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
dy that the Citty of Ierusalem should be full of people that it might be vnto him an occasion of more infamy To conclude if this our Lord his election choice iudgement of things be alwaies best as doubtles it is it behooueth thee in imitation of him euer to make choice of the worst for thy selfe flying whatsoeuer tendeth to thy honour and estimation and imbracing whatsoeuer may be for thy dishonour contempt THE 4. POINT TO consider what this B Child hath in heauen as he is Almighty God what in the stable as he is man who he is in both places Ponder how this poore little Infant who is heere lodged in so vile a cottage and reposeth in a manger is a God of infinite Maiesty whose seate is heaueâ whose throne are the Cherubims whose seruants are al the Angells and whome all do adore and serue This babe is the vniuersall Lord and eternall word in all thinges âquall with the other two diuine perâons who afterwardes was so gloriâusly transfigured on the mount Taâor betweene Moyses and ãâã and âho in the day of Iudgement ââall sit ãâã a throne of Maiesty amiddest the âood and bad He the very same âow in this his entrance into the âorld lyeth in the cribbe in a hard ând abiect manger betweene two ââute beastes preaching and saying ââto thee not by word of mouth âut of spirit not with many speeches âât with deedes Learne of me beâuse I am meeke humble of âart ââhold how euen from my cradle âtill my dying day I haue chosen ãâã my inseparable companionsâ poââty contempt sorroweâ and affliââons Hence maist thou gather thâââing God himselfe so great â Lord âame for thy âake so little thoââst also endeauour to humble ãâ¦ã and to become little for vnleâââ ãâã become as this little one thoâ ãâã not enter into the Kingdome of heauen THE X. MEDITATIOâ Of the ioy which the Angells and meâ ãâã the Natiuity of the Sonne of Almighty God THE 1. POINT TO consider what passed in heâuen at such time as Christ lesus our Lord was borne oâ earth Then the eternall Father gauâ commandement that all the Angeââ should adore him as the Apostle Sâ Paul saith and all of them singing iâ in the aire Hymnes and Praises ãâã this new borne King adored hiâ with most humble and profound ãâã âerence acknovvledging that littââââbe to be the only begotten Sonââ of the eternall Father the King ãâã Lord of heauen earth Ponder how much this ãâã of the Incarnation of the diuâââ world was for the glory of Almigâty God for in regard therof he ãâã glorified by all the celestiall Spiriâ ãâã in heauen and earth who like ââto so many flakes of most white how did descend from aboue as it âere a ladder from heauen to the âittle porch of Bethleem and in toâen that they did acknowledge him or their King and Lord they kissed âis sacred feete Gather hence a great ioy to see his soueraigne King adored by his âoly Angels and he hartily grieued âo see him so much forgotten neâlected amongst men yea so heiâously offended by them Beseech âim that thou maist not be of the nâuâer of those vngratefull persons but âaist glorify and adore his most holy âon on earth as the Angels did doe âlwaies in heauen THE 2. POINT To consider how the Eternall Father did manifest the Birth of ãâã âost holy Sonne to the shepheardeâ âho were watching ouer their ãâã ân the night time sending his ãâ¦ã bring them the happy ãâ¦ã and to declare so high a ãâ¦ã ânto them of which company ãâã approaching neere vnto them saidâ Reioyce for behould I shew vnââ you great ioy that shal be to all the people because this day is bornâ to you a Sauiour which is Christ out Lord in the Citty of Dauid And this shal be a signe to you You shall find the infant swathed in clouâs and laid in a manger And presently thosâ heauenly spirits brake forth into ââolt diuine melody manifesting thereby the singular content which they receiued and said Glory in thâ highest to God and in earth peace ãâã ââen of good will The shepâeardes âearing this so happy newes witâ great desire and loue inuited one another to seeke out him âhome they heârd so much praised sayâng Let vs go to Bethleem and let vs see this word that is done which our Lord had shewed to vs. Ponder the admiration of these âoly sheepheards when following thâ direction of the Angells they found âll to be so as they had told them ãâã were they greatly âstonished to seâ ãâ¦ã so ãâã base ãâ¦ã ãâã poore stable an oxe an aslâ and a âanger should be the signes to find out the Lord of Maiesty But farre greater was the admiration which this very same caused in the holy Prophet I say foreseeing in spirit âong before these shepheardes and âhis great God and Lord so little and âo much humbled wheresore he said Who euer beard such a thing and who hath seene the like to this God ân infant God in swathing bandeâ God to weep a thing so vn beseeminââis Maiesty and greatnes a thing so âtrange a worke that doth amaââ ãâã âstonish the indgements of men and Angells Gather hence desires to be hâmble and lowly as God Almighty vouch safed to humble himselfe for he manifested himselfe freely anâ of his own accord to the humble shepheards but not to prouâd Scribeâ and Pâarisies He is willing ãâ¦ã found of those who carefully ãâã ouer their owne soules but ãâ¦ã those who are ouer whelmed ãâ¦ã âyed in the dead slâep of ãâ¦ã a care therefore to watch and pray â thou shalt find our Lord as these shepheards did THE 3. POINT TO consider the great desire which these holy sheepheardes had to bring home with them to their cottage and cabins if they could haue obtained so much those lightes of the world the Sonne and the Mother seeing them so solitary poore vnprouided of all human meanes to serue and cherish them as far aâ their small forces and ability would reach in token of gratitude for the high fauour which they had receaued of them when they disclosed manifested themselues vnto them Ponder that for the finding out of Almighty God is not required âither a sharp wit or a good vnderstanding much learning or great parts neither will he be found by such if togeather therewith they seeke honour and vaine glory and not God alone but he is sooner fouÌd out by an humble Cooke or seruaut in Religion or by a poore simple swineheard and doth most bountifully communicate vnto them his celestiall gifts and fauours as the Holy Ghost himselfe testifieth in the Prouerbes Hence thou maist gather desires to seeke Almighty God with true loue and diligence that thou maist also find him as these silly sheepheards did Beseech him that seeing he is the soueraigne shepheard and thou his sheep marked with his owne most precious bloud he will
vouchsafe to take from thee all presumption and pride which is the disease and infection that doth vvast thee away and make thee so leane and that he will shew thee as he did his holy and chast Espouse where he âeedeth where he lyeth in the mid-day to wit in the manger that seeing thou hast made thy selfe a beast through sinne thou maist find him in the stable a place proper for beastes THE 4. POINT To consider that the Eternall Father sent this multitude of Angells to honour his only Sonne who had ââuch humbled himselfe for his loue to teach instruct vs by their ãâã ample what infinite thanks we owe vnto God for so soueraigne a benefit as he now had bestowed vpon vs in giuing vs his best beloued Sonne not only as a Sauiour King or Lord but which is more wonderfull as our Brother our flesh and bloud Ponder what care the Eternall Father euer had to exalt his most holy Sonne when he did most humble and debase himselfe as is to be well seene both heere and in all other passages and mysteries of his most holy life He was Circumcised and a Name most honorable and most glorious was giuen to him to wit the naâe of IE â VS He was Baptized and the Heauens were opened for him the Holy Ghost descended vpon him and the Eternall Father honoured him saying This is my beloued Sonne He was Crucified betweenâ two theeues and presently the heauens grew darke the earth quaked the rockes rent the dead rose all the elements altered Finally he was acknowledged of his enemies for the Sonne of God Gather hence a great and earnest desire to imploy thy selfe wholy all thy life time in honouring and praysing so good a God and he will haue care to exalt and honour thee as he had of his most holy