shew how great this Love and Devotion ought to be That is to say it ought to be next to our Love and Devotion to Jesus and Mary CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for Jesus and Mary CERTAINLY none can refuse to pay this debt of Love to our Amiable Saint Joseph to this object of the Love of Jesus and Mary and to one so highly belov'd by God himself For can the Eternal Wisdom Error be Deceiv'd Can Mary engage her Affections without Reason Or can we charge God with partiality because he Loves Saint Joseph next to Jesus and Mary Certainly such thoughts as these can never enter into a Pious Heart Wherefore we must conclude that since he was so amiable they cou'd not elsewhere lodge their Affections better or give a present of their Love to any one more deserving than Saint Joseph Let us therefore see how they Lov'd him and endeavour to Love him as they did Believing that God has renderd him lovely above others to move us to Love him above others and move us to follow the track's of his own Divine Affection towards Saint Joseph 'T is hereby we shall know that we are proficients in this Divine School of Love when we come to Love Saint Joseph above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary in which consists that special Devotion we ought to have to him I say not this to lessen your Love and Devotion to any other Saint but to augment your Love and Devotion to this Saint who in regard of his Merits hold's the first rank in Heaven and Earth not only upon account of that Love that Jesus and Mary bore him but of the Love that God has manifested towards him by those high perogatives he has bestow'd upon him Not but that God has also very highly favour'd many other Saints of his Heavenly Court such as Saint John Baptist whom the Divine Word declar'd the †Inter natos Mulierum non surrexit major Joanne Baptista Matth. 11.11 Greatest amongst the Sons of women and such as the Apostles also were who are Pillars of his Church and like Stars of the first magnitude in the glorious Firmament of Heaven as well as several other Saints like unto these but we must remember what the Learn'd and Devout Gerson says that if the first Ranck and Hierarchy in Heaven is that of the Father Son and Holy Ghost so the second is this of Jesus Mary and Joseph and that all other Saints are of a lower Rank and of a different Hierarchy These other great Saints hold indeed the first place in their Rank and Hierarchy according to the ordinary Law of Love but not in that of the Order of the Hypostatical Union and in the Mistery of the Incarnation wherein those are only compris'd who most nearly relate to Jesus and Mary namely Saint Joseph who compleats this Created Trinity as I before signifi'd and therefore makes a Hierarchy apart of far greater Excellency and Dignity than the rest But still to set forth more at large Saint Joseph's Dignity I will here declare the Source and Order of this Hierarchy which comprehends none but Jesus Mary and Joseph We must therefore take notice that God who is admirable in his Works was not content only to make Man after his own Image and Likeness but wou'd also make a Created Image and Likeness of the Increated Trinity in these three wonderful personages Jesus Mary and Joseph whom he chose for the Mistery of the Incarnation So that as the three Persons of the Increated Trinity have all Cooperated to the Sacred Mystery of the Incarnation so they wou'd also make an Illustrious and Created Emblem of themselves to Cooperate likewise towards the same Mistery For Example first in the subsistance of the two Natures of JESUS CHRIST his Soul Body and Divinity are United in the Person of the Son of God So by the Union of the admirable Love and singular Report that these three Persons Jesus Mary and Joseph have to one another they Contributed to it upon Earth Mary bears the Image of God the Father Jesus is the Son according to his Humanity in a just likeness to what he is in Heaven as he is the Word or Son of God And Saint Joseph Represents the Holy Ghost in the quality of Spouse to the Blessed Virgin or in the Love he had for Jesus and Mary which he manifested by the care he took both of the one and of the other What Affections therefore are due to this Admirable and Venerable Created Trinity as the Learn'd Gerson stiles it either in general or in particular And if the greatest Honour be confer'd upon them by this Title why ought not the greatest Love to accompany it If Love attends Merit what can be next the Uncreated Trinity but the Created And next to the Father Son and Holy Ghost but Jesus Mary and Joseph who ought to take the next place in our Affections And as it wou'd be amiss for any one first to Love God the Father secondly to Love God the Son and then breaking the Order of the Trinity to Love one of the Angels placeing the Holy Ghost in the same Rank with these Holy Spirits so infinitely inferiour to him in all things if therefore this wou'd be very Preposterous since by denying his first Affection to the Holy Ghost he wou'd refuse him the first of all possible Devotions which he deservedly challenges as his Right it being an undoubted Truth that we cannot render a greater Honour than by Love and by offering our Heart in Homage Wherefore as none can divide their Love and Devotion to the three Persons in the Uncreated Trinity to give it elsewhere no more can they do so in order to the Created Trinity But must Love Jesus Mary and Joseph after the Uncreated Trinity before any other object tho' never so Perfect and therefore to Love Jesus and Mary and in the next place to Love any Saint or Angel wou'd be to break the order of Love and become injurious to this Created Trinity robbing it of that Honour God has given it and 't wou'd be to displace Saint Joseph who ought to have the third Rank in the sanctuary of our Affections which wou'd clearly appear no less a Defect of Judgment than of Devotion Wherefore our greatest Devotion after that to Jesus and Mary ought to be to Saint Joseph without any fear or apprehension that any Saint or Angel will thereby be disoblig'd they all giving him the precedency knowing very well what Honour and Devotion is due to the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God and to the reputed Father of Jesus the Son of God and to the third Person of the admirable Created Trinity of Jesus Mary and Joseph CHAP. IV. What was the reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most amiable of all the
