for to give glory to thee and I have don nothing but dishonoured thee I have glorified my own name instead of glorifying of thine I have made known my own name instead of making known thine I beg thy pardon for it O God of Glory and Majesty and since I have not honored thee during my life I will honour thee in my Death I dy for thy glory and for to acknowledge the Immortality of thy Being by the destruction of mine I wish I were able to render you as much glory by my death as your beloved Son rendred you by his O why can I not make you to be beloved by all hearts make you be praised by all mouths O holy name of JESUS Thou art all my hopes Whosoever shall call upon thee shall be saved I invocate thee with love and with respect suffer me not then to be damned Thy Kingdom com My God! When will that time come When will you reign absolutely in my heart When shall I reign peaceably in yours Alas I have not made you reign upon Earth I have all my life long protested That I had no other King but Caesar I have given up my heart which is your Kingdom to the power of the Devil I have made all your enemies to reign therein But my God! Through your grace I acknowledge my fault and my perfidiousness I confess that I deserve death I accept of it with all my heart in satisfaction for my sins I hope that you will admit me into your Kingdom although I have driven you out of mine O my God! How happy are those who dwell in your house for they shall praise you for ever and ever Happy are those that serve you here on Earth for they shall reign with you in Heaven Comfort thy self O my Soul Behold the Kingdom of God is at hand Thou hast but one moment to suffer in and thou shalt have an Eternity to rejoyce in What ought not one to do for to gain a Crown What ought not one to suffer for to get Heaven Thy Will be don on Earth as it is in Heaven My God! I feel great pains My Body is overwhelm'd with Sufferings Death assaults me on all sides I cannot resist its Batteries It presents me my Chalice to drink which is very bitter Is there no means to remove it from my mouth Yet let thy Will be don and not mine My God! My Soul is in her Agony My Spirit is disturb'd at the approaches of Death She apprehends this passage and has difficulty to quit her Body She would fain stay a little longer here upon Earth for to redeem the time past and repair the losses she has been the cause of Must she drink this Chalice Can not she be dispens'd from it My God let your will be don and not mine Let me do it at my death since I have not don it in my life O my God! If it were in my power not to dy I would beg Death of you as a favour that I might sacrifice to you what I have dearest in this World thereby to imitate your Son thereby to acknowledge his love and for to drink in his Chalice O I will be consummated upon this bed of sorrow and upon the Altar of my Cross as a a Victim of your greatness as a Victim of your Justice as a Victim of your Love as a Victim of your Grace as a Victim of your Glory Give us this day our daily bread Happy is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God I thank you O charitable Father for all the corporal and spiritual goods that you have bestowed on me during this life and above all for the bread of Angels which I have so often eaten and with so little fruit O bread of life I am no more afraid of death since I have eaten thee in this my last sickness I will march on being fortified with this bread till I com to the Mount Oreb which is the clear sight of God O Eternal Truth You have promised and sworn That he who shall eat your Body and drink your Blood shall live eternally This is that which grounds my hopes This is that which disperses my fears Since we have been united together in this life I hope we shall not be divided asunder in the next O JESUS Give me my bread this day Strengthen me with your graces that I may compass the great journy of Eternity and that I may persever to the end Without this bread I shall faint and shall never be able to get to Heaven Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us Lord the number of my sins is infinit If you keep an account of our iniquities alas who will be able to subsist I expect my Salvation from your mere grace and not from your justice I can no more do pennance I am no longer in a condition to pray or to fast What shall I then do to appease your justice and to secure my Salvation You have promised to forgive him that forgives to shew mercy to him that shows it I do with all my heart forgive those who have offended me and I pray you to forgive them and not to lay to their charge the ill they have don me Alas they knew not what they did Forgive me my God as I forgive them Forget the evil that I have don to you as I forget that which they have don to me And lead us not into Temptation Now it is O my God that I stand in need of your protection and your assistance See how all my enemies surround me on all sides The roaring Lyon is com out of Hell for to devour me But if you are with me what need I fear Although I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death I shall apprehend nothing being in your company Although I were besieged by an Army encamped round about me my heart would not be astonished Although all the Devils of Hell were ready to enter into combat against me I would not tremble since you are with me and that you make me hope that I shall have your assistance Arise then O God of Hosts com quickly to my succour Send St. Michael with his Troops to relieve me You know my weakness there is none greater in the World Preserve me therefore O my God from Temptation at least suffer me not to yield unto Temptation But deliver us from evil From evil of body which I have very well deserved from the evil of the Soul which I am threatned with Deliver me from the greatest of all evils which is that of Eternity This is the only sole evil that I apprehend I accept of all the rest that you shall think fit to send me I am ready to go to Purgatory for to satisfie your Justice But O God of mercy I conjure you by the pretious blood of your Son and for the love that his holy Mother bore him send me not into Hell where
God! I have hitherto laboured much And I have gain'd but little I have given my self much trouble And have treasured up but little I have walked hard but advanc'd but little I have laboured for Earth But have don nothing for Heaven I have laboured for my body But I have don nothing for my soul I have laboured for the time present But I have don nothing for Eternity I have laboured for my self But I have don nothing for you O my Lord Since I am made only for you I will live only for you Since I subsist only by you I will labour only for you The reward of my service henceforth Shall be to have served you The recompence of my love Shall be to have loved you Then shall I seek nothing but you alone I shall find all things with you Is your heart right 4 Kings 10. Whom seek you John 18. Woman why do you weep John 20. Martha Martha thou art sollicitous Luk. 19. To the immortal and invisible King of ages to God alone be honour and glory for ever and ever 1 Tim. 1. I always do things that are pleasing to him John 8. LXII MED Of Humility WHo art thou O my God and who am I Thou art all and I am nothing Thou know'st all and I know nothing Thou canst do all and I can do nothing Thou art nothing but light And I am nothing but darkness Thou art nothing but fortitude And I am nothing but weakness Thou art nothing but sanctity And I am nothing but malice Thou art the Saint of Saints And I am the sinner of sinners Thou art the King of Kings And I am the slave of slaves O how strong am I with thee O how feeble am I without thee My Soul Either humble thy self Or God will humble thee What hast thou that thou hast not received Or canst conserv of thy self What hast thou that thou canst make good use of Thy Virtues without Humility will not save thee Thy Vices with Humility will not damn thee For Humility banishes all Vices And makes Charity enter into their room Wert thou as wicked as Achab If thou humble thy self God will not punish thee He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble Canst thou after this say That thy Salvation is impossible That the way to Heaven is hard Every one cannot exalt himself But who is it that cannot humble himself All the World cannot ascend But who is it that cannot descend I can do all things if I can humble my self I cannot fast but I can humble my self I cannot weep but I can humble my self I cannot pray but I can humble my self The virtue of Humility supplies the want of Charity A Sinner is in assurance betwixt the arms of Humility God will not despise a contrite and humble heart O my Soul Let us suffer contempt Let us contemn contempt Let us desire contempt Let us seek contempt Let us hide our Treasures Least we be robb'd of them Let us humble our selves That God may exalt us Let us have an esteem for those innocent defects Which give us a confusion Let us love all that keeps us in abjection To be good and to appear to be so Is a dangerous thing To appear to be good and not to be so Is a vitious Hypocrisie To be good and not to appear to be so Is a happy condition Humble thy spirit very much for fire is the revenge of wicked flesh Eccles 7. Com unto me all ye that labour and you shall find rest to your souls Matth. 11. VVhoever among you would be made great let him be your servant Mark 10. He that exalts himself shall be humbled Luk. 10. XLIII MED Of Patience ALl that I endure is nothing In comparison of the pain that I deserve In comparison of the glory prepar'd for me Of the evil which I have committed Of the good I have omitted Of Heaven that is promised me If I am without a Cross I am no Disciple of JESUS If I carry not my Cross I shall not reign with JESUS We must either suffer here or in Eternity There 's no passing from Delights to Delights But from Delights to Torments There 's no passing from Happiness to Happiness But from Happiness to Misery When I suffer with patience Jesus suffers with me Jesus reigns in me I am the Victim of Love The Throne of his Grace The Trophy of his Glory I quit all my Debts I heap up great Treasures I practise all Virtues I have the mark of the Predestinate I free my self from Purgatory I secure my self of Heaven O JESUS my Saviour I will honour all my Sufferings Since you have consecrated them I feel my Cross no more When I think on yours All my comfort is to think on your Passion Your torments sweeten my pains I should dy with sorrow Should I live without sorrow The Sufferances of this time are not worthy of the glory which shall be given us hereafter Rom. 8. Through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14. Patience is necessary for you that doing the VVill of God you may gain the promises Heb. 10. If any one will com after me let him deny himself Matth. 