between each Decade and the rest of the meditations comprehending the whol life of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus c. Let 's now cast a view upon the Excellency Dignity and Utilitie of this our sacred Rosary which can be no better declared than by shewing the Excellencie of each severall part whereof it is compos'd to wit the Creed the Lords Prayer the Angelical Salutation and the Meditations upon the fifteen Mysteries In the Creed we profess our Faith and by Faith we please God in the Lords Prayer we speak to God as it were in his own dialect and we may be confident the Eternall Father will hearâ—… to the divin words which his own dear Son dictated In the Angelical Salutation we gratefully commemorate the chief mysterie of our Salvation which is our Redeemers Incarnation And in Meditating upon the fifteen mysteries we sweetly melt away in the admiration of the divin love mercy and goodness The Creed wherewith we begin and conclude our Rosary and which may therefore be fitly called the first and last accidentall part thereof contains as many Excellencies fruits and profits as Faith it self whereof it is a formall Act and Profession Now the fruits of Faith are so many that meerely to relate them would make up a large volum and therefore be pleas'd to content your selves for the present most devout Rosarists to take only a compendious touch of such as are expresly registred in holy Writ 1. Faith purges our sins Thy Faith O Woman say's our Saviour to the Penitent Magdalen hath saved thee 2. Faith purifies our hearts sayes S. Peter 3. Faith joynes espouses and unites our souls to God say's the Prophet Oseas 4. Faith is the very life of our souls The just man says the Prophet Abacuc and after him the Apostle S. Paul lives by faith And Christ our Saviour He that believes in me though he be dead in flesh he shall live in his soul 5. Faith enobles exalts and dignifies our nature rendring us Gods adopted children He gave power say's S. John to them who believe in his name to become his children 6. Faith is here the beginning of the hereafter ensuing eternall life This is eternall life says our Saviour to know the only true God 7. Faith gives all the fruit worth and merit to our works Whatsoever is not of Faith says Saint Paul is a sin 8. Faith is our Armour against all sorts of Temptations of the World Flesh and Devill Above all says S. Paul take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And S. Peter Your Adversary the Devill goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in Faith And S. John This is the victory that overcomes the world even your Faith 9. Faith causes our Prayers to be heard and our Petitions granted What things soever you desire says our Saviour When you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them And S. James Let him ask in Faith nothing doubting and it shall be given him 10. Faith works Miracles He that believes in me says our Saviour shall do the works that I do and greater than these And S. Paul proves this by many instances throughout his whol 11th Chapter to the Hebrews Finally there are no greater riches no higher honours no better substance in this world says S. Augustin than the Catholique Faith which saves sinners cures the sick justifies the righteous repairs the penitent perfects the just and crowns all the Elect. These are a part of the innumerable fruits and profits which spring from Faith as from the foundation ground work and root of all goodness and which may be aboundantly gather'd by you O Faithfull servants of God and devout children of Mary by renewing exciting and professing it in the recitall of your Creed at the beginning and end of your Rosary The second Part of the Rosary is our Lords Prayer so called from its divin Author Christ Jesus and for its own excellencie as being says S. Thomas an Abridgment of all that needs to be desired or ought to be demanded This sacred Prayer contain seven Petitions and that not without speciall Mysterie For as this inferior world is govern'd by seven Orbes or Heavens which are under the starrie Firmament and is cherish'd and conserv'd by the Influences of seven Planets And as Man consists of the three powers of his soul and the four Elements whether virtually or formally it matters not which compose his Body And as our spirituall Perfection depends upon seven vertues The three Theologicall and the four Cardinall And as the gifts of the Holy Ghost wherewith our souls are adorned are seven And as the Beatificall Dowries make up the same number three of them belonging to the soul vision love fruition and four to the Body Impassibility Agility Subtility Clarity So Christ our Lord the Eternall Fathers Coeternall wisdom concluded all things for which he would have us pray in these seven short and sweet Petitions To relate all the fruits and effects which are reap'd by the devout recitall of this divin Prayer were to run over the large fields of prayer in generall whereof this our Pater noster is a perfect summarie as hath been already prov'd by the authoritie of S. Thomas and may be further confirm'd by this saying of S. Augustin If thou searchest after all the sacred Prayers that ever were compos'd thou canst in my opinion meet with nothing which is not herein contained and included And by that of S. Cyprian O what mysteries are in our Lords prayer How many and how great Sacraments are in this short speech contracted in words but copious in spirituall sense and vertu In so much as there is nothing at all to be pray'd for which is not comprehended in this compendium of heavenly doctrin To which Encomiums of these great Saints omitting almost infinit others of Tertullian S. John Chrysostom S. Gregory and all the Fathers we shall only add this excellent expression of a modern Author Amongst all divin Prayers and prayses nothing is comparable to the Pater noster It far excells all the supplications of the Saints It fully contains all the conceptions of the Prophets all the expressions of the Psalms all the sweetnesses of the Canticles It asks all that is necessary It prayses God highly It joyns the soul to God entirely c. See Thomas a Kempis Enchirid. Monastic cap. 5. But to make you most devout Rosarists yet more enamour'd with your Pater noster We shall succinctly deliver unto you its manifold fruits and effects in the very sense of S. Dominick himself the Author of this our Confraternity who by divin Inspiration preach'd to his numerous Auditory of Tolosa upon a solemn feast of the sacred Virgin to this effect First says Saint Dominick if little weak children were to walk through some wild and uncouth wilderness had they not need of a
down his holy Spirit upon his Apostles and the rest of his chosen children to instruct them in his will to encourage them in their duties to confirm them in their Faith to assist them in their preaching to strengthen them in their persecutions O Iesu send also your holy Spirit to cure cleanse and comfort my sick sinfull and sad soul adorn each corner of my interiour with your divin love and grace that you sacred Spirit may find there a sweet and gratefull habitation rule reign and remain in my heart O Iesu King of Glory for evermore Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother whose soul was dilated with such unspeakable joy and sweetness in the glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascention of your divin Son JESUS appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary Conclude this holy Crown with that Apostles Creed saying I believe in God c. Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus our blessed Redeemer in honour of the Thirty-three year 's of his holy Life 1. O Good Jesu the word of the Father convert me 2. O Good Jesu the lamb of God! puryfie me 3. O Good Jesu my Master teach me 4. O Good Jesu the Prince of Peace govern me 5. O Good Jesu the sure hope of penitent Sinners behold me 6. O Good Jesu my Refuge defend me 7. O Good Jesu my Instructor direct me 8. O Good Jesu my Patience comfort me 9. O good Jesu the chief Comforter of sad Souls refresh me 10. O good Jesu my Redeemer save me 11. O good Jesu my Lord and my God! possess me 12. O good Jesu the life the way and the truth enliven me 13. O good Jesu my firm Foundation strengthen me 14. O good Jesu the light of the world illuminate me 15. O good Jesu my Justice justifie me 16. O good Jesu my Mediator sanctifie me 17. O good Jesu the Physitian of my soul heal me 18. O good Jesu my Judg absolve me 19. O good Jesu the Son of Justice shine upon me 20. O good Jesu my King deliver me 21. O good Jesu Son of David pitty me 22. O good Jesu my sanctification cleanse me 23. O good Jesu the living bread descending from Heaven satiate me 24. O good Jesu the wine bringing forth Virgins inebriate me 25. O good Jesu my Father bless me 26. O good Iesu the only joy of my heart visit me 27. O good Iesu my Helper assist me 28. O good Iesu my Protector protect me 29. O good Iesu my Love transform me 30. O good Iesu my Propitiation hide me in your wounds 31. O good Iesu the faithfull Shepheard feed me 32. O good Iesu the eternal Life receive me into the number of your Elect. 