their harts saying Matt 15. Mâ—rc 7. Prou. 23. My sonne offer vp to me thy hart In which words two things are included namely Corporall Preparation and Spirituall Disposition in fruitfully saying our Beads The former of these two dependeth vpon the exteriour disposition of our body to this exercise which consisteth in these pointes Corporall PreparatioÌ„ First in decent placing of our body in the well ordering of our fiue outward senses in well endeauouring to keepe them from distractions as also by so scituating our selues that the ouermuch diseasing of the body eyther by continuall kneeling or prostrating our selues vpon the ground by extension of the armes in manner of a crosse and the like mortifications cause not the distraction of our minds Wherfore for the tyme thou prayest I could wish thee not to put thy selfe to any great corporall affliction but so to dispose of thy body that it remayne quiet and if it were possible as if thy soule were for that tyme separated from it The later Spirituall disposition namely spirituall disposition is a restraint of all our internall sensitiue powers in keeping them attent and wholy imployed about our prayer also a deuout applying of our three spirituall faculties of the soule namely our Will Vnderstanding and Memory with all their actions and functions to Gods seruice in this holy exercise For seeing God hath created both soule and body to his seruice commanded vs to loue him with all our soule hart mind and power and seeing the performance of the worke is a proofe of our loue it standeth with great reason we should endeauour to imploy our selues in this action wholly and sincerely performing it with all reuerence both of soule and body Of the seuerall parts of the Beades CHAP. IIII. I Intend to discourse vpon this pious manner of praying plainly and cleerly to the end that the explications I shal here make may be more generally vnderstood Wherefore I will speake only of such parts thereof as are appointed by our holy Mother the Catholike Church to wit the Creed Pater Noster and Aue Maria An vsuall payre of Beads coÌ„monly consisteth of one Creed three Aues six Decades or six tymes ten Aues more and seauen Pater Nosters The decade or ten Aues is sayd in remembrance or honour of the ten Commandements of God The Creed signifieth the Vnion of our Fayth according to that of the Apostle One fayth Ephes 4 one God one Baptisme and therfore is but once sayd in the Beads The Pater Noster betokneth hope and is seauen tymes repeated and that for diuers reasons First in respect of the seauenfold graces or gifts of the holy Ghost which we still pray for Secondly for the extirpation of the seauen deadly sinnes out of vs. Thirdly for the obtayning of the seauen contrary vertues Fourthly for the sincere and pure vse of the seauen Sacraments Fiftly for the Christian practising of the seauen Workes of Mercy as well spirituall as temporall The Aue signifieth Charity and is repeated sixty three tymes after the Creed in saying ouer the beads to wit thrise after the Creed and ten tymes in ech of the six decades and this for three causes First in honour and remembrance of our B. Ladies age who liued on earth sixty three yeares Secondly to insinuate vnto vs the frequent vse of workes of mercy of all moral Vertues whose good habits help our weake powers with their assistance in al our operations Thirdly and especially to teach vs that the Works of charity ought farre to surpasse in number and value all the actions of intellectuall and voluntary habits Of the Creed in generall CHAP V. IN saying our beads we alwaies begin with our Creed By the Creed Faith is expressed which is a briefe summe of our fayth and a bridgment of Christian Religion The reason why we begin with our Creed is because the deuout saying of it is an expresse profession of our faith which is to be made in the first place Quia accedentem ad Deum oportet credere because he that commeth vnto God must belieue Againe prayer is an accesse of the Creature to his Creatour which can by no meanes be more aduanced then by an act of Faith Lastly the foundation of iustice which by prayer we seeke for is Faith which is comprised in our Creed To this purpose the Apostle saith with hart we beleeue to iustice Rom. 10. and with mouth we make profession to saluation In which sentence we are taught two things touching our Creed First an inward action of our soule which is nothing els but a spirituall motion of our mind and will towards God the giuer of all vertues and the only rewarder of the same VVhat fayth is For faith is an infused habit proceeding froÌ„ God which perfecteth our Vnderstanding and inclineth our Will with a pious affection to belieue in God and consequently by the meanes of his diuine grace to attaine vnto Iustification Secondly we are taught an outward action of our body consisting in a profession of our faith when with words we outwardly make knowne to others that faith which inwardly in hart mind we belieue Which action also coÌ„ioyned with charity doth bring vs vnto Iustification Wherfore in saying the Creed we must attend to foure things First to the words and their meaning Secondly to the persons to whome they are directed who are alwaies God the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Thirdly to the mysteries coÌ„prised in those twelue articles which are many and admirable Fourthly to the manner and fashion wherwith the B. Trinity doth coÌ„municate to mankind those his manifold and exceeding great benefites Of the words of the Creed and their sense CHAP. VI. ADMIRABLE are the sacred words of the Creed because they are signes leading vs into an Ocean of diuine mysteries whose signification is mysticall vpon which I wil only stay omitting the pious conceites of some vpon the number of the words which in latin are 75. but in other vulgar languages 77. for the latin word Credo in all vulgar tongues is two words I Beleeue Ie crey Io Credo c. which word being twice inserted into the Creed maketh vp seauenty seauen and these words signify the whole essence of our beleife I will not say these 77. words in our Creed signify the 77. Matth. â— tymes we ought to forgiue our brethren when they offend vs nor that they betoken the Grand Iubiley because S. Luke writeth in the 77. generation from Adam downward Christ our Sauiour was borne Gen. 4. who as Origen and diuers other of the Fathers vpon Genesis haue noted did superabundantly satisfy for all mankind These and the like pious coniectures omitted I will come to the signification of the words The sense and meaning of these words in our Creed ought to be discussed seriously and with great attention for they import signify meruailous things Wherfore as the Israelites departing out