6. LXIV MED Of the Exercise of Patience SInce we must suffer in this World Let us not lose the fruit of our Sufferings Let us suffer for Jesus with Jesus as Jesus Let us suffer without complaint and murmuring With resignation and indifference With fortitude and constancy VVith joy and love Let us suffer all things from all the VVorld In all things in all manner of ways Let us suffer adore love and seek Crosses O Holy Cross I adore thee and I embrace thee Since I am a Christian and a Child of the Cross I will live and dy on the Cross Thou art the Tree of life And the Salvation of the VVorld Thou art the Sanctuary of Sinners And the comfort of the afflicted O! my greatest Cross shall henceforth be To live without a Cross VVo unto those who have lost their patience Eccles 1. This is a grace of God if for your conscience to God any one does unjustly suffer sadness 1 Pet. 2. Accept of all that is applyed to thee Eccles 2. VVe glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation works patience patience probation probation hope Rom. 5. Be patient towards all 1 Thess 5. Christ suffered for us leaving you an example to follow 1 Pet. 2. LXV MED Of the Cross or several Motives of Patience CArry your Cross O Christian Soul You will find none fitter for you than your own If you leave it for to take another You will lose instead of gaining The Cross is planted every where 'T is found in all manner of places There are Crosses in Kings Palaces As well as in Cloysters God will have all men to be saved He has provided Crosses for all Because none can be saved without a Cross The Cross bears admirable fruits It unloosens us from
the Lord thy God at what time he led thee in the way Jer. 2. What wouldst thou have in the way of Egypt for to drink troubled waters ibid. Thy malice shall argue thee and thy aversion shall rebuke thee ibid. Know and see that it is evil and bitter to have forsaken the Lord thy God ibid. See whether the way of iniquity be in me and lead me in the eternal way Ps 138. LXXVIII MED Of Dryness and Aridities I Believe what I see I hope for what I touch I love that which pleases me I believe amidst light I hope when I have a feeling I love when I am in comfort This is the way of the Sences I believe what I do not see I hope for what I cannot compass I love that which does not please me I believe when I am in darkness I hope even in my dereliction I love even in my desolation This is the way of the Spirit O my God! How sensual is my Devotion I have not yet ador'd you in Spirit O happy State Where the Soul sees God without light Where she hopes in God without support Loves God without any sensible attract This is to see God without species To be united to God without a medium To suffer divine impressions To have no more proper subsistence To lead a supernatural life This is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ In darkness I have made my bed Job 17. Meat and drink is not the Kingdom of God but justice and Peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. They shall be dispersed for to eat and if they be not satiated they will murmur Ps 58. It is expedient for you that I should go for if I do not go the Comforter will not com to you Jo. 16. God is a Spirit and those who adore him must adore him in spirit and truth LXXIX MED Of Silence HOw fine a Science is it to know how to speak You will never learn it Unless you know how to hold your tongue To speak well and speak much Are two things which agree not together All the World learn how to speak Few there are that learn to keep Silence And notwithstanding the first of Sciences Is to learn how to keep Silence Where there are many words There is not much sence A Wise man speaks but little Because he is afraid of speaking ill He speaks a long time to himself Before he speaks to others A Fool is always talking Because he thinks of nothing but talking He pours himself all out Because he knows not how to dwell at home God kept Silence for a whole Eternity He made himself heard by Men Only for to instruct and save them Keep Silence as God does Never speak but through necessity A Soul that is full of God Cannot any more speak to men He that speaks much to men Showes that he is void of God For to becom perfect in a short time You need only know how to be silent He that is Master of his Tongue Is Master of his Passions Solitude and Silence are the two Schools of Virtue There it is that God makes himself known There it is that he speaks to the heart Silence produces Prayer And Prayer produces Silence After that Moses had spoken to God He could not speak to men He that comforts himself exteriourly Finds but little comfort within The Holy Ghost loves silence His voice is like a gentle Zephyre One cannot hear it if there be never so little noise Never quit Silence but for something that 's better One cannot without grace speak well And can you hope for it when you speak In a time that God forbids you to speak Every one speaks of that which he loves The Tongue is the Heart's interpreter He that loves the World Willingly talks of the World He that loves God delights to talk of God You may know a man by his tongue And man shall be judged by his tongue My God! give me thy love That I may willingly speak of thee Fill me with thy presence That I may love Silence I shall never be a man of reason Whilst I love conversation Speak but little speak low without passion Never speak but in necessity Never speak against Charity Speak with sincerity simplicity without Affectation vanity when you ought to speak Keep Silence when you ought to keep it If any one offends not in word he is a perfect man Jam 1. If any one thinks himself to be Religious not bridling his tongue his religion is vain ibid. Since thou hast spoken to thy servant I have more impediment and slowness of tongue Exod. 4. Where there are many words there frequently is want Prov. 14. The heart of fools is in their mouth and the mouth of the wise is in their heart Eccl. 21. Let every man be quick to hear but slow to speak Jam. 1. LXXX MED Of Sickness GOD sends us Sicknesses Either to draw his glory out of them As to the man that was born blind Or to punish our sins as to the Paralytick Or for to try us as to Job Or for to keep us in Humility As to S. Paul and to Timothy I am not able to do any thing but I can suffer I can do much if I can suffer much Others labour for me I suffer for others They honour God by their Actions I honour him by my Sufferings I have well deserved what I suffer I merit much by suffering I acquit for what is past I heap up for the time to com God takes my health from me For to give me sanctity He is with me I suffer with him I carry his Cross He carries mine How strong is my Spirit When my Body is weak How weak is my Spirit When my Body is strong Sickness gives me a disgust to life My heart aspires no more but for Heaven O my Body Thou must be punisht And have thy Purgatory as well as the Soul Unless thou hast it here upon Earth Thou must have it in Hell For nothing that is impure Shall enter into Heaven There are but these two places That thou canst have it in Rejoyce O my Soul for thy Enemy is low He is no more in a condition to hurt thee O my God! I deserve indeed to be sick Since I have so much abus'd my health O how much am I indebted to you For having thus afflicted me Since you spare me not at present You will spare me in Eternity Since you chastize me during my life You will be gracious to me after death O how glad am I to make of my Body A Victim of Love and Sufferance There is no Sacrifice more pleasing To your Eyes than that of Patience Son in thy Sickness despise not thy self but pray to God and he will cure thee Eccl. 38. Behold thou art now healed sin no more least something worse do befal thee Jo. 5. This sickness is not to death but to the glory of God Jo. 11. When I am weak then am I
hand He brings them back when they go astray He casts himself into the bryars For to draw out him that is lost He lays him on his shoulders He carries him back to the fold He testifies a joy at it And he does him no hurt Jesus is a good Shepherd He feeds his dear Sheep He leads them into fat Pastures He nourishes them with his Word He fats them with his Flesh He inebriates them with his Blood He fortifies them with his grace He quickens them with his spirit He enriches them with his merits What Shepherd feeds his sheep With his own Flesh and his own Blood as he does Jesus is a good Shepherd He gives his life for his sheep He does not feed upon their flesh Not cloath himself with their wool Not strip them to cloath himself He fasted for to feed them He labours only for them He defends them against the wolves He hinders them from coming near them He helps them to drive them off He lifts them up when they fall He carries them when they are feeble He comforts them when they are sad He cures them when they are sick He raises them to life when they are dead O Jesus How good a Shepherd are you But what bad sheep have you They stray away from your conduct They despise your Pastures They will not eat at your table They go every where to seek after wolves They howl and run after them They devour the sheep as they do O my Divine Shepherd For my part I will follow you every where I will never go astray from your ways I will go up to the Mountains with you I will go down into the Vales with you I will never complain of you I will be always contented with you I am a good Shepherd I know my sheep and my sheep