then were his enemies if he had bestowed it of his Angells or blessed Saints in heauen it hadde not bene so admirable but bestowing it vpon fragile men and sinners it exceedeth all admiration At what time gaue he it At the houre of his death when his passion was approaching hard before hee was to spring water and bloud to imprint his loue more in our memories and to make vs admire the gift the more that at what time we were most spitefull against him he was most carefull for vs. In what maner to be eate if he had giuen vs his bodie to haue bin adored as the three kings adored him it had beene a greate fauour and this but in one church at Ierusalem Mat. â— wee would haue deemed it a singular grace and euery man would haue thoght himselfe happy that could haue gone thither to worship it If he had bin something more liberall to haue bestowed it vpon vs to weare in a iewell about our neckes with what care ought wee to haue kept it what a rare iewell had this beene what Pearles or Diamondes comparable but his magnificent hand found out a more bountifull way by giuing vs to eate To whom committed hee the consecration to all Priests if he had onely granted it to the Pope of Rome truely it had beene an ineffable benefit to all his church but he knew Bonum quo communius eo melius good the more common the better it is When may they consecrate it once in their liues once a yeare when and as many hoasts and as often as they will O admirable goodnesse O explicable bountie Who must receiue it all men what once in their liues once a yeare as often as they can conueniently prepare them selues What ende pretended he in such a gift his owne profit or commoditie nothing lesse to giue vs life euerlasting to enioy him for euer He giues himselfe the only remedy or means to enioy himselfe What beneuolence can be compared with this that God woulde giue God so deare vnto him with most inflamed loue to miserable meÌ„ to sinners at that time they intended his death to be made meate of all priests for all persons at all times to giue vs life euerlasting you Saraphins speake let men be silent The twenty fourth cause by diuers meanes to allure vs to loue him SVch are the loathing affections of our soules as the appetities of our bodies for we proue by experience that one sort of meate though neuer so good doth distast vs and cloy our stomacks if it be vsed long and in our soules if that we continually exercise one meditation of the same matter at last it disliketh vs and becommeth tedious Our blessed Sauiour knowing wel our infirmities il dispositions as in the first creatioÌ„ he prouided so many fruits fishes beasts and birdes that with the variety of tastes we might recall our appetites againe so in the spirituall pasture of our soules he prepared sundry subiects to change our distasted affections as in holy writ pregnantly appeares For if the creation of this worlde did not delight our meditation then wee might passe further and weigh the punishment of sins in casting Adam out of Paradise Genes 3. in destroying Sodoma in the vniuersall Genes 19. diluge if this please vs not then to admire the prouidence of GOD in Abraham Gen. 7. Isaak Iacob Ioseph if this were lothsome then he propounded the captiuitie Exod. 2. of Egypt the captiuitie of Babilon the captiuitie of the Romaines plagues 3. Paral. 36. inflicted to the Iewes for vniuersal transgression Luke 19. of his lawes if with this we were wearied loe the whole life of Christ wherein wee haue such aboundance and varietie of foode for our spiritual repaste as wee could desire yet if this seemed tedious he hath set vs downe our foure last periods of death indgement heauen and hell But finally knowing that there was no meate either more pleasant for taste or profitable for health or of more force efficacie then himselfe he therfore propounded himselfe as the obiect of our meditation and the subiect of our affection yet foreseeing that as the very Num. 11. celestiall Manna did loath the children of Israell in the desart so euen God himselfe foode of all foodes at last would discontent vs. therefore to preuent this inconuenience he accommodated himselfe in diuers manners propounding his deity to vs with such varietie that none but indurated hearts could in al sorts distaste it First he presented his diuinitie vnto vs Rom. 1. by his creatures that whilst wee reade in the booke of nature the admirable wisedome power and goodnes of GOD all which wee may manifestly discouer in euery creature wee might loue worship and adore him If this meat seemed too grosse for corrupted appetites he opened the booke of faith there vnder veiles and shadowes tropes and figures discribing himselfe the Trinitie and other wonderfull attributes of his deitie the which he promulgated by Patriarches and Prophets in the olde testament But this was somthing obscure therfore he clothed himselfe with flesh and bloud he came as one of vs for because children did communicate Heb. 2. Heb. 1. in flesh and blood he would be pertaker of the same and being the expresseword and image of his father he reuealed vnto vs the secretes of his fathers breast thereby to stir vp more our drousie and dead affections Yet this was not sufficient to satisfie our desires for paines must shew loue and exceeding paines exceeding loue Loe he would not faile he apparelled himselfe with a multitude of most cruel exorbitant paines to giue vs matter to ruminate besides to moue our hearts to loue Yet here he ended not for if paines could not strike the stroke hee thought vnion with vs corporal meat spirituall foode would preuaâ—le therfore he cloathed himselfe with the huskes of bread wine and finally promiseth to giue vs himself in blisse clothed with glory Wherfore he hath earied himself with vs as carefull mothers with their sicke infants whose tastes being disguised if they know some one meat will do them good they prepare it in diuers maners that with variety they may alley the loathsomnes of ordinary diet so God hath disguised himselfe in diuers maners to moue vs to think of him lodge him First he couered him selfe with all his creaturesâ— then with the vailes of figures shadows after with the flesh of man by incarnation then with the rindes of bread wine in the Sacrament next with the paines in his passion and finally for euer with glory after his resurrection The twenty fiue cause to be the immediate obiect of our Religion OVr sauiour Christ as he came to power down the fluds of his deuine grace among the faithâ—ulll so he endeuoured to cause them worke and exercise vertues correspondent to that grace for which intent he inuented an admirable manner how to deify al our
present in particular before him in the moment of his eternity did see most distinctly and prouide most infallibly for them to eate this heaueÌ„ly Eucharist euery time that in particular Luke 12 they did coÌ„municate for if a haire fall not from their heades without his care and prouidence much lesse this angelicall foode falleth from heauen into their hearts But what confusion may it bee to vs when wee make reflection vppon our selnes to call to minde howe greene our loue is to God no blossomes aÌ„ppeare it scares as yet is budded Alas our hatred and iniquity is grayer headed then our loue and amity for first wee beganne to hate him then to loue him to proclaime open warres then to sue for friendshippe and in the verie first instant wee came into this worlde wee stood at defiance with him that made the worlde Ecce in iniquitatibus conceptus Psal â—50 sum in peccatis concepit me mater mea Lo in iniquity I am conceiued and my mother conceiued me in sinne sayde one of Gods canonized Prophets and therfore wee may well bee compared to Vipers who breake theyr mothers side and rent her in peeces before they be hatched Is this the first fruits of our life to repay the benefit of our being with dispight Ah pereat dies in qua natus sum Lette the day Ioâ— 1 perish wherein I was borne cursed bee that day I was conceiued to bee an enemie to my God O that it were not to be numbred among the daies of the yeare But Matth. 20. what remedy now we haue all been Gods ancient enemies lette vs novv beginne to bee his friendes and since wee come in the last houre lette vs recompence with feruour that wee lost with lingering and alvvaiescrie in our hearts Heu bonitas antiqua sero te delexi O old goodnesse too late I haue loued thee and for this auncient loue to God the father which wee receiue in this sacrament in recompence of our long stay and imperfection Second Puritie THe eyes of Christ as cleare as Christall and as fierie as a flame represent vnto vs tvvo conditions of his loue the clearenesse his purity and the flame his feruour this purity of Christs loue declared the spouse in the Canticles comparing his eyes to Doues washed with milke It was not sufficient to resemble them to milke-white Doues but besides to signifie more purity to Doues washed with milke Quae lacte sunt lotae which Cantie 5â— are washed with milke That golde wee call pure which hath no other baser mettall intermingled that water wee thinke pure that is not stained with mudde that Wine wee say is pure that is not allayed with water that loue in like maner wee account pure which is not affected with any proper interest or commodity for if we discouer one that professeth friendshippe who wholly or principally aymeth at his owne gaine and lucre rather than our good will and benefite wee had rather haue his rowme than his company because his loue is impure and really hee seeketh more himselfe than his friend In this blessed Eucharist what interest can God pretend to forgiue vs our daily offences to nourish our soules to be vnited to him to instruct vs in faith to confirme our hope to increase our charitie to deificate vs to giue vs a taste of heauen euen in this life if these bee his gaines I must confesse that he intendeth interest but if all these bee our