestow your self as a thing none of your own but wholy his who bought you 1 Cor. 6.19 You are not your own saith the Apostle for you are bought with a great price Wherefore render your self wholy to him whose you are and cast off all affection to whatsoever els Say with the Psalmist I am thine save me Ps. 118.94 Orat. deVen Sacr. and with the Church pray that you may feel in your self the benefit of his Redemption A Summary of our Lords Passion Thren 1.12 I Magine your self to stand at the foot of the Cross on Mount Calvary and to hear our Saviour call out in these words of the Prophet O all ye that pass by the way attend and see if there be sorrow like to my sorrow Ponder attentively the whole Passion according to four particular Circumstances 1. How ignominious it was He was hanged as a theef aloft in the air as one unworthy either to live or die on the earth He was condemned at four several Tribunals hurried along the streets and pointed at as a Blasphemer Seducer Impostor Glutton Madman and Fool. What say you to all this that are so nice of your Reputation 2. How Grievous it was 1. By reason of his delicate and tender complexion 2. Because he would admit of no manner of comfort either interiour or exteriour 3. For that he was left all alone and forsaken by his friends Ps. 68.9 I am become a forreigner to my brethren and a stranger to the Sons of my Mother the Synagogue 4. Upon the Cross if he would seek any ease by moving or turning himself the whole weight of his body lay the heavier upon the wounds of his hands and feet with increase of his torments If he went to lean his head the thorns were stricken the deeper in If he thirsted his drink was Vinegre and Gall c. Good God what torment Is. 1.6 3. How Universal it was both in body and mind That of the Prophet was truly fullfilled in him From the Sole of the foot to the top of the head there is no health His head was pierced with thorns his face buffeted with fists and defiled with spittle his eyes black and blew his lips swoln his teeth strucken out his beard plucked off his ears rent with pulls and pinches his nose beaten flat his shoulders torn with stripes his side pierced with a lance his hands and feet bored through with nails in fine his whole body imbrued in his own bloud 4. How lasting it was His whole life was a continual suffering I am poor and in labours saith he by his Prophet from my Youth Ps. 87.16 But those things which he suffered from his last supper to his last breath were
his Eternal Father in the Eucharist Of the Eucharist compared to the Tree of Life and its fruits Part 2. Gen. 1.2 THe fifth Misery is want of the knowledge of our selves Darkness was upon the face of the depth so is it likewise upon the heart of that man that is not enlightned with the grace of God Therefore the Prophet saith The heart of man is perverse Jer. 17.9 and unsearchable who shall know it The Eucharist remedieth this enlightning our understanding like to the honey that enlightned the eyes of Jonathas Your selves have seen that mine eyes are illuminated 1 Reg. 14.29 because I have tasted a little of this honey Mat. 24.12 The sixth is want of love towards God and our Neighbour for where Iniquity shall abound Charity shall wax cold This is cured by the Eucharist which inflameth the heart with divine love for the lamps thereof lamps of fire and flames Cant. 8.6 The seventh is the indisposition of our spiritual appetite whereby we relish not spiritual things for the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 And he that feedeth himself with the pleasures of this present life his interiour senses are so disordered thereby that he cannot relish spiritual things The Eucharist helpeth this curing the palat of our heart so that we may tast and see that our Lord is sweet Ps 33.9 Luc. 14.30 The eighth is a faintness in perfecting what is good we often begin fervorously but soon fail This man began to build and he could not finish it Against this the H. Eucharist doth strengthen us like to that Loaf of Bread 3 Reg. 19.8 which the Angel brought to Elias In the strength whereof he walked fourty days and fourty nights without any toil unto the Mount of God Horeb. Beg therefore of our Lord these fruits especially that you may be constant in good For of all Virtues saith S. Bernard Perseverance alone is crowned Bernard Of the Eucharist compared with the Tree of Life and its fruits Part 3. Ephes 2.3 OUr ninth Misery is the penalty of Eternal Death For we were as the Apostle saith by nature the children of wrath From this evil the Eucharist freeth us giving us Eternal Life For if any man eat of this bread saith our Lord he shall live for ever Jo. 6.51 Gen. 8.21 The tenth is our continual decay in good passing daily from bad to worse For the sense