know me John 10. He goes before them and the Sheep follow him ibid. And I am not troubled following thee my Pastor Jer. 17. Our Lord governs me nothing will be wanting to me he placed me in a place of pasture Psal 22. I have gon astray like a sheep that is lost seek after thy servant Psal 118. CXXII MED Of the Sheep of Jesus Christ THe Sheep loves his Shepherd He follows his Conduct every where He hears and owns his voice He is in assurance with him He is lost when he goes a stray He goes well when he follows him Jesus committed to Saint Peter The Conduct of his Flock His voice is heard in the Church Out of the Church it is not heard Virtues without Obedience Are large steps out of the way One goes astray instead of advancing Who advances without being directed A Sheep does not argue He goes whither he is led He never goes righter Than when he follows his Shepherd He leaves himself to his Conduct He fears nothing in his Company 'T is to be without judgment To trust to one's own judgment It is to have no guidance Not to be willing to be guided A Sheep does not murmur He does not fall into impatience Does not take offence at his Shepherd Does not complain of his conduct Suffers himself to be stript Goes quietly to his death Suffers his Throat to be cut Dies without saying any thing There is need of extreme patience For to indure impatient men They would have God to endure from them But they will endure nothing from God A Sheep hath no fangs He does not bite his Companions He is the mildest of all Creatures He has nothing of fierceness or wildness He hates singularity He maintains himself in unity He keeps Society Is pleased in the Community The Mark of the Sheep of Jesus Is Mildness and Charity Are you one of Jesus's his Sheep Do you love the Pastor of the Church Do you follow God's Conduct Do you leave your self to his Providence Do you obey your Superiours Do you renounce your own proper lights Do you complain of your losses Do not you murmur in your pains Do you love your Neighbour Do not you offend him in word Have you a compassion of him Are not you angry as he is Thou that rulest Israel attend who leadest on Joseph like a Sheep Psal 79. My foot has followed his footsteps Job 13. He shall be led like a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb before the shearer he shall be dumb and shall not open his mouth Isai 53. I was dumb and did not open my mouth because thou didst do it Psal 38. In this shall all know that you are my Disciples if you love one another Jo. 13. If you bite and eat each other see ye be not consumed by each other Gal. 5. CXXIII MED Of the Ascension of our Lord. WHither go you O divine Shepherd Is it thus that you forsake your Sheep Whither go you O charitable Father Is it thus that you forsake your Children Whither go you O glorious Captain Is it thus that you forsake your Souldiers What will poor Sheep do in the midst of Wolves What will poor Children do in the midst of the Streets What will Souldiers do in the midst of their Enemies Go my well beloved Quit this ungrateful Earth That has used you so ill An immortal body like yours Ought not to be in the region of death An incorruptible body like yours Ought not to be in a place of corruption An impassible body like yours Ought not to be in a place of affliction Go great Conquerour Ascend up to Heaven which you have gained Take possession of the Kingdom Which is yours from all Eternity Carry along with you your victorious Troops For to honour your Triumph Stop not till you have reach't the highest Heaven Go and sit upon the Throne of God It is just that you should rest After having laboured so much It is just that you should receive glory After having been so mightily humbled Go Ark of our Lord After having been beaten with the Waves Go and rest on the highest Mountains of Armenia Arise O Lord ascend to your place of rest You and the Ark of your Sanctification You have broken down the Gates of Hell Go now and open the Gates of Heaven Enter into the Palace of your glory Go and prepare us a place Go and present your self to your Father Go and shew him your Wounds Go and be our Mediatour Go and send us your Holy Spirit O Jesus Since you are gon to Heaven I find no more comfort here upon Earth My heart is where my treasure is My soul would fain quit her body For to go and enjoy your presence When shall I go out of this exile When shall I return to my dear Country O Jesus The hope of forlorn Souls The comfort of afflicted Souls You promised to draw all things to you When you were elevated from the Earth You are now above all the Heavens Perform now your promise Draw me out of this World Take me off from Creatures Draw me strongly For I cling close to the Earth
Draw me quickly For I am weary of living Alas What a life Ah! What a death O my dear Life Give me death that I may dy to my self And live Eternally to you And our Lord Jesus after he had spoken was assumed into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God Mark 16. Ascending on high he led captivity captive he gave gifts Eph. 4. Let not your heart be troubled I go to prepare you a place I will take you to my self that where I am you also may be John 14. And if I be exalted from the Earth I will draw all to my self John 12. Draw me after thee Cant. 5. CXXIV MED Of the coming down of the Holy Ghost WE are not members of Jesus Christ Unless we live by his Spirit The Spirit of JESVS Is a Spirit of Life which animates us 'T is a Spirit of Grace that sanctifies us A Spirit of Wisdom which instructs us A Spirit of Love which unites us A Spirit of Peace which pacifies us A Spirit of Purity which purifies us A Spirit of Liberty which disengages us A Spirit of Joy which comforts us A Spirit of Humility which humbles us A Spirit of Obedience which subjects us The Spirit of JESVS Makes men Gods Of sinners just Of weak makes us strong Of sad glad Of cold fervent Of cholerick mild Of ignorant wise Of timid courageous The Spirit of JESVS Does not descend upon the proud It does not repose in turbulent hearts It has a horrour of impure souls It withdraws it self from vain spirits It is not in agreement with the flesh It makes a mortal War with it It could not com down upon the Apostles Whilst they saw JESUS sensibly It lives in us by Grace It dwells in us by Charity It reigns in us by Love It reposes in us by Peace We afflict it by Venial sin We stile it by Mortal sin We lose it by the love of the World We drive it away by the love of the Flesh O my God! How gentle is your spirit How severe is mine How holy is yours How profane is mine How humble is yours How proud is mine O Holy Spirit Father of the poor Comfort of the afflicted Com and descend down to us and comfort us Enlighten us by your Light Conduct us by your Grace Sanctifie us by your Love Support us by your Strength Penetrate us by your Unction Adopt us by your Charity Pacifie us by your Presence Save us by your Mercy 'T is the Spirit which enlivens John 6. They were all replenisht with the Holy Ghost Act. 2. Grace is diffused in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us Rom. 5. If any one hath not the Spirit of Christ he is not his Rom. 8. Whoever are acted by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God ibid. If we live in spirit let us walk in spirit Gal. 5. CXXV MED Of the most Sacred Trinity MAn believes that there are as many Gods As he loves Creatures He adores a Trinity on Earth And contemns the Trinity of Heaven He esteems only the grandures of the World He seeks after nothing but earthly riches He desires nothing but the pleasures of the Senses He despises the Wisdom of God He laughs at the power of the Father He outrages the goodness of the Holy Ghost Is it to believe that God is wise And not to apprehend his Wrath Is it to believe that God is holy And yet offend him by so many Crimes Is it to believe that God is pure And yet to cleave to the pleasures of the Senses Is it to believe that God is good And yet not to love him Is it to believe God to be independent And yet not to adore him Is it to believe God to be beneficent And yet not to thank him O most Holy Trinity I bless thee and I adore thee I will love thee both in Time and Eternity Glory be to the Father who created me Glory be to the Son who redeemed me Glory be to the Holy Ghost who sanctified me Glory be to the Father who supports me by his Power Glory be to the Son who governs me by his Wisdom Glory be to the Holy Ghost who sanctifies me by his Love Glory be to the Father who sustains my Being Glory be to the Son who enlightens my Understanding Glory be to the Holy Ghost who consecrates my Will Let the Holy Trinity be blessed By Angels and Men in Time and in Eternity Amen So be it Going teach ye all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28. Three there are who give testimony in Heaven the Father Word and Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 John 5. Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts the Earth is full of thy glory Isai 6. All that is in the World is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life 1 John 8. CXXVI MED In form of a Dialogue Of the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar The Disciple I Will speak unto my Lord Altho I am but ashes and dust O my God! How wonderful is your Wisdom How profound are your Mysteries Whence coms it that you would remain on Earth Since your Body is glorious Ought not the noblest of all Bodies To be on the top of the highest Heavens Your Throne is in the Firmament The Earth is but your Foot-stool Why do not you dwell in your Palace What do you do upon our dunghill The Master I would remain here upon Earth For to content my love I converse with men For to content their desires I am with my Disciples For to content them by my Presence I am amongst my sheep For to defend them against the Wolves I leave my self to my Church For to serve them for a Victim I immolate my self on the Altars For to do homage to my Father You would have no Religion If you had no Sacrifice The ancient ones are abrogated There is only I alone that can be immolated My body is in Heaven as in its Natural place My Body is on Earth as in a Sacramental place When I came down upon Earth I did not for that quit Heaven And when I re-ascended to Heaven I did not for all that quit the Earth The Disciple I will again speak to you O Lord Altho I am but ashes and dust Whence coms it that remaining on Earth You did not make your self visible Why did you hide your self Since you desire to be beloved You would have won all hearts If you had discovered your self to your eyes The Master I am a hidden God One must dy for to see me I hid my Divinity under the form of a Man And I hide my Humanity Under the form of Bread Your life is a state of Faith My Body ought therein to be veyled Your life is a state of Merit Your Understanding ought therein to be humbled Adam did not
