him with a filiall reverence obedience confidence that we may here feel the effects of his Grace and hereafter enjoy the priviledges of his Glory §. 4. Of the Ave Marie Or Angelicall Salutation The third part of the Rosary THere is no question amongst all faithfull Christians but that the Pater and Ave are the two most excellent Prayers we have as S. Thomas largely proves and consequently that they are of greatest efficacy to obtain what we want and desire The one being deliver'd and dictated by the divin Mouth of Gods own Son our Redeemer Christ Jesus The other being pronounced by an Archangell sent Ambassador from the sacred Trinity to Her who was chosen out amongst all women to be the worthy Mother of the second divin Person the VVord Eternall And who can doubt but that God himself is also the Author of this Salutation and that he put this lesson into his Legats mouth whom surely he sent well instructed in all things which might concern his weighty Embassie Let us therefore briefly declare the use and scope of this short sweet and mysterious Salutation and Prayer and afterwards dilate it with Acts and Affections that it being so often to be repeated in the recitall of the Rosary may give more gust to their devotion who will sometimes take the time and leasure to ruminate upon it more diligently There is surely nothing more befitting a faithfull Christian than a frequent Reflexion upon his Redemption And since the Incarnation of Gods Son in the sacred Virgins womb is the chief Mystery thereof we must needs conclude That it is an office of Piety most gratefull to the divin Majesty to revolve often those very words whereby so great a Mystery so long expected so ardently desired so zealously begg'd by the holy people of all precedent ages was first announced to mankind especially it being directly intended as a thankfull dutifull commemoration of the signall benefit of our Redemption and our Saviours Incarnation The Ave Maria says our devout S. Bernard is of such power and excellency That it causes Heaven to smile the Angells to be glad the Devills to fly away and Hell to fear and tremble as often as it is reverently recited After whom said another of the B. Virgins Minions Alanus The Ave Mary is a prayer little in words but large in Mysteries it is short in discourse but sublime in sense and vertu it is sweet above hony and precious beyond the purest gold Listen says he with admiration to what I shall here tell O you true Lovers of Mary's name and honour All Heaven rejoyceth and the whol Earth is astonished when I say Ave Maria. Sathan avoyds and Hell trembles when I say Ave Maria. The world becomes contemptible and my heart melts into inward affections when I say Ave Maria. All fear is banished and the Flesh is conquered when I say Ave Maria. Devotion arises compunction encreases when I say Ave Maria. Faith is strengthned Hope redoubled Charity enflamed comfort renewed the Spirit recreated when I say Ave Maria. This Angelicall Salutation may be said to have three parts as it hath three Authors though all inspired from God the Prime Author and Origin thereof The First part Hail Mary full of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst women was delivered by the Angell Gabriel as it is recorded in the 2. chap. of St. Luke verse 28. The second part blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus was pronounced by St. Elizabeth the holy Baptists Mother Luke 2. vers 42. The third part Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death was added by the Catholick Church in the generall councill of Ephesus and recommended to the use of all Christians in opposition of Nestor and other hereticks who deny'd the blessed Virgin to be Gods Mother The first and second part of this Salutation were frequently made use of even from the first Infancie of Christianity as appears by the Liturgie of St. James receiv'd in the sixth generall Councill and the third part ever since the generall Council of Ephesus The affections contain'd in the Hail Mary or Angelicall Salutation 1. Of Congratulation Hail Mary 2. Of Exultation Full of Grace 3. Of Admiration our Lord is with thee 4. Of Benediction Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus Whereby we bless and prayse both the Mother and the Son we begg both their blessings and desire all creatures to bless prayse and honour them both 5. Of Invocation and Petition founded upon her Power she being Gods Mother Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us Sinners now and at the hour of our death An Explication of the Angelical Salutation Hail That is be you glad joyfull secure and happy in being made the prime Instrument of Gods providence and mercy in order to our Redemption and to the changing of our Mother Eves hereditary curse into a happy blessing for all succeeding generations Mary Is the proper name of the glorious Mother of Jesus signifying Lady and Star of the Sea Full of Grace As being full of God by her speciall priviledg of conceiving the Word Eternall and consequently full of all vertue goodness and perfection whatsoever Our Lord is with thee For God the Father in a most singular manner over-shaddowed her God the Holy Ghost most abundantly came upon her and God the Son most wonderfully became man within her The Father was with her as with his Daughter the Son was with her as with his Mother the Holy Ghost was with her as with his dearly beloved Spouse and choycest Tabernacle Blessed art thou amongst Women That is over above and beyond all women because a Mother and a Virgin the Mother of God which is above all other human Titles and yet a perpetuall Virgin a priviledg which never any other creature did or shall possess And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus Who remaining perfect god evermore blessâ—d in his divin Person became perfect man in her sacred womb to whom we give all possible prayse homage and gratitude for all that we have and are and especially for this his cloathing himself with our human nature in her whereby he truly becomes our Brother and provides her for our powerfull Mother Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death We make to her our humble addresses in all our pressing necessities that by Her we may receive what we want by whom we receiv'd the Author himself of all goodness An Exercise upon the Ave Mary dilated with Acts c. Hail Mary All Hail the most holy excellent and admirable of all pure creatures Princess of Heaven and Earth Queen of Men and Angells I desire now to salute you with the reverence of the Archangell Gabriel with the affection of St. Elizabeth with the devotion of the holy church and with all such honour
Mother of God and Man and entirely a pure and unspotted Virgin O News exclaims S. Bernard never before heard of A Mother and yet a Virgin A Virgin and yet a Mother Hail Mary 3. At her bringing forth without pain O You Blessed and the only Blessed amongst women says the same Saint who alone were exempt from the generall curse of all women But what wonder if he put his Mother to no pain at his birth who was born to take away all pain from the whole world Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Iubilation FOr She saw the heavenly Court rejoycing at her Sons Nativity and heard the alternate Echo's of their Glory to God on high and Peace on Earth to People of good will Hail Mary 5. At the vision of the divin Essence FOr if She frequently enjoy'd this priviledge in her life-time as is the opinion of many learned Fathers She now surely enjoy'd it in a most eminent manner when she brought forth Gods Son into the world Hail Mary 6. At the many benefits bestowed on Mankind by her Son's Birth TO wit The Exaltation of human Nature The Redemption of the World The satisfaction for sin The victory over Satan The Promotion of Man to vertu Sanctity Perfection The certainty of Faith The Erection of Hope The Encrease of Charity The conferring of an Eternall Life and Kingdom Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of miracles wrought then for his manifestation to the World FOr 1. A great bright unusuall Star invites the Wise-men to Bethleem stable 2. Three Suns appear in Spain soon after joyning themselves into one Body signifying says S. Thomas that the Flesh the Soul and the Deity of the then born Infant were united in one person 3. A golden circle encompasses the Sun in the midst whereof stands a beautifull Virgin with a child in her bosom which the Sybill shews to Octavian the then Roman Emperor with many other wonders declaring to the whol world the divin Majesty and glory of her new-born Son Hail Mary 8. At the Adoration of the Wise-men WHo exteriourly summon'd by the appearing Star and interiourly instructed by the Holy Ghost came and fell down at his feet full of Faith Religion and Devotion and there brake forth into Acts of Adoration and extasies of Admiration Hail Mary 9. At their mysticall offrings WHich were Gold as to a great King Frankincense as to a true God Myrrh as to a mortall man who was to dy for the worlds Redemption Hail Mary 10. At the Vocation Conversion and Salvation of the Gentills WHereof she saw a happy beginning in these holy Kings Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth Is your Mercy your Compassion and your Charity to poor Mankind so excessive as that you should thus descend from your Throne of Majesty into a vale of misery for our salvation O Virgin-Mother the choyce Chamber Temple and Tabernacle of Gods Son the Queen of Heaven and Lady of the World Be you Eternally blessed who have been found worthy to bring forth the so long desired and expected of all Ages O Jesu My Lord and my Redeemer who were born of a poor Handmaid wrapp'd in poor Swathes hous'd in a poor Stable Bedded in a poor Cribb Give me true poverty of spirit and a perfect contempt of all worldly honours and greatnesses O sweet Saviour of the World who call'd the Kings to acknowledge and adore you in your Cradle and commanded them to return back by another way into their Countrey Call and compell my rebellious heart unto you by the powerfull light of your efficacious grace shining in my interiour and dispersing all darkness and indevotion in my soul that I may there find you feel you see you adore you and offer up to your divin Majesty the Myrrh of true compunction and mortification The Frankincense of fervent Prayer and devotion the Gold of ardent love and affection O grant that I may henceforth more faithfully follow your holy lights vocations and inspirations which will conduct me into the right way leading to my heavenly home out of which I have hitherto stray'd by my own wilfull malice negligence and sinfullness O my glorious new-born King Christ Jesu you were pleas'd to want a lodging upon Earth that you might lodge me in Heaven To be deprived of all worldly conveniences that you might heap on me your Celestiall comforts To embrace Poverty Humility self-contempt abnegation annihilation that you might inrich me with all the spirituall Treasures of vertu and perfection And shall I gape after temporall goods and glories seek for fleshly solaces and satisfactions place my affection upon poor and perishable trifles No my dear Redeemer I will henceforth endeavour to imitate your most perfest Example And O that I were sincerely willing to abandon all truly content to be abandon'd by all and really resolv'd to submit my self and all to your sacred will and disposition that so I might be absolutely conformable to you my All and All O holy Virgin O happy Mother how sweetly is my Soul ravish'd in the contemplation of that unspeakable joy and gladness which your dilated heart felt when you first embrac'd the long desired of all Nations in your tender folds I congratulate this your happiness O glorious Mother of my good Jesus and humbly creeping in amongst the holy crew of admiring Angells Kings and Shepheards I affectionately present you with these my meaner Canticles of conjubilation We were the poor banish'd miserable progeny of our unfortunat mother Eve we were the wretched Bond-slaves of sin and Satan we were the forlorn lost and stray'd sheep wilfully fled away from our faithfull Shepheard We were the Prodigall children carryed abroad by our own concupiscences from our loving Father and by your Sons means O Blessed and most fortunate Mother we are disingaged deliverd redeem'd from all these miseries woes and disasters O the happy change of our unhappy condition O Eternally Blessed Tree and Blessed Blossom Blessed Womb and Blessed Fruit Blessed Mary and Blessed Jesu The fourth joyfull Mystery offer'd THe Oblation and Presentation of Christ to his Eternall Father in the Temple And the Purification of his Blessed Mother Luc. 2. The Virgin 's purifi'd her dear Son warm's Old Simeons breast presented in his arms Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the carriage of her sweet Son Iesus FOr upon the fortith day after our blessed Saviours birth she cheerfully sets forth of Bethleem stable with her little Jesus in her armes and S. Joseph in her company towards Jerusalem to fulfill the Law of Moyses and to offer up her Son to his Eternall Father in the Temple And though she had just reason to dread King Herods cruelty yet she was more afraid to offend the divin Majesty The way says Ludolphus was five miles long yet she felt not the least
is the principall and indeed the only proper Feast of this Confraternity they are to Confess Communicate and be present at the solemnity then celebrated by their fellow members of this Confraternity in the place appointed by the Chief Director thereof 3. Upon the second Sunday of each month they are to Confess Communicate and assist at the solemn Mass and Procession of the Confraternity 4. They are with all possible care and diligence to avoid swearing not only in themselv's but also in all others admonishing checking and correcting as far as the Rules of Charity and Discretion will permit all such as shall inconsideratly and rashly Swear and Blasphem in their presence and hearing 5. They are to assist at the Anniversary of their departed Brethren celebrated upon the first vacant day after the Feast of the Circumcision The Plenary Indulgences omitting the many particular granted to this Fraternity In the year 1564. Idibus Aprilis Pope Pius the fourth the first Approver and Confirmer of this Confraternity endow'd it with most large Favours Priviledges and Indulgences and amongst the rest he granted to all the Members thereof who shall Confess Communicate and Assist at the divin service either in whol or in part upon the Feast of the Circumcision such Plenary Indulgences of all their sins as the Apostolicall Seat usually bestows in the year of Jubily upon all them who visit the Churches in and without Rome In the year 1580. 5th of September Pope Gregory the thirteenth grants a Plenary Indulgence to all the Members thereof who shall accompany the Procession which as also the Mass of this Confraternity he appoints to be had upon each second Sunday of the Month not otherwise hindred having confessed communicated and pray'd for the generally intended ends of the Church in the granting of all Indulgences to wit For the Peace of Christian Princes for the extirpation of Heresies for the exaltation of the Catholique Church c. In the year 1598. 2. of Februarie Pope Clement the 8th grants a plenary Indulgence to all the Members thereof Confessing and Communicating upon each day of the Festivities of the fifteen Mysteries of this Rosary of the Name of Jesus In the year 1606. 21. of October Paul the fifth grants a Plenary Indulgence at the entrance into this Confraternity to all such as shall then being truly penitent confess and Communicate and also to all such as shall devoutly call upon the sacred name of Jesus either by mouth or in heart at the Article of death And in the year 1612. 28. of September he renews and confirmes the former Grant of Gregory the 13. And lastly in the year 1626. Pope Vrban the 8. Grants also a Plenary Indulgence at the entrance into this Confraternity to all such as shall then Confess and Communicate c. and to all such as shall devoutly call upon the holy Name of Jesus at the Article of death The Manner of Reciting this Rosary of the holy Name of JESUS invented by Joannes Micon to implore Christs Mercy for our selv's and for all sinners is this Taking your Ordinary Bedes of the Rosary begin with the sign of the Cross either in Latin or in English In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Then after the recitall of one Pater-noster Ave Maria and Creed begin thus V. Intend unto my ayd O. God R. Lord make hast to help me V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost R. As it was in the Beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen The first part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words fifty Times O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us Meditating during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Life of Our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. The Mysteries of the first Quinquagena or Fiftieth 1. Christs Incarnation 2. The Nativity of Christ in Bethleem 3. The Circumcision of Christ 4. The finding of Christ in the Temple disputing amongst the Doctors 5. The Baptizing of Christ in the River Jordan O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us The second Part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words also fifty times O Jesu of Nazareth King of the Jew 's have mercy upon us Meditating in like manner during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Death Passion of our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father c. as aforesaid The Mysteries of the second Quinquagena or fiftieth 1. The washing of the disciples feet 2. The Prayer in the Garden 3. The Apprehension of Christ in the Garden 4. The carrying of the Cross 5. The Descent into Hell O Jesu of Nazareth King of the Jewes have mercy upon us The third Part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words also fifty times O Jesu Christ Son of the living God have mercy upon us Meditating likewise during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Glory of our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. as formerly The Mysteries of the third Quinquagena or Fiftieth 1. The Resurrection 2. The Ascension 3. The sending of the Holy Ghost to his Church 4. The Crowning of the Virgin Mary and the Saints 5. The coming to Judgment O Jesu Christ Son of the Living God have mercy upon us A brief Declaration of the Crown of our Lord. THe devotion call'd the Crown of our Lord Or the Rosary of the age of Christ or the Crown of Camaldula was invented by one blessed Michael by birth a Florentin by profession a Monk of Camaldula a man of admirable piety and sanctity who chang'd this life for a happy immortality in the year 1522 since which time this manner of prayer hath been far and near propagated throughout the whol World with the Churches generall applause and approbation and to the great profit and comfort of all faithfull Christians The Tenor of the Brief of Pope Leo the 10th as far forth as it concerns the confirmation and declares the form of reciting this sacred Crown is as here follow 's Bishop Leo the servant of Gods servants to all aâ—d singular the faithfull people of Christ to whom these his letters shall come sends greeting and the Apostolical Benediction We have lately had notice from persons worthy of belief that a certain antient Hermit of the sacred Wilderness of Camaldula having already finish'd fifteen years of his earthly Pilgrimage in great austerity as a Recluse shut up within the narrow limits of one only Cell Hath conceiv'd by divin inspiration as may be piously believ'd from whence every right
the Blessed Virgin 548 5. The Practises and Exercises of this Devotion of the Bondage being seven in number 550 Elevations to God and Adorations to the thrice Holy Trinity In honour of the Share he was pleased to give unto the sacred Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation Effecting it in her and by her And to honour the most holy Virgin in that her high dignity of being Gods Mother and to offer our selv's to her in the state of Dependency and servitude which is due to her upon this title and to correspond by our Interiour Devotion to the speciall Power which she hath over us by consequence of this divin and admirable Maternity 560 1. Adoration of the Sacred Trinity 560 2. Greatness of the Mystery of the Incarnation 561 3. Which is so eminent a work 561 4. And the chief work ad extra of the Divinity 562 5. And it is divided between the Sacred Trinity and the Virgin 563 6. The Person of the Virgin next the Divin Persons is most worthy and greater than all human and angelicall Persons together 565 7. The Virgin constitutes an Order Empire and Vnivers apart 566 8. She is a singular work of Gods Power the Holyest that ever shall be created The Divin Paternity is the Samplar of this Divin Maternity The Eternall Father and the Son are tyed by the Person of the Holy Ghost and the Eternall Father and the Virgin are tyed by the Person of the Son 568 9. The Eternall Word who is in Society with the Father and Holy Ghost before all time doth in time enter league and Society with the Virgin 573 10. Oblation and Donation to the Son and the Mother in quality of Bondslaves 574 11. Enlargement and Explication of this Donation with the particulars thereof 575 12. This Oblation tends to the honour of the Virgins Elevation and Depressions in the Mystery of the Incarnation 577 13. In the Virgin all is great and particularly Her Maternity Her Soveraignty Her Sanctity 579 14. It is a small matter that we make our selv's the Virgins Bondslaves and therefore we desire her to employ her Power to make us truly so 583 A concluding Prayer to the sacred Virgin Mother upon the same subject 585 The third Appendix JOSEPH or Devotions to Saint Joseph the Glorious Husband of the Virgin MARY and reputed Father of CHRIST JESUS with Elevations unto him 588 Twelve Excellencies Priviledges and Prerogatives of S. JOSEPH related out of Josephus a Jesu Maria and Joannes a Carthagena who largely prove the same and many more by force of reasons and authority of the Fathers 589 A short Rosary in the honour of S. Joseph containing the principall Mysteries of his life distinguish'd into Five Tens or Decades whereof the first is of his Election 596 The second of his Place Office and dignity 599 The third of his Flight into Egypt 60â— The fourth of his return form Egypt and of his Death 60â— The fifth of his Glory 605 Elevations to S. Joseph to 〈◊〉 God in him and him in God in his â—…nity of being the reputed Faâ—… 〈…〉 Word Incarnate and the Bridegroom of the Blessed Virgin Mary 608 Elevations to the sacred Trinity upon Earth JESUS MARIA JOSEPH In honour and homage to the Glorious Trinity in Heaven The Father Son and Holy Ghost 612 The Fourth Appendix Stations or a Catalogue of the Plenary Indulgences of the Stations of Rome 620 First of the Stations in Advent Lent and other Moveable Feasts 621 Secondly of the Stations fix'd to the days of the year 625 with the Practicall manner of performing the said Stations 632 FINIS The Principall Errors of the Press are thus easily corrected with a Pen. PAge 3. line 13. his read this p. 25. l. 7. exculded r. excluded p. 35. l. 29. favourite r. favourits p. 37. l. 1. dow r. down p. 52. l. 30. must r. most p. 54. l. 14. Patoness r. Patroness p. 96. l. 7.27 r. 17. p. 96. l. 8. 1559. r. 1569. p. 96. l. 24. 1559. r. 1569. p. 101. l. 16. out to r. out of p. 118. l. 6. iminenâ— r. imminent p. 125. l. 28. gloriosi r. gloriosè p. 132. l. 2. remisnem r. remissionem p. 195. l. 4. aad r. and. pâ— 197. l. 14. and umiracle r. and miracle p. 211. l. 14. unknow r. unknown p. 237. l. 1. amd r. and. p. 255. l. 9. to will r. to his will p. 264. l. 2. Dialated r. Dilated p. 288. l. 30. wherewith r. where with p. 369. l. 24. shed r. shee l p. 372. l. 19. Caiaphas r. Caiphas p. 379. l. 23. shed r. shee l p. 390. l. 26. oodness r. goodness p. 437. l. 12. of of r. of p. 460. l. 30. evelasting r. everlasting p. 516. l. 13. an ds r. and as p. 598. l. 1. of Incarnation r. of the Incarnation p. 623. l. 30. soul of r. soul out of
the verses of the Davidicall Psalter comprehending thrice fifty Psalms so employing the greatest part of their time in the divin praises The devout Laity though much inferiour to them in point of learning and knowledg yet desirous to equall them in Gods love and service emulating this laudable custom but some of them being unable to read others uncapable to understand these sacred Psalms invented and dayly recited a certain Psalter according to the mysticall number of the Davidical Psalms of the Lords Prayer and Angelicall salutation an hundred and fifty times repeated piously conceiving as well they might that all the sacred mysteries of those many Psalm's were compendiously contain'd in this singular Prayer and Salutation since they declar'd him to be now come and present whom those Psalms had foretold and promis'd Which devotion of the Primitive Christians will not seem any wonder to such as duely consider their great fervour and piety in other spirituall exercises as may be instanced in that the whol generality of the lay-people receiv'd then dayly the sacred Eucharist Surely a most convenient way to lay that first foundation of a new Church upon solid devotion and sanctity which was to sustain afterwards so weightie a superstructure But when in the following ages the number of Christians encreasing and the fervour of piety decaying this kind of Psalter became burthensome to the multitude of Christians who were now more attentive to their domestick and temporall negotiations than zealous of the divin service it was abridg'd into an hundred and fifty Angelical salutations keeping still the same mystical number but changing its denomination into that of the blessed Virgins Psalter and interlacing each Decade with the recitall of our Lords Prayer in imitation of the Clergie so performing their Church Psalmodie This was that Psalter so much prays'd and practis'd by the Egyptian Hermits and Anchorits to which they had recourse as to their present solace in all their pressing sadnesses and afflictions their powerfull Remedie against all thier troubles and temptations their secure Sanctuary in all their spirituall conflicts and combats This manner of Prayer was also frequented and practis'd not onely as to its substance which are the Lords Prayer and Angelical salutation but also as to its forenam'd Quantity and Qual'ty by the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church Witness St. Hierom of whom it is related in the Ecclesiastical histories That he plac'd an undoubted hope in the suffrages of this Psalter against all temptations troubles and afflictions whatsoever and especially against the Adversaries of the Christian Faith nor would he ever settle himself say's Fossaeus lib. 1. de Psalterio to any serious reading writing or dictating till he had first implor'd the divin assistance by the recitall of this Psalter Neither must we omit say's Alanus de Rupe to make mention of that most worthy Patriark of Monks St. Bennet who chose this Psalter for his familiar and perpetuall companion and so deserv'd to become the famous founder of Monastical Institution Which propagation of the Marian Psalter say's Bucelinus in his Menologium March 21. is none of the least of St. Bennets prayses the Queen of Heaven her self highly approving and commending the same endowing her Bennet for so she was heard to name him with many signall favours benefits and blessings and chosing the Monasteries of his sacred Order as it were for her earthly seat and mansion even to this day And in the Benedictin Annals anno 538. we find registred that though St. Bennet from his very infancy and in the beginning of his conversion when he laid the first plat-form of monastical Perfection was singularly devoted to the Empress of Heaven and a great Promotor of her Honour Name and Kingdom Yet chiefly about this time to wit the 59th year of his age he promulgated in the head City and to the whol World that sweet easy and efficacious exercise of the blessed Virgins Psalter which himself with his Disciples had so piously and profitably practis'd within the private Cloysters of Sublake and Mount Cassin and which St. Dâ—minick the glorious Institutor of a new Marian Family and Reformer of the old when by length of time this sort of devotion became neglected after 700. years space revived and re-established This Psalter I say this very Psalter did our great Patriarch St. Bennet deliver to the World and recommend with immortall fruit and merit to his Disciples who were to be sent into the earths severall Climats to establish monastical discipline which they undoubtedly perform'd with so much the more happy success by how much they preach'd and promoted the sacred Virgins honour together with the sincere faith of her Son Christ Jesus Hence it is that the whol Quire of his succeeding Monks imitating the example of so glorious a Father became ever since most zealous practitioners and promoters of the same piety and devotion and to the end it might be perpetuated to all their posterity they prudently set apart one day of the year in which they make a particular Commemoration of the sacred Psalter thus instituted by their Patriarch St. Bennet to wit the 18. of June where their Martyrologe say's thus Upon the same day the Feast or Commemoration of the blessed Virgin-Mothers Psalter instituted to the honour of the glorious Empress of Heaven aad Earth by our admirable Father and Patriarch St. Bennet to be practis'd in his whol Order and propagated throughout the whol World by his most holy Children and Disciples And how zealously his said children perform'd this their Fathers precept of promulgating in all places the sacred Virgins Psalter might be largely demonstrated and exemplified in all the succeeding ages For of St. Maurus whom our holy Father yet living sent into France and who dyed in the year 583. it is thus expresly written He promoted the honour of the admirable Virgin-Mother with all possible diligence and with incomparable fruit and merit and propagated far and near the use of her sacred Psalter according to the institute of his most blessed Father St. Bennet And of St. Eligius the glorious Builder Founder and Abbot of Solemmacum the Bishop of Nâ—yon the Apostle of many Provinces a man famous not only for his prodigious sanctity but also for his skill in Smithery who dyed in the year 665. he was a singular Honourer of the Sacred Virgin-Mother whose Psalter he carryed for his Pontificall Ensign and made for himself an Episcopall Chair adorn'd with an hundred and fifty golden-nails or bosses distinguish'd with other fifteen of a greater size and bulk upon which he dayly perform'd his devotions of the Psalter And in the ensuing Age the same sort of Piety was spread abroad not only over our English Nation but into the far and near adjoyning Kingdom 's by the preaching of our venerable Bede who dyed in the year 738. of whom it is written that he brought his Countrey men into so great a veneration of the Marian Psalter
between each Decade and the rest of the meditations comprehending the whol life of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus c. Let 's now cast a view upon the Excellency Dignity and Utilitie of this our sacred Rosary which can be no better declared than by shewing the Excellencie of each severall part whereof it is compos'd to wit the Creed the Lords Prayer the Angelical Salutation and the Meditations upon the fifteen Mysteries In the Creed we profess our Faith and by Faith we please God in the Lords Prayer we speak to God as it were in his own dialect and we may be confident the Eternall Father will hearâ—… to the divin words which his own dear Son dictated In the Angelical Salutation we gratefully commemorate the chief mysterie of our Salvation which is our Redeemers Incarnation And in Meditating upon the fifteen mysteries we sweetly melt away in the admiration of the divin love mercy and goodness The Creed wherewith we begin and conclude our Rosary and which may therefore be fitly called the first and last accidentall part thereof contains as many Excellencies fruits and profits as Faith it self whereof it is a formall Act and Profession Now the fruits of Faith are so many that meerely to relate them would make up a large volum and therefore be pleas'd to content your selves for the present most devout Rosarists to take only a compendious touch of such as are expresly registred in holy Writ 1. Faith purges our sins Thy Faith O Woman say's our Saviour to the Penitent Magdalen hath saved thee 2. Faith purifies our hearts sayes S. Peter 3. Faith joynes espouses and unites our souls to God say's the Prophet Oseas 4. Faith is the very life of our souls The just man says the Prophet Abacuc and after him the Apostle S. Paul lives by faith And Christ our Saviour He that believes in me though he be dead in flesh he shall live in his soul 5. Faith enobles exalts and dignifies our nature rendring us Gods adopted children He gave power say's S. John to them who believe in his name to become his children 6. Faith is here the beginning of the hereafter ensuing eternall life This is eternall life says our Saviour to know the only true God 7. Faith gives all the fruit worth and merit to our works Whatsoever is not of Faith says Saint Paul is a sin 8. Faith is our Armour against all sorts of Temptations of the World Flesh and Devill Above all says S. Paul take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And S. Peter Your Adversary the Devill goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in Faith And S. John This is the victory that overcomes the world even your Faith 9. Faith causes our Prayers to be heard and our Petitions granted What things soever you desire says our Saviour When you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them And S. James Let him ask in Faith nothing doubting and it shall be given him 10. Faith works Miracles He that believes in me says our Saviour shall do the works that I do and greater than these And S. Paul proves this by many instances throughout his whol 11th Chapter to the Hebrews Finally there are no greater riches no higher honours no better substance in this world says S. Augustin than the Catholique Faith which saves sinners cures the sick justifies the righteous repairs the penitent perfects the just and crowns all the Elect. These are a part of the innumerable fruits and profits which spring from Faith as from the foundation ground work and root of all goodness and which may be aboundantly gather'd by you O Faithfull servants of God and devout children of Mary by renewing exciting and professing it in the recitall of your Creed at the beginning and end of your Rosary The second Part of the Rosary is our Lords Prayer so called from its divin Author Christ Jesus and for its own excellencie as being says S. Thomas an Abridgment of all that needs to be desired or ought to be demanded This sacred Prayer contain seven Petitions and that not without speciall Mysterie For as this inferior world is govern'd by seven Orbes or Heavens which are under the starrie Firmament and is cherish'd and conserv'd by the Influences of seven Planets And as Man consists of the three powers of his soul and the four Elements whether virtually or formally it matters not which compose his Body And as our spirituall Perfection depends upon seven vertues The three Theologicall and the four Cardinall And as the gifts of the Holy Ghost wherewith our souls are adorned are seven And as the Beatificall Dowries make up the same number three of them belonging to the soul vision love fruition and four to the Body Impassibility Agility Subtility Clarity So Christ our Lord the Eternall Fathers Coeternall wisdom concluded all things for which he would have us pray in these seven short and sweet Petitions To relate all the fruits and effects which are reap'd by the devout recitall of this divin Prayer were to run over the large fields of prayer in generall whereof this our Pater noster is a perfect summarie as hath been already prov'd by the authoritie of S. Thomas and may be further confirm'd by this saying of S. Augustin If thou searchest after all the sacred Prayers that ever were compos'd thou canst in my opinion meet with nothing which is not herein contained and included And by that of S. Cyprian O what mysteries are in our Lords prayer How many and how great Sacraments are in this short speech contracted in words but copious in spirituall sense and vertu In so much as there is nothing at all to be pray'd for which is not comprehended in this compendium of heavenly doctrin To which Encomiums of these great Saints omitting almost infinit others of Tertullian S. John Chrysostom S. Gregory and all the Fathers we shall only add this excellent expression of a modern Author Amongst all divin Prayers and prayses nothing is comparable to the Pater noster It far excells all the supplications of the Saints It fully contains all the conceptions of the Prophets all the expressions of the Psalms all the sweetnesses of the Canticles It asks all that is necessary It prayses God highly It joyns the soul to God entirely c. See Thomas a Kempis Enchirid. Monastic cap. 5. But to make you most devout Rosarists yet more enamour'd with your Pater noster We shall succinctly deliver unto you its manifold fruits and effects in the very sense of S. Dominick himself the Author of this our Confraternity who by divin Inspiration preach'd to his numerous Auditory of Tolosa upon a solemn feast of the sacred Virgin to this effect First says Saint Dominick if little weak children were to walk through some wild and uncouth wilderness had they not need of a
inculated the fruits of this divin Prayer into the hearts of his devout Auditors and which we surely may hope also to receive if we dayly fervently and perseverantly pour it forth in the divin presence by the due performance of our Psalter and Rosary The third part of the Rosary is the Angelical Salutation dictated by the divin wisdom to the Archangell Gabriel to St. Elizabeth and to the Church A Salutation which the Apostles Primitive Fathers so highly reverenc'd that they prescribed it to be recited in their Lyturgies A Salutation which says St. Peter Damian briefly contains Christs Incarnation Mans Redemption the Worlds Renovation And surely by this admirable connexion of our Lords Prayer and the Angelical Salutation in the Rosary we are admonish'd that as in the fall of human nature both Sexes were guilty and our common miserie proceeded from Adams and Eves joynt prevarication so in the reparation and redemption of Mankind there is the concurrencie of a Man Chrâ—st our Lord and also though in an inferiour degree of a Woman the Virgin-Mother and therefore joyning together both these Prayers we render most humble thanks for this inestimable benefit Thanks to our blessed Redeemer for having vouchsaf'd to become man for us And thanks to his holy Mother for having furnish'd him with this humanity in which he redeem'd us But if you desire most devout Rosarists to have a more particular sight of the signall Fruits and Effects of this Angelical Salutation listen attentively to this compendious Narrration First of the joyes wherewith it replenishes the blessed Virgin mary Secondly of the terrours wherewith it strikes the Devill Thirdly of the profits it brings to mankind First this Salutation I say replenishes the sacred Virgin with a new accidentall Joy sweetness and complacencie as often as it is devoutly and reverently recited For by saying Hail or Ave that is sine vae without woe we offer her the Joy of her great Purity immunitie and exemption from all the woe and miserie whereunto all women except her self the singularly preserv'd Virgin-Mother were subject by the fall of our first Parents For as Ave is a literall conversion of Eva so our Mother Mary receiv's in this Salutation a triple Benediction 1. of becoming fruitfull without corruption 2. big with child without burdensomness 3. and a Mother without feeling the pains of child-bearing opposite to our Mother Eves triple Malediction of corruption in conceiving cumbersomness after conception and pains in childing By saying Mary we renew in her the Joy of her great Dâ—gnitie design'd by this glorious Name and Title First as it signifies the Star of the Sea to which says St. Bernard she is most fitly compar'd because as a Star sends forth its beam without any self-blemish so Mary brings forth a child without any self-violation The Beam doth nothing diminish the Stars claritie nor Mary's child her integrity c. Secondly as Mary signifies illuminated for she receiv'd from God as a full Moon from the Sun a plenitude of the light of Grace here below and enjoyes a plenitude of the light of Glory there above Thirdly as Mary signifies an Illuminatrix to which St. Bernard alluding Maryes presence says he illuminates the whol World and even Heaven it self shines now more clearly being irradiated with the beams of her virginall lamp Fourthly as Mary in the Syriack language signifies a fair Lady and what Creature says St. Bernard was comparable to her in the beauty of mind and body who bore and brought forth the beauty of Men and Angells when therefore we say Haâ—l Mary we say rejoyce Sacred Worthy Noble Virgin bright Star illuminated of God enlightner of Men fair Lady of the whol Universe By saying Full of Grace we renew a double joy in her First we affirm that Grace which man lost by Sin to be restored by her Sanctâ—ty and Secondly we pronounce that Grace which other Saints possess partially to be in her unitedly fully universally You O Mary says the admiring St. Hierom are indeed full of Grace for the Grace which was given to others by parcell was powred into you in a full plenitude By saying our Lord is with thee we renew in her the joy of her divin Conception than which nothing imaginable can be to her more gratefull pleasing and acceptable for hereby we not only pronounce God the Son to be with you O Mary says St. Bernard whom you cloath with your flesh but God the Holy Ghost by whom you conceive and God the Father who eternally begets whom you temporally bear Yes O Mary The Father is with you who powerfully makes his Son yours the Son is with you who is admirably born of you the Holy Ghost is with you who graciously with the Father and Son sanctifies you c. By saying Blessed art thou amongst Women We renew in her the Joy of her supernall Benediction As if we should say Rejoyce O Mother Mary who deserved'st to have our mother Eves curse chang'd into a blessing for thy self and all others and to become the glory honour and crown of all Women consecrating the Virginall estate before thy Marriage the Conjugall estate in thy wedlock and the estate of Widowhood after thy husbands death and thy Sons Passion By saying Blessed is the fruit of thy Womb We renew in her the Joy of the divin prayse As if we should say with S. Bernard Thou art surely Blessed O sacred Virgin but we bless him above all who hath so highly blessed thee Not because thou art Blessed therefore is the fruit of thy womb blessed but thou art therfore Blessed because he hath prevented thee with his blessings in whom all Nations are blessed and of whose fulness thou also with others though far above all others hast receiv'd what thou hast c. Behold O children of Mary who have your hearts inflam'd with her sacred affection what excesses of joyes you present offer and renew in your dear Mother when you devoutly salute her with this Angelicall Canticle and Jubilation All which we shall confirm by one only authentick Revelation which her self was graciously pleas'd to impart to one of her dear darlings a famous Saint of our Order S. Mechtild studying which way she might render some gratefull service to her glorious Mother the Virgin Mary beheld her in a vision with the Angelicall Salutation before her in great and golden characters and heard these words proceeding from her sacred Mouth Know daughter that no human devotion can ever reach higher than this Salutation nor can any one more sweetly gratifie me than by reverently pronouncing this Ave Hail wherewith the Eternall father at the first greeted me confirming me by his omnipotencie ab omni va culpae from all woe and miserie of sin and impiety The eternall son likewise illustrating me with his wisdom ordain'd me to be forthwith the bright Star wherewith Heaven and earth are enlightned as by this my name Mary is declared The holy Ghost
Son our Lord. I Believe in the second Person of the sacred Trinity the Son whom the Father begot from all Eternity communicating to him all his own Essence Greatness Perfection who continuing God became Man for the Salvation of Sinners was nam'd Christ Jesus and is the Soveraign Lord and King of all Souls O divin word which descended from Heaven to Earth to deliver me from sin and Satan be you my Lord by Election as you are by Creation and Redemption I freely give and bequeath my self to you for your perpetuall Bondslave Live O Jesu and reign in my Soul as you do in the whol extent of this large Universe Who was conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary I Believe that Gods Son that he might become Man did vouchsafe to unite to his divin Person a Rationall soul and a human body which the Holy Ghost miraculously form'd in the chast bowels of the blessed Virgin Mary and of her proper and pure blood so that he was truly conceiv'd in her and truly born by her without any prejudice to her Virginity O Jesu the lover of Purity who chose the chastest woman of the World for your Mother by the Immaculate Purity of your Conception and Nativitie give me the gift and grace of purity of Life and Conversation Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucify'd dead and buryed I Believe that the Son of God Incarnate endured very severe Torments in his humanity for the Worlds Redemption that he was adjudg'd to dy by the Prefident Pilate and that after his death he was buryed and laid in a Sepulchre O Jesu the Redeemer of my Soul your death is the only hope of my Life be you graciously pleas'd to apply to me one single drop of your sacred Bloud and I shall rest secure in this Life and be happy for all Eternitie He descended into Hell the third day he arose again from the Dead I Believe that in the death of my blessed Saviour his Soul was really seperated for a time from his Body to descend into that part of Hell which was call'd Limbus Patrum where all such souls as from the Worlds first beginning departed this life in a good estate were till then detaind I believe that he deliver'd them from that Dungeon and that upon the third day his Soul return'd to his buryed Body became reunited unto it and rays'd it up to Life and Immortality O most glorious Soul of Christ my Saviour which thus mercifully visited the Patriarchs lying in the sad Prison of Limbus vouchsafe to give me also a gracious vâ—sit that whil'st I live I may duly and devoutly love and honour you and when my Soul shall be call'd out of this imprisoning Body it may be rays'd up to Contemplate admire and prayse your greatness goodness and glorie for all Eternitie He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Allmightie I Believe that Jesus my Redeemer being by his own power resuscitated from death to life ascended up to Heaven by his own strength where he sits at the right hand of God his Father to whom he is every way equall as the chief of all the Blessed full of glory and felicity O Jesu my Redeemer how worthy are you thus to triumph to reign to be exalted above all creatures But O forget not in the state of your greatness the condition of your miserable Creature bought with the price of your precious Bloud O King of glory grant that all my thoughts words actions and desires may aym at nothing but your only honour From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I Believe that Christ Jesus when he shall please to put a Period to time and all sublunary things will descend visibly from Heaven in his glorious Humanity to judg all Manking both the good and the bad and publickly to reward to punish every one according to their works Ah! just Judg of all consciences what shall I then do or what shall I answer when you shall question me concerning my whol lives transactions I believe in the Holy Ghost I Believe in the third person of the sacred Trinitie the Holy Ghost who joyntly proceeds both from the Father and from the Son and is to them equall in Greatness in Majestie in all things whatsoever O sacred Spirit the God of Infinit Love and Charity breath upon my flinty heart mollify it into meekness towards my Neighbour and melt it into the sweet affections of your pure and perfect Love I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints I Believe the Catholick Church to be the only Church of Christ that it is holy universall apostolical and infallible in things appertaining to Faith and that in this Church there are found many pious Souls pleasing to the divin Majesty which mutually help each other by their prayers and good works O my Lord and my God! I render you most humble and hearty thanks for having made me a child and member of this holy Church in which I have so great hopes and so many helps to save my soul give me your grace good Jesu that I may improve this signall favour and persever in this saving Faith that from it I may pass to the clear vision of your prepared glory The Forgiveness of Sins I Believe that God is both able and willing to forgive me my Sins and that he hath left power in his Church to remit them be they never so heynous and enormous and this especially by the Priests absolution in the Sacrament of Penance O God of Infinit goodness and mercy let all Creatures Eternally prayse and magnifie your sacred Name for having given such power to men and such comfort to poor sinners The Resurrection of the Flesh I Believe that the very body in which my Soul now lives and breaths and all human bodyes though after death they are redâ—c'd into dust in their graves shall at the end of the World and at the great day of generall Judgment be rays'd to lâ—fe by Gods omnipotent command and his Angells ministry to be then rejoyn'd to their same souls and to live for evermore O Dread Soveraign in whose hands are life and death and to whose beck all things are obedient Ingrave deeply in my heart and soul the hope of a happy Resurrection that the horrour of this temporall dissolution and death of my body may not over-terrify and dismay me And life everlasting Amen I Believe that the good shall live in Heavenly glory for all Eternitie and that the wicked shall live eternally in infernall torments O good God! grant that I may so live in your grace during this my short Pilgrimage that I my live with you in glorie in your Eternall Paradise Amen §. 3. Of the Pater Noster or our Lords Prayer The second part of the Rosary THe Pater Noster is the Prayer which our Lord Jesus taught his disciples informing them from his own sacred mouth