33. O good Iesu my Glory gloryfie me An Advertisement to them of the sacred Confraternity of the holy name of IESUS AFter the recitall of the Rosary of Jesus or Crown of our Lord and these Thirty-three Petitions in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy life you may make use of some of the following Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord and to the holy Trinity according as your opportunity and devotion shall dictate unto you and not as any part belonging to the said Rosary of Iesus which contains nothing more than what is before prescribed and expressed for though they may be practis'd with very great spiritual profit by all faithful Christians as containing a most eminent sublime and heroick manner of offring up our selv's to the divin Majesty yet the frequent use thereof is especially proper to the members of this sacred Confraternity who above all others ought to adore Gods greatness admire his goodness extoll his mercies and dedicate themselv's to his perpetuall service by the continuall remembrance of the mysteries of his Life and Incarnation which is the end of their devout Confraternity and the drift of these divin Elevations ELEVATIONS TO JESVS CHRIST our Lord In honour of his severall Estates and of the singular Mysterries of his Life TO ADORE The supream greatness of JESUS And to offer our selv's to him in way of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable Union of the Divinitie with our Humanity 1. The Eternall Greatness of the word Incarnate O IESU my Lord King of Angels Redeemer of Men Soveraign of the Universe only Son of God only Son of the Virgin Born from all Eternity in the Eternall Fathers bosom and in times fullness born of the Virgin Mary true God true Man I adore you in your eternall and your temporall Greatness in your divin and human Fullness in your created and uncreated Highness You are the second Person of the sacred Trinity but equall to the First and origin of the Third you are the Splendor and Glory of the eternall Father you are his power and his wisdom you are his lively Image and perfect resemblance you are his only Son and his eternall word you are God of God Light of Light 2. The Equality and Consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself YOU are in these Greatnesses by Birth Such a Birth which Equalls the Power and Paternity of him who is your Father and which is one and the same thing with the Divinity A wonder not in the world but in Eternity not in the created but uncreated Being and the Prime wonder of Eternity For you are the first Production of the Eternall Father and source of the last And by this wonderfull Birth you are Infinit as he is All-powerfull is he is God as he is Beginning and Originall of a Divin Person as he is Nor is there any other difference but that in one self-same Divinity in one equall Eternity in one semblable Majesty He is Father and you are Son you are Son but without inequality without posteriority you are Son yet of even antiquity of equall authority with him and Eternall God as he is You are Son but without diversity of Essence or of Power or of Wisdom having the unity of Essence with the diversity of Subsistency in which you are one only God with him you are adored as he is and you are the Creator Conserver and Commander of the whol world as he is 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us THese Greatnesses dazle our souls we cannot look upon them from out our Earths obscurity They are to be adored not beheld and we must vail our faces in the presence of this divin object as did the Angells by Isay's relation in the sight of your Throne But you are willing to exercise you mercy's upon us you will cast a cover upon your self and render your self visible to our weak spirits and to our mortall aspects you will stoop down to us and become accessible and by a Councill which even ravishes us with wonder you will come neer us and make your self as one of us For O
Son our Lord. I Believe in the second Person of the sacred Trinity the Son whom the Father begot from all Eternity communicating to him all his own Essence Greatness Perfection who continuing God became Man for the Salvation of Sinners was nam'd Christ Jesus and is the Soveraign Lord and King of all Souls O divin word which descended from Heaven to Earth to deliver me from sin and Satan be you my Lord by Election as you are by Creation and Redemption I freely give and bequeath my self to you for your perpetuall Bondslave Live O Jesu and reign in my Soul as you do in the whol extent of this large Universe Who was conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary I Believe that Gods Son that he might become Man did vouchsafe to unite to his divin Person a Rationall soul and a human body which the Holy Ghost miraculously form'd in the chast bowels of the blessed Virgin Mary and of her proper and pure blood so that he was truly conceiv'd in her and truly born by her without any prejudice to her Virginity O Jesu the lover of Purity who chose the chastest woman of the World for your Mother by the Immaculate Purity of your Conception and Nativitie give me the gift and grace of purity of Life and Conversation Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucify'd dead and buryed I Believe that the Son of God Incarnate endured very severe Torments in his humanity for the Worlds Redemption that he was adjudg'd to dy by the Prefident Pilate and that after his death he was buryed and laid in a Sepulchre O Jesu the Redeemer of my Soul your death is the only hope of my Life be you graciously pleas'd to apply to me one single drop of your sacred Bloud and I shall rest secure in this Life and be happy for all Eternitie He descended into Hell the third day he arose again from the Dead I Believe that in the death of my blessed Saviour his Soul was really seperated for a time from his Body to descend into that part of Hell which was call'd Limbus Patrum where all such souls as from the Worlds first beginning departed this life in a good estate were till then detaind I believe that he deliver'd them from that Dungeon and that upon the third day his Soul return'd to his buryed Body became reunited unto it and rays'd it up to Life and Immortality O most glorious Soul of Christ my Saviour which thus mercifully visited the Patriarchs lying in the sad Prison of Limbus vouchsafe to give me also a gracious vâ—sit that whil'st I live I may duly and devoutly love and honour you and when my Soul shall be call'd out of this imprisoning Body it may be rays'd up to Contemplate admire and prayse your greatness goodness and glorie for all Eternitie He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Allmightie I Believe that Jesus my Redeemer being by his own power resuscitated from death to life ascended up to Heaven by his own strength where he sits at the right hand of God his Father to whom he is every way equall as the chief of all the Blessed full of glory and felicity O Jesu my Redeemer how worthy are you thus to triumph to reign to be exalted above all creatures But O forget not in the state of your greatness the condition of your miserable Creature bought with the price of your precious Bloud O King of glory grant that all my thoughts words actions and desires may aym at nothing but your only honour From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I Believe that Christ Jesus when he shall please to put a Period to time and all sublunary things will descend visibly from Heaven in his glorious Humanity to judg all Manking both the good and the bad and publickly to reward to punish every one according to their works Ah! just Judg of all consciences what shall I then do or what shall I answer when you shall question me concerning my whol lives transactions I believe in the Holy Ghost I Believe in the third person of the sacred Trinitie the Holy Ghost who joyntly proceeds both from the Father and from the Son and is to them equall in Greatness in Majestie in all things whatsoever O sacred Spirit the God of Infinit Love and Charity breath upon my flinty heart mollify it into meekness towards my Neighbour and melt it into the sweet affections of your pure and perfect Love I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints I Believe the Catholick Church to be the only Church of Christ that it is holy universall apostolical and infallible in things appertaining to Faith and that in this Church there are found many pious Souls pleasing to the divin Majesty which mutually help each other by their prayers and good works O my Lord and my God! I render you most humble and hearty thanks for having made me a child and member of this holy Church in which I have so great hopes and so many helps to save my soul give me your grace good Jesu that I may improve this signall favour and persever in this saving Faith that from it I may pass to the clear vision of your prepared glory The Forgiveness of Sins I Believe that God is both able and willing to forgive me my Sins and that he hath left power in his Church to remit them be they never so heynous and enormous and this especially by the Priests absolution in the Sacrament of Penance O God of Infinit goodness and mercy let all Creatures Eternally prayse and magnifie your sacred Name for having given such power to men and such comfort to poor sinners The Resurrection of the Flesh I Believe that the very body in which my Soul now lives and breaths and all human bodyes though after death they are redâ—c'd into dust in their graves shall at the end of the World and at the great day of generall Judgment be rays'd to lâ—fe by Gods omnipotent command and his Angells ministry to be then rejoyn'd to their same souls and to live for evermore O Dread Soveraign in whose hands are life and death and to whose beck all things are obedient Ingrave deeply in my heart and soul the hope of a happy Resurrection that the horrour of this temporall dissolution and death of my body may not over-terrify and dismay me And life everlasting Amen I Believe that the good shall live in Heavenly glory for all Eternitie and that the wicked shall live eternally in infernall torments O good God! grant that I may so live in your grace during this my short Pilgrimage that I my live with you in glorie in your Eternall Paradise Amen §. 3. Of the Pater Noster or our Lords Prayer The second part of the Rosary THe Pater Noster is the Prayer which our Lord Jesus taught his disciples informing them from his own sacred mouth