die and their fire shall not be quenched Isa 66. Be gon from me ye accursed into fire everlasting Matth. 25. Come ye blessed of my Father Matth. 25. XIV MED Of Mortal sin WHat have I don I have offended an infinit Majesty I have injur'd infinit perfections I would have destroy'd an infinit goodness I have violated an infinit obligation I have then committed an infinit injustice I therefore deserve an infinit punishment God hates Sin with an infinit hatred He hates it as much as he loves his Son As much as he loves himself He hates it entirely infinitly Necessarily Essentially Eternally And I love what God hates I love it in proportion as much as he hates it I love entirely what he hates entirely I love excessively what he hates infinitly I love voluntarily what he hates necessarily I love constantly what he hates eternally O I will henceforth hate Sin As highly as I am bound to hate it I will hate it as much as I am bound to love God I will hate it entirely Infinitly Necessarily constantly eternally The Highest hateth sinners and will render revenge to the wicked Eccles 12. What hast thou don The voice of thy Brother's blood cries unto me from the Earth Gen. 4. The Soul which through pride shall have committed any thing whether he be a Citizen or a Stranger shall perish from amongst his people Numb 15. The impious man and his iniquity are hateful Wisd 14. What profit had you in those things in which you now blush for indeed their end is death Rom. 6. XV. MED Of Venial Sin THat is a great ill that does ill to God An injury don to God is a great injury Every Venial Sin dishonours God It offends the Sanctity of God It saddens the Spirit of God It cools the love of God It diminishes the graces of God It makes us stray from the conduct of God I dishonour God more by one Venial Sin Than I can honour him by my good works 'T is better to abstain from one Venial Sin Than to do all sorts of good works Venial Sin wounds and disfigures my Soul It darkens my Understanding Weakens my Will Raises my Passions By committing of small sins I familiarize my self with great ones A Habit of Venial Sin Leads insensibly unto Mortal O God of Majesty How have I slighted thee O God of goodness How have I afflicted thee O God of Sanctity How ill have I treated thee My Soul fear that evil that leads to death Apprehend the committing of small sins If thou wilt avoid great ones A small matter gains Heaven And a small matter loses it One Venial sin cannot damn thee And yet thy Damnation Begins many times by a slight sin He who is unjust in a small matter will be unjust in a greater Luk. 16. See how small a fire burns a great wood Jam. 3. He that slights small things will fall by degrees Eccl. 19. Of every idle word that men shall have spoken they shall give an account in the day of Judgment Matth. 16. XVI MED Of Pennance EIther Hell or Pennance There are but two ways to Eternity The broad one and the narrow one The broad one leads to Hell The narrow one to Heaven The broad one is the easier The narrow one the harder The broad one is the more beaten The narrow one the less frequented In which of the two are you You walk in the broad ways You live according to custom You imitate only the Vices of others You imitate not their Virtues You hearken to nothing but your own inclinations You follow nothing but your passions You will not be confin'd You seek nothing but to be at large You are resolv'd to sin And you are not resolv'd to do Pennance Unless you do it quickly You will die suddenly Unless you do it now You will do it in Eternity O my God! Spare me not now Provided that you spare me in Eternity Do fruits worthy of Pennance Luk. 3. Unless you do pennance you will all perish together Luk. 13. Enter in at the narrow gate Matth. 7. Do ye pennance for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand Matth. 2. XVII MED That we ought not to differ our Conversion UNless you do Pennance you will not be saved Unless you do it quickly possibly you may never do it You will not always have this time This grace this will He that abuses his time is deprived of time He that abuses grace is deprived of grace He that abuses his liberty is deprived of liberty Why do you differ your Conversion Must you be wicked because God is good Must you abuse his patience to your insolence Must you make his justice a slave to your malice To sin in hopes of a pardon Is to sin by presumption It is to preserve vice By the very grace that ought to destroy it 'T is to nourish sin by the very remedy Which ought to be the death of it 'T is to make of Pennance A fund of Impenitence Why will you delay what must be don one day That which will be good to morrow Is it not good to day Shall you be alive to morrow Shall you have this grace to morrow Will you ground upon a May-be The business of an Eternity What may be will be infallibly Unless God hinders it from being The Devil will strike his stroke Unless God hinder him from acting One dies as he has lived Death is the Echo of life How shall we hate at our death What we have loved all our life long A Thief was saved Despair not There was but one Presume not You say nothing presses you And I say all things press you presses you The time that slips away presses you The grace that touches you presses you Heaven that stands open presses you Hell wherein you are like to fall presses you Death that threatens you presses you Judgment that draws near presses you O my God! I put off too long That which cannot be don too soon I continue too long That which never ought to be don I will no longer expect till to morrow Since I am not sure to live to morrow My life is all yours Why have you but a part thereof You give me time for to love you Is it just that I should use it to offend you If I offer up the Sacrifice of Cain I shall be reprobated as he was One can never take security sufficient When Eternity lies at Stake Turn to our Lord and leave thy sins Eccl. 5. Do you contemn the riches of God's goodness and patience c. Rom. 2. Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out Act. 3. Do not delay turning to our Lord nor differ it from day to day for his wrath will come on a sudden Eccles 5. Ruin will fall upon that man who with a stiff-neck contemns him that rebukes him Prov. 29. XVIII MED Of the Conditions of a true Pennance A True Repentance ought to proceed from the
You have grace enough not to go thither You have enough to retire from thence But shall you have grace enough if you stay there Is it not a sin of Presumption To promise it your self in the occasion At least it will be very weak And your enemy will be very strong He is a Dog in a chain When we come near him he bites us He expects us in the occasion If you go thither O rash Soul You will yield to that temptation He that loves danger will not escape danger Be not familiar with a cholerick man neither do thou walk with a furious man least thou learn his foot stept Prov. 22. He that touches pitch shall be defiled with it and he that keeps company with a proud man will put on pride Eccles 14. He that joyns himself to Fornicators will be naught Eccles 14. If any one be a Fornicator amongst you do not so much as eat with such an one 1 Cor. 5. He that loves danger shall perish therein Eccles 3. Go off from the Tabernacles of the wicked men and do not touch any thing that belongs to them that ye be not involv'd in their ruin Numb 16. If thy right eye scandalize thee pluck it out and cast it from thee Matth. 5. We denounce unto you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ That you withdraw your selves from every brother that walks disorderly 2 Thess 3. XX. MED Of a good and a bad Conscience O How good it is to serve God What a pleasure is there in loving him How good is he to those that love him How terrible to those that offend him How happy is a good conscience How unhappy is a bad Conscience How joyful is a sound heart How sad is a sick heart O what quiet is there in a good Soul O what disturbance in a wicked Soul The Conscience of a just man is a Heaven The Conscience of a Sinner is a Hell God is in the Soul of a just man The Devil is in the Soul of a Sinner A virtuous man fears nothing A wicked man apprehends all things A just man is well with himself A wicked man is ill with himself A virtuous man willingly stays at home Because all is in peace there A wicked man dares not enter into himself Because all things are there in disorder O how sweet is Virtue O how bitter is Vice O how precious is the death of the Just O how horrible is the death of Sinners Ah! I will love God now That I may love him in Eternity I will lead a good life that I may have a good death My sin is always before me Psal 50. There is no peace to the wicked saith our Lord. Isa 48. A good conscience is as it were a perpetual feast Prov. 15. Tribulation and anguish upon every Soul that works evil Rom. 2. Hell is my house Job 17. This is our glory the testimony of our conscience 2 Cor. 1. XXI MED Of the peace of the Soul I Would fain be in peace Whence comes it that I am not Is it not because I defer too much to my own sence Because I am too much wedded to my own will Because I rebel against my Superiors Because I will suffer nothing Because I desire something with eagerness Because I am ambitious Because I am envious Is it not because I wage war against God Because I resist his Will Because I oppose my self to his Providence Because I would have what he will not Because I will not