of Egypt carryed away with them the borrowed treasures of the couÌ„try Exod. 3. and that by Gods owne appointement so the twelue Apostles the pillars of the Catholike Church at the departure out of Iury dispersing into the whole world made by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost this abridgement of Christian beliefe carryed it away with them as an infinite treasure and dispersed it through out the whole world And to the end thou mayest orderly proceed in finding out the true literall and mysticall sense of euery word begin with the first word of thy Creed which is Credo and by it learne how to meditate vpon the rest Search and diue into it profoundly this only word I assure thee is sufficient to hold thy vnderstanding imployed all they life tyme. In this one latin word are these two English words I belieue In this word I thou mayest contemplate al things belonging to man his substance his being this man and not an other his body and soule vnited and also separated his inclinations end helpes miseries wheÌ„ce they do spring and the like And when by consideration of these particulers thou hast satisfied thine vnderstaÌ„ding endeauour to stirre vp in thy will some good affection of loue hope ioy desire or thanks-giuing c. For this is the end of all prayer to prayse God and to inflame our affection in his loue detesting sinne and desiring grace all vertues which good affection being once enkindled in thy hart by the help of Gods grace endeauour to continue and increase it by feruent prayer recollection purposes of good life so begin thy Beades desiring perfect obtayning of that good purpose and affection which thou seelest in thy soule And thus by example of this first Word thou mayst perceaue the manner how to vnderstand and consider with spirituall profit the rest of the words of the Creed Of attention to the Diuine Persons CHAP. VII THIS attention here required is vnto the Maiesty of the three Diuine Persons God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost who are three distinct Persons vnited in one Nature these Persons are expressed in our Creed by these termes Father Sonne and Holy Ghost The nature of these Persons is expressed by the word God The cheife obiect of prayer Vnto these Persons as to the chiefe obiect of thy prayers thou art to haue a serious attention considering with thy selfe that in â—aying thy Creed thou makest the profession of thy faith before these diuine Persons whose maiesty is such that al the reuerence and attention thou canst make is not sufficient to shew the least part of thy allegiance and hauing duely considered before what a Maiesty thou treatest say deuoutly thy Creed in professing thy beliefe touching these diuine Persons Before the first Aue say O God the Father of heauen essentially endued with all perfection haue mercy vpon me and so offer vp thy Memory in saying the first Aue. Before the second say O God the Sonne Redeemer of the world essentially endued with all perfection haue mercy vpon me so offer vp to him thine Vnderstanding in saying the second Aue. Before the third Aue say O God the holy Ghost sanctifier of the whole world essentially repleÌ„ished with all perfection haue mercy vpon me offering vp to him thy Will and Affection as deuoutly as thou canst Then say the first Pater â—oster in asking grace fruitfully â—o meditate vpon the diuine perfections included in the Holy Trinity Before the first decade or ten consider the first Attribute or Perfection Omnipotent which is the Omnipotency of God who can do all things when how and where he pleaseth to whome no creature can â—esist to whome nothing is eiâ—her impossible or hard to do who with one word created all â—hings gouerneth the world withall facility and with one blast can annihilate it againe This omnipotency with all thy soule belieue hope in loue and adore to this submit thy selfe of this craue pardon whome through thy weaknes and frailty thou hast so often offended To this Omnipotency entierly commend and resigne thy selfe beseeching the Saints in heauen to assist thee in louing praysing this Omnipotency by saying Gloria Patri c. Glory be to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost because they are omnipotent As they were in the bâ—ginning now and alwayes world without end Amen This done say one Decade or ton Aues and a Pater noster in praysing his Omnipotency and in humbly desiring alwayes to be directed and defended by the same Before the second Decade cal â—o mind the Infinitenesse of God Infinite his power wisdome goodnes in â—ll his actions c. For example â—ehold his Infinitenesse in wisdome first in so prudently creaâ—ing Heauen Earth Angells Men c. Secondly in so disâ—reetly disposing and ordering all â—hings in number order and measure Thirdly in so prouiâ—ently gouerning the whole world and all therin contained â—ourthly in prouiding so abunâ—antly all necessaries for ech creaâ—ure in his kind Fiftly in cerâ—ainly foreknowing from all eterâ—ity all future euents till the â—orlds end And lastly in preâ—estinating all the elect by most â—onuenient and sweet meanes â—o the attayning of eternall glory all which belieue hope for admire adore and then with the celestiall Court thanke God most humbly for the same in saying Glory be to the Father Sonne anâ— the holy Ghost for their Infinitenesse in Nature and Power aâ— it was in the beginning is now anâ— alwayes shal be world without end Amen Then say ten Aues and one Pater noster in praysing Gods Infinitenesse and in humbly beseeching alwayes to be guided and directed by it Eternall Before the third Decade consider the Eternity of God that he was alwayes before the world was made and that he shall euer so remaine God thrice happy whose Eternity is part of his nature cause and measure of all time See how all other things had their being beginning and continuance from him then lifting vp thy affection to adore this true Eternity say with all the blessed Inhabitants of heauen Glory to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost who are Eternall as they were in the beginning and euer shal be world without end Amen After this say ten Aues and one Pater noster that thou mayest be his faithfull seruant in this world and partaker of his glorious vision in all eternity Before the fourth Decade thinke vpon the Imutability or vnchangeablenes of God Vnchangeable who was is and euer shal be the same God he was from Eternity both in Nature and Operation without all chang or alteration whatsoeuer so that now he is the selfe same God in all respects that he was a million of millions of years past and as he shal be and continue world without end for heauen and earth shall passe and change but thou O Lord remaynest for euer Heere deploring thy continuall decay howerly alteration and