good without anie Interest of his well we may call his loue most pure and vnspotted But some will say God is glorified by this Sacrament all the world admireth his goodnes praiseth his bountie are thereby mooued to loue and serue him But what gaineth he by al this was not he as fully glorified before the worlde was made in himselfe as after warde Yes doubtlesse or else hee had not beene compleately perfite and consequently not God And therefore when wee haue doone what wee can to him wee are vnprofitable although wee be bound to perfourme all hee commaundeth or exacteth of vs. Moreouer all that we do to glorifie him is our good and a cause why he will glorifie vs therefore if he intend his glorie therin he violateth no lawe of amitie for that wee should loue and honour him as our chiefe good As pure as Gods loue is yet from our heartes scarce can hee distill one drop of puritie for suche is the best loue of all that it carrieth some sent of our imperfections not vnlike the water which in a Limbecke wee see distilled that neuer ascendeth pure but alwayes tainted with the filthy smell of a corrupted vessell wherein the hearbes are baked euen so our affections ascend in the sight of God for most parte infected with some inordinate passion some droppe of sensualitie some smoake of vaine complacence some drosse of proper interest Ah Domine imperfectum meum viderunt oculi tui O Lord thy eyes haue seene mine imperfections Psalme a hundred thirty eight those eyes so pure vvashed vvith Milke more cleare then cristall I know loath to looke into this muddie fenne of my vnperfect soule their seat is vpon the margins of flowing flouds of loue thy father and the holy ghost and aboue the little cristall riuers of celestiall spirits who purely loue thee and for thy glory serue thee How then will they vouchsafe to looke vppon such darknes accustomed to behold such brightnes how can they but abhorre the marches of death whose proper obiects are the fountaine of life Third Vehemencie IF eyes be seates of passions windowes of affections quiuers of loue darts ryuers ioyned with the fountaine of the heart it is no maruaile if Christ intending to declare to S. Iohn the force and fauour of his loue appeared like eyes burning like a flame because the fire that possessed his heart could not bee contained but required some vent If the eyes of our bodyes had put on the garments of immortalitie by which al sences are quikned and new abilities added we might reade in the eyes of Christ inhabiting this Sacrament as in liuing bookes and maps of grace the vehemeÌ„t loue which moued his diuinitie to institute this sacred Eucharist but since we cannot with the eies of our soules beholde his deitie nor with the eyes of our bodyes view his humanity let it be lawfull for vs to argue his loue by naturall and moral reason the which teacheth that wee must search the causes by effects principles by operations and according to the qualities and degrees of perfections in these inferre the natures degrees of perfection in them The experience is manifest in luke warme water in boyling water and in a gloing iron all which participate heat but because wee perceiue that one heateth more vehemently then another wee doe conclude that they all are hot yet exceeding one another in degree of heate Most true it is that all supernatural gifts which proceed from God and are imparted
to men issue from an infinite power wisdome and goodnes because they cannot be effected but by God yet this consisteth rather in the manner of their production then in their substance or degree of perfection as for example Christ changed water into Iohn 2. wine in the mariage the manner of working this miacle in an instaÌ„t with a word without the helpe or concourse of any other cause required infinite power yet because the substance of wine the degree and perfection of wine was limitted and contained within the boundes of a speciall creature therfore it required no infinitie of cause or principle and therefore we see a vine can produce wine But if God could create an angel of infinit vertue perfection or grace then not only the manner but also the substance would exact the infinit power of God By this discourse we may plainly conceiue that this gift which GOD hath bestowed vppon vs requireth not only infinit power in the manner of producing it vnder the rindes of bread and wine but also in the very degree and perfection and consequently being a gift proceedeth from no limitred but infinit loue in degree and perfection because the effects being infinit in degree argueth a principle in like proportion and therfore we may wel conclude that this gift and Gods loue weyed both in a ballance haue not one dram of difference What loue can equall this what greater excesse coulde God shew Nam infinitum est vltra quod non est accipere A thing infinite is that that receiueth nothing beyond it If all the loues in the world how ardent how feruent how vehement soeuer were compared with this they would appeare as little sparkes in respect of the vast ocean fier that rouleth vnder the moone But if we adde here vnto the value of this loue the dignitie and worth the vehemencie therof would better appeare For as one droppe of Christs bloud in this sacrifice ought more to be prized then millions of worldes euen so one graine of this loue ought to be preferred before all the loues that euer were are or shal be For which cause our Sauiour saide once Qui amat patrem vel Matâ—h 1â— Luke 14. matrem plus me non est me dignus Hee that loueth father or mother more then mee is not worthy of me that is he deserueth to leese an infinit good an endlesse loue that preferreth a base and limitted loue before mine and for the same cause hee is worthy of eternall hatred who so little accounteth such excesse of friendshippe Fourth Fecâ—nditie BY glaunces of eyes and words of mouÌ„th the heart exalteth the vapours of affections And therefore our Sauiour with eyes like fire and voyce like the sound of many waters discouered to saint Iohn the conditions of his loue by the flame of his eyes the vehemencie by the noyse of his voyce the fecunditie for as the water which falleth from heauen rendeteth the earth fertill and aboundant with flowers and fruit euen so this sacrament embrothereth the soile of our soules with the flowers of vertue and leadeth them with the fruits of good workes Marke sayth S. Ciprian what they do and consider what Cipâ—iaâ—us De coena Domini they doo speake who hungring and thirsting after righteousnesse are satiated hee meaneth with the Eucharist what a holy odour that fulnes breatheth good works decent maners chaste effects quiet senses that internall sinceritie spreadeth abroad But who euer sawe water that restoreth dead trees to life the Eucharist restoreth and therefore it is called panis vitae the bread of life What water could euer preserue Ioh. 6. a tree alwayes in vigour and enable it eternally to beare both floures fruit the Eucharist inableth Qui manducat hunc panem viuet in aeternum hee that eateth of Ibidem this bread shall liue for euer What water euer did change the nature of trees and caused a crab tree bring foorth figges or a briar to beare grapes The Eucharist causeth by bridling concupiscences it changeth carnall affection into spirituall and sensualitie into virginite what heauenly dew had euer virtue to make one tree produce al sortes of fruits the Eucharist maketh for by deifying the soule with grace it is disposed by theologicall and morall vertues to effect al good works which are fruit to be presented to the table of God almightie But it is to be considered that the noyse was caused by a multitude of waters for the loue of God doth not onlie fructifie the soule as water but also it washeth it after a much more excellent manner than water and therefore pruneth the trees and trimmeth them This water conuerted into bloud mixt with wine before consecration desired Dauid when he was spotted with sinnes saying Asperges me Psal 50. Hab. 9. Domine hisopo Sprinkle me O Lord with hisope dipt in bloud What blouÌ„d Not of calues nor bulles but figured by them the bloud of Christ And what will it doe lauabis me super niuem dealbabor thou wilt wash me and I shal be whiter than snow for water of life so cleanseth sinnes that it adioyneth a new beautie as if there could be a water which washing a blacke More did not only purge the filth from his face but also added a whitenesse which he neuer had Such effects worketh the Eucharist for it cleanseth not onely the soule from sinne but also adioyneth a colour of gold a supernaturall brightnes a participation of Gods deitie and beautifieth it so exceedingly that it becommeth Diuinae â— Pet. 1. naturae consors partaker of the diuine nature Other waters by washing consume the substance of that they wash but this water is mingled with wine both conuerted into bloud and therefore nourisheth fortifieth and addeth a new vigour to Plut. in Lycurg the soule like that bath of wine Lycurgus ordained to wash yong infants withal immediately after they were borne to fortifie their ioints corroborate their sinewes and with the heate to consume superfluous moysture other waters by clensing other things defile themselues but this water remains in cristal purity rather ioyneth a new lustre of glorifying god Many spots there be in nature which water cannot wash away but there is no stain of the soule but this bloud is able to cleanse it fully Another water concurred to forme that noise which Christs voice resembled that had force to quench the thirst for he that drinketh this coÌ„uerted water shal neuer thirst againe because Christ hath so registred it in S. Iohn qui bibit ex hac aqua Iohn 4. non sitiet in aeternum he that shal drinke of this water shall not thirst for euer for as all medicines require a time for operation so this Sacrament after a small time wil extinguish al inordinate affections fil our souls ab vbertate domus domini from Psal 33. the fruitfulnes of our Lords house Fift Efficacie THe stars which he carried in
