A MANVALL OF DEVOVT MEDITATIONS AND EXERCISES ânstructing how to pray mentally ârawn for the most part out of the spiâituall Exercises of S. Ignatius âEVIDED INTO THREE BOOKS âritten in Spanish by the R. F. Thomas de Villa Castin of the Society of IESVS ãâã translated into English by H. M. of the same SOCIETY ãâ¦ã Superiorum Anno 1624. TO THE RELIGIOVS BROTHERS OF THE SOCIETY OF IESVS In the English Nouitiate â WATTEN RELIGIOVS BROTHERS I send you heerâ a Manuall of spiriâuall Exercises set forth some âeares agoe in the Spanish âongue by Fa Thomas de Villaâastin of your Society now traÌslated into English which doubtlesse will produce speciall vertues in you who haue the same spirit wherewith it was written And this hath moued me to present the same to you in whom I hoped my small labours heerein should be most abundantly recompensed by the increase of your spirituall Comfort and Profit I was furthermore induced heereunto because I deemed no Booke more fit to be presented vnto you then this being deriued as it seemeth froÌ the very fountaine of your holy Patriarke S. Ignatius his Spirituall Exercises And I could not doubt but you the Sonnes of so worthy a Father would receaue with great afâection and tendernes an Orâhane of so worthy a Parent Another reason was for that I hauing receaued so many and continuall benefites from your Society to whom I am euer more then most obâiged and neuer yet finding opportunity to shew my selfe gratefull answerable to my desires I thought this small occasion not to be neglected ân offering so meane a present vnto you in signe at least of gratefull memory towardes your Holy Order In this Manuall you may behold and contemplate âost perfectly the liuely vertues of our Sauiour of his Blessed Mother propounded vnto you for your dayly Exercise of Meditation Heere may you learne to follow and trace out the footsteps of true Pouerty Humility Charity Obedience the like Heere may you tast spiritually of the most pleasant fruite which from these deuout and piouâ Meditations is gathered In a word heere may you exercise your selues in all the heroicall acts of Vertue which our Lord Maister Christ Iesus the most exact perfect patterne of all Perfection hath left vnto vs for example I will not be tedious thereby to detayne you from the triall of what I haue promised by meditating the Mysteries that ensue It shall suffice me that you wil be pleased to takâ in good part this my least labour and now and then in these and other youâ deuotions to remember Your humble deâoted seruant I. VV. THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOVR TO THE Christian Reader ONE of the principall Reasons which moued me to write this Manuall of pious Considerations for the help of such as vse to pray mentally is the great desire I know many Religious other secular Persons seruanâs of God haue of some briefe Treatise whereby they might with profit speÌd their time in prayer Wherefore I haue thought good briefly to set downe the summe of that which many graue Authors ând Mâysters of spirituall life haue more largeây and profitably handled Whose doctrine especially those of our own Order I haue endeauored to âollow vsing for my chiefe guide heerin the spirituall Exercises of âur glorious FouÌder S. Ignatius to adorne this my little Manuâll desiring to haue that portable ân our bosome which ought euer âo be fixed in our soule hart âaying with the Spouse Fasciâulus myrrhae dilectus meus âihi inter vbera mea comâorabitur A bundle of myrrâây beloued vnto me betwixt ây brests he shall abide The Aduertisâents placed in the beginning do particulerly shew how to treat and conuerse with the diuine Maiesty togeather with the vse of the Meditations Considerations set down in the three Bookâ following The first whereof shal be of the Last things of man The second and third of the Life Passion Death and Resurrection of Christ placing in eâery Meditation foure points ech one of them sufficient for the Exercise of one or more houres about three seueral things which euery Point shall containe towit Consideration Examination and Application to the fruiâ which out of that full measure of perfection which Christ exercised in the whole course of his life may be gathered In the end of the third Booke I adioyne also seuerall Meditations directing vs both how to prepare our selues before and how to giue thankes after the holy Communion thât time being farre more fit for Meditation then for vocall prayer Thus much I propose briefly and plainely to the pious Reader for whatsoeuer sauoureth of curiosity cooleth deâotion and hindreth Prayer in which Truth not Eloqueââe iâ to be sought But because nothiâg of this is to be obtayâed without the grâce of God I mosâ humbly beâeech him to graânâ ãâã such plenty theref that hâs most holy lifâând dâath may ãâã vnto vs a âerfect patterne rule and guide of all our thoughts words and deeds that like true souldiers of his spirituall warfare following our Captayne CHRISTâ IESVS we may be partakers heere in this world of his grace and in heauen of his Glory Amen A MANVALL OF SPIRITVALL EXERCISES âor the help of such as desire to practise mentall Prayer The Introduction HE that deâireth to increase and go forward in spirituall life let him know that the certayne and vndoubted way to the same the interiour and mutuall commuââcation with Almighty God perâârmed in the holy vse and exerciseââ prayer because in prayer vertues ãâã obtayned conserued and augâented Prayer as the Apostle Saiââ Iames saith ascending vnto heaueâ before the tribunall seat of Almighâââod bringeth vnto men euery goââ and perfect gift causing such a leagââ and vnion betweene God and theâ that it maketh them apt to receaue ãâã graces and benefits from his ãâã Maiesty Daniell by prayer conuerted ãâã ââerce and hungry Lyons into meeââ Lambeâ Praier made the fire to looâââis force being notable to burne ãâã three Children in the middest of ãâã ââaming fornace of Babylon Prayââ stayed the course altered the ãâã forme motion of the heauens giuiââ power vnto the voice of man to stoââând detaine the Sunne and Moonâ and that so many houres as was nââcessary for obtayning the victory ââgainst his Enemies Iacob throuââ the vertue and efficacy of prayeâ preuailed against the Angell Yââ Prayer tyed the handes and infinââ power if so we may say of the Loââ of Angelâs for by the prayers ãâã Moyses Almighty God seemed to ãâ¦ã it âere disabled to câastice striâ âââending people when he said vnto ãâã seruant Suffer me that my fury âay be angry against them as if he âould say detaine me not with thy âââayers Prayer finally obtaineth parâân for whatsoeuer offences the Puââican getteth remission of his sinnes ãâã the Prodigall child returneth aââine into fauour friendship with ãâã Father Prayer therefore being so proâable and necessary vnto spirituall ãâã and containing