then ponder his love to mankind in generall and to your self in particular c. The second Rule which concerns the action of your will is That you pass speedily from speculative discourses to devout affections and self-reflections as for example had you been in the Bethleem stable aforesaid how diligently would you have employ'd your self in the service of little Jesus and his loving Mother How willingly would you have pick'd up sticks made a fire ayr'd his swaths and fetch'd or carryed whatsoever might have been usefull for their solace and succour c. Such like reflections will rayse enflam'd desires and firm resolutions in your soul of better loving and serving both the Son and Mother for the future and of suffering for his sake who suffered so much for yours c. And in some such manner you may conclude each mysterie by some particular resolution drawn from the subject of the meditation either of correcting such an imperfection or of exercising such a vertu and assure your self that if you presently apply your self to the practise of such well made resolutions humbly imploring the divin assistance therein by the blessed Virgins Intercession you shall find it a most speedy and efficacious means to the amendment of your life the extirpation of vice the implanting of vertu and finally much conducing to your generall advancement in all sorts of spirituall Perfections 3 You may also represent to your self the sacred Virgin Sometimes as sitting or kneeling in her silent and solitary retreat and attentively listning to the Angell Gabriels Salutation and Embassy Other times as infolding gently her sweet Infant Jesus in her sacred arms imbracing him tenderly in her bosom suckling him lovingly at her breasts watching him carefully with her eyes cherishing him affectionatly with her kisses contemplating him devoutly with her heart Other times as painfully wayting on him from place to place in the time of his Passion sorrowfully standing by him at the foot of his Cross cheerfully rejoycing with him at his Resurrection Other times as gloriously reigning in Heaven mercifully vouchsafing to hearken to our prayers and piously presenting them to her Son Or otherwise according to the severall mysteries and sutably to each ones gust and devotion 4. You are also here to be exhorted to propose to your self the cause whether common or particular which moves you now to the recitall of the Rosary as for example I intend now to prayse my Lord God for the benefit of my Creation Redemption Vocation c. Or In the honour of my Saviours sacred Nativity bitter Passion glorious Resurrection admirable Ascention c. Or In the honour of the blessed Virgins Annunciation Visitation Assumption Coronation c. Or I intend to render thanks to my Creator for such a particular favour as for mine own or my friends Conversion delivery from danger c. Or any other privat or publick benefit Or I intend to implore the divin assistance for the overcoming of such a Temptation extirpating such a vice obtaining such a vertu Or For a good success in such an affair Or that I may make a happy progress in my Studies c. Consider therefore briefly at the beginning of your prayers what it is that you chiefly intend and if it be any temporall or worldly benefit which you desire to obtain be sure you demand it not absolutely but only conditionally as thus If it please the divin Majesty and that it is for my good and his glory I humbly beg a happy end of such a Law-sute success in such a journey prosperity in such an undertaking c. 5. Then taking your Bedes in hand or having this your Book open before you begin your Rosary with the sign of the Cross saying In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen 6. Then adding this Preparatorie Prayer of the Church Aperi Domine os meum ctc. O Lord Open my mouth to bless your holy name purge my heart from all vain wicked and wandring thoughts enlighten my understanding and inflame my affections that reciting this Rosary with due reverence attention and devotion I may be graciously heard by your divin Majesty through the merits of your Son our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus 7. Then making a Profession of your Faith with heart and mouth say I believe in God the Farher Almightie Creator of Heaven and Earth c. 8. After your Creed recite thrice your Hail Mary upon the three grains which are commonly plac'd at the head of your Rosary saluting the blessed Virgin in honour of her three singular Prerogatives Of being 1. The Daughter of the Eternall Father 2. The Mother of the Eternall Son 3. The Spouse of the Holy Ghost 9. Then Reflecting upon the first mysterie say our Father and ten Hail Maries and so pass on to the second and the rest of the Decades according to the order hereafter described and in the end of every Decade you are to say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World without end Amen Then recite these verses devoutly These Prayers Angelical with bended knee We offer holy Virgin up to thee Steer us a prosperous course while here we tarry And in deaths Pangs assist us blessed Mary Remember Virgin that no age hath known Any by thee deserted that has flown To thy Protection or implor'd thy Ayd By which encouragement most sacred Mayd Mother of Virgins I to thee repayre And for thy help address my humble prayer Mother of God! desert me not but hear And listen to me with a gracious eare 10. And having compleated the Recitall of your Rosary conclude with the repeated Creed and sign of the Cross so ending where you began which is both the ancient and a most laudable custom After all add this Prayer of the Church to obtain the remission of all the negligences committed in your Prayers Sacrosanctae Individuae Trinitaeti c. To the sacred and undivided Trinitie to the blessed Humanitie of our crucify'd Lord Jesus to the fruitfull integrity of the most glorious Virgin Mary and to all the Saints universally be ascribed all prayse honour and glory from all creatures for evermore and to us be granted by Gods Mercy the Remission of all our Sins And likewise ever blessed be the Bowels of the Virgin Mary which bore the Eternall Fathers Son and blessed be the Breasts which suckled Christ our Lord Amen §. 6. Of the fifteen Mysteries in generall The fourth part of the Rosarie THe devout Rosarist is here to be remembred of what was briefly related in the first book § 7. that whilst his mouth is employ'd in the due pronunciation of the aforesaid prayers his mind is to be embusied in the serious contemplation of certain divin mysteries which are fitly reduced to the number of Fifteen answering to the fifteen Decades or Tens of the sacred Rosary
to be recited in the each Decade That so the pious Rosarist may entertain his devotion by mentally ruminating upon one or more or all of them as his leisure shall permit and his zeal suggest unto him Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin Exceedingly rejoyc'd 1. At her Eternall Preelection THat she amongst all the women of the world was made choyce off from all Eternity to be the sacred Daughter of God the Father the worthy Mother of God the Son the glorious Spouse Temple and Tabernacle of God the Holy Ghost Hail Mary c. 2. At her singular Benediction THat she should be that Blessed one above all creatures indu'd with all the gifts graces vertues and perfections answerable to so high an Election Hail Mary 3. At the Reparation of Mankind THat she should be ordain'd for the Cooperatrix of the worlds Redemption the Mediatrix of Mankind the Advocatrix of sinners the Lady Queen and Empress of Heaven and Earth Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Salutation THat she should be thus particularly visited and thus honorably saluted by so noble an Oratour and so high an Ambassador as was the Archangell Gabriel sent purposely unto her from the sacred Trinity upon business of such great weight and concernment Hail Mary 5. At the Angelicall Consolation FOR when she was troubled not at his Apparition because she was well acquainted with Angelicall visits and accustomed to these like visions but at the contents of his message which trouble was only a certain fear apprehension admiration the Angell presently and familiarly calls her by her Name and comforts her saying Fear nothing O Mary I come not to deceive you but to declare divin Mysteries unto you you have found Grace with God and what need that Soul fear says S. Gregory which is in Gods Grace favour and friendship Hail Mary 6. At the Angelicall Revelation FOr he inform'd her that she was to conceive in her womb without sin without seed without Man and bring forth a child without sorrow without pain without violation of her virginall integrity and call his Name not impose it JESUS which signifies a Saviour He shall be Great above the common sort of sons and the Son of the most High not as the Saints by Grace and Adoption but by nature and essence And our Lord God shall give him the Seat of his Father David not his materiall Throne and temporall Kingdom but a spirituall and eternall Jurisdiction over all the Faithfull And he shall reign in the house of Jacob in the Church Militant and Triumphant for evermore Hail Mary 7. At the Angelicall Instruction FOr when she had reverently reply'd How can this be since I know not man but have vow'd my virginity to God my Maker he carefully and punctually instructs her in the manner and circumstances The Holy Ghost shall descend upon thee and the vertu of the most High shall overshadow thee and therefore fear not thy Chastity but know thou shalt hereby receive an addition to thy former purity Hail Mary 8. At her being with Child FOr she had no sooner signifi'd her obedient consent by uttering those humble words Behold the Handmaid of our Lord he it unto me according to thy speech whereby she prayd that God would be pleasd to fulfill what his Angell had declar'd unto her but she immediatly became with child of the Word Incarnate Hail Mary 9. At her Conception by the Holy Ghost O The joy of her Heart when she was ascertaind of her Conception of Christ in her womb not according to the common and naturall order but by the Holy Ghosts supernaturall power and operation And that she waâ— to be his Mother without a husband as God was his Father without a wife Hail Mary 10. At her Marriage with S. Joseph WHich was done undoubtedly in obedience to the divin â—…ctamen for her comfort crâ—dit assistance and many other important reasons without the least â—…tion of carnall Concupiscence in either of the marryed couple Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee We offer holy Virgin up to thee Steer us a prosperous course while here we tarry And in Deaths Pangs assist us Blessed Mary Remember Virgin that no Age hath known Any by thee deserted that has flown To thy Protection or implor'd thy Ayd By which encouragement most sacred Mayd Mother of Virgins I to thee repaire And for thy help address my humble pray'r Mother of God! desert me not but hear And listen to me with a gracious ear Affections Elevations Petitions O Eternall Father who were mercifully pleas'd to send down your heavenly messenger to treat with Her who before all time was design'd to be the worthy Mother of your Co-eternall Son my sweet Saviour Christ Jesus concerning the weighty Mystery of Mans Redemption by his Incarnation Dispose my Soul I beseech you to receive the Influences of your grace that so I may not hinder the effects of those mercies which in the Councills of your Eternall Providence you design'd for me Give me O my Creator a promptitude to obey your precepts Give me Purity Prudence Modesty and all other vertues and perfections which so highly pleas'd you in the Blessed Virgin O that my whol Employments might be henceforth so unmixt with worldly affections so free from vain Interests so retired from secular disturbances so conformable to sacred Maries most perefect examples that I might converse with Angells conceive Jesus in my soul nourish him in my interiour with my innocent affections and bring him forth by my actions of Piety towards the divin Majesty and of charity towards my neighbour O Jesu the only Son of the Eternall Father who by the Holy Ghosts wonderfull operation were graciously pleasd to descend into the womb of an humble Virgin and there to cloath your self with our Humanity Let your powerful Grace descend into my poor soul and adorn it with such vertues and perfections as are to your self most pleasing and acceptable O the profound Humiliation of Gods Son and the perfect Humility of Gods Mother He being the dread Soveraign of Heaven and earth annihilates himself to take a servants form She being declard Gods Mother takes upon her a Handmaid's title O King of Humility Grant me this Royall vertu which is the root and Ground-work of all others by the intercession of your most humble and holy Mother O glorious Empress of both worlds I rejoyce at your titles of honour and greatness and especially that you were the only one chosen out amongst all women to be Gods worthy Mother By this Supreme Mystery of your divin Sons Incarnation obtain for me I beseech you that I may also conceive and carry your sweet Son Jesus alwaies in my heart and soul and continually produce the fruits of good works answerable to my christian obligation and profession that so he dwelling with me and within me continually during this my
short Pilgrimage I may dwell with him for ever in his eternall Paradise The Second joyfull Mysterie She visits The visitation which the blessed Virgin made to her cousin St. Elizabeth Luke 1. She visits St. Eliza. to rejoyce With her for what was told by th'Angells voyce Our Father c. The blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the consideration of Gods wonderfull works Which were now made known unto her by his heavenly Messenger for pondring all his words after his departure from her she admiringly compares her own meaness with Gods Immensity She ravishtly extolls his mercy his goodness his compassion towards poor mankind She gratefully acknowledges her own unworthiness to have such wonders wrought in and by her Hail Mary 2. At the Inhabitation of God within her O the joy of her heart O the jubily of her soul to contain him in her womb whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot comprehend Hail Mary 3. At her perfect Sanctification For she knew her self to be consummated in the fullness of Grace adorn'd with the gifts of the Holy Ghost confirm'd in all vertues absolutely impeccable and secure of her finall perseverance Hail Mary 4. At her singular Illustration For by the Inhabitation of the Eternall word within her she became enlightned both in soul and body In Soul so as to know secrets to understand sciences to foresee things to come as appears by her Propheticall Magnificat In body insomuch as her externall beauty and comliness attested Gods inward presence and we may piously believe with St. Bernard that no one no not her husband St. Joseph could fixedly behold the beames of her shining countenance and so the Gloss understands that passage of St. Matthews Gospell Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth Hail Mary 5. At her journey into the Mountains of Judea For reflecting upon the Angells last Speech Behold thy Kinswoman Elizabeth hath also conceiv'd a Son in her old age She speedily cheerfully and joyfully undertakes this long journey of thirty four miles says Ludolphus and on foot in order to visit her congratulate her assist her Hail Mary 6. At the carriage of Christ in her womb For though the way was long and mountainous though she a tender Virgin and with child yet neither was the journey irksome nor her burden cumbersom nor her travail wearysom because she carried him who supported encourag'd and enabled her Hail Mary 7. At the blessing of Elizabeth Who at her approach runs ravishtly into her embraces and affectionately exclaims Blessed art thou amongst all women and blessed is the fruit which thou bear'st in thy womb Blessed is the Tree together with the fruit the Stemm with the Flower the Mother with the Son Hail Mary 8. At her conjoyn'd Virginity and Maternity For she joyfully perceiv'd that Propheticall saying compleated in her own Person Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son and she as joyfully knew her self to be the Mother of God according to St. Elizabeths expression How deserve I this honour that the Mother of my Lord should vouchsafe to visit me Hail Mary 9. At the overflowing of her Grace into others For at her voyce and visitation St. John St. Elizabeth and St. Zacharieâ— were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Hail Mary 10. At the many miracles accompanying and following this Visitation 1. In Elizabeth replenish'd with Gods holy Spirit 2. In St. John clean's from originall Sin sanctify'd in the womb confirm'd in grace 3. In Zacharies illumination c. Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These prayers Angelical with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O what a confluence of joyes were found at this blessed meeting of these two Mothers of two great Princes whereof one was the greatest that was born of women and the other was his Lord and these made Mothers by two miracles Surely never but in Heaven was a greater extasie of Iubilation The word Incarnate rejoycingly begins to bestow his blessings on the World before he is born into it Elizabeth rejoycingly admires Gods goodness and mercy and his Mothers charity and humility St. John rejoycingly dances in the womb after the harmonious musick of their mutuall Salutations whil'st the holy Virgin her self sweetly in tones her Creators prayses who is the true Author and Origin of all these wonders singing with heart and mouth My ravish't Soul extolls his name Who rules the Worlds admired frame My Spirit with exalted voyce In God my Saviour shall rejoyce Who hath his glorious beams displayd Upon a poor and humble Maid Me all succeeding Ages shall The blessed Virgin-Mother call O the ardent charity of my Saviour Christ and of his sacred Mother He is no sooner conceiv'd in her womb but be carryes her and she him into the mountains of Judea to give the life of grace to the young Baptist O Jesu the powerfull Sanctifier of all souls vouchsafe to give mine also a gracious visite and to inflame it with the fire of your love that I may henceforth more readily correspond to your holy motions more carefully lay hold upon all occasions conducing to vertu piety perfection and more charitably assist my necessitous neighbour And you O most lovely most loving and most beloved Virgin bestow a visit on this poor house and heart of mine Here I live in a vale of teares temptations miseries I sojourn amongst continuall dangers I dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and my being in this world is like that of a child in his Mothers belly expecting with fear and hope to be born into the bright-light of a Blessed Eternity O let your comfortable visitation and your Sons grace-bringing presence disperse my inward darkness qualify my fearfullness fortify my hope and confidence and give me a sweet Antipast of my future happiness Come then O most charitable and most compassionate Virgin My good Mother my gracious mediatrix my only Hope next to your holy Son Jesus Come and cast an Eye of Pity upon your poor servant Let your harmonious voyce resound in my souls eares and obtain for me a tast of your Sons goodness that I may henceforth relish nothing but himself and according to your most perfect example rejoyce in nothing but God my Saviour The third joyfull Mystery He is Born The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Luc. 2. THe Son of God born of a sacred Mayd Between two beasts is in a manger laid Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the first sight of the new-born Iesus O The Jubily of her ravish'd heart To see him safely brought into the world whom she carefully carryed nine months in her womb To swathe and suckle him who is the Son of the most high To kiss him who was comely above all the children of men To embrace him whose beauty the Sun and Moon admire and whose countenance the Angells desire to contemplate Hail Mary 2. At her preserv'd Virginity FOr she now found her self compleatly a
in following you more carefull in keeping you more sincere constant perseverant in serving and obeying you Be you my guid O most glorious Virgin-Mother in this my inquest after your dear Son Following your footsteps to the sacred Temple I shall find him by your favour whom I have lost by my own fault And having once found him O let me never more loose him by my disloyaltie that living here and dying in his sweet embraces I may live with him hereafter and enjoy him eternally in his blessed Kingdom Amen Then end this first part of the Rosary with the Profession of your Faith and the sign of the Cross saying I Believe in God c. with the Prayer To the sacred and undivided Trinity c. as it is set down in the end of the 5. § The second Part of the Rosary containing the Five Dolorous Mysteries Begin this Part of the Rosary with the Prayer sign of the Cross and Creed as in the first Part. The First Dolorous Mystery He Prays THe Agony of Christ whilst he was at his Prayers in the Garden Matth. 26. Christ in the Garden pray's his anguish'd Brest Is in his face through sweats of blood exprest As in the Precedent Joyfull Mysteries we have shew'd that those five principall and common heads comprehended under their signall notions severall particular Joys of the sacred Virgin-Mother so each one of these five generall Dolorous Mysteries like a long chain made up of many links includes a multitude of particularly aggravating circumstances in our dear Redeemers Passion and his holy Mothers compassion which Concatenation of sorrows we shall endeavour as before in the Cohesion of Joys to reduce briefly to Ten Heads or points of Contemplation correspondent to the respective Decades of this second part of the Rosary Our Father c. Our Blessed Saviour was exceedingly sad and sorrowfull 1. At the apprehension of the loss of his corporall life FOr if Death is of all things most horrible to human nature it was surely according to the said human nature much more horrible to him than to any other because his life was of greater dignity than that of all others by reason of its conjunction to the Divinity Hail Mary 2. At the foresight of his sufferings FOr his understanding clearly comprehending the quality and quantity of his approaching pains and torments And his souls eyes efficaciously seeing all the causes of fear and sadness and furthermore he permitting say's S. John Damascen each one of his senses and Powers to act according to its own naturall propertie it must needs follow that as his knowledge was most perfect his sufferings were most excessive Hail Mary 3. At the consideration of Sins heynousness FOr he came to suffer for all the offences of Mankind in generall and for each ones sin past present and to come in particular O the anguish of his soul at the sight of their multitude and malice Hail Mary 4. At the Iewes Ingratitude FOr besides his particular Benefits showr'd down from time to time upon that perverse people he had now borrow'd his humanity from their Blood conversed many years amongst them preached his Gospell unto them wrought infinit Miracles before them And that they after all this should so inhumanly unnaturally ungratefully condemn kill and crucify him was surely a corrosive more bitter to his afflicted heart than death it self Hail Mary 5. At the little profit which Christians would reap from his Passion FOr though the least drop of his precious Blood was abundantly sufficient to redeem not only all men but many worlds yet he well knew how few would make themselves partakers of the fruits thereof And this foreseen sloth negligence and wilfull ingratitude of Christians if we will credit S. Bernard Bonaventure and Hugo more afflicted our dear Redeemer than all the corporall calamities he endur'd on the Cross for them Hail Mary 6. At the Treason of Judas FOr that a Servant should betray his Master a Disciple his Lord an Apostle his Saviour And this by a fraudulent Kiss the sign of peace friendship and affection are circumstances says S. Ambrose much aggravating our Redeemers sorrow Hail Mary 7. At the Scandall scattering and flight of his dearest Disciples friends and followers O the Affliction of his tender heart To see Them whom he lov'd so sincerely Them whom he had serv'd so diligently Them whom he had so lately comforted and confirmed by his long Sermon and so earnestly commended to his Fathers care and custody Them whom he had from time to time fed so efficaciously with his sacred Doctrin and feasted so deliciously with this Blessed Body and Blood in the very last nights Banquet to fly now fearfully from him to be scandaliz'd at him and to seem to doubt of his Divinity And above all to see Peters Ingratitude Infidelity Pusillanimity did surely pierce his Soul with inexplicable sorrow Hail Mary 8. At his taking binding and bringing out of the Garden of Mount Olivet IMagin O my Soul What injuries thy Innocent Saviour here suffer'd by a band of barbarous Souldiers set on by the spitefull Jews ledd on by the Sacrilegious Judas egg'd on by their own malice and fury See how violently they rush upon him binding his armes baring his head beating his body pulling his beard tearing his hair and every way abusing him insulting over him deriding him blaspheming him Hail Mary 9. At his presentation to Annas and Caiphas and the suborning of false witnesses against him O What an affliction To be tryed by such unjust and partiall Judges and to be made guilty by such envious and sinister proceedings Hail Mary 10. At his Blows Buffets and other opprobrious usage all night long FOr when the wearied Ring-leaders and wicked Priests had deliver'd him over to be baited by the rabble of the enraged people O how inhumanly did they handle the meek humble and patient JESUS His face says S. Bonaventure which fills Heaven with Joy is here defiled with loathsom spittle smiten with sacrilegious hands cover'd with mock-hoods c. and nothing was omitted which malice could invent to torment him Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O holy Jesu the absolute Pattern of heroick Resignation grant that in all the accidents which by the dispensation of your divin providence shall befall me during this my earthly Pilgrimage I may cheerfully cordially affectionately say with you and to you Not my will O my heavenly Father but yours be done O let me have no wishes but that your will may be accomplish'd no desires but that your commands may be obey'd no designes but that you may be faithfully serv'd lov'd prays'd by all creatures Give me O Jesu the gift and spirit of Prayer which is the chief exercise of Religion that in Imitation of your example I may henceforth more seriously addict my self unto it especially in the time of my
tribulation and temptation with due humility fervour and perseverance You O meek Jesu receiv'd the malicious Judas with the sweetness of a Saviour you permitted him to kiss you with the calmness of a friend you suffered the souldiers to bind you buffet yo u abuse you with a patience exemplary to all ages and you cured the wound of him that came to kill you with the affection of a Parent Embrace me also O blessed Jesu with the entertainments of a Saviour kiss me with the countenance of a friend cure me with the compassion of a Father and bâ—ud me fast unto your self with all the chains of perfect charity that I may henceforth truly serve you please you and live with you for evermore O my Soul what are thy thoughts at the sight of thy sweet Saviour thus suffering for thy sake Behold He is fad for thee even unto death and dost thou rejoyce in sinfull delights He lies with his body prostrate on the ground and snortest thou on thy downy bed wallowing in thy sensuality He is bath'd in tears of blood sighing sweating lamenting for thy wickedness and wilt not thou shed one tear send forth one sigh nor give one groan in token of thy true sorrow for thy own grievous offences O his love and O thy insensibility thou shalt one day sadly sigh sweat weep lament O thou obdurate Core of mine when alas it will prove too late if thou now presumptuously delay'st it Wherefore O my God! look upon me even now at this very instant returning repenting lamenting all my former ingratitude disloyaltie impietie and whil'st you behold my misery cast also an eye upon your dear Son Jesus to move you to mercy Look O compassionate Father upon the face of your Christ not now out-vying the Suns Splendor upon Mount Thabor yet still the self-same object of your eternall Complacency See his Garments not now white as Snow yet still representing the Robe of your beloved Joseph There he appear'd in Glory Here sadly prostrate on the ground There he was elevated with honour Here he lyes bleeding sweating languishing with sorrow yet both here and there He is your Son and my Saviour and every where the powerfull motive of your mercy towards poor Mankind And you O sacred Virgin the most accomplish'd of all women and the most compassionate of all Mothers look also upon your beloved Son not now white and ruddy the chosen of thousands and the most beautifull amongst the Sons of men but all pale and wan with weeping all discoloured with blood and sweat and every way the most afflicted of all creatures O what thought can comprehend the resentment of your tender heart condoling with your so dearly beloved and so deeply distressed Son Jesus And thou O my soul what dost thou what say'st thou what resolv'st thou contemplating these sad objects of the here lamenting Mother and the there languishing Son Thou who art the cause of her anguish and of his Agony wilt thou still by thy sinfull obstinacy sleight the Sons blood and the Mothers tears No my dear Mother no my sweet Saviour I here in your presence protest the contrary and for the love respect and honour I ow unto you both I absolutely renounce all sin and impiety and whatsoever is displeasing to your holy wills and likings The Second Dolorous Mystery Is Whipp'd THe most cruell Flagellation or whipping of Christ our Saviour John 19. While to a Pillar Christs dear hands are bound His body is Scourg'd till all become one wound Our Father c. OUr Blessed Saviour was exceedingly afflicted 1. At his Presentation to Pilate FOr after the spitefull Jews had spent the night in punishing him and the morning in plotting his death They led him bound from the house of Caiaphas the Priest to Pontius Pilat the President there anticipating the sentence of his condemnation by their prejudicating clamors to the end that Pilat should not dare to absolve whom they all desired should perish Hail Mary 2. At his standing before a Pagan Iudg in quality of a notorious Criminall O The stupendious Humility of Innocent JESUS He is ordain'd by his Eternall Father the Supreme Judg of all creatures and here he stands as a guilty Malefactor before a Petty-President of Judea Hail Mary 3. At the Iews false Accusation AS if he were a Subverter of the people an Abettor of rebellion against Cesar a Broacher of Blasphemy against God Hail Mary 4. At his being sent to Herod WHereby he was not only forc'd to undergo another tiresom troublesom and afflictive journey But also to hear and endure new false and malicious accusations before this perverse Prince of Galilee who was a wicked incestuous sensuall wretch and the murtherer of the holy Baptist Hail Mary 5. At Herods scorn and contempt WHo sent him back to Pilat as an Idiot in a white garment Hail Mary 6. At the Peoples clamour to have Barrabas pardon'd and Christ put to death O the hard-heartedness of this Inhuman Nation To prefer a Thief before Jesus a Man-slayer before Mans Saviour A Murtherer before the Life giver O the Jews blindness and brutishness Set Barrabas free and Crucifie Christ What means this but let him dy who rayses the dead and let him be dismis'd to destroy yet more of the living Hail Mary 7. At his most cruell and contumelious whipping By the Ministers of Pilat who by their Masters command fall like ravenous Wolves upon this meek Lamb tear off his garments tye him to a pillar and try their strength in tormenting him Hail Mary 8. At his being stripp'd naked before the whol multitude O How did this afflict the virginall heart of Jesus the Lord of purity and lover of Chastity Hail Mary 9. At the stretching and distorting of his tender Body WIth coards and ropes to force and fasten it to the whipping stock Hail Mary 10. At the tearing and wounding of his flesh with the whips WHich was done with such severity that from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no part of it left unmangled Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Innocent and Immaculat Lamb of God! who wert mercifully pleas'd to suffer these multitudes of shames and sorrows to be thus hurried from Tribunall to Tribunall thus treacherously betrayd maliciously accus'd unjustly condemn'd and rudely scourg'd even for my sake I most humbly beseech you by all the fountains of blood issuing from your sacred Body to give me a lively apprehension of sins heynousness that so I may perfectly hate the cause of your sufferings and perfectly love you for your sufferings What am I Dear Redeemer that you the Eternall Son of God should endure one stripe for me But O the excess of your affection And shall I by new crimes abuse so signall a favour despise so miraculous a mercy provoke so
crown'd with cruell thorns your amiable face besmear'd with the mixture of tear's blood and spittle your whol Body mangled with whips and scourges and all this for my sake can I choose but loath my self for my sins and love you for your sufferings O my soul what dost thou in token of thy gratefull acknowledgment for thy Saviours great charity thus crown'd wounded mangled martyr'd for the expiation of thy sins and procurement of thy Salvation Canst thou see thy Redeemer doing so much for thee and not be asham'd to do so little for thy self and him and to live so unconformably to his example which should be the modell and pattern of thy life and actions Is it decent for a member to addict it self to sinfull vanities pleasures and sensualities under a head crown'd with thorns O what an excess or rather an abuse of love and sorrow do I here contemplate Love is mistaken in making choyce of so amiable and honourable a person to be the object of undeserv'd derision and torments and sorrow is as much mistaken in not seizing upon some odious and abominable wretch who might have justly deserv'd to be so dealt withall 'T is I alas 't is I who deserve to be thus despis'd tormented crown'd with cruell thorns and every way punish'd persecuted afflicted since 't is I that have by my heynous Crimes betray'd my Creators cause incurr'd his indignation and willfully forfeited all my claim and pretention to the Kingdom which he had mercifully prepar'd for me I deserve to wear no worthyer a Crown upon my wicked head than one gather'd from the Tree of Malediction plaited together with perpetuall woes and interlac'd wirh the sharp prickles of all sorts of punishments miseries and torments Such a Crown is according to my deserts O dear Jesu I most heartily acknowledg it most humbly confess it and most obediently submit to it But since you are evermore ready O compassionate Redeemer to Crown a truly contrite converted and penitent soul with your favours and benefits bow down your blessed Head I beseech you towards me your unworthy servant and according to your wonted mercy bestow on me some effect of your tender affection Behold O my most loving and most beloved Lord Jesu my soul being pierc'd with a lively sense of your severe sufferings for her sake and desirous to conform her self O that she could do it perfectly to you her most perfect Saviour makes here a deliberate choyce of this Crown of sufferance in this world thereby to obtain the Crown of Justice which is the only means to purchase the Crown of Grace and lastly to attain to a Crown of Glory which she hopefully expects from your goodness in your heavenly Kingdom A Prayer In honour of the sacred Crown of Thorns THE ANTHEM O Blessed Crown whereby we are delivered from the severe punishments of eternall death which our sins have justly deserv'd Thou art the hope of offenders thou art the strength of weaklings thou recoverest our lost Crowns for us Vers O Christ we adore your sacred Crown Answer And renew the memory of your glorious Conquest Let us Pray GRant we beseech you O Almightie Father that we renewing the memory of your dear Sons Passion and humbly reverencing his holy Crown of Thorns upon earth may become worthy to receive from him the happy Crown of honour and glory in his celestiall Kingdom where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever The fourth Dolorous Mysterie Carries Christ our Saviour painfully carries his Cross to Mount Calvary John 19. Of shame and dolour to increase th' account They make Christ bear his Cross up to the Mount Our Father c. Our blessed Saviour was exceedingly aggriev'd 1. At the Jews new invented accusation FOr they perceiving the unwillingness of Pilate to condemn the innocent Jesus produc'd their last envious Stratagem to strik him dead This man say they hath made himself Gods Son and therefore deserves to be destroy'd as a blasphemer of the divin Majesty which they so vehemently urge and so maliciously aggravate against him till at last they force the fearfull President by their threats and clamors to give way to their unjust desires Hail Mary 2. At the pronunciation of Deaths cruell sentence upon him FOr when the Judg saw that neither pity would move them nor justice could prevail with them apprehensive of Cesars indignation and of the peoples disfavour he sentences Jesus to dy on a Cross O how easily doth he swerve from Justice who seeks not Gods honour but is sway'd by human respects in his actions Hail Mary 3. At his contumelious leading out of Ierusalem FOr the cruell sentence was no sooner spoken but the greedy hang-men flock about this meek lamb fastning cords to his neck and hands and tugging him as a Traytor Blasphemer and notorious Malefactor out of the Town towards the place of Execution Hail Mary 4. At his association with Thieves THey had already prefer'd Barrabas the murderer before him and now they place him in the Thieves company that so the ignorant people might conceive him to be a complice in their Crimes Hail Mary 5. At the carrying of his own Cross on his shoulders O Unheard of proceedings It was never known that any wicked criminall was constrain'd to carry his own Gallows but only the good Jesus O Saviour the true Isaac you bear the wood on your back and the fire in your heart to be immolated for me upon Mount Calvarie Hail Mary 6. At the oppressing weight of the heavy Cross WHich was fifteen foot long say severall holy Doctors and Fathers and of a massie thickness proportionable to its length O ponderous burthen to his tender and already bruised weakned and wounded shoulders Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of people thronging about him SOme triumphing at his miserie and laughing scoffing spitting at him others pressing pulling thrusting stricking and spurning him Hail Mary 8. At the doleful lamentation of the devout women WHich were those who had faithfully serv'd him before his Passion charitably sustain'd him and his Disciples with their temporall faculties painfully follow'd him from Galilee into Judea and now mournfully waited on him to Mount Calvarie 9. At the compassion of his most sorrowfull Mother WHo undoubtedly made one amongst the sad number of his followers O her inexplicable grief to see her dear Son Jesus in this dismall condition And O the anguish of his affectionate heart to behold his sweet Mothers tears and tribulation Hail Mary 10. At the circumstances of the place TO which he was led and where he was to be put to death to wit the most loathsome stinking despicable Mount Calvarie the common Theater for the execution of all Malefactors to shew that he suffered in generall for all Mankind Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Jesu my dear Redeemer are you not equall in omnipotency to your eternall
At his conducting the souls of the saints with him into heaven ACcording to that passage of the Psalmist He ascending on high led captivity captive which S. Thomas understands of the Patriarâ—…â—…ee'd from the captivity of Limbus Hail Mary 8. At his opening Heaven gates for our entrance ANd preparing places against our coming as himself said I go to prepare a place for you that where I am you may also be So that Christs Ascension say's S. Leo is our Promotion and whither the glory of the head is gon before the hope of the body is call'd to follow after Hail Mary 9. At his being appointed the Advocate of Mankind WE have say's S. John an Advocate with God the Father Christ Jesus the Just and he is the propitiation for our sins Hail Mary 10. At the great Fruit and Profit redounding to us by his Ascension FOR as S. Thomas proves the withdrawing of his corporall presence increases our Faith elevates our Hope inflames our Charity and therefore He himself said It is expedient for you that I go Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O My glorious Lord Jesu It is just that you should Ascend to the Highest Heaven who descended to the center of the earth And that you should be exalted above all Angells since you humbled your self under all men O my Soul design'd for an Eternity where wilt thou ground thy feet that thou mayst securely take thy flight towards Heaven thy happy home the finall end of thy Pilgrimage and the only aim of all thy endeavours Look upon Christ thy Captain and learn by his most perfect example to ground thy self in Humility and to content thy self with crosses contempt and poverty which were his three individuall companions during the whol time of his earthly Pilgrimage O Jesu the amiable Object of all my affections And who should be the absolute pattern of all my actions I am resolv'd to leave all for the love of you and to forsake all that I may freely follow you For alas what are all worldly pleasures greatnesses and glories or what sweet Object can the whol Universe shew my eyes which can fully satisfie my heart And ha why then should I any longer miserable and ill advised wretch that I am let my self be surpriz'd with the false lustre of earthly vanities why should I fix my love upon fond toyes and trifles which only fool my senses but fill not my soul No my soul let 's now at last leave the Earth and look up to Heaven Thither Christ is ascended There our Treasure is plac'd and let our affection be there also fixed and O what shall hinder us a moment of brutish pleasure a grain of self-interest a sparkle of soon fading glory O meer Nothings and less than Nothings No my good Jesu I feel my self by the secret impulse of your inacting grace in my spirit so forcibly mov'd to sent you to obey you and to bestow on you the whol remainder of my life and love that if it should hereafter happen and ah my frailtie how can I trust thee which hast so often betray'd my best intentions and broken my strongest resolutions If therefore it shall fall out that my eyes or any respect of this Worlds most pleasing Objects hinder me from seeing your beauty contemplating your bounty and reflecting upon your mercy Tear them out of my head that I may behold you with my spiritual Eyes O Iesu the true light of my soul without disturbance or distraction If my right hand or any thing I possess or which is as near to my heart as my arm is to my hand becomes the occasion of my offending you hinders me from fast holding you diverts me from serving you diligently devoutly and according to my obligation and duty Cut it off O Jesu my soveraign Good my sole Riches and Treasure that I may clip you embrace you and be inseparably united to you with all the affections of my soul If my very heart it self or that which is nearer and dearer to me than this fountain of Life hinders me from bequeathing my self entirely to you from purely seeking you from perfectly loving you pluck it out of my breast O Jesu the only beloved of my Soul that henceforth I may have no thought but of you no will but yours no affection but for you no life but in you So shall I want neither eyes nor hands nor heart living thus spiritually during this my Pilgrimage in the heart of Jesus which is my seat my Sun my center my all till I become happily translated to live with him and be more perfectly united to him in his eternall Paradise The third glorious Mysterie Sends down Our blessed Saviour sends down the Holy Ghost to his Church Acts 2. Our Lord to his Apostles joyn'd in Quite Sends down the Holy Ghost in tongues of fire Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mother exceedingly rejoyc'd 1. At the miraculous manner of the Holy Ghosts coming FOr the Disciples returning back from Mount Olivet where our Saviour ascended to Jerusalem went into the same upper Room in which he had celebrated his last supper continuing there unanimously in prayer with Mary the Mother of Iesus and many other devout men and women untill the tenth day when sodainly about the third hour of the morning there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filling the whol house as it were with fire which dividing it self into severall parts resembling cloven tongues setled upon each ones head and replenish'd their hearts with the Holy Ghost Hail Mary 2. At the fullfilling of Christs promises FOr he had told them if I depart from you the Holy Ghost shall descend unto you he shall teach you all truth and inform you of what is to come hereafter all which was now fully accomplish'd Hail Mary 3. At the multiplication of tongues or speaking of all languages WHereby the blessed Virgin clearly saw that the Apostles were not only design'd to preach the faith of her Son Christ Jesus to the whol World but joyfully perceiv'd they were also indu'd with all such perfections as were necessary in order to the effecting so great a work Hail Mary 4. At the Apostles confirmation in grace and goodness FOr the sacred Virgin who had sadly seen their former frailty and the feebleness of their Faith knew to her great content that they were now so strengthened with Gods holy Spirit as they were out of all danger for the future both of falling into infidelity and also of sinning mortally Hail Mary 5. At the Apostles patience courage and constancy in their persecutions FOr they who were lately so fearfull are now so cheerfull in their sufferings that they esteem it a speciall honour to indure shame for the holy name of Jesus Hail Mary 6. At the confutation of the Iew 's and Infidels