Measures wherewith he inspires both Art and Nature to Operate Especially in framing his chief Master-piece his Holy Church For to what End did he ordain so many Ceremonies in the Old Jewish Law Why was he so careful of all the Ornaments of Salomons Temple as even to Ordain that the very Snuffers and other Instruments of less Moment shou'd be of Gold It was because the beholding all these Ordinations and Ceremonies serv'd to his Elect People as an Aprentiship to understand and learn both the Excellency and Sublime Practices of the New Law that JESUS CHRIST was to Establish these serv'd as Foundations whereupon that was to be built and to dispose us to that Perfection as was requir'd and obtain'd by those Sacraments instituted in the Law of Love which the Divine Wisdom was to Establish in his Church 'T was therefore for this End that he brought up his Elect People in the Exercise of such a Multitude of Ceremonies in the Old Law that he might hereby dispose and bring them by little and little to that solid Devotion and Attention requir'd in the New We also see that the Written Law God gave to Moyses Perfected the Law of Nature and the Law of Grace Perfects both the Law of Nature and the Written Law and God made use of all these to bring us to that Perfection which the Vertue and Prerogatives of his Grace prepar'd us to obtain the better to entertain him with such Fervour and Devotion as he requir'd when he shou'd favor us with his Divine Presence Thus we see that God both by himself and his Creatures prepares disposes brings about and perfects all his designs by degrees And we see the reason why God for the space of near seventeen hundred Years has dispos'd and order'd that particular Honours and Devotions shou'd be perform'd by his Servants to particular Saints for particular benefits receiv'd by their Intercession for he bestow's upon each Saint some particular Grace or Priviledge to move the Faithful to a particular Devotion to that particular Saint giveing to one Saint the power of cureing one Disease to another the power of curing a different Distemper to one Saint power to help us in one Necessity to another Saint power to help us in a different Exigency to one Saint he gives the priviledge to obtain one Vertue for us to another to obtain some other different Vertue and why did God do all this but to move his Servants to a particular Devotion to the Saints in general And to move and dispose us also to a Devotion to each Saint in particular when we wanted their help in such a necessity as God had given that Saint a particular power to help us in And why has God reserv'd to this last Age the declaration of the Merits and Power of Saint Joseph but that the Devotion wherewith he had Inspir'd us to give to each Saint in in Particular might serve us like so many dispositions and steps to raise us to such a Devotion to Saint Joseph as he merits above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary he having all that Power united in himself which God had distributed amongst all other Saints whereby he was able to cure all Corporal and Spiritual Diseases both of Soul and Body and to help his Clients in all their Necessities whatsoever his Dignity and Merits challenging this extraordinary priviledge above all other Saints except Jesus and Mary to the end therefore that all the particular Devotions exhibited for so many Ages to many different Saints might be united and offer'd to him and that all might have Recourse to him in all their Necessities God has discover'd to us that all the power he had before Communicated and Distributed to several Saints is united and given to Saint Joseph he having all Power given him next to Jesus and Mary I shou'd not thus freely have declar'd my Thoughts upon so sublime a Subject had I not before-hand made my Apology since after all none but God and his Saints do certainly know the true reason why Saint Joseph receiv'd not more Early Honours in the Catholick Church Now therefore I shall go on to perform that which I also Promis'd and will be a far easier task which is to make known to you who were those particular Clients of Saint Joseph that in these latter Years God has Inspir'd to endeavour after a most particular manner the promoting his Honour CHAP. V. Of the ten particular Clients of Saint Joseph who by their Pious Examples have invited and mov'd us to a particular Devotion to him next to Jesus and Mary THE Clients of Saint Joseph daily increase and are already become so numerous that there are few or none that desire not to be inrol'd amongst ' em All the Clients of Jesus and Mary have also Consecrated their Affections to him in acknowledgement of his Amability and of the Love which his reputed Son Jesus and his Virgin Spouse Mary have for him their Mouths and Pens express the desires and wishes of their Hearts saying Long Live Jesus Mary and Joseph these are now become their Aspirations adding Joseph to the common Aspiration of Devout Souls Long Live Jesus and Mary and their frequent prohouncing of these words is a signal mark of the Victory he has gain'd over their Chast Affections It has been heretofore a singular Devotion of some Persons who were particularly Devoted to the Vertue of Purity to add Alexius to those two Venerable Names of Jesus and Mary but since this Lovely Sun Saint Joseph has peirc'd the Cloud under which he so many Years lay hid all change their notes and cry out Jesus Mary and Joseph instead of Jesus Mary Alexius giving Saint Joseph his own yet without lessoning their Devotion to Alexius whom after Saint Joseph they honor also with frequent Aspirations Live Alexius O let Alexius Live But they knowing the Merits of Saint Joseph to be of a different and higher rank upon account of the alliance he had with the Vertues of his Holy Spouse and with the Mistery of the Incarnation which render'd him as I have sayd one of the Created Trinity where he takes his place gives him a preference above all other Saints tho after him every one may take Alexius or what other Saint they are particularly Devoted unto for the Object of their particular Affection The first and chief of those who were tenderly affected to Saint Joseph was Jesus the Son of God For tho' our Blessed Lady was first by the date of time that Lov'd her Spouse since her Love began before JESUS CHRIST her Son was Born yet 't is not to be doubted but that the Saviour of the World incomparably more Lov'd and Cherish'd him than our Lady did And therefore tho' her Love was precedent as I sayd in regard of time Yet the Love which Jesus as Son of God had for him before time was above our imagination and beyond the power of Angels to express he lov'd
inspire me with those Thoughts of these Mysteries wherewith thou didst Inspire the tender and Loving Heart of Saint Joseph O most Holy Joseph obtain by your Spouses and your own Intercession such a true Disposition of Heart to Receive and lay them up in my Heart that I may profit by them that hereby my Heart may become a grateful Present to you to Offer to JESUS Behold such as it is I here Offer with all the Affection I am able O Increase this Affection that the present may be more acceptable and than Offer it to the Divine JESUS the God of my Heart VI. MEDITATION Of the Virtues Saint Joseph Exercis'd in the Flight of JESUS into Aegypt in his Return from thence and at his loss of him in Jerusalem Preparatory Prayer BEG Grace to see and Imitate those Virtues Saint Joseph practis'd in these Mysteries I. Prelude BEHOLD Saint Joseph as soon as he heard the Angel Pronounce those Words Take the Child and his Mother and fly into Aegypt getting up at Midnight and without any delay beginning a long Winter Journy of above a hundred and sixty Miles with his Spouse the Blessed Virgin and her tender Infant JESUS not yet a Year old Behold him also exercising his Trade for seven Years together at Mattutes six miles from Babylon amidst a company of Idolaters who were incited by the Devil to treat these Holy Persons after a most rude and inhuman manner All which Saint Joseph patiently suffer'd till he was warn'd by an Angel to return home Then imagine them returning back the same tedious Winter Journy to Nazareth were remaining four Years they ascended with JESUS now twelve Years of of Age to Jerusalem where they lost him and returning back to seek him found him in the Temple II. Prelude BEG Grace rightly to Consider the profit Saint Joseph made by all these Mysteries and beg his Intercession to do the like I. Point Consider Saint Joseph's Blind and Prompt Obedience