admiring his vnchaÌ„gablenes inuite the Saints and all Pilgrimes of the militant Church to prayse God in saying Glory be to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost for their vnchangeablenes as they were in the beginning and now and euer shal be vnchangeable world without end Amen Heere say ten Aues one Pater demaunding perseuerance in Grace Charity Purity of life and all other vertues Before the fifth Decade looke into incompreheÌ„sible Goodnes of God Good who is goodnes it selfe all other Creatures good by participation of his Goodnes Furthermore God is not only Goodnes it selfe and maker of all things good but also he worketh with his creatures all those workes which are good for without him we can do nothing Ioan. 15. and in this respect we are called when we do well Cooperatours Ioan. 3. and as S. Paul saith Coadiutours with God 1. Cor. 3. who saith of himselfe Phil. 4. I can do all things in him who comforteth me but most plainly of all the Prophet Isay teacheth vs this truth saying Thou O Lord Isa 26. our God hast wrought in vs all our works Consider also this ineffable goodnes of God which hindereth infinite euills which the wicked spirittes and their complices euill men would do if Gods goodnes did not hinder them Againe those euill works which men do bring to passe by Gods permission by this goodnes of God in the end turne to the good of his faithfull seruants as witnesseth his Apostle Al things tend Rom. 8. and cooperate to the good of them that loue God Lastly this goodnes of God neyther is neither can be cause of euill but only of good for of goodnes what can proceed but good Oseâ— 13. Hence the Prophet sayth Thy saluation O Israel is of me but thy perdition is from thy selfe And so being rauished in the loue of this inestimable goodnes implore the assistance of all the Saints and with them giue glory to the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost for their inestimable goodnes as they were in the beginning are now and euer shall be world without end Amen Then say ten Aues and one Pater Noster in extolling this goodnes humbly beseeching to be wholly inamoured of it Before the sixt Decade open thine Vnderstanding Merciful and looke as well as thou mayest into Gods mercy which in all respects is infinite First most firmely beleeue that as humane misery which is the proper obiect of Gods mercy The obiect of Gods mercy surmounteth in greatnes all other morall accidents casual vnto man for misery accompanieth al men their soules bodies and whatsoeuer for it is their companion into the world it continually attendeth them till their dying day yea from some it neuer parteth for all Eternity so in regard of vs and our necessities the mercy of God surpasseth all other diuine attributes Eccl 18. 〈◊〉 140. or powers as the prophet fitly to this purpose sayth The mercy of our Lord is aboue all his workes Secondly in particuler consider the mercy of God the Father towards vnfortunate mankind who hauing but one only begotteÌ„ Sonne Ioan. 3. condemned him to a most cruell death to restore vs to life againe Thirdly so vnmeasurable is the mercy of God the Sonne that he tooke vpon him our mortality Rom. 8. suffered for our sakes most shamefull reproaches and death it selfe to free vs captiues to Sathan and to make vs who were vassalls to sinne heires of his Kingdome Fourthly God the holy Ghost is so naturally indued with mercy that he in proper person continually sanctifieth guideth and gouerneth the vniuersall Church of God in vnity of truth Ioan. 14. euen vntill the worlds end Fifthly all the three diuine Persons ioyntly and equally are as mercifull to euery man in particuler as they are towards all the world in generall and therfore most truly said S. Augustine In Confess God loueth euery one man as much as he loueth the whole world the reason is because God loueth euery man infinitely and can loue all men togeather but infinitly Sixtly so ready and attendant is Gods mercy for euery man all the time of this transitory life Ezech. 18 that at what houre soeuer any sinner will accept of it repentant for his sinnes returning vnto God by amendment of his life God is most ready to receaue him to his mercy to indew him with his grace and to bring him to the crowne of glory Let no sinner therfore despaire of Gods mercy though he be at the last gaspe yea and ouerwhelmed with a world of sinnes for greater is Gods mercy then mans sinnes or misery because Gods mercy is infinite Lastly consider his goodnes in being readier to pardon men al their offences then men can be desiâ—ons to be pardoned as appeareth in Christ towards the good theefe And heere admiring Gods infinite mercy and crauing the assistance of the celestiall spirits in exalting Gods prayses say Glory be to the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost for their vnspeakable Mercy as it was in the beginning is now and euer shal be world without end Amen And then saying ten Aues and one Pater instantly desire to be alwayes partaker of Gods mercy Thus for a tast haue I giuen thee an exaÌ„ple how to meditate vpon God Almighty and the three Diuine Persons in Trinity in saying thy Beades Of the Pater Noster CHAP. VIII THE holy Scripture commandeth vs to hope By the Pater Noster hopers signified Ioan. 16. it being the anker of our saluation To this end Christ saith Haue hope for I haue ouercome Wherupon the Apostle saith Hope neuer confoundeth The reason is because hope is a heauenly Vertue infused by God into our soules wherby with a certaine confidence we expect at Gods hands life euerlasting Things to be prayed for are of two sortes either good or bad For the former wee pray they may be giuen vs from the later we pray we may be deliuered Diuers are the good things we stand in need of both for soule and body some spirituall others temporall and all of them help vs to the attayning vnto our finall complete happinesse Infinite are the euills as well ghostly as bodily which greatly encomber vs in this our pilgrimage from which euils we earnestly pray to be deliuered and all these both good and bad in generall Matth. 6. were by our Sauiour briefely compacted togeather in our Pater noster which containeth in it all the things that are to be hoped for as also all those things that we desire to be deliuered from In saying the Pater noster first let thy mind be fixed vpon Almighty God who is the person vnto whome thou offerest thy prayer Secondly penetrate the sense and meaning of euery word beginning for example with the first word Our This word sheweth that God is a Father vnto vs all and as to all so is he to euery one First