thought proceeds that it would much redound to the honour of Christ our Lord and Saviour and conduce to the encrease of devotion in the hearts of all pious Christians If as according to the very ancient institution and generally receiv'd custom severall godly people use to recite sixty three Angelicall Salutations with our Lords Prayer seven times interpos'd in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary according to the number of years which she is esteem'd to have liv'd upon earth which kind of prayer is call'd the Virgins Crown so they would also inure themselv's to recite thirty three Lords Prayers interposing four Angâ—lical Salutations in the honour of our Redeemer for a commemoration of the years in which he convers'd upon earth amongst men which would be as it were our Lords Crown c. We whom it behoves to promote the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ as farr forth as he shall enable us and to add fewell to the devotion of his faithfull flock Do approve and confirm the aforesaid manner of Prayer invented by that ancient and recluded Hermit and will have it call'd the Crown of our Lord c. Given at Florence the 18 of Feb. in the year 1516. The same Rosary or Crown of our Lord was afterwards confirm'd by Pope Gregory the 13. and endow'd with more and greater Indulgences vide Augustinum Florentinum Lucam Eremitam Bucelinum in Annalibus Benedictinis c. The Crown therefore consisting of 33. Pater Nosters or Lords Prayers consonant to the number of years in which our dear Redeemer convers'd with men in his human flesh upon earth to merit for us a happy Crown of Glory in Heaven and of four Ave Maries or Angelical Salutations with one Creed added for a conclusion is divided into four parts whereof the three first parts are Decades or Tens there being in each of them a ten-times-repeated Lords Prayer and one Angelical Salutation and in the fourth part there is only a Thrice-repeated Lords Prayer with one Angelical Salutation and the Creed and may be recited as it is here distinctly set down with an additionall point of Meditation upon some of the pious Mysteries of our Saviours life and a short Aspiration which may easily be dilated with more affections and resolutions according to each ones Spirit of devotion The first Part of the Crown of our Lord. Of Christs coming into the World 1. OUr dear Redeemer descended from his royall Throne from his eternall Fathers Bosom from his happy Heaven into this vale of misery and cloath'd himself with human flesh in the holy Virgins Womb. O Jesu how excessive is your Mercy how infinit your affection how stupendious your condescendency to undeserving man Ah! that my heart were perfectly free from all that displeases you that so it might deserve perpetually to harbour you Our Father 2. HE being conceiv'd inspir'd his sacred Virgin Mother to take a journey into the Mountains of Judea there to visit salute and serve St. Elizabeth her Kinswoman O Jesu that my soul were alwaies pliable docible obedient to correspond to your sweet and sacred impulses motions and aspirations how cheerfully should I then serve your soveraign Majesty and how charitably should I assist my necessitous neighbour Our Father 3. AFter he had been carryed nine months in his Mothers chast entralls he was born in a cold Stable wrap'd in poor raggs cradled in a hard Cribb O Jesu make me in love with poverty humility and mortification which you have made so amiable by practising them in your own divin person Our Father 4. THe Angells congratulate his happy birth with their heavenly Canticles and the shepheards humbly joyfully and admiringly adore him O Jesu let my tongue incessantly sing forth your Prayses let my heart perpetually breath forth acts of gratitude for your Mercies and let my soul sweetly melt away in her reciprocall affections Our Father 5. UPon the eighth day after his Nativity he was circumcis'd and call'd Jesus O Jesu O sacred and sugred Name O Jesu be unto me a Jesus O that my tongue heart and hands with all my senses powers and faculties of body and soul were truly circumcis'd from all superfluous curious vitious inclinations passions and affections that so I might never more think speak or act any thing offensive to your divin will and liking Our Father 6. HE was diligently sought out by the Eastern Sages humbly ador'd by them and highly honoured by their royall Presents and Oblations O Iesu let me never leave seeking till I find you the only belov'd Object of all my affections and strengthen me sweet Iesu to make a totall Oblation Consecration and Resignation of my whol self to your holy will and pleasure entirely irrevocably eternally Our Father 7. HE was carryed to the Temple in his sacred Mothers arms to be presented as her first-born to his eternall Father shewing himself in all things subject to the Law O Iesu shall not I humble my self and submit to all men for your sake Our Father 8. HE to avoid Herods cruelty sustain'd a tedious banishment in his tender years O Jesu give me patience in all my persecutions temptarions and troubles and let not my grievous sins banish me from your sweet grace and presence Our Father 9. HE return'd from Egypt after his seven years sufferings O Jesu let your efficacious grace recall me from vice to vertu let me return into you my first Origin and let me repose in you my only center and security Our Father 10. HE dwelt with his Parents in t he City Nazareth O Jesu dwell in my soul here by your grace that my soul may dwell with you hereafter in your eternal glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who having conceiv'd your divin Son without sin and brought him forth without sorrow serv'd him so diligently during the time of his minority appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and intercession Hail Mary The second Part. Of Christs Conversation amongst men 1. OUr dear Redeemer being twelve years old went up with his Parents to Jerusalem to perform his devotions where he was lost sought and after three day's found in the Temple O Jesu replenish my heart with solid devotion that sincerely seeeking you I may happily find you and having found you I may faithfully keep you company in my interiour for evermore Our Father 2. HE return'd with his Parents to Nazareth and was subject unto them O Iesu break my rebellious will that I may promptly obey you and my Superiors according to your most perfect trample Our Father 3. HE being thirty years old was baptiz'd by St. Iohn in the river Iordan O Iesu permit not my sinfull soul to pass forth of my body till it be baptiz'd in a river of tears and restor'd to purity by the Sacrament of Penance Our Father 4. HE fasted forty dayes and nights in the Desert and was tempted by the Devill O Iesu give me courage to subdue all
sensuality constancy to resist all temptations and strength to conquer all my enemies Our Father 5. HE painfully went from place to place preaching the Gospell to the people O Jesu let my soul incessantly thirst after your honour and the salvation of my neighbour Our Father 6. HE honoured marriage with his presence and with his first miracle and afterwards for three years space he plentifully powr'd forth his miraculous benefits upon all sorts of Persons O Jesu overflow my heart with a generall affection and compassion towards all Christians and permit me not to grow weary in performing works of piety Our Father 7. HE often times spent whol nights in Prayer and suffered hunger thirst cold heat poverty and persecution for my sake O Jesu how much have you done and endur'd for me and how little have I done and endur'd for you and my self Our Father 8. HIs chief lesson was humility Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart O Jesu This is one of the vertues I chiefly stand in need off Ah! that my heart were truly simple supple innocent and humble how happy a Scholler should I be O my Redeemer in your holy School could I as cheerfully practise as I can easily resolve Our Father 9. HIs principall precept was Charity I give you a new commandment that you love one another O Iesu this is the other vertu I principally want and wish for Ah! that my whol interiour and exteriour my heart soul body and senses were nothing but pure Charity that so it might be impossible for me to speak think act or breath any thing but the perfect love of you and my neighbour Our Father 10 HE made his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in order to his Passion sitting upon an asse and he shed tears amidst the peoples applauses and acclamations O Iesu give me a true sight of my self and of the World that perfectly knowing my own vility and its vanity I may incessantly bewail my selfwretchedness weep for the Worlds wickedness and render to you only all honour and glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so faithfully diligently and devoutly accompany'd follow'd and serv'd your divin Son in his manly age appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull prayers and intercession Hail Mary The third part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion 1. OUr dear Redeemer after his last supper wash'd the feet of his Disciples and instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist O Iesu which shall I most admire your stupendious humility or your unheard-off charity Our Father 2. HE entred the Garden with his Disciples where after he had most fervently pray'd he fell into a vehement Agony in which bloud mix'd with sweat trickled down from his whol body O Iesu how great are my sins which are the cause of your so great sorrow place your Passion I bessech you between them and your judgment O let your sufferings cancel their heynousness and let your precious bloud wash away their erronious filthiness Our Father 3. HE was seiz'd on by a crew of armed Souldiers manacled with cords dragg'd away to Annas and Caiphas O Iesu dissolve the bands of my unruly passions perverse inclinations and impure affections and take me tie me shackle me and draw me unto you with the sweet cords of your sacred love and charity Our Father 4. IN the whol night of his passion he suffer'd all sorts of injuries vexations and torments O Jesu and shall I repine at small pains and persecutions shall I faint under the light burthen which your loving hand lay's upon my shoulders O meek lamb of God! pardon my past impatience and give me a perseverant Resignation to your will and pleasure Our Father 5. HE was contemptibly hurried away to Pilate and Herod and by them scorn'd as a silly Ideot O Jesu you are every way humbled depressed annihilated and I seek nothing but honour applause estimation Is this to imitate you my Lord and Master O change me correct me convert me by your power in your mercy by your example Our Father 6. HIs tender body was ty'd naked to a pillar and torn with whips and scourges O Iesu uncloath me of the old man with all his wicked works and revest me with the new created in justice and sanctity according to your own heart Our Father 7. HE was beaten with a cane buffeted with their fists spurned with their feet defil'd with their spittle crown'd with Thorns every way abused O Jesu the beauty of Men and Angels how are you worried for my wickedness O wound my soul with a deep sense of your sufferings that I may henceforth absolutely detest all sin trample upon all sensuality cancel all vanity serve you more innocently and adhere to you more fervently Our Father 8. HE was forc'd to carry his heavy Cross upon his weak and wounded shoulders from Jerusalem to Mount Calvarie O Jesu let me cheerfully take up the Cross of self-contempt self-abnegation self-denyall and follow you till death constantly couragiously perseverantly Our Father 9. HE was stripp'd naked and stretch'd on the Cross having his hands and feet barbarously nayl'd unto it and his side pierc'd with a Launce O Iesu strip me of all that displeases the eyes of your divin Majesty dilate my heart with celestiall affections and fasten my â—oul to your self with the sweet nayls of your sacred Love Our Father 10. HAving hung three hours on the Cross inclining his head he gave up the Ghost O Iesu you dy'd for me that I might live eternally O let me dy to all things that I may henceforth live to you only who are to me All in All. Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so patiently constantly perseverantly stood by your divin Son dying on the Cross for me appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary The fourth Part. Of Christs glorious Triumph after Death 1. OUr dear Redeemer rising victoriously upon the third day from his Sepulchre replenish'd the hearts of his holy Mother Disciples and Friends with unspeakable joy and gladness O Iesu give me grace strength and courage to shake of the death of my inveterate vices and bad customs and to rise to newness of life and conversation O let me henceforth savour the things which are above and not these vain vile terrene and transitory trifles which can never satiate my soul created for you only Our Father 2. HE triumphantly ascended to Heaven on the forti'th day after his Resurrection amidst the jubily of Angells in the company of the Patriarks in the sight of his sacred Mother Disciples and Friends where he sits at his Fathers right hand blessed for evermore O Iesu that my soul might follow you the only object of her affections O that I could incessantly aspire to you long after you languish for you my only center and security the only comfort of my life and Crown of all my desires Our Father 3. HE sent
down his holy Spirit upon his Apostles and the rest of his chosen children to instruct them in his will to encourage them in their duties to confirm them in their Faith to assist them in their preaching to strengthen them in their persecutions O Iesu send also your holy Spirit to cure cleanse and comfort my sick sinfull and sad soul adorn each corner of my interiour with your divin love and grace that you sacred Spirit may find there a sweet and gratefull habitation rule reign and remain in my heart O Iesu King of Glory for evermore Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother whose soul was dilated with such unspeakable joy and sweetness in the glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascention of your divin Son JESUS appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary Conclude this holy Crown with that Apostles Creed saying I believe in God c. Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus our blessed Redeemer in honour of the Thirty-three year 's of his holy Life 1. O Good Jesu the word of the Father convert me 2. O Good Jesu the lamb of God! puryfie me 3. O Good Jesu my Master teach me 4. O Good Jesu the Prince of Peace govern me 5. O Good Jesu the sure hope of penitent Sinners behold me 6. O Good Jesu my Refuge defend me 7. O Good Jesu my Instructor direct me 8. O Good Jesu my Patience comfort me 9. O good Jesu the chief Comforter of sad Souls refresh me 10. O good Jesu my Redeemer save me 11. O good Jesu my Lord and my God! possess me 12. O good Jesu the life the way and the truth enliven me 13. O good Jesu my firm Foundation strengthen me 14. O good Jesu the light of the world illuminate me 15. O good Jesu my Justice justifie me 16. O good Jesu my Mediator sanctifie me 17. O good Jesu the Physitian of my soul heal me 18. O good Jesu my Judg absolve me 19. O good Jesu the Son of Justice shine upon me 20. O good Jesu my King deliver me 21. O good Jesu Son of David pitty me 22. O good Jesu my sanctification cleanse me 23. O good Jesu the living bread descending from Heaven satiate me 24. O good Jesu the wine bringing forth Virgins inebriate me 25. O good Jesu my Father bless me 26. O good Iesu the only joy of my heart visit me 27. O good Iesu my Helper assist me 28. O good Iesu my Protector protect me 29. O good Iesu my Love transform me 30. O good Iesu my Propitiation hide me in your wounds 31. O good Iesu the faithfull Shepheard feed me 32. O good Iesu the eternal Life receive me into the number of your Elect. 33. O good Iesu my Glory gloryfie me An Advertisement to them of the sacred Confraternity of the holy name of IESUS AFter the recitall of the Rosary of Jesus or Crown of our Lord and these Thirty-three Petitions in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy life you may make use of some of the following Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord and to the holy Trinity according as your opportunity and devotion shall dictate unto you and not as any part belonging to the said Rosary of Iesus which contains nothing more than what is before prescribed and expressed for though they may be practis'd with very great spiritual profit by all faithful Christians as containing a most eminent sublime and heroick manner of offring up our selv's to the divin Majesty yet the frequent use thereof is especially proper to the members of this sacred Confraternity who above all others ought to adore Gods greatness admire his goodness extoll his mercies and dedicate themselv's to his perpetuall service by the continuall remembrance of the mysteries of his Life and Incarnation which is the end of their devout Confraternity and the drift of these divin Elevations ELEVATIONS TO JESVS CHRIST our Lord In honour of his severall Estates and of the singular Mysterries of his Life TO ADORE The supream greatness of JESUS And to offer our selv's to him in way of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable Union of the Divinitie with our Humanity 1. The Eternall Greatness of the word Incarnate O IESU my Lord King of Angels Redeemer of Men Soveraign of the Universe only Son of God only Son of the Virgin Born from all Eternity in the Eternall Fathers bosom and in times fullness born of the Virgin Mary true God true Man I adore you in your eternall and your temporall Greatness in your divin and human Fullness in your created and uncreated Highness You are the second Person of the sacred Trinity but equall to the First and origin of the Third you are the Splendor and Glory of the eternall Father you are his power and his wisdom you are his lively Image and perfect resemblance you are his only Son and his eternall word you are God of God Light of Light 2. The Equality and Consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself YOU are in these Greatnesses by Birth Such a Birth which Equalls the Power and Paternity of him who is your Father and which is one and the same thing with the Divinity A wonder not in the world but in Eternity not in the created but uncreated Being and the Prime wonder of Eternity For you are the first Production of the Eternall Father and source of the last And by this wonderfull Birth you are Infinit as he is All-powerfull is he is God as he is Beginning and Originall of a Divin Person as he is Nor is there any other difference but that in one self-same Divinity in one equall Eternity in one semblable Majesty He is Father and you are Son you are Son but without inequality without posteriority you are Son yet of even antiquity of equall authority with him and Eternall God as he is You are Son but without diversity of Essence or of Power or of Wisdom having the unity of Essence with the diversity of Subsistency in which you are one only God with him you are adored as he is and you are the Creator Conserver and Commander of the whol world as he is 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us THese Greatnesses dazle our souls we cannot look upon them from out our Earths obscurity They are to be adored not beheld and we must vail our faces in the presence of this divin object as did the Angells by Isay's relation in the sight of your Throne But you are willing to exercise you mercy's upon us you will cast a cover upon your self and render your self visible to our weak spirits and to our mortall aspects you will stoop down to us and become accessible and by a Councill which even ravishes us with wonder you will come neer us and make your self as one of us For O
apply my self to you I will transfrom my self into you I lose my self and Abysm my self in you for you are my God and I am your Creature you are my Soveraign and I your vassall you are my Redeemer and I your Bondslave 14. A totall Reference and Oblation of our selv's to Jesus THese are your qualities and these my endeavours and duties I accept of them and entirely yeild up my self And I make an Oblation to you of my Obedience of my servitude and of my Absolute dependency upon you and this I offer up to you for evermore I render up and totally submit my self to the motion of your Spirit and to the efficacious conduct of your Grace establish'd on Earth in Heaven by the new Mysterie of your Incarnation And I will have no other repose upon earth than in your labours no other delight than in your Cross no other life than in your death no other solace than in your sufferings as it is your Will that I should in Heaven and in Eternity have life in your life felicity in your felicity Paradise in your Paradise fruition in your fruition and subsistency in your Divinity ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON The Mysterie of the Incarnation TO ADORE the Supream Greatnesses of JESUS and to offer up our selv's unto him in the estate of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him by reason of the ineffable union of the Divinity with the Humanity HOLY Divin and Adorable Trinity in the Unity of your Essence in the Society of your Persons in the fecundity of your Emanations I prayse and adore you in the sublimity of your Greatnesses and I Abysm my self in the profundity of your Councills and in the extent of your Mercies 1. God Created two Natures capable of himself upon one he exercises his Justice upon the other his Mercy YOU have created two Natures capable of your self That of the Angell and that of Man You will exercise upon one of them your Justice and upon the other your mercy I Adore you in this your will and I give you thanks for this your Councill which you held from all Eternity in the excess of your miserations Councill most sublime and most profound Councill most holy and most sacred to unite one day and for evermore human nature to your Divin Essence 2. The Mystery of the Incarnation is the head-work of Gods Love and Power And what is proper to the Person of thâ— Father in the Mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation O Eternall Father who do produce in your self an only Son equall to your self and do produce him out of your self by a second and new Nativity choosing him to unite in his person your nature and ours I prayse and bless you as God and as Father an ds God and Father of this only Son Jesus Christ our Lord. You beget him eternally and you bestow him as another your self in this unspeakable generation and since the Moment chosen by your wisdom you give him incessantly to this humanity derived from the Virgin Happy Moment which serv'd for the Beginning of this great work the head-work of your love and power O God and all-powerfull Father be you Eternally blessed in this moment in this work in this love Love by which you powre out of your self this Celestiaâ—l dew this divin substance this pretious gift which the World and the blessed Virgin receiv's and in her our nature Work wherein is accomplish'd the work of your works the mysterie of your mysteries the mysterie of the Incarnation Moment in which our nature receiv'd and that for an evermore the Person of your only Son for her peculiar Person and this by a tie so sacred so divin so inward and conjoyn'd to your Divinity 3. What is proper to the Person of the Son in these Mysteries O Only Son of God! who do give your Essence to the Holy Ghost and your Person to our Humanity by an ineffable and secret Power of your Love I prayse you contemplate you and adore you in your self and in these two different donations you eternally produce the Holy Ghost and give him the same essence which you have receiv'd of the Father you create and form a new man by a new effort of your grace and power and you give your self to him uniting his nature to your own Person nor do you ever cease in this union and divin donation you thus worthily and divinly exercise your love you conspire in unitie with the Father in these two great donations the one Eternall the other Temporall and you fill up with the one times fullness and with the other the fullness of Eternitie blessed be you in time and in Eternitie When you discoursed of your self to your most inward and familiar friends that is to your Apostles in the last hour of your life you then nam'd your self Life and so you are the Life and Originall of Life and of Love in the thrice sacred Trinity which Death cannot bereave you of but in the the excess of your love you would yet become a new Life and a new beginning of Life and Love in your humanity Blessed be you in this will and in this love Love depressing and exalting Love annihilating and deifying Love crucifying and glorifying for this Love elevates the humanity and depresseth the divinity this Love annihilates in a manner your nature and deifies ours this Love puts you on the Cross and placeth us â—n Glory and finally this Love transforms us into you not only by communication of qualities but even by communication of substance O Son of God! I love you and I adore you in this love in this annihilation in this powerfull transformation 4. What is proper to the Person of the Holy Ghost in these Mysteries FRom you I come to the Holy Ghost who proceeds from you as you proceed from the Father for in this way of Life and Love I trace the order of the divin Processions and sources of Life and after the Son I address my self to you O Fountain of Life O holy Spirit Spirit of Truth of Life and of Love and I adore you in your self for you are God in the unity which you have with the Father and the Son I adore you in your Emanation for you proceed from them and you are their Spirit their Tye their Love and I again adore you in the admirable operation which you exercise in the time ordain'd by the eternall wisdom for it is the highest and holyest Operation which can be terminated out of your self Operation which environs the worthiest person that ever shall be next to the divin Persons that is the Person of the Virgin Operation which depresses and exalts her depresses her even into the center of her nothing drawing from her these sacred words Behold our Lords hand-mayd and exalts her to the greatest dignity which shall ever be communicated either to her or to any other making her Mother of God
Oblation Donation and consecration of my self unto your Majesty desiring intending and resolving to be hereafter not only your loyall subject and servant but even your reall vassal and Bondslave In confirmation whereof I will continually wear this materiall Chain about my Body both as a Badge of my now professed Bondage and also as a token of my perpetuall affection towards you Vouchsafe therfore O Soveraign Queen to Receive Admit and own me henceforth as a thing peculiarly yours and as such a one to defend and protect me during this life from the snares of sin to dissipate and break asunder at the hour of my death the shackles of Satan and to draw my departing soul by this happy Chain to your Sons heavenly Kingdom there to prayse admire and enjoy both him and you for all Eternity Amen 6. After the recitall of this oblation of your self in Bondage to the Blessed Virgin put the chain about some part of your Body and endeavour thenceforward to walk worthy so noble a Profession 5. The Practises and Exercises of this Devotion of the Bondage 1. The first Exercise may consist of jaculatory Prayers frequently darting out these or the like affections O my blessed Lady I am your Servant and the Bond-slave of your greatness Or O my Lord Jesu I am yours and your Mothers Servant and Bond-slave Or Holy Mary Mother of God! pray for us sinners and your bond-slaves now and in the hour of our Death Or when you hear the clock strike salute the blessed Virgin with an Ave Marie to which all Christians are invited by Pope Leo the tenth and Paul the fifth who gave large Indulgences thereunto Or say then blessed be the hour and day in which our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary Or Eternity is at hand Or Jesus Maria Joseph Or let the Souls of the faithfull departed rest in Peace 2 The second Exercise may be a short pair of Bedes consisting of three Paters in honour of the holy Trinity and twelve Ave's in honour of the twelve Priviledges of the sacred Virgin to be said in this manner 1. Pater Noster c. Thanking the eternall Father for having made choyce of so worthy a daughter 1. Ave Marie c. considering her eternal Predestination 2. Ave her immaculate Conception 3. Ave her most pure Virginity 4. Ave her most admirable Maternity 2. Pater Noster c. Thanking the eternal Son for having made choyce of so worthy a Mother 1. Ave considering her most happy Child-birth 2. Ave her soveraign Dominion not only over the World but over the Creator of the World He was subject to them Luke 2. 3. Ave her excellent Purity of Soul and Body 4. Ave her continuall and sublim Contemplation 3. Pater Noster c. Thanking the Holy Ghost for having made choyce of so worthy a Spouse 1. Ave considering her sweet departure out of this life 2. Ave her miraculous Resurrection 3. Ave her glorious Assumption 4. Ave her eternall Glorification and Coronation 3. The third Exercise may be a Crown consisting of five pretious Pearls in honour of the blessed Virgins five principall Vertues to be offer'd up to her in the manner following 1. The Jasper of Faith Produce Acts of Faith with most ardent affection saying O Soveraign Queen I firmly believe that you were an entire Virgin both before and after your happy Child-birth That you are the true Mother of Gods Son That your life was without the least Sin That you were a Martyr at the foot of the Cross That you are exalted above all pure Creatures in the Celestial glory That you are our Advocate interceding for us wretched sinners c. Add such other points of Faith as your devotion shall suggest and then conclude thus Receive most sacred Lady this Protestation of my Faith as a Jasper-stone belonging to your Crown and obtain for me a lively perfect and perseverant Faith unto the end Amen And recite one Ave Mary to this intention 2. The Emerald of Hope Produce Acts of this Vertu in honour of the blessed Virgin saying O Soveraign Queen I contemplate you as the hope of the World long expected by the Fathers in Limbo earnestly look'd upon by the Souls suffering in Purgatory humbly besought by the Children of the Church Militant who cry out incessantly Hail to Queen that reigns above the Sky Hail to the Mother of true Clemency Hail Life hail Sweetness and our Hope to you We that are Eves exiled Children sue In cry's and groans which from this vale of tears Are fann'd with sighs up to your sacred Eares O then Chast Advocate on us reflect From Heavens bright Mansion your benigne aspect And make us after this our Exile come To JESUS the blest Off-spring of your Womb Sweet Virgin and Gods Mother pray that we Of Christs rich promises may worthy be In this number I rank my self and place in you O holy Virgin next after God my hope and confidence trusting that you will be to me a Fountain of Grace a Towre of Defence a City of Refuge and a Gate of Heaven to give me entrance into Paradise Receive most sacred Lady this Emerald which I present unto you for your Crown and strengthen my hope unto the end Ave Maria Gratia Plena c. 3. The Rubie of Charitie Produce Acts proper to this Vertu saying O Soveraign Queen I consider you as brimfull of perfect Love and Charity and inviting the whol World to participate with you of its sweet fruits and effects saying come to me all you who desire me and be replenish'd with my generations Eccles 24. Behold I come to you with an ardent and enflam'd affection beseeching you to enrich me with the treasure of true Charity towards God and my Neighbour Receive most sacred Lady this Rubie which I offer unto you for your Crown and confirm my love and charity to the end Amen Ave Maria c. 4. The Diamond of Fortitude Produce the Acts belonging to this vertu saying O Soveraign Queen I behold you as a valiant Champion terrible to the Troops of Satan like a well order'd Army Encourage me I beseech you to fight under your banner support my weakness with your strong hand and help me to overcome all worldly fleshly and diabolical temptations c. Receive most sacred Lady this Diamond which I present unto you for your Crown and obtain for me an invincible Fortitude to the end Amen Ave Maria. c. 5. The Pearl of Chastity Produce Acts appertaining to this vertu saying O Soveraign Queen I admire you as the Mother of Purity the Mirror of Chastity the First who vow'd Virginity obtain for me I beseech you that all my thoughts words and actions may savour of Purity be seasoned with modestie and be accompany'd with Chastity c. Receive most sacred Lady this Pearl which I present unto you to illustrate your Crown and powerfully protect me against all carnalitie and impurity to
most high Profoundest Councill therfore worthy the Fathers Majesty the Sons Wisdom and the Holy Ghosts love and affection 6. The Person of the Virgin next the divin Persons is the most worthy and greater than all human and Angelicall Persons together IN contemplation of this Councill and this work Permit me Lord to address unto you my devout Vows and Elevations concerning this quality which you establish in Heaven and on Earth by the sacred Mystery of your Incarnation Quality of Mother to the most high And give me leave to trace your divin and admirable ways in the managing of this work with my humble thoughts and devotions You herein O Great Creatour do associate the sacred Virgin unto your own self you Elevate her up to work with your self and even to work the work of your works And as you associate a Human nature to one of your Divin Persons you will also associate a Human Person to one of your Divin works Contemplating therfore this work O sacred Trinity and there finding this Virgin in Society with your self I look on her love her and reverence her as a Person the most high the most holy and the most worthy of your love and greatness that ever shall have a Being yea I contemplate and respect her as the only She who surpasses in Height in Holiness in Dignity even all Human and Angelicall Spirits together and unitedly considered 7. The Virgin constitutes an Order Empire and Vniverse apart MOreover you O sacred Trinity made her singly for your self you have made her as a World and a Paradise apart World of Greatnesses and Paradise of delights for the New-Man who was to come into the world you have made her as a new Heaven and a new Earth Earth which only bears the Man-God And Heaven which contains none but himself alone which turnes not but about him alone which moves not but for him alone You have made her in the Universe as another Universe And in your Empire as another Empire For the sacred Virgin is her self a Universe which hath its different center and motions The sacred Virgin is her self an Empire which hath its distinct Laws and Estate The sacred Virgin amongst all the subjects of Gods Divin Majesty is so great so particular so eminent a subject that it alone maks a new Order amongst the orders of his power and wisdom Order surpassang all the Orders of Grace and of Glory Order altogether singular making and carrying a new Empire over Gods works Order which is conjoyn'd to the order and state of Hypostaticall union Order which hath a direct Reference to the divin Persons For as the Angells are dispos'd into Hierarchies properly relating to the Divin Essence according to its distinct perfections and attributes of love of Power of light c. So also the sacred Virgin in her Order and in her Hierarchie which she solely fills with her Greatness beholds and honours the state and the proprieties of the Divin Persons Thus the God of Heaven who hath unity of Essence and plurality of Persons hath divided the Celestiall Court into two different Quires In one of which all the Angells which in number are almost Infinit and which are ranged in their severall Orders and Hierarchies behold according to their Estate the distinct Perfections of the Divin Essence In the other the Virgin alone in her Order by an Excellency peculiar to her self alone beholds according to her new Estate the divin Persons as depending on their Personall Proprieties And this sole Quire of the sacred Virgin renders more homage both to the divin Essence and to the divin Persons than the Nine Quires of all the Angells together 8. The Virgin is a singular work of Gods Power the holiest that ever shall be created The divin Paternity is the Samplar of this divin Maternity The Eternal Father and the Son are tyed by the Person of the Holy Ghost and the Eternall Father and the Virgin are tyed by the Person of the Son O God O All-powerfull Father who can express how this Virgin is to you pretious and acceptable You frame her and sanctify her to be the Mother of your only Son whom you will Incarnate in the world and you form her in the orders of Nature of Grace and of Glory as a singular work of your Power and Bountie and the head-work of your hands You fashion her as the greatest the worthiest the eminentest subject of your Domination and soveraignty in the whol round and Circumference of all your Creatures For in the Order and Existency of all created Entities God commands not nor ever will command any thing greater than this greatest Virgin God hath not yet made nor will hereafter make any thing more Holy than this Holyest Virgin O how highly is she then to be Reverenc'd in this Eminency and singularity of Grace of Sanctity of Power Yet O Eternall Father I again Reverence her in the Origin of this Grace which is the design you have to make her a Mother to him to whom your self is a Father For after you had conducted her to the accomplish'd point of a singular Grace you being at your chosen time to enter a neer Alliance with her separate her from all things created you seat her close to your Divinity and you unite your self to her as to a Person whom you will have the most intimately and neerly conjoyn'd to your own peculiar Person of all that ever shall have a Being And she is thus joyn'd to you to co-operate with you in this Great work to render you the fruit of so close an alliance to give you a son born of her substance and having your Essence and to produce by you and with you Him who being your only Son is also her Son by a new Nativity O Ineffable Greatness O Admirable sublimity The Eternall Father who contemplating his own Essence produceth his Son contemplating his own Paternity Source of all Paternity yea source even of the Divinity honours it Imitates it and expresseth it in the holy Virgin and forms and produces in her this admirable Estate of Divin Maternity which Adores the Father in his Personall Propriety and which gives him to the Father and to the world who is the life of the Father and the health of the world 'T is in this happy great and gloria our Estate O sacred Virgin that the Eternall Father appropriates you to himself and himself to you Renders himself all yours and renders you all his own unites himself to you and you to himself And communicating to you his Spirit and his love makes you fruitfull with a divin fertility and being resolv'd to have of you One self-same Son with you makes you by this his Alliance to be Productrice to the world and to himself of Him who by this Birth according to the Angells saying is his Son and your Son together Your Son as issued from your own proper substance His Son as emanated from his own
proper vertu and Power O Father O Son O Mother How great and glorious things ought to be spoken and thought of you The two Divin and Eternall Persons the Father and Son are divinly link'd together and for their link in their Eternity they have a divin Person to wit the Holy Ghost equally proceeding from them both in whose unity they are both Eternally joyn'd together And these two sacred Persons the Father who is in Heaven and the Mother who is upon Earth are also holily link'd together and have in like sort for the Tye of their sacred union a divin Person to wit One self-same only Son who proceeds from them both and who between them both is this indissoluble band whereby they are for an Eternity conjoyn'd together O union which hath Jesus for its Tye Jesus I say who is the Center if the Created and Increated Being Jesus in whom is holily and happily terminated the union of two natures the one human the other divin which establisheth the mystery of the Incarnation and the uniting of two Persons the one likewise divin the other human which also establisheth the Divin Maternity wherein the sacred Virgin is united to the Father by the production of Jesus wherein she is link'd to him with so neer a union so powerfull a union and so fertill a union that it hath not its like in the large extent of all created things O let 's be the Fathers let 's be the Sons let 's be the Mothers And let 's honour the Father and the Son in this Mother who is so nearly joyn'd unto them both and who in her Estate hath so close an alliance with the Father that she conceives his Son and brings forth so worthy a fruit so powerfull an effect so lively an Image of the Divine Paternity 9. The Eternall Word who is in Society with the Father and Holy Ghost before all time doth in time enter League and Society with the Virgin AND you O Eternall Word who being her God will also become her Son What shall I say what shall I do in honour of the Son and of the Mother You are in unity and in Society with the Father who produceth you and with the Holy Ghost whom you produce and yet you will besides these two divin and co-eternall Persons enter into so inward and honorable a band union and Society with a third Person with a human Person with a temporall Person you will be the Virgins Son as you are the Son of God and you will have her for Mother as you have God for Father And by your Power and Goodness you make her the worthy Mother of God by your humility you render Obedience to her and become subject to her during your life upon Earth and trowning your own handy-works by your love and wisdom you in Heaven confer upon her such glory as corresponds to this her sacred dignity and authority Be you eternally bless'd and prays'd O great God I will for ever Reverence both the Son and the Mother I will Reverence the Mother by reason of the Son and the Son in the Mother I will Reverence all that which the Virgin is to her Son and to her God and all that which her Son God is to her And I will honour all the mutual connexions which are unknown and ineffable between the Son of God and the sacred Virgin as secrets of which the Earth must remain ignorant and which are reserv'd to the glory to the love and to the light of Heaven 10. Oblation and Donation to the Son and to the Mother in quality of Bond-slave IN the sight and at the thought of these so great so high so holy things I offer up and submit my self I vow and dedicate my self to Christ Jesus my Lord and my Saviour in the state of perpetuall Servitude and also to his holy Mother the sacred Virgin Mary To the Eternall honour both of Mother and of Son I will be henceforth in the quality and condition of slavery in regard of her who is in the state and quality of the Mother of my God therby to honour more humbly and more holily this her so high and so divin qualâ—ty and condition And I bequeath my self to her as a perpetuall Bond-slave in the honour of that Donation which the â—…ernall word made to her of himself in quality of a Son by the mysterie of the Incarnation which he accomplish'd in her and by her 11. Enlargment and Explication of this Donation with the particulars thereof Renounce all my own power and liberty of disposing of my self and my actions yeilding up this power to the sacred Virgin and dismissing my self entirely into her hands in homage to her greatness in honour of that perfect demission which she made of her self to her Son Jesus I give to her that power which God gives me over my self to be hers and no longer my own to be in her power and tuition and no more in my own In honour of the power which Gods Son gave her over himself and of the humble dependency and subjection he was pleas'd to yeild unto her delivering up himself to her custody direction and tutelage during the whol time of this Infancy and child-hood I bequeath to her my Being and my Living during the whol remainder of my Pilgrimage upon Earth with all the conditions circumstances and appurtenances which accompany the same I yeild up all to her greatness as much as I can and dedicate all to her honour and glory for the fulfilling of all her wills and powers over me In this ardour of spirit and to this intention I humbly address my self to you O sacred Virgin and I make here unto you an entire absolute and irrevocable Oblation of all that I am by Gods mercy in the Being and in the order of Nature and Grace of all that thereon depends and of all the actions I shall ever perform For my will is that whatsoever is mine be absolutely yours and that the power and the grace which is bestow'd on me be employ'd in referring my self wholy with all that is in me to your honour And I here make choyce of you O holy Virgin and I will henceforth look upon you as the only object whereunto next after your Son and under your Son I shall make the reference of my soul and of my life both interiour and exteriour and generally of all that any way belongs unto me 12. This Oblation tends to the honour of the Virgins Elevation and Depression in the Mysterie of the Incarnation WHilst I am in these contemplations of you O holy Virgin I find that even in the day of your Greatness you humble your self even to the very center of nothing rendring your self then our lords servant when you are declared his Mother Wherfore I honour in you these two motions and these two different qualities I honour this Humiliation and this Exaltation both together I honour both your Servitude and also