it ââvere not hauing lost the instrumeÌts ând organs whereby thou mightest âânioy them Ponder what profit rotten ââands doe now reap of thy riches so âreedily sought and hoarded vp toâeather What fruit doe thine eyes âovv enioy of all the vanities which âhey haue beheld what vviâ all thy âelicacies prouided for thy tast then ââuayle thee of vvhat continuance âaue those castles of aire been framed ân that thy head what end haue all âhose gusts and pleasures had proâured by so heynous sinnes vnto thy ââretched body And turning thâ speach vnto thy soule say Looke ând consider well what will be the ând of this flesh thou novv hast Consider vvhome thou cherishest âhome thou now adorest O miserable wretch that I am wherefore ãâã all these riches if I am to become so âaked heere For what purpose are these deckings and braueries I being to remaine at last so vgly fouleâ To what end are these delicacies and banquettings if so soone after I am tâ be food for wormes Gather hence desires that God our Lord would illuminate cleare the eyes of thy poore soule with hiâ soueraigne light that it may behold the wretched end of thy miserable body and contemne that which is present at the inward sight of thaâ which is to come THE VI. MEDITATION Of the Generall Iudgement The Preparatory Prayer as the first The Composition of place shal be to imagine a great and spacious field and therein all the People that haue beene from the beginning of the world in the midst whereof is erected a Tribunall or Throne made of a most excellent âright shining cloud and thereon a âate or chaire of Estate and Maiestâ âhere Christ our Sauiour is to sit ãâã iudge all mankind The petition shal be to crauââf Almighty God grace to apprehend ând feele now that which thou arââhen to see endeauoring that since ââou art one of those which are to be âhere called thou maist also be of âhe elect THE 1. POINT TO consider the great and fearfull signes which shal be in all creaâures at the day of Iudgement For ãâã Christ our Lord saith the Sunne âhalbe darkened the Moone shalbââurned into bloud the stârrs shall fall ârom heauen and the sea shal be trouâled Finally the dread and horrour âhich then shall possesse the harts of âen shal be so great that they shall âot find any place or corner secure âherein to hide themselues wherevpon they will all waxe pale dry âither away for feare and become ãâã it were a liuely picture of death it selfe Ponder that if when any great tempest doth arise on the sea or any boysterous whirle-wind or earthquake on the land men fall into a maze and are astonished voyd and destitute of all strength and counsaile what will they doe when the sea and the aire when heauen earth shall be turned vpside downe Who will haue list to eate who will sleep who will be able to take one sole moment of rest amiddest so great perturbation of all things Gather hence a great feare of Almighty God and detestation of thy sinnes that obtayning pardon of them thou maist be freed from all these euills which are to come as tokens fore-runners of Gods wrath and indignation and that he graunt thee through his mercy a good and secure conscience since the day of thy Redemption doth approach the end of thy labours beginning of thy euerlasting repose THE 2. POINT TO consider how the last day being now come an Archaâgel with fearefull voice in maâner of a trumââet shall summon all the dead to âudgement And in a moment all both good and bad shall rise againe âith their proper bodies which they âued in heere on earth and come toâeather into the valley of Iosaphat âhere to attend the Iudge that is to ââdge them Ponder the sorrowes paines âhich the damned will feele vvhen ââeir soules brought out of hell shalââe againe coniovned with their boâies vvhat vvill they say vnto one another hauing been Authours and âauses of ech others torments and ââiseries O with vvhat curses vvill ââey vpbraid one another being theâ ãâã be linked togeather to be ech oâhers executioners Contrarâvvise âow gâeat content shall the soule of âhe iust receaue at the good compaây of the body which whilest they âued togeather on earth was a mean ând help whereby she might suffer somewhat for the loue of God O what vvelcome and blessings vvill they wish one to another seeing that the Iudge who is to iudge their cause is their Friend and will now bestow vpon them the crowne and reward of their seruice Out of which thou maist gather feruent desires and purposes not to liue any more negligently careles of thy saluation but comparing that which shall happen to the good with what shall bâfall the euill to choose in this life that which most will help thee to rise againe vvith Christ to thy euerlasting blisse and happines THE 3. POINT TO consider how all being novv fulfilled Christ our Sauiour shall truely and really descend from heauen with most soueraigne Maiesty enuironed with an whole army of Saints and heauenly spirits and approaching to the afore mentioned Throne shall command the Angells to separate deuide the good from the bad Ponder how great the grieâfe and rage of the bad wil be who were so much honoured in this life wheâ they will see themseluâs on the left hand of God in such extremity of basenes cast off aud set at naught by his diuine Maiesty What inward feeling and sorrow will they haue seeing the iust whole life they esteemed madnes and their end without honour accounted now among the children of God for to be eternally honoured and rewarded And on the other side what ioy and content will there be among the good wheâ they shall see themselues by meanes of their humility placed on the right hand of Almighty God singularly honoured and exalted Gather heerhence not to make any account of the right or left hand in this world that choosing in this life the lowest place amongst men thou mayst merit in the day of Iudgment to sit on high with God and his Angels THE 4. POINT TO consider how all the sinnes of the wicked euen of their most hidden and secret thoughts and the vertues and good workes of the iust being layd open to the view of the whole world the Iudge will pronounce the sentence And beginning with the good will say with a gentle and amiable countenance Come yee blessed of my Father possesse yee the Kingdome which I haue prepared for you And to the wicked with an angry and seuere looke Depart from me you cursed into fire euerlasting Ponder these two contrary ends he calleth the iust vnto him as if he should say Seeing veâ haue imbâaced the Crosse and Mortificatioâ to follow me come and receaue the reward which is âue vnto you and take possession thereof with eternall rest And to the wicked he
wants with like conââdence as thy would haue recourse to their owne Father aâd Mother Gather hence an earnest deââre of the loue of God who by such meanes and remedies vouchsated to restore thee vnto his grace and friendship making thee as S. Paul saith his child member of Christ and heire of heauen Acknowledge the good thou hast receiued of him and be thankefull for so great a benefit behaue thy selfe with all humility and subiection towardes thy Parents and Superiours sith he who vvas supreme and absolute Lord of al thinges did subiect himselfe obey his creatures with so great an exaâple of humility THE 3. POINT TO consider hovv in the very instant that God created the soulâ of the Blessed Virgin Mary forming there with that little and tender bodâ of hers in the wombe of her Moâher Saint Anne in that very moment he did also enrich and beautify it with his soueraigne grace sanctifyâng her from the very instant of her Conception preseruing her from originall sinne which as being the daughter of the terristriall and sinfull Adam she was naturally to haue incurred Ponder how great a glory and how singular an ornament it is to all mankind that a pure creaââre being naturrally conceâued of a man women should bâ so highly aduanced and adorned with tuch plenty of grace and chosen oâ God as a most precious vâssell ãâã to place and bestow all those his diuine and soâeraigne treasures which was fiâ she âould haue who was predestinated to be the Mother of God to crush