LOVE O MERCY O MERVAIL You will unite your Greatness to our Baseness your Eternity to our Mortality your Divinity to our humanity becoming Son of Man Son of Mary for an Eternity as from all Eternity you are the Son of GOD the only Son of the Eternall Father 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and Subsistence to our nature I Adore you in this highest Councill and divin Will I Adore you in this new estate and deep Mystery I Adore you in the unity of your divin Person and in the diversity of your natures the one Divin and Eternall the other human and temporall I Adore you as receiving your Eternall Essence from the Eternall Father and as giving your Essence you subsistency to human nature united to your self for an Evermore Vnited I say to your self so intimatly and so powerfully so gloriously and so divinely O Adorable Estate O Unspeakable Mystery O happy Moment of the Incarnation which makes man God and God man Which gives to Heaven a King of Glory and to the Earth a Soveraign To Angells a Repayrer and to Men a Saviour 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us O JESU my Lord and my Saviour I Adore you as Gods Son I Adore you as Mans Son and Man God I Adore you in these two different Estates The one Eternall the other Temporall the one uncreated the other created the one divin the other human joyned together and joyned inseparably But I must yet Adore you as Man-God for man For 't is for us that you would be made Man 't is for us that you live and dy 't is for us that you do suffer 't is for us that you are born in a Stable and bedded on straw 't is for us that you lead an abject laborious suffering life 't is for us that you dy upon Mount Calvary and hang on the Cross 't is for us that you arise and ascend into Glory O Birth O Life O Death O Divin glorious heavenly Life O blessed hour of the Incarnation of the Expiration of the glorification of Gods Son O Estates of Jesus in his Fathers bosom and at his Mothers breasts hanging on the Cross and sitting on the right hand of God! O Abodes O Estates O Mysteries of Jesus in Judea in Egypt in Galilee in Bethleem in Nazareth in Jerusalem in the Crib on the Cross in the Grave on Earth in Hell in Heaven Who can recount your thoughts your griefs your delights in these places But Heaven will one day reveal them unto us and the Contemplation hereof shall be one of the employments of our Eternity till when the Earth must remain ignorant hereof must Reverence them and must be content with the Crums falling from your Saints Tables whom you plentifully nourish with this living and life-giving bread on Earth and in Heaven 6. Jesus Adores his Heights by his Lownesses and rayseth up his Lownesses by his Greatnesses 1. BY their Example and Imitation I Contemplate and Adore you O Jesu my Lord I Adore you in your Greatness and in your Abjectness in your Cross and in your Glory in your life and in your death 2. I Adore you as raysing up your Lowness by your Greatness your human life by your divin Life your disgraces by your glory and your suffring estate by your impassible immutable and eternall condition 3. I Adore you as Adoring your self your Greatness by your Littleness your Divinity by your Humanity your Birth in your Fathers bosom by your Birth of your Mother-Virgin in the Ox-stall your supreme Authority by your humility and your uncreated Essence by your Created Being 4. And after this Contemplation of you in your self I contemplate and Adore you as going forth of your self as extending and spreading your self and as filling Heaven and Earth with your Grace and your Glory with your gifts and your Mysteries and finally with your self O God! O Man O Man-God O Infinitly prodigall of your self 7. Jesus's excessive love in the effusion of his last drop of Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his Greatness and Goodness also upon us I Inlarge my self in the variety of these thoughts I am ravisht in these different Exercises which my Soul makes of your self and I lose my self in the Contemplation of these so high and great verities For in honour of that supream Communication which you receive from your Father in the Eternall generation and in honour of that Ineffable Communication of your Divinity with our Humanity in the Incarnation I look upon you I admire you I Adore you O my Lord as annihilating your self and as exhausting your self that you may bestow your self on men You as it were drayn your Divinity powring it out upon your humanity consuming it incessantly in the furnace of your love and at last sacrificing it in the Holocaust of your Cross you shed your Blood in suffering and you dy by the effusion thereof chosing that kind of death to demonstrate the effusion of your self And the Nayls and Executioners being unable to empty it all the ardour of your love which cannot be extinguish'd in death it self preserv's liquid in death's coldness that residue left in your heart and body to be drain'd out even to the last drop Such was your good pleasure to make an aboundant and super-aboundant Effusion both of your blood and also of your self together 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him WHat shall I say what shall I do in the Contemplation of these things Let me forget my self for you forget Your self for me Let me leave and loose my self for you annihilate Your self for me Let me be yours for You are mine let me be all yours for you are all mine Let me be all yours for ever for you are all mine for ever Your Divinity as it were Incarnated is my substance and my subsistence your humanity as it were divinized is my health my life your Body is my diet and your Blood is my Bath your Death is my life your weakness is my strength your Cross is my quiet your suffering is my rejoycing Thus I am yours and you are mine And I am yours O my loving Saviour by your self and by a means so noble and so divin so dear and near unto you and by so many sorts of ways which give you unto me which consecrate me to you and which even draw and drain you all out for me But I discover yet a greater secret in your love and in your Mysteries and a greater favour in your way of dealing with me For you are not only mine and I yours but I am in you I perceive that whilst I Contemplate your self and your Father and see that you are in him that you live in him you frame within me a lively Image of your self and of your divin Emanation and by your Incarnation you establish a new manner of gracious
Joyfull Mysteries The first Joyfull Mystery branch'd into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections Elevations Petitions 309 The second Joyfull Mystery 318 The third Joyfull Mystery 327 The fourth Joyfull Mystery 337 The fifth Joyfull Mystery 348 The second Part of the Rosary containing the five Dolorous Mysteries 359 The first Dolorous Mystery divided into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections c. 360 The second Dolorous Mystery 372 The third Dolorous Mystery 381 An Anthem and Prayer in honour of the sacred Crown of Thorns 391 The fourth Dolorous Mystery 392 The Fifth Dolorous Mystery 400 The third Part of the Rosary containing the five Glorious Mysteries 410 The first Glorious Mystery drawn into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections 411 The second Glorious Mystery 421 The third Glorious Mystery 431 The fourth Glorious Mystery 440 The fifth Glorious Mystery 450 The first Appendix JESUS or the Confraternity of the most Sacred Name of JESUS with Elevations sutable thereunto 462 The Author and origin of this Confraternity 463 The reason and end of its Institution 463 The five Rules of it 463 The plenary Indulgences omitting many partiall granted to it 465 The manner of reciting this Rosary of the Name of Jesus 467 A brief Declaration of the Crown of our Lord. 471 Its Author Origin Manner of reciting and Confirmation by Pope Leo the tenth 472 The Crown of our Lord consists of 33. Pater nosters and of 4. Ave Maria's with one Creed added for a Conclusion 473 The first Part Of Christs coming into the World consists of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations upon each Pater noster 474 The second Part Of Christs Conversation amongst men consists likewise of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations correspondent to this Decade 479 The third Part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion consists also of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations as in the two precedent parts 483 The fourth Part Of Christs glorious Triumph after death consists only of Three Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations correspondent 487 Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy Life 490 An Advertisement to the Practisers of these sacred Devotions 493 Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord on honour of his severall estates and of the singular Mysteries of his Life To adore the Supream Greatness of Jesus and offer our selves to him by way of humble servitude and absolute Dependencie which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable union of the Divinity with our Humanity 495 1. The Eternall Greatness of the Word Incarnate 496 2. The equality and consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself 497 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us 498 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and substance to our nature 499 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us 500 6. Jesus adores his heights by his lownesses and raises up his lownesses by his greatnesses 501 7. His excessive Love in the effusion of his Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his greatness goodness also upon us 503 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him 504 9. The perfection of a Christian requires That Jesus live in him and that he imprint in his Soul the spirit and life of his Estates and Mysteries 506 10. The principall mysteries of Jesus apply'd to our sanctification and his qualities and Offices referr'd to our use 508 11. By how many Titles we belong to Jesus and Jesus to us 509 12. Jesus is Gods gift unto us and what this gift demands of us with an explication of Christian Grace 510 13. Christian Grace is form'd