name of JESUS 6. He nourish'd fed and maintain'd Him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affords food and sustenance to all living Creatures And cloathed him who furnished the Lillyes Roses and flowers of the Field with all their beautifull Robes and Ornaments 7. He was in some sort the saver of his Saviour by sheltring little Jesus from Herods rage and crueltie and stepping aside with him into Egypt whilst the Innocents bought the palm of Martyrdom with the price of their blood 8. He commanded him who commands all earthly Princes and Monarchs and had him obedient to the beck of his hand to the nod of his head to the twinkle of his eye and to the sound of his voyce before whom the Powers of Heaven fall down and tremble O the admirable power of S. Joseph O the adorable subjection of Jesus O the sublimâ—tie of Joseph to command Jesus O the Humility of Jesus to obey Joseph 9. He possessed and practis'd all vertues in their perfection especially Humility as being to passe the remainder of his days in her company who being the greatest was the most humble of all pure creatures And in his companie who being the Son of the most high made himself the least and lowest amongst the Sons of men Nor can S. Josephs vertues perfections and Greatnesses be comprehended and measur'd by any better means than by the greatnesses of Jesus and Mary to whom he was so strictly allied For he wâ—… Mary's true Husband and consequently the true and legall though not the carnall and naturall Father oâ— Jesus O what Communications oâ— affections what extasies of spirit what unions of hearts was there amongst these Three JESUS MARIA JOSEPH Now since God give grace proportionable to each one place vocation and office surely a S. Joseph's Office was exceeding great so was his grace vertu and perfection great excellent and heroique 10. He was as the Fathers pioufly and probably believe elevated to Heaven both in Body and Soul upon the day of his glorious Sons triumphanâ— Ascension and remains there inthron'd next to the Humanity of Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the Celestiall Kingdom as he was neerest and dearest unto them during the time oâ— their earthly Pilgrimage 11. He is the faithfull powerfull and charitable Protector and Advocate of his devout children and clients in the Court of Heaven as having so great credit with his Son King Jesus and his Spouse Queen Mary that his demands may seem in some sort to be commands and his Petitions being presented to the Throne of Mercy with a Fathers confidence and authority will not easily be rejected by Jesus in Heaven who was so obedient to Joseph upon Earth 12. He is the chief Patron of all Contemplatives and the Great Master Guide and Director of the Interiour hidden and Spirituall life S. Teresa happily experienc'd this verity and frequently expressed it saying They that cannot meet with a Master to instruct them in the manner of their Prayer Let them take the Glorious Saint Joseph for their Teacher and Tutor and they shall infallibly find the safe and secure way to solid Sanctity and perfection A SHORT ROSARY IN THE HONOR OF S. JOSEPH CONTAINING The principall Mysteries of his Life drawn out of the precedent Excellencies and distinguished into Five Tens or Decades Begin also this Rosary with the sign of the Cross and the Creed The first Decade Of his Election SAint JOSEPH was chosen in the Councill of Gods Eternall Wisdom and Providence to be the worthy Bridegroom of Mary and the â—…puted Father of JESUS Our Father c. 1. He was the highest and holiest of the Patriarchs Hail Mary 2. He descended from the Royall Progenie of David Hail Mary 3. He was particuarly prefigur'd by Joseph the deliverer of Egypt Hail Mary 4. He was sanctifi'd in his Mothers â—omb Hail Mary 5. He was confirm'd in Grace and Vertu Hail Mary 6. He was a Just man by the testimony of the Holy Gospell Hail Mary 7. He was instructed from Heaven in the Mystery of Incarnation Hail Mary 8. He was indu'd with the plenty of all spirituall blessings Hail Mary 9. He was enriched with gifts and qualities both naturall and supernaturall sutable to the sacred charge for which he was design'd Hail Mary 10. He was the first after the Virgin-Mother who by Vow consecrated his Virginity to the Divin Majesty Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. As in the Great Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Second Decade Of his place office and dignity SAint Joseph was appointed the Head Governour and Steward of Gods Family upon Earth Our Father c. 1. He was espoused to the sacred Virgin Mary Hail Mary 2. He was the Guardian and witness of her Virginity and allotted by Divin Providence to be her Counsellor Comforter and Companion upon all occations Hail Mary 3. He was her faithfull Assistant in her journey to Bethleem Hail Mary 4. He found out the Stable for her harbour when the Innes refused to entertain her Hail Mary 5. He was present at our Redeemer's happy Birth into the world Hail Mary 6. He help'd the holy Virgin-Mother to swath him cloath him and cradle him in the Maâ—ger Hail Mary 7. He was the first who with the extasi'd Mother had the honour to adore the New-born Man-God Hail Mary 8. He concurr'd with the sacred Virgin to Christs Circumcision and together with her impos'd upon him the sweet Name of JESUS Hail Mary 9. He was reverenc'd by the Eastern Kings when they offer'd their Royall Presents to his reputed Son JESUS Hail Mary 10. He with his Virgin-Spouse presented JESUS to his Eternall Father in the Temple Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The third Decade Of his Flight into Egypt SAint JOSEPH took the yong Child and Mary his Mother and departed into Egypt so preserving Jesus from Herods cruelty who sought to oppress him in his Infancy Our Father c. 1. He readily resignedly and in the night season obey'd the Angells admonition Hail Mary 2. He cheerfully undertook a long tedious and troublesom journey into an unknown Countrey Hail Mary 3. He patiently endur'd with Jesus and Mary a seven years banishment Hail Mary 4. He provided food for him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affoards food to all living Creatures Hail Mary 5. He cloath'd him who cloathes the flowers of the field Hail Mary 6. He next to the sacred Virgin was the most ardent of all Jesus's lovers serving him in his Exile with more than Seraphicall affection Hail Mary 7. He lov'd the sacred Virgin with a naturall affection in respect of her eminent perfections with an acquired affection in respect of her reciprocall favours with a supernaturall affection in respect of her celestiall
dignity Hail Mary 8. He was an Instrumentall Cooperator with God in his great design of mans Redemption Hail Mary 9. He was in some sort the Saver of his Saviour by sheltring him from his enemy's Tyranny Hail Mary 10. His life was a continued Contemplation Recollection and Extasy in the perpetuall presence of Gods Son and Gods Mother Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The fourth Decade Of his return from Egypt and of his Death SAint JOSEPH inform'd by Angelicall Revelation of Herods death returns home with Jesus and Mary Our Father c. 1. He Jesus and Mary after their banishment dwell together in Nazareth Hail Mary 2. He conducted Jesus when he was twelve years old to the Temple in Jerusalem Hail Mary 3. He there lost Jesus to his unspeakable grief and sorrow Hail Mary 4. He retriv'd him after three days enquiry sitting amongst the Doctors Hail Mary 5. He reconducts him home to Nazareth where Jesus the great Monarch of both worlds was subject and obedient to Joseph's command Hail Mary 6. And as he had the Priviledg to enjoy the Innocent embraces of Jesus in his childhood so he had the honour to enjoy his holy entertainments in his riper years and his divin actions examples and instructions in his perfect age Hail Mary 7. He also had the honour to govern the sacred family of Jesus and Mary for thirty years space Hail Mary 8. He had the happiness to be assisted by Jesus and Mary in his last Agony Hail Mary 9. Having compleated the course of his Earthly Pilgrimage he chang'd this life for Eternity Hail Mary 10. He sweetly breath'd forth his soul in a high act of sigh and love in the sacred embraces of Jesus and Mary Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The fifth Decade Of his Glory SAint JOSEPH was elevated to Heaven upon the day of his Son 's triumphant Resurrection Our Father c. 1. He is inthron'd there above next to Jesus and Mary as he was here below neerest and dearest unto them Hail Mary 2. He is adorn'd with a Garland of virginity for having preserv'd it unblemisht to his last breath Hail Mary 3. He is enobled with the Aureola of Doctorship for having instructed the ignorant and particularly the Egyptians in the time of his so journing amongst them Hail Mary 4. He is rewarded with a Crown of Martyrdom for having hazarded his life for his Sons preservation Hail Mary 5. He is a Powerfull Protector of all them who are particularly devoted unto him as having great credit with the All powerfull Jesus Hail Mary 6. He is the generall Patron of the Church Militant as being the speciall Favourite of its head Christ Jesus Hail Mary 7. He bears a singular affection to all that sincerely love Jesus and Mary as being so neerly allyed unto them Hail Mary 8. His Petitions are presented to the Throne of Mercy with a Fathers confidence and his Requests will not easily be rejected by Jesus in heaven who was so obedient to Joseph upon earth Hail Mary 9. He is the chief Patron of all Contemplatives Hail Mary 10. He is the great Master Guide and Directors of the Interiour hidden and spirituall life Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Credo c. as in the great Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary Conclude this Rosary with these ensuing Elevations ELEVATIONS TO S. JOSEPH TO Honour God in him and him in God in his Dignity of being the reputed FATHER of the Word Incarnate and the BRIDEGROOM of the Blessed Virgin MARIE And to offer up our selv's to him in the state of dependencie which is due to him upon these titles and to correspond by our inward devotion to that power which he hath over us by consequence of the power he had over the Son and Mother of GOD. GReat and glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph The worthy Bridegroom of Mary and esteemed Father of Jesus In the honour of Gods beholding and electing you in the Councill of his Eternall Wisdom and of his placing you at the time appointed by his divin Providence in these two high and sublime estates In honour and union of all the singular graces prerogatives priviledges and perfections which he plentifully heap'd upon you in order to render you capable of these eminent offices and undertakings In honour and union of your souls extraordinary sanctity of your Bodies virginall Purity of your profound humilitie of your perfect Obedience of your voluntary Povertie and of all the rest of your consummated vertues In honour and union of your dear affection to Jesus and Mary of the continuall application of your spirit towards these two divin objects of the tenderness of your devotion unto them and of your silent solitarie retired recollected and contemplative life with them In honour and union of all the services you rendred to the Word Incarnate in the state and order of his hypostaticall postaticall union with our nature In honour and union of that last Act and sigh of love wherein you sweetly breath'd forth your faithfull soul in the embraces of Jesus and Mary your divin Son and dear Spouse In honour homage and union of all your other Greatnesses and especially of the right power and jurisdiction you had over Jesus and Mary in quality of Father and husband and of the subjection obedience and duty they rendred you Finally in acknowledgment of your having been establish'd the Head the Steward and the Director of Gods Family upon Earth The Father the Tutor and the Trainer up of Jesus the Bridegroom the Guardian and the Helper of the holy Virgin Mary I do now choose you O great and glorious Patriarch for my particular Patron for my powerfull Protector for my pious Father and for my chief Soveraign next after Jesus and Mary And upon this score I do here yeild and resign unto you all the power I have over my self desiring to become your servant and Bondslave willing to submit my self to you as my Saviour Jesus was subject unto you and begging your leave to place all the future transactions motions and passages of my life during this my earthly Pilgrimage under your sacred conduct government and protection Make me worthy O glorious Father by your merits to become with you a faithfull Member of Jesus and Maries Family and to be thereunto firmely and intimately united associated and incorporated by Grace and Sanctity And obtain for me by your powerfull intercession that I may never be separated from sweet Jesus and Mary in my life in my death in my Eternity Take also O powerfull Protector the last moment of my life that Moment which must decide my Eternity into your pious care and Custody Assist me then I beseech you in that harsh Passage
and obtain for me a happy death and departure out of this World in the Faith Favour and Affection of Jesus To whom be all honour prayse and glory for Evermore Amen ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON EARTH Iesus Maria Ioseph In honour and homage to the Glorious Trinity in Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost O JESU Son of the living God and Saviour of the World O Mary Mother of Jesus and Mediatrix of Mankind O Joseph Bridegroom of Mary and esteemed Father of Jesus O sacred Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph I honour you reverence you admire you in your excellent eminent sublime Greatnesses in which you seem to be an express Image of the Incomprehensible Trinity and I adhere to you in union of the perfect homages which you rendred to the Father Son and holy Ghost by your high Estate and holy operations The deep Mystery of the divin Trinity is Invisible to our eyes Ineffable to our Tongues Incomprehensible to our Spirits And behold the poor Bethleem stable affoards us a human Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph uppon Earth which views adores and Imitates the Trinity of the Empireall Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost This is Increated that is both created and Increated in the Person of the God-Man Jesus This is divin and Eternall That is Deifi'd and temporall The one is Adorable the other honorable The one is admirable in its greatness The other amiable in its sweetness In the one is a unity of Essence in a Trinity of Persons In the other is a union of Love of Grace and of Spirit in a Trinity of Essence and of Persons In the Divin Trinity the Father begets his Son in Eternity In the other by a reverted order the Son gives Being in Time both to the Father and to the Mother In the first the Father and the Son and the Father by the Son produces the holy Ghost in unity of origin In the second Jesus and Mary and Jesus by Mary gives the Life and Being of Grace to Joseph in the unitie of spirit So that Mary hath an admirable resemblance to the Eternall Father the Son of Mary hath an express unity with himself and S. Joseph represents the Holy Ghost For the Father in Heaven is the only Parent without a Mother and Mary upon Earth is the only Parent without a Father And as nothing greater can be attributed to God than his being the Father of a God so nothing more sublime can befall a pure creature than to be the Mother of the same God whereof God is Father The Holy Ghost is the sacred knot and Tye of the divin Persons And Joseph hath a union with Mary as his Spouse and with Jesus as his Father The Holy Ghost form'd Jesus in the Virginall Cloyster of Maryes Womb And Joseph fed him educated him and preserv'd for us far more fortunately than the ancient Joseph of Egypt â— this Bread of the Elect this blessed pledg of our future happiness this Eternall Bliss of Men and Angells Wherfore O Jesu We acknowledg honour and adore you in your Eternall heights and greatnesses we prayse bless and love you in your temporall humiliations sweetnesses we contemplate you in Heaven with the Eye of Faith betwen the Father and the holy Ghost We admire you upon Earth between Mary and Joseph And I invite and conjure all Creatures to prayse bless and adore your divin Majesty in both these estates O Mary We also look upon you as upon Gods sacred Mother and in this supream dignity I salute reverence and honour you with the singular homage of Hyperdulia which is due to your Excellencies and Greatnesses O Joseph I likewise honour you as the reputed Father of Jesus and Bridegroom of Mary and in regard of these two Eminent qualities I subject my self to the power which is given you over my soul by consequence of the Jurisdiction you had over Jesus my Saviour I offer my self to you O Great Saint Joseph Father and Husband without Paragon to be by you presented to Mary I give my self to you O glorious Mary Virgin and Mother without Paralell to be by you addressed to Jesus I consecrat my self to you O Great-little-God-man Jesus as your servant and bondslave to become associated in this qualitie with the domestiques of your sacred Family O Jesu my King reign in my Soul and exercise the absolute power you have over my spirit O Mary my Soveraign Queen after my King Jesus possess my heart and my will to consign them over to your Son O Joseph My chief Prorector after Jesus and Mary take my Body and senses into your safe custody to be consecrated to Jesus O Jesu annihilate and absorp my soul in your affection O Mary Inflame my heart with the love of Jesus O Joseph Bless all my labours and endeavours and present them to Jesus and Mary Let the whol world be replenish'd O Jesu with your mercies be assisted O Mary with your favours be secured O Joseph under the shadow of your Protection For You O JESU are the Fountain issuing forth of the Terrestriall Paradise Mary's Virginall Womb is the Origin of all our happiness you O Mary are the Prime Bason of this Fountain and the pure Glebe from whence it proceeded And you O Joseph are the River who disperse abroad these waters of Life by your efficacious intercessions O Jesu you are the fruit of life O Mary you are the Paradise that bore it and the Tree that brought it forth And you O Joseph are the Cherubin appointed by God to guard it O Jesu You are the sacred Propitiatory of the world O Mary You are the Mysticall Ark of our Reconciliation And you O Joseph are the High Priest who alone are permitted to enter into this Holy of Holies to be the faithfull Coadjutor of Gods great Counsell in the world and the Feoffee in trust of his treasures and secrets In honour therefore of these three ineffable Tâ—es and unions between these admirable subjects which are the greatest under Gods command and Jurisdiction I most humbly beg of you O Jesu Mary and Joseph 1. A chast and filiall Fear of God that nothing either in life or death may separate me from his grace and friendship 2. A faithfull fervent and perseverant Love of God and my neighbour with a generous zeal of the divin honour and my own salvation 3. A good and happy end of my life consummated in the act and exercise of these sacred affections O JESU Be an Advocate for me your Bondslave to your Eternall Father O Mary intercede for me your servant to your Son O Joseph pray for me your child to Jesus and Mary O Jesu shew your wounds suffer'd for my sake O Mary discover your Breasts which suckled Gods Son O Joseph represent your hands which nourish'd the Word Incarnate O Jesu replenish my Soul with the abundance of your celestiall blessings by the effusion of efficacious grace upon it which may intimately
professes himself unfortunate for presuming to adventure upon so impossible an employment as is the explication of your perfections the deep sense whereof so seized all the faculties of his Soul with fear and astonishment that his heart became as it were dry'd up in its dreadfull apprehension S. Bernard Serm. 4. de Assump though he was brought up if we may say it in your blessed bosom and suckled at your sacred breasts yet ingenuously protests that nothing more amazes terrifies and troubles him than to treat of your greatnesses and glories because they are unspeakable unexplicable incomprehensible Wherefore with these holy Saints we may well confess our incapacities to celebrate your prayses O great and glorious Mother of God! and so casting our selv's on the ground before the Throne of your Greatnesses we admiringly with faithfull Moyses gaze upon the bush afar off burning in the flames of the Divinity without being diminish'd and reduc'd into ashes we extasiedly reverence in the very bottom of our hearts and Souls and with a chast and awfull silence Gods Royall Sanctuary replenish'd with all sorts of celestiall prodigies We proclaym aloud with S. Gregory Neocesariensis Serm. 2. de Annunc that the sense of this only word Gods Mother exceeds all other Encomiums which Men and Angells can confer upon you We willingly profess with S. Bernardinus Tom. 3. Serm. 1. de Nom. Virg. that since our ignorance permits us not to speak properly we must forcedly have recourse to proportions And as when we discourse of the Divinity whose simple nature cannot be conceav'd by our shallow imaginations we invest him with all the perfections which can be collected from his various creatures adding that he yet infinitly excells whatsoever we have said of him So when we speak of you most sacred Mother of God! and have rallied together all the dispersed rarities ornaments and excellencies wherewith this spacious and specious world can furnish our tongues Pens and fancies we justly conclude that you not only possess them all but incomparably out-passe them We further assert being supported by S. John Damascens orat 1. de Nativit B. M. and S. Ildephonsu's lib. de Virgin parturitione B. V. authority that who so desires to shadow forth that sublime degree of honour and dignity to which you O Glorious Virgin are elevated by becoming Gods Mother in his temporall generation within your bowells can propose to himself no less or lower Idea than the divin words eternall generation in his Fathers bosome For as Gods Son is eternally emanated from the Fathers fruitfull understanding receaving an entire communication of himself without any alteration or division of his substance so he is temporally born of you his blessed Mother without the least blemish corruption or violation of your Virginall integrity Finally if we may be permitted to soar yet higher upon the wings of our contemplation presuming on the Angelilicall Doctors assistance 1. p. q. 25. ar 6. ad 4. we clearly perceive through the curtain of this inaccessible Splendor That you O highest and holyest of all creatures by receiving the honour of being Gods Mother are united to a Terme of Infinite perfection whereby you are in a certain manner elevated to a divin order and by a most necessary undeniable consequence you appear in some sort to enter into the possession of an Infinit perfection O Maternity O Dignity O sublimity what eyes but those of your divin Son humaniz'd can support the piercing lustre of this pure and perfect object Having thus follow'd you O singularly blessed Virgin Mother with our borrow'd Speculations to the Non plus ultra of all created height and perfection and yet finding our affections desirous to feed themselv's somewhat longer in this fair and delicious field of your prayses We crave your leave to descend to such Figurative and Enigmaticall expressions as your faithfully devoted Doctors have found out to Paraphrase upon your unparalleld Excellencies We therefore exclaim with the Blessed Archbishop Proclus in his admirable Oration had upon our Saviours Birth-day in the Councill of Ephesus You O Mother of God! are the pure Treasury the perfect Ornament the prime honour of Virginity you are the spirituall Paradise of the second Adam the delicate Cabinet of that divin Marriage which was made between the two Natures the great Hall wherein was celebrated the worlds generall Reconciliation you are the Nuptiall bed of the Eternall Word the bright Clowd carrying him who hath the Cherubins for his chariot the Fleece of Wool fill'd with the sweet dew of Heaven whereof was made that admirable robe of our Royall Shepheard in which he vouchsafed to seek after his lost sheep you are the Maid and the Mother the humble Virgin and the high Heaven both together you are the sacred Bridg wherby God himself descended to the Earth you are that piece of cloath of which was compos'd the glorious garment of Hypostaticall union where the worker was the Holy Ghost the Hand the Vertu of the most high the wool the old spoiles of Adam the woof your own immaculate Flesh and the shittle Gods incomprehensible goodness which freely gave us the ineffable person of the Word Incarnate We continue our glad exclamations with the glorious Martyr Methodius orat in hypopante you O most Amiable and Admirable Mother of God! are the Container of the Incomprehensible the Root of the worlds first best and most beautifall Flower the Mother of him who made all things the Nurse of him who provides nourishment for the whol universe the Bosom of him who infolds all being within his Breast the unspotted Robe of him who is cloth'd with light as with a garment you O sacred Virgin are the Sallie-port through which God penetrated into the world you are the Pavilion of the Holy Ghost and you are the Furnace into which the Almighty hath particularly darted as it were the most fervent Sun-beams of his dearest love and affection We cheerfully salute you O incomparable Virgin-Mother with S. Andrew of Jerusalem Serm. de Annunciat All hail holy Temple of the Holy of Holyes triumphant Throne of incorruptible life blessed Chariot of the bright-shining Sun All Hayl fruitfull Earth alone proper and only prepar'd to bring forth the Bread-corn by which we are all sustain'd and nourished happy leaven which hath given relish to Adam's whol Race and season'd the Past whereof the true life-giving and soul-saving Bread was compos'd Ark of honour in which God himself was pleas'd to repose and where very glory it self became sanctifi'd Golden Pitcher containing him who provides sweet Manna from heaven and produces Honey from the rock to satisfy the appetites of his hungry people Spirituall Mirror of sacred Contemplation by whom the Prophets inspired from Heaven prefigur'd Gods descent to the earth you O most lovely Lady Mother are the incomprehensible secret of the divin Economy The admirable house of Gods humiliation through whose doore he descended to dwell amongst us The living
Book wherein the Fathers Eternall Word was written by the Pen of the Holy Ghost The authenticall Instrument of that happy agreement made between God and Man The Imperiall chariot loaden with millions of spoils led by you in triumph and by you presented to the divin Majesty The Mountain of Sion where our Soveraign Lord takes his pleasure and recreation The Pillar of Light not now conducting a captive people through the desert by a perishable glimmering but illuminating the true Israelites and leading them to their promis'd land of Conquest you O the most accomplish'd of all Creatures are pleasing and comely as Jerusalem and the aromaticall odours issuing from your garments outvie all the delights of Mount Libanus you are the sacred Pix of celestiall parfumes whose sweet exhalations shall never be exhausted you are the holy Oyl the unextinguishable Lamp the unfading Flower the divinly woven Purple the Royall vestment the Imperiall Diadem the Throne of the Divinity the Gate of Paradise the Queen of the Vnivers the Cabinet of Life the Fountain ever-flowing with Celestiall Illustrations More words are wanting to us O Mother worthy of all prayses for the further expression of our Conceptions and our Conceptions are too weak and languishing to second the ardours of our Affections and yet our Affections encourage us to keep on in this Carriere of your Commendations and to salute You afresh with Your faithfull servant S. Epiphanius Orat. de Deipara All Hail the honour of vertues the divin Lanthorn encompassing that Christall Lamp whose light out-shines the Sun in in its midday splendour The mysticall Ark of glory The undraynable source of sweetness The spirituall Sea whence the worlds richest Pearl was extracted The radiant sphear inclosing Him within your sacred folds whom the Heavens cannot contain within their vast circumference The Celestiall Throne of God more glistring than that of the glorious Cherubins The pure Temple Tabernacle and Seat of the Divinity And with Sophronius Serm. de Assump You O Mother of God! are the well-fenc'd Orchard the fruitfull Border the fair and delicious Garden of sweet Flowers enbalming the earth and ayr with their odoriferous fragrancie yet shut up and s cur'd from any enemys entrance and irruption you are the holy Fountain seal'd with the signet of the most sacred Trinity from whence the happy waters of life inflow upon the whol Univers you are the happy City of God whereof such glorious things are every where song and spoken And here O great and glorious Virgin Mother amidst our admirations of your miraculous priviledges prerogatives and perfections We cannot choose with S. Peter Chrysologus Serm. de Annunciat but Compassionate such poor spirited Christians who pretending to any true knowledg of your Sons greatness find no motives to contemplate your glories O their Ignorance Stupidity Infidelity For what thought can frame a right conception concerning any one Mystery of his sacred Incarnation and yet separate you dear Mother from him your divin Son The Heavens says he are terrifi'd the Angells tremble all creatures stand astonished whol Nature is amazed at the birth of this great-little-man-God into the world whilst you O blessed Virgin-Mother remain undaunted and not onely lodge him in your bosom receive him into your embraces refresh him with your breast-milk but moreover with an unparalleld Confidence you make him pay for his entertainment asking no less a reward for his nine months lodging than the grant of a generall and universall Peace to the world Glory for the heavenly Inhabitants Grace for Earthly Criminalls Life for the dead a strict league between the CHURCH Militant and Triumphant and a perpetuall Alliance of his divin Person with our human nature But now being at an absolute loss and not knowing what more can be added to these Epithetes of your Excellencies greatnesses and glories we again beg your lâ—cence O most Blessed Virgin-Mother to breath out what remains in meer raptures and astonishments Crying out to you with the great Patriarch of Antioch S. Ignatius epist ad Joan. O celestiall Prodigy O sacred spectacle With S. Chrysostom Sermon de B. V. O Miracle O Miracle of Miracles With S. Augustin Serm. 11. de Temp. O Miracles O Prodigies The Laws of Nature are changed God becomes Man you O sacred Virgin remaining a maid are made a Mother you are a Mother but without corruption you are a Virgin but you have a child you continue entire and yet you become fruitfull O Miracles O Prodigies With S. John Damascen orat 1. de Nat. B. V. O Abysmus of Miracles you O Virgin-Mother are as much elevated above the Seraphins as your Son is humbled below the Angells With S. Epiphanius orat de Sancta Deipara O extraordinary Prodigie in Heaven A woman infolding God in her bosom O new created Throne of Cherubins containing the Son of a woman who is the Father of his Mother O pretious nuptiall bed prepar'd in your sacred womb for the Celestiall Bridegroom who is together your own Son and the truly and only Son of God With S. Anselme lib. de excellentia Virginis Inviting all faithfull Christians to behold contemplate admire the height of honour to which the Eternall Fathers affection hath raised you O Royall Virgin-Mother He had but one only Son every way equall to himself and of his own substance and he condescended to have him in common with you O his incomprehensible dignation O your incomparable dignity And finally with your S. Bernard Hom. 4. super Missus est solum datum est nosse cui solum datum est experiri your own Greatnesses O glorious Virgin are only known to your own self who only had the happiness to experience them which perchance may be the proper meaning of that profound sentence The vertu of the most high shall overshaddow you whereby the celestiall Paranimph would seem to intimate That as you had the honour to be directly expos'd to the beams of that divin Sun which by an unheard of Intimacy and friendship foster'd you under the immediate shadow of his own splendor So you had also the riches of your own rare excellencies prerogatives and perfections reveal'd unto you But besides your self O Blessed Mother who were thus prodigiously admitted to be an Instrumentall Partner with the most Sacred Trinity in this secret Mystery 'T is in vain to conceive there can be found out any other capable to unfold or comprehend them Wherefore we humbly let fall our weak hand and wearied wings and convincedly confess your miraculous greatnesses O incomprehensible Mother of God! to be unexplicable incomprehensible inaccessible to all created imagination the glory whereof must necessarily be referr'd by us and all your devout honorers and admirers to the Eternall Father who hath created such a Daughter to the Son who hath chosen such a Mother to the Holy Ghost who hath thus enriched adorned and beautifi'd his Spouse his Temple his Tabernacle to the most sacred Trinity who best understands the
sublime height of his own most holy handy work And now O worthy Mother of God! since we have hitherto presented you with the fervent Affections which your faithfull servants have put into our hearts and mouths as well knowing that our own faint inventions could furnish us with none more pithy or to more pleasing permit us also to presume upon your pious Doctor S. Ildefonse de Virginitate Mariae cap. 1. for this our concluding Protestation That the height of all our ambitious desires is To prayse you as much as you deserve to be praysed To love you as much as 't is possible to love you and to render you as much service as your self can desire from such caitif creatures as we are Yes O Sacred Queen Mother had we hearts larger than the Empyreall heaven we would most willingly employ their whol extent in loving you Had we the Crowns Kingdoms Riches of all earthly Monarchs and Princes and as many lives as the Seas have sands we would most cheerfully leave all lose all forfeit all for the defence of your honour for the procuring of your affection for the promoting of your service Finally had either of us as much collected Capacity as all creatures have dispersedly it would come far short of our unlimited desires and affections which are to Love Honour and Serve you perfectly entirely eternally Receive our Hearts O Soveraign Queen of all Hearts replenish'd with these our pious intentions and protestations together with this small Mite which we here again most humbly offer up to your sacred Majesty as a votive Table of the now promised Homage we will ever hereafter be performing to the end that all such as shall make use of these ensuing Devotions may assuredly know that in the solemn tender of this small pledge we jointly intend to include an absolute Dedication of the whol remainder of our lives and labours to your Love and service and that we are content every Line Syllable Letter and Title of this Treatise shall rise as so many accusing witnesses to call for just revenge upon us and remain as so many marks to brand us with eternall infamy if we at any time hereafter maliciously ungratefully disloyally forfeit these our maturely made Resolutions of being your faithfull servants And finally that we hereby avouch in the face of Heaven and Earth to esteem nothing in this world after the inestimable benefits reap'd by the precious Death of your divin Son our dear Redeemer CHRIST JESVS comparable to the honour we have in being Most worthy Mother of GOD The meanest of your Chaplains at the Head-Altar of your Holy Rosary A. C. and T. V. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE OUR Noble Patron and most worthy Prefect of this Sacred Confraternity of the ROSARY RIght Honorable Though this little Book which carries in its Front the lovely Names of JESUS MARIA JOSEPH can want no forreign recommendation whereby to invite all faithfull Christians and especially the devout Rosarists to receive and embrace it and that the excellencie sublimitie and utilitie of the subject is to it self a sufficient safeguard and protection Yet surely could this Book have been conveniently dedicated to any other than the Queen of Heaven whose honour is its chief aym and intention it must necessarily have had recourse unto your self under whose wings it received its birth growth and accomplishment In acknowledgment whereof and the many signall favours you have charitably conferr'd upon us and upon this holy Confraternity of the sacred Rosary we conceiv'd our selv's bound to give this publick testimony of our sincere gratitude and withall to declare our earnest desire of contributing something towards your own spirituall advancement and perfection For notwithstanding that your Piety to God and devotion to the sacred Virgin-Mother and her glorious Bridegroom Saint Joseph are so deeply setled in your heart as it may seem superfluous to lend you any assistance in order to their further encrease or confirmation yet the perusall of this present Treatise which so far excells all others of this nature in the solidity of the deliver'd doctrin in the explication of the most important points and in the clear facil and familiar insinuation of this sort of Piety that we need not blush to yeild to their Judgment who esteem it the chief of them which have yet seen light in our mother language must needs prove both pleasing and profitable unto you as being a perfect Mirrour of what you either are already or zealously wish to be where you will find both Fewell to foment your fervour and Fire to add to it where you will read the Precepts of Perfection reduc'd into Practises and the Doctrin of Devotion drawn into forms of Duty Briefly where you may learn a compendious way to extract the fruits of your Predestination to glory to tast the sweetness of heavenly affections during this your earthly Pilgrimage and to procure your Souls repose here and its salvation hereafter which is the desired end and Crown of yours and all pious Christians endeavours And all these happinesses with more if more can be imagined are obtain'd by means of the sacred Rosary whereby these influences of celestiall blessings slide efficaciously into faithfull hearts from her holy hands who is appointed by her all-powerfull Son to be the charitable Dispensatrix of his divin treasures and the Common Mother of all the pious Christians which are regenerated in Baptism by his most pretious Blood and Passion For as all they who are predestinated to glory are properly Gods Children since they have the self same heavenly Father by Grace Adoption which the Son of God hath by Birth and Nature according to that expression of S. John Behold how great the Fathers goodnes is towards us for that we are call'd are the Sons of God And as the Eternall Father in begetting his Co-eternall Son gives part of the honour of this Divin Filiation to such as he foresees conformable to his Sons Image so that they may truly call him their Father who is the Father of Gods Son as himsef expresly declares by teaching us to say Our Father which art in heaven So the Son in his human generation given him by a Mother upon earth is pleas'd to make his friends partakers with himself in the title of his Temporall Filiation by giving them the same Mother whom he chose for himself whereby they become Brethren to Gods Son both on the Fathers side who adopts them and on the Mothers side who by her own Sons will and command acknowledges them for her Children Behold your Mother said our Saviour to all his friends and Brethren represented in Saint Johns person Behold your Children said he to the sacred Virgin shewing her Saint John who represented all the faithfull Words appointing her our Mother and adopting us her Sons Words recommending to Her a Maternall care and affection towards us and to us a filiall duty and reverence towards Her Nor are we only
Children of this blessed Mother as being the adopted Brethren of her divin Son but moreover as being the Children of her Child by whom we are regenerated to a spirituall life Thus thus She is also our Mother since she is Mother to him by whose death we are all re-born to the Life of Grace Thus we are truly holy Mary's Children since we are the fruits of the Blessed fruit of her womb JESUS She indeed brought forth but One only Son but by that One She begot All them who are by him regenerated and whosoever derive from Jesus their spirituall life are surely debtors to Mary who gave Him his Nativity Finally if the dear Blood of CHRIST JESUS is the divin seed of our Baptismall regeneration which pretious Blood issued first out of this Mothers veins who sees not that our best birth and being is in some manner borrowed from Blessed Mary and hath from her Blood its beginning and Origin Where by the way this is a circumstance well worth all pious Christians consideration That our Redeemer then gave us Mary for our Mother in Saint Johns person when he powred forth his Blood the blessed seed of our regeneration on the Cross for us To the end that at the same time in which he gave us this seed of our new life we should acknowledg Her for our Mother from whom this life-giving seed was derived unto us and that the name and title of Mary's being our Mother was impos'd upon Her at the very instant when the Blood from Her deriv'd constituted us her Children Now if the sacred Virgin as hath been plainly deduced and proved is the common Parent of all Christians both in quality of their being her Sons Brethren adopted and chosen by his Father and also in quality of their being her Sons children regenerated and resuscitated by his Death How much more singularly is she their Mother who make it their profession to render unto her a particular honour and homage and to receive her for their speciall Protectrice and Patroness If she is in the Churches Dialect the Mother of love and Charity and consequently cannot but bear a generall affection towards all mankind How much more tenderly doth she affect such faithfull and dutifull children as totally addict and dedicate themselves to her love and service Amongst which the pious Rosarists whereof your self Honorable Patron and most worthy Prefect is a prime Scion may without presumption arrogate to themselves this glorious prerogative of being the Josephs and Benjamins of her maternall affections not in quality of yongest Children since their origin is very ancient as will be hereafter declared But as most particularly cherished by this compassionate mother or at least most highly enriched with her Royall favours and benefitts as will also hereafter be exemplifi'd All Flowers Spring and flourish by the Suns influence yet the Sun is singularly styled the Parent of the Heliotrope as borrowing from his glorious beams the gold-lustre of its leaves from his course the motion of its body and from his name its denomination of Sun-flower So the Sacred Virgin hath undoubtedly by the influence of her blessings and prayers given birth to all Religious orders Societies and Confraternities which Saint Hierom calls the Church-flowers but surely amongst all these fair Flowers which with their variety beautify and enrich her garden the Confraternity of the sacred Rosary may fitly be said to be the Heliotrope of this Sun the Paragon of this Garden the Darling and Minion of this Mother since from Her it derives its Denomination draws its vertu receives its Beauty and ornament Happy Rosarists who by the speciall grace and favour of Christ Jesus your Saviour can say to God you are my Father and to the Son of God you are my Brother and to the Daughter of the Eternall Father to the Mother of the Son of God to the Spouse of the Holy Ghost to the Queen of Men and Angells to the Empress of Heaven and Earth you are my Mother by my own peculiar choyce and election Happy you if acknowledging the honours and advantages which accrue to you from such a Filiation you correspond to the height of so divin an alliance by your holy life and conversation Happy you if seriously considering of what a worthy Mother you are Children you effectually endeavour to be such as she deserves such as she demands such as she desires Which that you all and your Noble self in particular may truly be shall be the daily prayer at the head-Altar of your holy Mother of power of RIGHT HONORABLE Your most affectionate Bedes-men and servants A. C. and T. V. A MARIAN KALENDAR OR A Catalogue of some few amongst the multitude of glorious Saints of S. Bennets Order who have been singularly devoted to the sacred Virgin Mary Together with the severall Festivities of our Blessed Lady according to the monthly days upon which they are celebrated S. Augustin lib. 10. de Civitate Dei c. 4. We dedicate and consecrate the memory of Gods benefits to certain days feasts and solemnities least by length of time ungratefull forgetfulnes should creep in S. John Chrysostom Tom. 5. Serm. 1o. de Martyr No Christian is so ignorant as not to know that the glories of the Saints are celebrated by Gods people both to the end they may be duly honoured and we instructed by the examples of their vertues JANUARY 1. St. ODILO Abbot of Cluny a most faithfull servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother even from his tender years till his last gasp In his youth he was seized on by a languishing disease which depriv'd him of the use of his limbs yet making a hard shift to creep along into the holy Church dedicated to the sacred Virgins honour he was there presently and prodigiously cured in the sight of many admiring spectators Whereupon he made an Oblation of himself unto her in these tearmes O most sacred Virgin and Mother of the worlds Saviour from this day forward I resolve to serve you hoping to have you for my compassionate Mediatrix upon all occasions for after God I prefer nothing before you and therefore I freely deliver up myself unto you as your peculiar servant and Bondslave He dyed in the 87th year of his age and of Christ 1048. 11. S. Egwinus Bishop of Worcester in England who being of the Royall blood chang'd his purple for a poor Cowle in Worcester Cloyster which he never left off in his Episcopall dignity to which he was forcedly call'd for his excellent learning and Sanctity He was evermore most zealous in the sacred Virgins service by whose express command he built and founded that famous Abbey of Evesham and dedicated it to her honour which service of his she frequently acknowledged to be to her most gratefull and acceptable He dyed in the year of our Redeemer 712. 15. S. Maurus Abbot of S. Maur's in France the Disciple of our Glorious Patriark S. Bennet the most diligent Promotor of the sacred