Sonne who humbled himselfe so much for his honour and glory And so doing thou maist also sing the Hymne of the Angels with the like spirit and deuotion as they did THE XI MEDITATION Of the Circumcision and of the Name Of IESVS THE 1. POINT To consider how God Almighty hauing sent his only ãâã into the world in habit likenesse of a sinner he was not conteââ to take only vpon him humane Nature and to seeme lesse then the Angells in our mortall flesh but âould also on the eight daâ after his moââ holy natiuity subiect himselfe âo the Law of circumcision which was the badge of a sinnefull child and shed not only teares from his eies but also sacred bloud from out his veines Ponder how great loue towards vs he doth daily discouer for he cannot endure that his suffering for our weale and remedy should be any with delayed though those who were to see him Circumcised might iudge and account him a sinner as taking vpon him the marke badge of a sinner Whence thou maist gather very great confusion that being so great a sinner as thou art thou wilt not seem to be accounted so but rather iust and a very Saint and to that end often excusest thy sinnes Wherefore thou must humble thy selfe and giue thanks vnto this thy Lord who hath so wonderfully humbled and sought to hide himselfe Beseech his diuine Maiesty that as he subiected himselfe to carry vpon his tender shoulders âhe old Law of CircuÌcision so heaây and painefull thou maist likewise carry and haue before thine eyes and in thy hart the sweet Law of his diuine Commandement and that he will vouchsafe to season it with one drop of his most precious bloud which he so liberally shed vpon the ground to the end it may loose all the hardnes distast which it hath THE 2. POINT TO consider ãâã is Gods will pleasure thaâ ãâã Circumcise thy selfe spiritually that is that thou cut off all superfluities in pampering thy flesh in honour and commodities of this world Circumcising and mortifying thine eies not suffering them to behould that which is not lawfull to desire circumcising thy tongue making it to keep silence from vaine idle wordes Circumcising thy tast that it feed not it selfe with gluttânies delicacies Ponder in how much need thoâ standest of this Circumcision how much thou art giuen vnto thine owâââill and ãâã much it ââhoouetâ âhee allwaies to carry in thy handesâ that is in all thy actions the knife of Circumcision Gather hence also a great and earnest desire to suffer willingly that others both Superiours Inferiors may circumcise thee if thy selfe shouldst be remisse and slacke therin and help thee to cut away whatsoeuer may hinder thee from comming vnto this thy Lord whether they doe it with a good ãâã intention bearing it patiently ãâã they shall depriue thee of thy delight honour pleasure and content euen to she sheading of thy bloud for him who first hath shed it for thee THE 3. POINT TO Consider how they imposed vpon this child the Name of Iesus which is to say Sauiour of sinners as one who was to deliuer them not only from all euill but also to bestow vpon them most excellent fauours and riches that theiâ remedy saluation might be most abundant Ponder that this glorious Name âas imposed vpon him ãâ¦ã greater honour For his Eternall Father seeing him so humbled and marked with the badge of a sinner would that he should euen then be exalâed haue giuen him as S. Paul saith a Name which is aboue all Names that is IESVS And whereas our saluation was to cost him the sheding of his most precious bloud he gaue leaue to whatsoeuer instrumeÌts were fit for the drawing of bloud to worke their effect vpon him to the knife at his entrance into this world and at the end therof to the whip scourges thornes nayles spâare Hence thou mayst gather affections and desires to adore and reueâence this âost holy and most sweet Name of IESVS hauing it alwaies in thy mouth and hart thereby to obtaine victory oâer thine enemies For the Diuells doe flye from this holy Name and the infernall powers do tremble at it and by it and in it sinners haue their hope and confidence because IESVS is as much to say as Sauiour And if to saue thee and truely to beare that Name cost him so deare as the sheding of his most precious bloud and the spending of his life for thy sake what is it meet thou shouldst doe for thine owne saluation And seeing all is but little though it should cost thee thy very hart bloud life say vnto him with the Prophet My hart is ready o God my hart is ready so to doe so that thou vouchsafe to make me partaker of that sacred pledge THE 4. POINT TO consider how the Circumcision bsing performed the knife of griefe hauing pierced the tender flesh of thy Sauiour they restored him vnto our Blessed Lady all bloudy and the teares trickling down his cheeks Ponder with what griefe of hart with how many teares gushing out of her eyes this
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
disgraces had been such and so greaââhis honour also exalâation should begin euen from the Crosse many of his enemies euen then confessing him to haue been the Sonne of God And therefore he ordayned that Ioââph should ioyne with Nicodemus ând that both togeather shoud stoutly without respect or seare of the lewes vndertake that enterprize Gather hence desires that God would vouchsafe to touch thy hart âith the vertue and force of his diââine inspiration that making no acââount of humane feare nor of the sayâângs of men thou mayst with great âârtitude and zeale set vpon whatsoââuer shal be for the seruice honour ãâã glory of his diuine Maiesty as these âaints did THE 2. POINT TO consider that these holy men hauing first obtayned leaue of the âresident Pilate to bury the body of ââeir Maister came to the place where âur Lord Iesus remayned hanging ân the Crosse and hauing comforted âe afflicted and sorrowfull Mother ând craued her licence tâ mount ââto the Crosse she willingly ãâã them Ponder first hovv they kneeled dovvne vpon their knees anâ with exceeding great deâotion madâ their payers to Christ crucifyed saying O good Lord thou didst perâit that those sacrilegious hands vvhich haue intreated thee in thiâ manner and put thee vpon the crosse should hale and pull thee so irreueârenly graânt that the hands of thesâ thy deuout seruants may with reâerence touch thy sacred body takâ ãâã dovvne from the Crosse. Wheââ they had sayd these or the like wordâ with many teares rearing the ladderâ they mounted vp with great silencâ to the Crosse and tooke downe thâ holy body placed it in the armeâ of his most Blessed Mother who tâ receaue it to wash it with her tearâââte her selfe downe hauing euer beâfore stood constant at this rufull anââorrowfull tragedy Ponder secondly the angâisâ and grieâe of mind that the Blesseâ Virgin felt whân she beheld and imâbraced that sacred body of her Sonne ând our Lord so mangled how she held him fast in her armes and layd her face betweene the thornes of his âacred head and ioyned her face to the face of her Beloued Sonne O âovv vvould this soueraigne Lady âhen remâber how far different kisses imbracings were these from those âhich she had giuen him in his natiââity childhood and what diffeââence there was between these dayes ând those vvhich she had spent vvith âim in Bethleem and in Hierusaâem âow cleare was that night of his naâââty and how darke and obscure ãâã this day of his passion How rich ãâã she in the stable and how poore ãâã the Crosse And if when she lost ãâã whiles he was yet aliue she was ãâã much grieued and aââlicted for his ââsence how great vvas her sorrow âere seeing him dead in her armes ãâã in so vvocfull a shapâ vvithout ãâã it was a sword of so excâssiue ãâã vnto her that it priârced heâ ãâã soule and hart Gathâr henâe desires that our Blâssed Lady vvould vouchsafe to giue thee licence to adore him in spiârit to kisse and haue in thy armeâ her most holy Sonne as she held him in hers obtayne for thee some inâvvard griefe and feling of the Passion death of her God thy Lord to the end that thou mayst be par aâ ker of his trauells seeing thou hope â hoaue part of his ioyes and Resuâ rection THE 3. POINT TO coÌsider how that after the moâ Blessed Virgin had held the deaâ body of her Blessed Sonne for some time in her lap Ioseph and Nicodeâmus fearing least she should dyâ with griefe besought