confirme by daily experience For vvhat els pretend those who so vehemently embrace one an other but as it were one to enter into another and vnite themselues in one for the vehement affection of loue Why did Iob say Quis mihi det vt de carnibus eius saturemur who will Iob 31 giue me that wee may bee filled with his flesh but to declare that the vehemency of loue desired this vnion How possesse the three persons in Trinitye such vehement and ardent loue but for the vnion of one substance in three persons That which men thought impossible to God was possible and that which nature affected was by the Author of nature grace in this mistery effected for herby imparting his body vnto men without destruction of either he caused an vnioÌ„ of both whereupon ensued that the loue of God could not but be singularly increased towards vs because as fathers loue most vehemently their children because in them they see a part of their owne substance disperced in their bodies though after many chaunges and alterations So God vewing his whole substance without any mutation or change in nature or qualitie his body and bloud his soule and person really remaining in vs and ioyned with vs cannot but loue vs exceedingly much more then any father his children And we for the selfe-same cause are moued to loue him for the same vnion or rather identification of substance For who is so base minded or cold in affection that lifting vp the eies of his soule to heauen admiring the infinite Maiestye of God where millions of Cherubins and Seraphines stand in his sight veiling their eyes with their golden wings lest they should be dazelled being not able to behold the infinite brightnes of his glory who I say after this consideration would not open all the vaines of his heart and resolue them into loue seeing this soueraigne Maiestie to discend from heauen to earth to dwell with a poore worme to lodge with a miserable man one that many times had offended him to couer himselfe vnder bread to be eaten of him and to enter into his body to be eternally vnited with him Zacheus thought Luc. 19. he shewed him a singular fauour to come into his house the Centurion passed a Luc. 7. litle furder and saide his house was not worthy of him But here what shall wee say he entereth not to receiue but to giue not to cure the body but to saue the soule how can that heart not be enflamed with loue which hath a burning flame of fier glowing so neere I meane the heart of our Sauiour Iesus Christ How doth not those veines swell with affection which are filled with the pretious bloud of their most affectious and zealous GOD How doth not that soule exult for ioy at Christs presence beeing so neere when Saint Iohn Luc. 1. Baptist exulted for ioy in his mothers wombe conceauing but our Ladies voice The ninth cause to be an ornament of the materiall Churches IN the olde Testament which was a modell of the new wee see that God had a speciall care to prouide the Arke the Cherubines propitiatorie with all the ornaments and furniture of the interiour Exod. 25. Tabernacle or Sanctum sanctorum into which none could enter but the high Priest and he only once a yeere this as the Apostle apertly declareth signified Hebr. 9. how Christ was to offer vp once a bloudy Sacrifice for the redemption of al the world Yet this was but the Allegorie of these ceremonies which God had not only instituted to signifie what was to come but also ordained them for the present vse and religion of the Iewes as CircumcisioÌ„ MaÌ„na the Pascal lambe with al the rest the reasoÌ„ therfore which moued the diuine wisdome of God to ordain this so maiesticall a place so reuerend and ful of ceremonies was to strike into the peoples mindes a great conceit of him a reuerence and respect a feare and humilitie in that place The like with out al doubt stood with his prouidence in instituting this Sacrament that we should haue in our temples the true Ark of his couenant whence-froÌ„ he was to giue answere to imprint in our heartes at the view of his tabernacle a reuerend feare and a fearful loue of his maiestie for if we were Angels and needed not corporall senses to pourtraite or represent the maiestie of God vnto vs little it woulde auaile vs to haue present such rites ceremonies but because our soule in this exile is drowned in the body and cannot ascend to God but by fixing the first and second step in externall sences and corporall imaginations therfore our prouident Sauiour condescending to our infirmities ordained a sensible presence for his maiestie thereby to strike into vs reuerence feare and respect and so in effect it seemes that experience teacheth For when I enter into an heretical church without light altare or image and especialy without the body of Christ me thinks I come into some vast prophane hall or at best some great schoole for it carrieth no shew nor casteth any smel of religion Whereas entring into a church of Catholikes al that I see breatheth pietie and religion the lamps and lights represent the indeficient glory of heauen and brightnes of Gods elected the Images giue mee to vnderstand the multitude of Saints and Angels who assist the maiesty of God in his eternal temple whereas day and night they neuer cease his praises the Altare leades me to that incruent sacrifice which daily is offered to the liuing God for all the faithful in Christs church and in fine the presence of Christ in the Tabernacle moâ—eth me to reuerence to look into my selfe to carry me circumspectly in that older as such a presence requireth For as wel noteth Saint Chrys When Courtiers come before the Kings presence they are careful and circumspect what they doe they roll their eyes about their garments lest any spotte or blemish in them might offend the Kings eyes they ponder theyr speeches lest any vndecent word should escape from them they forelooke al theyr gestures actions lest any of them should appeere vngrateful to the king And how doe faithfull Christians when they come before Christ in the Church they looke into their soules weigh their words consider their thoughts and in fine beware that nothing proceed from them that in any sorte may displease so diuine a maiestie for indeede as the same Authour wel aduertiseth by the presence of Christ in the Sacrament the church is conuerted into heauen For as we prooue the kings Court and Throne is not his pallace his gardens his golden galleries his â—orie beds his chaire of estate his pearled canopies but the person of the King is the essence of the Court and Throne al the rest be accessary to him euen so the court and throne of heauen is not those spheres those angels those saints they be all ornaments they be accessary
coÌ„memoratio sciebant eniminde vtilitatem mnltum illis contingere lucrum 2. Mach. c. 3â— S. August proueth the fame out of this place in lib. de cuâ—a agendâ— promortuis multum It is not wihtout cause ordained by the apostles that in the dreadful mysterys the memory for the dead haue their place for they were not ignorant that they receiued great profit therby great gaine For if the sacrifice that Iudas Machabues caused to be offered in Ierusalem had vertue by the merrits of Christs passion to redeeme those soules out of purgatory how much more this blessed hoaste shal be propitiatory to those which the contented herein redeemed wth his own boud who can deay but that all theâ— Sacraments aâ—e those fountaines whence Esay had promised we shuld draw liuing Isai 12â— ters with ioy Hauristis aquas cum gaudio de fontibus Saluatoris you shall with ioy draw water out of the fountaine of our Sauior if sacraments be ordained to sanctifie the receiuers and participate the graces and effects of christs passion for the receiuers questionlesse this sacrifice which holdeth the substance and nature of all other sacrifices which are instituted as impretratorie for others participateth the effects of Christs passion profitable for others and those which by impetration one meÌ„ber of the catholike church may obtaine Zach. 3. for an other Since therfore Christ suffered both for the quicke and the dead this sacrifice must be a conduct to conuay the graces and effects of Christs passion to those that are dead in body though liuing in soule and so much more copiously how much more neerer this sacrifice toucheth God how much more it standeth with the dignity therof how much more this effect most securely is granted and with how much more deuotion the person dead was affected to this sacrifice or the offerer more feruent at the oblation or the procurer more zealous of expiation The two and twentith cause to be a sacrifice of thankesgiuing for the Saintes in heauen AS the heart in mans body and the sunne in this visible world spred their influence and vertue aboue them beneth them and on each side euen so this blessed sacrifice beeing the heart of the catholike Church and the sunne of this spirituall world communicateth vertue to the church millitant about it to those that suffer beneath it and to the triumphant which dwelleth aboue it and as the heart disperseth not all effects it worketh to all partes but vseth an accommodate discription according to the qualities nature of euery parte euen so this sacrifice extendeth sundry effects agreeing to the diuersities of members to those that suffer Christs satisfactions to those in earth diuers helpes and succours to auoide sinnes temporall commodities sundry graces and vertues to thofe in heauen thankes to God for their happinesse and praises to them for their passed triumphes This notable Eucharistiall effect the very practize of the catholike church continually representeth vnto vs in the holy Masse which she offereth to God nowe for Apostles now for Martires now for Virgins nowe for Confessours the which practise was in vse in saint Ciprians time who caused Cip. epist 37 the daies of martirdomes to be noted that in the holye sacrifice the Martyres might be mentioned If heere therefore we conuert our eyes to God to Christ to the Saints of heauen to the Church in earth we shall find that this oblation can not be but most gratefull and glorious to them all For what can be more gratefull or glorious vnto God than to see the blod of Christ mingled with the bloud of martyres and both offered vp together what can God esteem more than to receiue an oblation of virginitie ioyned with the infinit puritie of this sacrifice how acceptable wil the vertues of Confessors appeare in his sight burnt as sweete incense with the Manna of Christs deified operations and merites howe gloriously will that Garland appeare decked with roses lillieâ— and violets of golde set with pearles of this pretious Manna and rubies of this bloudy challice none can be ignorant how glorious the oblatioÌ„ is to Christ for since his Saints be members of his body by vertue of this Sacrament so vnited vnto him that they be Caro de carne eius Genes 2. Matth. 