Virgin Mothers honour and the devout Propagator of her Psalter according to the institute and practise of his pious Father He dyed in the year 583. Item S. Bonitus Bishop of Auvergne in France commonly called the sacred Virgins Chaplain for that he was seen to celebrate the holy Mass by her command and in her presence in the Church of S. Michael where there remains even till this day an evident mark of this miraculous apparition imprinted upon the main Pillar of the said Temple against which the Saint leaned where also is reserved the admirable vestment of a colour Matter Contexture Softness and Lightness altogether celestiall and prodigious wherewith the Queen of Heaven adorned her holy Chaplain In the year 704. 22. The Feast of the Espousalls of the sacred Virgin Mary to S. Joseph instituted in France by Petrus Auratus a Dominican who compos'd the Office of this solemnity in the year 1546. 23. S. Ildefonse Archbishop of Toledo in Spain who for his singular integrity of life and for having happily undertaken the defense of the sacred Virgins Virginity against the Helvidian heresie which oppos'd it deserv'd to be styl'd one of her Doctors and Chaplains and to receive a most admirable white vestment from her own holy hands upon the Festivall day of her Expectation which he instituted in her honour in the year 660. 24. Upon this day is celebrated a Commemoration of the Patronage and Affection of the Sacred Virgin MARY towards the whol Order of Saint BENNET Which she hath been graciously pleas'd to testify from time to time by most rare and signall examples and which they gratefully acknowledging renew the Oblation Dedication and Recommendation of themselv's and their Order to her pious and powerfull protection FEBRUARY 2. THe Purification of the sacred Virgin MARY call'd by the Greek Church Hipapante Domini or the meeting of our Lord and his holy Mother with the Prophet Simeon Anna and others in the Temple of Jerusalem upon the fortieth day after his happy birth into the World where HE was presented to his Eternall Father and SHE was purified according to the Law of Moyses Levit. 12.6 22. S. Peter Damian a noble man of Ravenna afterwards Monk Abbot and Cardinall Bishop of Ostia was a most zealous Promotor of the sacred Virgins honour the Authour of the Primer commonly call'd Our Ladyes Office the Beginner of that pious custom of allotting Monday to pray for the souls departed Friday to commemorate our Redeemers Passion Saturday to the sacred Virgins prayse which custome the universall Church soon after approved received and continues to this day He dyed in the year 1072. MARCH 9. St. Francisca a Noble Roma◠widow was frequently and familiarly visited by the sacred Virgin and amongst many other signall favours was by her cover'd with a golden veile in recompence of her fervent devotion She dyed full of Sanctity and miracles in the year 1440. 12. S. Gregory the Great Pope Doctor of the Church Apostle of England c. His fervent devotion towards the Queen of Heaven appears by that famous Procession wherein he carrying her sacred Image obtain'd a cessation of the raging pestilence c. vide infra page 144. No one says he can behold the greatness of Gods Mother but by beholding her Sons excellency 21. S. Bennet the great Abbot and glorious Patriarch of Monks in the Western Church was from his tender years a most faithfull honorer of the sacred Virgin-Mother by whose speciall assistance says blessed Alanus de Rupe he became the Author and founder of so divin a Monasticall institution Nor is the propagation of the Marian Psalter proceeds the same Author the least of S. Bennets prayses which sort of piety She was graciously pleas'd to approve by heaping many signall favours not only upon her Bennet as she was heard to name him but upon his whol Order in which she seems as it were to have fix'd her seat shewing herself upon all occasions to be its true Mother and Protectrice He dyed in the year 542. 22. Blessed Pope Gregory the ninth the sacred Virgin-Mothers most faithfull and affectionate servant order'd and commanded That the solemn Anthem Salve Regina should be publickly sung in the Church after the Canonicall hours As also That the Bells toling at certain set houres of the day should admonish all Christians wheresoever and howsoever employed of their duty and devotion towards the Queen of heaven by saluting her with the Ave Maria. He dyed in the year 1241. 25. The Annunciation of the most Blessed Virgin Mother of God A Feast of great Solemnity and antiquity in the Church as appears by the Orations and Homilies of the Primitive Fathers had upon this day in memory of that happy Embassy brought down from heaven to holy MARY by the Archangell Gabriel in which she was denounced and declared Mother of the Word Eternall and Incarnate Luk. 1.31 27. S. Rupert Bishop of Salisburg a glorious Doctor Champion and Chaplain of the sacred Virgin-Mother from whom he received the intelligence of holy Scriptures to whose honour he built and founded severall famous Churches to whose Name he dedicated the yet flourishing Imperiall Abbey and whose prayses he propagated throughout Germany and the adjoyning Kingdoms He dyed in the year 623. APRIL 20. St. Fulbert Bishop of Charters a speciall devote of the sacred Virgin To whose honour he erected the famous Cathedrall of Charters In whose praise he composed many pious Hymnes and Prose and who first ordained that Commemoration Sancta Maria succurre miseris juva pusillanimes c. to be dayly used in the Laudes and Even song He also first introduced the celebration of the Blessed Virgins Nativity into France And when in his las◠Agony he lay gasping for breath and parch'd up with thirst the blessed Virgin-Mother was pleas'd O her wondrous Compassion towards her faithfull servants to appear to him to refresh him and to suckle him with her sacred Breast-milk whereof a drop falling upon his garment is reverently kept amongst the sacred Treasures of the Church of Charters even till this day as a perpetuall monument of this her signal favour and affection He dyed in the year 1028. 21. S. Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury another holy Doctor and Chaplain of the sacred Virgin-Mother a most zealous defender of her Immaculate Conception and the first Introducer of that annuall Feast of the Conception of our Lady into the Church He dyed in the year 1106. 29. S. Robert the first Abbot of Cistertium whom the Queen of Heaven espoused to herself whil'st he yet remained shut up in his Mothers womb in these words My will is that the child which thou O Erengardes bearest in thy entralls be betroathed unto me by this golden Ring Which she afterwards confirm'd 〈◊〉 the born Infant who after a long led holy life was translated to a happy immortality in the year 1098. MAY. 13. AT Rome The Dedication of the Church of Sancta Maria ad Martyres
which Pope Boniface the fourth cleansing the ancient Temple Pantheon consecrated to all the Gods dedicated to the honour of the ever blessed Virgin-Mother and all the holy Martyrs in the year 609. 16. S. Brandanus an Abbot in Scotland a most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin to whom he consecrating the labours sustain'd in his seven years navigation and laying upon the Altar dedicated to her honour a book containing the whol course of his journey was summon'd by a voyce from Heaven to exchange this life for immortality and having finish'd the celebration of a solemn Mass upon the same Altar he most happily expired after the year 570. 19. S. Dunstanus Archbishop of Canterbury a great Favourite of the sacred virgin whom she piously cherish'd even in his Mothers womb prodigiously cured in his tender age and frequently visited during the time of his Pontificall dignity He dyed in the year 988. 27. S. Bede a venerable Priest and most affectionate servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother whose Psalter according to the Institution of his glorious Father S. Bennet he most zealously preached promulgated and planted not only in his own native Countrey England where in the publick places of Prayer he caus'd the materiall Psalters to be hung up to invite all Passengers and Pilgrims to this sort of devotion and which in Veneration of his name are there ever since call'd Bedes even to this day but also says Alanus in France and the neighbouring Kingdoms He dyed full of years sanctity and learning after the 731. year of Christ 29. The Feast of the Miracles wrought by the Mother of Power Celebrated in memory of the many signall and prodigious wonders she hath been graciously pleas'd to work in severall Monasteries of S. Bennets order JUNE 18. THE Feast or Commemoration of the Psalter of the sacred Virgin Mary instituted by the admirable Father and Patriarch of Monks S. Bennet to be observ'd in his holy Order and afterwards propagated by his Disciples throughout the whol world whereof Blessed Alanus de Rupe the great Secretary of the glorious Virgin-Mother and another Restorer after S. Dominick of this Marian Psalter hath these words Apolog. part 1. cap. 8. and part 2. cap. 2. 4. S. Bennet the famous Patriarch of Monasticall Institution introduced the use of the Marian Psalter which he himself had long before practised amongst his Religious Children and this not so much by any precept as by the very use thereof pass'd to posterity as a most pious and religious custome JULY 2. THE Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in memory of her visiting S. Elizabeth after she had conceiv'd the Son of God at whose presence S. John the Baptist leap'd in the womb of his Mother Elizabeth Luk. 1.41 which Feast was instituted by Pope Urban the sixth in the year 1385. and promulgated by his successor Boniface the ninth in the year 1389. to implore the Blessed Virgins assistance against the Schisme which then miserably divided the Church S. Otho Bishop of Bamberg and Apostle of Pomerania a most affectionate servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother whose speciall assistance he always implor'd and obtain'd especially in the Conversion of Nations and to whose honour he erected that famous Cathedrall of Weier He left this life in the year 1139. 14. S. Henry the first Emperour surnamed the Lame otherwise called the second for that he had a predecessor of the same name who out of modestie and humility refused the denomination of Emperour a most devout Client of the sacred Virgin Mother to whose honour he founded that fair Cathedrall of Spire as also that of Basil and severall others and in whose imitation he kept perpetuall virginity together with his wife S. Cunegundis whereby he became so highly pleasing to the Virgin Queen of Heaven that he was frequently admitted to her familiarity He was instrumentall to the Conversion of S. Stephen King of Hungary and the whol Hungarian nation and full of sanctity and all sorts of vertues he yeilded his Soul into the hands of his heavenly Bridegroom in the year 1024. 17. S. Leo the fourth Pope a singular honorer of the sacred Virgin-Mother and promotour of her prayses throughout the whol world He instituted the Octaves of her Assumption and departed this life in the year 855. 19. Blessed Hermannus Contractus so named from the Contraction and weakness of almost all his members a most devâ—ut Monk of Augia which is an Iland in Germany not far distant from Constantia and a most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother by whose powerfull prayers he obtained such inward gifts of learning and wisdom as abundantly recompenc'd the outward defects of nature He wrote much in her prayses and amongst the rest those most famous Anthems Salve Reginae and Alma Redemptoris Mater He dyed about the year 1052. till which time he produced his Chronicle of the worlds six Ages 29. Blessed Vrbanus the second Pope a most holy and learned Man and a most zealous promoter of the sacred Virgins honour whose office composed by S. Peter Damian he confirm'd and commended to the world in the Councill of Clermont in the year 1096. AUGUST 5. THE Dedication of the Church of our Blessed Lady ad Nives or at the Snow which miraculously covering a part of the Exquilin mountain neer Rome at this time when the greatest heats use to parch the City gave occasion to the building of a famous Church to the sacred Virgin-Mothers honour thereby to perpetuate the memory of so signall a miracle in this same place thus by her self designed in the year 367. 15. The Assumption of the most sacred Mother of God celebrated time out of mind with greatest solemnity both by the Greek and Latin Church in memory of her being assumpted or taken up into heaven both body and soul after her dissolution S. Arnulphus Bishop of Soissons in France whose soul amidst the festivall joys of his dear Mothers Assumption was by her visited and call'd out of his body to a blessed eternity in the year 1087. 20. S. Bernard first Abbot of Claravall the singularly beloved Minion Favourite Child and Chaplain of Gods holy Mother whom she as a stupendious argument of her delicate affection frequently fed with her virginall breast-milk familiarly resaluted with Salve Bernarde and lovingly visited cured and comforted in the time of his sickness infirmity He amongst all the Fathers is most profuse in the sacred Virgins prayses in whose honour he composed many most pious and pithy Treatises amongst which is the Ave Maris Stella us'd in the vespers of all the Blessed Virgins Festivities He dyed full of admirable sanctity and learning in the year 1153. 22. S. Bernardus Tolomaeus Founder of the Order of S. Mary of Mount Olivet who being prodigiously cured of a grievous sickness and blindness by the Blessed Virgins intercession vow'd himself to her perpetuall service and forthwith ascending into the Pulpit he divulg'd this divin miracle and decipher'd the
servant of the sacred Virgin even from the cradle to his last gasp receiv'd from her many signall favours and comforts both in the time of his Bishoprick and of his banishment Amongst other demonstrations of her Affection towards him she vouchsaf'd to instruct him in his prayers and devotions and whereas he used daily to salute her in honour of her seven temporall Joy's she was graciously pleas'd to reveal unto him Seven other Celestiall Joys which she doth shall possess in heaven for all eternity enjoyning him to add the memory of them also to his former daily duty This glorious Bishop and Martyr dyed in the year 1170. Besides the Festivities of the sacred Virgin-Mother affix'd as above to certain days of the year there are yet some others which are Moveable 1. UPon the Friday before Palm-Sunday The Feast or Commemoration of the sacred Virgins sorrows which blessed Simeon prophecyed unto her when she presented her Son Jesus to his Eternall Father in the Temple This feast is celebrated by the Cistercians as appears in their Breviary upon the 16. of April but by others more properly upon the Friday before Palâ— Sunday in memory of the many swords of sorrow which pierc'd her maternall heart in her dear Sons Death and Passion 2. Upon the Saturday after the Ascension The Feast or Commemoration of the Blessed Virgins Joys which she receiv'd both in this world and possesses for all Eternity in heaven which Joys are express'd in most pithy and pious verses by the glorious Martyr S. Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury As may be seen in Canisius lib. 4. cap. 13. and which were revealed to S. Mechtild in the first Book of her Revelations Chap. 66. 3. Upon the last Sunday of August The Feast or Recollection of all the Feasts of the sacred Virgin-Mother which is solemnly celebrated at Doway upon this day though in other places it is transferr'd to the First Sunday of September The Institution whereof is related by Lipsius in the first Book and fifth Chapter of his Lovanium and the Office thereof may be found in the Cambray Breviary printed at Paris 1507. 4. Upon the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin the Feast of her glorious Name MARIA is with great solemnity celebrated at Bruxels and in other places R. B. Prefect of the Arch-Confraternity of the ROSARIE in the Oratory of the ever Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Power in the City of Amsterdam wisheth eternall health and happiness to the devout Rosarists HOnoured Zealous and Religious Brethren and Sisters The service which I have long since promised and protested to the ever blessed Virgin Mary the glorious Mother of my God The Great Queen of Heaven and Earth The Powerfull Patroness of all Mankind The Soveraign Mistris of our Arch-Confraternity and the Place and Title of Prefect which I though most unworthy possess amongst you hath put this days discourse into my mouth A discourse not directly tending to the Reformation of your Lives Manners and Conversations which were a design in me as presumptuous as improper a matter as far above my Sphear as beyond my Ability A task which our worthy Dean painfully and carefully performs to our great comfort and profit in his pious Exercises and Orations But a discourse ayming at these two ends To declare what the Rosary is And what it is to be of the Rosary To describe the Dignity of this our Confraternity and the Duty of us who are ascribed into this holy Society to shew you how fitly it is by us embraced and how faithfully we ought to behave our selves in it O Sacred Spirit by whose Conduct our pious Predecessors laid the happy foundation of this most renowned Confraternity inspire my understanding to conceive something worthy so high a Subject Enable my tongue to speak something beseeming the blessed Virgins prayses Direct my Pen to couch something for her devout Childrens comfort encouragement edification Man being by nature a Sociable Creature is inclined by the principles of his Essence by the temper of his complexion by the violence of his originall disposition to seek out some Consorts and Companions of his own kind and condition to the end he may solace himself in their Society Conduct his lives course by their Counsell and Communicate with them his affairs and affections And his naturall propension to Society is that which hath civiliz'd Mankind policy'd the whol World built up Cities order'd Commonwealths and Kingdoms and which conserves all things in their due order and union God the Soveraign Creator of all things who ingrav'd this powerfull instinct of Society in mans Soul as a disposition connaturall to his life and being A condition necessary for the conservation entertainment and common good of the whole Vniverse A qualitie which he made recommendable from the first origin of time not onely amongst his own people as may appear in the Law of Nature and the Law written but even amongst the Pagans Idolaters and most barbarous Nations as might be exemplified out of all profane Annalls and Histories would not have it perish in the law of Grace but cutting off the abuse permitted the use thereof to be continued and preserved for the good of his Church for the salvation of Christian Souls for the solace and support of his faithfull Servants And therefore he hath from time to time excited pious people to assemble themselves together for the inflaming of one anothers Zeal Fervour and devotion for their mutuall assistance and consolation for the increase of each others merit and vertue To live soberly piously justly under the discreet Laws Rules and Ordinances of one common Society Congregation Confraternity And surely our blessed Redeemer himself to begin at the fountain head of all Sanctity the exemplary pattern of all Perfection descending from Heaven to accomplish on Earth the sacred design which he decreed from all Eternitie as if this point had been one of the Prime and principall projects of his Incarnation seems to aym at nothing more than the establishment of unity in number Union in division Peace and Charity amongst men This was his Life his Preaching his Practice to put down Schismes Divisions Partialities and to Imprint in Christians hearts the love of Concord and the Honour of a happy Confraternity For what is more frequently inculcated in the Sacred Gospells in the Epistles Decrees Constitutions of the Apostles in the whol Volumes of the holy Bible than Peace Charity Fraternity What greater precept did Christ impose upon all Christians than when he said I give you a new Command to love one another adding immediately In this the World shall know you to be my Disciples if you are united in affection Mutuall charity is the manifest Signet of Christianity the Royall Ensign of my Religion the true badg of Piety the particular livery of my Children the distinguishing mark of my faithfull followers friends and favourites In obedience to this command we find registred in holy
large volumes We shall therefore both in this and the following points content our selves to declare the Truth not dispute it to presuppose it not prove it to set down Maxims not Problems and our endeavours shall be to excite the faithfull Rosarists to this sort of Piety by applying some of the holy Fathers pithy sentences and expressions not to amuse their fancies by producing curiosities and falling upon the subtilties of controversies Wherefore abstracting here from the sacred Virgin-Mothers own Worth Dignity Prerogatives Perfections Excellencies which are briefly touched in the precedent Oration and which are abundantly capable to ravish the whol World with her love and admiration and move them to her honour and service we shall insist only upon some of the most signall benefits which redound to our selves by our devotion towards her reducing them to these five generall heads The first is That she loves her devoted children and servants Though the sacred Virgin is call'd in the Churches Dialect Mater pulchrae dilectionis The mother of love and charity and consequently cannot but have a generall â—ffâ—ction for all mankind yet surely she hath a particular kindness and tendernesâ— for such as addict themselves to her speciall honour and dedicate themselves to her service according to that other passage which holy Church also applyes to her Ego diligentes me diligo I love them who love me Hence our devout St. Bernard upon those words of the Gospell Ecce Mater tua Behold thy Mother which were delivered from the Cross by our dying Saviour and directed to his dear Minion Saint John and to all mankind in his person hath these pithy expressions If Mary is thy Mother O Christian then Jesus is thy Brother then Chrâ—sts Father is thy Father then his Heaven is thy Inheritance then Mary's grace is thy treasure for Mothers usually lay up treasures for their Children then she is sensible of all thy sufferings sollicitous to supply thy wants carefull to provide for thy necessities for a Mother is tender over her Children Therefore O Christian make choyce of Mary for thy Mother For it is impossible says elsewhere the same devout Doctor that she should abandon them who place their confidence in her Patronage and Protection since she is the Mother of Mercy and compassion Who would not then become a loving Child and obedient servant of so pious and tender a Mother who would not strive to gain the favour and affection of so faithfull a friend and so powerfull a Patroness The second is That she is liberall and bountifull in bestowing benefits and favours upon her children and servants Worldly affection if it be true and perfect hath such power over the heart of Man as to cause him to confer freely upon his beloved object whatsoever he most dearly prizes and esteems And can it be conceiv'd that the Saints charity and particularly Hers which far excels that of all Men Saints and Angells together being more perfect should be less liberall The glorious Virgin say our Doctors is the Treasuress of the celestiall Riches the Dispensatrix of Gods gifts she carryes the keys of the divin Coffers All power is given to you great Empress of both Worlds says her mellifluous Doctor so that you have leave to do what you please in Heaven and Earth And she is surely no niggard in dispensing them as being equally bountifull and powerfull equally good and great equally courteous and charitable Why dread you O ye devout children and servants of MARY says the same Doctor to approach your Mother and Mistris There is nothing in her of rigidness and austerity She 's full of meekness charity courtesie towards all them that sue unto her I well know sayes the antient Father Theophilactus that you O most glorious Queen-Mother are the great Protectrice of mankind And who is he O mercifull Princess that having plac'd his confidence in you hath remain'd confounded Who is that he or she amongst the children of Adam who having besought your succour and assistance hath been rejected and abandon'd Let 's therefore make to her our humble addresses in all our necessities since she is so Powerfull to assist us so Mercifull to admit us so Ready to relieve us The third is that she comforts her children and servants in all their afflictions persecutions desolations This follows from the former For if as a most tender Mother she loves cherishes her children servants and show'rs down so many goods graces and favours upon them she surely compassionat's them in ther pressing necessities For it is then chiefly that true friendship shews it self true charity expands it self true liberality diffuses it self Certainly says a pious Author were all the devout servants and children of Mary summon'd out of their graves to give in their severall answers to this Interrogation How oft have you heartily invok'd your holy Mistris and Mother in your necessities and been deny'd her speedy succour and assistance They would unanimously exclaim with her holy St. Bernard Taceat ille c. Let that impious tongue be silent O most compassionat Virgin Mother which dares falsly avouch that you have fail'd to help and comfort him whensoever he faithfully call'd upon you in his distressed condition Therefore St. German the Patriark of Constantinople thus addresses his discourse unto her no one is sav'd O most sacred Virgin but by your assistance no one if free from miserie O must pure Virgin but by your means no one receives Gods gifts and graces O most mercifull Virgin but by your mediation No one obtains the pardon of his offences O Virgin worthy of all praise and honour but by your prayers and intercession Who says he after your Divin Son takes so much care of poor Mankind as your self Who so zealously defends and strengthens weak man in his troubles and temptations Who so readily succours him in his afflictions and persecutions Who so charitably excuses his crimes pleads his cause procures his pardon and delivers him from the severe punishment which his sins have justly deserved Let therefore each afflicted Soul proceeds this holy Patriark make to you O Compassionat Mother his humble addresses let him who perceives his frail vessell to be in danger of drowning amidst the impetuous winds and waves of this wicked and tempestuous World cast his eyes up to you bright Star of the Sea and let him rest confident that you will speedily and securely conduct him to his desired haven The fourth is That she is their faithfull Advocate in Heaven The cause is half gaind that is undertaken by a powerfull Advocate And who can possibly be imagin'd more Powerfull than the Queen-Mother pleading at her own Sons Tribunall There she sustains her childrens processes embraces their protection procures their pardon diverts the sentence of their deserved damnation and omits nothing which may conduce to the appeasing of their soveraign Judg and the saving of their Souls O faithfull Patoness of afflicted sinners How fitly doth holy
which directly tends to the advancement of the divin honour to the promotion of our own salvation and to the encrease of the sacred Virgin Mothers glory Now the exercises of the holy Rosary aym directly at these three heroick ends For first since the Rosary as shall be hereafter declared consists of the two richest pieces of Christian Piety which are the Pater noster and Ave Maria and of the principall mysteries of our Christian Faith What subject imaginable can be more proper what object possible can be more powerfull to rayse our Souls to the love prayse and honour of our Creator and Redeemer than the due and daily consideration of those Divin Mysteries which are as it were the sacred Tables and lively Pictures representing continually to our memories their admirable benefits their excessive love their infinit liberality to Mankind Secondly By what Prayers can we more confidently promise to our selves the obtaining of our just desires and consequently the promoting of our salvation than by the Pater noster dictated by our Redeemers own divin mouth enjoynd by his speciall command to be frequently us'd by all faithfull Christians and by him indu'd with so great efficacy and vertue Thirdly by what ladder of prayse can we more probably reach the glorious Virgin-Mothers perfections than by the Ave Maria which was framed in Heaven by the Holy Trinity it self and thence brought down to the Earth by his Embassador the Angel Gabriel in which all the greatnesses excellencies and prerogatives of Gods blessed Mother are so briefly distinctly divinly couched together For Ave is as much as to say sine vae without woe without sin without malediction Gratia plena declares her full of all grace vertu and goodness Dominus tecum denounces her the happy Mother of the Almighty Since therefore the Ave Maria is a compendious abridgment of all the Virgin-Mothers prayses Surely it must needs be a salutation to her most gratefull pleasing and acceptable §. 3. That this sort of devotion is proper for such Catholiques as live in Hereticall Countries THIS Title is chiefly intended for their satisfaction who fondly conceive that the use of the Rosary the devotion of the Bondage and all high manners of honouring Gods most holy Mother are unfit or at least improper and inconvenient to be practis'd in such places as are overspread with heresie and by such persons as are liable to persecution because the treatises of such subjects falling into their hands who are of so contrary a judgment turn commonly to their great scandall and to the evident detriment of the Catholique cause and Religion But this surely argues a great weakness of their Faith and is a plain errour and mistake of their understanding For it is there principally that this manner of Piety ought to be most zealously practis'd and most diligently propagated where it is most maliciously impugn'd and most unjustly and violently persecuted and as the deceived miscreants of these our dayes and in this our Countrey endeavour by all manner of false subtilties and blasphemous untruths to derogate from the Soveraign Queen Maryes glory so it behoves every faithfull Catholique to procure with all possible care industry and devotion the amplification encrease of her most just due and deserved honour and prayses Moreover though the most sacred Virgin Mary being Gratia plena full of grace and goodness Mater misericordiae the Mother of mercy and compassion and Mater Dei the Mother of the Almighty is both willing and powerfull to afford all sorts of assistances whatsoever for which she is humbly implored Yet it is her singular and peculiar propertie to destroy heresies and so to terrifie all the Satanicall Armyes of her Sons and his Churches adversaries that they are defeated and put to flight at the sole appearance of her formidable presence and power who is styled Terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata Dreadfull to these Rebells as an Army rang'd in battail array And to whom the Church joyfully fings in gratulation of these her signall victories Gaude Maria Virgo cunctas haereses sola interemisti in universo Mundo Rejoyce O you glorious Conqueress who alone have destroyed all heresies in the whol World Nor is this a lately invented Title as hers and our Enemies vainly urge and inculcate For it is above five hundred years since Saint Bernard avouch'd this to be one of the Mother of Powers speciall Prerogatives concluding his Sermon preach'd in the honour of her glorious Assumption in these words Sola contrivit universam haereticam pravitatem She alone hath dash'd all hereticall impiety And well might Saint Bernard assert this proposition who knew the practice of past ages and had read the writings of his holy Predecessors related in the antient Councells of Ephesus and Chalcedonia against the Manicheans Nestorians Hesuidians and other Heretiques For you shall not find any Father or Doctor of the Church but that before he entred the lists to combat against these cross-grain'd adversaries he first implor'd the sacred Virgin-Mother's assistance as well foreseeing that without the help of her Powerfull prayers all their writings wrestlings skirmishes would little advance their own cause or conquest and as little conduce to their Antagonists confusion or conversion Saint Irenaeus who lived in the year 180. and was one of the first Writers against Heretiques is the first witness of this verity largely extolling Gods sacred Mother and opposing her by many apt Antitheses against our first Parents indiscretion and inconstancy Tertullian who lived in the year 230. doth the like in his learned Treatise of prescriptions against Hereticks St. Athanasius the great Antagonist of the Arrians who lived in the year 304. conceives it better to invoke her alone and implore her powerfull assistance than omitting that to address our selves to all the other Saints and celestiall Inhabitants St. Epiphanius who lived in the year 370. and undertook to write against all Hereticks honours her with all sorts of prayses St. Hierome who is commonly called the Hammer of Hereticks and liv'd in the year 390. is wonderfully profuse in her prayses Ss. Augustin the Churches Champion against the Pelagians who lived in the year 420. says That she alone brought the salving Remedy to heal our otherwise incurable wound And to return to S. Bernard who for his singular devotion to this sacred Queen of Heaven is frequently surnam'd her Favourite her Priest her Chaplain her Champion he assures that she possesses the middle place between the Sun and the Moon that is between her son Christ Jesus and the Church Militant upon earth Between whom she is the perpetuall Mediatrix as Christ is the Mediator between his Eternall Father and us adding elsewhere Nihìl nos habere vult Deus quod per manus Mariae non transiret It is the will of the Almighty say's he that we mortalls should have nothing but what passes through Mary's hands Lastly Saint Dominick the great Patriark and Institutor of this
assisted by you especially in the hour of my Death Amen Then he receives him or her into the Confraternity by speaking these words and giving them his Benediction as follows BY the Authority which is committed to me for this end by the Superiours of the holy Order of St Dominick I receive you into the Confraternity of the Rosary of the most Blessed Virgin Mary And do admit you to a participation of all the spirituall benefits which by the merits of Jesus Christ the Brothers and Sisters of the sacred Rosary do commonly enjoy †In the Name of the Father and of the Son †and of the holy Ghost Amen Then laying the Bedes upon the Altar he puts a stole about his neck and blesseth them for the use of the newly received Brother or Sister saying as followeth The Blessing of the Bedes of the Rosary Vers Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui fecit coelum terram Psal Laudate Dominum in Sanctis ejus laudate eum in firmamento virtutis ejus Laudate eum in virtutibus ejus laudate eum secundùm multitudinem magnitudinis ejus Laudate eum in sono tubae laudate eum in psalterio cithara Laudate eum in tympano choro laudate eum in chordis organo Laudate eum in cymbalis bene sonantibus laudate eum in cymbalis jubilationis omnis spiritus laudet Dominum Gloria Patri Filio c. Vers Dignare me laudare te virgo sacrata Resp Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos Vers Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum Resp Ecce haereditas Domini filii merces fructus ventris Vers Domine exaudi orationem meam Resp Et clamor meus ad te veniat Vers Dominus vobiscum Resp Et cum spiritu tu◠Oremus OMnipotens misericors Deus qui propter eximiam Charitatem tuam qua dilexisti nos Filium tuum unigenitum Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum pro Redemptione nostra de coelis in Terram descendere de Beatissimae Virginis Mariae Dominae nostrae utero Angelo nunciante carnem suscipere crucemque ac mortem subire tertia die gloriosi a mortuis resurgere voluisti ut nos eriperes de potestate Diaboli Obsecramus immensam clementiam tuam ut haec signa Rosarii in honorem laudem ejusdem Genitricis Filii tui ab Ecclesia tua fideli dicata Bene †dicas sancti †fices eisque tantam Sancti Spiritus infundas virtutem ut quicunque horum quodlibet secum portaverit atque in domo sua reverenter tenuerit in eis ad te secundum ejusdem sanctae Confraternitatis Instituta divina contemplando mysteria devotè oraverit salubri perseveranti devotione abundet sit que consors particeps omnium gratiarum privilegiorum Indulgentiarum quae eidem Confraternitati per sacram Sedem Apostolicam concessa sunt ab omni hoste visibili invisibili semper ubique in hoc in futuro saeculo liberetur in exitu suo ab ipsa Beatissima Virgine Maria Dei genitrice tibi plenus bonis operibus praesentari mereatur Per eundem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum qui tecum vivit regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus Per omnia saecula saeculorum Amen Then he besprinkles the Bedes with holy-water saying In nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen and gives them to the partie The blessing of the Roses for the use of the Confraternitie Vers Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui fecit coelum terram PSAL. ECce quam bonum quam jucundum habitare fratres in unum Sicut unguentum in capite quod descendit in barbam barbam Aaron Quod descendit in Oram vestimenti ejus sicut ros Hermon qui descendit in montem Sion Quoniam illic mandavit Dominus benedictionem vitam usque in saeculum Gloria Patri Filio c. ANTIPHONA Virgo Maria non est tibi similis nata in mundo inter mulieres florens ut rosa fragrans sicut lilium Vers Ora pro nobis sancta Dei genitrix Resp Vt digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi Vers Sicut dies verni circumdabant eam flores Rosarum Resp Et lilia convallium OREMUS DEUS Creator conservator generis humani dator gratiae spiritualis largitor aeternae salutis Benedictione tua sacra bene †dicas has Rosas quas pro gratiis tibi exolvendis cum devotione ac veneratione Beatae semperque Virginis Mariae hodie tibi prasentamus petimus benedici infundi in eis per virtutem Sanctae Crucis †benedictionem caelestem ut qui cas ad odoris suavitatem repellendas infirmitates humano usui tribuisti talem signaculo sanctae Cru †cis benedictionem accipiant ut quibuscunque in infirmitatibus appositae fuerint seu qui eas in domibus suis servaverint vel cum devotione habuerint aut portaverint ab infirmitate sanentur Discedant contremiscant fugiant Diaboli cum suis ministris de habitationibus illis nec amplius tibi servientes inquietare praesumant Per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen Then he sprinkles the Roses with holy Water saying †In nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen The Blessing of the Wax Candles for the Brothers and Sisters of the holy Rosary to hold in their hands at the hour of Death Vers Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui fecit coelum terram CANTICUM NUnc dimittis servum tuum Domine secundum verbum tuum in pace Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum Lumen ad revelationem gentium gloiam plebis tuae Israel Gloria Patri Filio c. ANTIPHONA AVE Regina Coelorum Ave Domina Angelorum Salve Radix Salve Porta Ex qua mundo lux est orta Gaude virgo gloriosa Super omnes speciosa Vale O valde decora Et pro nobis Christum exora Vers Post partum virgo inviolata permansisti Resp Dei Genitrix intercede pro nobis Vers Domine exaudi orationem meam Resp Et clamor meus ad te veniat Vers Dominus vobiscum Resp Et cum Spiritu tuo OREMUS DOmine Jesu Christe lux vera qui illuminas omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum Effunde per intercessionem Virginis Mariae matris tuae per quindecim ejus Rosarii mysteria Bene †dictionem tuam super hos cereos candelus sanctificae cas lumine tuae gratiae concede propitius ut sient haec luminaria igne visibili accensa nocturnas depelunt tenebras Ita corda nostra invisibili igne id est Spiritus Sancti Splendore illustrata omnium vitiorum coecitate careant ut puro mentis oculo cernere semper possimus quae tibi sunt placita nostrae saluti utilia
quatenus post hujus soecuti caliginosa discrimina ad lucem indeficientem pervenire mereamur Qui vivis regnas Deus in saecula saeculorum Amen OREMUS DOmine Jesus Christe splendor gloriae figura substantiae Patris virginalis uteri fructus Qui per temporalem Nativitatem tuam divinae Filiationis imaginem per gratiam hominibus contulisti illosque fratres vocare dignatus es Auge in nobis famulis tuis in Confraternitate virginis Matris tuae gloriantibus Spiritum gratiae quem dedisti has candelas quas in honorem Nominis ejus suscipimus ita Bene †dicere sancti †ficare digneris ut quicunque cas in manibus accensas tenuerit ab omnibus liberetur tentationibus in hora mortis suae remisnem omnium peccatorum percipiat demum ad Te qui verum lumen es ipsa dirigente perveniat Qui vivis regnas in saecula saeculorum Amen Then he sprinkles the Candles with holy Water saying †In nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen THE GENERALL ABSOLUTION OR Plenary Indulgence To be applyed to the Brethren and Sisters of the Rosary at the hour of their Death The sick Person or some other for him having said the Confiteor the Priest standing up says Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus dimissis peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam Indulgentiam absolutionem Remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens misericors Dominus Then holding his right hand over his head he proceeds DOminus noster Jesus Christus Filius Dei vivi qui Beato Petro Apostolo suo dedit potestatem ligandi atque solvendi per piissimam suam misericordiam te absolvat Et authoritate ipsius Beatorum Apostolorum ejus Petri Pauli authoritate Apostolica Absolvo te a vinculo Excommunicationis majoris minoris suspensionis interdicti in quantum possum tu indiges Restituo te Sacramentis Ecclesiae Communioni unitati fidelium †In nomine Pa †tris Fi †lii Spiritus †Sancti Amen Item Apostolica authoritate mihi commissa tibi concessa Absolvo te ab omnibus peccatis tuis quaecumque toto decursu vitae tuae quomodocumque commisisti de quibus corde contritus ore confessus es quorum memoriam non habes nec recordaris usque in praesentem diem de quibus confiteri minimè recordatus fuisti Et Restituo te illi Innocentiae in qua eras quando Baptizatus fuisti ac paritati eidem in quantum claves sanctae Matris Ecclesiae se extendunt Et per Indulgentiam plenariam a summis Pontificibus Innocentio octavo Pio quinto confratribus Sanctissimi Rosarii in articulo mortis constitutis concessam liberet te Misericordissimus Deus a praesentis futurae vitae poenis dignetur Purgatorii cruciatus remittere portas Inferni claudere Paradisi januam aperire teque gaudia sempiterna per sacratissima suae vitae passionis glorificationis Mysteria sanctissimo Rosario comprehensa perducere Et hoc si de qua agrotas Infirmitate decedas si non ex misericordia Dei salva sit tibi plenaria haec Indulgentia donec fueris in mortis articulo constitutus In nomine Patris Filii spiritus †Sancti Amen Another shorter form of Generall Absolution out of Antonius 1ª parte tit 10. cap 3. § 5. AUthoritate Apostolica mihi pro nunc commissa concedo tibi plenam omnium peccatorum tuorum Indulgentiam Remissionem In Nomine Patris Fi †lii Spiritus †Sancti Amen §. 16. Of the pious use of Processions WHereby the devout Rosarists Religiously honour God and the sacred Virgin Mary upon the first Sundays of the months and upon the seven feasts of our Blessed Lady to wit The Purification Annunciation Visitation Assumption Nativity Presentation and Conception and upon the Saturdays and other Festivall days of the fifteen Mysteries 1. The word Procession signifies literally a passing forward from one place to another Allegorically a progresse from vertu to vertu Tropologically our Peregrination upon earth Anagogically our tendencie towards heaven 2. Processions had their beginning in the Age of the old Patriarks in which the Ark of the Testament was reverently carryed to and fro by the Priests of the Tribe of Levi who were peculiarly set apart for that sacred purpose and performed that office with great pompe and solemnitie As also when David brought the Ark into the Tabernacle and Salomon into the Temple with Hymns Canticles and all sorts of musicall instruments and plac'd it under the wings of the there prepared Cherubins 3. Our solemn Processions seem in all things to imitate the Egression of the Israelites out of Egypt For 1 That people was freed by Moyses out of the hands of Pharao We by Christ out of the Clutches of the Devill 2. Ensignes were carryed before their Troops And before us Crosses and Banners 3. A pillar of Fire went before them Burning Candles are born before us 4. There the Levites carryed the Tabernacle of the Covenant and the Ark of the Testament Here the Priests carry the Statua's of Saints the Reliques of the Martyrs or the Pix with the sacred Eucharist 5. Aaron the High Priest follow'd them in his Pontificall habits and our Chief Priest follows us in his Cope and Church Ornaments 6. There was Moyses with his Rod Here is a Prelate with his Crosier a Prefect with his Officiall staffe 7. The people there march'd in compleat armour the Clergie-men are here cover'd with sacred vestments 8. they were besprinkled with Blood we with holy water 9. they had a Josuah for their conductor and conqueror we have a Jesus 10. they came at last into the Land of Promise and we come up to the holy Altar in hope to arrive one day at Heaven our promis'd home and happy countrey 4. Our Processions are the Memorialls of our Redeemers mercies minding us of the Piocessions he made from his eternall Fathers bosom into the womb of the blessed Virgin from her womb into the Manger from the Manger to Jerusalem from Jerusalem to the Mount Olivet from Mount Olivet back to his heavenly Father All which we gratefully commemorating move after his sacred Standard the Cross and make to him our humble supplications that we may pass after him from this our Pilgrimage to his Paradise from the Church Militant to the Triumphant 5. Our Processions especially those of the pious Rosarists are also Commemorations and Imitations of the blessed Virgin-Mothers journeys upon Earth when she 1. carryed or 2. accompany'd or 3. follow'd her beloved Son Jesus 1. when she carryed him in her sacred womb into the Mountains to the house of Zacharie and Elizabeth and into the Bethleem stable and when she carryed him in her sacred armes into the Temple and into Egypt 2. when she accompany'd him being twelve years old to Jerusalem