by intirely adandoning himself to God's Provindence Quitting at mid-night his Country his House Friends and all other Conveniencies to begin a long Winter Journey to go to live amongst Idolaters The Love of JESUS and his Precious Life made him set at naught all other things to save this God's Will was his Guide and Law which he Blindly Obey'd without consulting his Reason which might have suggested difficulties and objected for Example why at this time of Night Why in this hard season of Winter Why must we go amongst Idolaters and not rather to the three Kings What must he Fly He who is to Save others Cannot he Save himself How long must we remain in this Banishment But nothing pass'd of all this he knew Reason was not to be Consulted but Contradicted when God Commands He knew God never adandon's those that abandon themselves to his Providence O sublime Obedience O perfect Resignation O admirable Confidence O Holy Joseph obtain for me these Vertues Practis'd by thee after so sublime a manner as rais'd thee to this Dignity of becoming Saviour to him who was to Save the whole World II. Point Consider what a Mortified Life Saint Joseph must needs lead amongst such Barbarous Idolaters Consider what he must Interiourly suffer for seven Years together by seeing God continually Offended And what Exteriour Sufferings he underwent by a want of all things Living only upon the poor Earnings of his Trade and the effects of Poverty he saw JESUS and his Spouse suffer were more sensible than his own and then behold and admire his Patience Resignation and Joy in Suffering with and for JESUS Consider how by his continual Adorations and Honours done to God he endeavour'd to satisfie for those Idolatries which he with a sad Heart continually beheld O Pious O Patient and Resign'd Joseph teach me how to Love and to Express my Love by Labours and Sufferings as you did and that Love may make Labours and Sufferings both Easie and Delightful assist me to undergo them as in the Presence and purely for the sake of JESUS Then Consider what Joy the Angels tidings of Herod's Death occasion'd in his Heart not for his own sake but for the sake of JESUS whose Life Herod sought and which was dearer to him than his own O teach me this generous and disinteress'd Love that may make me have no regaurd at all to my own Interest but that my chief delight may be only in what relates to God's Honour and Happiness III. Point Consider at Saint Joseph's return from Jerusalem how sensible he was when he miss'd JESUS finding he had lost the only object of his Love and fearing this loss might proceed from his own Fault and Negligence Consider his Resignation to this so sensible Affliction and with what Peace and equality of Mind he bore it and with what Diligence he sought him and then consider what Joy his Heart felt when he found him and heard his Divine Disputations with the Doctours in the Temple Consider also what Joy the Words of our Blessed Lady caus'd in his Soul when she gave him the Title of Father which Joy was accompanied with no less Humility and Confusion reflecting upon his own unworthiness thereof O great Saint Joseph Interceed that I may never loose JESUS through my own Fault and when he withdraws himself that I may suffer it with resignation and so efficaciously seek him that I may find him as soon as you did The Colloquie O Infinite Goodness grant me by the Intercession of Saint Joseph that I may in all things intirely abandon my self to your Divine Will Patiently suffer what you think best where when and as long as you please grant that I may never Wilfully loose you but when you please to withdraw your self may suffer it with that Patience and Resignation and seek you with such Fervour and Constancy as that I may find you VII MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's eighteen Years Conversation with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth Preparatory Prayer TO beg of God to understand the great profit Saint Joseph made by the advantage of two such admirable Examples encreasing in all sorts of Vertue I. Prelude IMAGINE your self to hear his Royal Progenitor David under a Similitude Prophetically declare in the following words the profit he made by his abode at Nazareth †Justus ut Palina florebit sicut Cedrus Libani multiplicabitur plantati in Domo Domini in atrijs Domus Dei nostri florebunt Psal 91.13 The Just says he planted in the House or Court of God shall florish like a Palm Tree and Increase or be Exalted in Perfection like a Cedar of Libanus See how Saint Joseph verifies this Prediction both by his Title of Just and Name of Joseph which signifies An Increase and reflect how like a Cedar he grew and increas'd even to the highest pitch of Perfection in Nazareth which may truly be call'd the House and Court of God since 't was the Habitation of the Son of God his Virgin Mother and his
him as his Father and never Son lov'd a Father as Jesus did Joseph nay joyn all the tender Affections that all the Children that have ever yet been have ever had for their Fathers yet the Affection of Jesus to Joseph transcended 'em all he had in proportion the same tenderness of Affection for Saint Joseph which he had for his Virgin Mother and prefer'd none upon Earth before Saint Joseph excepting her self perfectly fulfilling the Commandment of honoring his Father and Mother with greater exactness and tenderness of Affection than ever any Child in the World did and lov'd him also as it became such a Child to love such a Father so Amiable so Tender so Careful of him so Singularly Obliging to him as he was upon so many accounts Jesus lov'd him also as a Saviour for saving him from the Cruel Hands of Herod by flying with him into Aegypt Whereby he became even the Saviour of his Saviour Moreover he lov'd him as his Nursing Father as Foster'd by his Sweat and Labours he lov'd him moreover under the title of his Angel Guardian Other Persons have invisible Angel Guardians given 'em by God Jesus alone had no Angel Guardian given him his Divinity being so strictly united to his Humanity was to him a sufficient guard wherefore God gave him Saint Joseph as a visible Guardian which honour he confer'd upon Saint Joseph for the space of thirty Years he bearing all that while the title and office of Conductour Tutor and Governour of the word Incarnate Moreover the very Name and Right of a God-father appointed by God himself was another motive of Jesus's extraordinary affection towards Saint Joseph Infine such was his Love that as the Eastern Church recounts out of some Revelations he lov'd him as the Apple of his Eye The Saviour of the World as Isidorus recounts out of very Grave Authors entertaining his Disciples upon the Life of Saint Joseph spoke thus of him †Morals in Mat. Isid Dominic I Confer'd and Convers'd with Saint Joseph as if I had been his Son he be call'd me Son and I call'd him Father he Commanded me and I Obey'd him and lov'd him as my Father and even as the Apple of my Eye If you still desire to see the effects of this his extraordinary Love know that generally he favour'd him with all the particular Marks of his Love whereby he has ever favour'd any Saint 'T was esteem'd a signal favour to Saint * Ex P. Johan de S.M. in His O.S. Dō Mary Magdalen of the Vrsins to have a sight of the Infant Jesus as he lay upon Straw in the Manger at Bethlem Blessed Teresa de Cerda as a reward of her Zeal in watching the Corporals upon which his Body was wont to lye upon the Altar whilst they were drying