and cogitation of mans heart are prone to evil from their youth This is taken away by means of the H. Eucharist whereby as by spiritual food man groweth up in a spiritual life and encreaseth in merits of good works for he that abideth in me and I in him Jo. 15.5 the same beareth much fruit Ps 119.5 The eleventh is the irksomness of this worldly banishment of which David Woe is to me that my sejourning is prolonged The Eucharist doth mitigate this tediousness and is given also as a Viaticum or provision to live upon in this our Pilgrimage as was the Manna to the Israelites in the Desart till they were brought into the Land of Promise which to us is the Kingdom of everlasting glory Gen. 3.19 The twelfth is a total corruption of our corporal substance because dust thou art and into dust thou shalt return And thus according to the course of Nature this our body would perish for ever but by reason of the corporal participation of Christ as S. Thomas saith the Saints shall rise again in their bodies more glorious then the Sun according to that of Christ He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath life everlasting Jo. 6.54 and I will raise him up in the last day Ps 102.2 3. Admire the admirable virtue of these heavenly fruits and be thankful for so powerful a remedy and preservative against all your maladies My soul bless thou our Lord c. who healeth all thine infirmities Of Preparation for receiving the H. Eucharist by Faith and Purity 1 Cor. 11.28 COnsider 1. How necessary is a due preparation before hand for receiving the H. Eucharist least otherwise through mortal sin you make that your poyson which is the food of life or through indevotion and tepidity you partake less of its sweetness Therefore the Apostle admonisheth Let a man prove himself and so let him eat of that bread And Mat. 22. he that presumed to come to the Marriage Feast without the wedding garment was cast into utter darkness Heb. 10.22 Consider 2. The first preparation must be by Faith which is as it were the ground and foundation of all the rest therefore the Apostle saith Let us approach with a true heart in fulness of faith Kindle therefore in your self a lively faith as often as you frequent this Sacred Mystery and denying whatsoever sense shall object to the contrary offer your life and blood to defend the truth of Gods Word Consider 3. The second preparation must be by Parity which the greater it shall be the more you will partake of its divine fruits and tast of its hidden sweetness wherefore the Prophet Be cleansed ye that carry the Vessels of our Lord Is 52.11 The same doth the Church recommend unto us by ordaining the H. Eucharist to be consecrated upon clean Corporals S. Tho. 6.11 which as S. Thomas observes are first washed then wrung and thirdly dried so he that goes to receive this Sacrament must first of all be washed with the tears of Penance then wrung by works of Mortification and thirdly well dried of worldly affections by the fervour of Charity See whether you find these dispositions in your self Of Preparation for receiving the H. Eucharist by holy Desires and Prayer Eccli 24.26 COnsider 1. To the foresaid Purity must be joyned an ardent desire and hunger after this heavenly Banquet for our Lord inviteth such to himself in those words Pass to me all ye that desire me and be filled of my generations And by the Psalmist he telleth us Ps 106.9 that he hath filled the empty that is the thirsty soul and the hungry soul he hath filled with good things Procure therefore in your self this hunger and thirst as often as you come to this Divine Table Dilate thy mouth Ps 80.11 and I will fill it faith our Lord. Ps 104.40 Consider 2. To this desire must be added earnest Prayer for God bestoweth all he hath upon them that ask Therefore said David They made petition and the Quail came and he filled them with the Bread of Heaven If therefore you desire to have your fill of this heavenly Bread you must make earnest suit for it and give your self to Prayer and Meditation Vnder his shadow whom I desired Cant. 2.3 I sat that is in holy Meditation and Contemplation whence having had experience of its sweetness the Spouse presently adjoyneth and his fruit