the Court of Heaven And O admirable prodigy of the divin mercy O clear testimony of holy Maryes Power there immediately follow'd a full and happy delivery from that dire disease and mortalitie And is not this onely miracle wrought in the open view of the world done in the head-Citie of the Universe acted as to that part of it which is cavill'd at by the Churches chief Pastor and Christs vice-gerent upon earth and registred by so many undeniable and authentick authors able to confound you O Heretiques and Image-haters capable to convert you O half-Catholiques and dishonourers of holy Mary sufficient to comfort you O devout children of the sacred Rosary yet cast an eye upon some others of like nature in the succeedding ages St. Stephen the third making a Procession on his bare feet together with the Roman Clergie and people and carrying a holy Image on his own shoulders to the same Church of St. Marie at the Manger implor'd and obtain'd the like heavenly assistance Sergius the Patriarch of Constantinople carryed the sacred Virgins Image in procession about the Citie-walls and receiv'd a present and miraculous remedie against Caganus and the rest of the Scithians his besieging enemies The same was done under Heraclius the Emperour in his Persian expedition who thereupon obtain'd a compleat victory over his enemies destroying with the loss only of fifty of his own Souldiers the two vast Armies of Duke Razates whose golden Armour he afterwards hung up as a trophe to the victorious Virgin And when the same Citie of Constantinople was again straightned by the cruell Saracens the distressed Inhabitants making their accustomed addresses to their Powerfull Patroness and carrying her sacred Effigies as formerly about their besieged walls saw their Enemies suddenly perishing before their faces some with fire from Heaven the rest with famin pestilence shipwrack and such like severe punishments In memorie of which miraculous delivery the gratefull Citizens celebrated an annuall Festivity in her honour by whose help they obtain'd it Many more examples might be here multiply'd in Constantin the last Eastern Emperour Emmanuel the Conquerour of Pannonia Joannes Ximisca the Overcomer of the Russians Joannes Commenius the Triumpher over the Persians c. But these few are more than sufficient to vindicate this our pious custom not only from Innovation but from all other aspersions whatsoever The fourth Ceremonie in these our Processions is the carryage of wax-Candles or Torches in imitation of the Churches ancient custom observ'd upon the day of the blessed Virgins Purification of which our St Bede said long since This good custom speading it self abroad was kept also in the other Festivities of the sacred Mother and Virgin Mary The fifth and last Ceremonie is the singing or reciting of the Litanies of our blessed Lady of the Rosary which Litanies are sung in the Church called our Lady of Minerva in Rome and in many other Churches throughout all Italie upon every Saturday by the approbation and authoritie of Pope Gregorie the thirteenth in his Brief bearing date Aprill the fifteenth 1580. which Litaâ—ies are as follow 's after this Elevation §. 17. An Elevation for the Procession of the Rosary O Sacred Virgin-Mother Conduct my foot-steps my thoughts and my prayers 1. That I may honour your Excellencies Greatnesses and Glories 2. That I may submit to the Soveraign power you have over me 3. That I may implore and obtain your favour and mercy which are the three Ends and Intentions I propose to my self in accompanying this sacred Procession which is now made in your honour by your faithfull children and servants I intend also hereby to honour all your sacred courses and journey's The first which in your tender age you made to the Temple to present and consecrate your self entirely to the divin Majesty dedicating to him your body by a vow of perpetuall Virginitie your soul by a resolution of future affection and all your Actions by a Sacrifice of your whol life to his service The Second which being declared Gods Mother you made into the Mountains to visite your Cousin Elizabeth to sanctify St John Baptist to bless that whol Family The third which being big with the divin Word Incarnate you made from Nazareth to Bethleem to shew your loyall Obedience to an Earthly Princes Edict but more to profess your prompt subjection to the Heavenly Kings Providence The fourth which bearing your Blessed Babe in your arms you made from Bethleem to the Temple to offer up to the Eternall Father the highest and holyest Oblation that ever was or shall be offered to his divin Majesty An Offering which was the full accomplishment of all the ancient Figures and Sacrifices The Fifth which to avoid Herods cruelty you made with your tender son Jesus and your dear Husband St. Joseph into Egypt The sixth which having lost your beloved Jesus you made to Jerusalem carefully seeking him The seventh which during his three last years preaching you made throughout Judea and Palestin painfully following him The eighth which in the time of his Passion you made to Mount Calvary dolefully accompanying him The ninth which having compleated your happy Pilgrimage upon earth you made to Paradise to remain there the glorious Empress of Heaven for evermore In the honour of these your journeys O sacred Virgin Star of the Sea and Guide of my life I will take my stepps in this present Procession humbly desiring to run after the odours of your sweet perfumes that is to imitate the examples of your heroique vertues that so I may be found worthy to accompany you in Celestiall glory and there with you to bless praise and honour the Father Son and Holy Ghost for all Eternity Amen THE LITANIES OF OUR BLESSED LADY OF THE ROSARY Antiphona Sub tuum Praesidium confugimus Sancta Dei Genitrix nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper Virgo gloriosa benedicta Domina nostra Mediatrix nostra Advocata nostra tuo filio nos reconcilia tuo Filio nos commenda tuo Filio nos representa nunc in hora mortis nostrae KYrie Eleyson Christe Eleyson Kyrie Eleyson Sancta Trinitas unus Deus miserere nobis Virgo Audi nos Virgo Exaudi nos Sancta Maria Sancta Dei Genitrix Ora pro nobis Sancta Virgo Virginum Mater Pietatis Mater Veritaetis Mater Charitatis Virgo Potentissima Virgo Prudentissima Virgo Clementissima Ancilla Domini mitis Ancilla Christi humilis Ancilla Dei fidelis Sponsa aeterni Patris Filia summi Regis Templum Spiritus sancti Domus Dei Sanctuarium Christi Sacrarium Paracleti Speculum Justitiae Sedes Sapientiae Fons Misericordiae Salus Infirmorum Refugium Miserorum Advocata Peccatorum Stella rutilantior Luna pulchrior Sole splendidior Scala Coeli Porta Paradisi Domina Mundi Cedrus Fragrans Myrrha Conservans Balsamum Distillans Flos Virginitatis Lilium Castitatis
with the adjoyned Antheme and Prayer to the sacred Virgin and to Saint Joseph 2. Recite them for all such as arâ— thus associated as they all recite the same for him 3. Recite them for his own and their happy death and for the obtaining of Grace necessary for that purpose ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! despise not our Prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son recommend us to your Son represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ hear us O Christ graciously hear us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us Pray for us Holy Mary Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins Mother of Christ Mother of Divin Grace mother most pure Mother most chast Mother undefiled Mother untouched Mother most aminable Mother most admirable Mother of our Creator Mother of our Redeemer Virgin most Prudent Virgin most Venerable Virgin most Renowned Virgin most Powerfull Virgin most Mercifull Virgin most Faithfull Mirrour of Justice Seat of Wisdom Cause of our Joy Spiritual Vessel Honourable Vessel Vessel of singular Devotion Mystical Rose Tower of David Pray for us Tower of Ivory House of Gold Ark of the Covenant Gate of Heaven Morning Star Health of the Weak Refuge of Sinners Comfort of the Afflicted Help of Christians Queen of Angels Queen of Patriarchs Queen of Prophets Queen of Apostles Queen of Martyrs Queen of Confessors Queen of Virgins Queen of all Saints Queen of the most sacred Rosary Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Spare us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Hear us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Have mercy on us ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! Despise not our prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son Recommend us to your Son Represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Vers Pray for us O holy Mother of God Resp That we may become worthy of Christs promises Let us pray REmember O most compassionate Virgin Mary Mother of Power Mercy and Consolation That it was never yet heard or known that any one was by you rejected who in his grievous pressures and afflictions had recoâ—rse to your powerfull Prayers Patronage and Protection Imboldned with this confidence we your distressed Children of the holy Rosary with eyes full of tears and hearts full of sorrow make now to you O sacred Virgin Mother our most humble addresses in these our present and pressing necessities Despise not our words we beseech you O Blessed Mother of the Word Eternal and Incarnate Reject not the Petitions of your poor servants O you pious Comforter of all afflicted Souls but graciously vouchsafe to hear us to help us to protect us and to obtain for us the accomplishment of all our just and humble desires That we may have fresh occasion to admire your transcendent Mercy Charity and Compassion and to magnify and praise with eternal gratitude and thanksgiving the infinit goodness of your Divin Son our sweet Saviour Christ Jesus The Verse and Prayer of Saint Joseph Vers The just man shall flourish as a Palm-tree Resp He shall be multiplyed as the Cedar of Libanus Let us pray ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the merits of Saint Joseph thy sacred Mothers Bridegroom that what we are unworthy to obtain may be granted us by his intercession who livest and reignest world without end Amen §. 18. Several other Prayers Wherof one or more may be sometimes added after the Litanies of our Blessed Lady according to each ones Devotion Occasion or Necessity I. A Filial Recommendation of our selv's to the sacred Virgin-Mothers protection O Sacred and Sovereign Lady-Mother next after God the onely hope of my soul Into that singular faith commendation and custody wherby your tenderly loving Son Christ Jesus my Saviour recommended you from the Cross to his dearly beloved Disciple Saint John I do this day and all the days of my life commend and commit my body my soul my senses my honour all my hope and comfort all my anguishes miseries and afflictions all my thoughts words and actions my whol life and the final end thereof Most humbly beseeching you that I may by your powerfull intercession be preserved from all sin from all scandal from whatsoever may any way displease yours or your Son 's pure eyes provoke your anger or hazard the loss of your favour and from a sudden and unprovided death Obtain for me I beseech you O my glorious Lady-Mother that I may be truly penitent for all my past offences that I may manfully resist all present occasions of sin that I may walk more warily and innocently for the future Let me feel your prompt and powerfull assistance during the whol course of this my lives pilgrimage and in the dreadfull day of my judgement be you pleas'd O sacred Mother to become my pious Advocatrix at the Tribunal of your Son Christ Jesus To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for evermore Amen II. A Prayer for a happy death O My dear Lord Jesu I most humbly beseech you by those most bitter pains and pangs which you suffer'd for me in your cruel passion and particularly in the hour wherein your Divin Soul pass'd forth of your Blessed Body take pity upon my poor and sinfull soul in its last agony and in its passage to Eternity And you O compassionate Virgin-Mother Mary remember how you sadly stood by your dear Son dying on the Cross and by that your excessive grief and your Sons sacred death assist my soul in its last conflict with death and conduct it to a happy Eternity And you O glorious Saints John Joseph Nicodemus Lazarus Mary Magdalen Mary of James Mary of Salome and Martha who stood by my dear Redeemer Christ Jesus expiring on the Cross assist me also in the hour of my souls departure and accompany it to a happy Eternity Amen III. A General Prayer for our selvs our Friends and the whol Church DIssolve we beseech you O Lord by your bounty the bonds of our sins and by the intercession of the sacred Virgin and all your blessed Saints preserve us our Friends our Brethren and our Benefactors in your grace and sanctity Purge O Lord from all impiety and enrich with solid virtues and perfections all such as have any relation to us by consanguinity affinity or familiarity grant us health of
our selves in the open'd holes of that Rock the wounds of our Redeemer from the World Sin Satan and whatsoever tempts or troubles us during this our lives Pilgrimage If in this or some such like manner you seriously reflect upon these sacred Mysteries which the Rosary represents for your mentall entertainment whilst your mouth utters the Vocall Prayers you may undoubtedly gather the desired Fruit of your devotion and make a speedy progress in the way of solid piety and perfection And having thus declared unto you most devout Rosarists with as much brevity and perspicuity as the sublimity of the Argument the slenderness of our Capacity and the Law 's and limits of a Prefatorie Oration would permit the excellent vertues fruits and benefits of each single part of the Rosarie and Psalter to wit of the Apostles Creed the Lords Prayer the Angelicall Salutation and the Meditations upon the Mysteries It will be needless to dilate upon such profits as proceed from the whol Rosary together both for that the praise of the parts expresly redounds to the whol Compositum and also because it were to undertake an impossible taske For who can worthily commemorate the manifold wonders and Miracles the infinit fruits and profits the multitudes of benefits and blessings which have been from time to time deriv'd and do still dayly descend upon all Mankind by the due practise of this divin sort of prayer and pietie All Ages afford authentick examples of them All Books are full fraught with them all Histories make mention of them Wherefore for a conclusion of all that might be added concerning this never sufficiently prays'd extoll'd and admir'd subject Let the frequent Reflexion upon those five points which are in the beginning of our first Book more largly produc'd and clearly prov'd by the ancient Fathers express Testimonies content you comfort you and encourage you O faithfull and devout Children and servants of Queen Mary in the prosecution of these your well embraced Exercises of Piety in the Confraternity of the Rosary First That your dear Mother entirely loves you See Page 49. 2. That she will confer large Favours upon you page 50. 3. That she will assist you in all your afflictions page 51. 4. That she is your faithfull Advocate in Heaven page 53. 5ly And lastly That she will procure for you a happy passage out of this your worldly Pilgrimage the salvation of your Souls and the Fruition of Eternall felicity Read the page 57 58 59. To which lead and conduct us all by her powerfull patronage and intercession The All-powerfull and Eternally Blessed Father Son and Holy Ghost THE SECOND BOOK OF THE SACRED ROSARY WHICH IS The Practicall part thereof containing these Particulars To the Devout Rosarists 1. OF the sign of the Cross wherewith we begin our Rosary 2. Of the Apostles Creed the first part of the Rosary An Exercise upon the Apostles Creed 3. Of the Pater noster the second part of the Rosary The Affections contain'd in the Pater noster A larger Explication of our Lords Prayer An Exercise upon our Lords Prayer dilated with Acts c. 4. Of the Ave Maria the third part of the Rosary The Affections contain'd in the Ave Maria or Angelicall Salutation with an explication thereof An Exercise upon the Hail Marie dilated with Acts c. 5. The manner how to recite the Rosary 6. Of the Fifteen Mysteries in Generall the fourth part of the Rosary 7. Of the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary in particular The first Appendix Jesus or the Confraternity of the sacred Name of JESUS with Elevations The second Appendix Maria or the Devotion call'd the Bondage of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Elevations The third Appendix Joseph or Devotions to S. Joseph with Elevations To the devout Rosarists WE have hitherto in our first Book prepared you O pious Children of Mary with some necessary Instructions and encouragements and brought you as it were with your Bedes in hand ready to recite your Rosary Now since the Rosary is begun and ended with 1. the Sign of the Cross and 2. saying of the Creed and consists 3. in the frequent Repetition of the Lords Prayer and 4. Angelicall Salutation and 5. in the continuall Meditation upon the chief Mysteries of our Redeemer and his sacred Mother you are first to ground your selves in the knowledge and understanding at least in some measure of these Prayers and of these Mysteries that so your devotions may prove more efficacious and your Prayers be perform'd with more gust and satisfaction To which end you may profitably read over and peruse this ensuing explication of them and as often as your occasions shall permit and your devotion serve recite them as they are hereafter affectively enlarg'd and paraphras'd §. 1. Of the Sign of the Cross wherewith we begin our Rosary THe sign of the Cross was prefigur'd and announc'd by the Prophets taught and recommended by our Redeemer Christ Jesus and even us'd and practis'd in the Catholique Church With this sign all faithfull Christians ought to begin all their actions according to that Counsell and command of S. Cyprian Make this sign both eating and drinking and sitting and standing and speaking and walking And of S. Hierome At every action and upon all occasions let the hand imprint a Cross But much more carefull should they be to begin their prayers devotions which are the chief Acts of Religion with this sacred sign Amd most of all ought they so to begin the recitall of their Rosary which as hath been declared in the precedent Oration is the most eminent sort of prayer and devotion S. Augustin alleadges severall Reasons for this generall custom of all Christians Because this sign of the Cross says he directs the course of our Pilgrimage instructs us for our combat helps us in our conflict strengthens us for our Conquest It destroys all dangers and defends us from all Diabolicall subtilties and machinations To which may be added 1. That this sign of the Cross is a compendious Profession of the Christian Faith wherein the Mystery of the sacred Trinity the Incarnation and Passion of our Blessed Saviour and the Remission of sins by his merits is briefly taught and declared 2. It is a certain badge by which Orthodox Christians are known and distinguish'd from Sectaries and Infidells we are all said to be Christians says S. Augustin for we are all sign'd with Christs signet 3. It is an Invocation of the divin assistance in all our actions for by this sign we invoke the sacred Trinity to our ayd by the mediation of our Saviours Passion 4. It affords us spirituall comfort and courage For if thou art not asham'd says S. Augustin to make this sign exteriourly before men thou mayst confidently expect to feel the divin sweetness in thy Soul 5. It is a Meditation and Imitation of our Redemers passion When thou signest thy self with the Cross says S. Chrysostom ruminate in thy mind the whol
and in them all Christians how they should pray and what they should beg daily of the divin Majestie It is the prime Exemplar of all Prayers the Abridgment of the Gospell the Summary of all our just and fitting petitions and the absolute Form of imploring all such good things as we can expect and desire and of deprecating all such bad things as we are to shun and avoid Finally It is to be by so much the more zealously frequented prized and reverenced before all other prayers whatsoever by how much it excels them all in all sorts of prerogatives First in Authority and dignity as being prescribed by Christ Jesus the Wâ—sdom it self the Truth it self the Divinity it self 2. In Brevity and facility as embracing in few easy and intelligible words all that can rightly be demanded of the Divin Majesty 3. In vertu and efficacie For how should our heavenly Father refuse to hear our petitions which are humbly presented to his Throne of Mercy in the express terms and in obedience to the precept of his dearly beloved Son Christ Jesus Affections contained in our Lords Prayer 1. OF a poor Pilgrim and Prodigall child sighing after his Countrey kindred and Fathers house Our Father which art in Heaven 2. Of a Faithfull servant forgetting himself to procure his Masters honour Hallowed be thy name 3. Of a loving Spouse desiring the sweet presence embraces and enjoyment of her beloved Bridegroom Thy Kingdom come 4. Of a dutifull Son conforming himself absolutely to his Fathers sacred will and pleasure Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 5. Of a needy Beggar asking an Almes at the dore of the Divin Mercy Give us this day our daily bread 6. Of a guilty Prisoner deeply indebted ready to be condemned and petitioning for pardon and remission And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us 7. Of a Blind and weak Traveller imploring light and strength that he erre not fall not faint not in his journey And lead us not into temptation 8. Of a soul Weary of all things which hinder her desired perfection and craving to be freed from them But deliver us from evill A larger Explication of our Lords Prayer It contains a Preface and seven Petitions THE PREFACE Our Father which art in Heaven THese words put us in mind at the beginning of our prayers of the severall parts of our duty 1. Our being a form of plurall signification declares that we are to draw into the communication of our devotions all such as are confederated with us in the common relation of sons to the same Father 2. Father If God be our Father we surely owe unto him a filiall Love Fear Reverence Obedience For if we are Refractory Irreligious Rebellious how can we presume to call him Fatheâ— But if we are dutifull children pliable to Will and obed ent to his precepts we may confidently expect from him childrens portions and inheritances 3. Which art in Heaven This tells us where our Treasure is and consequently where our hopes and hearts should be fixed and whither all our desires petitions affections are to be directed 4. In Heaven We are Prodigall children and therefore sigh after our Parents house We are poor Pilgrims and therefore stear our course towards our happy Countrey We are wretched Exiles and therefore yearn after our heavenly home The first Petition Hallowed be thy Name 1. Whereby we desire to forget and forgo our selves and all things whatsoever to promote and procure the honour and glorie of our loving Father 2. We desire that his holy Name his divin Essence his glorious Attributes may be honoured by all creatures Believed by Faith loved by Charity and celebrated with continuall prayses throughout the whol Universe 3. It is a direct and formall Act of Adoration For Gods Name being the Representative of God himself we here Petition that he may be truly honored worshipped adored by all in all above all 4. It is also an Act of Thanksgiving for all our received Benefits and Blessings and a returning of all that we have are and can to God as to their Origin and Fountain to whose only Goodness we ascribe all that is Good in us and in all creatures The second Petition Thy Kingdom come 1. Whereby we desire that God may reign by his grace and Justice in us in his Church in the hearts of all men and every where subdue all his Enemyes 2. We desire that he will be pleas'd to exercise his absolute Dominion in our spirits and fully rule in all our faculties in our understanding by Faith in our wills by Charity in our Memories by Hope in our members by Mortification in our whol Interiour and exteriour Man by totally possessing all entirely Commanding all and being truly All in all 3. We desire that his spirituall Kingdom to wit the propagation of his faith and Gospell and the perfection of Souls may yet make more and more progress in he world Extending that where it is not and Intending this where it is And that his Kingdom may not only be amongst us in Name and Form but in Effect in efficacie in Power 4. We lastly desire not only his Kingdom of Grace in this world but also of Glory in the next The third Petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 1. Whereby we desire the sweet presence and fruition of our beloved Lord in our Souls and beg for a prefect union and conformity to his blessed will 2. We desire that the dispensation of his divin Providence may be the absolutely directing Guide of the whol world and the entire measure of all our wills and wishes 3. We desire that in all our prayses and proceedings we may be evermore pliable to his holy will pleasure Resigned in all accidents Patient in all sufferings unchangeable in al good purposes submissive upon all occasions and that we may perform all our duties of devotion obedience perfection cheerfully promptly perseverantly 4. We finally desire that as the holy Angells and Saints in heaven serve our dread Soveraign with perfect Harmony unity tranquillity agreeing all together sweetly lovingly peaceably to prayse and glorify his divin Majesty so all our hearts and Soul's here upon Earth cancelling all crooked and sinister intentions may live and love together in an Angelicall Conformity and jointly please and prayse our Soveraign Creatour with a Saint-like Peace purity and Charity fervently incessantly Eternally The fourth Petition Give us this day our daily Bread Whereby acknowledging our own Poverty necessity indigency we humbly crave an almes from him who is the Author and Fountain of all Mercy First we beg the Bread of Pilgrims for the support of our lives and for the supply of our bodyes necessities that is a daily Portion of all such things as we daily want we are prohibited to be solicitous for to morrow and therefore we petition only for the present We must not be covetous to
have all at once but content to receive it as we need it and as the Divin Giver pleases to dispense it with a constant relying upon his continued providence which therefore feeds us with extemporarie provisions that being always needie we may always be begging and being daily supplyed we may be daily gratefull for the past joyfull for the present and confident for the future 2. We beg the Bread of sinners Contrition Tears Repentance 3. We beg the Bread of Children Love Devotion Obedience Resignation 4. We beg the Bread of Angells the nourishment of our souls Contemplation Communion Union The fifth Petition For give us our trepasses as we forgive them that trespass against us 1. Whereby we confess our selvs to be deeply indebted fearfull to be condemn'd carefull to be releas'd and therefore humbly sue for Mercy Compassion Remission 2. We here petition for a Pardon not only of our sins of frailty ignorance and sudden surprisall but those of deliberation of election of express malice 3. We petition for a Pardon not only of our Sins of Om ssion but of Commission not only of our Carnall sins but of our Spirituall not only of our known sins but of our secret ones not only of sins don directly against the divin Majesty but also against our Neighbour and our selvs not only of mortall sins but of veniall 4. Forgive us as we forgive By which condition we tacitly oblige our selvs to forgive all such as have any way injur'd and offended us even from our hearts not entertaining so much as a thought of Revenge but truly loving all them that have wrong'd us for so only and not otherwise we desire our Creators Pardon for our own committed crimes and impieties The sixth Petition And lead us not into Temptation 1. Where by we desire light that we fall not help that we fail nor strength that we saint not a guide that we erre not comfort that we perish not 2. St. Cyprian out of an old latin copie reads Suffer us not to be led into Temptation that is permit us not to be overcome by Temptation nor to give our assents to sinfull suggestions 3. Since our life upon Earth is a perpetuall warfare and no one can be Crown'd unless he couragiously resist the World the Flesh and the Devill his swoâ—n Enemies therefore we instantly implore the divin assistance against them that we may be able to resist the Devill chastise our Flesh despise the World and so finally obtain a Crown of Glory after our Victory 4. Finally we here acknowledge our own weakness frailty nothing and that all our sufficiencie is from our Creators grace mercy and bounty which we therefore beg and implore not to abandon us in our necessities afflictions temptation The seventh Petition But deliver us from Evill Whereby as weary of all things which hinder our desired union and conjunction with our beloved Lord and the only Spouse of our Souls and the finall End of our Life and Pilgrimage upon Earth we beg to be delivered First not only from all temporall and corporall Evâ—lls as Famine Pestilence Wars 2. But also from all spirituall Evills as impatience pusâ—illanimity distrust of the divin succour in our tribulations sufferings persecutions 3. From this World which allures us to sin and from these bodyes which imprison our Spirits 4 Finally from all that displeases the divin Majesty under whose sacred wings we desire to shelter our selvs from the violence of all our adversaries that so no Temptation may weaken our Faith discomfort our Hope distroy our Charity daunt our Courage alter our Resolutions hinder our Perseverance or overthrow our Glories An Exercise upon our Lords Prayer Dialated with Acts and Affections 1. Our Father which art in Heaven Adoration and Acknowledgement O Heavenly Father I no sooner had a Being but I see the Effects of your paternall Bountie inflowing upon me all things necessary for my preservation even to this present Instant in which I appear before your dread Majesty to adore you prayse you and to implore your Mercy I humbly acknowledg my own Ingratitude Rebellion Disobedience all which notwithstanding you have still continued the affection of a tender Father towards me in cherishing me comforting me correcting me pardoning me protecting me and treating me not as a Traytor a Prodigall a Slave but as one of your dearly beloved Children Wherefore I adore you as my Soveraign Lord God and I honour you as my heavenly Father and I prayse you as my powerfull Creator and I love you as my mercifull Preserver and I promise for the future to obey you more punctually to serve you more faithfully to prayse you more fervently and to procure the dilatation of your divin honour and glory more zealously upon all occasions with a syncere filiall and cordiall affection Hallowed be thy Name A desire of true Light O what a Father How full of pity patience compassion to have so long endured the undutifullness irreverence insolencie of an â—ll behaved uncivill unnaturall child who instead of procuring the sanctification of your sacred Name in all your creatures and the exaltation of your honour in all his actions hath still continued to dishonour your Majesty to disedify his Neighbour to misuse your gifts graces and mercyes and to defile his heart and soul with all sorts of sins and impieties Grant O Father of Light and Love that I may have a clear sight and lively apprehension of your affection and my obligation that truly considering youâ— mercy and my own misery I may rely confidently upon that and rise speedily out of this so recovering your favour and friendship and eternally sanctifying praysing and magnifying your sacred Name and Majesty 3. Thy Kingdom come Sorrow for our Sins and sighing for Heaven I freely confess O Father of Mercy anâ— King of Majesty that my own willfulâ— blindâ—ess and disobedience hath moâ—… justly deâ—riv'd me of a Childs title anâ— quality Permit me therefore to presenâ— my self before you as a poor Bond-slave or at least as the Prodigall Child with tears in my eyes sighs in my heart and this humble petition in my mouth Father I have offended against Heaven and before you I have dissipated all the graces you so lovingly and liberally gave me and forfeiting my whol freedom am become the absolute slave of sensuality vanity impietie which now over-rule me raign within me and render me a rebell against your divin Majesty Mercy O most compassionate Father Destroy this Kingdom of Sin and Satan and Establish yours in my soul Live Lord Jesu in my heart I will have no other King but him Deprive me not Dear Father of that happy inheritance which your Son my Saviour hath purchased for me with the price of his precious blood But mercifully grant that your glorious Kingdom may come to be my lot and portion at my departure out of this place of banishment that I may there contemplate praise and love you for
evermore 4. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Efficacious Purpose and Resolution of self-deniall I Desire no longer O Eternall Father to follow my irregular appetites and to march under the Banner of my own will and opinion which are the fountains of all my defects disloyalties transgressions No Lord For your love I utterly renounce them with all possible horrour and hatred All my will and wish is that your sacred will may be accomplish'd in me upon Earth in Heaven in all things whatsoever purely perfectly eternally for all your Ordinances are full of Justice and Equity I adore them all I embrace them all I submit to them all Thrice happy those souls which are truly conformable to you which incessantly contemplate you which unweariedly follow you which faithfully serve you and perpetually prayse you 5. Give us this day our daily Bread Petition for a supply of our Necessities IT is the property of Children oppressed with hunger to address themselv's to their Parents with tears and cry's to move them to compassion Behold here your poor Child O loving and liberall Lord God! extreamely labouring with spirituall thirst and hunger exceedingly wearied in the worlds service you are my Father my Feeder my daily Bread And it is you only who are capable to satisfy my hunger quench my thirst comfort me in this my calamitous condition All Creatures are but small Crums falling from your Royall table O how sweet and savory is the Bread of teares and the Water of contrition to a truly Penitent Contrite Converted Soul Your sugred words O Lord and your celestiall inspirations are her most delicious sawce and the participation of your most precious Body and Blood her daily Bread O my God Let not the affection to temporall objects deprive me of spirituall comforts nor let any earthly solicitudes and greediness after worldly goods choak up the memory and gust of those better goods you have promis'd and prepar'd for me in Heaven But let my daily Exercise be to sanctify your holy Name Let the interiour feeling of your Kingdom of Love in my soul be my only pleasure palace and Paradise and let the accomplishment of your sacred Will be my daily Bread and sustenance during the space of this my Pilgrimage But alas 6. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Reflection upon our Impieties and Supplication for pardon WHen I consider O Father of Infinit Clemency not only my life past but even my present condition not only all my enormous and innumerable offences but even my daily and hourly imperfections negligences iniquities to wit 1. My Time still lost either in doing Evill or in doing nothing or in doing things impertinent 2. My lingring and voluntary complacencies in thought against Charity Chastity Humility 3. My continued Resistency contristation hinderance of your holy spirit in my self or others 4. My Irreverence Indevotion Tepiditie in my prayers recollections spirituall Exercises 5. My Excesses of Tongue Eyes Ears and all my senses as well in respect of your divin Majestie as my neighbour and my self When I say I seriously reflect upon these and the rest of my manifold transgressions I find my self so deeply indebted that I should undoubtedly turn Bankrupt did not your fatherly goodness and my deer Redeemers boundless mercy and merits give me hope comfort and encouragement For O my God! In what large sum do I stand ingaged to your sacred Justice 1. I owe thanks for so many signall Benefits 2. I owe Contrition for so many committed Crimes 3. I owe love for love my life for your Sons death my whol self for your self given and regiven so frequently unto me And yet insensible wretch that I am I pay none of these just debts but daily increase my obligations by my daily Ingratitude VVhat other course then can I now take but humbly to cry out Dimitte mihi Pardon your prodigall Child O compassionate Father for the love of your dear Son Christ Jesus He is my surety and he hath satisfied for my debts even according to the severe rigour of your divin Justice whose least drop of blood is abundantly sufficient to expiate the whol worlds impieties If therefore my own guilt shuts up my mouth and your Mercy gate yet his sacred blood will be my Key to open both the one and the other Pardon me then O my pious Father for your Crucified Jesu's sake as I for the love of him do most freely heartily and sincerely pardon all them who have injur'd wrong'd and offended me in any thing whatsoever 7. And lead us not into temptation Recourse to the divin Protection I Am day and night O most Powerfull Father and Protector assaulted with an infinit number of Enemyes which incessantly seek my utter ruin and destruction The flesh charmes me the world enchants me the Devill cheats me and every thing becomes an object of Temptation unto me Ah! How shall poor I conquer such powerfull champions I find no other means than to make my addresses to you My all-powerfull Father and humbly to shelter my self under the wings of your paternall Protection For Alas such is my frailty that I shall surely fall without the support of your Grace being faln I shall be unable to rise without the help of your strength being raysed up I cannot hope to persevere without the continuall influence of your assistance Shield me then under your sacred wings Protect me as the Apple of your eye command your Angell of light to preserve me from the darkness of Sin from the dangers of my Adversaries from the dismall sleep of sudden and unprovided death from all that is any way displeasing to your divin will and liking 8. But deliver us from evill Aspirations to perfection fruition union WHen O Father of Glory shall I be freed from sin from Sathans from my self from all that hinders the coming of your Kingdom O Kingdom of Peace Kingdom of love Kingdom of all desirable felicity There it is O Father that I shall sanctify your Name that I shall perform your will purely perfectly eternally There I shall no longer beg of you my daily Bread but remain abundantly satiated with the sight of your blessed face and the fruition of your beatifying glory There my Debts will be all payd my sins pardoned my soul glorified There will be neither Temptation nor Tribulation neither occasion of sin nor punishment of sin but all tranquillity all conformity all perfection There lives thy loving Father O my Soul There is thy home and Countrey there lyes thy portion and patrimony O Jerusalem my dear Countrey my delicious Kingdom my desired Inheritance when shall I possesse thee O sweet Father when shall I sincerely love you O my poor Soul when shall I see thee free from stains and blemishes full of purity and perfection Let 's yield let 's yield to our good Father Let 's promptly submit to all his precepts and Ordinances Let 's serve
weakness nor weariness for she carryed him who strengthn'd her and afforded her a full aboundance of courage and comfort Hail Mary 2. At the compleating of former Prophecies FOr as she walk'd on her way she joyfully reflected upon that Text of Aggeus The desired of all nations shall come to this Temple in Jerusalem and I will fill this house with glory c. And that of Malachie Our Lord whom you seek shall come to his Temple the Angell of the Covenant whom ye delight in c. And such other Propheticall predictions Hail Mary 3. At the offering up of her Son FOr entring the Temple she puts her self humbly on her knees and places her Son reverently upon the Altar entirely bequeathing both her self and him to the Eternall Father in these or the like expressions Behold O heavenly Father yours and my Son yours Eternally begotten as the perfect Image of your substance Mine temporally born as clad with human nature in my womb Take both Mother and Son into your fatherly Protection I here freely offer up to your divin Majesty in your sacred Temple and upon your holy Altar this new oblation this God-man this great-little Jesus this pure and precious Sacrifice who will hereafter offer up himself to you upon the Altar of the Cross a more perfect and worthy Holocaust for the World's salvation Hail Mary 4. At her exemption from the Law of Purification FOr though she punctually performed each tittle of the Mosaicall Law paying five sicles of silver to the Priest for her Sons Redemption and a paire of Turtles or yong Pigeons one as a Holocaust for the Infant the other as an offring for sin yet she well knew to her unspeakable joy that both her self and her Son were absolutely free from any such Law He being far above it and she nothing concern'd in it Hail Mary 5. At the instruction and example of her Sons Humility and Obedience FOr by this Oblation she plainly perceiv'd that her Son came to serve and not to be served to fulfill the Law not to infringe it to do as well as to teach wherby she also understood her own duty and that she likewise was to be a pattern of Humility and obedience to the world Hail Mary 6. At the wonderfull Manifestation and revelation of her Son TO wit Not only to S. Joseph S. Zachary S. Elizabeth the Shepheards and the Kings but now also to S. Simeon and S. Ann in the Temple For she joyfully consider'd that her Son would therefore be reveal'd to Virgins to Widows to wedded people to all ages degrees sexes professions conditions because he came to redeem all Hail Mary 7. At Venerable Simeon's receiving her Son into his armes O the Jubiley of all the hearts there present and especially of the sacred Virgin-Mother seeing the good old Prophet so devoutly falling prostrate on the ground so faithfully adoring the divin Infant so ravishtly taking him into his embraces and so zealously proclaiming his prayses Hail Mary 8. At the Blessing of Simeon FOr applying his Propheticall discourse to the Blessed Virgin Behold says he O holy Mother of Jesus This Son of yours is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel for he shall be the ruin of the wicked and the reward of the righteous and for a Sign which shall be contradicted by the Jews Gentills Hereticks half-Christians yea and a sword of sorrow shall also pierce your own Soul so great shall be hereafter your compassion at the sight of his sufferings Now although these predictions of Simeon were in themselv's harsh to the tender-mothers senses yet they were joyfull to her resign'd soul in respect of the ensuing salvation of mankind Hail Mary 9. At the like Devotion Iubilation and Illumination of S. Ann. FOr this holy and ancient Prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser who had dedicated the remainder of her days to the divin service and departed not from Jerusalem but persever'd in fastings and prayers night and day in expectation of this blessed time came also says S. Luke into the Temple at the same instant praysing our Lord and speaking of him to all that look'd for Redemption in Israel Hail Mary 10. At the signification fruit of this Oblation FOr it signifi'd that her Son Christ should one day offer up himself on the Cross for the Worlds Redemption and that he should procure a perfect Reconciliation between Man and his Eternall Father Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O My Lord Jâ—su who thus mercifully permitted your self to be seen ador'd embrac'd by your faithfull servant Simeon come also into my desirous languishing and greedily expecting soul Purge and perfect it O pious Redeemer and expell from thence whatsoever is any way displeasing to your divin liking Prepare it as you please for your own purpose and make it a fit temple for your self to inhabite Give leave O sweet and loving Saviour to your sincerely affectionate servant to embrace you in my Interiour with the two Armes of profound Humility and perfect Obedience and permit me not to depart this life before I there enjoy your happy sight and presence who are the only Fountain of true light and love the only desire and delight of my heart the only comfort and support of my Pilgrimage and the only Hope and expectation of my future bliss and felicity O Dear Virgin Mother I dare not presume to decipher the numberless affections which dilated your faithfull heart in this free oblation of your self and your son in the Temple O when shall I comformable to your perfect example consecrate my whol self with all I have and can entirely cheerfully resignedly to the divin Majesty My Creators Law and my own duty oblidg'd me to dedicate unto him not only the first but all the fruits of my life and love And shall I not bequeath to him at least the small remainder thereof by this my irrevocable will and Testament If the World the Flesh and the Devill have gather'd the fairest flowers of my youth and manly age may I not justly be asham'd to deny Him to whom all was due at least the leaves which shall hereafter fall from this old shaken rotten Tree O my past incivility disloyalty Ingratitude O my present confusion and self condemnation To reserve for my Soveraign Creatour the last and worst part of my lives Sacrifice yet since such is your divin goodness O my gracious Lord and maker as not to disdain the meanest offering when humbly heartily affectionatly presented to your sacred Majesty Accept I beseech you this little and alas too long delayd Oblation I now lay upon your Altar which is my Will to obey you my heart to love you and my life to serve you henceforth for all succeeding time and Eternity The fifth joyfull Mysterie And Found The finding of Christ in the Temple