her with all huâmility and respect she would moderate her sorrow giue them leau to bury him she yielded to their râ quest forthvvith those holy me annoynted him with Mirrhe anâ wrapt him in a cleane syndon câ ãâã his face with a napkin Ponder the loue which Chrâ our Lord had to poueâty for ãâã would not that the Myrrhe wherââ with they annointed him the napkin and sheet in which they foulded him should be his owne but anothers his sepulcher borrowed as iâ were lent him of almes Hence thou mayst gather to loue pouerty which this our Lord loued so much exercising thy selfe in this vertue in life death as he did because if thou renounce not all that thou possessest in imitation of him thou canst not be his disciple THE 4. POINT TO consider how the body of our Lord being annointed bound in a white syndon they found means to carry him bury him in a new monument which was in a new garden hard by the place where he was ârucifyed there they layd the holy âody of our Sauiour And when the â Virgin saw that there she was to âaue him whom her soule loued so much the treasure of her hart then âer griefe began a fresh she fell to âment her solitude Ponder hovv he vvho is the plendour brightnes of the Father the glory of Angells the saluation life of men refuseith not to be straitned and prest togeather as it were enclosed euery day in the loathsome stincking sepulcher of our brests couering his sacâed body vvith the white vayle of the accidents or forme of bread Gather from hence desires to beâseech this Lord that seeing he vouch safeth to straiten as it were himselfe and to enclose himselfe so often in thy sepulcher to the end thou mayst reâeaue eate him being as thou arâ a silly vile worme he would alsâ renew thee with vertues that so thy sepulcher may become remaynâ cleane pure as if no dead thing haâ ãâã some in it THE THIRD BOOKE OF MEDITATIONS Appertayning to the Vnitiue Way What is the Vnitiue Way THE end of the Vnitiââ Way is to vnite and ioyne our soule vvith God by perfect vnion sloue being glad vvhen we conââder his innumerable and infinite âches and perfections reioyâng at ãâã infinite glory povver and wisâme desiring that he be âââwne of all the world and that his holy and diuine will be done and performed in all creatures For this is the way by which those who arriue to the perfect state of vertue do walke exercising themselues in the contemplation of the impassible and glorious life of Christ our Lord. THE 1. MEDITATION How our Lord descended into Limbo of his glorious Resurrection THE 1. POINT TO consider how our Lord Iesuâ Christ hauing finished the conâbate of his Passion to accomplish fully the businesse of our saluation as soone as he had giuen vp hââ sacred Ghost leauing his body deaâ on the Crosse in soule he descendeâ to the lowest parts of the earth intâ Limbus to deliuer the soules of thoâ holy Fathers that were there and ãâã carry them with him to heauen Ponder how our Lord thouââ he were so mighty and powerfuââ that he could vvith one only word haue deliuered out of Limbo those holy soules without descending thither personally as he did vvith Lazarus when he called
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
vnto our Lord after they haue receaued it For the excellency and soueraingty of this diuine Sacrament in which is contained God himselfe requireth that the disposition and preparation therto be made with all care possible And therefore one of the best preparations wherewith all may come to receaue aboundant grace will be retiring themselues first to consider well some one point of the sixe which are set downe in the two ensuing meditations vvhich are of the Feare and Loue of God because these two vertues vnite the soule with God are the two armes vvherewith she is to imbrace her spouse and which do instruct and teach her what God is and what she is For Feare causeth in the soule humility and reuerence Loue confidence deuotion Feare discouereth the greatnes of God and thy basenes Loue his goodnes and clemency Feare his iustice and our sinnes Loue the mercy and confidence we ought to haue of the pardon of them If therfore loue and feare worke so great good in the soule thou must endeauour by all meanes that these sayd considerations may ingender and produce in thine these two pearles But because our corrupt Nature so much affecteth variety that though the consideration be most excâllent yet is it presently most weary of it I will put in these two Meditations six points as I haue sayd which may serue for preparations to six CoÌmunions for new meat sharpneth stirreth vp the appetite of man exciteth in him a new hunger desire to vnite himselfe with God for all these sauces and seasonings of considerations are necessary to make him eat the bread of Angels who hath set his affection on the delights food of beasts After these shall follow six Meditations which containe eighteen points or considerations wherein the seruant of God may find sufficient matter for so many coÌmunions to render due thanks after he hath receaued out of which he may reape the fruit and profit he desireth THE I. MEDITATION Of Feare THE 1. POINT TO consider the immensity and maiesty of that Lord which really truly is contained in the most B. Sacrament for he is the very same who with his only will hath created conserueth gouerneth heauen earth with it alone can anihilate destroy it all Ponder the admiration and astonishment which it caused to King Salomon to see that the greatnes of God came to liue in that holy TeÌple vvhich he had built for him being notwithstanding the most solemne the most sumptuous and most magnificent that was in the world With hovv much more reason oughtest thou to maruell feare and tremble being but a poore Emment and silly vvorme to goe to receaue into thy house of base clay that immense and diuine maiesty Creatour conseruer and gouerner of the world whome the Apostle S. Saul calleth the brightnes of the glory of God being so ill prepared as thou art thy brest also hauing beene not the Temple of the Holy Ghost as in reason it ought to be but rather a denne of dragons receptacle of serpents basiliskes Gather hence a great feare of the iustice of God with a detestation of thy manifold sins for thou being so vile a creature and vnworthy to haue in thee so great a good thou fearest not to enclose retaine harbour in thy strait and narrovv brest this omnipotent Lord God whom the heauens cannot comprehend THE 2. POINT TO consider who thou art who he is whom thou goest to receaue and thou shalt find that an abhominable sinner goeth to receaue his Sanctifier a vile creature his Ceatour a wretched slaue his Lord finally a miserable caâiffe the supreme omnipotent God at whose beauty the Sunne Moone do meruaile whose maiesty heauen and earth do reuerence by whose bounty the society of all the Blessed is maintayned Ponder how being so vile base as thou art thou art notvvithstanding admitted to receaue a God so high hovv being so little canst thou entertayne so soueraigne a maiesty The Creatour of the heauens the King of Angells men before whose greatnes the strongest pillars of heauen do tremble and the most high Seraphims shrink in their wings for very feare and reuerence and if all thinges created be in the sight of this great God as if they vvere not vvhat I pray thee vvilt thou be in his diuine presence to receaue him The Church singeth and much admireth that this great Lord vnto vvhome heauen and earth is a straite place disdained not to enter into the wombe of a Virgin Measure her purity with thy impurity her grace with thy deformity her innocency with thy malice and thou shalt find far greater reason to wonder at thy boldnes in harbouring the Sonne of God of the most B. Virgin whome she conceaued and conserued in her breast with so great humility Gather hence great feare least this soueraigne King and Lord command his seruants to bind thee hand and foot for that thou commest not with the garment of due innocency and purity to this holy table and celestiall banquet cast thee into the vtter darkenes of hell there to receaue thy deserued punishment THE â POINT TO consider the great iustice of our Lord and how much he abhorreth sinne those which full often thou hast committed against his diuine Maiesty for which thou deseruedst many yeares