upon the Mystery of the Incarnation which is its Modell and requires of us a particular manner of Oblation and donation to Jesus 512 14. A totall reference and oblation of our selves to Jesus 513 Elevations to the sacred Trinity upon the Mystery of the Incarnation To adore the Supream Greatnes of Jesus and offer up our selv's to him in the state of humble servitude and absolute Dependencie which is due to him by reason of the ineffable union of the Divinity with our Humanity 514 1. God creates two Natures capable of himself upon one he exercises his Justice upon the other his Mercie 515 2. The Mysterie of the Incarnation is the Head-work of Gods love and power And what is proper to the Person of the Father in the Mysteries of the TRINITY and Incarnation 516 3. What is proper to the Person of the Son in these Mysteries 517 4. What is proper to the person of the Holy Ghost in these Mysteries 519 5. Contemplations upon the Humanity of Jesus 520 6. Contemplation upon the associating of the B. Virgin in the Mystery of the Incarnation 521 7. An Oblation of humble servitude to Jesus and his Deifi'd Humanity 522 8. A larger expression of this servitude 523 9. The life of the Divinity in the Humanity 523 10. The denudation of Jesu's Human subsistencie is the cause that his Humanity and all its actions are appropriated to the Person of the Eternall Word by which it subsists 524 11. An Oblation of all that we are have and can to this sacred Humanity 525 12. Jesus is doubly in the state of a servant First by humbling his Divin Person to a created nature Secondly by dying on the Cross 526 13. An Oblation of our selves to Jesus in honour of this his double estate of being a servant 527 14. The continuance of this Oblation of servitude 528 15. A Confirmation of this our oblation of servitude 529 16. An ardent desire of an unseparable union with Christ 530 17. The Humanity of Jesus is the Temple of the Divinity 531 18. What great things are wrought in this Humanity 532 19. This Humanity is holy by the Divinity it self which is a substantiall sanctity flowing from him into himself and thence into us 533 20. And this sanctity sanctifies even that created Grace which is in himself 534 21. An humble yeilding submitting and dedicating of our whol selves to the Deifi'd Humanity of Jesus in the way of perpetuall Bondage 535 the second Appendix Maria or the Devotion call'd the Bondage of the Blessed Virgin MARY with Elevations sutable thereunto 538 1. The Author and Origin of the Bondage 539 2. An ancient and authentick example of the practise of this Bondage 539 3. Whereupon this Devotion of the Bondage is grounded 542 The B. Virgin made up the chain of her Bondage with the links of 12. vertues 543 4. The Rules of this Devotion of the Bondage 545 The Blessing of the Chains for the Bondage 546 The Prayer and Oblation of our selv's in Bondage to
body peace of minde quiet of conscience assist us against all our visible and invisible adversaries destroy in us all carnal and worldly desires impart wholsomness unto the Air and to the Earth fruitfulness unite the hearts both of our Friends and of our Enemies in true love and charity defend all them of our Confraternity of the sacred Rosary from all contagious diseases from all plaguy infection and from all heretical cruelty and incursion Protect our chief Pastor our Superiors the Clergy and the whol Body of the Catholick Church from all misery and adversity give prosperity to the living and rest to the departed and let your divin blessing be upon us all this day and evermore Amen IV. A Prayer for the conversion of Hereticks and Infidels O Almighty and all-mercifull God! who seekest and desirest the salvation of all souls Take pity we beseech thee upon all such as are seduced with pestiferous errors and segregated from the unity of thy sacred Church Pardon them O Lord for they perceive not what they do Illuminate the eyes of their understanding O true light of all spirits that they may see their own blindness and seeing it may speedily abandon it and that so becoming sincerely reconciled to thee the supream Shepherd and to thy Church the onely safe Sheep-fold they may joyfully praise and magnifie thy mercies together with us thy faithfull Children for evermore Amen V. A Prayer for a special Friend PReserve O Lord this your servant and our Benefactor N. for whom we humbly offer up these our Petitions to your sacred Majestie beseeching you to grant him a perseverant constancy in the Catholick Faith a safe passage through this lives dangerous pilgrimage and that no worldly carnal or diabolical temptations may have the power to separate him from you his prime and onely good Pardon his sins we beseech you whereby he hath deserv'd your indignation Increase his justice due to your self and to his neighbour give him grace to correspond to the calling and condition wherein you have plac'd him let him be equally moderate patient resign'd in adversity and in prosperity direct him in all his ways and defend him against all his enemies and grant him finally a happy death and departure out of this world and a speedy passage after death to the fruition of your eternal felicity VI. A Prayer for a Friend in Tribulation VOuchsafe we beseech you O mercifull Creator to afford the sweetness of your consolation to your afflicted servant N. Remove O Lord according to your good pleasure the heavy burthen of his calamities give him patience in his sufferings resignation to your providence perseverance in your service and a happy translation from this calamitous life to eternal glory VII A Prayer for a Friend in his sickness and infirmity O Sovereign Lord God! the Author of our health and our comfort in sickness in the watch of whose divin providence run all the moments of our lives earthly pilgrimage Hear we beseech you the prayers which we pour out before you for N. your infirm but faithfull servant and mercifully restore him to his former welfare that he may henceforth walk more worthy of his calling and make greater progress in Christian virtue and piety But if it be your pleasure O supream Lord of life and death to call him hence to Eternity let your most just will O heavenly Father be accomplished in this and in all things whatsoever onely let Death finde him well prepared and rightly dispos'd Let him humbly kiss your paternal rod which chastiseth him and patiently submit to the cross which your loving hand hath laid upon his shoulders let him behave himself during the remaining time of his infirmity as befits a pious and devout Christian free from pusillanimity and despair full of hope and filial confidence And finally being strengthned with the Sacraments reconcil'd to his Enemies and setled in your grace and favour let him chearfully expect and joyfully embrace Death's summons and his bodies and souls separation Amen VIII A Prayer for our Enemies Detractors and Persecutors O Meek and mercifull Lord Jesu the great Master Exemplar and Practiser of Peace Charity and Union amongst men Who hast commanded us to love our Enemies and to do good for them that hate us and who pray'd on the Cross for your capital Adversaries increase within us we most humbly beseech you the spirit of Christian charity meekness and sweetness that we may freely sincerely and heartily forgive all such as have any way offended us injur'd us or persecuted us and that we may conquer all our Enemies malice by our fraternal compassion and affection Bestow on them also O blessed Saviour the same spirit of perfect peace love and charity and powerfully defend us from all their treachery and deceits Amen IX A Prayer for a Woman great with Child or labouring in Child-bed O Most dread Sovereign who for the just punishment of the first Womans prevarication have pronounced and imposed a severe and unavoydable sentence of malediction upon all Woman-kinde to wit that they should conceive their Children in Original sin that having conceiv'd them they should be subject to many miseries and that they should bring them forth with the hazard of their own lives we most humbly beseech you O undrainable Fountain of goodness and mercy that you will be gratiously pleased by your Blessed Mothers pious intercession to mitigate the rigorous edict of this general Law in behalf of this your poor Handmaid now labouring in the pangs of Child-bed and to give her courage comfort and patience in her sorrows Grant that in due time she may be happily and speedily deliver'd that the Child she bears in her womb may be brought forth into the world accompanied with all such perfections of body soul and senses as are befitting our human nature that it may live to be re-born by sacred Baptism and that both the Child and the Mother may become your faithfull servants Amen X. A Prayer to appease the Divin Indignation in any publick or private necessity WHen we compare O Lord your punishments with our own impieties we are forc'd to confess that our crimes do far exceed your chastisements We are sensible of our sins penalty but we leave not our sinfull pertinacy our sick minds are troubled but our stiff necks are not bowed our life languishes under the burthen of our afflictions and yet we amend not our wicked actions we acknowledg our misdeeds in the day of correction and we forget what we bewail'd after the visitation If you O Lord stretch forth your hand to strike us we make you large promises if you sheath your sword we fail in our performances If you scourge us we petition you to spare us if you mercifully spare us we again maliciously provoke you to scourge us Behold O dread Sovereign you have us self-accused adjudged condemned and we well know that unless you will pardon us we must needs perish Grant unto us O