least any Flies might light upon or stain 'em saw our Saviour himself lying upon them and wrapping them about his Sacred Body The honour Saint Mary Magdalen receiv'd in Kissing our Saviours Feet in the Huose of Simon was also very great but all these were nothing in comparison of what Saint Joseph receiv'd He not only once but all the time of Jesus his Infancy saw him in the Crib how often did he behold him in his Swadling-clouts and how many thousand times did he kiss hi◠Sacred Feet 'T was a signal Favour Saint John receiv'd by laying his Head upon his Masters Sacred Breast and what knowledge of Secrets and Misteries did he draw from thence But how many times has Jesus rested his Sacred Head upon Saint Joseph's Breast Whilst he carried him in his Sacred Armes tenderly Embracing and Cherishing him both at home and abroad in his journeys to Aegypt and elsewhere and how many Secrets did he then Communicate to him 'T was esteem'd a particular Favour to Blessed Vrsula of Valence when our Saviour appear'd to her cloath'd in Episcopal Robes and giving her his Blessing And at another time when be Enter'd by Night into her Chamber whilst she was at her prayers more Bright and Glorious than the Sun transporting and filling her Heart with Divine Comforts Great was the happiness our Saviour afforded his Apostles by three Years continual Conversation with them seeing his admirable Example and hearing his Divine Wisdom But Saint Joseph surpass'd all these Conversing with him not only three but thirty Years together seeing and hearing this Divine Word Beholding him not in an Episcopal but Mitaculous Habit that grew as his Body did and this not as he was passing from one place to another but constantly in his own House not receiving one but innumerable Benedictions from his Divine Hand We Read also of an extraordinary favour that our Saviour did Blessed Jane of France when he sat down at table with her at no other Banquet than that of three Hearts serv'd up upon a Plate of Gold Which were his own his Mothers and Hers. The Apostles also enjoy'd the honour of Eating with him at Lazarus's Simion's Zachaeus's Saint Mathew's and several other Tables But was it not a far greater favour that Saint Joseph enjoy'd of being his and his Mothers constant Guest sitting at Table with them having his Soul fed and set on fire with the Inflam'd Words that proceeded from the Heart and Mouth of the Son of God and from that large Heart of his Blessed Mother where she had laid and hoarded up all those Mysteries she had both heard and seen We admire the Visions he bestow'd upon his Apostles and other Saints at his Transfiguration upon Mount Thabor and by several Apparitions after his Resurrection or Assension into Heaven as to Saint Paul Saint Catharine of Sienna Saint Teresa Saint Francis and Saint Dominick Blessed Stanis-laus Kosta Saint Ignatius and to many other Saints replenish'd with such a resplendent Beauty accompanied with such a Melodious attendance of Angels as all the Annals of Saints do recount And was not Saint Joseph also surrounded by all the Quires of Angels singing Gloria in Eccelsis Deo Saint Briget in her Revelations relates that Saint Joseph saw our Saviour inviron'd by a Divine Light which according to his Mothers Testimony far exceeded the Lustre and Brightness of the Sun saying to Saint Briget * Lib. 9. Revel 58. Saint Joseph often beheld an admirable Glory in the midest of which my Son appear'd in great Splendour and at the same time Heavenly Musick delighted our Hearts the Angels declaring and singing the Glories of my Son Lastly we with reason look upon it as the highest Point of the Love of JESUS CHRIST when he visibly appears to his Favorits at the hower of their Death Visiting Comforting and Assisting them in that last passage out of the Miseries of this World into everlasting Happiness in the next For in this Saint Joseph had a most particular mark of his favour above all others whose Heart was fill'd with most delicious Dying Thoughts for as the Eastern Church I before cited assures us our Saviour assisted
O pens Heaven's Gates Above Wherefore to shew the Love and Esteem he had of them he us'd them as a watch-word as a salutation both at meeting or parting as a sign of admiration as a parenthesis as a transition and even upon all occasions he made use of them when he came home his Salutation to the Porter was Jesus Mary Joseph pray Brother open the Gate and the same Salutation he us'd when he went forth and when any Strangers came in his Salutation was Jesus Maria Joseph Father you are welcome thus on all occasions these Names were in his Mouth and as he liv'd in this Devotion so he desir'd to dye in the same wherefore in time of his last Sickness he earnestly recommended to those that assisted him that when they saw him in his last Agony they wou'd frequently repeat these Names in his Ears which were an extract and abridgement of his Affections and a singular cordial to help and conduct his Soul in it's passage to God And that fell out which he desir'd for he died with these Words in his Mouth †Bone Jesu miserere mei Good Jesus have Mercy upon me and then Invocating these three Names Jesus Maria Joseph he yielded up his happy Soul God grant us all so happy an end as this The fifth Person Devoted after a a particular manner to Saint Joseph was that Prince and Prelate of Geneva Saint Francis of Sales who as we have reason to beleive honour'd him above all the Saints in Heaven according to the Testimony of Father Peter Bernaud of the SOCIETY of JESUS who had the honour to assist him in his last Sickness who was acquainted with two or three very remarkable passages that testified the very great Devotion this Holy Prelate had to Saint Joseph The Night before he dy'd being at Lyons upon the point of his Departure an Apoplexy seiz'd him tho' not perceptable to the Rector of Saint Joseph's Colledge of the SOCIETY of JESUS when he came to salute and bid him adue who offering him his and all the Fathers Services that were in his House to which all the reply or complement the Bishop return'd was to tell him with an Angelical Sweetness O Father know yee not that I am all Saint Joseph's The same Father also related that watching the Night following in the Chamber of this holy Prelate to assist him at his happy Death whilst the Apoplexy grew worse not having his own Breviary to say his Howers one lent him the Breviary of the sick Prelate in which he found but one Picture which was of Saint Joseph Another mark of his tender Devotion to Saint Joseph is related also by the same Father happen'd some time before when he made the first Sermon in our Church upon the Feast of Saint Joseph It seems the Lord Cardinal of Markmont Arch-Bishop of Lyons had engag'd the Bishop to Preach upon Saint Joseph's Day in the Church of the Carmelits which Father Bernaud being ignorant of invited him also to Preach in the Jesuits Church Dedicated to Saint Joseph who notwithstanding refus'd not to do him this favour giving him this Answer Tho' when I bring forth Twins by one Days Labour I shall not come off well yet for the Love of Saint Joseph I will de it However he perform'd it in the afternoon with very good success and for an hour and a half so imploy'd his Eloquence in expressing his feeling Devotion to Saint Joseph explicating the Eminent Merits and setting forth the Prayses af his Belov'd Patron after such a manner that convinc'd the Cardinal and the rest of his Auditory of the great Passion and ardent Affection he