19. Marc 10. Eph. 5. and ossa de ossibus eius flesh of his flesh bones of his bones by offering vp himselfe here he sheweth the triumph of his Crosse and Passion he representeth the admirable vertues of this blessed Sacrament and sacrifice in vertue whereof they were norished defended and protected against so many perils and dangers in the desart of this life and as by a viaticum conducted vnto the desired land of Promise The Saints of heauen in like case can not but exceedingly reioyce to see theyr brethren so gratefull to God for their benefites receiued and offer vp so worthie an hoast in recognoscence of heauenly fauours God powred vpon them Questionlesse they can not forget them in heauen who are so mindfull of them vppon earth and as their charitie is more feruent so their care will be more vigilant The church finaly to whom it appertains to praise God in his Saints triumpheth in both most admirably presenting to God the merits of her spouse her children insulting against the Diuell flesh and world who could not preuaile against theÌ„ inuiting the rest that remaine with glorifying them that are gone to follow their vertues and good examples The three and twentieth cause to shew the magnificence and liberalitie of God BOuntifulnes beneuolence declareth beneuolence gifts but when the giftes mount to excesse then beneuolence is caled magnificence the which God hath manifested to the worlde most wonderfully in this Sacrament What gaue hee His body and bloud and with them his person and diuinitie so great a gift as none can exceede it for as God surpasseth all that is not good so this Sacrament all that is not the same thing with it Who gaue it God himselfe If a meane gift be giuen of a king men greatly prize it bicause the person of a king dignifieth the gift but being so great a gift and moreouer imparted by God herein the greatnesse encreaseth How deare was it vnto him as deare as his owne life for the selfe same if he had giuen a thing superfluous or not esteemed or not necessary then we wold haue made lesse account of it but being so neare him and so deare vnto him we cannot but highly commend it With what affection gaue hee it Freely not of constraint yea with a most feruent loue Cum dilexisset suos in finem dilexit eos whereas he 10. 13. had loued his vnto the ende he loued theÌ„ Chrysost Euth in eum loc that is giftes that come freely are much more estemed then those which proceed of necessitie To whom doth he giue it To men mortall and miserable creatures yea and to many that
them in earth with this immortall sacrifice so hee woulde not haue them destitute in heauen for although he be in heauen yet hee it is as fathers commonly doo teach that offereth vppe this sacrifice the priest representeth his person Ciprianus De coen◠Domini epist 53. and therefore he saith not Hoc est corpus Christi This is the bodie of Christ but Hoc est corpus meum This is my bodie after the same manner as Christ spake them him selfe And for which cause Christs priesthood is called eternall because he vnto the worldes end will neuer cease to offer it Blessed be this sauiour for euer who so diuinely prouided a sacrifice correspondent to his fathers maiestie his owne glorie his churches benefite and euery Christians profite ¶ The fortie one cause containing ten Chapters To discouer vnto vs the ineffable loue of God That the loue of God in this blessed sacrament cannot be comprehended and of foure loues concurring in it Chap. I. WHen I enter into the profounde abisse of Gods loue the base of al benefits life of all other loues it seemeth I am calmed in the boundlessē ocean sea where on each side beholding the four quarters of the world I can discouer nothing but an immensiue and an endlesse wildernesse of water If I look vpward to heauen I see those lamps of light couered with a misty fogge If I looke downeward I finde a fragil barke leaking on all sides that is if I conuert mine eies in this sacrifice of loue to the institutor to God in whose glorie it is offered to the humanitie of Christ which is offered to the deuoute and feruent soules which participate of this offering I finde no bonds nor limites all affections swell so mightily and like foure riuers deriued Gen. 2 from one fountaine in Paradice I meane the essentiall loue of God the holy ghost to finish in the infinite sea of al loue God himselfe Aboue my head what find I but cloudes and darkenesse in him whom this loue most concerneth God almightie nubes caligo in circuitu eius a cloude and Psal 96. darkenesse round about him whome Nazianzene well compareth to a lightning which vanisheth from our sight before we can firmely fix our eyes vppon it If I consider my selfe and my perfections the which my crasie soule leaketh on euery side I cannot but be afraide to intermedle with suche mysteries since so deuoute a Prophet as Isav durst not speake of god Isa 6. to the people because his lippes were defiled nor would attempt so difficult an interprise till the Seraphin had touched thē with a burning cole taken from the Altar of God where fire did euer glowe But shall we speake nothing then of the loue of god the principal cause of this sacred supper because we haue so many dainties before vs shall we die for hunger no no I hope the Angell of God in earth hath not once but a thousand times purified my lips with this blessed burning coale of heauenly fire taken from gods holy altar and the verie same that comforted the heart of his Prophet therefore by his grace I will deliuer such discourses as hee in this sacrament hath vouchsafed as I hope to deliuer vnto me remembring alwais that whatsoeuer can be said of mortall men in commendations of such a mysterie is as far beneath it as men beneath God and therefore God commaunded in the eating of the pascal lamb a most liuelie Image of this sacrament that they should deuoure that is swallow downe Exod. 12. without chewing the head the intralles and the feet But to what end good lord such immodestie had not these partes most neede of chewing where there is most bones gristles and sinows god questionlesse had a further reach then that present sacrifice hee aymed at this sacrament where the head the intralles the feete of this lambe must perforce bee swallowed for the head of Christ is his 1. Cor. 11. diuinitie Caput Christs Deus The head of Christ is God the intralles the secret and inexplicable maner of his supernaturall being vnder the garments of bread and wine as the intralles of beastes lie in secretest place of their bodyes veiled with the skinne and flesh by the feete scriptures commonly vnderstand affections therefore Christs Godhead his manner of being his inexplicable affection and loue must be swallowed downe wee are not able to comprehend any of them and therefore all we say is too little That God instituted this sacrament for loue Chap. 2. THe nature of loue is so sweete so precious so prized feeding fainting soules that in the verie maine of crosses and aduersities the loue of God rendereth a most sufficient counteruailing consolation wherefore as it is neither loathsome nor tedious to loue God so neither the long thinking nor discoursing can be noysome or fastidious crauing therefore the sacred gale of the Ghost I will lanch foorth aloofe from the shoare and saile into the deepe It is a most auncient and vndoubted trueth that all giftes which God bestowed vpon the worlde for the vniuersall or particular good of men proceeded from the inexhausted fountaine of his loue For which cause the blinded Philosophers could say that loue created this world For what is loue to wish wel to one to reioice in his good to procure his good to defend him from euil to communicate vnto him his treasures to make him partaker of his secrets Al these actions either be loue it selfe or such effects and fruites as can not be separated from loue Therefore if god freely of his owne accord without any interest for our good graunted vs so great a gift who can doubt but that it springeth from loue Moreouer his intention in giuing discouereth sufficiently the grounde of his gift For what cause gaue he it To vnite vs together with him And for what end this vnion That he seeing himselfe sealed in vs might haue a sufficient and worthy obiect of his loue and wee seeing the same engrauen in him for a mutuall resemblaunce might bee inflamed to affect him For what cause gaue he it To imprint our soules with the life of grace And why that he might loue vs and wee him for these be the proper effectes and fruits of grace For what cause gaue he it To be a means to obtain life euerlasting And why life euerlasting That there we might with the full power of our heartes exercise that loue charity quae nunquam 1. Corint 13. excidit which neuer falleth away that there the sailes of loue might swell with the full winde of the holy ghost Finally discourse ouer all those causes wee haue alleadged you shall finde them euery one grounded in loue And therefore let it be lawful for me to call this Sacrament a mirrour a mappe a flame a life of loue interprèt Eucharistia bona gratia good grace a singular fauour a superexcellent loue Moreouer whosoeuer wil runne