as is due to Gods sacred Mother I salute you admire you congratulate you O amiable Virgin-Mother Mary as the chief Instrument of our Redemption the prime Ornament of Paradise the singular Glory of human nature and the bright Star shining unto us by your exemplary Vertues and directing us by your powerfull assistance in this sea of miseries and place of Pilgrimage Full of Grace I salute you O most sacred pure and perfect Virgin-Mother as full of Grace from the first instant of your immaculate Conception full of Sanctity during the whol course of your unspotted life upon Earth full of glory in the happy state of your Eternity in Heaven O most Powerfull and most Compassionate Virgin-Mother out of this your plenitude of grace vertue sanctity and perfection impart what you see wanting to my poor needy and naked Soul Our Lord is with thee Our Lord God was is and will be evermore with you O Virgin-Mother and you are and allwayes shall be with him He was with you upon Earth in your womb in your arms at your breasts He is with you in Heaven by his beatifying presence he will be there still with you bestowing on you a continued Eternity of glory O most unspotted Temple of the sacred Trinity by this your perpetuall and perfect union with the Divinity obtain for me that I may pass on this my Pilgrimage in the dayly exercise and reflection upon the divin presence to the end I may with you be perpetually united to him hereafter in his happy Paradise Blessed art thou amongst women O Mary the only Mother amongst all Virgins O Mary the only Virgin amongst all Mothers you conceiv'd without Sin brought forth without sorrow liv'd without blemish and after your death were translated to Eternall glory without the least touch of corruption therefore blessed are you above all women who were totally exempted from the common curses of all other women You bore him in your womb who bears up the whol World you infolded him in your arms who encompasses the spacious frame of the vast Universe you nourish'd him with your breast-milk who gives Being life food to all Creatures Finally you were are Gods Mother in which miraculous word is included all the privileges perfections which can posibly befall a creature and therefore you are justly styl'd and shall be so esteem'd by all succeeding generations the most blessed of all womankind O blessed Mary the Paragon of all Mothers the Crown of all Virgins the Joy of all the Saints the best and most accomplish'd of all Gods Creatures by these and all other your numberless Benedictions avert from me those maledictions which I have deserv'dly incurr'd by my enormous sins and transgressions And blessed is the fruit of thy Womb Jesus O Jesu the sacred fruit of Maryes virginall body be your Name and Majesty eternally blessed by all creatures in Heaven and upon Earth Blessed be your divin Person which you thus vouchsaf'd to unite unto a human body and soul for the Worlds Salvation Blessed be your Will which was thus inflam'd with the love of lost Mankind Blessed be your Memory which mercifully reflected upon us miserable and caitiff creatures Blessed be your Understanding your Wisdom your Power your Providence and all your ineffable Attributes which found out such an efficacious way to win us to your self and wed us to your sweet affection and friendship O Amiable Jesu the Ornament of the Universe the Beauty of Heaven the Glory of Mankind Be you blessed in each member part and particle of your most pure immaculate virginall Body which you expos'd to such cruell torments for our Redemption By these and all other the infinit blessings which are in you and belong to you sweet Jesu bestow on me the blessing of your grace in this my lives Pilgrimage and of your glory in your Eternall Paradise Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death O blessed Mother of blessed Jesus despise not them for whom the dear Son of your womb disdain'd not to dy upon the Cross but in your tender pity and compassion succour the miserable encourage the weaklings comfort the afflicted and let all such feel the happy effects of your helping assistance as have recourse to your powerfull Prayers and Patronage We beseech you O gracious Mother by all the greatnesses which God hath given you by the glorious Name of Mary and Title of Gods Mother wherewith he hath honoured you by the singular love he bore you upon Earth and the supereminent glory wherewith he hath Crown'd you Queen of Heaven Pray now for us that we may pass on the short remainder of our lives Pilgrimage in his grace and favour and when Death shall summon us to depart out of this miserable World Then O then most charitable Mother chiefly assist encourage and strengthen us your poor children and conduct our Souls to the happy mansions which your divin Son our dear Redeemer hath before all time prepar'd for them in his Heavenly Kingdom wherewith you O most glorious Queen-Mother they shall see him enjoy him and be united to him for all Eternitie If we would thus devoutly reflect sometimes upon these or the like mysticall senses and rayse up our Souls to such like affections when we recite these divin forms of Prayer we should probably reap more Spirituall profit by their frequent repetition But we therefore take little or no gust in these and our other pious Exercises and make small progress in perfection because we commonly content our selvs with the bark and bare out-side of the words and seldom or never penetrate into their inward marrow sense and meaning §. 5. The manner how to recite the Rosary 1. IN the first place you are to settle your self reverently in the divin presence and seriously recollecting your senses to cast of all evagations of mind and extraversions which is the generall preparation to all Prayer 2ly To the end your understanding and will both which concur in all well-order'd Prayer and Meditation may be profitably employ'd you may please to remember these two Rules which were before intimated in the first book of this present Treatise § 8. The First Rule which concerns the action of your understanding is To represent before the Eyes of your Soul that mysterie whereon you are to meditate as even then acted in your presence As for Example The mysterie whereupon you intend to make your meditation is The Nativity of our Saviour Imagin your self standing in a privat corner of the poor Bethleem Stable beholding hearing and admiring all that there passed in that sacred night run over in your mind the condition of the place and the circumstances of the Persons and think what were their thoughts affections words actions above all consider who it was that appeared to the World in this mean equipage to wit the Son of God the King of Glory the Monark of the whol Universe
weakness nor weariness for she carryed him who strengthn'd her and afforded her a full aboundance of courage and comfort Hail Mary 2. At the compleating of former Prophecies FOr as she walk'd on her way she joyfully reflected upon that Text of Aggeus The desired of all nations shall come to this Temple in Jerusalem and I will fill this house with glory c. And that of Malachie Our Lord whom you seek shall come to his Temple the Angell of the Covenant whom ye delight in c. And such other Propheticall predictions Hail Mary 3. At the offering up of her Son FOr entring the Temple she puts her self humbly on her knees and places her Son reverently upon the Altar entirely bequeathing both her self and him to the Eternall Father in these or the like expressions Behold O heavenly Father yours and my Son yours Eternally begotten as the perfect Image of your substance Mine temporally born as clad with human nature in my womb Take both Mother and Son into your fatherly Protection I here freely offer up to your divin Majesty in your sacred Temple and upon your holy Altar this new oblation this God-man this great-little Jesus this pure and precious Sacrifice who will hereafter offer up himself to you upon the Altar of the Cross a more perfect and worthy Holocaust for the World's salvation Hail Mary 4. At her exemption from the Law of Purification FOr though she punctually performed each tittle of the Mosaicall Law paying five sicles of silver to the Priest for her Sons Redemption and a paire of Turtles or yong Pigeons one as a Holocaust for the Infant the other as an offring for sin yet she well knew to her unspeakable joy that both her self and her Son were absolutely free from any such Law He being far above it and she nothing concern'd in it Hail Mary 5. At the instruction and example of her Sons Humility and Obedience FOr by this Oblation she plainly perceiv'd that her Son came to serve and not to be served to fulfill the Law not to infringe it to do as well as to teach wherby she also understood her own duty and that she likewise was to be a pattern of Humility and obedience to the world Hail Mary 6. At the wonderfull Manifestation and revelation of her Son TO wit Not only to S. Joseph S. Zachary S. Elizabeth the Shepheards and the Kings but now also to S. Simeon and S. Ann in the Temple For she joyfully consider'd that her Son would therefore be reveal'd to Virgins to Widows to wedded people to all ages degrees sexes professions conditions because he came to redeem all Hail Mary 7. At Venerable Simeon's receiving her Son into his armes O the Jubiley of all the hearts there present and especially of the sacred Virgin-Mother seeing the good old Prophet so devoutly falling prostrate on the ground so faithfully adoring the divin Infant so ravishtly taking him into his embraces and so zealously proclaiming his prayses Hail Mary 8. At the Blessing of Simeon FOr applying his Propheticall discourse to the Blessed Virgin Behold says he O holy Mother of Jesus This Son of yours is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel for he shall be the ruin of the wicked and the reward of the righteous and for a Sign which shall be contradicted by the Jews Gentills Hereticks half-Christians yea and a sword of sorrow shall also pierce your own Soul so great shall be hereafter your compassion at the sight of his sufferings Now although these predictions of Simeon were in themselv's harsh to the tender-mothers senses yet they were joyfull