what he wills Who can live in peace that fights against God Who can be contented that is at odds with God O my Soul If thou art against God God will be against thee If thou disturbest his peace he will disturb thy quiet If thou keep his orders his orders will keep thee If thou disturb his order His order will disturb thee Desire nothing and thou shalt have all Do the Will of God and God will do thine He will do the Will of those that fear him Ps 144. VVhence come the wars and brangles amongst you is it not from your concupiscences James 4. Glory be to God on high and on Earth peace to men of good will Luk. 2. My peace I give you let not your heart be troubled John 14. Much peace there is to those that love thy law Ps 118. XXII MED Of vain Desires ARt thou contented O my Soul What dost thou desire upon earth Is not God sufficient for thee Is not he thy happiness When wert thou well without him Or when ill with him What dost thou seek besides God Who can content thee but God Thy desires are thy Tyrants 'T is they make thee miserable 'T is they that rent thy heart How happy would'st thou be if thou desiredst nothing What dost thou get by desiring These sort of desires enter not into Heaven They are the Devils in Hell 'T is they that torment the damned Leave off desiring and thou wilt get out of Hell O my God! Out of you all abundance is to me indigence All sweetness is bitterness to me That Heart is very covetous To which God is not sufficient Covetousness is the root of all evils 1 Tim. 6. The desires of sinners shall perish Ps 122. Desires kill the slothful man Prov. 21. Turn away from me all desires Eccles 23. Yield me not O Lord from my desire to the Sinner Psal 139. Martha Martha thou art Sollicitous and troubled about many things Luk. 10. XXIII MED Of Tepidity How miserable is a Tepid Soul She has lost all relish of God She is depriv'd of all comforts She wanders out of the ways of his Providence She sins without fear She does ill without remorse She dares not enter into her self She is Sick and is not sensible of her Sickness She is wicked and thinks her self good She is a slave and thinks her self free She abuses all remedies She rejects all Inspirations She is insensible to all Grace She discredits Devotion She scandalizes her Neighbour She is a burden to Communities She lies heavy upon God's heart She is just upon the point of being cast out She is in danger of never re-entring more Am not I in that state Am I hot or am I cold Am I all God's Or am I his only by halfs If so I have a tepid Soul O divine Saviour How long have I afflicted you How long have I clogg'd your heart Ah! Vomit me not up yet Deprive me not of your love Drive me if you will out of your Heaven But drive me not out of your Heart Draw in your goods from my soul But draw not back your love from thence Alas I more dread your hatred Than I do the pains of Hell My Soul Remember the state thou art fallen from Resume thy first fervour 〈◊〉 tho I dost it quickly Thy Candlestick will be removed And another put in its place JESUS will drive thee out of his heart And thou shalt never more re-enter therein If thou
dy many times That I may dy once well Remember that death doth not tarry Eecles 14. Watch because you know neither the day nor the hour Matth. 25. VVatch at all times Luk. 21. If thou do not watch I will come to thee like a Thief Apoc. 3. Therefore be ye prepared because in what hour you think not the Son of Man will come Matth. 24. L. MED How to resolve for Death WHat do you fear O Christian Soul VVhence is it that you apprehend Death Cannot you endure that which a little Infant does endure Cannot you do that which an Emmot does All Creatures know how to dy And are you ignorant of this Science VVhat will you do with life If you will never part with it VVas it not God that gave it you Has not he a right to dispose of it He has giv'n you the use of it But has reserv'd the property thereof to himself 'T is a trust that you must restore to him Sooner or later in a good condition To what purpose do you stand trifling You must pass that way 'T is a folly to apprehend too much VVhat one cannot avoid VVe fear things that are doubtful But we expect things that are certain You should not have been born If you had no mind tody Are you in a better condition than Kings Shall you be more privileg'd than JESUS Christ For my part were I immortal I would beg it as a favour To be able to die as he did Are not you a Criminal Are not you condemn'd to death The Sentence thereof was pronounced Against Adam from the time that he sinn'd O how favourable is this Sentence O how much good does it procure us Death is no more a punishment 'T is an inestimable benefit VVe should ask it as a favour If God had not condemn'd us to it The Judgments of God are terrible But his Mercies are infinit It is good to fear But it is better to hope He that hopes in God Shall not be deceived He that leaves himself to God Shall not be forsaken Will your Condition be made better By living yet longer You will increase your debts Instead of diminishing them You say that you will do Pennance And you are yet to begin 'T is a Pennance of great merit To accept of death as a punishment Man can do no action for God Comparable to the Sacrifice of his life O my God! How happy do I esteem my self That 't is in my power to die for you I cannot be a Martyr for the Faith But I will be a Martyr of Charity To dy is no great matter But to dy well is a great matter I give to you O my God out of love VVhat death will take from me by force I give to you out of charity VVhat I cannot refuse out of necessity Better is death than a bitter life and eternal rest than continual sickness Eccles 30. O Death good is thy judgment to an indigent man and whose strength decays in his old age Eccles 41. Fear not the judgment of Death remember what things were before thee and what things will come after thee this is God's judgment on all flesh Eccles 41. VVe know if this earthly house of ours of this habitation be dissolved that we have a building from God not made with hands but eternal in heaven 2 Cor. 5. Unhappy man that I am who will deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 6. LI. MED The Affections of a just Soul at the approaches of Death which we should cause to be read to us in our last sickness I Am told that I must dy O the sweet and pleasant news I am quitting Earth to go to Heaven Going out of my Prison for to re-enter into liberty Quitting a Banishment for to return to my dear Country Passing from Time to Eternity From the figure to the truth From Change to Immutability From Death to Immortality From Misery to Felicity I am going to possess God To enjoy God To be transform'd into God To fill my Understanding with a plenitude of light My VVill with a plenitude of peace My Memory with a plenitude of goods My Senses with a fulness of pleasures I shall there above find all that I desire And nothing of what I fear I shall have no more evil I shall want nothing that is good God will be to me All in all And be so for all Eternity I am told that I am dying O the sweet news I shall be no more opprest with miseries Suffer no more incommodities Be no more afflicted with sickness No more subject to commit sin Nor in danger of damning my self Nor any more have any thing to trouble me I shall see and I shall love I shall praise and I shall bless This I shall do for ever VVithout ever being weary of doing it O what a happiness I am going to dy I am going to the place of my repose To the Land of the living To the Kingdom of peace To the Palace of glory To the Nuptials of the Lamb To sit at God's Table To eat the bread of Angels To see what eye hath not seen To hear what ear hath not heard To possess what the heart of man hath never conceived O the happy News They tell me I am dying Come my Soul Let us quit this miserable life Let us go out of this wretched body What art thou afraid of Jesus is dead for thee He has satisfied for thy sins He has pay'd all thy debts He is becom thy security He has answer'd for thee He has promis'd thee his Heaven He has declar'd thee his Heir He has made thee a surrender of all his Merits He has given thee his Body as a Pledge He has bestow'd infinit benefits on thee He has preserv'd thee from infinit dangers If he would have destroy'd thee Would he have died for thee Would he have conserv'd thy life so long Have expected thee with so much patience Given thee time to do pennance Have illuminated thee with so many lights Called thee with so much love Drawn thee with so much force Favoured thee with so many graces Given thee so many good desires Visited thee in thy sickness Made thee receive his Sacraments Markt thee with the Seal of the Predestinate If thou sighest thou shalt be saved If thou art converted in thy heart Thy sins shall be forgiven thee One sigh is sufficient to gain Heaven The Pennance that is true is never don too late He is always converted time enough Who is converted from the bottom of his heart Behold JESUS calls you Behold JESUS stretches out his arms to you Hark how he prays for you on his Cross Hark how he says with a loud voice Father forgive him for he knew not what he did He bows down his head to kiss you He spreads his arms for to embrace you His heart is open for to let you into it He has given his life for to save you O happy news