ouer the effects of loue and therby discouer the origen and fountaine of this vaine of life he shall finde them most liuely in this little world of al pure loue depaynted The fruits of loue be these vnion zeale extasie bountifulnes Foure riuers al issuing from one spring and as this Sacrament and the incarnation of Christ of al the wonderfull works of God most manifestly declare his loue so it were not amisse to declare the effects ofloue in them both that the resemblance of both might render the matter more plaine yet to auoide prolixitie I will content me with the Eucharist for by this the other may be conceiued but first of all let vs see what wee vnderstand by these effectes All perfect loue requireth a certaine Vaion vnion in substance as was declared in the eight cause but for that amongest men this was vnpossible without the destruction of one or both therefore they procured all these vnions which honesty puritie of loue affect and these are to be of the same iudgements and opinions the same wills desires and affections the same table and diet the same place and presence the like garments and attire and finally to expresse one another in all things as neere as they can Zeale after two manners proceedeth Zeale from loue First zealous friends cannot tollerate any iniuries offered to their friends but procure with greater or as great diligence to defend them their credit goods life or what else appertaineth vnto them as their owne Secondly zeale cannot suffer consorts in loue and therefore experience teacheth vs what a griefe it is for the husband to haue a conceit of a riuall Extasie likewise abstracteth or haleth Extasie a louer from himselfe and causeth him rather to liue there where he loueth then indeede where hee liueth for the force of loue transporteth excessiuely his minde cogitations and affections from his owne affaires and enforceth him to attende and procure whatsoeuer concerneth his friend sometimes also it leadeth the soule so farre that it is almost abstracted from the bodie as diuers saints were rauished so with the loue of God that they liued many daies in profound contemplation feeding vpon the food of life not taking any corporall sustenance Bountifulnes waiteth vpoÌ„ loue as a most Bountifulnâ—â— faithful seruant for friendes cannot but communicate their goods one with another who before by friendship had communicated their hearts therefore they preseÌ„t one another with gifts as signes of that good will they carrie in their minds and to remonstrate vnto theÌ„ that as they haue taken possession of their harts so also they may coÌ„mand them in their goods for amicorum omnia sunt communia among friends al things are common and he that hath giuen the greater will not sticke to impart the lesser these effectes I haue set down cursorily bicause the exact treatise requireth a whole booke onely to shew how in this sacrameÌ„t God shews them al. That in the sacred Eucharist God effecteth all those vnions which proceed from loue Ca. 3 AS I said before considering the admirable loue that God hath declared by deliuering this sacrament to the world that I was calmed in the Ocean sea in the which similitude if we persist I thinke I shal be able in part to vnfold the vnion in substance betwixt Christ and our soules in the blessed Eucharist for as the Ocean sea surcharged with an infinite multitude of waters dischargeth it self in the Mediterranean and red seas for the benefit of the inhabitants of Europe Affrike and Asia not diuiding it selfe from them but rather by their meanes becommeth vnited to those coasts wheron they border and the wombs wherin they lie by which means the treasures of the one may be transported to the other and the inhabitants of the vast Ocean may haue free passage into the red and Mediterranean Euen so the endlesse goodnesse of God swelling inwardly with an immensiue loue dischargeth himself in these two seas of loue the redde by the incarnation of Christ the Mediterranean by the institution of this sacrament yet the main Ocean of his diuinitie remaineth vnited to his humanitie and thereby bordereth vpon those soules whom he bathed with his bloud and is conioyned with the breasts of theÌ„ who receiue into them this Mediterane sea by which vnion the Citizens of heauen may passe freely among the colonies of the earth therfore as Christs diuinity was substantially vnited to his humanity euen so his diuinity and humanity are vnited in this blessed sacrameÌ„t to their bodies soules who feed at this table and as from his diuinity proceeded all those graces fauors wherwith that sacred humanity was spiritually annointed euen so froÌ„ his humanity linked with his diuinity issue all those sweete vertues graces for the which this blessed bread was ordained And therfore as betwixt the sacred humatie of Christ and his diuinitie there was a most diuine reciprocate ardent and continuall loue euen so betwixt our soules Christ there should rise a mutuall flame if we faile not he cannot be defectuous And as that sacred humanitie like the needle toucht with the adamant looketh euer towardes the pole starre was alwayes directed by his diuinitie euen so ought wee in all our actions to square our intentions according as our Sauiour teacheth vs whom we holde vnited in this sacrament because he was giuen to vs as our maister our doctor and teacher Much more might be sayd of this substantiall vnion but because it hath beene partly touched before partly because I intend not here to deliuer all I think may be said but only to touch some few points or superficiall heads leauing the rest vnto the prudent and discreet Readers of godly meditations As for all other vnions which are rooted in this coniunction of our soules and bodyes with Christ briefly they may be declared For by this Vnion of conceitswith Christ effected by the Eucharist Sacrament wee come to participate many of these conceites which heere GOD reueileth and maketh vs partakers of that were most darke and hidden from nature because the very mystery it selfe openeth the eyes of our vnderstanding to wade deeper into the secrets of nature than euer philosophy could haue induced vs as that a substaunce can be wholy spoiled of his accidents that the accidents can exist without the substance that a naturall body can consist intirely without extension or circumscription of place finally all these 20. difficulties which before were proposed to this purpose may be inserted Moreouer here our mindes are illustrated with the diuine beames which issue out of Christes humanitie as in the 34. cause hath beene deliuered And then our iudgements are right and true when they come to be conformable to the rule of all true knowledge that is the infinite wisedome of God the which we attaine to by knowing God himselfe for in him by him we shal come to perfect knowledge the which this
sacrament affordeth cognouerunt eum in fractione panis they knew him in the breaking of bread for Luke 24. which cause the wisedome of God inuited all those that would be wise to come and drinke of her wine she had mingled in this sacrament Besides our Sauior here Prouerb 9. submits himself to the iudgement of men for he maketh them the surueyors of theÌ„selues Probet seipsumhomo sic de pane illo 1. Cor. 11. edat de calice bibat qui enim manducat bibit indignè iudicium sibi manducat bibit non deiudicans corpus dominum let a man proue himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drink of the chalice for he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh iudgement to himselfe not discerning the body of our Lord. If they iudge worthily he entreth if vnworthily contents himselfe to accept their peruerse sentence as he was content to tolerate the vniust iudgement of Pilate Therfore the mysterie it self the effects theròf the vse and practise shewes that God pretended an vnion of conceits in this Sacrament The vnion of wil affection we see most Vnion of affection manifestly here effected god loueth him selfe infinitely for his owne natiue goodnes and here he giueth vs the life of grace and charitie to hâ—lpe to animate to inable vs to lone him God commaundeth vs to call in remembrance his death passion and here good soules afflict their souls with internal griefe and compassion God intended to giue vs this mistery for a perpetuall sacrifice to bee offered vnto him and here the religious christians confirme their willes with his and daily offer it When I thinke of the vnion of friends Vnion in company who eate at one table what ioy and mirth they conceiue in such imperfect refections and transitory societies and conferre them with this sacred banquet it seemeth no otherwise than to compare a painted dish of meate with one that is reall substantiall because here all that eate feede of the very same they receiue ioys of the soule but especially to our purpose those that communicate at this table eate of the same dish Christ ate on himselfe for hee did eate this food we feed vpon and thus he was verè commensalis And besides hee is the meate it selfe that neuer was yet seene in the world The vnion of presence and place our Vnion in presence Sauiour knew well concerned friendship and loue therefore as one that went into forren countries he thought it not conuenient only to leaue a ring a bare memory but hee included himselfe in this ring of bread he made himselfe the diamond and so didde departe in externall shape and forme but not in substaunce Besides what neerer vnion of place can there bee then in one breast which is the dearest presentest place that any man can