those that passe through these miseries constantly and let not the fond and false pleasures of this life represent themselues vnto thee vnlesse thou also set before thee the eternity of paynes due to those that neglecting their saluation follow these short delights in blindnes Let Now commit nothing that it shal be ashamed to auouch before Euer but let both these proue and examine the action of ech other that so we may Now seruing this great Virgin faithfully enioy her in happines for Euer OF THE SIX FEASTS OF OVR B. LADY HAVING breifly explicated the Pater Aue and Creed we will descend vnto the feasts of our B. Lady applying them to our Beads making triall whether we can make vse of what hath bin hitherto said And beginning with her pure Conception we will runne through her six feasts ending with her Assumption since most of these festiuities were meanes vnto our Redemption which ought to stirre vp in vs the more affection and deuotion to contemplate vpon them The Conception of our B. Lady CHAP. I. CONSIDER that ordinarily the Conception of man is in sinne The first feast Psal â—0 according to that of the Royall Prophet Et in iniquitatibus concepit me mater mea in sinne my mother conceaued me This sinne in children is tearmed Originall sinne as well because it is deriued vnto vs from our first Parents The effects of originall sinne as because it possesseth euery one at his first being or comming into this world This sinne infecteth the whole man body and soule shutteth Heauen gates against him making him slaue vnto Sathan The penalties of Originall sinne are diuers Bodily deformation all kind of sicknes and death it selfe dimnesse of Vnderstanding weaknes of our Will pronesse to sinne and damnation if we dye in it without the remedy of Baptisme Our B. Lady by singular priuiledge was preserued from this Originall sinne and consequently preuented with grace in her Mothers wombe and at the first instant of her Conception was indued with all vertues as Originall Iustice and the like She was by the same priuiledge adorned with all naturall perfections of body as health beauty strength and the like graces Lastly she was not subiect to any actuall sinne not so much as veniall preseruing still entier â—er Originall Iustice much lesse was she subiect to damnation â—onder euery one of these six points according to thy deuotion applying them to the seuerall parts of thy Beads The Natiuity CHAP. II. FIRST consider her no lesse wonderfull natiuity The secoÌ„d feast for as she was conceiued without sinne so was she borne of her aged mother S. Anne as wee may piously presume without all paine How ioyfull to Angels was her birth because she was to beare the King of Angels and to be their Queene Glorious to vs men was her Natiuity because she was to be the Aduocate of Gods Church and potent Mediatrix betweene her Sonne and mankind Gladsome was her Natiuity to the B. Trinity because she was from al eternity predestinated the Espouse of God the Father Mother to God the Sonne and Tabernacle to the holy Ghost Terrible to the infernall powers was this Natiuity of hers because she was to bruse the SerpeÌ„ts head Gen. 3. Lastly comfortable to all sinners of the Catholike Church was this Natiuity because she is borne a mother of mercy Queene of heauen and Refuge of sinners to whome all haue free accesse to whome God the Sonne will deny nothing and whose clemency is such as she taketh vpon her to obtaine all sinners humble petitions Apply these points as the former to the six Decades The Presentation CHAP. III. FIRST our B. Lady being chosen out of the whole world to be mother of God The 3. Feast was by degrees disposed to this office for being only three yeares old she was by diuine inspiration presented and offered vp to God in the Temple In the sacred Temple being come to riper years first amongst all the Iewes she made a vow of perpetuall Virginity In the Cloyster of this TeÌ„ple she serued God in all Iustice and Sanctity of body and soule giuing an example to all those that abandon the world to leaue with the world themselues also for without perfection invertue she knew no inclosure to be strong inough against the world teaching the best surest inclosure to be that of our affections Fourthly in that retyred place she continually exercised all vertues and good workes sutable to her calling There she mortified that Virginall body of hers imitating in the spirit of Prophesy her Blessed Sonne S. Amb. lib de Virgin who although he could not be subiect vnto any rebellion against the law of reason yet did by fasting and praying giue example to all that followed him that the way vnto the Kingdome which he promiseth is ful of mortifications and crosses Being thus trayned vp in all kind of vertue hence she was exalted to be the mother of God A vertuous life in this world is a disposition to attaine vnto happines in the next The Visitation CHAP. IIII. FIRST our B. Lady being declared The fourth feast by the message of the Angell to be the mother of God tooke a tedious iourney on foot passing the mountaines towards her cosin Elizabeth to visit her Withall patience spirituall ioy she performeth this iourny and that with great speed for S. Ambrose vpon this place saith Deuotion done with speed yeldes most abundant fruit because there is discouered the feruour of Charity Entring into her cosin Elizabethes house she saluteth her courteously whose salutation caused ioy both to S. Elizabeth to her sonne S. Iohn yet in her wombe Our B. Ladies vertues being deseruedly praised by S. Elizabeth she beareth her selfe notwithstanding most humbly and modestly She referreth al honour vnto God singing her sacred Canticle Magnificat anima mea dominum my soule doth magnify our Lord. In which many mysteries are contayned and documents for our instruction how to referre all our actions to the honour and glory of God Lastly our B. Lady hauing serued with al care and respect her aged cosin for the space of three monethes retourneth to poore Nazareth with her Spouse S. Ioseph expecting the time of her meruailous deliuery The Purification CHAP. V. FIRST our B. Lady remayning a Virgin The fifth Feâ—st and yet now made a mother by bringing forth the light of the world out of her humility obserued the legall number of dayes for her retirement and keeping all the other accustomed rites went vp to Hierusalem there to make her great offer of Thankes-giuing for the high dignity bestowed vpon her Quia fecit ei magna qui potens est Luke 1 because he that is mighty hath done great things vnto her For great benefittes great thankes must be giuen And according to her pouerty purity she offered a paire of Turtle Doues the best gift she could make instructing vs to offer vp to God