They say I am to dy Come I am content I willingly resign up my life I render it to him that gave it me I remit my spirit into his hands I recommend unto him my body and my soul I am sorry that I have offended him I accept of death for to satisfie him I believe all that he has reveal'd I hope for all that he has promis'd I give him all that I possess I will dy for his glory I will dy for his sake I will dy in gratitude I will dy for justice sake I will dy because he died I will dy for him as he died for me I will dy that I may see him I will dy that I may love him I will dy that I may bless him And for to sing his Praises for all Eternity O Father of mercy Behold a Prodigal Child Who has wasted all your goods Who has spent his life in Debaucheries That returns now to your house And who most humbly begs your pardon Alas I have liv'd without reason Since I have had the use of reason I have don nothing but evil Since I knew what was good My Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and against thee I deserve not to bear the name of thy Child I am not worthy to enter into thy house But have you ceased to be a Father Because I have ceased to be your Child Have you lost your goodness Because I have lost my innocence Are you no more a Father of mercy Because I am becom a Child of misery O my Father O the best of all Fathers Have pity on the miserablest of all thy Children I was lost and I am now retrieved I was dead and I am risen again I was gon far from you and now I am here ready to appear before you O my Father Come and meet your Child Give him a kiss of peace Forgive him his offences Revest him with a Nuptial Robe Receive him into your house Give him a place at your Feast O JESUS The Physician of the poor sick The Comforter of the poor afflicted The hope of poor Sinners Here am I before you without strength Without motion without speech But my heart says inwardly Come O my JESVS come quickly Draw my Soul out of this Prison Recal me out of this exile Conduct me to my dear Country Behold the Just do there expect me My friends hold forth their arms to me O how beautiful are thy Tabernacles O how admirable is thy Palace O how contented shall I be in Heaven O how happy shall I be in your Company I dy with a desire of dying Com divine Saviour and make me languish no more O holy Mother of God! Who didst see thy Son dying Lo here thy Child is sick Forsake him not in this extremity Com and receive his Spirit And defend him from his enemies O ye Angels of Heaven Com down upon Earth to help me Make a guard round about me Drive away from me the Infernal Lyon Preserve me even unto my Death After having sav'd me from so many Shipwracks Suffer me not to perish in the Haven Come let us go to Heaven Let us go to Paradise My heart is ready O my God my heart is ready It is ready to stay here on earth It is ready to go hence It is ready to live It is ready to dy Thy will be don I recommend my body and soul to you I rejoyced in the things that were said to me we will go into our Lord's house Psal 121. Blessed are those that dy in our Lord. Apoc. 14. Blessed are those that are call'd to the Nuptials of the Lamb. Apoc. 19. In thee O Lord have I hoped I shall not be confounded for ever Ps 30. VVhat is there to me in Heaven and what besides thee would I have on Earth my flesh and my heart have fainted O the God of my heart and my portion God for ever Ps 72. I am straitned on both sides having a desire to be dissolved and be with Christ much more better Phil. 1. One thing have I asked that will I require that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all the days of my life Ps 26. How beloved are thy Tabernacles O God of Hosts my soul doth long and faint after the Courts of our Lord. Ps 83. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house O Lord they shall praise thee for ever and ever Ps 83. All this Psalm is full of sweet thoughts to raise in a sick person a desire of Heaven If thou dost observe iniquities O Lord who can sustain Ps 126. VVith our Lord there is mercy and with him a copious redemption ibid. LII MED A Paraphrase on our Lord's Prayer for the comfort of the sick Our Father I Believe O my God that you are my Father who have given me the life of my soul and body for to serve and love you and which you have repaired by the Death of your Son after I had miserably lost it through my sin You are the Father of all men and of the most miserable of all men whom you see here extended on this Bed O how glad am I that I have such a Father So good so wise so holy so powerful I hope that since you have given â—ne a temporal life you will do me the favour â—lso to give me an eternal one O my Father 〈◊〉 render back unto you the life which you have given me I am sorry that I have employed it so ill and that I have used it to offend you therewith My Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and against you I am not worthy to bear the quality of your Child but receive me I beseech you into the number of your Servants My Father if it be possible let this Chalice of Death and Sufferance pass from my mouth and let me not drink it as yet Yet let your Will be don and not mine My Father glorifie your Son that your Son may glorifie you and since I have not honored you upon Earth make me praise you Eternally in Heaven Which art in Heaven Alas you are in Heaven and I am yet here upon Earth You are in a place of peace and I am in a place of warfare You are in Heaven for to reward me and I am on Earth for to honour you I hope O my God that I shall soon be with you in Heaven I hope so on the merits of the precious blood which your Son hath shed for me O when will that day com How tedious is it to live banished from your presence How the Earth displeases me when I lift up my eyes to Heaven O Heaven O Heaven What ought not we to do to gain thee What ought not we to suffer for to obtain thee All that I endure is nothing in comparison of what I hope for Hallowed be thy Name O admirable name of God! I came into this World for to sanctifie thee and I have don nothing but profane thee I came upon Earth
Creatures It gives us a disgust of this life Makes us desire death Satisfies for our sins Makes us feel the punishment of them Gives us a horrour of them Destroys the habit of them Makes us like to Jesus Christ Makes us drink in his Chalice There is nothing more glorious than to suffer Nothing more sweet more wholsom More necessary than to suffer What an honour is it to be Crucified with JESUS To be treated like one of his Members To ascend up his Royal Throne To carry his Scepter and wear his Diadem To consummate the work of his Redemption To fill up what is wanting to his Passion To express his suffering Figure To continue his Sacrifice To take a part in his Sorrows To help him to carry his Cross To be a Victim like him To be a Martyr like him To be persecuted like him To be immolated like him I adore Torments as Sacraments I look upon an afflicted man As on Jesus crucified I had rather suffer with Jesus Than reign with Jesus God chastizes those whom he loves He spares not the Rod to his Children If I am not corrected I am not beloved If I am not God's Child I shall not be saved God is never more in wrath Than when he puts not himself in wrath I never am more comforted Than when I find my self amidst Sufferings He that chastizes me for the present Will spare me in Eternity God always visits with his grace Those whom he visits with pain Grace is a fruit of the Cross You must climb the Cross to gather it You will never be without grace As long as you are on the Cross There is no virtue without a Cross No merit without patience Take away the Cross from Charity And it has no more tenderness Take away the Cross from Hope And it has no more support Take away the Cross from Humility And it is nothing but Vanity Take away the Cross from Fortitude And it is nothing but Weakness Money is not currant Unless it be stamp't with the Prince's Coin The Wounds that are given to it Give it its value Unless you have Wounds You will have no merit Your Gold will not be currant Unless it be markt with the Cross's Stamp How perfect is a Patient man All his Virtues are Heroick He believes that he is lov'd When he is afflicted That God makes much of him When he strikes him He hopes against hope He is calm in all events Immoveable in his ruin Indefatigable in his labours He loves God without allurements He kisses the rods wherewith he is scourged He thinks himself unworthy of all goods He reckons himself worthy of all evils He leaves himself to his Providence He lets himself be led by Obedience He adores all Crosses as Relicks of the true Cross God is wise he knows well what he does He is good therefore he wishes me well He is every where the sees what I suffer He is omnipotent he can deliver me He is rich he can assist me He is just Why should I complain He is charitable Why should I despair He is patient Ought not I to imitate him He is a King Ought not be to govern He is Soveraign Ought not he to command What a comfort is it to be on the Cross With JESUS Crucified He is with you upon your Cross And you are with him upon his He is united to you by sufferance And you are united to him by patience Is not this to be blessed To be thus united to him The Union in Heaven is delicious The Union on Earth is dolorous God created the World by acting But he repaired it by suffering He acts like a God with those that act He suffers like a man with those that suffer O my Soul What greater joy Than to be with Jesus on the Cross You are a Christian onely by the Cross You are no more one if you be without a Cross 'T is to renounce your Religion To be too much afraid of Sufferings You shall have a part in Jesus his Pleasures If you have a part in his Sorrows You shall accompany him in his glory If you will keep him company in his pains You shall reign with him Provided that you suffer with him One must fight for to be crowned One must suffer for to be saved Man lost himself by pleasure He cannot save himself but by pain JESVS liv'd in pain And You would live in pleasure The Innocent was punisht And the Nocent would go free The Son was crown'd with Thorns And the Slave would be crown'd with Roses The Just man was elevated on a Cross And the Wicked man would ascend a Throne There is no greater Cross Than to have a horrour of the Cross One endures more in damning ones self Than one endures in saving himself The wicked man suffers without pleasure He has no comfort in his pain His Cross has no Unction 'T is the wicked Thief 's Cross It hath neither sweetness nor merit No body helps him to carry it 'T is the Cross of one in despair Let us honour bear love the Cross of Jesus 'T is the mystical Ladder of Jacob. 'T is the Throne of Wisdom The Chair of the Man-God The Trophy of our Salvation The Standard of our Religion The Seal of Predestination The principle of grace The foundation of glory O Holy Cross I adore thee Dear Spouse of the Son of God I kiss thee and I embrace thee Disdain not the Servant because thou didst bear the Master Disdain not the Criminal Because thou didst bear the Innocent Disdain not a man Because thou hast born a God O Holy Cross 'T is to me that thou dost belong The Holy one has no right in thee Thou art the portion of man Thou art the inheritance of the sinner The appennage of a Christian For me therefore thou wert made Come O Holy Cross betwixt my arms Permit me to rest upon thine I have espous'd thee in my Baptism Thy Marriage must be indissoluble Let nothing separate me from thee O Throne of grace and of mercy Raise me up from the Earth As thou didst my Saviour If I dy betwixt thy arms I shall be both a Saviour and saved I shall gain Souls to God And shall not lose my own Blessed is the wood by the which justice is made Wisd 14. Then Jesus said to his Disciples if any one will come after me c. let him take up his Cross Matth. 6. The word of the Cross to those that do perish is foolishness but to those that are saved that is to us 't is the power of God 1 Cor. 1. I rejoyce in Sufferings for you and fulfil the things that are wanting of the suffering of Christ for his body which is the Church of God Coloss 1. God forbid that I should glory saving in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 6. The sinner hath provoked our Lord to wrath he will not seek after him according to the multitude of his