had for this Saint This Devout Sermon of his puts me in mind of a rich Treatise 〈◊〉 writ concerning this Divine Spouse of our Blessed Lady which is in his Book of Spiritual Entertainments wherein he evidences how great a◠esteem he had of Saint Joseph and that you may by a part judge of the whole Piece and of the great Affection and Esteem he had for this Saint give me leave out of it to recite one of his Exclamations O what a great Saint says he in the entrance of the Discourse i◠the Glorious Saint Joseph He 's not only a Patriarch but the chief of all the Patriarch's He 's not only a Confessour but more than a Confessour for in his Prerogative of Confessour is included the Dignity of Bishops the Generosity of Martyrs the Purity of Virgins and the Perfections of all other Saints 't is therefore with just reason that he is compar'd to the Palm which is the King of Trees This is sufficient to declare his Zeal of the Honour of this Saint and of the Love he had for him this being his whole drift in that Discourse Moreover if we address our selves to the Religious of the Visitation of our Blessed Lady his Spiritual Children they being of the Order he Instituted and who inherit the Love their Founder had for Saint Joseph They 'll tell you their Patriarch has Dedicated his Book Of the Love of God to Saint Joseph That he has put the first Monastery and Church of their Order under his Protection That he every where bears the title of their Tutelar Saint or Protector that he has order'd that in all their Houses they keep his Feast with Solemnity and in his Institute has Commanded that all these Religious his Children shou'd hear a particular Devotion to him that the Mistris of Novices shou'd cause the Novices and even the Postulants to get a habit of calling upon him when they began their Mental Prayer and that they take him for their Guide and Advocate in that Exercise These are his Daughters who Imitate their Father in their Love and Devotion to Saint Joseph which he has as his Divine Legacy intail'd upon them The sixth who was Eminent for her Devotion to Saint Joseph was Blessed Margaret de Chateau of the Holy Order of Saint Dominick As commonly we think upon what we Love so this Virgin had ordinarily no other subject of Meditation than the Sacred Birth of our Saviour lying in the Manger assisted by the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph and this her Meditating upon those small services that Saint Joseph render'd to this little Infant and his Holy Mother caus'd both an incredible Consolation in her Mind and a singular Affection to this Holy Patriarch nor was this without many wonderful effects that accompany'd it which were manifestly wrought by the Finger of God who most wonderfully drew in her Heart these three Personages attending upon Jesus lying in the Crib A favour never before heard of who being often heard to tell her Confidents saying O that yee did but know what I carry and keep in my Heart After she was Dead she was open'd and in her Heart they found three Precious Stones in which were Ingraven the three Objects of her Love In the first was an Image of our Blessed Lady with a Rich
Crown upon her Head in the second lay little Jesus surrounded by a Flock of Lamb's in the third stood Saint Joseph with a Venerable Countenance a Mantle of Gold hanging upon his shoulder a Dove over his Head and a Religious Woman kneeling at his Feet resembling the deceas'd Nun. The sight of this as we may truely beleive was a comfort to all the beholders and the fame of it was spread abroad far and near which much increas'd the Devotion to Jesus Mary and Joseph especially to the last who had thus rewarded his suppliant Which three Miraculous pieces are preserv'd to this very Day and to be seen in the Town of Chateau in the Monastery of the Order of Saint Dominick where they are kept with great Devotion The seventh Person Famous for her particular Devotion to Saint Ioseph is Blessed Agatha of the Holy Cross of the same Order And it was upon the Feast of the Purification that this Pious Soul conceiv'd so great a Devotion to this Saint The occasion whereof was this she had a design to act the part of a severe Governess in correcting certain Women whom the had a little before taken in a Fault thereby to frighten 'em from falling again into the like Which afterwards she had a scruple of fearing she might have exceeded in her Words and manner of her Correction wherefore she resolv'd to go to Confession and whilst she was in the Church preparing her self for it Our Blessed Lady Appear'd to her with her Infant Jesus in her Armes accompanied by Saint Joseph the surprise of so great a favour made her not loose so good an occasion of begging Pardon for her Fault both of the Infant and his Mother which they granted her and at the same time fill'd her Heart with so great an abundance of joy and comfort that she spent the whole Day in Thanksgiving to them considering at the same time the seraphical affections Saint Joseph had when he assisted in the Temple of Jerusalem at the Purification of our Blessed Lady Nor did she permit this Devotion they had inkindl'd in her Heart both towards themselves and Saint Joseph to cool but still increas'd the fervour thereof towards the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin which was incourag'd and encreas'd by a Vision she had upon the Feast of this Holy Patriarch concerning his Life and Death Wherein she understood by Divine Inspiration that when this Saint was at his last Gasp he felt an extream regret to quit the Company and Conversation of Jesus and his Beloved Spouse knowing that after the departure of his Soul from his Body he was not presently to enjoy God but was to expect this Happiness till the Resurrection of the Son of God which grief continuing our Blessed Saviour bid him not afflict himself at this separation for he shou'd quickly see both him and his Eternal Father also with an accomplishment of the chief and greatest Promises God had made by the Prophets These words Comforted him but the Prayers that Jesus made for him in his last Agony comforted him far more and so he past from this Life to the next â—n the Armes of his Son and Saâ—lour and in the Presence of the most Sacred Virgin his Spouse The consideration of these particular Priâ—iedges with reason renderd the Holy â—â—â—gin Agatha more Devoted than â—â—â—r to Saint Joseph The Devout Yolant de Silva deserves with reason to have the eighth place or rank amongst the Devotes of Saint Joseph Her chief Devotion was to consider the Infancy of our Blessed Saviour who was drest in swadling Bands for the Love of Men and often Meditating upon this Point inkindled her Devotion towards Saint Joseph she imagining his Ears Blessed with the Cries of this Blessed Babe his Eyes with beholding him in all Conditions his Armes by being as a Cradle to Rock Carry and Embrace him his Mouth by declaring the faith and Affection of his Heart both by his Words and those Amorous Impressions of his Lips upon the Infants Sacred Feet This Mistery occasion'd her Devotion also to the Holy Innocents who as the Church says †Non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt Orat. Innocent Not by Speaking but by Dying Profest their Faith In Memory anâ— Honour of them she Yearly sayâ— a hundred and forty thousand times our Lords Prayer they being sâ—â— many in number as some reasonablâ— suppose grounding their Opinion upon what Saint John relates in his Apoâ—â—lyps * Cum co centum quadraginta