difficulties and lets that hinder their mutual communication And we may fitly apply to S. Peter in this place those words of the Canticles Cant. 8.7 Many waters cannot quench his charity neither shall flouds overwhelm it See whether you love God in this manner and not rather permit your self to be often taken off from his service for small difficulties Consider 2. How S. Peter being bid to come cast himself into the Sea But seeing the wind rough he was afraid Mat. sup and when he began to be drowned he cryed out to our Lord. So our Lord doth often permit us almost to sink under our tentations that we may the more fervently call upon him But at length he stretched forth his hand to Peter and would not let him sink So he will also do with us Ps 36.24 according to that When he shall fall he shall not be bruised because our Lord putteth his hand under And he sent from on high Ps 17.17 and took me and he received me out of many waters Consider 3. What it signifieth mystically to walk upon the Sea S. Aug. Ser. 13 de Verbis Dom. The World is like a Sea saith S. Augustine if you love God you walk upon the Sea if you love the World this Sea will swallow you up Examine your self which of the two you love God or the World it is a dreadful thing to be swallowed up Be sure therefore that you walk and trample over this Sea and be mindful of what the same Saint saith Every ones inordinate desire is his tempest Of S. Peters confessing Christ Mat. 16. Mar. 8. Luc. 9. Mat 16.13 COnsider 1. Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his Disciples saying Whom say men that the Son of Man is For it is good sometimes to know what men say of us both that we may come to know and correct our defects and that we may strive to make good and to perfect in our selves such things as are said of us to our commendation but take heed you do not desire it out of vain glory and ostentation Observe how Christ calleth himself every where the Son of Man though he were the only begotten Son of God and yet worldly men foolishly stand upon their Points and Titles of Honour Consider 2. The Apostles answer Some John the Baptist and other some Elias c. they say not some a Glutton others a Drunkard and other such like reproaches to teach us that slanderous reports ought not to be uttered before our Brother not to afflict his mind Observe how far men were off from the esteem they ought to make of Christ notwithstanding that his Miracles did most apparently evidence his Divinity that you might cease to wonder if your Neighbours or Companions undervalue you or mistake in taking you to be worse then you are Be content to be such and no more then you are in the sight of God who seeth all things Ps 21.23 Consider 3. But whom do you say that I am He puts the question to his Disciples as having been long brought up in his School and consequently bound to know more of him then the rest Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God not by Adoption as others but by Nature and Essence the true Messias and Saviour of the World Rejoyce for the Divinity of your Lord and Saviour and stir your self up both to confess him in your own thoughts and actions and to bring others likewise to the knowledge and service of him according to that I will declare thy Name to my Brethren Primacy is promised to Peter Mat. 16.17 COnsider 1. When Peter had made that Famous Profession of his Faith our Lord said Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona because flesh and blood hath not revealed to theâ— but my Father which is in Heaven Our Lord pronounceth him blessed for that the foundation of a happy life is to know Christ Simon signifieth the same as Obedient Bar-jona the Son of a Dove or of Grace Be you therefore obedient and with a Dove-like simplicity endeavour to comply with the Divine Grace Do not mind what flesh and blood doth suggest but what the heavenly Father doth inspire you that you may also become happy Ibid. Consider 2. Peters reward Thou art Peter that is a Rock and upon this Rock will I build my Church c. 1. Christ giveth him a Name suitable to his Office 2. Upon him he foundeth his Church Militant and makes him the Visible Head thereof 3. He promiseth him Infallibility so that the Gateâ—s of Hell shall not prevail against him 4. He promiseth him likewise the Keys of Heaven that is the Key of Knowledge to determine matters of Faith without Errour and the Key of Power to remit sins Rejoyce for these Priviledges granted to the Chief Pastor for your particular and the whole Churches general good Consider 3. In what a miserable state are they that deny this Primacy of S. Peter and will not build upon the Rock which cannot be overthrown or rooted up but upon the Sands of their own judgment and private spirit ground their Eternal Salvation Desire and seek with most earnest endeavour suitably to your calling to bring all men to this Rock and first dispose your self unto it by the exercise of Solid Virtues S. Peter is reprehended for disswading Christ from his Passion Mat. 16. Mar. 7. Mat. 16.20 COnsider 1. How after S. Peters Confession of Christs Divinity our Lord commanded his Disciples that they should tell no body that he was Jesus Christ both to give example of Humility and to avoid Ostentation and withall for that it was not seasonable at that time And presently