to her resign'd soul in respect of the ensuing salvation of mankind Hail Mary 9. At the like Devotion Iubilation and Illumination of S. Ann. FOr this holy and ancient Prophetess the daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser who had dedicated the remainder of her days to the divin service and departed not from Jerusalem but persever'd in fastings and prayers night and day in expectation of this blessed time came also says S. Luke into the Temple at the same instant praysing our Lord and speaking of him to all that look'd for Redemption in Israel Hail Mary 10. At the signification fruit of this Oblation FOr it signifi'd that her Son Christ should one day offer up himself on the Cross for the Worlds Redemption and that he should procure a perfect Reconciliation between Man and his Eternall Father Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O My Lord Jâ—su who thus mercifully permitted your self to be seen ador'd embrac'd by your faithfull servant Simeon come also into my desirous languishing and greedily expecting soul Purge and perfect it O pious Redeemer and expell from thence whatsoever is any way displeasing to your divin liking Prepare it as you please for your own purpose and make it a fit temple for your self to inhabite Give leave O sweet and loving Saviour to your sincerely affectionate servant to embrace you in my Interiour with the two Armes of profound Humility and perfect Obedience and permit me not to depart this life before I there enjoy your happy sight and presence who are the only Fountain of true light and love the only desire and delight of my heart the only comfort and support of my Pilgrimage and the only Hope and expectation of my future bliss and felicity O Dear Virgin Mother I dare not presume to decipher the numberless affections which dilated your faithfull heart in this free oblation of your self and your son in the Temple O when shall I comformable to your perfect example consecrate my whol self with all I have and can entirely cheerfully resignedly to the divin Majesty My Creators Law and my own duty oblidg'd me to dedicate unto him not only the first but all the fruits of my life and love And shall I not bequeath to him at least the small remainder thereof by this my irrevocable will and Testament If the World the Flesh and the Devill have gather'd the fairest flowers of my youth and manly age may I not justly be asham'd to deny Him to whom all was due at least the leaves which shall hereafter fall from this old shaken rotten Tree O my past incivility disloyalty Ingratitude O my present confusion and self condemnation To reserve for my Soveraign Creatour the last and worst part of my lives Sacrifice yet since such is your divin goodness O my gracious Lord and maker as not to disdain the meanest offering when humbly heartily affectionatly presented to your sacred Majesty Accept I beseech you this little and alas too long delayd Oblation I now lay upon your Altar which is my Will to obey you my heart to love you and my life to serve you henceforth for all succeeding time and Eternity The fifth joyfull Mysterie And Found The finding of Christ in the Temple
great a goodness incense so immense a clemency and inflict fresh wounds upon Gods Son by my continued wickedness Tell me O my soul dost thou truly believe that thy sweet Saviour suffer'd all this for thy sake That he was stripp'd naked to cover thy crimes fastned to a pillar to loose the fetters of thy bondage Whipp'd with cruell rodds to secure thee from the scourges of his Fathers severe Justice all over beaten bruis'd and worried to cure the wounds of thy soul Believest thou all this and hast thou no sense of compassion no feeling of compunction no resolution of correcting thy life cancelling thy sin converting thy self to his love and service who for these very ends and intentions underwent all these wofull torments O meek Jesu seeing you thus patiently bearing all sorts of abuses shall I storm at the least offer'd injury O Son of God! seeing you stripp'd naked in the sight of your Enemies shall I be asham'd to discover my faults before a Priest O sweet Saviour seeing your whol Body torn with whips and your flesh turn'd into as many open mouths as it had wounds to proclaim the love you bear me shall not I open my mouth to manifest your Mercy to admire your goodness to adore your bounty to acknowledg my obligation to testify my compassion to renounce my impiety And since you O my dear Redeemer Spilt all your blood for me shall not I shed one tear for my self and you You O charitable Samaritan permitted your tender skin to be torn from off your back and shoulders with cruell scourges to serve as swathes wherewith to bind up my ulcers You were content O pious Pelican to have the blood drain'd out of your veines to make therewith a precious balsum of oyl and wine for the efficacious cure of my wounds and shall I yet ly dead and buried in the sepulcher of sin and Impenitencie You weep tears of blood over my dead corps and cry out aloud unto my soul with as many Tongues as you endured Torments N. Come forth of thy grave And I cry out to you Dear Jesu the Abysmus of misery calls upon the Abysmus of mercy O when shall I be led out of this loathsom sepulcher when shall this head-kercher of evill customs sinfull habitudes vicious inclinations be unty'd and taken off from my eyes and face which hinder my desired sight and enjoyment of you my dear Saviour Behold I appear upon your summons but yet bound hand and foot and in quality of a guilty Criminall before you my God and my Judg I come creeping as a poor prodigall child and ready to perish to you my pious Father I cast my self at your sacred feet with tears in my eyes contrition in my heart and Confession in my mouth as a Penitent Magdalen O compassionate Saviour unbind and absolve your guilty Criminall Receive and embrace your fearfull Prodigall Comfort and pardon your Penitent Magdalen Apply to me one small drop of your sacred blood and I shall be cured Speak only the word sweet Jesu and my soul shall be saved The third Dolorous Mystery Is Crown'd THe Crowning of Christ our Saviour with Thorns Matth. 27. His sacred Head is pierc'd with pungent thorns And made the subject of ten thousand scorns Our Father c. Our blessed Saviour was evceedingly tormented 1. At the pressing of the sharp-pointed thorns into his sacred Head FOr Pilat having call'd him in derision The King of the Jews the Soldiers at their instigation twisted thorny brakes into the shape of a Crown boysterously placing it upon his bare head and violently pressing it into his skull to encrease his misery and make him a more ridiculous object of all mens mockery Hail Mary 2. At the pulling it off and on WHich was done both upon a pretence of fitting it to his head and also to augment his torments Hail Mary 3. At his cloathing with Purple FOr they sportingly invented all manner of tricks to please their fancies glut their malice and aggravate his miseries Not content therefore to have Crown'd him they would also cloath him as a counterfeit King and so rashing off his garments which were now glu'd to his body with the former goares of blood they scornfully cast a despicable Purple-cloak over his naked shoulders which was a colour us'd by the ancient Kings Hail Mary 4. At the holding a Reed in his right hand THis was intended as a mock Scepter being after the Crown and purple the third Royall Ensign Hail Mary 5. At the scoffing Salutations Genuflexions Adorations ANd the like feigned Actions of Religion and worship whereby the Soldiers and Jews maliciously derided him as blasphemously usurping the title of the divinity Hail Mary 6. At the spitting in his face WHich amongst the Jews was held the greatest contempt injury and disgrace could be put upon any person For as spittle is a superfluous matter whereof the Mouth endeavors to be discharg'd so they reputed our Blessed Redeemer no better than a base despicable wretch and a thing worthy to be cast out from amongst the people Hail Mary 7. At the smiting His head with the Reed WHereby the prickles of the thorny Crown were driven deeper and deeper into his wounded skull and the Blood forc'd out of the new open'd surrows trickled down a fresh upon his neck and forehead which embodying with the beastly spittle wherewith they were before besmeared chang'd our Redeemers sweet countenance which the Angells admiringly contemplate into an object of horror and into the likeness of a Leper most loathsom to be look'd upon Hail Mary 8. At the iterated and multipli'd blow's boxes and buffetings O Barbarous cruelty Was 't not enough to cane his head but you must cuff his cheeks His face and flesh is already one continued tumour by your former stripes the colour of his skin is already metamorphoz'd into blackness and blueness by your former beatings And have you the hearts hard-hearted wretches to add yet more blows to blows more torments to torments O meek Lamb of God! How great is my malice which is the cause of all these your miseries Hail Mary 9. At his being shew'd to the people in such a posture IEsus came forth says the Gospell carrying a Crown of Thorns and a purple garment and Pilate spake to them Behold the Man O prodigious spectacle O Jesu King of Glory what a Crown what a Garment what a Scepter do you here shew for your royall Ensignes Hail Mary 10. At the Iew 's horrid clamors and repeated vociferations OF away with him away with him crucify him crucify him nothing but his death can satisfie their implacable malice O harsh words yet you sustain'd them sweet Saviour to free me from the harsh sentence of eternall death and damnation Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Jesu the beauty of Men and Angels the glory of Heaven and Earth when I behold your venerable head