ago to haue been burning in hell fire and as if thou wert very iust and holy with so little feare thou presumest to entertayne into thy house the terrible Iudge searcher of thy life manners not remembring the menaces threats of the Apostle against sinners who vnworthily as thou dare eat drinke the sacred body and bloud of our Lord. Ponder that if S. Iohn Baptist so pure a creature sanctified in his Mothers wombe said that he was not worthy to loose the lachet of the shoe of our Lord how shalt thou be worthy to receââe him In like manner iâ S Peter Prince of the Apostles and heâd of the Church being astonished at the power Maiesty of Christ âel downe at his knees saying Go forth from me because I am a sinnefull man how darest thou come to put thy mouth to his diuine side sustaine thy self with that precious wine that springeth Virgins From hence thou mayst gather a great feare reuerence before thou commest presumest to receaue the maiesty of this soueraigne God and an humble acknowledgement of thy basenes a deep sorrow for thy sins perfectly imitating that sinner the Publican to obtaine pardon therof who knocking his brest said God be mercifull to me a sinner THE II. MEDITATION Of Loue. THE 1. POINT TO consider that as great as God is in Maiesty in iustice and in detestation of sin as hath been said in the precedent Meditation so great he is in goodnes in mercy in loue towards sinners which causeth him to present himselfe in human flesh in the most B. Sacrament
O my Redeâââ for they are many and haue ãâã on me â King of heauen and beauty of ââgels hovv late is it that I come to ââvvthee O Lord that I knew thee knevv ãâã selfe âermit not o Lord that euer I be ârated from thee Graunt me O my Strengh my ãâã my spouse that I may entierly ãâã thee Giue me O Lord grace alvvaies âerseuere in vertue to do vvorâââ pennance for my sinnes This manner of Prayer is briefe and easy for all and from whence gathered much spirituall profit beiââ done with affection and deuotioâ as holy King Dauid did who haââ left the same written iterated ââny times in his Psalmes Of this example those holy Moââkes of Aegypt made their benefit whome S. Basil and Cassian affirâ that wilest they laboured with thâ handes they did also pray most ãâã of the day Wherefore if we also ãâã accustome our selues to this holy âââârcise we shall performe that conâânuall Prayer which our Sauiourâ quireth in the Ghospell where sayth by Saint Luke It be houeth alwaies to pray and not to be weaââ For what better Prayer may there then to be always desiring the greaâ honour of Almighty God and ãâã waies conforming our Will with will hauing no other will nor nillâ the will or nill of Almighty God ãâã is as Saint Paul sayth to begin to Cittizens of the Saints and the ââmesticall people of God This is ãâã be as were those happy men whoâ â Iohn did see and sayth of them âhey had the name of God written ãâã their forehead which is the contiâual memory presence of God For ââeir coÌuersation now is not in earth âut in heauen And to the end that ãâã also may be so and in such meaââre as in this life we can performe ãâã vs make vse of these Iaculatory ârayers and aspirations in our meââtations and in other times of the ãâã yea and in the middest of our ââcupations and busines Neither is it to be vnderstood ââat all those before set downe are ãâã to be vsed but whatsoeuer oâers like vnto them yea such are âont to be better of more efficacy âhich moued by God we conceiue ãâã frame by our selues although ââth wordes lesse proper and not so âell ordered And be assured that by âis compendious and short way ââth easy and profitable in time we âay attaine vnto great sanctity of ãâã THE XV. ADVERTISMENT Of the speach or Colloquy which is ãâã be made at the end of Prayer THE Holy Ghost saith in thâ Booke of Ecclesiastes that thâ end of Prayer is better thââ the beginning And the reason is foâ that then the hart is supposed to ãâã inflamed with meditation and ãâã soule mooued taught and eleuate with the light heauenly wisdom communicated vnto her by God ãâã Prayer so as then is the proper timâ of Colloquy to speake and conueââ familiarly with God the time alââ of petition request of that what ãâã desire And the sayd Colloquies ãâã to be made according to the mattââ which then we haue meditated speâââ king some times mentally sometimâ vocally with the eternall Father ãâã with his most holy Sonne Iesus For example If the matter of meditation hath beene ioyfuâ let vs reioyce with the eternal Fathââ giuing him thankes for that by ãâã âeanes and merits of such a Sonne âe hath communicated vnto vs such âaces fauours benefits If it be ãâã the pains troubles of the Sonne ãâã Almighty God we ought to grieue ãâã haue Compassion because he ãâã sustayned such and so great affliâions for so vile and base creatures ãâã we are And after this manner conârmably vnto the matter the sayd ââeach or Colloquy is to be made âere with conclude our Prayer for âat tyme. This is likewise the time to aske not ânly for our selues but for others also ãâã whom we haue obligation whose ãâã health and saluation we desire âeseeching our Lord to graunt them is grace and loue that thây may liue âând dye therein This is the time to âke for the peace increase and conâruation of the Church and for ââose which be in mortall sinne that God will please to haue mercy on ââem bring them to a better state âinally this is the time to commend into Almighty God all those which ââemember vs and haue commended themselues vnto our Prayers THE XVII ADVERTISMENT Of the care in obseruing these Aduertisments and of the purity of conscience requisite for Prayer HE that beginneth to vse mentall Prayer ought not to afflictâ and discomfort himselfe in respect that the Aduertisments and Rulâ we haue heere prescribed for the better practising of mentall Prayer be so many diuers for it is cleare that as the soule entring into the body of it selfe is sufficient to informe animate and quicken all the members exercising therin all the offices functions of life notwithstanding they be many and sundry euen so the grace of the Holy Ghost entring into a soule is alone sufficient to make it performe all the offices of ãâã spirituall life For by Prayer out Vnderstanding is illuminated Praier instructeth and teacheth vs whatsoeuer we haue to doe Prayer moueth the will with all the interiour facultyes which depend thereon Praier ââally doth facilitate and make easy âhatsoeuer difficulties doe or may ââcure in this holy Exercise making ãâã way so plaine and easy that we âeed not feare them But if perchance it should hapâen that setting our selues to Praier ãâã forget to obserue this order or ââisse in some of these Aduises and âââles As for example if we forget to âake in the beginning those three âumiliations aforesayd or to make ãâã Preparatory Prayer and to put âur selues in presence of God c. âât vs not therfore trouble and disâuiet our selues for our intentions c ândeauour only was and is to teach âuery one that which is best most ârofitable which supposed albeit âe sometimes misse in one thing or oâher we do not therefore loose the ââuit of our Prayer for the infinite âoodnes and liberality of God is not âyed to these rules neither will he âherefore omit to visit vs with his diâine grace And wheras one of the thinges which is chiefly required in Prayer is the purity of Conscience wherof Almighty God speaking by S. Matthew sayd Blessed are the cleane of hart for they shall see God Therefore is it certaine that how much the more any shall purify and cleanse themselues so much the more they shall see and enioy him And because this purity of Conscience is by no other way better gotten and preserued then by the dayly examination of the same togeather with the act of of contrition I haue thought good to set downe in this place the manner of performing it euery night for the space of a quarter of an houre before we go to rest and this done we are to prepare our selues for the meditation of the day following by reading