after he treated of his Passion From that time Jesus began to shew his Disciples that he must go to Hierusalem and suffer many things c. that you might learn in the day of good things not to be unmindful of evils Eccli 11.27 as Ecclesiasticus adviseth and that it is not enough to confess Christ as your God unless you also have an experimental knowledge and imitation of him in suffering Consider 2. S. Peter hearing this being zealous for his Master took Christ aside and rebuked him saying Lord be it far from thee this shall not be unto thee This was zeal in him but an indiscreet one Rom. 10.2 and not according to knowledge as the Apostle speaketh for he did not as yet understand how glorious would be the Ignominy of the Cross See whether you are not sometimes carried away with the like preposterous zeal in your actions Consider 3. Christs Reprehension Go after me Satan for thou art a scandal unto me because thou savourest not the things that are of God but the things that are of men Ponder how dangerous a thing it is to savour only things that are of men and to love honours riches pleasures c. and not rather those things that
abnegation of your self say at least hereafter 1 Reg. 3.10 with Samuel Speak Lord for thy servant â—eareth Consider 3. Our Lord the Vision being passed forbad his Disciples to divulge it to any one Tell the Vision to no body Mat. sup till the Son of Man be risen from the dead to give us example of Humility for that extraordinary Visions and favours of God ought to be kept secret and not to be discovered unless some great profit or necessity require it and even then not as our own goods but as gifts of God whereof we shall be demanded an account Of the Petition of the Sons of Zebedee Mat. 20. Mat. 10. Part 1. Mat. 20.20 CConsider 1. Then came to him the Mother of the Sons of Zebedee c. The Mother cometh to petition for her Sons what they themselves pretended for but they interpose their Mothers prayers as a Cloak to cover their own ambition So men oftentimes make use of others desires and commands to cloak their own pretences Observe moreover how the Mother cometh in an humble and suppliant manner and adoring presents her Petition Because Ambition as S. Ambrose witnesseth first serveth Ambr. inâ— Luc. c. 4. that it may afterwards domineer it stoopeth to mean Offices to be served with honour Is 14.13 Consider 2. Her Petition Say that these my two Sons may sit one at thy right hand and one at thy left hand in thy Kingdom 'T is natural to all to be ambitious of the first place this cast the Angels out of Heaven I will ascend into Heaven above the Stars of God will I exalt my Throne c. The same thrust man out of Paradise You shall be as Gods Gen. 3.5 The same assaileth also the Apostles See whether it hath as yet got any hold of you How much safer is it to follow the counsel and example of Christ and to sit in the lowest place 2 Cor. 1. â— Consider 3. Christs answer You know not what you desire They who sue for honours and vanities of this world truly know not what they desire It followeth Can you drink of the Cup that I shall drink of to wit the bitter Cup of Sorrow and Affliction intimating thereby that the glory of Heaven shall be measured to them proportionably to the draught which they shall take of this Cup so that the more one shall drink of this the nearer he shall be seated to Christ Wherefore encourage your self to drink manfully of this Cup to the very bottom for that as the Apostle saith as you are partakers of the Passions so shall you be of the Consolation also Of the Petition of the Sons of Zebedee Mat. 20.22 c. Part 2. Phil. 4.13 COnsider 1. The Apostles readiness to drink the Chalice proposed to them They say to him we can The like alacrity may proceed from a different spirit 1. From Ambition refusing no labours that they may come to what they aim at 2. Out of a rash Fervour not knowing what they undertake as War is sweet to them that have had no experience of it 3. From Divine Grace according to that I can all things in him that strengtheneth me Be ashamed of your self for being so slack and that you have not the courage to undertake that for the Kingdom of Heaven which others do without fear or wit for some vain honour You often answer I cannot whereas not ability but will and resolution is wanting Act. 10.35 Mat. 16.27 Consider 2. Christ seeing this readiness in them answered My Cup indeed you shall drink of but to sit at my right hand and left is not mine to give you but to whom it is prepared of my Father Not disswading them from using their endeavour to deserve the Chief Seats but letting them understand that the Gifts of Glory are not distributed out of favour or upon account of some Temporal Relation or respect but in reward only to their Merits