desire the which that Ladie well declared who after her husbands death for extremity of loue could not permit his hart which had loued her so intirely to be buried in any other place then in her own breast for that effect she dried it to pouder and so intombed it in the dearest presentest and cheefest place shee had that was her owne breast the nearest roome adioyning to her heart What other vnion affecteth loue which here we see not effected for attire heere is no diuersity since Diuers other vâ—ions one seate serueth both Christ entering the body of a begger is clothed with rags and harbouring vnder the heart of a king is apparelled with scarlet purple What other vnion can wee desire a societie of Souldiours in warres loe here Christ and wee bee made commilitones both fighting against our spirituall enemies as in the eleuenth cause was deliuered therefore if those wicked complices of Cateline before they attempt their trecherie against Caesar drunke all of one cuppe of their owne bloud to make them more bold and linked together and it preuailed so much that they all lost their liues before they failed or fainted to effectuate their conspiracie howe may wee not bee accounted cowards and dastards if we flie away if we faint in battaile if wee leaue Christ and runne to serue his enemies since we haue promised fidelitie and hee with his bloud hath inrolled our names in no better table then our owne hearts Since we haue both drunke the bloud of God what other vnion can we thinke of Saint Paul said children communicated in Hebr. â— flesh and therfore to be like them he participated the same but here we may say because children did eate flesh bloud bread and wine therefore hee tooke the formes of them all By this it appeareth how this sacrament may bee called communion since it causeth so many vnioÌ„s in substance in secrets in opinions in affections in desires in diet in place in attire in warre in resemblance of naturall inclination That God shewed the second effect of loue in the Encharist that is zeale Chap. 4. NAture hath printed in the heart of euery sensible creature of most necesfary instinct for their preseruation that is not onely to loue themselues in procuring good but also in auoiding those euils which may impeach their health or conue nient being ye a she hath lent them armor to defend themselues to impugne their aduersaries Amity the cosin germaine or rather brother of this natural inclination in like sort affecteth not only the good of the beloued but also protecteth defendeth theÌ„ inuading those who either molest or iniury his friends this we see most manifestly in beasts who for loue of their yongones atteÌ„pt extreame perils esteeme no dangers inuade their enemies fighting til death The like we may proue in kinsmen who esteeme al iniuries offered their allies to redound to their ignomie and therefore by the law of amity they endeuor to protect theÌ„ Yea our sauior Christ touched with this zeale for so the scripture Iohn 2 calleth this effect of loue seeing the temple of his father ordained for prayer sacrifice by the sacrilegious Iewes prophaned with theft and marchandize mooued with indignation against them regarding neither the gall of their phrases the malice of the Scribes nor the greedie mindes of the Marchants but presently cast them out of the temple such was his zeale of his fathers glorie that hee could not tollerate to see him dishonoured where he ought to haue bin worshipped The like zeale if no greater boyled in that sacred breast when hee instituted this sacament for although he eternaly did foresee that most sacrile giously this sacred foode of Angels shuld be blasphemed by infidels troden vnder foot by heretikes mangled and crucified by Iewes harbored in most vgly and polluted soules by wicked christians yet for the zeale of those good catholikes he knew were deuoutly religiously to receiue him weyed nothing iniuries blasphemies dishonors treading or traÌ„pling cutting slicing burning or baking so that he might vnite his
elected vnto him indue their soules with grace bring them to the ioyes of heauen O zeale of all zeales O loue of al loues most worthy of God to permit himselfe to be trode vnder the fee◠of wicked sinners to exalt his faithfull to fellowes of angels O holy Dauid thou thoughtst man was greatly extolled because that God had laide vnder his feete Oues boues pecora Sheep oxen and beasts of the field but what wouldst thou haue saide if thou hadst seene Christ in an hoaste and for thy loue permit an heretike to treade him vnder his feete but Psal ◠Magnus Dominus laudibus nimis magnitudinis eius non est finis our Lord is great most worthy of praise and there is no end of his greatnes O that wee could immitate in parte this zeale of Christ and by gratitude acknowlege this singular benefit Ah who would mone imprisonmēt for the zeale of confessing that faith which hee appointed Who would bee grieued with fetters stinch grosse fare hard beds restraint of liberty losse of life to glorifie him who is so zealous of our eternall glory Ah deere christian imagine to see the Iews or heretiks pricking this sacred angelicall and diuine hoast with pinnes and kniues in contempt of Christ his religion all for thy cause for that he instituted this sacrament for thee to receiue determine whatsoeuer shuld befall to remaine so long as those formes retaine their nature force wold not such an horible spectacle on one side make thee tremble and on thother side the patience and loue of Christ dissolue thy heart into a maine of teares yet too often such cases haue fallen and many in England God knowes haue bin present at such terrible tragedies god pardon the actors Moreouer this sacrament was instituted for many effects the which all argue the zeale of the institutor for hee did not onely ordain it as a meate or a conduct of grace to confer many celestiall fauors vnto vs but also as medicine to remoue many euils from vs for doth not this preseruatiue from prison diminish the flames of concupiscence doth not this fountaine of light expel the cloudes of ignorance doth not this life of grace abolish the death of sinne doth not the heate of this boyling bloud reuiue the remissenes and coldnes of our charitie all these euills and more our zealous Sauiour did well foresee and prouide for in the institution of the Eucharist The second sort of zeale which permitteth no consorts in amitie that preiudicate the full scope ample possession of the heart as pregnantly appeareth in this sacrament as the first because hee that commeth hither vnprepared not so disposed as this Table requireth eateth his iudgement For what reason 1. Corint ◠because he diuideth his loue for in euery transgression of Gods commaundement the sinner preferreth the loue of the creature before the Creator and consequently violateth that fidelity the spouse ought to the spouse of her soule by making the creatures riualls with God the which iniury GOD will not tolerate for he intendeth to be beloued wholie and entirely and will haue no loue preferred nor equall to his The Diuell would be content to haue halfe our loue because by theft hee stealeth that belongeth not vnto him but God who is our Father will haue it whole as those two women which sued in contention for one ◠Reg. 3. childe before Solomon the true mother would haue all or none the false mother was contented with halfe Nec mihi nec tibi sed diuidatur Neither to me nor to thee but let it be diuided sayde shee that would haue depriued the true mother of her right Likewise Pharao was at last well contented that the children of Israel should depart out of Egypt but Exod. 10. he would they should leaue behind them their heards of catel and flocks of sheepe so the diuell would iuggle those soules he cannot draw to heresie or atheisme with bestly delights sensualities that therby he might dismēber their harts diuide them with God But what said Moses we wil go al men women children cattell sheepe there shal not remaine so much as the hoofe of a beast in Egypt So ought good soules to say who prepare thēselues deuoutly to receiue this bread of life we will offer our selues wholy to God bodie soule wits and wils all we know and all we can there shal no part of vs be left vnconsecrated vnto him And indeed let vs really and with sound iudgemēt consider without any particular inordinate affection if my Sauior giue me himselfe wholy in his person his soule bodie by most intire perfect loue alas why should I diuide my affection from him why should I not sacrifice my selfe wholy to him who dooth sacrifice him selfe heere wholy for me since I know certainely my loue can neuer be perfect except it be consummated in him Besides what an extreme iniury do I offer him to prefer any before or make equal with him is not this to plaie the part of the Iewes who refused Christ Matth. 27. Marke 25 demanded Barabas is not this to spoile God of his regal crowne and dignitie and set it vppon the head of a miserable creature For if God be God then hee must be loued as God and aboue all and all for him because so eminent a maiestie the title of creation conseruation redemption iustification and glorification exact it of vs. That God in this sacrament sheweth a certain extasie of loue which is the third effect Ca. 4 THe learned diuines following that notable saying of Saint Dio Areopagita Deus passus est extastim prae amore God suffered extasie in his passion especially for loue conclude that in verie deede our sauiour Christ was after a certaine manner abstracted from himfelfe for loue the which although it seemeth something harsh and hard to be admitted yet in verie deede the effects were such that hee seemed for loue to haue forgotten himselfe his maiestie and glory to remember vs for so saint Paul insinnuateth in these Phil. 2. words exinnaniuit semetipsum formam serui accipiens hee exinnanited himselfe taking the forme of a seruant What is this exinnanition but an extasie an abstractiō from his glory maiestie and highnes he made himselfe mortall passible little subiect to hunger thirst heat and cold labour sweat and wearines who was immortall impassible immensiue who feedeth the birdes of the ayre the fishes of the sea the beasts of the land the lillyes of the field the angells in heauen hee lieth in a manger hungry and cold and he of whom was principally saide non accedet Psal ◠ad te malum flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo No euill shall come neero thee nor no scourge approach to thy tabernacle rauished out of himselfe for loue was made vir dolorum a man of griefs Isa 53. suffering so many and so