sinnes and abhominations shall find himselfe polluted and defiled must know that the only meanes to wash and cleanse himselfe from the same heere in this life is duely to consider them and with abundance of teares to be sory for them togeather with the remeÌbraÌce of the good he hath lost which is God himselfe and the present euill âhich he suffereth Also the consiââration of Death Iudgement and âell for these and such like consideââtions are included in this first pasââge or Purgatiue Way which apâârtaine to beginners in which so âuch time is to be speÌt by euery one ãâã particuler as shall seeme necessary ãâã him to walke this way with âârity fruit seing that some haue âore sinnes and a more soft and ââder hart and conscience then oââers Wherefore I remit the yong ââginner to the end he go not astray âhis prudent and discreet spirituall ââher to direct guide and instruct ãâã in euery thing according as the âurse of his life hath beene more or ãâã disordered For it were no discreââân to detaine one in the exercise of ãâã Purgatiue Way longer time theÌâânecessary which of it owne naâââe doth cause in the soule seruile ââre that hindereth the perfection Charity and vnto which Charity ãâã ought to endeauour to attaine in ãâã course of a spirituall life because as S. Iohn sayth perfect charity expelleth feare Wherefore it seemeth conuenient and reasonable that hauing spent in these laudable and holy exercises sifteene or twenty dayes we proceed to the Illuminatiue and Vnitiue wayes out of which likewise motions of Sorrow Feare and Humility may be gathered as out of the Purgatiue For certaine it is that one wil be grieued more that he hath offended Christ our Lord considering his excellent vertues of Humility Patience Charity and the like then if he should consider his ownâ sinnes Death Iudgment and Hell And albeit these considerationâ be more proper to those who desirâ of new to conuert themselues to Almighty God or be but beginners iâ vertue yet reason it is that the iuââ also to purify themselues the ãâã from the sinnes present withall to make surer the pardon of those whicâ be past do now then as for exaÌplâ once euery yeare refresh and reneâ the memory of these Meditations following the counsaile which Ecâââsiasticus doth giue vs saying Be ãâã hindred to pray alwaies and are not to be iustified euen vnto âath And our Sauiour saith He ââat is iust let him be iustified yet ãâã let the holy be sanctified yet inââeasing daily in purity of conscience ãâã in sanctity of life The Meditations following of ââe Purgatiue Way will giue a good ââginning to this enterprise in which ãâã haue thought good and expedient ãâã follow the counsaile opinion of Gregory and other Saints who ãâã that the firme and true foundaââân of a spirituall building is the ââowledge of our selues and they âoue it very well for if one doe not ââst practise himselfe in the consideââtion and knowledge of his owne âââisery and weakenesse he shall reâaine ignorant and blind and not âow how to aske in Prayer that âhich is conuenient for him Wherâââre I will beginne the Meditations ãâã this first Booke with this consideâââion which shal be the fundamenââll stone of all this spirituall building wheron the rest must stand The points and considerations whereof haue gathered out of diuers placese ãâã the holy Scripture and Saints anâ for such they are to be estemeed anâ practised And because we all aspiââ vnto vertue and holines of life it ãâã expedient that we also imitate anâ follow theÌ this way which they haââ shewed vs. THE I. MEDITATION Of the Knowledge of our selues THE Preparatory Prayer prâsupposed whereof we treatââ in the eleuenth Aduertisment two thinges are to be done in euââ Meditation contained in this Manââ all to wit First the Composition place Secondly the Petition whiââ must be alwaies conformable to ãâã matter of the Meditation as in ãâã and the rest of this first Booke is said Composition of the place THE Composition of the place hâ shal be to behold consider ãâã ãâã eyes of the soule that the whole ââmpasse of the earth in comparison ãâã the heauens the gratnes therof as it were a point or graine of sand âhich being so what shalt thou then ãâã before thy God Creatour of the ãâã heauen and earth in whose preâââce thou art lesse then nothing The Petition THE PetitioÌ shal be to aske of our Lord God that he communiate vnto thee his diuine light thereââ to know thy owne basenes miâây knowing it to humble thy âââfe in humility to serue adore ãâã as thy Lord and God this done âââgin thy Meditation as followeth THE 1. POINT TO consider the matter whereof ãâã thy body was composed made ãâã thou shalt find that it was not fraââed either of the heauens or of criââall neither of the supreme element ãâã fire nor of water nor of other âeare bright and transparent matter âut of the most vile and base element ãâã all which is the earth and hence ââth thy body his origen and beginning which God himselfe remembred our first Father Adam of wheâ laying this consideration before hiâ eyes he said vnto him Dust thoâ art and into dust thou shalt returnâ Consider thou as much and thoâ shalt receiue sight and knowledge ãâã thy selfe as he that was blind froâ his natiuity receaued sight whome Christ our Lord cured both corpoally and spiritually laying vpon hiâ eyes the clay of earth wherof he waâ first framed made Ponder that it is the will of Almighty God that man be alwaieâ very carefull diligent in knowinâ and vnderstanding his owne baseneâ and misery and that he haue continually the eyes of his soule fixed vpon the earth wherof he was framed to the end he alwaies keep himselfâ in humility and subiection knowinâ that he deserueth not to be esteemed and honoured but rather to be troâden vnder foot and trampled vpon as is the earth this being the only râââ medy and meane to obtaine the veâtue of Humility Hence shalt thou gather two âhinges First Confusion and shame âeeing how contrary thou hast done âeereto hauing euer desired and taâen pleasure nor in submitting and âumbling but in extolling and boaâing of thy selfe as if thou wert ââmthing remembring those words âf the Apostle If any man esteeme âimselfe to be something whereas he ãâã nothing he seduceth himselfe Seâondly A firme purpose continually ãâã exercise thy selfe in the base esteem ââd acknowledgment of thy selfe as âid S. Augustine and Saint Francis ââc of whome the first was wont to ây vnto God Lord Let me know âây selfe and know thee The seâond Lord Who art thou who âm I THE 2. POINT O coÌsider what thy body is whilst ãâã it liueth and thou shalt find that ãâã is a sacke of earth a coÌtinuall flowââg water of all filth and stench and ââat there is not
my selfe hast abandoned them and receaued me I render thee o my Lord God infinite thankes for so great a benefit and mercy Graunt I beâeech thee that I may duely prepare my selfe these daies to receaue thee and wellcome thee into the world as this most Blessed Virgin thy Mother and our Lady did diuinely dispose and prepare her selfe for thy comming THE 2. POINT TO consider the liuely and inflamed desire which our Blessâd Sauiour had in the wombe of his most Holy Mother to manifest himselfe to the world for the redeeming of mankind and to giue vs repast and food of life euerlasting Ponder that his small and tender body was not so pâessed and straitned in that narrow prison of the wombe of his Mother as was his louing hart kept in and straitned with the force of his vehement desire and though euery day seemed vnto him a yeare yet he would neuerthelesse remaine therein the full time of nine moneâhes and admiâ no priuiledge which migât exempt him from suffering or shorten the time of his durance therin Gather hence how mâch it importeth thee to dispose thy selfe these dayes to celebrate with deuotion the feast of his Holy Naââiuitâ ãâã the inflamed desires âherewith those ancient Fathers disposed âhemselues for it For so thou shalâ reap in thy hart the Blessed fruit of thy hopes THE 3. POINT TO consider how greatly the most sacred Virgin desired at length to behold with her eies the only Sonne of Almighty God the fruit of her wombe to adore and serue him in way of gratitude and thankefullnes for the great fauour he had done herâin electing chosing her to be his Mother Ponder with how loude and often cries of her hart she repeated with ardent affection of desire and loue that which the holy Church doth often sing O would to God thou wouldest breake open the heauens and descend and the cloudes raine downe the Sauiour And with the Espouse O my Sonne that I