for that God is not an accepter of persons but will render to every one according to his works Consider 3. The difference there is between worldly Precedency and that which is proper to the School of Christ which our Lord explicated upon this occasion The Princes of Gentiles over-rule them c. It shall not be so among you but whosoever will be the greater among you let him be your minister c. which he confirmeth with his own example who came not to be ministred unto but to minister Let your ambition therefore be for the lowest place in all occasions if you desire to be Christs Disciple Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 18. Mar. 9. Luc. 9. Mat. 18.1 Mar. 9.34 COnsider 1. At that hour the Disciples came to Jesus saying Who thinkest thou is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven c. There had a little before been a contention among them which of them should be the greater and each one would have the first place in Heaven for himself Thus Ambition insinuates its self even into spiritual things and persons therefore they ask who is the greater c. And perhaps some one might think that Rich and Principal men in this world were to be preferred before others also in Heaven Consider 2. Jesus calling unto him a little child c. said Vnless you be converted Mat. sup and become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child he is the greater in the Kingdom of Heaven Think what it is to become a little one Be not children in sense saith the Apostle but in malice be children A child preferreth himself before none arrogates nothing to himself carrieth himself lovingly to all and finally lets himself be ruled and governed by his Parents Behave your self therefore after the same manner if you desire to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Narrow is the gate and strait is the way that leadeth to life Mat. 7.14 and therefore none but they that are little and low by Humility can enter through it Consider 3. The grievousness of the offence which they commit that give scandal to Christs little ones that is are occasion of their spiritual ruine either by word or example 'T is expedient for him Mat. 18.6 that a Milstone be hanged about his neck and that he be drowned in the depth of the Sea Take heed therefore lest any one be induced to evil by your example Ezec. 3.18 that his bloud may not be required at your hands Of Holy Communion The Lord thy God thou shalt adore and him only shalt thou serve Deut. 6.13 Is 45.18 Ezec. 18.4 Consider Christ as your Lord. COnsider 1. What is read this day in the Gospel No man can serve two Masters Mat. 6.24 God is your only true and lawful Lord I the Lord and there is none other All Souls are mine as the Soul of the Father so
God and all manner of virtue The Powers as their Name sounds are endowed with power to curb and quell the Infernal Spirits Implore the assistance of this Powerful Hierarchy that you may likewise constantly adhere to God be perfect Masters of your own Passions and vicious Appetites and by a compleat Victory over all temptations subdue your mortal Enemies the World the Flesh and the Devil Consider 3. In the third Hierarchy are the Principalities Archangels and Angels The Principalities do both exhibit in themselves and cause in others due Veneration and worship towards their Lord and God The Archangels are properly Gods Messengers and Administrators in the highest and most Important Affairs and are special Patrons of Purity The Angels are all ministring spirits sent to minister for them Heb. 1.14 which shall receive the Inheritance of Salvation Be zealous of the Divine Worship both in your self and others strive to be eminent in Purity and by virtuous life and conversation endeavour to be a good Angel and Minister of Salvation to your Neighbour Of Holy Patriarchs and Prophets COnsider 1. How even from the beginning and in times of Infidelity and Idolatry wherein almost the whole world was involved God was perfectly served by the holy Patriarchs and Prophets 1. They persevered constant in the Faith and Worship of God upheld and maintained the same among the people and carefully delivered it to their Posterity 2. They kept true Poverty of spirit in plenty of wealth and riches and made use of what they had not to vanity and ostentation but to the service of God and benefit of their Neighbour in works of Charity 3. Notwithstanding the multitude of temporal affairs they preserved themselves in the holy fear of God and were despisers of the honours which for their place and deserts were due to them from the people Luc. 10.24 Consider 2. They did chiefly excel in an ardent love of Christ and longing desires and expectation of his coming Many Prophets and Kings desired to see the things which you see