1. Consider the B. Virgin being now in her iourney to satisfy the proud law of Augustus Caesar being come to Bethleem there brought forth the Redeemer of the world Christ Iesus 2. Iesus thus preferring poore Bethleem before great Hierusalem for his birth place was borne in a stable all other houses refusing his B. Mother him because they were poore 3. Behold the wonderfull pouerty this Blessed Company was reduced vnto he who prouideth for all creatures in all abundance feeleth the misery and want of all thinges 4. See the B. Mother seeking all meanes possible to defend her happy infant from the iniuries of a most sharpe season being the depth of winter wrapping the Creatour of the world and maker of al things in a few simple clouts hauing no other company to assist her but her espouse S. Ioseph and an Oxe and an Asse 5. Holy Ioseph knowing al what had passed admireth at this goodnes of God and reflecteth vpon the vision made to the Patriarch Ioseph Gen. 37. Heb. 5.7 who in his dreame seemed to bâ—hold the sunne moone starres adoring him This vision our holy S. Ioseph with great humility applied to sweet Iesus the new borne Sauiour who was infinitely respected by his heauenly Father being heard for the reuerence that was borne vnto him adored by the B. Virgin his Mother and by Quiers of Angels 6. Endeauour to imitate this true pouerty profund humility of our B. Sauiour and his holy Mother by exercising at last some times acts of pouerty to wit the want of some comodity as also of humility Vertue is not â—oâ—ten but by practise by preferring others before thy selfe And certainly know that vnlesse thou practise thy selfe in these vertues thou shalt not obtaine them much lesse the reward due vnto them The Purification CHAP. IIII. SEEING this mistery hath bin treated of before in generall The fourth ioyfull mistery we will heer only speak therof so as it may informe the acts of our vnderstanding and will in imitation of this B. Virgin 1. First thou art to consider this Cerimony not to haue bin necessary the B. Virgin being most pure before in and after her happy deliuery Learne to do workes of supererogation which are of exceeding great value as in punishing in thy selfe little offences with punishment due vnto great And so in like manner in the exercise of vertues content not thy selfe with an ordinary victory ouer thy passion but lift thy selfe farre aboue it to the end it may be the further of from thee if it should at any time returne to assault thee Let vs saith S. Gregory debarre our selues of lawfull things that we may be the further off from vnlawfull 2. Since thou canst not offer with that charity which this B. Virgin did endeauour neuertheles to do it in the best manner thou canst Offer vp vnto God al that thou art offer vp daily all thy wordes thoughtes and actions 3. Offering vp before Almighty God these thy oblations endeauour to make them pure and let them be the first begotten to wit when thou risest that they may be patterns to those that should follow the whole day after 4. Holy Simeon receaued answere of the holy Ghost Luke 2. that he should not see death vntill he saw first the anoynted of our Lord the reason of this wonderfull priuiledge was because as it is recorded The vvay to see God he was Iust and Religious expecting the consolation of Israel 5. The cheife cause why this holy Company resorted thus vnto the Temple was Iesus do thou neuer mingle thine intentions nor debase them with other thoughts but enter into the Temple purely for Iesus there passing thy tyme so as thou mayest not offend the eyes of him that beholdeth the most inward passages of thy mind 6. Wish thy selfe present to see this mystery performed that thou mightest learne to offer the best thou hast with the B. Virgin how to imbrace sweet Iesus with Simeon and how to prayse Gods goodnes with all this holy troope The finding of Iesus in the Temple CHAP. V. ACCORDING to their yearly custome the B. Virgin and her Spouse S. Ioseph The fifth ioyfull Mistery Luke 2. leading betweene them their only Comfort and Consolation Iesus went vp to Hierusalem there to adore Here marke another act of supererogation especially in Bl Iesus whose humanity had alwayes conioyned with it his Diuinity 2. Behold the voluntary pouerty of these happy Pilgrimes suffering many wantes discommodities in the way to teach vs somâ—ymes to leaue our ease and to put our selues for Gods sake into som wants that we may the better humble our selues and in a more liuely manner imitate these mouing examples 3. The solemnity ended the parents of Iesus retourned homward and hauing trauailed one dayes iourny froÌ„ Hierusalem towards Nazareth Luke 2. at night in their Inne they missed the child and seeking him amongest their kinsfâ—lkes and acquaintance they found him not Note that they did not passe many dayes without reflection vpon the losse of Iesus do not thou deferre thy conuersion nor refuse to returne by pennance into the fauour of God euen vpon the very first day of thy transgression 4. At night in their Inne theâ— missed the child although the vanities of the world haue possessed thee the whole day yet at night at least find him againe whome thou hast strayed from At night examine thy conscience looke into that Inne of thy soule that hath entertayned all those passengers and if thou find Iesus to be absent impute it vnto thine owne great offences that haue caused him to leaue thee 5. Seeke vvhere Iesus is to be found And seeking him among their kinsfolkes and acquaintance they found him not Since thou seest he is not to be found amongest carnall acquaintance and kinred why doest thou yet spend thy time in vaine since thou knowest where thou seekest thou shalt not find him and if thou findest not him thou loosest with thy selfe all 6. Lastly since the world affordeth thee him not go into the Temple a place pure segregated from worldly thoughts The force of good Motions there thou shalt find him teaching thee and disputing with the doctours with thy peruerse wil that thinks it knoweth much but it shall find it selfe confounded by a child for euery good motion be it neuer so yong is sufficient to confound put to silence the most obstinate will that may be Of the fiue sorrowfull mysteries The praying in the garden CHAP. VI. VVE must not looke in this Garden for delightes oâ— pastimes The first sorrovvfull Mâ—stery such as the world affoardeth No fountaines heere are to be seene but such as sweat bloud No Statuaes heere are placed vnlesse thou wilt behold Iesus kneeling immoueable and in an agony No banquets heere prepared only an Angell appeareth with a cuppe of dolours therfore let none enter into this Garden but with a firme purpose and desire