âight see thee out of this thy enclosure sucking the breasts of thy mother that I may kisse cherish imbrace thee Hence thou maist gather like affections and desiring that thy Saâiour would âome vnto thee endeauour to imitate the Blessed Virgin our Lady to the end thou maist see and enioy the diuine treasure which she did And with these or the like words moue quicken thy desires to adorâ serue the Son of God borne newly in thy soule as the most Blessed Virgin his mother did serue adore him THE 4. POINT TO consider what S. Ioseph did what his thoughts and meditations were these dayes doubtlesse through the great desire which he also had to see his Lord God he often spake these or the like wordes Come at last O hope of all Nations let my eies behold thee before they be closed vp when shall this be O that it were now that I might once come to kisse and imbrace thee most tenderly Ponder how this Holy man perceiuing the Blessed Virgin to be neere her deliuery serâed and cherished her in whatsoeuer his small forces power and ability was able âespecting and honouring her as the Mother of Almighty God and hiâ most chast Espouse of whose vertue âolines purity he had now so high a conceit and esteeme Gather hence desires to doe the like esteeming and reuerencing this most pure Virgin seruing her with purity of body and soule and performing these daies some particuler seruice towards her that she may obtaine for thee of her Sonne a good preparation to receaue him as this Holy Patriarch by her meanes obtained THE VIII MEDITATION Of our Blessed Ladyes iourney from Nazareth to Bethleem THE 1. POINT TO consider how the Sonne of the euer-liuing God being to be borne into this world hâ ordained to leaue and depâiue himselfe of those commodities which he might haue had in Nazareth being to haue beene borne in his Mothers house and amongst his kindred and friends where he could not haue wanted the shelter of a warme lodging or chamber yea and further commodity and attendance such as was not wanting vnto Saint Iohn borne at home in his Fathers house Ponder how Christ Iesus our Lord abandoned and contemned whatsoeuer the world loueth to wit contentments pleasures and pamperings of the flesh and sought for all that which the world abhorreth and flyeth as he demonstrated in the pouerty and want of all things in which he alwaies did exercise himselfe and choosing to be borne in Bethleem at the time when all thinges should be wanting vnto him in a houre season so incoÌmodious sharpe rigorous Heere confound thy selfe beholding so rare an example and bâ ashamed to see thy selfe so great a louer of thy owne commodities and delicacies Humbly beseech him to giue thee grace that thou maist renounce whatsoeuer pleasures and delights of the flesh and loue and imbrace pouerty and want of all things as he alwaies did THE 2. POINT TO consider the occasions which Christ our Sauiour tooke to make this his iourney that therby all might know he came to obey and serue and not to doe his owne will but the will of his Father who had sent him Ponder that as Christ our Sauiour was borne in obedience so he also dyed in obedience that thou mightst learne to obey In regard of which obedience his holy will was that his Mother and himselfe in her should profesââ seruice and alieagiance and submit themselues to the commaundement of Augustus Caeâar who as Emperour and Lord of the world had commaunded that all his subiects should be enrolled for the paying him tribute Gather hence that if the King of heauen entred into the world humbling himselâe and professiâg allegianâe to a temporall King it cannot be much for thee to humble subiect thy selfe to a heauenly King to thy Superiours his substitutes on earth to whose will thou must endeauour to forme all thy actions for this is the will of Almighty God THE 3. POINT TO consider the discommodityes which our Blessed Lady suffered who being poore the way long the season sharp and cold and in the hart of winter comming to Bethleem âll weary and destitute of humane comfort yet she carryed all with admirable patience and conformity to the will of Almighty God Ponder how the Blessed Virgiâ and S. Ioseph went that iourney all alone vnknowne and forgotten of the world notwithstaÌding they werâ the most precious Iewells the world had âuer yielded in highest esteem in the sight of God! O how little did the B. Virgin S. Ioseph regard the world with all the pompe honour thereof Gather hence desires to be forsaken of men and be ashamed of the little loue which thou hast to suffer that thou so easily dost complaine oâ the leaât discommodity which is offered Learn from this day forwards to set all thinges at naught but only vertue holines of life THE 4. POINT TO consider how that after two or thee daies iourney these
him out of his sepulcher he would not withstanding descend thither to discouer by this heroicall act of humility the loâe he bare vnto them From hence thou mayst gather to performe by thy selfe the busines which God commandeth vnto thee of helping of soules how meane soeuer they seeme humbling thy selfe as Christ our Lord humbled himselfe on earth that thou mayst be exalted in heauen THE 2. POINT TO consider the great ioy which the soule of Christ our Lord had âeeing it selfe to vanquish death to âriumph ouer hell to glorify such multitude of soules as were there in Limbo How well would he then âhinke the labours of the Crosse imployed seeing the fruit which that saâed tree began now to yield Ponder the wonderfull ioy and exultation which those holy Fathers receaued who for so many thousand of yeares with such patience considence and expectation had looked for that happy houre of their ransome and liberty when they saw that Blessed soule of Christ their Redeemer triumphant in those bottomles pits and obscure dângeons of hell destroying with his diuine vertue povver the gates of brasse and iroâ barres of that dungeon and turning that obscure and monefull place into a ioyfull and pleasant Paradise Gather hence a firme considence in God when thou shalt find thy selfe assaulted with sundry sorrowes and afflictions be not wearied afflicting thy selfe for continuâ ance of them seeing there is no timâ that commeth not at last nor any euill that hath not an end as the imâ prisonement of those Saints had ãâã happy end THE 3. POINT TO consider how that most Blesââ soule of thy Sauiour accompââyed with that resplendent brighâ shining army of holy Fathers came with them to the sepulcher where his body lay disioynted disfigured wrapt vp in a winding sheet Ponder that the first thing which our Lord did was to disâouer vnto them the lameÌtable shape of his sacred body that they might vnderstand how deere their ransome had âost him and when they beheld that holy body all blacke and blew out of ioynt and so bruized mangled ãâã euery side they yielded agayne ââto the deliuerer infinite thanks for âuing redeemed them with so great ââbours paines Ponder secondly how that as âone as that Blessed soule entred aâine into that body which was more âââfigured then any body euer was transformed it into a far more exââlleÌt shape then it had on the mount âabor made it a thousand times ââre beautifull resplendent then ãâã Sunne And with a ioyfull counâââânce he arose out of the sepulcher mortall and glorious without reââuing the stone from the place which was layd vpon the sepulcher as he issued out of the sacred bowell of the moââ Blessed Virgin vvithouâ domage of her integrity and purity Out of all this thou mayst gaâ ther affections of thankesgiuing ãâã laud prayse to the Eternall Father for that he hath conuerted the sorroâ of his most Blessed Sonne into so vâ speakable ioy so incomparabââ beauty communicating vnto his bâ dy the prerogatiues of immortalitâ glory THE 4. POINT TO consider that Christ our Lorâ when he was risen againe did nââ forth with mount vp to heaueÌ whicâ is the seat due to glorified bodyes but remayned in the vvorld for tââ space of forty dayes to comfort anâ animate his disciples informing the of many things concerning the Kinâ dome of God that being eye witnâ ses of his Resurrection they migâ preach it more considently to ãâã world it may piously be thouââ that at that tyme all the quiers of Angels came downe to gratulate his victory to celebrate the feast