disputing amongst the Doctors Luke 2. In Seas of joy the Virgins breast was drownd When Jesus lost she in the Temple found Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin-Mother exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the sight of her new-found Son FOr when the child Jesus was twelve years old his Parents went up with him to perform their Devotions in the Temple of Jerusalem where they lost him for three days space sought him up and down with many tears and at last found him amongst the Doctors O the Joy of their hearts at this happy sight For the sweetest comforts spring from precedent sorrows now their sorrows were proportionable to their loss and consequently their Joy was correspondent to the affection they bore their blessed Son first possessed then lost and now retriv'd again Hail Mary 2. At the Hearing of his Learning and Wisdom For they found him not playing idling sleeping but discoursing of the Law disputing with the Doctors proposing questions to the Priests and resolving their difficulties with such readiness and dexterity that all the Auditors were astonish't at so ripe an understanding in such tender years Hail Mary 3. At the fulfilling of that Propheticall saying I Wisedom dwell with Counsell and am present amongst learned cogitations WHich passage S. Vincent explicates literally of this prefence of our Lord JESUS amongst the Priests and Doctors Hail Mary 4. At her first conference with him after She had found him WHen with heart brim-full of Joy She brake forth into these expressions O my dear Son Why have you dealt thus with us not making me your so tenderly affectionat Mother acquainted with your stay which was no rebuke but a certain loving complaint for his long absence Behold your Putative Father and I have sought you out with sorrow fearing you might fall into the hands of Archelaus the Son of Herod and Heir of his cruelty as well as of his Kingdom Hail Mary 5. At his Mysticall Answer unto her FOr He mildly and modestly teply'd And why O Mother did you so carefully seek after me Know you not that I must be about my heavenly Fathers business whereof one part is to instruct the ignorant and instill into their hearts the hidden Intelligence of his Law Hail Mary 6. At the Instruction couched in his reply FOr though at first She understood him not by reason of the excess of Joy in having found him yet reflecting afterwards upon his words She well perceiv'd he was now even in his tender age setting forward that great work of mans conversion Redemption Salvation which he was in his riper age to compleat and perfect Hail Mary 7. At his return with her to Nazareth FOr he immediatly leaving the Doctors company and yeilding to his Mothers summons went down with his Parents to their dwelling-house in Nazareth Hail Mary 8. At his humble Obedience and Subjection FOr the sacred Gospell tells us He was subject unto them Hail Mary 9. At the consideration of her own happiness dignity and excellency TO wit That He should become thus voluntarily subject to her command to whose beck both her self and all creatures were necessarily subject and obedient Hail Mary 10. At the delicious conservation of all his words and actions in her heart FOr so the sacred Pen-man of the holy Ghost informes us His Mother kept all these sayings conferring them in her heart To the end she might by her daily and diligent study reflection and meditation dive into the meaning of what she yet understood not and take joy and comfort in what she understood Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Blessed JESU who for reasons best known to your own divin Wisdom and all-disposing providence would be thus lost sought and found by your Parents in Jerusalem amongst the Doctors in the Temple Grant that I may never lose your Grace Favour and Friendship by following my own irregular appetites passions and affections by yeilding to wordly vanities allurements enchantments by consenting to Satans suggestions temptations delusions But if through Ignorance negligence carelesness or any other motive whatsoever I shall unhappily chance to be depriv'd of your sweet presence in my interiour Excite me O mercifull Saviour to seek you out diligently speedily mournfully during the three days space of this my lives Pilgrimage by perfect Contrition pure Confession entire Satisfaction that so I may at last joyfully find and see you in your Celestiall Jerusalem sitting on your Fathers right hand amidst your Angels and Saints in the Temple of your Eternall Glory O Jesu The rare Patern of perfect Obedience Humility and all vertues you are the All-powerfull God and you obey poor man you are the Soveraign Creatour and you submit to your own Creature you are the Supreme Monarch of both worlds and you are subject to your Handmaid Mary And shall any Christian remain any longer rebellious refractory disobedient to his Parents to his Superiors or to any other just authority Be asham'd proud dust and ashes God humbles himself and wilt thou exalt thy self He obeys men and dost thou desire to domineer over them Is not this directly to prefer thy self before thy soveraign Lord and Maker But o sacred Virgin Mother How singular is your Priviledge To have him subject to you whom all human and Ang licall nature reverences and adores O my soul Admire both and make choyce of which thou wilt chiefly admire Either the Sons stupendious condescention or the Mothers excellent dignity Both are mervailous both miraculous That God should obey a Woman is a Humility beyond all Example That a woman should command God is a Height beyond all comparison O good Jesu How doth my Soul languish when I have lost you and how reproachfully doth my conscience cry out unto me Where is thy God And yet Alas I seek you not with due sorrow and diligence because I love you not with true fervour and devotion O loving Mother of Jesus Had I the least spark of that sincere affection you bore your blessed Son How sensible should I be of my sad loss How seriously should I seek to retrive it But ah my misery That is lost without much grief which was possess'd without any great joy and therfore I find not my loss because I feel no love and finally I feel no love because I reflect not faithfully upon my Redeemers reall worth and value And yet what is there considerable or desirable in Heauen or Earth in comparison of sweet Jesus O my Lord my love my lot and my portion for time and Eternity Dart one Efficacious beam of your divin light into my dull dark and desolate Soul that I may see your greatness to the end I may love your goodness and that truly loving you I may willingly leave all to look after you contentedly forfeit all to find you and having found you I may be more faithfull
Father How then do I see you panting fainting falling down through feebleness Are not you the supporting strength of this spacious Universe did not your power extend the Firmament encircling therewithall the celestiall Orb 's and fix the Earth upon the point of its own upholding center How then do I now behold you lying prostrate under the oppressing weight of this one single burthen O my Saviour you promise to lend men your helping hand and send them the assistance of your Angells to keep them from all harms in their fallings and your self falls here under your heavy Cross without admitting any succour from your own divin Person from your Angells or from Men in this your extream necessity O my soul how heynous are thy sins which ly so heavily upon thy Saviours shoulders And O my proud perverse spirit which refusest to submit thy stubborn neck to the sweet weight and light burthen of God and his Church Didst thou ever seriously contemplate thy Redeemer Christ Iesus groaning for thee under the burthen of his Cross How then dost thou still continue thy disobedience ingratitude impietie Or didst thou ever take into thy serious consideration thine own perchance nearly approaching passage out of this World to an eternity How then dost thou not apprehend what a heavy weight will oppress thy wicked heart at that dreadfull hour and how thou wilt be beaten down under the burthen of thy sins And alas who will then assist thee when thy angry Creator shall thunder his just judgments upon thy head which like formidable waves wil overflow and drown thy frail vesell What succour canst thou expect when a sad dispair seizing upon thee thou shalt vainly desire to ly cover'd in some cranny of the Rocks or to hide thy head in some hole of the Mountains or to be deep buryed in some Dungeon within the Earths bowels Who will then lend thee a charitable hand in this thy extream calamity or what can comfort a conscience thus cauteriz'd crucify'd oppress'd with so many crimes crying out against themselves for vengance O my soul Let 's not remit our conversion to that dismall hour but let 's now efficaciously do what we shall then fruitlesly desire to have done Leâ—… in the first place discharge our conscience of its deadly crimes whilst time and opportunity afford us leave and leasure Then let 's away with all these fardles of ill-gotten Goods cancell all unlawfull usurarie extortionous contracts cut off all our sinfull customs concupiscences sensualities and finally shake off the two long carryed and over-heavily charging yoake of the World the Flesh and the Devill This done let 's cheerfully receive the Cross of Penance and mortification from the sacred hands of suffering Jesus He carries it before us to encourage us to follow him his is weighty to make ours light and easie he fall under his that we may stand fast under ours and we shall neither want strength nor comfort in this our heroick enterprise of vertu and piety if we frequently cast our faithfull eyes upon our valiant Captain marching before us towards Mount Calvarie with his royall Standard on his shoulders The fifth Dolorous Mysterie Is kill'd Christ our Saviour is crucify'd and dy's on the cross John 19. Luke 23. Mark 15. Matth. 27. With nayles extended on the Cross he dy's Who 's God and Man for Man a sacrifice Our Father Our Blessed Saviour was put to excessive pain and torture 1. At the pulling off of his Garments FOr when by the help of a certain poor fellow call'd Simon he had train'd his heavy Cross to Golgotha His Executioners tear off his cloathes together with his skin and flesh to which they were in severall parts in a manner fast glued with the Blood flowing out of his wounds Hail Mary 2. At his there standing again naked in the sight of all the Spectators TO be hang'd up naked was the greatest disgrace they could put upon the most despicable person and don only to the worst sort of Malefactors Hail Mary 3. At the boysterous stretching out of his body on the Cross WHich they rack'd with such vioâ—ence by the help of ropes ty'd to his wrists and ankles that according to the Royall Prophets prediction all his dislocated Bones might have been numbred Hail Mary 4. At the Piercing of his hands and feet with nayls O Christ my Rock out of these sacred holes I may suck hony draw forth oyl and fully tast the sweetness of your affection Hail Mary 5. At the Erection of the Cross with Iesus upon it TO publish his Crucifixion and shew him to all the greedily expecting people What faithfull Christian will not be now rays'd to hopes of obtaining pardon When he considers his Redeemers arms thus extended to embrace him and his hands thus open'd to bestow benefits upon him Hail Mary 6. At the superscription of the Title of Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews WHich was written in a threefold language that no one might be ignorant of the cause of this his cruell usage but that all might conclude He was justly crucifi'd who had unjustly usurp'd a Kings title Hail Mary 7. At their continued calumnies whilst he hung on the Cross O Princes and People How implacable was your hatred how great your malice how insatiable your fury which could not forbear your abuses in his last Agony But he endur'd your peevishness and kept his own patience and though he descended not now from the Cross he soon after arose from the Sepulcher Hail Mary 8. At the sight of his compassionate Mother standing by his Cross O Sorrowfull Mother you see the Innocent Son of your chast womb wounded and cannot cure him weltring in blood and cannot wipe it off inclining and hanging down his weak and wearied head and cannot uphold it c. What tongue can express the compassion of your tender heart at the sight of these your Sons afflictions Or the grief of his tender heart at the sight of his thus afflicted Mother Hail Mary 9. At his Thirst upon the Cross GReat surely was the naturall thirst of his Body which was almost exhausted and drained dry of all his blood and moysture But far greater was his Souls spirituall thirst for the salvation of Mankind What do you thirst after O dear Redeemer says S. Augustin wine of the grape or water of the River your thirst is my salvation your drink my Redemption Be thou also thirsty O my dry Soul and drink thy fill of that blessed Fountain which thirsts thus after thee Hail Mary 10. At his giving up the Ghost and expiration on the Cross JESUS bowing down his head breath'd out his soul and deliver'd up his spirit freely voluntarily unconstrainedly into the hands of his eternall Father And so compleated and consummated the penall and afflictive part of the great Mystery of mans Redemption Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations
Petitions O My Soul would'st thou know where thou mayst assuredly find thy sweet Saviour Jesus the desired object of thy dearest affections It is upon Mount Calvary There he feeds upon Gall and Vineger There is his habitation upon the hard Cross There he reposes with extended leggs and stretched forth Arms to have his feet and hands pierced with horrid nayls There and thus he expects thy return from far O prodigall child ready to embrace thee with a Fatherly affection And dost thou see thy sweet Saviour hanging thus on the Cross for thy sake and yet solacest thy self in sinfull delights remainest still wallowing in the mudd and myre of thy wicked customs and not content thy self to commit sin and give scandall to others by thy bad example teachest them lessons of malice to draw them to thy unjust desires and their own utter damnation O sinful wretch Return now at least into thy self turn to thy sweet Saviour and run into the open'd arms and bosom of thy beloved Jesus calling thee alluring thee ready to receive thee He cry's out to thee from his Cross I thirst after thy conversion correction salvation He cry's aloud to awake thee excite thee hasten thee to accept of his proffer'd love before he renders up his life O when will the time come in which they who are buried in the Sepulchers of deadly sin and ly rotting in the graves of their inveterate crimes will hear the voyce of God's Son and hearing it will return to the life of grace if not at this present when he himself dyes to resuscitate them When will earthly souls full of terrestriall affection fear and tremble if they now remain unmoveable when will the Rocks of stony hearts be rent asunder with sorrow if they are now insensible When O my soul will the veil of thy vicious conscience be corn from the top to the bottom by a true confession of thy secret sins if shame and cowardise keeps it now cover'd when Jesus hangs naked on his Cross When will the Sun of thy Pride and vanity be obscured if it now shines when the glorious Sun of Justice shuts his eyes and becomes totally eclypsed O Jesu you call me And it is high time for me to answer to your summons you incline your sacred head towards me to give me a kiss of Peace and to whisper in the ears of my heart and Soul Behold I dy for thee I dy willingly for thee I dy purely for the love of thee And O my heart and Soul What answer do you make O my Jesu my sweet Saviour my dear Redeemer my soverarign Lord and Lover you dy and do I yet live O that I who have hitherto liv'd so little for you and so long for the world That I who have liv'd so long without you in negligence forgetfulness ingratitude That I who have liv'd so long against you in sin Impiety rebellion That I who have employ'd so small a portion of the time and talents you lent me faithfully and sincerely in your love and service O that I might now at least dy for you and with you Or if your providence will have my Pilgrimage yet prolong'd O Let me not live hereafter one moment but only for you and let me rather lose my life than your Love that living and dying I may be entirely yours for all succeeding time and Eternity Amen Then end this second part of the Rosary with the Creed sign of the Cross and Prayer To the sacred and undivided Trinity c. as before in the first part The third Part of the Rosary containing The five Glorious Mysteries Begin with the sign of the Cross Prayer and Creed as formerly The first Glorious Mystery Rises THE Resurrection of our Lord JESUS Mark 16. Our Saviour Rises reindu'd with breath Victorious over Hell and horrid Death These five Principall and common heads of the Glorious Mysteries may be also subdivided into many particular points of contemplation which according to our precedent method in the Joyfull and Dolorous we shall reduce to the number of Ten answerable to the Decades of this third part of the Rosary Our Father c. Our Blessed Redeemer and his sacred Mother exceedingly rejoyced 1. At his Bodyes cloathing with Immortalitie FOr by conquering death it was triumphantly rais'd up to a glorious immortall incorruptible life Hail Mary 2. At the joynt Glorification both of Body and Soul NOt that the Soul of our Blessed Saviour which was absolutly glorious from the first instant of his Conception receiv'd now any new encrease of glory but that the Miracle which retain'd his souls Glory from redounding into his Body did now cease upon this day of his Resurrection So that his Body receiv'd now its hitherto hindred Dowries of Claritie Agility Subtility Impassibility Hail Mary 3. At his exaltation above all creatures 1. THat in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow 2. That by no other means than his merits any one should be saved 3. That he should have all power in Heaven and Earth 4. That he was constituted the Judg of the living and dead All which he deserv'd by his exact obedience to his Eternall Father Hail Mary 4. At his entire victory over all his enemyes FIrst The Jews who having upbrayded him of Impotencie in not descending from the Cross were now utterly confounded at this far greater miracle of his Resurrection from Death 2. The Devill and all the Infernall Powers whose Pride he abated whose Kingdom he invaded whose spoyl's he divided c. Hail Mary 5. At his delivering the Holy Fathers out of Limbus TO wit Abraham Isaac Jacob Moyses David and the rest of the Patriarks Prophets and holy Persons whom he triumphantly led out of their long sustain'd captivity Hail Mary 6. At the now perfected Redemption of mankind FOr his and his mothers present joy and glory were commensurate to their former grief and sorrow undergon in his late cruell death and passion Hail Mary 7. At his being the true cause and perfect exemplar of the future Resurrection of all Mankind FOr as Christ is risen we also shall arise to wit to immortality c. Hail Mary 8. At the filling up the places of fall'n Angells THe Resurrection of our Saviour says S. Gregory was the festivity of the Angells for their number was to be compleated by his calling us to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary 9. At the corroboration consolation and confirmation of the Apostles ANd at the Reparation of their Faith Hope and Charity which were not only shaken but even lost and they exceedingly contristated and scandaliz'd at his death Hail Mary 10. At his frequent Apparitions for forty days space TO his dearely beloved Mther To the pious Magdalen and the rest of the devout Women To all his Disciples in generall To S. Thomas in particular wherby he manifested to them the reality of his glorious Resurrection and by them to the whol world Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to
the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions WHy weep you O sacred Virgin Why do you grieve and mourn O glorious Mother of Jesus your Son lives triumphs reigns He that was lately accounted the out-cast of the people is now the most happy of all mankind He that was crucifi'd dead and buried appears now cloathed with Clarity Agilitie Subtility Impassibilitie Behold the Man look up O Blessed Mary upon your beloved Jesus the lively Image of the Eternall Father the beauty and brightness of Heaven and Earth the Crown and ornament of Men and Angells Lo He here presents himself unto you to wipe all tears from your eyes and disperse all sorrows from your heart Hear him speaking unto you in his wonted tone and tearms of respect All Hail my most honoured Mother Peace and joy be with you 'T is I my self who am the comfortable Messenger of this happy exchange of yours and my sorrows into gladness and Jubilation both that you may with me incessantly prayse and bless my Eternall Father and also that you may take the first and best share of joy who have the greatest interest in me and had the greatest part with me in my passion of any mortall creature See and admire the power of the Almightyes right hand in the person of your Son The disgrac'd is glorifi'd the defam'd is justifi'd the condemn'd is absolv'd the crucifi'd is resuscitated Rejoyce then dear Mother together with you joyfull Son for whom you need not now fear any further miseries persecutions Crosses since he is above the reach of mans malice and the Devils power having put on the robes of glory impassibility immortality The short Winter of suffering is turn'd into a perpetuall Summer of consolation The stormy showers of blood into a sweet dew of blessings All my wounds are perfectly cur'd and the scarrs only remain as Rubies of my honour and badges of my victory O the excesses of Joy which transported your extasi'd heart and soul O sacred Virgin-Mother at the sight of your now again living and gloriously triumphing Son Jesus And O my soul If thou desirest a share in these Joys and gloryes of Jesus and Mary thou must also resolve to bear a part in their sorrows and sufferings Thou art much mistaken in thinking to triumph without trying for the Victory or to be crown'd without conquering No my delicate Soldier Christ thy King and Captain suffer'd before he entred into his glory Queen Maries heart was pierced with sorrow before it was replenish'd with comforts All the Saints combated before they were crown'd And refusest thou all sufferings all sorrows all combates all that thy flesh and blood cannot relish O dear Jesu What will you do with me who dare not encounter with the least difficulties How will you deal with me who bear the name of a Christian soldier and am indeed no better than a base and cowardly sensualist If I love the glory of your Crown why dislike I the ignominie of your Cross If I desire the reward of a Conqueror why do I not adventure into the field of the combat O why should your painfull death and passion so much affright me since your glorious Resurrection confirms me in the Hope and Faith of a future felicity why should I more dread in reflecting upon the difficulties occurring in my Pilgrimage than rejoyce in fixing my thoughts upon the pleasures of Paradise which is the end of my Pilgrimage O why am I not content to suffer with Jesus and for Jesus were there no reward to be expected for all my sufferings It being a sufficient glory to a faithfull Christian to be conformable to Christ his Captain Behold therefore I humbly prostrate my self here at your sacred feet O my victorious Redeemer imploring your pardon for my past pusillanimity and purposing to behave my self hereafter more manfully Come all sorts of crosses and losses all sorrows and sicknesses all punishments and persecutions all derelictions and desclations I will no more be daunted or dismay'd but animated by your example and assisted by your grace O Christ my King my Captain my glorious Conqueror I will either pass through them couragiously or pass by them patiently or pass over them victoriously Yes my Lord Jesu I will receive henceforth all afflictions from the hands of your divin providence as pledges of your paternall affection and most willingly joyfully resignedly embrace them as the happily offered occasions for the encrease of my merit the exercise of my vertu the perfection of my soul the expiation of my sins the crowning me with glory The second Glorious Mystery Ascends THE Ascension of our Lord Jesus into Heaven Mark 16. His great work don and his Commisons given In Glorious triumph he ascends to Heaven Our Father c. THE Glorious Virgin-Mother exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the Ascension of her Son Iesus in hers and his Disciples presence FOr upon the fortieth day after our Redeemers Resurrection his sacred Mother with the Apostles the seventy two Disciples and many more of his faithfull friends and followers met together by the divin instinct upon Mount Sion and march'd from thence proâ—essionally to the Mount Olivet distant a mile from Jerusalem to be spectators of this admirable catastrophe of their dear Saviour Christs humanity and to receive his last blessing before he left the Earth to ascend into Heaven Hail Mary 2. At his great Power shew'd in his Ascension FOr he elevated himself by his own strength and vertu nor could he need any forreign help or assistance whose inhabiting Divinity and glorifi'd soul could move his impassible and agile body as himself pleased Hail Mary 3. At the joyfull meeting and acclamation of the Angelicall spirits WHich undoubtedly descended all to accompany his humanity to congratulate his victory to echo forth the triumphs of his prayses Hail Mary 4. At his soaring above all the Heavens TO wit above the spheres of the seven Planets above the Christallin orbe above the starrie Firmament even to the Empyreall seat of the Divinity according to that sentence of the Apostle He ascended up far above all the Heavens that he might fulfill all things Hail Mary 5. At his ascending above the Angelicall quires and all creatures whatsoever ACcording to that expression of the same Apostle God the Father placed him his son Jesus far above all principalities and Powers and Dominations and every thing that is nam'd not only in this world but in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet Hail Mary 6. At his being seated on the right hand of his Eternall Father ACcording to that of S. Mark He was assumpted into Heaven and sits on his Fathers right hand And of S. Paul His Father set him on his own right hand in the heavenly places Which is a Metaphoricall expression signifying equality and society of Majesty honour power felicity c. Hail Mary 7.
FOr the spitefull Pharisees hearing the Apostles speaking all sorts of languages sought to undervalue the miracle by vilifying them as Drunkards but St Peter standing up in his own and his brethrens defence solidly refutes their malicious imputation to the great joy admiration and confirmation of all the Auditors and confusion of his enemies Hail Mary 7. At the sodain multiplication of the faithfull FOr St. Peters efficacious Oration was no sooner ended but three thousand Souls were presently converted to the Faith of Christ and forthwith baptizd in his name and five thousand more within few dayes after Hail Mary 8. At the fructification of Christs Passion FOr the blessed Virgin-Mother saw not only the present fruits of her Sons death and sufferings spread abroad in the Apostles and the new converted Christians but she also foresaw the future multitude of martyrs who should couragiously dy for his love besides the vast number of confessors virgins and religious Persons who should cheerfully take up their Crosses and faithfully follow him Hail Mary 9. At the great encrease of the divin honour and worship FOr Pagans Gentills Idolaters and people of all professions renouncing their ancient errors came flocking in amain to be instructed in the Faith of Christ and to follow the Evangelicall doctrin Hail Mary 10. At the accomplishment of the number of the Elect. FOr the blessed Virgin joyfully foresaw that all such souls as should depart this life in the true Faith of of her Son Jesus inform'd with charity were to be added to the number of the Saints and to be admitted to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Glorious Creator How great is your Mercy how infinit your liberalitie How excessive your affection to undeserving and ungratefull Mankind After your only Son was so ill treated amongst us would you also send down the Holy Ghost unto us It plainly appears that we have a potent Advocate in Heaven Jesus Christ the just to plead our cause and a Powerfull Mother upon Earth Mary the Mother of Jesus to impetrate for us this extraordinary favour It is therefore the Mothers merit and the Sons Mercy and the Eternal Fathers liberalitie and the Holy Ghosts goodness that this holy Spirit descends from Heaven upon us A Spirit of life and love a Spirit of solace and sweetness a Spirit of grace and happiness a Spirit which comes in form of fiery tongues to clear our understandings with his light to inflame our wills with his heat and to govern our tongues and affections with his gracious direction A light which dazels not a fire which consumes not a tongue which threatens not accuses not condemns not O sacred and divin Spirit you are the Father of the afflicted the Distributer of graces the enlightner of hearts the comforter of Souls and alas how opposite are my actions to your properties perfections inspirations You descend to instill into me the spirit of sweetness meekness patience and I converse with such as are under my charge and with others who are perchance far better before you than my self with a spirit of choller and peevishness with a spirit of rigour and harshness with a spirit of revenge and bitterness Ah uncharitable wretch that I am shall I contristate my neighbour instead of comforting him shall I exact from others instead of conferring benefits upon them shall I under-value my brethrens actions censure their intentions obscure their reputations instead of putting a charitable construction upon all things whatsoever Change this my crooked and crabbed disposition O powerfull Spirit thâ— plentifull bestower of all perfect gifts by the efficacy of your sacred influence upon my soul purge me I beseech you from my present imperfections pardon me for my past impieties and prevent me from future fallings by implanting your spirit of true peace and charity in my interiour which may keep my heart evermore burning in the love of you and my neighbour till I come to be totally absorpt in you together with the coequall Son and Father in your blessed Eternitie Amen The fourth glorious Mysterie she dy's THe assumption of the blessed Virgin up to Heaven Allegorically understood by Maryes chosing the best part Luke 10. The Virgins sacred Corps too rich a prize For Earth is born by Angels 'bove the Skyes Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mothers heart was replenish'd with exceeding great joy 1. At the news of the near approaching dissolution of her soul and body FOr as the holy Doctors deliver unto us after the dispersion of the Apostles into the Worlds severall quarters to preach the Gospell the blessed Virgin retir'd her felf into a privat dwelling near adjoyning to Mount Sion that she might pass the remaining day 's of her Pilgrimage upon earth in the devout contemplation of her divin Sons actions and the frequent visitation of the holy places of his Baptism Fasting Passion Buriall Resurrection Ascention when behold at the time appointed by the eternall providence a heavenly Messenger probably the Arch-Angell Gabriel reverently saluting her in her Sons name informs her of her near approaching departure out of this life Hail Mary 2. At the securitie of heâ— Glorious and speedy Resurrection FOr as Albertus and all the Doctors agree she could not possibly doubt of her present and immediate Translation to Eternall happiness Hail Mary 3. At her dying without any dread terrour or trouble FOr how could She fear death who was so fervent in Charity as that she desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ How could She be terrifi'd at Deaths approach who was absolutely free from all sin and impiety Or how could She be troubled at the apprehension of Gods severe Judgments who was secure of her salvation 4. At the presence of the Apostles at her departure FOr it is a generally receiv'd Tradition of the Fathers That all the Apostles were by divin instinct sodainly gather'd together from the worlds severall climats to honour her with their personall presence at this time of her earthly dissolution Hail Mary 5. At the sweet separation of her Soul aâ—… Body FOr say's S. Hierom as She was free from the corruption of the flesh so she was exempt from the calamities of Death And S. John Damascen The pain 's which she suffer'd not in childing and dying She payd at the time of Christs Passion Hail Mary 6. At the Ioyfull Re-union of her Soul and Body in her Resuscitation and Assumption into Heaven FOr according to S. Augustin There was no reason corruption should seize on her after death whose integrity was preserv'd in her life c. but 't was fit she should be always living who was the Parent of all life and that she should be always with him who for nine months space was with her in her womb c. Hail Mary 7. At Christ's meeting her accompanyed with the Heavenly
Citizens WHo can conceive say's S. Hierom how gloriously the world's Queen this day appeared with what affection the celestiall legions met her with what melodious Canticles she was conducted to her throne of glory with what an amiable and pleasing countenance her dear Son receiv'd her into his divin embraces and plac'd her above all other creatures c. Hail Mary 8. At her being exalted above all the Angelicall Orders and Hierarchies ACcording as the Church sings in her prayses You O sacred mother of God! are exalted above all the Quireâ— of Angells c. Hail Mary 9. At her being placed on her Sons right hand FOr as S. Hierom says we may piously believe that our Saviour seated her next to himself in the throne of his glorious Humanity How els had he accomplish'd what himself commanded Honour thy Father and Mother Hail Mary 10. At her being appointed the powerfull Advocatrix of mankind WE have Her to plead for us says S. Bernard who can suffer no repulse because she found grace with God Let us therefore seek Grace from the Fountain of Grace by the Finder of Grace and whatsoever we offer to the divin Majesty Let us commend it to Mary that so all may return to the Author of Grace by the same channell whereby it ran unto us Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Sacred Virgin-Mother your Deifi'd Soul is not forc'd out of your dying Body by the violence of pains but sweetly leaves it in an extasie of love O how welcom how amiable how desirable is death to a Soul that is well setled in the fear of God and fully confirm'd in the divin love and favour And how easily is that thing quitted without any affliction which is possess'd without overmuch affection Thrice happy he who so prudently regulates the use of life as to be always prepar'd to yeild it up to Death Happy he who patiently cheerfully resignedly endures the inconveniences of this soon-passing Pilgrimage in hope of a never-ending felicity in the heavenly Paradise Happy he who willingly deprives himself of this worlds most pleasing contentments upon confidence of laying up therby more solid pleasures in the Magazin of Eternity O glorious Virgin who have left me so perfect a Pattern of living vertuously and of dying happily Assist me I beseech you both in the one and the other I humbly acknowledg to my own great shame and sorrow that my life hath been hitherto far wide from the Imitation of your holy example But O pious Mother passing by my former indignity and pittying my present necessity take my perishing cause into your maternall consideration strengthen my Resolution of living vertuously for the future and assist me in that dreadfull hour of my deaths agony O let your Prayers patronage and protection then fortifie my Faith in its apprehension of the approaching Eternity Encourage my Hope in its consideration of the severe Judgment then near at hand and inflame my Charity in its last tendency to the long desired object of my Soul I now contemplate you great Empress seated there above in a throne of Majesty and satiated with the fulness of glory and felicity And I also consider you the still compassionate Mother the powerfull Mediatrix the pious Advocatrix of poor Mankind Wherefore I humbly begg for the love of your holy Son JESUS and by all that is dear to you in Heaven and Earth leave me not in that last hour but cast then your Eyes of mercy and favour upon me so shall I not doubt to be translated from a temporall death to an Eternall life and to remain perpetually with you in the perfect enjoyment of that fountain of life and love to which you are happily assumpted The fifth Glorious Mysterie Is Crown'd THE Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven The blest Promotress of all Chast desires Is Crowned Queen of th'Celestiall Quires Our Father c. THE Blessed Virgin Mothers Soul was fill'd with inexplicable joy 1. At her being seated upon a Royall throne in the celestiall glory WHere says S. Hierom the Immaculat Virgin-Mother was triumphantly plac'd next to her glorious Son Jesus in the celestiall Palace A Throne of Kingly glory says S. Augustin is prepar'd for you O great Queen-Mother in the Court of the heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary 2. At her being cloathed with Royall Garments ACcording to that saying of the Psalmist The Queen stood on thy right hand in a vesture of gold wrought about with divers colours Whereupon Saint Bernard extasiedly exclaims Gods Mother the worlds Lady Heavens Queen is elevated to the Eternall Fathers Throne and seated next to the sacred Trinity Where she stands on the Kings right hand in a golden garment To wit a body most pure and unspotted encompassed with variety that is a Soul enamell'd with all sorts of vertues Hail Mary 3. At her being adorn'd with Royall Iewells Ear-rings and Bracelets TO wit the Plenitud of all Prudence Science and Intelligence in her Soul and of Clarity Subtility Impassibility in her Body Hail Mary 4. At her being honor'd with a Royall Ring TO wit In her Soul which was the singular Spouse of the Eternall King a singular Joy Glory and felicity And in her Body which was singularly Instrumentall in the Eternall Words Incarnation a singular beauty Hail Mary 5. At her being grac'd with a Royall Scepter TO wit in her Soul by a speciall Power which was given her in Heaven and Earth and in her Body by a speciall prerogative of glory Hail Mary 6 At her being deck'd with a royall crown TO wit first with a generall Crown which is the substantiall and essentiall reward of Eternall glory and Beatitude consisting in the clear vision the perpetuall Fruition and the perfect possession of the Divinity This Crown corresponds to the three-fold Theologicall vertues in the Soul To Faith succeeds vision To Charity Fruition To Hope Possession Now as the sacred Virgin excells here all others in these vertues so her Crown out-shines there all others in Glory Hail Mary 7. At her being crown'd with the silver Aureola of Virgins FOr she being the Immaculat Mother of God and the unspotted Queen of all Virgins having none like her in the first nor any to parallell her in the Second is adorn'd with a Crown as far surpassing the Aureola's of other virgins as the Suns brightness excells that of the lesser Starrs Hail Mary 8. At her being crown'd with the golden Aureola of Martyrs FOr as She endured more than all Martyrs when the sword of sorrow pierc'd her heart at the time of her Sons Passion so she deserv'd a Crown above all Martyrs correspondent to her sufferings Hail Mary 9. At her being crown'd with the Starrie Aureola of Doctors FOr they who instruct others to Justice says the Prophet Daniel shall shine as Stars in perpetuall Eternity Now the sacred Virgin was the Teacher and
Instructer of the Apostles and therefore is described by S. John in his Revelations with a Crown of twelve Starrs upon her head Hail Mary 10. At her being crown'd with the verdant and perpetually florishing Aureola of Innocency Purity FOr as she was of such extraordinary Purity that under God-man a greater cannot be conceiv'd says Saint Anselm And of such unimitable Innocency that from the first instant of her Conception to the last moment of her life She preserv'd it absolutely entire without the least spot or blemish so She enjoyes a Crown of extraordinary Clarity far above all others the same God-man only excepted Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O King of Glory How great is your bounty and how excessive is your liberality You confer upon men whol Torrents of pleasurs and full Oceans of delights for their Cups of cold water given for your sake You bestow on thē magnificent Crowns and blessed Kingdoms for their morsells of bread bestow'd upon their necessitous brethren And shall we question whether your own dear Mother whose pure Blood gave your Body its Being in whose chast entralls you so long lodged upon whose Breast-milk you so sweetly fed is now highly rewarded by you in heaven She cloath'd you O word Eternall and Incarnate with the robes of her Humanity and can we doubt but that you have vested her with the light of your Heavenly glory and crown'd her with the glittering Jewells of Wisdom Power Dominion and whatsoever may beseem the Soveraign Empress of Men and Angells O Virgin O Mother How great is your Glory How singular your Honor How Eminent your Dignity Since you are the Mother of Grace which is God himself you are seated on the right hand of God himself in his Glory Since you have the advantagious quality above all creatures of being Gods Mother you surely have an advantagious Crown above all Creatures which constitutes you Queen of Heaven For to what Woman besides your happyest self Or to which of the Angells howsoever high holy and perfect did euer God say you are my Mother you begot me bore me brought me forth O Mother of God! O Title of Titles O words few in number but full of numberless Mysteries and miracles O Quality containing all the Abyssall perfections which can possibly fall within the compass of Mens and Angells Imagination thinking upon a pure creature Mother of God! Be you praysed honoured and admired next to your Son Jesus by all Creatures in Heaven and Earth for evermore You have sufficiently shew'd me O sacred Mother by your divin example the ready way to reall glory and happiness Which is To prefer Gods honour love and service before all things els whatsoever But alas How Poorly have I hitherto practis'd your instructions and how ill have I imitated your examples Your continuall Exercise was to magnifie the Divin Majesty with heart and mouth and therefore you have deserv'd to be blessed prays'd and proclaim'd happie by all succeeding generations because the Almighty wrought great things in you placing you upon the worlds Theater as the Prime work of his hands and the most accomplish'd pattern of all created perfections But I on the contrary have made small account of God and his service and how then can I expect to obtain the blessing of him others or hope he should effect great things in me by me for me Yet if he and all others call me not blessed in the last great Judgment day I must remain accursed for all Eternity And if he work not great things in me what can all other things avail me in order to my happiness Ha! How long then shall my affection be fastned to falshoods follies vanities How long shall my soul be enslav'd to these sordid passions and to the base customs of my corrupted nature which are repugnant to Reason contrary to my Creators Law opposite to his profer'd grace destructive of my expected glory O my Lord and my God! I will no longer forget you I will even now begin to praise you with heart and mouth in all before all above all your only love honour and service shall be the first in my esteem the first in my affections the first in my actions For alas what els have I to esteem desire love in Heaven and Earth but you the God of my heart my soveraign good my All for time and Eternity And thou my poor Soul Take courage Eternity draws on Thy glorious Mother with millions of blessed Saints and Angells more beautifull than so many Suns in the mid-day of their brightness invites thee to be with her satiated with her Sons amiable countenance and absorp'd in the boundless Sea of his beatifying delights Thy beloved Lord himself expects thee with a Crown of evelasting rewards in his right hand and with these sweetly alluring words in his sacred mouth Come my Love my Dove my Fair one come thou shalt be crown'd for having serv'd me faithfully lov'd me fervently suffer'd for me freely and accomplish'd my will fully Live henceforth with me eternally in Satiety and security THE FIRST APPENDIX JESVS Or the Confraternity of the most sacred Name of JESUS With Elevations sutable thereunto IN so much as there is a certain pious Fraternity of the most holy Name of Jesus which had its first rise and origin from that of the sacred Rosary Et ex illa tanquam ex Matre filia prognata sit being as it were the Daughter of that Mother and to which it is so firmly fastned and so neerly allied as that generally in Catholique Countreys all they who are children of the Blessed Mothers Rosary are also thus Members of the Son's Society It will not be amiss after this large Declaration of the Rosary to annect a brief description of this Confraternity that so nothing may be wanting which may conduce to the devotion of faithfull Christians and enrich them with spirituall Benefits This pious Confraternity of the sacred Name of Jesus was begun in Italy by Didacus a Victoria a Doctor of Divinity and devout Preacher of S. Dominicks order in the year 1564. and soon after promulgated throughout Spain by Joannes Micon who was another learned Doctor and zealous Preacher of the same Order the Disciple of that Blessed and famous man Ludovicus Bertrandus The Reason and End of the Institution thereof was to extirpate that execrable and then Customary vice of Swearing by Gods holy Name and blaspheming the divin Majesty The Rules of this Confraternity are these 1. They who desire to be of it are either to have their Names enrolled into a Book provided for that purpose as it is said of the Rosary or to be admitted into this Confraternity by such as have power from the Superiors of Saint Dominick's Order by some other legall lawfull and formall way 2. Upon the day of our Redeemers Circumcision which
LOVE O MERCY O MERVAIL You will unite your Greatness to our Baseness your Eternity to our Mortality your Divinity to our humanity becoming Son of Man Son of Mary for an Eternity as from all Eternity you are the Son of GOD the only Son of the Eternall Father 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and Subsistence to our nature I Adore you in this highest Councill and divin Will I Adore you in this new estate and deep Mystery I Adore you in the unity of your divin Person and in the diversity of your natures the one Divin and Eternall the other human and temporall I Adore you as receiving your Eternall Essence from the Eternall Father and as giving your Essence you subsistency to human nature united to your self for an Evermore Vnited I say to your self so intimatly and so powerfully so gloriously and so divinely O Adorable Estate O Unspeakable Mystery O happy Moment of the Incarnation which makes man God and God man Which gives to Heaven a King of Glory and to the Earth a Soveraign To Angells a Repayrer and to Men a Saviour 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us O JESU my Lord and my Saviour I Adore you as Gods Son I Adore you as Mans Son and Man God I Adore you in these two different Estates The one Eternall the other Temporall the one uncreated the other created the one divin the other human joyned together and joyned inseparably But I must yet Adore you as Man-God for man For 't is for us that you would be made Man 't is for us that you live and dy 't is for us that you do suffer 't is for us that you are born in a Stable and bedded on straw 't is for us that you lead an abject laborious suffering life 't is for us that you dy upon Mount Calvary and hang on the Cross 't is for us that you arise and ascend into Glory O Birth O Life O Death O Divin glorious heavenly Life O blessed hour of the Incarnation of the Expiration of the glorification of Gods Son O Estates of Jesus in his Fathers bosom and at his Mothers breasts hanging on the Cross and sitting on the right hand of God! O Abodes O Estates O Mysteries of Jesus in Judea in Egypt in Galilee in Bethleem in Nazareth in Jerusalem in the Crib on the Cross in the Grave on Earth in Hell in Heaven Who can recount your thoughts your griefs your delights in these places But Heaven will one day reveal them unto us and the Contemplation hereof shall be one of the employments of our Eternity till when the Earth must remain ignorant hereof must Reverence them and must be content with the Crums falling from your Saints Tables whom you plentifully nourish with this living and life-giving bread on Earth and in Heaven 6. Jesus Adores his Heights by his Lownesses and rayseth up his Lownesses by his Greatnesses 1. BY their Example and Imitation I Contemplate and Adore you O Jesu my Lord I Adore you in your Greatness and in your Abjectness in your Cross and in your Glory in your life and in your death 2. I Adore you as raysing up your Lowness by your Greatness your human life by your divin Life your disgraces by your glory and your suffring estate by your impassible immutable and eternall condition 3. I Adore you as Adoring your self your Greatness by your Littleness your Divinity by your Humanity your Birth in your Fathers bosom by your Birth of your Mother-Virgin in the Ox-stall your supreme Authority by your humility and your uncreated Essence by your Created Being 4. And after this Contemplation of you in your self I contemplate and Adore you as going forth of your self as extending and spreading your self and as filling Heaven and Earth with your Grace and your Glory with your gifts and your Mysteries and finally with your self O God! O Man O Man-God O Infinitly prodigall of your self 7. Jesus's excessive love in the effusion of his last drop of Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his Greatness and Goodness also upon us I Inlarge my self in the variety of these thoughts I am ravisht in these different Exercises which my Soul makes of your self and I lose my self in the Contemplation of these so high and great verities For in honour of that supream Communication which you receive from your Father in the Eternall generation and in honour of that Ineffable Communication of your Divinity with our Humanity in the Incarnation I look upon you I admire you I Adore you O my Lord as annihilating your self and as exhausting your self that you may bestow your self on men You as it were drayn your Divinity powring it out upon your humanity consuming it incessantly in the furnace of your love and at last sacrificing it in the Holocaust of your Cross you shed your Blood in suffering and you dy by the effusion thereof chosing that kind of death to demonstrate the effusion of your self And the Nayls and Executioners being unable to empty it all the ardour of your love which cannot be extinguish'd in death it self preserv's liquid in death's coldness that residue left in your heart and body to be drain'd out even to the last drop Such was your good pleasure to make an aboundant and super-aboundant Effusion both of your blood and also of your self together 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him WHat shall I say what shall I do in the Contemplation of these things Let me forget my self for you forget Your self for me Let me leave and loose my self for you annihilate Your self for me Let me be yours for You are mine let me be all yours for you are all mine Let me be all yours for ever for you are all mine for ever Your Divinity as it were Incarnated is my substance and my subsistence your humanity as it were divinized is my health my life your Body is my diet and your Blood is my Bath your Death is my life your weakness is my strength your Cross is my quiet your suffering is my rejoycing Thus I am yours and you are mine And I am yours O my loving Saviour by your self and by a means so noble and so divin so dear and near unto you and by so many sorts of ways which give you unto me which consecrate me to you and which even draw and drain you all out for me But I discover yet a greater secret in your love and in your Mysteries and a greater favour in your way of dealing with me For you are not only mine and I yours but I am in you I perceive that whilst I Contemplate your self and your Father and see that you are in him that you live in him you frame within me a lively Image of your self and of your divin Emanation and by your Incarnation you establish a new manner of gracious