Yea blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it Luk 11. He that turns away his ear that he may not hear the Law his Prayer shall be execrable Isai 28. Not in bread alone shall man live but in every word that proceeds from the mouth of God Matth. 4. See that you refuse him not speaking Heb. 11. The seed is the Word of God Luk. 8. LXXXIV MED Of the Happiness of a Religious State REligion is a Paradise God is always seen there His Voice is always heard there One is always in his Presence there One enjoys always his Company there One always does his Will there One always sings his Praises there There one falls seldom Commits but light sins Rises soon Merits continually Dies quietly and is saved securely O how heavy is the Yoke of the World O how troublesom are its Crosses O how bitter is its Chalice O how pricking are its thorns O how pestilent are its Examples O how dangerous are its Conversations O how Tyrannical are its Laws O how pernicious are its Maxims O how shameful are its Pleasures O how imaginary are its Goods Cursed Onions of Egypt You draw Tears from those that eat you You make those weep that love you He took away his people like sheep and brought them through like a flock in the desart Ps 77. They remembred not his hand in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of the afflicter ibid. How beloved are thy tabernacles O Lord my Soul doth long and faint into the courts of our Lord Ps 89. I have chosen to be abject in the house of my God rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of Sinners Better is one day in thy courts above a thousand ibid. Every one who shall leave his house or Brothers or Sisters or father or mother or vvife or children or land for my sake shall receive a hundred fold and possess life everlasting Matth. 19. Amen I say unto you That there is none c. vvho shall not receive novv in this time a hundred fold vvith Persecutions and in the World to com life everlasting Mark 10. Much more in this time c. Luk. 18. LXXXV MED Of Poverty ONe that is Poor in spirit Busies himself with nothing One that is Poor in heart desires nothing He contents himself with what is necessary Nay he is willing to want even Necessaries Few things are wanting To a Poor man that is contented All things are wanting to a rich Miser Few things suffice Necessity Nothing is sufficient to Covetousness How rich is that man who possesses God How poor is that man who has lost God How happy is that man Who will have nothing but God How covetous is that man Who is not contented with God God fills an empty heart All is establisht in Nothing You shall have All if you desire Nothing You will find All when you have Nothing O my Saviour How rich an inheritance is Poverty What good do you to those that have quitted all Could any one be poorer Than you were born Could any one live poorer than you lived You were rich and you made your self poor I am poor and I would fain becom rich You had all and yet you wanted all I had nothing and I would want nothing O how unjust a thing is it that the Slave Should be better accomodated than his Master Fear not my Son vve lead indeed a poor life but vve shall have many goods if vve fear God Tob. 4. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5. If thou vvilt be perfect go and sell all thou hast and give it to the poor Matth. 14. We brought nothing into this World nor doubtless shall vve carry any thing avvay 1 Tim. 6. LXXXVI MED Of Chastity JESVS loves those that are Virgins JESVS chose a Virgin-Mother JESVS cherished a Virgin-Disciple JESVS in Heaven is followed by Virgins I am more than an Angel if I am a Virgin I resemble God if I am a Virgin I am the Spouse of Christ if c. I am the Handmaid of Christ if c. I shall have a Garland in Heaven if c. I shall have more right to Resurrection if c. Virginity is a great treasure But hard to preserve One must be humble to be chast God humbles the Proud He lets them fall into infamous Sins He punishes the Soul by the Body He covers those with shame and confusion Who have not Submission No man can command Who knows not how to obey No man can be a Master If he never learnt to be subject The Body obeys an obedient Spirit It is submiss to a submiss Spirit It is rebellious to a rebellious Spirit He that does not obey his Superiour Loses his empire over his Inferiour He that does not mortify his senses Becoms a slave to his Body Watch over your self and Pray Fly occasions or else you will perish O my God! How I dread Pride Since it casts one into impurity How I love Obedience Since it conserves Innocency I will be very humble that I may be very chast I will obey my Superiours That I may be obeyed by my Inferiours O let me rather fall into Hell Than let me fall into Impurity The Disciple whom Jesus loved Jo. 21. These are they who were not stained with women for they are Virgins Apoc. 14. Incorruption makes one near unto God Wisd 6. In the Resurrection they shall neither marry nor be married but they shall be like the Angels of God in Heaven Matth. 22. Therefore God delivered them up to the desires of their hearts into uncleanness for to abuse their own bodies among themselves ignominiously Rom. 1. Therefore God hath delivered them into passions of ignominy ibid. LXXXVII MED Of Obedience HOw happy is an obedient man He always does what God would have him He is in some manner impeccable He possesses all Virtues He is victorious over all Vices How miserable is a rebellious Subject How wicked and vicious is he He labours much and gains nothing He is strongly tempted And he yields to the Temptation He fights against the Will of God And God fights against his He goes out of the order of his goodness And he enters into that of his justice He will not bow And God breaks his Obstinacy He will not obey And God opposes his Inclination He loses the command he had over his Body From the time that he will not submit his Spirit He is not obeyed by his Inferiours Because he obeys not his Superiours O Christian and Religious Soul Acknowledge and adore Jesus in all his Images In those of Wood and Earth As well as in those of Gold and Silver Receive with respect God's orders By the Organ of Amos as well as that of Isaiah By the mouth of a Peasant As well as of a Courtier Obey all your Superiours Obey them in all that is not sin Obey them with all your Heart Obey them with
I commend my spirit And saying this he gave up the Ghost Luk. 23. And bowing down the head he gave up the Ghost John 19. Our King before ages wrought Salvation in the midst of the Earth Psal 73. He that adheres to our Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6. If God be for us who is against us Rom. 8. Therefore let those who suffer according to the Will of God recommend their Souls to their faithful Creator in good deeds 1 Pet. 4. CXVI MED Of the Death of the Son of God JESUS is dead Who will fear death He died for us Who will refuse to dy for him He died wasted with pains Who will refuse to suffer He died for his Servants Who will serve any other Master but him He died for our sins Who will dare to put him to death again O the good Shepherd Who died for his Sheep O the High Priest Who immolated himself for men O the faithful Friend Who lov'd us until death O the Divine Master Who placed his Chair on Mount Calvary O JESVS Since thou didst dy for me It is just that I should dy for thee Since thou hast given me the example I must dy as thou didst Wherefore I pardon all my enemies I hope thou wilt give me thy Heaven Recommend me I pray to thy good Mother Bid her take care of me O forsake me not O my God When all the World forsakes me Sustain me by thy grace When I have lost the strength of my body I thirst I desire to see thee I desire to dy When will my end com When shall I consummate my Sacrifice O my Father I recommend my spirit into thy hands I unite my death with thy Son 's Remember that he redeem'd me with his blood Lose not my soul which is of so great value Bowing down his head he gave up the Ghost John 19. The just man perisheth and no body thinks of it in his heart Isai 57. Think upon him who endured such contradiction against himself from sinners that you may not be wearied in your minds fainting Heb. 12. He died for the wicked Rom. 5. Christ died for us ibid. For this end did Christ dy and rose again that he might be Lord of the quick and the dead Rom. 14. Your are dead and your life is hid with Christ c. Col. 3. CXVII MED In form of Prayer on the seven Stations of the Sufferings of the Son of God 1. STATION O Jesus my Saviour who didst sweat blood and water in the Garden of Olives at the sight of thy torments and of my sins And who didst strip thy self of thy farce for to cloath thy self with my Infirmities I aadore thee all bathed in thy blood I give thanks to thy sacred heart