former â—ood vvoâ—kâ— vvhi h sinne had kâ—lled arise by pennance which is of that power that it reuiueth thy former good workes which were before killed by sinne 2. If thou looke into the causes why the body of our Sauiour should now appeare more glorious then either in his birth or in the rest of his life many will represent themselues vnto thee As for example he being now as it were no more of this world nor to conuerse with men he resumed vnto himselfe that robe which he had till his death voluntarily layd aside by this meanes he would triumph ouer death and hell But I would haue thee piously to imagine great part of the brightnes of this body to proceed from those precious wounds of his which now in heauen giue forth extraordinary light Adore those wounds and seeke occasion to suffer for God since sufferings are the seedes of glory 3. In this mystery we will also comprehend the aparitions of our Sauiour first to his B. Mother comforting her by his presence and committing to her care his beloued disciples and in them all good Christians Behold the ioy of the B. Virgin in beholding him whome she knew to be hers although since she saw him he seemed vnto her much aduanced in glory 4. Next he appeareth vnto the blessed Magdalen Luc. 4. out of whoÌ„e he had cast seauen diuels Marc. 16. Behold the care sweet Iesus hath of comforting that soule whome he hath once conuerted Contemplate the affectionate discourse of the B. Magdalen with him in habit of a Girdener hauing once knowne him she cryeth streight Lord that is Commander of my soule As soone as thou perceauest thy soule moued from God Almighty cry with out all delaye as this happy Penitent did Lord that is I most humbly thanke thee for thy blessed inspiration thou shalt command ouer my soule and it shall obey thee as Lord. 5. He ioyneth himselfe with two of his disciples in their way to Emmaus where hauing many discourses with them Luke 24. and arguing their incredulity vouchsafing also to suppe with them he presently vanished away Heare the Disciples say Nonne cor nostrum ardens erat in nobis Luke 24. dum loqueretur in via Was not our hart burning in vs whiles he spake in the way and opened vnto vs the Scriptures Whiles thou trauailest in this world vpon the way towards thy country and true inheritance seeke by thy life and coÌ„uersation to haue Iesus stil with thee thy hart cannot but burne with his loue 6. Lastly he maketh himselfe knowne to his disciples gathered togeather in Hierusalem saying vnto them Pax vobis ego sum Luke 24. Peace be with you it is I. Our B. Sauiour found them togeather yet he wisheth vnto them peace to let vs vnderstaÌ„d that the peace of the mind is that which he requireth in vs which he found waÌ„ting in his disciples who were yet wauering in belieuing the mistery of his Resurrection He telleth them It is He. If thou find in thy rebellious nature repugnance in hauing charity peace with thy neighbour heare B. Iesus telling thee It is I who inioyne thee to haue peace with all It is I who for thee c. And so run through the parts of Christs Passion and imagin him most louingly alleadging his sufferings and by them intreating thee to haue peace and to forgiue thine enemies His Ascension CHAP. XII THIS our potent Redeemer Christ Iesus hauing runne his race of perfection The secoÌ„d glorious Mystery and absolute example to all Christians his followers beginning to be our instructour from his very birth till his life was consumated vpon the Crosse and after his glorious Resurrection out of his infinite loue to his B. Mother and to his disciples staying yet vpoÌ„ earth forty dayes appearing vnto them in a most comfortable manner instructing them how to behaue themselues in his absence is now called by his Eternal Father to come vnto him and to ascend vnto his Throne of glory 1. In their sight he was eleuated Act. 1. Consider with thy selfe the desire the holy disciples had of longer enioying their glorified maister beleeuing in him now more firmely then euer yet euen in the wanting of this heauenly comfort they are most resigned expecting the comming of the holy Ghost 2. The hower of our Sauiour his Ascension being come behold the large blessing he bestowed vpon them and specially vpon his deerest Mother promising her a crowne of immortall glory for her Motherhood towards him and his disciples and so giuing thankes yet here vpon earth vnto his Eternall Father for establishing of his Church by his meanes and for the opening of heauen againe vnto mankind in their sight he is eleuated 3. And a cloud receaued him out of their sight Exod. 33. The eyes of mortall men cannot behold glory and liue which is as much to say this world is not a place of glory but of misery our eyes are opened made capable of glory by death Hence we may see that euen to the eyes of these blessed men glory is denyed and a cloud is interposed which as it did in them so let it in vs increase acts of diuine hope one day to see this King of glory face to face without any Eclyps Let our life be conformable to our hope or interposition of clouds Let thy life heere vpon earth be conformable to this hope of thine hauing for the ground of thy hope thy cooperation with Gods goodnes 4. Viri Galilaei quid statis aspicientes in caelum c. Yee men of Galiley why stand you looking into heauen Act. 1. Consider the extasy of this holy compamy following their deerest beloued Iesus as farre as their eyes could carry them and not being able to pursue him further they stand fixed in contemplation and with their affections looking into heauen But our Sauiour appointed Angels to comfort them and aske why they stood thus looking into heauen which was not only an awaking vnto them but an admonition that since they were not yet to follow him before they had also dyed for him as he had don before for them they should returne vnto Hierusalem and expect the promised Comforter 5. Hic Iesus sic vâ—niâ—t quemadmodum vidistis c. This Iesus say the Angels shall so come as you haue seene him going into heauen to wit in the like glory and maiesty And as now he asceÌ„deth in triumph carrying with him the trophies of his victories ouer the world and infernall powers so shall he come in the latter day to shew himselfe a Iudge of mankind Terrour vnto those vvho loue not Chr st his Crosse Then shall his glorious Crosse appeare vnto the which whosoeuer hath not bin conformable shall not be accounted off as his Adore thy Sauiour heere ascending through thy perfect imitation of his sufferings arme thy selfe against this his terrible comming who shal be as a