of âis glorious triumph for if they destended to celebrate his Natiuity wheÌ he came to liue heere a mortal passibe life with great reason may we thinke they came at his Resnrrection when he began to liue an immortall glorious life Ponder how the heauenly spirits with Angelicall harmony renewed âhat canticle of the Natiuity Glory in âhe highest to God in earth peace ãâã men of good will with great âson seeing that by meanes of this âuce of enemies we were made friâds of sâues of sin the diuell we ââre made children heyres of hie âbry Gather hence desireâ to reioyce to âay with the holy Prothet This the day which our Lord hath made vs reioyce be glad therein Deing that all may doe the like aââ him for that he hath gotten so ârious a triumph victory ouer his enemies THE II. MEDITATION Of our Sauiours apparition vnto hââ most Blessed Mother THE â POINT To consider that the first visit apparition which Christ Iesuâ our Lord made is thought tâ haue been to the most Blessed Virgâ his Mother to cleare that Heauâ darkened and ouercast with sorrow and to dry the âlouds of teares froâ those virginall eyes which had weâ so much aboue al others had ãâã thâ sorrovves and afflictions of ãâã Passion of his absence Ponder how the Blessed Vââgin being in her retirement not sleep but in prayer expected ãâã new light with liuely sayth and sured hope of the Resurrection of â Sonne mediâating those wordes the Royall Prophet Arise my gloâ arise my psalter and harp and reioâ with thy musicke those that are ãâã and lament thy absence And if vid contemplating his God and Lord so far off had such a thirst longing desire to be partaker of his Resurrection how great desires had the most Blessed Virgin louing him and desiring him much more then Dauid being so neere to the tyme and euery âoment expecting to see and inioy âgayne her beloued Sonne now gloâious in his Resurrection Gather hence like affections âesires And beseech this our Lord that he will vouchsafe to rise in thy âule to visit and comfort it as he âd his most holy Mother that thou ââyst deserue to see and enioy him â his glory at the generall Resurreâion THE 2. POINT TO consider hovv the Blessed Virgin our Lady being in this conâmplation and these Ionging desires â most holy Sonne entred in and âunifested himselfe vnto her with all â glory and brightnes which his saâed body had streÌgthening her corâiall sight to be able to behold him ãâã enioy him Ponder how great the ioy of thâ Blessed Virgin was when she saw thâ body of her most sweet Sonne noâ now hanging amiddst theeues buâ enuironed with Angells and Saint not recoÌmending her from the crossâ to the beloued disciple but himself giuing her a louing kisse of peace not dissigured as he was at his death but resplendent beautifull O hoâ fully content and satisfied did she reâ mayne vvith this comfortable sighâ how sweetly dyd they imbrace on another what teÌder speach in waââ feelings would there passe betweeâ those two blessed harts From hence thou mayst gathââ desires to giue thanks vnto this Lorâ who is so certaine a friend so read to comfort those who suffer for hâ loue
so base humble THE 3. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord vntill he was thirty years of age exercised himselfe in the trade of a Carpenter for he was not only called the Sonne of a Carpenter but also a Carpenter as S. Marke sayth And where as he might haue chosen to himselfe some more honourable imployments he vndertooke this meane office therein to exercise humility to be dealt with as noble and pâincipall men do deale with mecanicall artificers that so the treasurs of wisdome knowledge of God which are all in this our Lord as his holy Apostle sayth might be hidden from the eyes of the world Ponder the rare silence of Christ our Lord who during all this âyâe would not make himselfe knowne but did so long hold his peace and being the Wisdome and Eternall Word of his Father would not speake nor make knowne who he was by publike preaching vntill he was thirty yeares of age leading in the meanâ while a life full of pouerty humility and silence couering his graces other prerogatiues with rare humility Learne by this patterne example how to keep silence in thy exterâall businesse and corporall exercises if thou art imployed in any imitating Iesus Christ our Lord who lâbouring in body prayed in mind Eâdeauour likewise to conceale the giftes and talents which God hath giuen thee when there is no need to publish them laying first deep root in humility seeing thy Redeemer vouchsafed to walke this way for so long time togeather THE 4. POINT TO consider how the B. Virgin did profit and benefit her selfe increasing in all sorts of Vertues but especially in Humility seeing her most Blessed Sonne and her God being wisdome it selfe and yet concealed vnder such signes and exercises of Humility Ponder how our Blessed Lady was euer contemplating and obseruing him and his examples keeping and ruminating all these thinges in her hart and calling them often to mind she endeauoured to imitate her Sonne and after his example to increase in humility wisedome and grace O how contented did she liue hauing in her company such an incomparable mirrour and patterne of vertues How ioyfull vvas she ãâã haue him alwaies at her side to see him dayly at her table to hearâ his words to enioy his presence Gather hence a great desire to haue Christ our Lord presânt and before thine eyes in all thy workes Beseech him that he vouchsafe neuer to depart from thee nor thou from him that thou mayst performe thy actions whith spirit and life as his diuine Maiesty desireth thou shouldest THE XVIII MEDITATION Of the Baptisme of our Sauiour THE 1. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord hauing liued in company of his most Holy Mother who was now a widdow thirty yeares such a life as we may âell imagine doubtles to haue been more diuine then humane the time being now come wherin he was to manââest himselfe to the world performing the office of a redeemer and Mayster he came one day to our B. Lady with most tender affection disclosed vnto her the whole matter c as an obedient sonne craued leaâe of her and her benediction that he might go and attend to the worke of our Redemption The Blessed Virgin through the great desire she had of the saluation of mankind not requesting him to deferre it any longer tyme with perfect resignation to the diuine will denying her owne will to conforme it to the wil of Almighty God sayd vnto him that which her most Holy Sonne said to his eternall Father in the Garden Let not o Lord my will but thine be done and imbracing her Sonne her God most tenderly she gaue him her Blessing and licence where with he departed and remayned with teares trickling fast down her cheeks alone a poore widdow and without her Sonne Ponder the punctuall obedience of the sonne in thus abandoâing that chast doue his Mother and the pleasant and contented life he led with her to lead his life among wild beasts the sacrifice of the mother depriuing her selfe of such a Sonne Take example from hence and learne of Christ our Redeemer so to loue thy parents and kinsfolkes that whââsoeuer the glory or seruice of God shall require they may not stay nor hinder thy good purposes and desires neyther Father nor Mother kinsfolkes nor friends no nor all the world procuring if they attempt any such thing to fly from them as ãâã domesticall enemies for so Christ our Sauiour calleth them THE 2. POINT TO consider how our Sauiour as soone as he was departed out of the preseÌce of his beloued Mother tooke his vvay tovvardes Iordan where S. Iohn was baptizing the Publicans sinners Ponder first how poore how solitary how destitute of all company our Sauiour goeth on his way and aboue all how he placeth himselfe in the number of sinners thereby to giue vs another example of humility and not desiring to be known besought S. Iohn to baptize him Secondly how great the ioy content of this Saint was when he knew by the spirit of prophesy Christ our Lord how he leaped againe for ioy as he did when he acknowleged him in his mothers wombe beholding him there so humble Gather hence desires to humble and submit thy selfe to the very dust of the earth not desiring from hence forward to iustify thy selfe nor preferre thy selfe before