horrible paines that no mortall man can tell whether he shewed more loue in suffering for vs or in glorifying of vs. But let vs now suruey the extasie he fell into by instituting this sacrament if it was an extasie to euacuat himselfe in shew of deitie by taking the forme of a man What doth he not suffer a greater extasie here by taking the form of bread for there he tooke the shape of a reasonable creature but heere he beareth a shew of an insensible substance S. Paul speaking of his extasie affirmed that 〈◊〉 2. Christ liued in him Viuo ego non iam ego viuit vero in me Christus I liue now not I 〈◊〉 ◠but Christ liueth in me If Christ liued not himselfe but in S. Paul and other faithful of his church of whom he spake as of himselfe Saule Saule cur me persequeris Saul Saul why persecutest thou me through the force of loue and affection Que potius viuit vbi amat quam vbi animat which more truly liueth where it loueth and not where it liueth how much more truly may hesay who claspes Christ in his breast in this sacred Eucharist Viuo ego iam non ego viuit vero in me Christus I liue now not I but Christ liueth in mee And let any reasonable man iudge if Christ here seeme not to put off and vnapparell himselfe of his maiestie and glorie permitting himself to be closed vnder a husk of bread at the Priests will staying dayes and nights attending in the tabernacle to receiue our supplications permitting infidells and heretikes to abuse and sacrilegiously to handle him entring into poisoned soules beggarly lodgings and al indecent places that either malice or infidelitie can inuent yea in some sort the extasie here surpasseth the extasie of Christ in his passion for although there hee suffered and here is impassible yet there hee shewed himselfe by wordes he answered for himselfe he reprehended and argued them that offered iniuries those blasphemies were for a small time and those dishonours not so many but here he neuer moueth the blasphemies are innumerable they haue continued in all ages And therefore when Moses and Elias talked with Christ in his transfiguration De excessu Luke 9. quem passurus erat in Ierusalem of his decease that he should accomplish in Ierusalem that they might wel haue talked of this Sacrament as I doubt not but they did bicause in very truth both excesses of loue are admirable and in mine opinion Habent se sicut excedens excessum haue relation the one to the other as the exceeding and the exceeded That God in the Eucharist sheweth his beneuolence the fourth effect of loue Cha. 6. As the hearts of men lie hidden from their eies in the centres of their bodies the rootes of trees vnder the earth in such sorte as in themselues wee can not view their natures and qualities yet nature hath taught vs certaine wayes howe to discouer them the heart by motions coulour and pulse the roote by the stem branches leaues and fruit euen so loue harbouring in the bosome of the hearte cannot be perfectly discerned of mortall men who wade into the depth of secrets by senses in it selfe but by some coulours the pulse the fruit some externall signe and of al other commonly it is declared by beneuolēce bestowing of gifts conferring of benefites So as S. Iohn intending Iob. 3. to make manifest vnto vs the exceeding loue of God touched this pulse shewed this fruit Sic deus dilexit mundum vt filium suum vnigenitum daret So GOD loued the world that he gaue his only begotten sonne And Christ himselfe declaring the loue of Mary Magdalen shewed the externall beneuolence and fruits Luke 7. of her affection by annointing him with oile by bathing his feete with teares by drying them with hir haire and thervpon inferred this comfortable illation Remittuntur ei peccata multa quoniam dilexit multū Many sinnes are forgiuen her because she hath loued much All faithful chrisstians that eat this fruit of life may easily perceiue the roote from whence it drew so sweete a substance to be the abisse of the loue of God Yea I knowe not by what meanes there resteth imprinted in our mindes a certaine sent of loue When we cal to memory this blessed sacrament it seemeth to smell of the heauenly Orchards of paradise which breath no other aire then the loue of the holy Ghost for I think there is none so simple that at the first prospect of his conceit when he considereth this gift presently imagines not that it proceedeth from loue and most truely might say sic Deus so God beloued Ihon ◠the world that he gaue his sonne that all those that did eate him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Yea while I wade alitle deeper in this matter I know not how but it seemeth to me the three persons in trinity contend which of them should shewe more excesse of loue by excesse of benefites not that there can bee any emulation or discention among those infinit louers and beloued but that the effects be so wōderful exceeding that we know not which to prefer To the father we ascribe power to the son wisdome to the holy ghost goodnesse because the father was produced by none the sonne sprung by vnderstanding the holy ghost issued by loue To the fathers omnipotencie we attribute creation to the sonnes wisedome redemption to the spirits goodnesse iustification Now let al diuines set their heads together yet they cannot decide which of these benefits ought most to bee prized neuerthelesse in my iudgement I take our redemption to surpasse the others because in creation God gaue vs the naturall life of our bodies and soules with this world and all the furniture thereof for our vse and domonion In iustification he imparteth the supernaturall life of grace with sundrie vertues gifts and fauors thereupon attending but in our redemption hee gaue vs the life of God which exceedeth the others so farre as God exceedeth man And in this sacrament his person life soule and bodie and therefore wel may we extoll this gift seeing God so extolled it before vs and say Quid bonum quid pulcrum eius nisi frumentum zach 9. electorum vnium germinans virgines What of his is good and what of his is beautifull but the wheate of his elected and wine that springeth virgins for indeede it is either the cheefest or next to the cheefest Much more might be intreated here of this effect by expounding all the circumstances of this gift who giueth it what is giuen with what effect it is giuen to what ende with what cost howe deare to the giuer but because partly they were handled before in the three twentieth cause of Gods liberalitie shewed in the institution thereof partly because I meane to touch it a little beneath partlie for that all the causes wee haue alleadged
are particular benefits that God bestowes vpon vs in this precious gift for these reasons I will omit much that might be saide concluding only that as great as God is so great is his gift and as great as is his gift so great the loue from whence it proceedeth and as great loue the gift it selfe requireth of vs if we were able to afford it but since we cannot answere one for thousands let vs confesse our defectes open to him our desires and require our sauiour whom we receiue to supply our wants That God sheweth all diuersities of loue in this Sacrament Cha. 7. OVr louing Sauior was not contented to vnfolde vnto vs the excesse of his loue and the effects thereof in this Sacrament of loue but also he hath vouchsafed to expresse all the diuersities and sortes of loue The which I finde among Diuines and morall Philosophers to be in number foure The first is a loue of account or 1 Amor appretiatiuus A prizing loue price for we are prepared by it to prefer our friend before our goodes our fame our owne dangers or life The next may be called loue of feruour or vehemencie 2 Amor intentious An intensiue loue as we see yongmen more vehemeÌ„tly loue their companions than they do either father or mother neuertheles they had rather their friend shoulde die than father or mother if it were left to their election because they loue their parentes after a deeper rate than their companions the 3 Amor extenâ—iuus An extensiue loue other they terme extensiue diffused or a loue common to many as the loue of a king towards his subiects a bishop toward his flocke a father to a multitude of children The last and easiest to be discouered is a certaine familiar and tender loue 4 Amor familiaris A familiar loue as mothers beare to their infants to whom they shew more signes of affection than to the elder howbeit they prize the elder much more than their yonglings It was most conuenient that God instituting a Sacrament proceeding from an abisse of loue and ordained to mooue men to loue should comprehend in it all sorts of loue for if that Manna had all forts of tastes to delight the tongue surelyreason required that this heauenly foode should containe Sap. 16. all sortes of loue to delight the will the which most plainely shall appeare by the next discourses That God sheweth a prizing loue in the Eucharist Cha. 8. CErtaine vnlearned Philosophers considering the subordination of all creatures in this worlde to man the heauens the sunne moone stars elements stones mettelles mineralles fishes beasts foules with al that belongeth to euery one in fitting and seruing him to some purpose besides thinking