âhe Head of the infeânâll Serpent Inuite the blessed Angells thâ Heauens the Earââ and all Creaturââo the prayse of our Lord God for âo singular a âauâur bestowed on thâ Blessed Virgin and in her vpon al thâ world For that he chose her to bâ his Mother whereby she is also made thy Mother and Aduocate for all sinners by whome thou and we all find accesse to the Throne of his infinite mercy for none hath beene truly and sincerely deuout vnto her who hath not at last arriued at thâ port of euerlasting blisse THE 4. POINT TO consider how Almighty God hauing creaâed this glorious Virgin besides that first grace aboue mentioned of preseruing her froâ sinne and sanctifying her soule he did both then and afterward from time to time endue her with neâ prerogatiuââ of singular priuiledges giuing her from thence forward the title claime to the dignity of Mother of God to which dignity in due time he intended to âduance her Secondly gâaunting her thââ she should feele no kind of bad inclynaâioÌ or disordered appetite Thirdly confirming her in grâce in such â singuler manner as in seauenty and so many yeares which shâ liued she neuer committed any mortall sinne not so much as in thought Fourthly preseruing her also from all veniall sinne a thing wonderfull aboue all wonders Fifthly causing her to concieue the Sonne of God by vertue of the holy Ghost and bring him forth without any paine at all or detriment of her Virginall purity c. Ponder how conuenient it was that Almighty God should exalt and honour with all these graces and priuiledges and many more this moât pure Virgin For it is his generall custome and manner of proceeding to make thinges proportionable to thâ end for vvhich he createth them Wherefore our Blessed Lady being chosen to the highest dignity that can be imagined next to the humanity of the Sonne of God to wit to be his Mother there were also graunted her the greatest graces and priuiledges the greatest sanctity and persection next after him Reioyce and hartily be glad oâ the infinite and soueraigne fauours which God hath bestowed vpon thiâ Blessed Vitgin Inuâte the Angellâ that afterwardes adored the Sonne of God when he entred into the world to come now with al ioy and gladnes to reuerence her that is to be the Mother of God and their heauenly Queene And ioynig thy selfe with them salute her in the wombe of her Mother with the wordes which after were spoken vnto her by the Angell Gabriell Hayle full of grace our Lord is with thee Beseech him also O Blessed Lady that he will likewise be with me to purify my soule bridle ây ââesh and replenish me with hiâ grace and vertues THE II. MEDITATION Of the ãâã of our Blessed Lady and her Presentation in the Temple THE 1. POINT To consider how the vvhole world being before ouerwhelmed with darkness and ignorance couered with an obscure and fearfull night at the birth of this most blessed Virgin it began to shinâ with a new vnwonted brightnes the day as it were breaking vp and this soueraigne morning star spreading her beames ouer the whole face of the earth the Angels of heauen the iust that liued heere on earth reloycing and exulting when they vnderstood that the day did now approach and the Sonne of iustice to be at hand who with his heauenly light would illuminate the world deliuer it from all the euils and miseryes which it did then sustaine Ponder that with great reason our Holy Mother the Church guided by the Holy Ghost doth say in the office of this day That the Natiuity of the B. Virgin hath brought singular ioy gladnes to the world For if the Angell Gabriell truly sayd âo Zachary That many should reâoyce and take pleasure at the Natiâity of his Sonne Saint Iohn Baptist because he was to be the fore runner of the Messias and to point him ouâ with his finger and say Behold the ãâã of God how much more maâ the whole world now reioâce celebrate keep Holâ the day on which this most gloâââus Virgin âas borne she being to shew vnto vs our Lord and Sauiour in a far nâblâr sort then S. Iohn not only pâiâtiâg him out with her finger but bearing him in her armes and feeding hiâ at her brâast saving Behold this is my beloued Sonne in whome I am well pleased Stir thy selfe vp to affâction oâ ioy and to the prayse of God congratulating him for the glorious birth of this blessed Virgin which he hath chosen to his Mother and hartily thanking him for that he haâh exalâed her to so great a dignity and honour as neuer before or after was graunted to any pure creature Thou shalt likewise congratulate all mankând for that now the happy houââ of their Redemption is at hand Iesuâ Christ our Lord being shorây to bâ borne of this immaculate Virgin and made Mân to exalt man to the dignity of the Sonne of Almighty God THE 2. POINT TO consider how the parents of this Blessed Virgin gaue her the Name of Mary that is to say A seâ of Graces and such and so great were those the found in the sight of God that the celestiall spirits astonished thereat demaunded one of another What is she that commeth forth likâ the Morning faire as the Moone elect as the Sunne to whome none in the earth can be compared none
iubily which was in his âart for that the day of thy redemption did now approach Ponder how Almighty God difâoâeth and prepareth himselfe with âreat longing and ioy of mind to ândergoe afflictions and paines for âhee whereas when any thing is to be âone for his seruice or to be suffered âor his loue thou art presently affilâted and discomforted and flyest away Ponder furthermore how that â the iniuries persecutions ignominies and reproaches which our Lord receaued in Hierusalem vvere not able to diminish his great loue charity towards vs. Gather hence an inflamed loue and desire to suffer something for thy Lord thy eternall louer seeing that all the times thou hast offended him with thy so grieuous sins which haue not beene few haue not beene able to extinguish in his diuine breast the loue be beareth thee and his desire to doe thee good and to saue thee THE 2. POINT TO consider the humility and pouerty of the Sonne of God who as alvvaies before vvas vvont to make his iourney on foot so this day being to enter in triumph into Hierâsâlem he chose not to go in coach orin a chariot but vpon a âilly aâre vvhich also vvas another mans and albeit he entred with so great humility yet all the people receaued him with exceeding ioy solemnity and triumph Ponder that the cause why our Lord would this day be so magnified receaued with so great honour applause of all hauing euer fled such honours before was that his reproaches ignominies might be the greater his dishonour the more notorioâs Gather hence a great desire to condemne and abhorre all worldly pompâs and honours and to loue âmbrace the pouerty humility and meekenes of thy Sauiour because if these be the armes ensignes of thy King and God they ought also to be theirs who esteeme themselues his vassals and seruauts THE 3. POINT TO consider how our B. Saâiour and Lord of the Angels being mouâted vpon the asse innumerable people by dinine inspiration came to ceceaue him with boughes palmes in their hands with voices of laud and praise said Hosanna to the Son of God Blessed is he that commeth in the name of God Hosanna in the highest Ponder how the Eternall Father did honour his most B. Sonne not only when he entred first into the world and was borne poore in Betaleem sending âosts of Angells to solemnize his entrance and to bring those happy tidinges of glory to God and peace to