seuere and impartiall iudge not as an indulgent Redeemer 6. Lastly returne with these disciples to Hierusalem and imitating their vnion in spirit expect the comming of the Holy Ghost If thou desire to know Gods holy will retire thy selfe as they did and in this inward attention vnto the voice of thy Sauiour perseuere praying to know his diuine will and no doubt but he will impart it vnto thee Luke 12. which when thou knowest put it in practise otherwise the imputatioÌ„ of knowing the will of thy maister and not performing it will lye heauy vpon thee The comming of the holy Ghost CHAP. XIII YOV haue seene in the precedent mystery what diligent preparation these holy followers of Christ made The third glorious Mistery to the end they might be more fit vessels to receaue the holy Ghost And besides the former points of their peace and vnity amongst themselues and retyring from the conuersation of the world it is moreouer specified in holy Scripture that the better to make this retirement of theirs Act. 1. They went vp into an vpper chamber Of which words I would haue thee a pious interpreter and to imagine this vpper roome to be the superiour part of the foure to wit thy reason in which thou must dwell whensoeuer thou desirest to know the will of God neuer staying below in the sensuall part which in such a busines serueth for nothing but to blind thine vnderstanding Let thy sense be commanded by reason and it will presently teach thee that God is to be serued before the world and the Creatour before the Creature 1. Consider at the comming of the holy Ghost There was made â— sound from heauen Act 2. as of a vehement wind comming by which noyse The povver of the holy Ghost thou mayest consider the power of the holy Ghost which as it oftentimes st rreth vp in vs great conflicts betweene our owne peruerse nature and Gods Grace that offereth to enter into it so also it maketh vs most valiant and constant in the seruice of Almighty God and the maintayning of his glory the sound pre-figuring vnto vs the difficulties which outwardly may arise by the constant profession of his holy name 2. Most fitly is the comming of the holy Ghost expressed by fier the signe of loue and charity the holy spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne by a feruorous act of loue Neuer resist this holy spirit which will breath diuine loue into thy soule separating thine affections from earthly things 3. No sooner had these fiery tongues lighted vpon the heades of these holy disciples but with the gift of tongues which was then infused into them they doe speake of the great workes of God Imitate the feruour of these and let neuer the grace of God be void in th e 1. Cor. 15. but put in practise those giftes which God hath giuen thee by vsing them sincerely in his seruice 4. Consider how vncapable of spirituall things those are who measure all things by the conceit of the world this gift of tongus is interpreted in the Apostles to proceed from madnes or from some excesse committed Let not the fond interpretation of the world hinder thee from the seruice of God for if the Crosse of Christ were as the Apostle saith to the Gentils a foolishnes and euen to the very Iewes a scandâ—ll 1 Cor. 1. neuer be detected if the world laugh at thy proceedings which it vnderstandeth not Matt. 10. for the disciple must not place himselfe aboue his Maister 5. The cooperation of these holy disciples with the grace of God was such as they were all replenished with the holy Ghost working miracles in the face of Hierusalem Act. 5. and their very shadowes were potent to heale infirmities At the gate of the Temple S. Pâ—ter giueth an almes of health to a lame creature from his Natiuity Act. 3. Act. 2. He conuerteth three thousand at his first Sermon See of what great vertue the holy spirit is without which neither in thy selfe nor in others thou canst make conuersions 6. Beholding with thy selfe attentiuely how this spirit is attained vnto how necessary it is to haue it and how easily it is lost make resolutions in thy soule fit for one who hath this spirit knowing it giueth life vnto thine actioÌ„s and abhorre sinne that expelleth it The Assumption of our B. Lady CHAP. XIIII The fourth glorious Mystery Cant. 8. BEHOLD this glorious Virgin ascending Flowing in delightes leaning vpon her beloued with all contemplate vpon our B. Sauiours tender affection towards his dearest Mother requiting as it were her loue who in his infancy was borne in her blessed armes and leaned vpon her now he assisting her in this glorious triumph beares her vp towards the place of her Eternal Happines 1. Thou mayst here consider the happy passage of this B. Virgin out of this life feare not by considering this death to fall back vnto sorrowfull mysteries since death is heere glorious how the Apostles dispersed through the whole world were miraculously brought togeather to be at this glorious departure of the mother of God Togeather with the Apostles were also there present S. Denis Dionys ad Timeth Damas de dormit Deip. S. Timothy Disciple vnto S. Paul and S. Hierotheus Ponder the excessiue ioy of these Saintes behoulding the troupes of Angels attending the instant of her happy soules departure ready to accompany it into heauen No griefe could heere enter since all things gaue arguments of ioy and those teares that fell from the Apostles when the B. Virgin made her last pathetical speach vnto them were teares of comfort and consolation 2. As S. Denis writeth the B. Virgin ending this mortall life and beginning an immortall Epâ—st ad T mâ—th S. Thomas was absent and comming to Hierusalem three dayes after her departure all which time S. Denis saith that himselfe with the rest