c. saith our Saviour himself And our Lord revealed unto them many Divine Secrets and made them privy to the Mysteries of his Incarnation and Passion In this Faith and Hope they lived and died According to faith died all these Heb. 1113. not having received the Promises but beholding them a far off and saluting them and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers upon the earth Be ashamed that your esteem love and gratitude for these benefits graciously bestowed upon you should fall short of their affections and desires of the same only represented to them and that a far off Heb. 11.35 36. Consider 3. Their fervour of Charity and love towards God wherewith they constantly endured even the greatest afflictions and death it self for his sake Others were racked as the Machabees not accepting Redemption that they might find a better Resurrection Others as Jeremy had tryal of mockeries and stripes moreover also of bands and prisons as Micheas They were stoned as Zachary They were hewed as Isaie They were tempted by allurements of pleasures as Joseph They died in the slaughter of the sword as the eighty five Priests whom wicked Saul murdered Learn of these Sobriety and Moderation in Prosperity Constancy and Patience in Adversity Of the Apostles Part 1. 1 Cor. 1.27 c. COnsider 1. What the Apostles were when Christ chose them they were poor ignorant ignoble and contemptible in the sight of the world and yet our Lord made choice of them rather then of others Admire and reverence the wonderful Providence of God herein who as the Apostle saith hath chosen the foolish things of the world that he may confound the wise and the weak things of the world c. that he may confound the strong and the base things of the world and the contemptible c. and those things which are not that he might destroy those things which are that no flesh may glory in his sight Consider 2. Other particular causes of this Election 1. That all might know that the Conversion of the World was the work of God not of Man 2. That both they and we should understand that they were not called for any deserts of their own but by meer favour and grace 3. That being by their condition exempted from the cares of temporal things they might the better attend to the preaching of the Gospel 4. That so they might be fit Preachers of Evangelical Poverty 5. That having in themselves experience of humane weakness and insufficiency they might learn to bear with others infirmities Be humble and little in your own eyes that so you may become a fit instrument of Gods glory and be not dismayed for your mean parts and abilities knowing that God will supply whatsoever is wanting if you will but do your endeavour 1 Cor. 4.1 Exod. 15.27 Exod. 39.10 c. Lev. 24.5 3 Reg. 18.31 Paral. 4.4.3 Reg. 10.20 Apoc. 21.14 Consider 3. The eminent Dignity to which they were raised 1. To be Disciples familiar Companions Friends and Brethren to the Son of God 2. To be next after Christ who was the Chief Corner-stone so many Fundamental stones of his Church and Princes of his Kingdom 3. To be the Doctors and Pastors of the world the Ministers of Christ and of the New Testament and the Dispensers of the Mysteries of God These were prefigured by the twelve Fountains of the Desart Helim the twelve Precious Stones in the High-Priests Rationale the twelve Loaves of Proposition in the Temple the twelve Stones of which was built the Altar the twelve Oxen that sustained the Brazen Sea the twelve Lyons of Salomons Throne and the twelve foundations of the Heavenly Hierusalem c. Of the Apostles Part 2. Jo. 14.12 COnsider 1. The Gifts of Grace and Power conferred upon the Apostles suitable to the Dignity of their Call 1. Of Consecrating and offering in Sacrifice the Body and Blood of our Lord. 2. Of Forgiving Sins and of opening and shutting Heaven Gates to men 3. And 4. Of feeding the Flock and ruling the Church of Christ 5. Of publishing to the world the new Law of Grace 6. Of working Miracles even greater then those of Christ himself They were endowed with gifts of Grace above all the Patriarchs Prophets and Saints of the Old and New Testament so that the Church deservedly applyeth those words of the Psalmist to them Thy friends O God Ps 138 1â— are become honourable exceedingly their Principality is exceedingly strengthened Luc. 22.28 Consider 2. How the holy Apostles did answer their Call and co-operate with their Grace 1. They left all and followed Christ at the first Call and remained with him in his temptations 2. By their Apostolical Preaching Saintity of life working of Miracles by continual labours persecutions sufferings and death it self they planted the Faith of Christ throughout the world cast down Idols abolished Vice and Infidelity and established Virtue and