thought proceeds that it would much redound to the honour of Christ our Lord and Saviour and conduce to the encrease of devotion in the hearts of all pious Christians If as according to the very ancient institution and generally receiv'd custom severall godly people use to recite sixty three Angelicall Salutations with our Lords Prayer seven times interpos'd in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary according to the number of years which she is esteem'd to have liv'd upon earth which kind of prayer is call'd the Virgins Crown so they would also inure themselv's to recite thirty three Lords Prayers interposing four Angâ—lical Salutations in the honour of our Redeemer for a commemoration of the years in which he convers'd upon earth amongst men which would be as it were our Lords Crown c. We whom it behoves to promote the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ as farr forth as he shall enable us and to add fewell to the devotion of his faithfull flock Do approve and confirm the aforesaid manner of Prayer invented by that ancient and recluded Hermit and will have it call'd the Crown of our Lord c. Given at Florence the 18 of Feb. in the year 1516. The same Rosary or Crown of our Lord was afterwards confirm'd by Pope Gregory the 13. and endow'd with more and greater Indulgences vide Augustinum Florentinum Lucam Eremitam Bucelinum in Annalibus Benedictinis c. The Crown therefore consisting of 33. Pater Nosters or Lords Prayers consonant to the number of years in which our dear Redeemer convers'd with men in his human flesh upon earth to merit for us a happy Crown of Glory in Heaven and of four Ave Maries or Angelical Salutations with one Creed added for a conclusion is divided into four parts whereof the three first parts are Decades or Tens there being in each of them a ten-times-repeated Lords Prayer and one Angelical Salutation and in the fourth part there is only a Thrice-repeated Lords Prayer with one Angelical Salutation and the Creed and may be recited as it is here distinctly set down with an additionall point of Meditation upon some of the pious Mysteries of our Saviours life and a short Aspiration which may easily be dilated with more affections and resolutions according to each ones Spirit of devotion The first Part of the Crown of our Lord. Of Christs coming into the World 1. OUr dear Redeemer descended from his royall Throne from his eternall Fathers Bosom from his happy Heaven into this vale of misery and cloath'd himself with human flesh in the holy Virgins Womb. O Jesu how excessive is your Mercy how infinit your affection how stupendious your condescendency to undeserving man Ah! that my heart were perfectly free from all that displeases you that so it might deserve perpetually to harbour you Our Father 2. HE being conceiv'd inspir'd his sacred Virgin Mother to take a journey into the Mountains of Judea there to visit salute and serve St. Elizabeth her Kinswoman O Jesu that my soul were alwaies pliable docible obedient to correspond to your sweet and sacred impulses motions and aspirations how cheerfully should I then serve your soveraign Majesty and how charitably should I assist my necessitous neighbour Our Father 3. AFter he had been carryed nine months in his Mothers chast entralls he was born in a cold Stable wrap'd in poor raggs cradled in a hard Cribb O Jesu make me in love with poverty humility and mortification which you have made so amiable by practising them in your own divin person Our Father 4. THe Angells congratulate his happy birth with their heavenly Canticles and the shepheards humbly joyfully and admiringly adore him O Jesu let my tongue incessantly sing forth your Prayses let my heart perpetually breath forth acts of gratitude for your Mercies and let my soul sweetly melt away in her reciprocall affections Our Father 5. UPon the eighth day after his Nativity he was circumcis'd and call'd Jesus O Jesu O sacred and sugred Name O Jesu be unto me a Jesus O that my tongue heart and hands with all my senses powers and faculties of body and soul were truly circumcis'd from all superfluous curious vitious inclinations passions and affections that so I might never more think speak or act any thing offensive to your divin will and liking Our Father 6. HE was diligently sought out by the Eastern Sages humbly ador'd by them and highly honoured by their royall Presents and Oblations O Iesu let me never leave seeking till I find you the only belov'd Object of all my affections and strengthen me sweet Iesu to make a totall Oblation Consecration and Resignation of my whol self to your holy will and pleasure entirely irrevocably eternally Our Father 7. HE was carryed to the Temple in his sacred Mothers arms to be presented as her first-born to his eternall Father shewing himself in all things subject to the Law O Iesu shall not I humble my self and submit to all men for your sake Our Father 8. HE to avoid Herods cruelty sustain'd a tedious banishment in his tender years O Jesu give me patience in all my persecutions temptarions and troubles and let not my grievous sins banish me from your sweet grace and presence Our Father 9. HE return'd from Egypt after his seven years sufferings O Jesu let your efficacious grace recall me from vice to vertu let me return into you my first Origin and let me repose in you my only center and security Our Father 10. HE dwelt with his Parents in t he City Nazareth O Jesu dwell in my soul here by your grace that my soul may dwell with you hereafter in your eternal glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who having conceiv'd your divin Son without sin and brought him forth without sorrow serv'd him so diligently during the time of his minority appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and intercession Hail Mary The second Part. Of Christs Conversation amongst men 1. OUr dear Redeemer being twelve years old went up with his Parents to Jerusalem to perform his devotions where he was lost sought and after three day's found in the Temple O Jesu replenish my heart with solid devotion that sincerely seeeking you I may happily find you and having found you I may faithfully keep you company in my interiour for evermore Our Father 2. HE return'd with his Parents to Nazareth and was subject unto them O Iesu break my rebellious will that I may promptly obey you and my Superiors according to your most perfect trample Our Father 3. HE being thirty years old was baptiz'd by St. Iohn in the river Iordan O Iesu permit not my sinfull soul to pass forth of my body till it be baptiz'd in a river of tears and restor'd to purity by the Sacrament of Penance Our Father 4. HE fasted forty dayes and nights in the Desert and was tempted by the Devill O Iesu give me courage to subdue all
Oblation Donation and consecration of my self unto your Majesty desiring intending and resolving to be hereafter not only your loyall subject and servant but even your reall vassal and Bondslave In confirmation whereof I will continually wear this materiall Chain about my Body both as a Badge of my now professed Bondage and also as a token of my perpetuall affection towards you Vouchsafe therfore O Soveraign Queen to Receive Admit and own me henceforth as a thing peculiarly yours and as such a one to defend and protect me during this life from the snares of sin to dissipate and break asunder at the hour of my death the shackles of Satan and to draw my departing soul by this happy Chain to your Sons heavenly Kingdom there to prayse admire and enjoy both him and you for all Eternity Amen 6. After the recitall of this oblation of your self in Bondage to the Blessed Virgin put the chain about some part of your Body and endeavour thenceforward to walk worthy so noble a Profession 5. The Practises and Exercises of this Devotion of the Bondage 1. The first Exercise may consist of jaculatory Prayers frequently darting out these or the like affections O my blessed Lady I am your Servant and the Bond-slave of your greatness Or O my Lord Jesu I am yours and your Mothers Servant and Bond-slave Or Holy Mary Mother of God! pray for us sinners and your bond-slaves now and in the hour of our Death Or when you hear the clock strike salute the blessed Virgin with an Ave Marie to which all Christians are invited by Pope Leo the tenth and Paul the fifth who gave large Indulgences thereunto Or say then blessed be the hour and day in which our Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary Or Eternity is at hand Or Jesus Maria Joseph Or let the Souls of the faithfull departed rest in Peace 2 The second Exercise may be a short pair of Bedes consisting of three Paters in honour of the holy Trinity and twelve Ave's in honour of the twelve Priviledges of the sacred Virgin to be said in this manner 1. Pater Noster c. Thanking the eternall Father for having made choyce of so worthy a daughter 1. Ave Marie c. considering her eternal Predestination 2. Ave her immaculate Conception 3. Ave her most pure Virginity 4. Ave her most admirable Maternity 2. Pater Noster c. Thanking the eternal Son for having made choyce of so worthy a Mother 1. Ave considering her most happy Child-birth 2. Ave her soveraign Dominion not only over the World but over the Creator of the World He was subject to them Luke 2. 