heard most melodious harmony of Angels and vnderstanding she was buryed in Gethsemani requested he might behold her dead whome he was vnfortunate in not seeing to dye 3. And to satisfy the deuotioÌ„ of S. Thomas they opened the monument ib d. which breathed forth most sweet sauours Consider the antiquity of this holy tradition and finding the body taken away they al firmely beleeued it was also by the hands of Angels carryed into heauen and reunited to her glorious soule this priuiledge being but coÌ„formable to the rest with which she was indued in her life 4. As in this so in other verities reuereÌ„ce the authority of Traditions in the Catholike Church which hath deuoted it selfe euen from the Apostles time vnto this glorious mystery of the Assumption of the mother of God 5. Consider the true resignation of this holy company assembled at the blessed departure of the mother of God al of them bearing that respect vnto her liuing as they now doubted not to find her in heauen a most carefull
without help beyond the ordinary power of that age 8. Praying in the Temple she is often visited by Angels 9. She giueth example of all vertue to the Virgins who liued with her 10. She is the first who made a vow vnto God of Virginity II PATER NOSTER The gift Vnderstanding 1. AVE The Hygh Priest with the people pray to deliberate about her now mariageable according to the will of God 2. It is reuealed by an Angell that she should seeke her an Espouse 3. She is espoused vnto Ioseph of the family of Dauid 4. God being pleased with her Humility chooseth her to be the Mother of his sonne 5. The Angell of God telleth her she shall be mother of God remayning a Virgin 6. Behould sayth she the handmayd of our Lord let it be done vnto me according to this word 7. Hauing conceaued she goeth towards the Mountaynes to serue her Cosin S. Elizabeth 8. By her salutation S. Elizabeth and S. Iohn Baptist were sanctified the one prophesying the other exalting for ioy in the woÌ„be of his Mother 9. Her spirit reioycing she singeth Mâ—gnificat c. 10. A little before the birth of S. Iohn Baptist she returneth ioyfull to her house at Nazareth III. PATER NOSTER The gift of Counsell 1. AVE The Angell saith vnto Iosâ—ph Feare not c. because that which shall be borne of her is of the Holy Ghost 2. She goeth towards Bethleem with her Spouse to be enrolled and to pay Tribute vnto Cesar 3. Of her is borne our Lord she wrapps him in clouts layeth him in the manger and giueth him sucke 4. She reioyceth that he is reuealed vnto the Sheepheards she sheweth him vnto them and meditating vpon al these things she keepeth them in her hart 5. The eyght day she causeth her Child to be circumcised the name of IESVS is giuen hâ—m as it was ordayned by the Angell 6. She admireth the adoring of the Kings and receaues their mysticall gifts 7. She presenteth her sonne in the Temple and although most immaculate yet obserueth the law of purification 8 She heareth the prophesy of Simeon who fortelleth vnto her Griefe and to Israel Redemption 9. She flieth with her sonne and S. Ioseph into Egypt 10. She endureth in that banishment much hardnes for the loue of her sonne IIII. PATER NOSTER The gift of Fortitude 1. AVE By the admonishment of the Angell she returneth into the Land of Iuda 2. Fearing Archilaus the sonne of Hâ—rode she retireth her selfe vnto Nazareth 3. She goeth towards Hierusalem to the Temple according to the custome where she lost the Child IESVS 4. After three dayes she finds him in the Temple in the midest of Doctors 5. Contemplate how such a mother conuerseth with such a soÌ„ne for those 30. yeares in which he was subiect vnto her 6. At the Marriage in Cana of Galilee she sayd Sonne they haue no wine wheÌ„ce followed the first miracle of water turned into wine 7 She heareth oftentimes her Sonne preaching 8. She seeth him worke miracles and reioycing giueth the glory vnto God 9. She heareth the woman say Blessed is the wombe that bare thee 10. Her soÌ„ne reuealed vnto her the most cruell death which he was shortly to vndergoe V. PATER NOSTER The gift of Knowledg 1. AVE Her sonne takes his last leaue of her going towards his death he comforteth her and giues her his Benediction 2. She vnderstands that her soÌ„n is betrayed by Iudas and taken by the Iewes and carried and drawn from tribunal to tribunal 3. She behoulds him whipped crowned with thornes shewed to the people Behould the man 4. She heares the cry of the people Crucify him and free Barabbas 5. She meets her sonne on the way with his Crosse vpon his shoulders who was conducted in hast to Mount Caluary 6. She seeth or at the least heareth the blowes of the hammers with which her sonne was crucified 7. She suffereth with her sonne who betweene two theeues was lifted vp on the Crosse whilest she beares him company vnder the Crosse 8. She heares her Sonne saying Woman behould thy sonne to wit S. Iohn being pure man insteed of the sonne of God 9. She seeth her sonne giue vp his last breath vpon the Crosse his side being opened with a launce after his death 10. Contemplate how she receaued into her armes the body of her sonne taken downe from the Crosse by deuout persons and with her teares she washeth it VI. PATER NOSTER The gift of Piety 1. AVE To her first of all as most worthy Christ appeareth being gloriously risen accompanied with many Saints 2. She is often visited by him in those 40. dayes before his Ascension 3. She accompanieth her Sonne with her eyes and most deuoutly with her hart whilest he ascends into heauen 4. She expects the Holy Ghost with the Apostles comforting confirming them in their faith 5. After the Ascension of her sonne she often visits those places in which her sonne had bin and there she renewes her greife 6. Being ariued to the age of 63. yeares her dâ—parture out of this life is reuealed vnto her by her sonne 7. Before she dieth she behouldeth all the Apostles present she giuen them her last salutation and recommends vnto them the Church 8. Christ descends from heauen to meet and receaue her and she is carried into heauen by Angells 9. She is exalted aboue the Quiers of Angells and crowned Queene of all Saints 10. Sitting at the right hand of her sonne in great glory she prayeth for the Church appeaseth the wrath of God whilest our sinns prouoke him to reuenge VII PATER NOSTER The gift of the Feare of God 1. AVE Next vnto God the Father she is most potent 2. Next vnto God the Sonne she is most wise 3. Next vnto God the Holy Ghost of most goodnesse and of most ardent Charity Laus Deo B. Q. V. M. FINIS