quaâ— tor millia habentes Nomen ejâ—â— scriptum in Frontibus Apoc. c. 14.1 They having his Name Writter in their For-Heads for whom they Sacrifis'd their Lives These Devotions prov'd very advantagious to her for Saint Joseph and the Holy Innocents in requital visited her at the hour of her Death never quitting her till they accompany'd and conducted her Devout Soul unto Heaven The Ninth Client of Saint Joseph was the Devout John Gerson Chancelour of the University of Paris No passionate lover ever having the like affection for his belov'd object as he had for Saint Joseph He having compos'd a Book he in titles it his Josephin in honour of Saint Joseph In each one of his Sermons he never omitted to say something in his Praise And in having as I may say amass'd and gather'd together all that can be sayd to encrease Saint Joseph's praise and esteem in this his work it may very well be call'd a Magazin of Saint Joseph's Praises But the better to judge of his Love to Saint Joseph 't is necessary to Read what he says of him and what praises he gives him As that he was Sanctifi'd in his Mother's Womb as Saint John Baptist was That he had obtain'd a perfect Victory â—â—er Sensuality which was always â—â—bject to his Reason that he was confirm'd in Grace that he â—ose â—ith our Saviour from the Dead That he then Appear'd to his belov'd Spouse the Blessed Virgin That no Saint in Heaven is greater than he except the Blessed Virgin So that to hear what he says you wou'd beleive God had chosen him for Saint Joseph's chief Panegyrist to write and set forth his Praises and that all others who have writ of this Subject are but his Schollars 'T was he that found out the true elevation of this Star and that it's ascendent was next to the Virgin Mother All which proves him a true Lover and Client of Saint Joseph The Devout Henry Chycot Canon of Chartres deserves the tenth place amongst the Clients of Saint Joseph all his thoughts being taken up how to augment his honour either by himself or others He undertook to write a Book upon his Marriage with the Mother of God in which he endeavour'd to set forth his Praises but not being able to finish it that Saint Joseph might loose nothing by his Death he address'd himself by Letter to his Friend John Gerson obligeing him by all the tyes of Friendship between them either to perfect this
do of whom I have made mention Page 63. This Devotion is very easie if we do but take the the pleasure he took in pronouncing these three Holy Names of Jesus Maria Joseph Fourthly To wear Rings in which the Name of Joseph is ingraven either by it self or with the other two Names Jesus and Mary and to encourage you to this Devotion when the great Plague caus'd a very great Destruction at Lyons I knew many that wore such ingrav'd Rings for this Intention that Saint Joseph would protect them from the Infection and with so great a success that not so much as one of the Family of those that wore them or of the House where they lodg'd Were Infected God giving so great a Blessing to this small Devotion Fifthly To begin our chief Actions under the auspicious favour of his Name as the Governour of Kebeck did at the Dedication of the Church of Kebeck in new France 1637. before which he planted a Standard with a triple Crown and Wreaths with Scutcheons in which were written in Capitals these three Names JESUS MARIA JOSEPH which Standard was no sooner erected but it was saluted by the Souldiers with a Volly of Musket shot The fourth particular Devotion to Saint Joseph is to imitate Saint Teresa's Love to her Good Father as she still'd him by taking occasion to invite others to become his Clients and omitting nothing that may contribute to his Honour and Glory which is so grateful a Devotion to the Blessed Virgin also that she gave thanks to Saint Teresa for having contributed and incited Persons to this Devotion towards her Spouse all over the Church especially throu-out all Europe whoÌ„ John Gerson Chancelour of the University of Paris also imitated for what did he not do in this Point He Compos'd an Office and Mass for his Feast He writ to several Bishops to induce them to order his Feast to be Celebrated in their Bishopricks with Devotion and Solemnity as a Feast of Obligation and by their own Examples to move the People to observe it His ordinary Conversations and Entertainments of those that Visited him were upon this Subject Moreover those who list themselves in the Confraternity of Saint Joseph and by their Piety and Examples move others to the like Devotion do hereby also Imitate Saint Teresa and the Pious Ghancelour's Devotion towards him The fifth is frequently to take occasion to thank Saint Joseph for the Labour and Pains he took for Jesus and Mary and the Services he did for them for how is it possible says Saint Teresa to think upon what the Queen of Heaven and her little Infant suffer'd upon Earth without giving thanks to Saint Joseph for his Charitable Assistance in their Sufferings The thinking therefore of those Passages of Charity he Exercis'd as even the bearing JESUS in his Arms his helping his Spouse to dress him his laying him in his Cradle and such like ordinary Actions as these tho they seem but small and inconsiderable yet 't is not to be imagin'd what tender Affections the consideration of them breeds in our Hearts and how they move us to Exercise greater Services to JESUS and also a Love to Saint Joseph who hereby express'd his Affection to him The sixth Particular Devotion we may Exercise towards Saint Joseph is to take occasion when any Affairs of Importance happen to address our seles to Saint Joseph and wholly commit them to his Care and Conduct 'T is also a good Devotion frequently to aske him Blessing and to repose a Confidence in him as in a Father beseeching him to â—â—â—tain of his Son and Spouse such an Assistance as we shall in all occasions stand in need of Thus the Devour Vrsulin Jean of the Angels whom I have frequently mention'd was wont to do before and after her Exorcismes in which the suffer'd great agitation of Body from the Devil Wherefore to prepare her self the better to suffer she presented her before his Image and beg'd his Blessing and Assistance whereby she found her self extreamly fortified To these I may ad some other Devotions I know some Persons are wont to Exercise Some in their necessities say a little Pair of Beads in his honour see the manner of saying them Page 28. amongst the Devotions to this Saint Others never deny any thing ask'd them in the Name and for the sake of Saint Joseph but I shou'd be too tedious shou'd I set down all the Dovotions that the Affections of his Clients suggest to them what I have already sayd is sufficient for whatever may be done to other Saints either by Prayers Vows or any other Respects that and much more may be done to him But the more to incite you to this in the following Chapters I will set down what Help and Assistance he renders upon all occasions to his Clients both for Soul and Body who endeavour to express their Love and Devotion towards him by such Practices as I have here set down CHAP. X. Of the Help and Assistance that Saint Joseph gives to his Devout Clients towards their attaining Interiour Perfection and in what this Perfection do's Consist TO give you a satisfactory account of the care Saint Joseph takes to render his Clients Interiour and Spiritual Persons I must first declare to you what is meant by Interiour Perfection and in what this Spiritual and Interiour Life do's consist