for having afflicted it self for my sake I detest all the sins which did cause so great a sadness I resolve to dy rather than ever more to afflict thee Give me grace that I may as thou didst conceive a great sorrow for my iniquities that I may resist even unto blood the Temptations of the Devil and of the Flesh and that I may conform my self in all things to thy example and to the will of thy Father 2. STAT O Jesus my Lord who wert buffeted and ill treated in the houses of Annas and Caiphas I give thee thanks for having suffered these injuries and these confusions for the love of me Alas how often have I buffeted and injured thee in the person of my neighbour since thou reckonest as don to thy self all the ill that is don to him I beg most humble pardon of thee for it And I resolve henceforth for thy sake to suffer all the injuries that shall be don to me and never more to offend thee in the person of my Brothers either by action words judgment or will 3. STAT O Jesus my King who wert scorned by Herod and by the Jews when they preferred a Robber a Seditious felow and a Man-killer before thee I beg pardon of you for having so often preferr'd the Devil and wretched Creatures before you I promise never more to dishonour you You shall always be the King of my heart and I will rather dy than lay you as I have don under the feet of Lucifer that Robber that Seditious wretch and Murderer of all men 4. STAT O Jesus the purest and chastest of all men whose innocent flesh was torn with the blows of the Whips in Pilate's house for to expiate the Criminal Pleasures that we take in our flesh I acknowledge that it was for my sake that you suffered such cruel torments I am sorry for having given you so many wounds and that I have so often renewed them by the satisfaction which I have given to my Senses I conjure you by your Dolours to sanctifie my Body and Soul and to wash them with your pretious blood from all their Impurities and never to suffer that that flesh which has been washed in your blood be ever stain'd with any sin 5. STAT O Jesus the greatest of all Kings who wert crowned with Thorns and didst wear on thy Shoulders the Royal Marks of thy Principality I acknowledge thee for my King as despised and disfigured as thou art And since thou hast no part of thy body which was not wounded I will take no more pleasure in my body but will live in grief and pain that I may be one of thy Subjects and one of thy Members 6. STAT O Jesus my Redeemer who for my sake wert fastened to a Cross and who didst shed all thy blood for to rescue me from the power of the Devil whose Slave I was I give the thanks for this incomparable love that thou didst bear to me for so many torments which thou didst suffer for my sake I kiss with respect thy sacred feet and thy sacred hands which were pierced for my sake I adore that sacred heart which was opened for my love and I promise rather to dy than ever more to crucify thee in mine 7. STAT O Jesus my life who didst dy for me and who wert forsaken by thy Father that I might not be forsaken at my death O most meek Lamb immolated for the Salvation of men Victim of Love and Patience who wert consummated on a pile of sorrows O the Saint of Saints O the King of Kings What can I do for to acknowledge so great a goodness Why may not I dy for you as you died for me I believe that thou art my Saviour and I should despair did I not believe it I hope that thou wilt pardon me my sins and that thou wilt bestow on me thy Heaven since thou gavest me thy life I detest my Crimes which are the cause of thy death and I will rather lose my life than ever make thee dy in my heart since this death is infinitly more sensible and more ignominious to thee than that of the Cross I beg your pardon for all those who have offended me I give my self
give credit to my word But he credited that of the Serpent A blind credulity ought to repair his curiosity Faith consecrates your Understanding It humbles pour Pride It raises your Knowledges It makes you subject to God You must believe that you may see Faith goes before glory And how can you have Faith If what you see be not hidden The Disciple I will again speak c. Doutless your Humanity For to be an object of our Faith Ought to be hid as well as your Divinity But why under the form of Bread Is this state sutable to you What honour is not due to you Who can honour you in this figure The Master My Wisdom would not be infinit Unless it were incomprehensible It would not be wonderful Unless it were unconceivable Wisdom avoids the open light It hides it self in darkness Goodness flies from obscurity And would produce it self into the light Wisdom hides it self Because it would be admired Goodness discovers it self Because it would be beloved A God under the form of a man Is a more astonishing change Than a man under the form of bread Than a body in form of aliment Did not they eat the Lamb the Manna The loaves of Proposition If the figures were eaten The Truth also ought to be eaten You stood in need of a Sacrament For the nourishment of your Souls As your life is divine You stood in need of a divine food As you have a Soul and Body So there was requisit my Soul and my Body Unless you eat my flesh you will not have life All men were to eat it There was therefore requisit an aliment That all men might make use of Men have different tasts But all men love bread I took this amiable figure That I might be eaten without horrour That I might enter into the bottom of your heart That I might communicate my Spirit to you For to purify your body For to asswage its concupiscence For to cure it of its maladies For to give it my purity And my virginal qualities Bread is an aliment Which shews the effects of the Sacrament I would have you all to be united together I would transform you into my self As I live for my Father So I would have you live for me The Disciple O divine Master How admirable is your Wisdom You are truly a hidden God O what Bread O what a Feast O what a Table O how am I obliged to you That you would remain with us That you would take this figure For to communicate your self to us I believe I will not see I am called a Believer and not a Rationalist What shall I do to acknowledge you Since you remain with me I will remain with you Since you humble your self for me I will humble my self for you Since you destroy your self for me I will destroy my self for you Since you will live in me I will also live in you CXXVII MED Of the Love of JESVS Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar THis Sacrament proceeds from Love This Sacrament contents Love This Sacrament produces Love The Son of God did institute it out of Love He ascended up to Heaven out of Justice But he remain'd on Earth out of Love Did men deserve this favour They made themselves unworthy of it Does there any advantage accrew to him by it He suffers therein a great contempt Love hath triumphed over God Love made him com down on Earth Love made him stay there Love keeps him as it were Prisoner there Love tends unto Unity 'T is the end of all its desires It finds in the Communion All its satisfaction There it is that Jesus unites himself to us There it is that we unite our selves to him That he transforms himself into us That we transform our selves into him That he becoms one self-same thing with us That we becom one self-same thing with him There is but one person made up Of the aliment and of him that takes it There is a distinction every where But there is none in the food This is that which contents Love This is that which makes it a Sacrament of Love Knowledge begets Love Presence nourishes Love Affection enkindles Love Benefits do draw Love The Soul here sees her well-beloved She enjoys his Presence She discovers his affection She is fill'd with his graces and favours The heart may resist hatred But it cannot resist Love She there finds her beloved She there finds her delights She there finds her Love Ah! whence coms it that I am all ice Whence coms it that I have so little love What Nature is my heart made of How can it defend it self Love encompasses it on all sides And yet it knows not what Love is Love shews it self to my eyes Love makes it self be heard to my ears Love makes it self be tasted by my mouth Love makes it self be felt by my heart Love calls me draws me warms me Fights me flatters me obliges me Does all things to win me And yet I know not what it is to love Whence coms this insensibility O it is because I love Creatures It is because I am not disengaged It is because my heart is divided It is because I am not mortified My Soul Wilt thou always be ungrateful Wilt thou never let thy heart be won Shall not a God who is always with thee A God who gives himself all to thee A God who annihilates himself for thee A God who stands not in need of thee Who is happy without thee Who has so much Love for thee Who bestows so many benefits on thee Win thy heart Cannot he deserve thy affection O I can no longer resist this Love No longer defend my self from its pursuits I will no longer withdraw through fear I will approach out of Love O I will mortify my self For I cannot live without loving I will communicate frequently For I cannot live without eating The children of Israel said to one another Manhu which signifies What is this for they were ignorant what it was To whom Moses said This is the bread which our Lord has given you to eat Exod. 16. This is the bread that came down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and died He that eats this bread shall live for ever John 6. Who shall give us of his flesh that we may be filled Job 31. My flesh is truly meat John 6. When he had loved his who were in the World he loved them unto the end John 13. CXXVIII MED Of the Holy Communion Ye Daughters of Jerusalem Tell my well beloved That I expect her day and night And that I languish with love I quitted Heaven for to com down on Earth And for to gain her love I took the form of Bread To make my self be loved And eaten without horrour I made my self a food that I might unite My self strictly to this ungrateful Soul I would fain feed her I would enrich her With the treasure of my Graces Why does