men But this day also when he entred humble and meeke a multitude of people came to solemnize and celebrate his entrance into Hierusalem and his departure out of the world giuing God many thankes and praises for so great a benefit Gather hence a desire to imitate the great deuotion where with this people receaueth their God and be ashamed that thou commest so often to receiue thy Lord and God in the most Blessed Sacrament with so great vndeuotion coldnes THE 4. POINT TO consider the deuotion loâe where with all did spread their clothes and garments on the ground to adorne the way by which our Sauiour passed accounting it a great happines to cast themselues and âhatsoeuer they had at the feet of his our Lord that he might dispose of it all according to his most holy will acknowledging that vnto hims as to the owner and Lord of all all subiection seruice was most due Ponder the little regard and esteem which is to be had of the glory of this world seeing it receaued our Sauiour to day with so great honour within few dayes after it held him for worse then Barabbas and sought his death crying out against him Crucify Crucify him And whome to day it extolled termed the Son of Daâuid that is the Holy of Holyes and the most holy amongst Saints toâmorrow it reckoneth the most vile of all men and treateth him as a maâlefactour loading his sacred shoulders with a heauy Crosse on which he was to be crucifyed and dye Gather hence great compassion and griese to see the Lord of Angells so much neglected and despised by men and to seeke their honour at so great charge and cost of his Dâsire thou to serue and honour hiâ much more heereafter and say ãâã him Behold O my King my Loââ I cast at thy most holy feet not onlâ all my goods and wealth but my honour also my content my life my selfe and all tread vpoâ me and do with me what thou wilt for thou art my God my King and Lord the head of Angelâ and men better and exalted aboue them all THE XXX MEDITATION Of the supper which Christ our Lord made which his Disciples THE 1. POINT TO consider how Christ our Sauiour sent Saint Peter S Iohn his Apostles to prepare for the legall supper of the Lambe and how that forth with the Goodman of the house to whome they were sent inspired by the Holy Ghost gaue them the best best accoÌmodated roome of the whole house Ponder the fauour which Alâmighty God vouchsafeth to doe theâ in pdrticuler wheÌ he entred into thy house that is into thy soule to celebrate therein his feast and Pasch and make thee thereby partaker of the merits of his most precious bloud passion Gather hence great sorrow and repentance for that thou âast bebaued thy selfe so ill towardes so louing a Lord seeing not once but many times thou hast shut the dore of thy soule vpon him shutting it against his diâine inspirations thou hast opened it to the persâasions of thy enemy the Diuell whome thou hast receaued and entertained as if he not God had beene the owner and Lord of thy soule And therfore that which thou ougntest to do is to offer him not only the best roome in thy house that is thy soule but also to giue it him wholy for it is all wholy his And would to God it were better then it is that it might please his diuine Maiesty to âome dwell in it for euer THE 2. POINT TO consider how that Christ our Lord the day being come wheÌ the Paschal lambe was to be eaten wold fullfill that ceremnny of the Law for the accomplishing of the shadows and figures of the old law be sacrificed as the true Lambe which taketh away the sinnes of the world at the same time and in the same place that the mysticall Lambe was wont to be sacrificed Wherefore our Lord being at the table with his disciples and all things being prepared and ready he said vnto them With desire I haue desired to eate this pasch with you to giue you to vnderstand how much I loue you as if he should say Very long haue I greatly desired this day and this houre wherein you shall see nothing in me but ignominies reproaches blowes stripes woundes c. Ponder the great and earnest desire which God had to suffer and to giue his life for thee longing to be plunged
in the bitter sea of his passiân and to encounter with death expecting it as a thing after which he much hungred tooke much pleasure and delight in And this was that which he desired as he sayd with a great desire because it was very pleasing to him and a thing wherein he receaued speciall gust Gather hence great confusion and shame considering thy desires are not like vnto those of thy Lord and God to suffer and endure something for his honour and glory thou being so worthy of all reproach and contempt but rather thy desires are to follow thine owne pleasure c contentment not to serue his diuine maiesty but to fulfill thy owne will and disordeded appetite THE 3. POINT TO consider how christ our Lord did behold and contemplate that Lambe which he had before him on the table layd there dead flayed âosted It is no question he saw himselfe represented more innocent then â lambe and how without any his deserts he was to be flayed with stripes and embrâed with his owne most precious bloud through most cruell torments and finally to be put as it were vpon the spit stretched on the table of the Crosse where with the hote burning coals of loue he was to be rosted to death Ponder how bitter this supper was vnto thy Redeemer being mingled with sauce of so distastfull a representation as was that of his death and passion Purpose when thou sittest at table to mingle thy meat vvith this âauce to wit with the consideration of the passion and paines of thy Sauiour that thou be not carryed away with the gust and sauour of the meat and that if thy meat be not good or not so well dressed or seasoned or not in such due time prepared ãâã thou wouldst thou maist haue patience and haue somewhat to offââ vnto God make thy spirituall profit therof THE 4. POINT TO consider how the lâgall supper being ended Christ our Lord gaue thanks to his eternall Father did offer himselfe perfectly entierly to accomplish his holy will as hauing taken vpon him our mortall flesh to be sacrificed dye vpon the Crosse. Ponder how pleasing this offering sacrifice of the Sonne of God was to the heauenly Father in which he offered himselfe to fulfill in all things the diuine will for where this perfect resignation is wanting whatsoeuer other sacrifices and holocausts are not of any value because we offer not our selues Gather hence an inflamed and effectuall desire to offer thy selfe vnto God with an humble prompt will to performe whatsoeuer he shall command thee how painefull difficult soeuer it be THE XXXI MEDITATION Of washing the Apostles feet THE 1. POINT TO consider that Supper being ended Christ Iesus our Lord arose from table putting off and as it were despoyling his royall Maiesty of his authority and greatnes humbled himselfe to be the seruant of his seruants and laying aside his vpper garment himselfe alone not admitting the help of any girded himselfe with a towell tooke the taukerd in his hand and put water into the bason and washed not the hands but the foule and dirty feet of those poore silly fishermen his Disciples and louingly tenderly did bâth them wipe them make them cleaue Ponder the excellency of the person that performeth this so meane and so base an office and humbleth himselfe to these things The Creator of the world the beauty of the heauens the splendour and brighnes of the glory of the Father the fountaine of wisdome in whose hand God hath put heauen earth âell life death Angells and men power and authority to pardon sinnes the saluation and iustification of soules the glory of the iust and all the treasure of God this same our Lord so great in Maiesty abased himselfe to this act of so great humility charity Gather out of all this great confusion to see thy selfe so proud notwithstanding that thou art so base a creature Admire thy haughtinesse of mind yea thy foolishnes that being most ignorant and most poore and vile canst be so proud seeing Christ who is Lord of infinite power and wisdome hath so humbled himselfe Our Lord Iesus himselfe teacheth vs âo exercise workes of humility and charity choosing rather to practise these acts then to coÌmand why then wilt not thou do the like seriously âet vpon that worke from which so great profit and abundant fruit is to âe reaped THE 2. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord being now ready to performe this so humble and base an office came first to S. Peter to wash his feet but the Apostle was so amazed and coâfounded considering vvith liuely faith the greatnes of his Lord and Maister togeather his owne basânes that he said with admiration Lord dost thou wash my feet Thoâ being the infinite God and Lord of all thinges And I the most vile and basest of them all Thou the Creatour of heauen earth Lord of the Angells and Seraphims aud I thy creature thy slaue a most vile sinâer yet wilt thou wash with thosâ hands which giue sight to the blind health to the sicke life to the dead not my head or my hands but my filthy and abominable feet This O Lord I may not endure but I shall fall dismayed at thy blessed feet But our Lord saying vâto him Peter know for certaine that if I wash thee not thou shalt not haue part with me âhis threat was so terrible vnto him that forth with he yelded not only to haue his feet âââhed but also his hands head Ponder what so high and soueâ raigâe a God doth for so low base a creature and what his diuine Maiesty vndertaketh himselfe to doe to make vs humble esteeming highly of this which Christ doth and meanly of thy selfe Gather affections of admiration of thank sgiuing and imitation propose vnto him the necessity which thou hast that his diuine Maiesty wash purify thee from thy sinnes seeing he is so humble so desirous to doe thee this fauour to the end thou mayst haue part with him for no creature hath this power and authority of himselfe but the only Son of God alone THE 3. POINT TO consider how Christ Iesus our Lord prosecuting this act of humility charity vouchsafed also to doe the same to Iudas And prostrating himselfe at his feet as if he had âeene the Lord and Mayster and Christ Iesus the seruant he washed â wiped his feet with signes of more speciall loue to mollify that his hard rebellious and obstinate hart and to win him if it had beene poââible to some good with this inspeakable humility and charity Ponder and behold Christ our Lord prostrate at the feet of so wicked a fellow as Iudas And we may piously thinke that our Blessed Sauiour being thus humbled and prostrate at the feet of this traytour and wretched Disciple would with teares falling from his eyes for his impiety and hardnes
belieued Ponder that albeit our Lord âpproued the confession of S. âhoâas yet wold he not call him Blessâââhe did S Peter when he confessed âim for the Sonne of God and the âeason was because he had been flow ãâã belieuing wherefore insteâd of âraysing him he repreâended him ââying Because thou hast seene me Thomas thou hast belieued as who âould say Thankes be to thy hands ãâã eyes which I haue giuen thee to âelieue that I am thy Lord and thy âod Endeauour to gather hence anâ earnest desire to see Christ thy Lord if not corporall as the disciples saw enoyed him with their corporaâ eyes at least spiritually sith those who belieue his Resurrection not hauing seene him Almighty God calleth Blessed THE VIII MEDITATIONâ Of his apparition to the Apostles vpoâ Ascension day THE 1. POINT TO consider how our Sauiouâ appearing to his disciples tolââhem that the same day he waâ to go to his Father that if they lââued him they shold verily be glad ãâã regard that it was expedient for theâ that he went to heauen Ponder how desirous the discââples were not to loose the corp orââ presence of their Maister seeing it ãâã necessary vvith these and other likâ speaches to aduertise them that was not only expedient for his ãâã to ascend to heaueÌ but also that it imported them much thereby to make mere perfect their faith to raise their hope to purify their charity For if I go not to my Father our Lord sayd vnto theÌ the Holy Ghost shall not come to you Gather hence that if to loue the corporall presence of their Lord and Mayster with a loue somewhat lesse pure in part interessed would haue hindred the comming of the Holy Ghost to the discipls how much more will it hinder thee to loue thy selfe or any other creature with an inordinate loue THE 2. POINT TO consider that our Lord sayd vnto his discipls to comfort them Reioyce my beloued disciples at my departure because I goe to prepare you a place Ponder how that thy Redeeââer directeth lik wise the same speech âo thee as to his Apostles Reioyce âecause I goe to heauen that novv from this day forward thou mayst âaue entrance therin reioyce for that I ascend and goe before to open for thee those celestiall ãâã by which thou albeit a wretched sinnefull creature mayst haue franke and free entrance vvhich beforâ I ascended was not graunted to the iust and holy Reioyce because I ascend to day ãâã that thou mayst ascend to morrow ãâã be seated by me in the place assigned thee by my Father Hence thou mayst receâueâ meruailous great ioy and content for that thy Lord and thy God ascendethâ into heauen because for him principally it vvas created Craue of him his diuine grace that by meaneââ of a good vertuous life thou maisâ deserue to see and enioy him in his glory THE â POINT TO consider hovv our Lord hauing comforted his disciples said vnto them Tarry in the Citty tilâ you be endued vvith povver from aboue Ponder that word Tarry that is they should abide rest and stay vvhereby he meant to signify thaâ they were to expect him with patience and perseuerance vvith repose of body and mynd Secondly God commanded them to keep in the Citty to giue them to vnderstand that this fauour was not done to them alone but was also ordayned for the good of the vniuersall world Gather hence desires to expect the coÌming of this diuine spirit vvith repose and quietnes because God desireth that his though they liue in the middest of the streets and noyse of the world may haue their mind quiet and peaceable that they may pray and attend to him with such spirit and recollection as his diuine maiesty requireth to thee shal be necessary THE 4. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord commanded his disciples forthâith to betake themselues to mount ãâã because from thence he vvas âascend to heauen Ponder how these holy disciâles vvould call to mind that the ãâã which their Lord and Mayster had chosen to suffer iniuries reproathes on the Crosse he now chose to mount thence vp to Heauen there to enioy the immeasurable greatnes of his glory that the way to ascend to heauen is the mount Oliuet or of oliues which signifyeth charity and mercy Gather hence desires to be charitable mercifull towards thy neighbours to extoll magnify thâ wisdome prouidence of God who is able to make that which is the beginning of thy humiliation contempt to be the origen cause oâ thy exaltation prayse as may bâ seene in Ioseph whose calamity iâââamy imprisonment God vsed as meanes to mak him soueraigne Lorâ King of Aegipt THE IX MEDITATION Of the ascension of Christ our Lord. THE 1. POINT TO consider that fourty dayes being past after the resurrection of Christ our Lord in which he had treated and conuersed with his the houre of his glorious asâension being come hauing all his disciples present he tooke his leaue of them with manifold signes and demonstrations of loue and as a most louing Father who departeth lifting vp his hands he blessed them and so departed from them Ponder how great the griefe feeling of these most louing children would be for the departure of their Father when they should see that Lord to leaue them for whom they had left all thinges It is to be belieued that then some would cast themselues at his feet others would kisse his most sacred hands others would âang vpon his necke and all would say Hovv O Lord dost âhou go and leaue vs thus alone and orphanes in the middest of so many enemies What shal children do without their Father disciples without their Maister sheep without a Sheepheard feeble and vveake souldiers without their Captaine But our Lord comforted them promising them the fauour and ayd of the Holy Ghost and his perpetuall assistance and prouidence vvhich neuer should fayle them Gather hence desires that this Lord before he depart to heauen vouchsafe to giue thee his benediction taking hold spiritually of his hands casting thy selfe at his feet hanging on his necke thou shalt ãâã an other Iacob say vnto him I vvill not let thee goe o Lord vnles thouâ blesse me for thereon my whole remedy and euerlasting blisse dependeth THE 2. POINT TO consider how that glorious boâdy of Christ our Lord hauing imâparted his benediction to his in theiâ presence ascended to heauen the disciples remayning in suspence and astonished to behold their Elias mount vp to heauen whereas they could not follow their Lord with their bodies they followed him with their eyes harts Ponder the great admiration of the Angells and men which were there assembled seeing that sacred humanity of Christ our Lord to mount aboue all celestiall spirits towards that Citty and to be seated at the right hand of the Father vvho had been so much debased
and humbled wherefore replenished vvith excessiue ioy and comfor they vvould say to ech other Ascend o Lord ascend not to mount Caluary to be crucifyed betweene two theeues on a tree but vnto the holy hill of Sion iâ the heauenly Hierusalem to be glorified betweene two diuine persons by the quyers of Angells and blessed soules that inuisibly accoÌpany thee Ascend O Lord ascend to this soueâaigne Court not to suffer and dye âut to triumph ouer death it selfe sinne c. From hence thou mayst gather how well afflictions endured for the loue of God are imployed seeing he can and will reward and recompence them so largely magnifying and exalting aboue all creatures him vvho humbled himselfe and suffered more then all Beseech him that sith he saith by Saint Iohn If I be exalted from the earth I will draw all things to my selfe it may be fulfilled in thee that thy mind and affection being separated from earthly vanities thou maist ascend with him his holy company to heauen THE 3. POINT TO consider how the holy Apostlâ after they had lost the sight oâ their God and Lord they vvenâ backe to Hierusalem with great ioy because the same loue that caused them so much to lament their losse enforced them on the other side to reioyce at his glorious triumph entrance into that celestiall countrey where he should be receaued of thosâ courtiers of heauen with singuler ioâ exultation triumph some singing others playing on their admirable melodious instruments Ponder how different this Thursday in mount Oliuet was from that Friday in mount Caluary there solitary heere so well attended there nayled on a Crosse heere exalted aboue the clouds there cucified betweene two theeues heere enuironed with quiers of Angels there blasphemed and scorned heere honoured renowned finally there suffeing dying heere reioyeing tryumphing Gather hence great comfort to see this so wonderfull a mutation change and reioyce in this day of Christs Ascension into heauen to be thy aduocate feare his Comming to be thy Iudge THE 4. POINT TO consider the ioy of Christ our Lord in this triumph of whome it is sayd God is ascended in iubilation seeing the happy end of his trauels Ponder how much the Eternall Father exalted him aboue all vvho humbled himselfe more then all giuing him for the throne of the Crosse a throne of Maiesty for the crowne of thornes a crowne of glory for the company of theeues companies of Angells for the ignominies and blasphemies of men honours and prayses of celestiall spirits And because he descended first into the inferiour parts of the earth he made him ascend aboue all the heauens In conclusion that nature vvherto it vvas sayd Dust thou art into dust thou shalt returne now is raised from the dust of the earth aboue all the heauens Gather hence how requisite it is to humble thy selfe for Christ so to be exalâed vvith Christ because if thou wilt not be like vnto him in debafing and humbling thy selfe in vaine hopest thou to follovv him in ascending raigning ¶ After the Meditation of the Ascension of Christ our Lord to heauen it vvere much to the purpose to set downe the meditatioÌ of his glory but in regard vve haue treated therof in the first Booke togeather vvith the last things of man we remit him who desireth to read medicate thereon to that place THE X. MEDITATION Of the comming of the Holy Ghost THE â POINT TO consider how after our Sâuiour was ascended into heauen his disciples retyred themselues into an vpper chamber in Hierusalem where they all perseuered in continuall prayer expecting the Holy Ghost Ponder that the strongest and most effectuall meanes that may be to procure the comming of the Holy Ghost into thy soule is a continuall inflamed and feruent perseuerance in ârayer for otherwise if when others pray thou sleepest if when others aââend and are carefull of their saluatiân and spirituall profit thou remayââ carelesse negligent of thy owne if when others haue their minds and conuersation vvith God thou hast thyne with men although thou be in company of the good and holy in one house and residence in one same Religion this diuine spirit vvill not come vpon thee Gather hence desires to perâeuere in prayer and to be frequent therin that this diuine fire of the holy Ghost may come also vpon thee as it came vpon the Apostles who with so many sighes longing desires expected its comming THE 2. POINT TO consider how there came sodeÌly a wind that filled the whole house vvhere the Apostles vvere in prayer Ponder first how this vvind and coole ayre of heauen did noâ leaue any chamber roome closet oâ corner of that house which it did noâ penetrate to signifâ that this quikninâ spirit is offered giuen to all meâ generally in whatsoeuer part or coââner of the world they are Ponder secondly that when thâ Holy Ghost entreth into a soule it filleth all her faculties by his power vvith verities and celestiall vârtues not leauing any part voyd or vnfurnished From hence thou shalt gather that if thou desire this soueraigne spirit should replenish the house of thy soule vvith his diuine graces and gifts thou must not wander out of it distracting busiyng thy