There being very few Persons who Solidly attend thereunto and therefore there is great need of so solid and Powerful an Assistance for the obtaining it as Saint Joseph gives his Devout Clients An Interiour and Spiritual Life therefore is that which minds nothing else but Perfection and which rests in the Vertuous Actions of the Soul practising the inward Acts of all Vertues namely of Faith Hope Charity Religion Adoration Thanksgiving Humiliation with a good perfect and sincere Intention without any mixture of Carnal ends And in the performance of all Exteriour and Corporal Actions with an Interiour Spirit and Presence of Mind Beholding God Present and being carried with a tender Affection towards him whilst we perform the outward Action we are about This is what is call'd a Spiritual and Interiour Life and is so call'd because it consists not in the Exteriour or Corporal Action but because it Acts Interiourly in the bottom of the Soul and within the Spirit or Mind only and 't is this we must begin withall and what is thus begun in Spirit must afterwards pass to our Exteriour Actions which are but of very small Value if not accompanied with this Interiour Life and Vertue there being no comparison between the inward and outward Actions and if we work not by this Interiour Spirit and Purity of Intention all the pains we take are lost we labour much and gain little or nothing how great things soever in appearance we may perform But working after this manner we gain and heap up Everlasting Treasures with so much profit and advantage that even the least Action
feelings one to another occasion after these most Joyful Tydings The Colloquie O Infinite Goodness that thus triest and rewardest even thy best Servants let all Saints and Angels praise thee for this thy Bounty to thy dearest Mother and her dearest Spouse and cry out with Saint Paul †Non sunt Condignae Passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam quae revelabitur in nobis Rom. 8.18 That all the Afflictions and Iribulations of this World are nothing in comparison of the Glory they will Cloath us withall in the next Grant us O God that with Patience Courage and Conformity we may suffer those thou shalt vouchafe to send us as they did rather to please thee than for any other Reward that can be hop'd for O Pious Joseph O Amiable Virgin Interceed to obtain this Favour for us by your powerful Intercessions in all perplexing Difficulties V. MEDITATION Of the Vertues Saint Joseph exercis'd at the Birth Circumcision and Presentation of the Son of God Prepratory Prayer BEG Grace of God profitably to consider the Examples Saint Joseph gives us in these three Mysteries I. Prelude IMAGINE Saint Joseph after his tiresome Winter Journy of thirty Miles with our Blessed Lady who had now almost accomplish'd her ninth Month ariv'd at Bethleem whither he came to comply with the Emperours Edict to enrole himself and his Consort Behold him with Solicitude seeking a place for her to retire into but finding none he is forc'd to lead her into a poor ruinous Stable where the Son of God is Born There behold him Adoring him newly Born Then Circumcising and giving him the Name of JESUS And lastly accompany them with their Divine Infant to the Temple where they are met by Simeon and Anne who had long expected this happy hour and attend to what pass'd in this meeting II. Prelude BEG Grace to understand and profit by those Pious Thoughts wherewith Saint Joseph's Heart was replenish'd whilst he Contemplated these wonderful Mysteries I. Point Consider how promptly Saint Joseph Obey'd the Emperours Edict chearfully quitting in the circumstance his Spouse was in those conveniencies they had at Nazareth to expose himself and her to the inconveniencies of a long Winter Journy to go to a strange place where by reason of his Poverty he cou'd expect none wanting wherewithall to purchase ' em O wonderful Love of Poverty and Mortification O blind Obedience O admirable Confidence in the Divine Providence He knew the Emperours Edict was God's Command who cou'd and wou'd take care of 'em and support 'em to comply with it O! What Heavenly Discourse past in the way upon this Subject O! What Acts of Resignation to the Inconveniencies and usage they met withall Being deny'd place in an Inn and forc'd to lodge and and bring forth her Son in a Stable O! What Joy was it to him to become a Victime of Obedience and feel these sensible effects of Poverty O! What Love what Compassion what sorrow fill'd his tender Heart to see what the Divine Infant and his Mother suffer'd at his entrance into the World What Acts of Love what Congratulations and Thanksgiving did he the give him And with what Joy and Comfort did JESUS fill his Heart pierc'd with Sorrow for what he and his Mother Suffer'd by his Heavenly Smiles and Carresses And how did the Angels by their Heavenly Canticles endeavour to Comfort and Rejoyce his sad Heart as they had done the Shep-heards whō they brought to Adore him And what occasion did the sight also of the Offerings and Adorations of the three Kings give him to Bless Admire and Love the Divine Providence Procuring these Honnour 's to the Divine Infant and his Mother O the Charming Beauty of Poverty O the Dignity of Humility O unspeakable Pleasure of Suffering Mortification for God in God and with God! O Divine Lessons taught us and practis'd not only by S. Joseph but by no less than God himself yet how are these admirable Virtues thus esteem'd by God contemn'd by Men O Blessed Joseph obtain for me such a Love Esteē and Practice of 'em as may constantly replenish all my Thoughts and Actions influenc'd by those that were Communicated to your Heart from the Heart of the Divine Infant JESUS II. Point Consider Saint Joseph performing that hard task of Obedience in Circumcising this Divine Infant Imagine how the Pain he caus'd him pierc'd his own Heart consider how the Divine Infant by his Smiles and Interiour Inspirations encourag'd assisted and even provok'd and help'd him to performthis great Pledge of his Divine Love by this early shedding of his Sacred Blood Consider what a strife of Joy and Sorrow were rais'd in Saint Joseph's Heart first by beholding him shedding his Precious Blood and Contemplating this Fountain and Stream of Mercy as a certain Pledge of Mans Redemption and secondly by feeling himself the Pain he occasion'd by the Wound he gave him Consider also the Joy with which Saint Joseph gave and the Divine Infant receiv'd the Holy Name of JESUS Beg Saint Joseph's Intercession to pronounce it with such a tender Affection and Devotion as may render it essential towards the Salvation of your Soul O JESUS be to me a JESUS OH Joseph beg of him to be to me a JESUS for Love he bears to his most Blessed Mother and your dearest self III. Point Consider that forty Days after his Birth Saint Joseph led the Blessed Virgin Mother with her Divine Infant to the Temple carrying a pair of Turtles in his Hand for his Redemption where Saint Simeon and the Holy Prophetess Anne after many Years Expectation of this Happy Day were Inspir'd to receive them at the Gate Joyn your self to this pious Procession behold with what a transport of Joy Saint Simeon takes the Divine Infant out of his Mothers Arms into his own and how willingly the Blessed Virgin parted with what was dearer to her than her Life to make an Oblation of him to his Eternal Father Hearken to Saint Simeons Prophecy in this transport and consider with what Affection he Offers his Life to the God of Life Behold Saint Joseph's Heart pierc'd whilst Saint Simeon foretold the piercing of that of his Spouse Behold also the Joy Saint Joseph felt in hearing that JESUS was to be the Light and Salvation of the Gentil's as well as of the People Israel Behold Saint Joseph Offering the Turtles to Saint Simeon to Redeem his Beloved JESUS O wonderful Riches of Poverty Acceptable to God for the Purchase and Redemption of an inestimable Treasure O what a mutual Joy pass'd between JESUS and Joseph at this Reception into his Arms And between him and his Mother in in being restor'd to her's O Powerful Joseph obtain for me such a disposition as his Mother your self and Saint Simeon had as often as I Receive him and obtain for me such a Disposition of Heart for his Reception as may cause a Joy in him to be Receiv'd by me The Colloquie O Divine Infant