others seeing thy Sauiour so humble going to be baptized as if he had beene a great sinner and seeing thou art indeed a sinner desire to vse conuenient remedyes though thereby thou be noted knowne to be a sinner THE 3. POINT TO consider how S. Iohn refused to baptize our Sauiour saying vnto him I O Lord ought to be baptized of thee and commest thou to me Ponder the admiration and aââonishment of Saint Iohn seeing our Sauiour so humble and those short but mysticall vvordes Thou commest to me to be baptized Thou God infinite Thou Sauiour of the world Thou forgiuer of sinnes Thou who sanctifiedst me in my mothers wombe commest to me thy creature a vile and silly worme and thy seruant Hence thou mayst gather that vertue and sanctity consisteth in humility and obedience that is iâ obeying God and his Vice-gerents I meane those which be in higher degree of dignity office age and âcience Also our equals giuing them greater honour and the better place And our inferiours delighting to subiect thy selfe vnto them as if they were thy superiours taking example by Christ our Lord who humbled himsââfe to much this day obeying and kneeling downe before his Precursor S. Iohn Baptist to be baptized of him THE 4. POINT TO consider how while S. Iohn baptized our Sauiour the Eternall Father authorized honouâed him most wonderfully fulfilling the truth of that saying Whosoeuet humbleth himselfe shal be exalted And to this end the heauens were opened and there descended a doue and rested vpon our Sauiours head to declare his innocency and sanctity that he was
the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world a maiesticall and graue voice was heard from the heauenly Father saying this is my beloued Son in whom I am well pleased by whome I am appeased and reconciled vnto mankind Ponder that although Christ our Lord desired to conceale himselfe permitting himselfe to be accounted but an ordinary man and a sinner yet the Eternall Father manifested his innocency declaring who he was by a voice from heauen for it was not reason that so great humility should passe without teâtimoây of great glory And it is the condition of Almighty God to glorify the humble Gather hence desires to please this our Lord humbling thy selfe as Christ humbled himselfe hiding concealing thy selfe for his loue as he did for thy example which if thon dost he will haue care when occosion shall serue to manifest honour and exalt thee before God and men THE XIX MEDITATION Of the temptation of Christ in the desert and of his victory THE 1. POINT TO consider how that after our Sauiour was Baptized by Saint Iohn moued of his owne holy spirit he betooke himselfe to the desert as a place ministring occasion of temptation there to be tempted where he performed most holy and retyred exercise and remayned there forty dayes and forty nights neyther eating nor drinking And this to satisfy for thy riotousnes and delicacyes exercising himselfe in continuall prayer and fasting and other corporall austerities liuing not in company of his Blessed Mother or of Saint Iohn by the riuer Iordan but all alone among sauage and wild beastes being Lord of Angels to humble himselfe for man who through sinne vvas become a brute beast Ponder how the Holy Ghost led our Sauiour into the desert to challenge the Prince of darkenesse to enter into the field and to fight and vanquish him that knowing by experience what it is to be tempted of the Diuell he might haue compassion of those who are tempted and that with the victory of his temptations he might instruct thee to withstand ouercome thine with magâanimity courage Gather hence a very feruent earnest desire to giue thy selfe to prayer fasting and mortification especially when thou art tempted according to the example of this thy Lord who armed himselfe for the combat and temptation with these spiritual weapons taught thee how greatly he alwayes esteemed these vertues that exercising thy selfe in them thou mightst so obtain victory ouer thine enemies THE 2. POINT TO consider how those forty daies of fasting being ended our Sauiour was hungry to wit as he was man and forth with the Diuell was at hand who watched and obserued whatsoeuer he did and vnder colour of pittying him said vnto him If thou be the Sonne of God command that these stones be made bread and eate which he sayd to try if by this meanes he might deceaue him Ponder that the Diuell perswadeth that the stones should be conuerted into bread and not into some other more dainty meate for that which he pretendeth in temptations is not thy gust and pleasure for if he could deceaue thee by giuing thee a âedious life full of a thousand bitternesses disgustes he should not giue the any contentment at all From hence gather that thou must neuer be carelesse how thou ãâã uest because the solicitude and care wherwith the Diuell goeth about to entrap thee is great and continuall For our Blessed Sauiour was no sooner hungry but he was ready to tempt him thinking to ouerthrow him Take heed for so will he deale with thee marke well how much it importeth thee to watch and pray as our Sauiour sayd vnto his Diseiples in the night of his so great afflictions that thou enter not into teptation THE 3. POINT TO consider how the second temptation was of vayne glory when the Diuell in his owne likenesse carryed our Saniour from rhe desert to the pinnacle of the Temple perswading him to cast himselfe dovvne headlong from aboue because much people being belovv and seeing so strang a thing that falling so high be receaued no harme many of them would belieuin him Ponder the meekenes of our Lord God in permitting himselfe to be carryed by the Diuell without resistance concealing for the present his omnipotency that the Diuell might not know him for the Sonne of God Resolue and purpose firmely that whensoeuer the Diuell shall tempt thee by himselfe or others to vaunt thy selfe of thy vertues thou wilt rather hide them by common and ordinary behauiour and conuersation and couer the interiour and hidden Iewells of thy soule with the precious veyle of Humility For where this vertue is there is also as the Wiseman sayth wisdome and so by his diuine ayd thou mayst obtaine thy desired victory THE 4. POINT TO consider how the third temptation was of couetousnes ambition procuring to ouerthrow our Sauiour at last by this way and so he tooke him vp into a very high mouÌtaine and from thence he shewed him all the Kingdomes of the world presenting thâÌal vpon condition that falling downe he would adore him Ponder the vnsatiable thirst the Diuell hath of thy perdition for he would giue thee the whole world if it were his so that thou wouldest commit one only mortall sin against Almighty God Gather hence a great esteemâ of thy saluation with a firme purpose not to do any thing in preiudice therof for all the world for against this temptation our Lord sayd What doth it profit a man if he gayne the whole world and sustaine the domage of his soule Wherefore putting him a way with vehemeâââ he sayd vnto him Aââant Satan for it is written the Lord thy God shalt thou adore and him only shalt thou serue Whereby our Lord giueth thee to vnderstand that if thou shalt perseuere in the combat with his grace thou shalt ouercome whatsoeuer teÌptation and the Diuell being vanquââ shed shall depart confounded and leaâe thee with the crowne of victory in thy handes as he did in spite of his craft in this conflict with our Sauiour vnto whom the Eternal Father seat after his conquest not one Angel alone to minister vnto him in that necessity but many to congratulate him the victory and spreading the table they attended on him at dinner as seruants on their Lord and Mayster Learne hence to confide and trust in God and he will nourish thee and remedy thy necessity when and in what manner it shal be most fitting for thee THE XX. MEDITATION Of the vocation and election of the Apostles THE 1. POINT TO consider how Christ our Sauiour being to choose twelue men that might be the tweluâ foundations or vpholâers of his Church himselfe in person not trusting therin to any other made choice of them called them Ponder how absolute and perfect in all points this election of our Sauiour Christ was who being the infinite wisedome that can âote ãâã made choice not of the noble ricâ and