Operation which prepares and unites our nature with the Divinity and the Person of the Virgin with the Person of the Word Operation which accomplisheth the Incarnation of the word and the deification of human nature which remaining human in the very estate of this divin union receiv's uncreated and infinite Grace in a being which is created finite and like to ours 5. Contemplations upon the humanity of Jesus ANd you O sacred Humanity which by this Operation of the Holy Ghost are divinly deriv'd from the Virgin and personally united to the eternall Word I contemplate and adore you in that mervailous estate whereunto you enter Estate of Existency in the divin Being Estate of subsistency in the Person of the Word Estate of Filiation not adoptive but proper and naturall and I lose my self in the consideration of the inward and secret communications of the divin perfections which are singularly conferr'd upon a nature rhus resident thus living thus existent in the divinity 6. Contemplations upon the association of the blessed Virgin in the Mysterie of the Incarnation ANd since the most sacred Trinity chooseth you O holy Virgin and associates you to himself in this admirable operation I cannot forget you in this Mysterie nor ought I to seperate what God in this work hath conjoyn'dâ— Work in which he vouchsafes to you so great and honourable a part and so peculiar to you only amongst all Creatures I prayse then and reverence you with a singular Veneration correspondent to the excess of that excellency and dignity communicated unto you For you are Mother of God and you are the only in this order and quality and it is in you and in you only that this work of works is accomplish'd and this divin union between the Humanity and the Divinity is consummated In these thoughts there is enough to ravish a Soul to loose it in the diversity of these Objects and to swallow it up in their deep profundities I am confounded in the contemplation of them I caâ—… my self down I lift my self up I rejoyce I leap out of my self and I will have share in this new grace of this new mysterie of the Incarnation 7. An Oblation of humble Servitude to Jesus and to his deifi'd Humanity ANd expecting untill it shall please God to make me capable of some one of the holy inventions of his Spirit and of the operations of his grace and love by consequence of this mysterie I offer and submit my self I vow and dedicate my self to Jesus Christ our Lord in the state of perpetuall servitude to him and to his deify'd Humanity and to his humaniz'd Divinity and this with a resolution as firm constant and inviolable as by his grace is possible for me to make and as the durance and perpetuity of this stable mysterie permament for all Eternity doth deserve 8. A larger expression of this servitude WHerefore in honour of the unity of the Son with the Father and the Holy Ghost and of the union of the â—ame Son with human nature which he â—aâ—th united and joyn'd to his own Person I do unite and fasten my being to Jesus Christ and to his deify'd Humanity by the bond of perpetuall servitude I knit this knot on my part with all my power and beg of him to give me more power to tie my self to him with a closer and faster colligation in honour of those holy and sacred connexions which he will have with us in Earth and in Heaven in the life of grace and of glory 9. The Life of the Divinity in the Humanity I Reverence and adore the Life and annihilating of the Divinity in the Humanity the life the substance and the deification of this Humanity in the Divinity and all the actions humanly divin and divinly human which have proceeded from this new and mutual life of the Man-God living in two Essences whereof one is Eternall the other Temporall the one is Divin the other Humanâ— Life great high and profound of the Man-God and of the God Man Life rare and admirable but hidden in its own sublimity Life unknown even to Angels and to all created nature under the manifestation of glory Life hidden I say and unknown of the Divinity in this Humanity and of the Humanity in the Divinity In homage of this double Life and Essence I dedicate and consecrate to him my life and my actions of nature and of grace and this I consecrate to him in quality of the life and actions of one of his Bond-slaves for evermore 10. The denudation of Jesus's human subsistencie is the cause that his humanity and all its actions are appropriated to the Person of the Eternall word by which it subsists I Reverence the denudation and nakeding which the Humanity of Iesus hath of its own proper and ordinary subsistencie to be revested with another subsistency which we may call forreign and extraordinary to its own nature whence it is that its life and its estate its motiâ—…s and its actions are not now from it self nor its own to speak properly but they are all that's actions which sustains it thus denuded of its won peculiar subsistence In honour of this Privation of the Humanity of a thing so inward and so conjoyn'd to its own nature and of the new and absolute dependencie which it hath of a divin Person I renounce all power authority and liberty which I have to dispose of my self of my being of all the conditions circumstances and â—ppurtenances thereof and of all my actions to dismiss my self entirely into the hands of Jesus and of his sacred humanity to his honour and glory for the accomplishment of all his purposes and powers upon me 11. An Oblation of all that we are and can to this sacred Humanity I make unto you O Iesu and to your deify'd Humanity an entire absolute and irrevocable Oblation and Donation of all that I am by you in the Being and in the order of nature and grace of all that which depends thereupon of all the naturall and good actions which I shall ever perform referring my self totally that is all that which is in me and all that which I can refer to the homage and honour of your sacred humanity which I from henceforth look upon and lay hold on as the object whereunto after God I refer my soul my interiour and exteriour Life and generally all whatsoever is mine 12. JESUS is doubly in the state of a servant 1. by humbling his divin Person to a created nature 2. by dying on the Cross O Great and admirable Jesu notwithstanding your greatness I behold you in the state and form of a servant and I see that you have taken this form and this estate in two severall manners the one by taking our human nature in the Mysterie of the Incarnation and abjecting in it the infinite and supream being of your Divinity even to the nothing of our nature the other by taking the abject condition of our
Soveraign Lady Queen of Heaven and Earth that you thus vouchsafe to give a visit to your unworthy Bondslave Bestow on me your Blessing O my Lady and permit me not to go into darkness whom you have been graciously pleas'd to visit with the light of your glorious presence Then turning towards the by-standers The Queen of the World was here says he the Mother of the Eternall Monark was present She hath shew'd me the gladness of her countenance given me her holy blessing and is hence returned into heaven And soon after his departing Soul followed his sacred Mistress leaving a most lively and memorable example to excite posteritie to the like pietie and devotion 3. Whereupon this Devotion of the Bondage is grounded THis Devotion of Bondage is chiefly grounded upon that most heroique Act of Humilitie which the sacred Virgin produc'd at the time of our Saviours Incarnation when being declar'd Gods Mother by the Angelicall Messenger she answer'd Behold the Handmaid of ovr Lord Luk 1. 38. Wherby she depressing her self into the center of her own nothing chose undoubtedly the meanest degree of servitude and Bondage to the divin Majestie upon contemplation that his Infinit Greatness should so humble it self as to become Man in her womb for the worlds Redemption And surely if we will only put together the severall sentences of sacred Writ which expresly concern her we shall find that she made up the Chain of her Bondage with the links of twelve most excellent vertues 1. Virginall MODESTY She was troubled at the Angells words Luk 1.29 2. Mature PRUDENCE She cast in her mind what manner of Salutation this should be Luk 1.29 3. BASHFULL TIMEROUSNES Fear not MARY for thou hast found grace with God Luk 1.30 4. Immaculate CHASTITY How shall this be seeing I know not man Luk 1.34 5. Profound HUMILITIE Behold the Handmaid of our Lord. Luk 1.38 6. Perfect OBEDIENCE Be it don to me according to thy word Luk 1.38 7. Firm FAITH Blessed art thou who hast believed Luk 1.45 8. Gratefull THANKSGIVING My Soul doth Magnify our Lord. Luk 1.46 9. True POVERTY She wrapp'd the Infant in swadling cloaths and layd him in a manger Luk 2.7 10. Invincible PATIENCE Thy Father and I grieving have sought thee Luk 1.48 11. Charitable PIETIE Son they have no Wine John 2.3 12. Perseverant CONSTANCY Near to the Cross of Jesus stood his Mother John 19.25 In imitation therfore of these her holy vertues and especially of that high Act of Humility as is aforesaid by which she rendring her self Gods Bondslave was rais'd to be his Mother for no sooner had She finish'd that humble speech Behold the Handmaid of our Lord be it unto me according to thy saying but the Word was made Flesh and dwelt in her sacred bowells As also in consideration of the Soveraign Dominion which God hath given her in Heaven over the Angells The Queen stood at thy right hand Psal 44. on Earth over men Kings reign by me c. Prov. 18. And thou alone hast overcome all heresies in the whol world sings the Church And over Hell and the Devill She shall bruise thy head Gen. 3. And Lastly in remembrance that Christ Jesus our Redeemer was himself subject and obedient unto her Luc. 3.51 In Imitation Consideration and Memorie of these things I say this holy manner of honouring the most sacred Virgin was as you have briefly heard invented above six hundred years since by divin inspiration as we may piously believe and is much practis'd amongst the devouter sort of Christians throughout the world even at this day 4. The Rules of this Devotion of the Bondage 1. IN sign of the Invisible and spirituall Chain which links our sincere affection to the sacred Virgin and moves us to become her servants and Bondslaves we must wear some little materiall Chain or manacle of Iron about our middle neck or armes 2. We are to have the Chain we intend to wear bless'd by some Priest in this following manner The Blessing of the Chaines Vers ADjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui fecit coelum terram Vers Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum Resp Ex hoc nunc usque in saeculum Vers Domine exaudi orationem meamâ— Resp Et clamor meus ad te veniat Vers Dominus vobisâ—um Resp Et cum Spiritu tuo OREMUS OMnipotens sempiterne Deus qui vincula peccatorum nostrorum disrumpis ut libertate Filiorum gaudere valeamus qui ad vincula salutis hominem advocas dicens Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius ne acedier is vinculis ejus Haec vincula quae in signum perpetuae servitutis ad honorem Beatae Virginis servi ejus deferre intendunt Bene †dicere Sancti †ficare digneris Et concede eis sic devotè illa gerere ut vivendo candore castitatis illustrentur ac moriendo a vinculis peccatorum absoluti intercessione ejusdem sanctissimae Matris Mariae tecum cum illa in regno gloriae congaudere valeant sine fine Qui vivis regnas in saecula saeculorum Amen Then he sprinkles the chains with holy water saying †In nomine Patris Filii †Spiritus Sancti Amen 3. We may do well to make choyce of some day dedicated to the Virgins honour for the entring into this Bondage and putting on of this Chain to make our Profession more memorable and solemn Note that the most proper and principall Feasts of this Bondage are the Annunciation and the Assumption The first being the Origin thereof grounded upon those words of the sacred Virgin to the Angell Behold the Handmaid of our Lord And the second being her taking possession of that soveraign Dominion next after God whereupon the whol duty of this devout servitude depends In these days therfore we are more particularly and zealously to offer up our devotions in thanksgiving to the Divin Majâ—stie for the supream excellencies bestow'd upon the glorious Virgin and to renew the profession of our Bondage by the recitall of the Prayer and Oblation made at our first entrance into it as it shall be hereafter set down 4. We should also prepare our selv's before hand by some particular Devotion as Fasting Mortification Meditation Almes-deeds Confession Communion to render the Profession of our Bondage more efficacious and meritorious 5. Then at the time appointed we are to kneel down reverently before some Altar or Image of our Blessed Lady and make an Oblation of our selv's unto her in mannner following The Prayer and Oblation of our selv's in Bondage to the Blessed Virgin O Blessed Mary Mother of God Queen of Heaven and Empress of the whol universe Behold I N. N. a most unworthy wretch humbly prostrate before the Throne of your Mercy and Goodness heartily Congratulating your glory greatness and faithfully acknowledging your soveraign Power Dominion next after God over my self and all Creatures Do here make a voluntarie absolute and irrevocable
your Mother-hood and I reverence you as pronouncing these sacred words Behold the handmaâ—d of our lord and as receiving the effect of his divin will by yielding your self his Mother at the same instant in which you render and profess your self to be his Servant and in honour of these two different estates and of this admirable disposition which thus depresseth and exalteth you I give up my self to be for ever your Bond-slave I put my life and my soul in an estate of Relation of Dependancy and of Servitude in respect of you My will is that my life of Nature and of Grace and all my actions be yours in this quality as things totally appertaining to you by reason of this my state and condition of Servitude towards you I offer unto you my whol life and all my actions in the honour of your life and of your actions towards your only Son and in honour of your Sons actions towards you And could I come to the knowledg of an Estate more humbling more subjecting and more corresponding to the excesses of your Greatness I would most willingly embrace it thereby to render you more homage and honour and my will is that in vertu of this my present Intention each moment of my life and each one of my actions belongs as much to you as if I made to you a particular tender thereof 13. In the Virgin all is Great and particularly her Maternity her Soveraignity her Sanctity I Offer up also unto you O Virgin and Mother of God! all that I am all that I have all that I can to render homage to all that you are For in you all is great all is holy all is worthy of singular Veneration and you are an abysmus of greatnesses and a world of wonders excellencies and rarities which ravish Heaven with their beauty and which the Earth neither knows nor can conceive In expectation of having these things manifested hereafter unto me I will stedfastly behold and singularly reverence your sacred Maternity your glorious Soveraignty your great Sanctity Your Maternity for it unites you to God by a conjunction appertaining to your self alone and gives you so eminent a degree of affinitie with him as no one durst have imagined Your Soveraignty for this admirable quality of being Gods Mother gives you not only an Eminency above all Creatures but also a Power and Dominion over them all as Mother of their Creator And are there any Spirits so little vers'd in the light of our christian mysteries and so insensible of your greatness O sacred Virg n as to find fault with this your Domination and contradict this sort of servitude which beholds and honours it in you let them get forth of their darkness and rayse up themselv's above the shallow reach of their sense let them contemplate God and his Creatures and by the light of the Creator they shall quickly discern that all Sanctity hath a certain degree of Greatness of Dignity and of Domination annexed unto it They shall perceive that the Creatures as Creatures are all born in servitude the slavery is as it were their naturall estate and condition and that they are at least far nearer unto bondage in their lowness than God in the Eminency of his Being was to the Maternity which he gave unto you and whereby he was pleas'd as it were to inclose and bound himself and yet he passes over this Infinit yea Infinit times Infinit distance which is between the Created Being and the Being Increated making himself a Son to one of his own Creatures acknowledging and respecting you as his Mother and giving you a sweet honourable and Motherly power over himself And can it then be conceiv'd unjust or unbeseeming that to honour this low-stooping of God unto his Creature and this high-raysing of the Creature unto God every Creature should bear impressed on it self the mark and badg of its servitude towards this supream Dignity Dignity which God in his wisdom equally adornes and accompanies with Power and with Sanctity with Power towards the Creatures with Sanctity towards God for if it be good that God in respect of us hath a Mother It is surely just that in respect of himself he should establish her in an estate of high Power and admirable Sanctity and that he should render due honour to himself in this dignity which so divinly incloses him and so highly concerns him Your sanctity also O Virgin-Mother is incomparable for the Holy of Holies who vouchsafes to make you his Mother forms also for you a New Holyness far surpassing all other degrees and orders of Holyness which he hath already or ever will produce to make you therby worthy of so high a preferment and of so holy an office and employment and to settle you in a glorious state answearable to so great a quality In the honour therfore of your Sanctity of your Maternity of your Soveraignty I dedicate and consecrate my self totally to you O Virgin of Virgins Saint of Saints Daughter and Spouse of God the Father Mother and Servant of God the Son Temple and Sanctuary of the Holy Ghost My will and desire is that you have a speciall power over my soul over my estate over my life and over my actions as over things belonging unto your self both by the title of your own Greatness and also by this new and particular right to wit in vertu of this choyce which I now make to depend hereafter entirely upon your Sanctity upon your Maternity upon your Soveraignty by reason of this my servitude which I now and for ever present unto you 14. It is a small matter that we make our selv's the Virgins Bond-staves and therefore we wish her to employ her power over us and that she would vouchsafe to make us truly so BUt yet all this neither sufficeth your Greatness and Dignity nor satisfies my affections and desires and therefore I make it my humble Petition to you O sacred Virgin and Soveraign Lady of all hearts and souls which are consecrated to Jesus that you will of your self vouchsafe to take upon you that power over me which I cannot give you and that you will render me your own Bond-slave in the way your self best knows and approv's and which I know not Inclose me I beseech you within your power and your priviledges and make me your own in a particular manner and grant that I may serve you not only by my actions but even by the state and condition of my very Being and of my whol Life both interiour and exteriour And generally I beseech you to take me and treat me in this World as your slave who abandons himself to all your wills and delivers up himself to all your powers and to all the effects of your Greatness and Soveraigntie And I beseech you also O Jesuâ— my Lord and my God! to consider me from henceforth as the Bond-slave of your blessed Mother in the honour of her being your Mother
unite it unto you O Mary Poure out the milk of your Chast Breasts upon my heart by the impression of an humble piety and devotion upon it which may entirely sanctifie my Interiour O Joseph bestow on me the blessings of the Earth that is of your labours sweats and merits wherby the works of my hands may become prosperous and all my exteriour actions profitable and meritorious That honouring and loving you upon Earth O sacred Trinity JESUS MARIA JOSEPH I may enjoy your happy sight and presence O Jesu with Mary and Joseph in Heaven and there render due honour praife and glory to the Father Son and Holy Ghost one only God for all Eternity Amen THE FOURTH APPENDIX STATIONS Or a Catalogue of the Plenary Indulgences of the Stations of ROME AND FIRST Of the Stations in Advent Lent and other Moveable Feasts as they are set down in the Bulla Cruciata publisbed in the year 1612. ALL the Indulgences of the Stations of Rome are granted to the Members of the holy Rosary as is declared in the 13 sect Numb 11. page 103. of our first Book by visiting upon those days five Altars or one only if there be no more and reciting before each Altar five Paters and five Aves or Twenty Five before that one Altar Now the days of the Roman Stations upon which Plenary Indulgences are granted in Advent Lent and other moveable Feasts are these following The first Sunday in Advent at S. Maria Major The second Sunday at the holy Cross in Jerusalem and at S. Maria de Angelis The third Sunday at S. Peters Wednesday in Ember week at S. Maria Major Friday in Ember-week at the twelve Apostles Saturday in Ember-week at Saint Peters The fourth Sunday in Advent at the 12. Apostles Septuagesima Sunday at S. Laurence without the walls And a soul out of Purgatory Sexagesima Sunday at S. Paul Quinquagesima Sunday at Saint Peter Ashwensday at S. Sabina Thursday at S. George Friday at SS John and Paul Saturday at S. Tryphon The first Sunday in Lent at S. John Lateran Munday at S. Peter in Vinculis Tuesday at S. Anastasia and a soul out of Purgatory Wensday at S. Maria Major Thursday at S. Laurence in Panerperna Fryday at the twelve Apostles Saturday at S. Peter The second Sunday in Lent at S. Maria in Domnica and S. Maria Major Munday at S. Clement Tuesday at S. Balbina Wensday at S. Cecily Thursday at S. Maria trans Tyberim Fryday at S. Vitalis Saturday at S. Peter and Marcelline And a soul out of Purgatory The third Sunday in Lent at S. Laurence without the walls And a soul out of Purgatory Munday at S. Mark Tuesday at S. Pudentiana Wensday at S. Sixtus Thursday at SS Cosmus and Damianus Fryday at S. Laurence in Lucina Saturday at S. Susan and at S. Maria de Angelis The fourth Sunday in Lent at the holy Cross in Jerusalem and a soul out of Purgatory Munday at SS Quatuor Coronati Tuesday at S. Laurence in Damaso Wensday at S. Paul Thursday at S. Sylvester and at S. Martins in the Mount Friday at S. Eusebius Saturday at S. Nicholas in Carcere The fifth Sunday in Lent at Saint Peter Munday at S. Chrysogonus Tuesday at S. Cyriacus Wensday at S. Marcellus Thursday at S. Apollinaris Fryday at S. Stephen in Caelio monte And a soul out of Purgatory Saturday at S. John ante Portam Latinam And a soul of Purgatory Palm-Sunday at S. John Lateran Munday at S. Praxedes Tuesday at S. Pâ—…sca Wensday at S. Maria Major Thursday at S. John Lateran Fryday at the holy Cross and at S. Maria de Angelis Saturday at S. John Lateran Easter day at S. Maria Major Munday at S. Peter Tuesday at S. Paul Wensday at S. Laurence without the walls And a soul out of Purgatory Thursday at the twelve Apostles Fryday at S. Maria ad Martyres Saturday at S. John Lateran Low-Sunday at S. Pancratius Munday in Rogation week at S. Maria Major Tuesday at S John Lateran Wensday at S. Peter Ascension day at S. Peter Whitson-eve at S. John Lateran Whit-Sunday at S. Peter Munday at S. Peter in Vinculis Tuesday at S. Anastasia Wensday at S. Maria Major Thursday at S. Laurence without the walls And a soul out of Purgatory Fryday at the twelve Apostles Saturday at S. Peter And a soul out of Purgatory On the Feast of Corpus Christi and all the days within the Octave at S. Peter Wensday of the Ember-week in September at S. Maria Major Fryday at the twelve Apostles Saturday at S. Peter Plenary Indulgences which may be gain'd by them of the Rosary reciting twenty five Paters and Aves before five Altars or all before one as aforesaid upon such days of the Months as are here set down in order JANUARY 1. ON the Feast of the Circumcision and all the days within the Octave at S. Maria Trans Tyberim and at Ara Coeli 6. On the Feast of the Epiphany and all the days within the Octave at S. Peters 17. At S. Anthony the Abbot 18. At S. Peter and also at S. Prisca 20. At S. Sebastians 21. At S. Agnes 25. At S. Paul 27. At S. John Chrysostom and at Ara coeli 31. At the holy Crossin Jerusalem FEBRUARY 2. PUrification of the Virgin Mary And a soul out of Purgatory at S. Maria Major S. Maria de Pace S. Maria de Angelis and S. Maria Inviolata 3. At S. Blase A soul out of Purgatory 22. Chair of S. Peter at S. Peters 24. S Mathias at S. Matthew the Apostle 26. At S. Constantia a Chappell in the Church of S. Agnes MARCH UPon all the Frydays in March at S. Peter a Plenary Indulgence 7. S. Thomas of Aquin at the Minerva 12. At S. Peter and at S. Gregory 19. At S. Josephs 21. At S. Bennets 25. Upon the Feast of the Annunciation and all the days within the Octave at the Minerva and at the Annunciate APRILL 23. AT S. George 25. Upon S. Marks day at S. Peters 29. Being the Feast of S. Peter Martyr of the Order of S. Dominick at the Minerva MAY. UPon all the Sundays of this Month at S. Sebastians a Plenary 1. At SS Philip and Jacob. 3. At Holy Cross in Jerusalem 6. At S. John Lateran where all so from this day untill the 6. of August there is a speciall Station with a Plenary and a soul out of Purgatory 8. The Apparition of S. Michael at S. Maria Major 19. S. Peter Celestin at S. Maria Major 20. S. Bernardin at S. Maria de Ara coeli 21. At S. Helena JUNE 11. AT S. Barnabie the Apostle 13. S. Anthony of Padua at S. Maria de Ara coeli 24. At S. John Lateran 29. At S. Peters 30. Commemoration of S. Paul JULY 2. THE Visitation of our Blessed Lady and all the days within the Octave at S. Maria de populo and S. Maria de Pace 14. S. Bonaventure at S. Maria de Aracoeli 17. At S. Alexius 22. At
loves her devoted children and servants 48 2. She is liberall and bountifull in bestowing benefits and favours upon them 50 3. She comforts them in all their afflictions persecutions desolations 51 4. She is their faithfull Advocate in Heaven 53 5. She procures for them a happy departure out of this world the salvation of their Souls and the enjoyment of Eternall felicity 57 All which is plainly evidenced by express and pithy Sentences drawn out of the holy Fathers and Church Doctors § 2. That the practise of the sacred Rosary is a devotion very pleasing to the Divin Majesty profitable to our selves and gratefull to the B. Virgin 60 For it intends Gods honour our own salvation the sacred Virgins glory 61 § 3 That this sort of devotion is proper for such Catholiques as live in hereticall Countreys 63 The reason of this Title The answer of the Objection and the proof of this assertion because it is the blessed Virgins peculiar property to destroy heresies as is declared out of the Fathers 66 § 4. What the Rosary is 70 § 5. The Rosary is twofold the Great Rosary and the little Rosary 72 § 6. Why this manner of Prayer is call'd the Rosary 73 § 7. That the Rosary contains the two sorts of Prayer Vocall and Mentall 74 § 8. Three advices concerning this manner of praying and meditating 76 § 9. A difficultie concerning this conjunction of Vocall Mentall Prayer proposed and cleared 79 § 10. Of the advantage which this Confraternity of the Rosary hath above all others in point of Communication of merits 82 § 11. Of Indulgences in Generall 86 § 12. Three necessary advertisements for the gaining of Indulgences 93 § 13. Of the Indulgences conferr'd upon the confraternity of the Rosary All which are reduced to 12. heads 94 § 14. The generall Rules and Statutes of the Confraternity of the Rosary Being eleven in number 107 § 15. The form of receiving Brothers and Sisters into this sacred Confraternity with the blessing of the Bedes Roses and Candles Also a Form of the generall Absolution at the hour of death 119 § 16. Of the Pious use of Processions 136 What Processions signify Their origin 136 That our Processions are imitations of the Israelites egression out of Egypt and memorialls of our Redeemers Mercies and Commemorations of the B. Virgins Journeys 137 There are four Solemn and Annuall Processions Besides those of the Great and Lesser Litanies 139 The Rites of the Rosary Processions 141 1. The Cross is carryed 2. The Reliques of Saints The Statua or Image of the B. Virgin which is largly declared insisted upon and prov'd to be an ancient and laudable custom 142 4. VVax-torches or Candles 5. The Litanies are sung or recited 148 § 17. An Elevation for the Procession of the Rosary 149 To honour the Nine severall Journeys of the sacred Virgin 150 The Litanies of our B. Lady of the Rosary 152 A devout Recommendation to the B. Virgin after Procession 155 The Litanies of our Blessed Lady of Loretto to be daily recited for a happy death 161 § 18. Severall other Prayers to be added after the Litanies according to each ones devotion occasion or necessity 168 1. A Filiall recommendation of our selves to the sacred Virgin-Mothers Protection 168 2. A Prayer for a happy death 170 3. A Generall Prayer for our selves our friends and the whol Church 171 4. A Prayer for the Conversion of Hereticks and Infidells 172 5. A prayer for a speciall Friend 173 6. A prayer for a friend in tribulation 174 7. A prayer for a friend in his sickness and infirmity 175 8. A prayer for our enemies detractors and persecutors 176 9. A prayer for a Woman great with child or labouring in Child-bed 177 10. A prayer to appease the Divin Indignation in any publick or private necessity 178 11. A prayer to withdraw our minds from the superfluous cares and solicitudes of this world 180 12. Prayers to be said in time of the plague A prayer to the sacred Virgin-Mother call'd the Miraculous Prayer against the Plague 181 The second Book of the sacred Rosary which is the Practicall part there of An Oration of the Antiquity Excellency and Utility of the Bedes Psalter and Confraternity of the Rosary By way of a Preface to this second Book 187 In which Oration is declared the severall names of the Rosary 188 The Antiquity and generall practise of this sort of Devotion amongst the primitive Christians pag. 189 By the Egyptian Hermits 191 By the Fathers of the Church 192 By our holy Father S. Bennet 193 And all his svcceeding Monks 194 By S. Maurus in France 195 By S. Eligius Bishop of Noyon By S. Bede in England 196 By S. Dominick Loricatus 197 By Peter the Hermite By S. Otto the Apostle of Sclavonia 198 By S. Bernard 199 By S. Marie of Ognia By S. Dominick Author of the Preachers Order who reviv'd and re-establish'd it 200 The Excellency of each part whereof the Rosary is compos'd 203 To wit 1. The Apostles Creed where the fruits of Faith are briefly explicated 204 2. The Lords Prayer the effects whereof are parabolically explicated by S. Dominick 206 209 3. The Angelicall Salutation 216 4. The Meditation upon the fifteen Mysteries 226 To the devout Rosarists 235 § 1. Of the sign of the Cross wherewith we begin our Rosary 236 The sign of the Cross was prefigured by the Prophets expresly by Ezech. c. 9. where all were to be slain who had not the Sign Tau in their foreheads taught by our Redeemer Matth. 28.19 ever practis'd in the Church Tertul. de Corona militis 237 The generall custom thereof is approved of for many reasons 238 § 2. Of the Apostles Creed which is the first part of the Rosary 241 VVhy it is so called and severall reasons for the recitall thereof at the entrance upon our Rosary 242 An Exercise upon the Apostles Creed dilated with Affections 243 § 3. Of the Pater noster or our Lords Prayer the second part of the Rosary 252 Of it in generall and how far it excells all other Prayers 252 The Affections contained in it 253 A larger Explication of it 254 An Exercise upon it dilated with Acts and Affections 264 § 4. Of the Ave Maria or Angelicall Salutation the third part of the Rosary 276 Of it in generall its excellency 277 The affections contained in it 280 An Explication of it 281 An Exercise upon it dilated with Acts c. 283 § 5. The manner how to recite the Rosary 290 By setling our selv's in the divin presence well ordering our understandings and our wills passing from speculations to affections applying the senses making Intentions c. 291 § 6. Of the 15. Mysteries of the Rosary in Generall The fourth part of the Rosary 298 Their Order their Names and with certain verses to help the memory 299 § 7 Of the Fifteen mysteries in particular 308 The first part of the Rosary containing the five
Joyfull Mysteries The first Joyfull Mystery branch'd into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections Elevations Petitions 309 The second Joyfull Mystery 318 The third Joyfull Mystery 327 The fourth Joyfull Mystery 337 The fifth Joyfull Mystery 348 The second Part of the Rosary containing the five Dolorous Mysteries 359 The first Dolorous Mystery divided into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections c. 360 The second Dolorous Mystery 372 The third Dolorous Mystery 381 An Anthem and Prayer in honour of the sacred Crown of Thorns 391 The fourth Dolorous Mystery 392 The Fifth Dolorous Mystery 400 The third Part of the Rosary containing the five Glorious Mysteries 410 The first Glorious Mystery drawn into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections 411 The second Glorious Mystery 421 The third Glorious Mystery 431 The fourth Glorious Mystery 440 The fifth Glorious Mystery 450 The first Appendix JESUS or the Confraternity of the most Sacred Name of JESUS with Elevations sutable thereunto 462 The Author and origin of this Confraternity 463 The reason and end of its Institution 463 The five Rules of it 463 The plenary Indulgences omitting many partiall granted to it 465 The manner of reciting this Rosary of the Name of Jesus 467 A brief Declaration of the Crown of our Lord. 471 Its Author Origin Manner of reciting and Confirmation by Pope Leo the tenth 472 The Crown of our Lord consists of 33. Pater nosters and of 4. Ave Maria's with one Creed added for a Conclusion 473 The first Part Of Christs coming into the World consists of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations upon each Pater noster 474 The second Part Of Christs Conversation amongst men consists likewise of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations correspondent to this Decade 479 The third Part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion consists also of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations as in the two precedent parts 483 The fourth Part Of Christs glorious Triumph after death consists only of Three Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations correspondent 487 Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy Life 490 An Advertisement to the Practisers of these sacred Devotions 493 Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord on honour of his severall estates and of the singular Mysteries of his Life To adore the Supream Greatness of Jesus and offer our selves to him by way of humble servitude and absolute Dependencie which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable union of the Divinity with our Humanity 495 1. The Eternall Greatness of the Word Incarnate 496 2. The equality and consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself 497 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us 498 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and substance to our nature 499 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us 500 6. Jesus adores his heights by his lownesses and raises up his lownesses by his greatnesses 501 7. His excessive Love in the effusion of his Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his greatness goodness also upon us 503 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him 504 9. The perfection of a Christian requires That Jesus live in him and that he imprint in his Soul the spirit and life of his Estates and Mysteries 506 10. The principall mysteries of Jesus apply'd to our sanctification and his qualities and Offices referr'd to our use 508 11. By how many Titles we belong to Jesus and Jesus to us 509 12. Jesus is Gods gift unto us and what this gift demands of us with an explication of Christian Grace 510 13. Christian Grace is form'd upon the Mystery of the Incarnation which is its Modell and requires of us a particular manner of Oblation and donation to Jesus 512 14. A totall reference and oblation of our selves to Jesus 513 Elevations to the sacred Trinity upon the Mystery of the Incarnation To adore the Supream Greatnes of Jesus and offer up our selv's to him in the state of humble servitude and absolute Dependencie which is due to him by reason of the ineffable union of the Divinity with our Humanity 514 1. God creates two Natures capable of himself upon one he exercises his Justice upon the other his Mercie 515 2. The Mysterie of the Incarnation is the Head-work of Gods love and power And what is proper to the Person of the Father in the Mysteries of the TRINITY and Incarnation 516 3. What is proper to the Person of the Son in these Mysteries 517 4. What is proper to the person of the Holy Ghost in these Mysteries 519 5. Contemplations upon the Humanity of Jesus 520 6. Contemplation upon the associating of the B. Virgin in the Mystery of the Incarnation 521 7. An Oblation of humble servitude to Jesus and his Deifi'd Humanity 522 8. A larger expression of this servitude 523 9. The life of the Divinity in the Humanity 523 10. The denudation of Jesu's Human subsistencie is the cause that his Humanity and all its actions are appropriated to the Person of the Eternall Word by which it subsists 524 11. An Oblation of all that we are have and can to this sacred Humanity 525 12. Jesus is doubly in the state of a servant First by humbling his Divin Person to a created nature Secondly by dying on the Cross 526 13. An Oblation of our selves to Jesus in honour of this his double estate of being a servant 527 14. The continuance of this Oblation of servitude 528 15. A Confirmation of this our oblation of servitude 529 16. An ardent desire of an unseparable union with Christ 530 17. The Humanity of Jesus is the Temple of the Divinity 531 18. What great things are wrought in this Humanity 532 19. This Humanity is holy by the Divinity it self which is a substantiall sanctity flowing from him into himself and thence into us 533 20. And this sanctity sanctifies even that created Grace which is in himself 534 21. An humble yeilding submitting and dedicating of our whol selves to the Deifi'd Humanity of Jesus in the way of perpetuall Bondage 535 the second Appendix Maria or the Devotion call'd the Bondage of the Blessed Virgin MARY with Elevations sutable thereunto 538 1. The Author and Origin of the Bondage 539 2. An ancient and authentick example of the practise of this Bondage 539 3. Whereupon this Devotion of the Bondage is grounded 542 The B. Virgin made up the chain of her Bondage with the links of 12. vertues 543 4. The Rules of this Devotion of the Bondage 545 The Blessing of the Chains for the Bondage 546 The Prayer and Oblation of our selv's in Bondage to
the end Amen Ave Maria c. 4. The fourth Exercise may be to practice some particular devotion upon such day's as are dedicated to the blessed Virgins memory and honour which are all the Saturday's besides the rest of her annuall Festivities These devotions may be to visit her Altar to recite her Litanies to make use of some of these or the like prescribed forms c. 5. The fifth Exercise may be the paying of some Annuall Tribute as St. Peter Damian tearms it to the blessed Virgin how little soever it be in token of the homage and servitude due to her Soveraign Empire This Tribute may be tendred at some Altar dedicated to her honour together with the recitall of this Prayer Receive O Soveraign Empress this small Tribute which I here most humbly present to your sacred Majesty in acknowledgment of that supream Dominion you have next after God over my heart and to testifie the desire I have to live and dye your Bond-slave Permit not O sacred Virgin that I ever pay unto Sathan the World or my sensuality any Tribute of Sin and procure for me a happy passage from this my earthly Pilgrimage to the Heavenly Paradise there to offer up to your Son and You an Eternall Tribute of prayse and benediction Amen 6. The sixth Exercise may be that of Penance and Mortification by discreetly taking a Disciplin or wearing some harsh thing upon the bare skin c at certain times of the year according to each ones strength of body and the counsell of his Ghostly Father reciting upon such day 's seaven times the Salve Regina in memory of the blessed Virgins seven sorrows and adding this Prayer taken out of St. Peter Damian O my most glorious Lady the Mirror of purity and pattern of all vertu I wretched Sinner do most humbly acknowledg that I have higly offended your Son and You by the foolish and besotted liberty of my body and soul and therefore having now no other Refuge left me I here prostrate my heart before you O my compassionate Mother bequeathing my self unto you in quality of a Bond-slave and submitting my whol self to your holy Empire and command Curb I beseech you this rebellious body of mine receive this contumacious and stubborn heart and let not your Mercy reject me a sinner since your Immaculate Virginity brought forth the Author of all Piety 7. The seaventh Exercise may be these sublim Elevations following which may be divided into severall parts and recited according to each ones opportunity and devotion ELEVATIONS TO GOD AND ADORATIONS To the thrice holy Trinity In honour of the share he was pleas'd to give unto the Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation effecting it in her and by her and to honour the most holy Virgin in that Dignity of being Gods Mother And to offer our selves to her in the state of Dependencie and servitude which is due unto her upon this title and to correspond by our inward devotion to the speciall Power which she hath over us by consequence of this her divin and admirable Maternitie 1. Adoration of the Sacred Trinity SAcred Trinity Adorable in your self and in your works I praise Admire and Adore you in the Unity of your Essence in the Equality of your Persons in the Profundity of your wisdom in the Extent of your Providence and in that your Work of Works which makes God Man and a Virgin Gods Mother 2. The Greatness of the Mystery of the Incarnation WORK Ineffable Admirable Incomprehensible Work only worthy the power and greatness of the Worker Work The chief of your works the Originall of your Mysteries the Sampler of your Greatnesses and the Sun of your Mervails Work which incloseth your Essence is terminated by one of your Persons and produces the most Eminent dignity which was ever brought forth into a Being out of the Divinity 3. Which is so Eminent a Work AND this Work so great so rare so Eminent was don in a Moment yet not for a Moment but for an Eternity This Work is done in time yet not for a time but for an ever and ever This Work is don in Nazareth yet not for Nazareth but for the whol universe This Work is don on Earth not in Heaven but 't is done both for Earth and for Heaven This Work is don amongst men but 't is done for Angells for Men and for the God of Gods For it gives a Mother to God a King to Angels and to Men a Saviour 4. And the chief work ad extra of the Divinity 'T IS the Head-work of your hands O Divin Admirable and Adorable Trinity which imitates and expresses the Life the Communication the Society which we Adore in the divin Persons For you who Work all things for your self and in contemplating your self would in this Work imprint an Idea of your self would in the honour of your own life and communication which is divin and eternall make a life and communication divin and temporall would enter into society and communication with your creatures to Imitate and honour the communication and Society which is in your persons would in a fair Resemblance seem to match the force of your inward love and internall communication in this outward effusion of love and externall communication out of your own Essence And making choice of your lowest creature would enter into league into communication into unity with men by singularly imparting your self and peculiarly associating your self to one human nature and to one human Person To one human nature by the Incarnation of one of your Persons To one human Person by the Operation of your three Persons who in the greatest of their Works would in a manner enter Society with the Virgin 5. The mystery of the Incarnation is divided between the sacred Trinity and the Virgin O Infinit condescendency The Three divin Persons living and acting in perfect unity eternally happy and compleatly content in their own mutuall Society will extend this Society to a new person and being to operate jointly the Head-work of their Power and Bounty will associate the Virgin to themselv's in this their greatest operation in that for the full accomplishment of their own glory love and greatness being to conjoyn the Created Being with the Being Increated in one of their Persons and to give it a new nature they would share the Glory of this great work between the Virgin and themselves and making choyce of her amongst all Creatures they made her worthy and capable to give together with themselv's this new Nature and to be Mother of the word Incarnate thus elevating a human Person to such a pitch of Power and to so high a Prerogative and conferring on it so great a part in so great a Mystery Blessed be you O sacred Trinity in this your divin will and holy Councill which makes the Son of God Mans Son and which makes a Virgin Gods Mother Highest Councill therfore worthy the