thoghts about creatures but remayne setled and quietly reposed therein imploying her in good desires thoughts works for doing so this diuine spirit vvill fill thee vvith his aboundanâ loue grace THE 2. POINT TO consider how the Holy Ghost desceÌded in forme of fiery toÌgues vpon all the Apostles and disciples that were retyred in that house verifying that vvhich Christ our Lord sayd vnto them I came to cast fire on earth and what will I but that it be kindled and inflame the harts of men Ponder that the cause why this Lord commeth in forme of ãâã vvas that the Apostles might be like vnto burning torches which should set on fire the vvhole vvorld that they might illuminate inflame the harts of men with this fire of diuine ãâã making them of wolues to become sheep of crowes doues of lions lambes of brutish people and infernall monsters spirituall Angella Gather hence great desires that this fire would vouchsafe vnto thee one sparke of his âeat that thy lips being purified as were those of the Prophet thou mayst hence forward neither speake nor discourse of vainâ base thinges of the world but oâ God and his prayses endeauouring with thy speuches and conâersation to inflame thy selfe and those vvith whome thou conuersest with the fire of thy diuine loue THE 4. POINT TO consider that albeit the discipleâ which were in that chamber werâ more then an hundred and all of ãâã different merits yet that pure spiriâ replenished all with his diuine gifts ând graces imparted himselfe entierly to euery one Ponder that although all were full of the Holy Ghost yet some reââaued greater grace benefit then others that is
the more holy receaued greater plenty of grace And so the most B. Virgin as fullest of grace vertue receaued more abundance therof then all the rest togeather Gather hence a great desire to dispose and prepare thy selfe to receaue this diuin spirit with the greaââst feruour thou canst because he communicateth himselfe more abundantly to him that is best prepared to make thy selfe such the principall vertue which thou must procure to haue is Humility which conserueth the rest as the Prophet Isay sayth Vpon vvhome reposeth my spirit sayth our Lord but vpon him that is humble and meeke Be thou then such aâ one that with like disposâtion thou mayst receaue and preserue in thy soule this diuine spirit who resisteth the proâd and to the humble giueth his grace THE XI MEDITATION Of the death of the most Blessed Virgin our Lady THE 1. POINT TO consider hovv the B. Virgin our Lady being now in years God hauing determined her some tyme in this life which some belieue vvere fifteen others more probably say that she liued twenty three yeares after the death of Christ and that she departed this life to heauen the 7â yeare of her age Almighty God hauing preserued her heere al this tyme to giue light to the vvorld for the comfort and benefit of the whole Church also that she might see the faith and name of her Blessed Sonne diuulged and spred ouer all parts of the world she had novv most earnest and inflamed desires to go to heauen vvhere she vvas to find out Lord Iesus Christ her Sonne victorious and triumphant whome she instantly besought to take her out oâ this exile banishment tempestuous sea conduct her to that secure port of happines where for euer she might enioy his glorioâs sight conpany Ponder how this most Blessed Sonne approuing the pious desires of his deerest Mother and acknowledging the aspirations of her hart to be greater then those of Dauid where he sayd Euen as the Hart desireth after the fountaines of waters so doth my soule desire after thee o God he sent vnto her an Angell which many hoâly Fathers imagine was the Angell S. Gabriel who came with a palme in his hand in token of the victory that this triumphant Lady had gotten of sinne of the Diuell of death it selfe And the B. Virgin receaued him with great comfort ioy of spirit confiâering what she so much desired was âow to effected Gather hence enkindled desires to see and enioy God that when thy dayes shall end and death arriue âhou mayst receaue it with gust and âoy hoping by meanes thereof to participate in heauen of the svveet presence and company of Christ our Lord and of his most Blessed Mother THE 2. POINT TO consider hovv the Sonne of God determining to fulfill the desires of his most B. Mother the Apostles being deuided ouer the vvhole world preaching the victories of their Lord were miraculously assembled in the house of the B. Virgin who reioyciâg much at their comming disclosed vnto them the newes of her death vvith a cheerfull graue couÌtenance declaring vnto them her desire to depart this life to go to heauen which Almighty God had graânted vnto her Ponder the feeling teares and tendernes of hart wherewith this doleâuli relation afflicted them all seeing their Mother ready to depart thiâ life and that diuine Sunne illuminating the Chruch to withdraw it selfâ go downe Ponder sâcondly how the Bleââsed Virgin without any infirmity oâ payne at all but of meere loue and desire to see and enioy her Sonne in heauen betooke her selfe to her poore bed beholding them all vvith a countenance rather diuine then humane willed them to come neere gaue them her blessing saying God be with you my deerly beloued children lament not because I leaue you but reioyce because I goe to my best beloued Sonne Gather hence an exceeding desire to approach in spirit neere vnto this B. Lady ioyning thy selfe to his good company beseech her to giue thee her holy blessing also that âherwith thou mayst increase goe âorward in grace loue of her God thy Lord. THE 3. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord this happy houre being at hand ãâã downe from heauen accompaââed with innumerable Angells by ââeir sight and presence to reioyce his âost B. Mother to conduct her iâ heauen Ponder first the gracious and sweet vvordes vvhich the Sonne of God vsed vnto his sacred Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary vvhich might be the same that the holy Ghost speaketh to his Espouse in the Canticles ãâã Arise make hast my loue my doue my beautifull and come for winteâ is now past the raine is gone and departed The flowers haue appered iâ our Land Come from libanus mâ Espouse come from Libanus comâ thou shalt de crowned vvith thâ crowne of Iustice which thou hast sâ well deserued Ponder secondly what hoâ great the iubilies and comforts vveââ that did trauerse the hart of this ãâã Lady what thanks she gaue her Soâ and her God for such benefits bâ stowed vpon her and for vouch sââfing to cloth himselfe with her fleââ and bloud in her virginall wombâ and calling to mind the manner of ãâã death on the Crosse would say O ãâã Father as thou art God and my ãâã as man into thy hands o Lord I coâ mend my spirit And vvith thâ words she yielded her spirit to hiâ whome she had inuested within her selfe From hence thou shalt gather âffections to prayse God our Lord in whose sight the death of this Lady was precious giuing her so copious and large a recompence for her labours Trust in like sort to receaue reward for that thou hast endured for his seruice glory that so thy death may be precious in his sight as is that of his Saints THE 4. POINT TO consider how the holy Apostles and disciples of our Lord vvhen they beheld that body without life of which our life had taken flesh they âll prostrated themselues vpon the ground kissing it with great tenderâes deuotion affection then layâng it forth with vpon a Beere they âooke it on their shoulders and carâyed it through the Citty of Hierusaâem singing Hymnes and deuout ârayers till they arriued at the sepulâher where it was to be placed Ponder how their griefe at such âme as the holy body vvas put into the Monument was renewed that they deuoutly kissed and with great reuerence adored it againe againe not being able to withdraw their eies from thence vvhere they had their harts Hence stir vp in thy selfe a tender feeling sorrow for the absence of this B. Lady an earnest desire spiritually with thy best endeauour to accompany her holy body conforging thy selfe with the quiers of Angels the disciples to sing with them her prayses beseeching her to obtainâ thee such a death as thou mayst inâ her company enioy for euer the presence glory of her