3. Ave her excellent Purity of Soul and Body 4. Ave her continuall and sublim Contemplation 3. Pater Noster c. Thanking the Holy Ghost for having made choyce of so worthy a Spouse 1. Ave considering her sweet departure out of this life 2. Ave her miraculous Resurrection 3. Ave her glorious Assumption 4. Ave her eternall Glorification and Coronation 3. The third Exercise may be a Crown consisting of five pretious Pearls in honour of the blessed Virgins five principall Vertues to be offer'd up to her in the manner following 1. The Jasper of Faith Produce Acts of Faith with most ardent affection saying O Soveraign Queen I firmly believe that you were an entire Virgin both before and after your happy Child-birth That you are the true Mother of Gods Son That your life was without the least Sin That you were a Martyr at the foot of the Cross That you are exalted above all pure Creatures in the Celestial glory That you are our Advocate interceding for us wretched sinners c. Add such other points of Faith as your devotion shall suggest and then conclude thus Receive most sacred Lady this Protestation of my Faith as a Jasper-stone belonging to your Crown and obtain for me a lively perfect and perseverant Faith unto the end Amen And recite one Ave Mary to this intention 2. The Emerald of Hope Produce Acts of this Vertu in honour of the blessed Virgin saying O Soveraign Queen I contemplate you as the hope of the World long expected by the Fathers in Limbo earnestly look'd upon by the Souls suffering in Purgatory humbly besought by the Children of the Church Militant who cry out incessantly Hail to Queen that reigns above the Sky Hail to the Mother of true Clemency Hail Life hail Sweetness and our Hope to you We that are Eves exiled Children sue In cry's and groans which from this vale of tears Are fann'd with sighs up to your sacred Eares O then Chast Advocate on us reflect From Heavens bright Mansion your benigne aspect And make us after this our Exile come To JESUS the blest Off-spring of your Womb Sweet Virgin and Gods Mother pray that we Of Christs rich promises may worthy be In this number I rank my self and place in you O holy Virgin next after God my hope and confidence trusting that you will be to me a Fountain of Grace a Towre of Defence a City of Refuge and a Gate of Heaven to give me entrance into Paradise Receive most sacred Lady this Emerald which I present unto you for your Crown and strengthen my hope unto the end Ave Maria Gratia Plena c. 3. The Rubie of Charitie Produce Acts proper to this Vertu saying O Soveraign Queen I consider you as brimfull of perfect Love and Charity and inviting the whol World to participate with you of its sweet fruits and effects saying come to me all you who desire me and be replenish'd with my generations Eccles 24. Behold I come to you with an ardent and enflam'd affection beseeching you to enrich me with the treasure of true Charity towards God and my Neighbour Receive most sacred Lady this Rubie which I offer unto you for your Crown and confirm my love and charity to the end Amen Ave Maria c. 4. The Diamond of Fortitude Produce the Acts belonging to this vertu saying O Soveraign Queen I behold you as a valiant Champion terrible to the Troops of Satan like a well order'd Army Encourage me I beseech you to fight under your banner support my weakness with your strong hand and help me to overcome all worldly fleshly and diabolical temptations c. Receive most sacred Lady this Diamond which I present unto you for your Crown and obtain for me an invincible Fortitude to the end Amen Ave Maria. c. 5. The Pearl of Chastity Produce Acts appertaining to this vertu saying O Soveraign Queen I admire you as the Mother of Purity the Mirror of Chastity the First who vow'd Virginity obtain for me I beseech you that all my thoughts words and actions may savour of Purity be seasoned with modestie and be accompany'd with Chastity c. Receive most sacred Lady this Pearl which I present unto you to illustrate your Crown and powerfully protect me against all carnalitie and impurity to
I leave and loose thee for filthy pleasures frail creatures fond friendships fading honors No my dear Lord Be pleased rather to take my Soul out of my body than your love out of my Soul Let me rather dy miserably than sin mortally Let me pass on the rest of my pilgrimage in your grace and fear that I may fiâ—ish it in your friendship and favour Grant me this I beseech you O meek and mercifull Saviour by the merits of your bitter Death and Passion by the intercession of your most blessed Mother by the suffrages of all your holy Saints in Heaven and happy Souls upon Earth Upon all which relying as upon the Anchors of my Hope I absolutely commit and resign my self to your sacred disposition and providence for time and eternity fully trusting that you will marcifully pardon all my sins carefully assist me in all my wants and weaknesses and in the end happily bring me to your Eternall bliss and beatitude by such means as your divin Wisdom knows most expedient for me 3. Then offer up your devotions for the generally recommended ends and intentions in all the Concessions of Indulgences which are specified page 94. of the first Book 4. And whilst you Vocally recite the twenty five Paters and Aves you may mentally reflect upon some one of the Fifteen Mysteries as they are set down in the Rosary of the sacred Name of Jesus dividing the same into three days Stations after this manner Upon the First day meditate upon the Five Mysteries of our Blessed Redeemers Life and Incarnation which are briefly and pithily comprehended in these verses 1. Christ's Incarnation THe Throne and Foot-stool meet Heav'n Cling's to Earth The All conspires to this All-saving Birth Dear Partner of our weakness since we see Thy self made us Oh! change us into thee Five Paters and five Aves 2. His Nativity SEE the fair Sun of Glory doth arise In the dark Midnight of our miseries Sad Clouds of Tears Woes â—'advance our Good Dim his bright Birth but ah hee 'll set in Blood Five Paters and five Aves 3. His Circumcision HEre Innocence whose unstain'd Purity White Robes best sute wears Crimson's guilty Dy. Enough dear Lord Mankind is richly won Oh no these drops a deluge but fore-run Five Paters and five Aves 4. His Finding in the Temple RVn joyfull Mother to embraces run Doctors have found their Master Thou thy Son Lord Consecrate my Heart thy House Of Prayer And I shall find thee wisely teaching there Five Paters and five Aves 5. His Baptism DO Baptist with thy puddled Jordan try To Wash this Spring of spotles Purity Command doth with Presumption dispence Pride is not Pride vouch't by Obedience Five Paters and five Aves and one Creed Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto c. O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us Upon the second day take for your Meditation the five Mysteries of our Blessed Redeemers Death and Passion 1. The washing of his Disciples feet THeir God on knee such sordid work in 's hand Heav'n and th'Apostles both amazed stand Ah! my Affections Feet unto my Soul Thus wash't thus wip't how can you still be soul Five Paters and five Aves 2. The Prayer in the Garden HEav'ns Floud-gates are all ope each widen'd pore Is made a purple sluce Griefs painfull dore Sin drown'd the Earth once in a watry Flood And now drowns Heav'n but ah in Gods own Blood Five Paters and five Aves 3. Christs Apprehension in the Garden SMall cords rude hands on all sides bind th'Immense Twin'd flax doth pinion weak Omnipotence Philistins now seccure Samson invade His greatest strength by 's greater love 's betrayd Five Paters and five Aves 4. His carrying of the Cross THus burthen'd and thus faint See how he droops Under our load of sin Heav'ns Bearer stoops Riddle of Grief which pain afflicted more When th'Cross bore thee or thou bor'st it before Five Pater and five Aves 5. His Descent into Hell REstore thy Prey proud Hell Thy Conquerors sight Breaks sins stiff chains puts thy dark shades to flight Gives the joy-ravisht soul new wings of Love With their triumphant Lord to mount above Five Paters and five Aves and one Creed Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto c. O JESU of Nazareth King of the Jews have mercy upon us Upon the third day take for your Meditation the five Glorious Mysteries of our Blessed Redeemer 1. His Resurrection FAir earnest of our second life this day Glory reviv'd with a new-burnisht ray Cheer up my drooping Soul thou shalt not dy Thy Lord hath earn'd thee Immortality Five Pater and five Aves 2. His Ascension TAke wing my earth-clogg'd-mind and fly along With thy great king ' mongst this heaven'n-soaring-throng And ere thy self return'st to sojourn here Leave with thy Lord thy best affections there Five Paters and five Aves 3. His sending of the Holy Ghost BLest Fire Fount Breath enkindle wash inspire Our Wills Hearts Thoughts with Love Grace pure desire Souls Life Gods Finger Gift revive work win Our flesh sense love to Spirit to Grace from sin Five Paters and five Aves 4. The Crowning of the Virgin Mary and the Saints WInter's ore-blown calm Blisse's endless Spring Charms the glad Birds of Paradise to sing Your Eyes shall know no tears your Face no frown Partakers of my Cross partake my Crown Five Paters and five Aves 5. The Coming to the last Iudgment GReat Day th' Accomplisher of Bliss of Woe Exprest by a joyfull COME and dreadfull GOE Rise guilty Dust and hear though thou bee'st loath At once thy Summons and thy Sentence both Five Paters and five Aves and one Creed Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto Sicut erat in principio c. O Jesu Christ the Son of the liuing God Have mercy upon us FINIS The generall Table briefly containing the substance of the whol work THE Epistle Dedicatory to the sacred Virgin Mary A Marian Kalender or Catalogue of Saints of the holy Order of S. Bennet devoted to the Blessed Virgin together with her severall Festivities usually celebrated by her faithfull Rosarists The Prefects Oration which shews 1o. Mans naturall inclination to Society Page 3 Christ our Saviour establish'd and commanded it 4 The Primitive Church practised it 5 All succeeding Ages imitated it 6 The Prayses of pious Societies and Confraternities 7 And particularly of this of the sacred Rosary 10 A Digression of our B. Lady's Title of Power 17 S Dominick the beginner of the Rosary 21 Blessed Alanus the Restorer of its decayd use The Greatness of our glorious Mother Mary 22 The dignity to be of her family 24 The profits thereof express'd in five Particulars 26 The duty of the Rosarists in six particulars 35 The first Book of the Rosary which is the Doctrinall part thereof page 44 § 1. That every faithfull Christian ought to have a particular devotion towards Gods holy Mother 47 1. Because she