Foster Father Saint Joseph for no less than eighteen Years Imagine your self there to hear and see Saint Joseph's Pious Conversation and manner of Living II. Prelude BEG Grace to Conceive those admirable Virtues practis'd by Saint Joseph in his Conversation with JESUS and MARY and beg also his Powerful Intercession that you may seriously endeavour to Imitate his excellent Example I. Point Consider with how great an Affection Patience Constancy and Humility Saint Joseph Exercis'd all those Humble and Laborious Actions that belong'd to so painful a Trade and to his Domestick Affairs Consider with what Concern Tenderness and Compassion he beheld our Saviour Labouring with him consider what courage his Presence and Assistance gave him in all his Labours and with what Content he perform'd 'em for the Maintenance of JESUS and his Blessed Mother how joyfully also he Assisted 'em both on all occasions and with how pure an Intention he perform'd each Action both to please and to express his Love towards God Who do's not envy Saint Joseph's Happiness in this particular And who wou'd not wish himself in Saint Joseph's place to do the same Do but help those for God's sake you live withall or that want your Assistance and you will have the same Merit and Reward Consider also what Joy you shou'd have had to serve JESUS and MARY as Saint Joseph did Exercise the same Acts of Charity to God's Image your Neighbour as he did to JESUS and he his promis'd the same reward as if you did it to himself * Quamdiu fecistis uni ex his fratribus meis minimis mihi fecistis Matth. 25. v. 40. What you have done to the least of these my Brethren you have done it to me Reflect also upon God's Presence who beholds helps and encourages you whilst you Labour and you 'll have the same Comfort in your Labours which he had Labour purely to please God for the Love of God and to do the Will of God and you will have the same Reward as if you had Wrought and Labour'd as Saint Joseph did to maintain JESUS Who says his †Cibus meus est facere Voluntatem ejus qui misit me Joan. 14. v. 34. Meat is the fulfilling the Will of his Father O how did Saint Joseph do all this And how pleasing did this make him in God's Sight His chief delight being to do God's Will II. Point Consider that his Conversation with JESUS and MARY was so pleasing to him that he avoided all other Conversations to which the Will of God did not particularly lead him consider whither the Conversation you have with these in Prayer be as pleasing to youâ— as to make you quit all other unnecessary Conversations see whither you prefer Retirement Silence and Conversing with JESUS and MARY before all other Conversations in this world Consider also Saint Joseph's Modest behaviour his Silence Recollection Temperance and Mortification both in Eating and Drinking and Imitate him in these Reflect upon his Pious Discourses with JESUS and his Spouse and frequently Practise the same by such like Pious Aspirations and Colloquies as he made to them Consider how he ponder'd and laid up in his Heart after his Spouses Example all the Divine sayings of JESUS and do you also hearken unto keep-in memory and reflect upon those Divine Inspirations whereby JESUS also speaks to you in Prayer or at other times Consider how his Heart was Inflam'd by the words of JESUS and how without doubt he often express'd it to his Spouse as the Disciples did by this their Interrogation * Nonne Cor nostrum ardens erat in nobis dum loqueretur Luke 24.32 Was not our Heart Inflam'd whilst he spoke within us And reflect how those Flames also broke forth in his pious Discourses and set others on fire Who wou'd not have wish'd to have his Heart thus Inflam'd by enjoying this delightful Conversation Endeavour only in your Conversation to bring in Pious Discourse and you will invite him to come and Converse with you †Ubi sunt duo vel tres Congregati in Nomine meo ibi sum in medio eorum Matth. 18. v. 20. Meet but those you Converse withall in his Name and you will meet him you will always find him in the midst of 'em darting Flames into your Heart Lastly in your Conversation follow Saint Joseph's Example in taking the part and excusing the absent when you hear 'em Blam'd and you will be secure from faling into that ordinary Defect which renders most Conversations Dangerous and Displeasing to God the Censuring or Backbiting your Neighbour III. Point Consider Saint Joseph's Silence Recollection and Interiour Peace of Mind wherewith he perform'd all his Exteriour Actions whilst his Hands Labour'd upon Earth his Thoughts and Affections were imploy'd in Heaven Consider with what Humility of Spirit with what Perfect Obedience and with what Joy of Heart he perform'd all his Actions haveing always before his Eyes the wonderful Obedience of JESUS both to himself and his Spouse beholding him verifie what the Royal Prophet foretold that he shou'd be * In Laboribus a Juventute Psal 87. v. 16. In Labours from his Youth and what the Holy Ghost also declar's †Et erat Subditus illis Luc. 2. v. 82. That he was Subject to them Who therefore can think even the hardest Labour too much to do for JESUS who thus Labour'd for us Who can think even the Humblest and Meanest Employment below him when with Saint Joseph he beholds the Son of God stooping to the like and Obeying Saint Joseph in the Meanest and Vilest Offices Beg of Saint Joseph to Inspire and put you in mind of these or such like Thoughts in all your Actions Labours and Mortifications which he had in his that they may become pleasing to God and both easie and profitable to your self whereby you shall not only Labour but Pray continually Imitate him therefore in all you do and beg of him to teach you this most profitable Art so pleasing to God of joyning Prayer and Action together The Colloquie BEG of God by Saint Joseph's Intercession that Spirit wherewith he Convers'd with JESUS and MARY and perform'd all his Actions during those eighteen Years he liv'd at Nazareth whereby you shall not only make your self pleasing to God in this World but bâ— acting after this manner shaâ—â— obtain such a foretast of thâ—â— next as will make you thinâ— nothing too hard or too mucâ— for the purchase of so great anâ— everlasting a Happiness VIII MEDITATION Of Saint Joseph's last Sickness Death and Glory in Heaven Preparatory Prayer BEG of God to understand the Sentiments Saint Joseph had in his Sickness and Death and the Reward he now Possesses of all his Virtues I. Prelude IMAGINE Saint Joseph lying Sick upon his Death-bed with our Blessed Saviour and our Lady on each side of him imagine him sweetly giving up the Ghost His Soul carried by Angels to Limbo and his