most holy Sonnâ in heauen THE XII MEDITATION Of the assumption coronation of our Blessed Lady THE 1. POINT TO consider how the third day after the death of our Blessed Lady Christ Iesus her Sonne camâ downe from heauen attended on by innumerable Angells with the soule of his most B. Mother infused it into her body and made it a thousand times more beautifull then the Sunne it selfe and restoring it to life inuested it with immortality with a beauty and grace so diuine as neither can be explicated by wordes nor comprehended by humane vnderstanding Ponder how glorious the body of this pure Virgin vvas raysed out of the Sepulcher vvith those foure dowries of glory which the glorified bodyes haue of impassibility agility subtility and clarity And beholding her selfe in this manner what thanks would she render vnto her most B. Sonne for hauing dealt so liberally with her not permitting her body albeit she dyed a naturall death as other children of Adam to be dissolued and turned to dust conseruing it with the same integrity purity it had in life Gather hence great ioy at the Resurrection of the Blessed Virgin the incorruptibility of her body the rare and speciall priuiledge graunted vnto her by her most holy Son vvho fullfilled the desires of her soule Beseech him to fulfill thyne which are to serue him with purity of body and soule in this life that thou mayst seâ enioy him in the eternall THE 2. POINT TO consider how our Lord God hauing raysed the body of the most B Virgin the diuine Sunne beautifull Moone would behold echâ other not now mourning and eclipsed as vpon good Friday but mosâ ioyfull resplendent and beautifullâ And those two blessed harts of such ãâã Mother and such a Sonne exulâingâ with ioy vvould giue to ech other sweet imbracings a thousand welcomes congratulations Ponder the most solemne procession which forthwith was made ãâã the sepulcher euen to the highest heauen and how that glorious body of the Blessed Virgin did mount and ascend on high carryed vvith the vvinges of the giftes of agility not standing in need of the Angells to assist or support her Although they did all accompany her some singing others playing most sweely on their harps and violls and reioycing and wondering at so great a nouelty and glorious triumph sayd Who is this that commeth vp from the desert of this life with so great glory flowing with delights leaning vpon her beloued Gather hence three things Let the first be a most earnest desire in spirit to follow the Blessed Virgin in this iourney abandoning the vvorld with thy hart togeather with all the sensuall delights thereof The second to endeauour to ascend euery day to profit in vertue not trusting to thy weake forces not in thy arme of flesh but in the potent arme of God Let the third be to reioyce euer in our Lord and in vvhatsoeuer appertayneth to his seruice THE 3. POINT TO consider the place and seate which the Sonne of God assigned to his beloued Mother in heauen This was no doubt the best and most eminent the sacred Humanity of Christ excepted which was or euer shal be giuen to a pure creature for she was placed seated aboue all the nine quiers of Angells at the right hand of God within his owne curtaine and throne according to that of the Prophet who sayth The Queene stood on thy right hand in golden âayment compassed with variety beauty for it was most meet that she who stood was present on his right âe had suffering on earth at the foot of the Crosse shold posses the like place reioycing in heauen that she who humbled her selfe below all creaturs should be exalted aboue them all to be their Mistresse and the Queene of Angells Ponder how bright the Emperial heauen was with the glittering resplendent light of such a Sunne and such a Moone Christ and his Mother how ioyfull and contented vvere the Angells with the sight and presence of such a Queene by whose intercession they hoped the seates vvhich their companions had lost vvould be repaired what great ioy did the Blessed conceaue at the maiesty and glory of such a Mother vnto vvhome all did reuerence homage and obedience seeing her so far exalted aboue them all O how well satisfyed and content vvas that humble Lady seeing her selfe raysed from the very lowest place of the earth to the supreme highest heauen Wherfore gathering hence affections of ioy for that this Princesse of heauen is so extolled aboue al pure creatures thou shalt congratulate and contemplate with her for that God hath so much honoured and exalted âher Hope thou for the same in heauen if thou shalt follow the steps of such a Son such a Mother THE 4. POINT TO consider hovv the most holy Trinity presently crowned the B. Virgin with three crovvnes The Eternall Father crowned her vvith a crowne of Power giuing her after Christ power and dominion ouer all creatures in heauen and earth The Sonne crowned her with a crown of Wisedome enduing her vvith the cleare knowlege of the diuine ãâã and of all creatures in it The Holy Ghost crowned her with a crowne of Charity infusing into her not only the loue of God but also of her neighbours Ponder the admiration and astonishment of those Angelicall Hierarchies vvhen they beheld the B. Virgin so much esteemed honoured vvith such crovvnes graces and prerogatiues and aboue all consider what vnspeakable ioy this soueraigne Queene conceaued with what affection and deuotion she would renew her Canticle of Magnificat seeing how great things he who is Almighty had wrought in her Gather from hence liuely and inflamed desires to see and enioy this B Lady who is the daughter of the Eternall Father Mother of the Eternal SoÌ espouse of the Holy Ghost For she is crowned with the diademâ of glory wherwith the true King Salomon crowned her in the day of her entrance into heauen in the day of the ioy of her hart Beseech her that seeing she is also thy Mother she would also vouchsafe plenty of her mercies vertues that thou mayst obtaine enioy the eternall crowne of glory which God graunt vs. Amen The end of the Meditations of the life death of our Sauiour his Blessed Mother HEERE FOLLOW TWO MEDITATIONS Seruing for preparation before the sacred Communion AN ADVERTISMENT I Haue thought it good to end this Booke of Meditations with a few of the most Blessed Sacrament to meditate vpon not only the vvhole Octaue of Corpus Christi and other feasts of the yeare in regard this most Holy Lord graciously discouereth himselfe and is so ofteÌ carryed in publike procession but also that seeing it is through the bounty of God receaued so frequently not of Religious persons alone but of secular also they may haue sufficient matteâââo prepare themselues before the sacred Communion and to giue due thanks