their gods had no other felicitie than the rowling of the heauenly spheares and disposition of this inferiour worlde concluded that the gods were made for men and in very deede if their principle had bin true no man could haue denied their ilation But what would they haue inferred if they had seene christians cate their God Questionlesse they might much more euidently haue confirmed their opinion For when I thorowly consider with my selfe that god could die for man and befides would giue himselfe to him for meate me thinkes if I had no other matter to meditate vpon all my life this woulde serue men by weighing the weaknes miseries and infirmities of men and after comparing them with the perfections of God and then to see that God would make such an account of man that hee would debase himselfe almost to nothing for his loue This I say might cause the Seraphins to veile their eyes for wonder and mortall men to be rauished with admiration If a friend doe spend but his goods for his friend so that of a rich man he becom a beggar who would not think this loue exceeding Or howe few examples can we find of such amitie althogh the occasion bee offered very often But how few will staine their credite almost with a meere suspition to fauour theyr friends in any cause of great importance But how much lesse offer and effectually giue their bloud for loue of their friend O blessed Sauiour thou art the onely true friend who if all forsake vs will receyue vs and not onely impart vs thy goods but thy honour likewise and bloud to eate If there were a father who so affected his sonne that he could spare no cost to help him to recouer his health for that end bestowed halfe a score such Cordialles as Plutare iâ— Auton Plin. libr. 9. c. 25. Cleopatra the Queene of Egypt eate one after her supper dissoluing a pearle shee had for a pendent with vineger which was valewed at 30000. pounds there is no man but he would iudge he prized extreamely his sonnes life Yet what haue pearles to bee compared with this Sacrament if God should conuey all the masse of this world all the golde and siluer all stones and iewelles all creatures liuing men and Angels into a one bit as no wise man can deny it to be possible and would present this to thee and say lo I giue thee all this to loue mee woulde not all men iudge that god prized thy loue excedingly for which he offereth so great a prise and al this he performeth in this sacrament by thousands more For al that is visible or inuisible in this worlde and ten thousand worlds more our blessed Christ the secoÌ„d person in Trinity which heare God freely bestoweth vpon vs in most noble and eminent manner comprehendeth And what demaundeth he in recompence but Fili prebe mihi cor tuum quia amore langueo Prouerb 23. Cantic 5. Sonne giue me thy heart for I languishe with loue Finally muse meditate with thy selfe night and day and thou shalt not be able to imagine how God coulde haue declared more apertly the account hee maketh of euery one then by imparting vnto vs this sacrament for all the tresures in heauen and earth are herein contained By this plainly appeareth the disloialty ingratitude and base mindes of too too many in Englande who in their hearts know and approue the catholique Religion and yet for feare of leesing their worldly pelfe for some inordinate affection to their family for some desire to enioy the pleasurs of the world they most cowardly and vildely deny their God by making profession externaly of a false religion In what case will they bee when they shal appeare before the tribunal seat of Christ who most iustly may condemne them and infallibly will condemne them for preferring a litle trash before so pretious a treasure and selling their hearts to the world for three miserable mites and denying it to him for infinite millions That God sheweth in the Fucharist a most intensiue loue Chap. 9. THe vehement loue of God in the institution of this sacrament our sauiour well declared before he came to deliuer vnto his Apostles authority to spread this
heauenly fire about the world in saying Desiderio desideraui hoc pascha manducare vobiscum Luke 22. antequam patier With a desire I haue desired that is according to the Hebrew phrase most vehemently I haue desired as one should say after my desire yet still I desire I can haue no ende of desiring to eat this pasche with you before I suffer Sweete sauiour hast not thou for 3. yeres before eaten it with them why desir est thou now so earnestly to eate it Ah hee aymed at this pasce this sacrifice figured by that tipicall lambe the which neither hee nor they had eaten before The like affection Saint Iohn declareth 〈◊〉 13. and confirmeth by saying he loued them vnto the verie ende that is most vehemently as Chrisost and Euthin interpret And without doubt if hee came like a giant running a race from heauen to earth Psal 18. for desire to vnite his person with our nature in his incarnation he will post it to ioyne both person and nature with our soules in the Eucharist as the spouse saide in the Canticles Ecce dilectus meus venit Canic 2. suliens per montes transiliens colles Lo my loue commeth discending from mountaines and running ouer hils because the incarnation here taketh a most compleat effect by the reall application of Christs bodie to ours But for that as Aristotle saith and experience teacheth loue delighteth not so much in generall as when it is minsed in particular euerie condition and qualitie being considered therefore let vs wey the fauor vehemencie of the loue of God the cōditions properties and prerogatiues al which S. Iohn in his reuelation had opened in a vision of Christ Apoc. 1. which appeared vnto him and after a corporall forme depainted that afterwardes of all posteritie they might be better perceiued hee saw one like the sonne of man apparelled with a long robe girded to the breast with a girdle of gold his haire was white like woll or snow his eies like a flame of fire his feete like brasse glowing in the furnace his voyce like the voyce of many waters he carried in his hand seuen stars out of his mouth issued a two edged sword his face was shining like the sun in his vertue Al these darke mysteries signifie the vniuersal loue prouidēce of Christ towards his church therfore this sacrament being one of the most principall signes of his loue towards his church they ought to bee verefied in it more ouidently then any other the long robe signifies the Priesthood of Christ for such a garment as heere is mentioned did properly belong vnto highpriestes for thissacrament was instituted by Christ as our high Priest and Pastour of our soules to whome it did appertaine to prouide pasture for his flocke This Robe was girded to his breast with a girdle of Golde to signifie that whatsoeuer hee ordined or executed as high Priest was commanded vnto him by the eternall decree of the holy Trinity For most certaine it is that al ceremonies sacraments lawes or statutes our Sauiour ordained as man for his Church were ordained first in the supreme consistory of those sacred and indiuided persons therfore the functions of his priesthood were girded with the precepts of God and restrained to certaine limits and bondes for which cause he said Descendi de caelo non John 6 vt faciam voluntatem meam sed eius qui misit me I descended from heauen not to doe mine owne will but the will of him that sent me This girdle was of gould because whatsoeuer God commaunded or Christ as man obserued proceeded from goulden loue and charity and our sauiour executed them with the purest loue of his heart and therefore he said In capite libri Psal 39. scriptum est de me vt facerem voluntatem tuam Deus meus volui legem tuam in medio cordis mei In the head of the booke it is written of me that I may doe thy will O my God I will and thy law in the middest of my hart which words S. Paul applieth 〈◊〉 10 to our sauiour Christ Let vs now consider with what feruour or vehemencie of loue did he institute this sacrament and because Christ loued vs both as God and man eternally in heauen by his diuinitie and in time in earth by his humanitie therfore lette vs first admire that which is diuine and then that is deified twelue conditions or properties of our sauiours diuine loue I finde vailed vnder these mysteries reuealed to Saint Iohn first Antiquitie second Purity third Vehemencie fourth Fecundity fift Effecacie sixt Constancie seuenth Light eight Delight ninth Maiestie tenth Glorie eleuenth Liberty twelfth Iustice all which I meane breefely to runne ouer First Antiquitie THose snowie rockes and hoarie haires describe vnto vs the antiquitie of Christs loue the which quality the scripture commended in amitie comparing old friendes to olde wine and late friends to new wine the which is both vnholsome for health and mingled with many indigested dregs neither must wee imagine that this venerable bush preiudicateth the vigour of loue or argue the decay in affection as it doth in nature for legs of brasse declare the force fiery eyes the greennesse of youth and feruour But how ancient is the loue of Christ wherewith he iustituted this sacrament beganne it when he was incarnated no before when he created the world yet more ancient millions of imaginary yeares conceiued in that abisse of vnlimited time before the creation of the world yet more elder how old finally as old as God in that same poynt and moment of eternitie when the second person in Trinity issued from the breast of his eternall father in that same moment hee resolued himselfe to take flesh and deliuer it to his Church in this venerable sacrament Elegit nos in Ephes 1. ipso ante constitutionem seculi He chose vs in him before the constitution of the world in which election he prouided al means both general particular for his elected to bring them to that glorious end Moreouer by the infinite comprehension of his diuine wisedom he knew all those in particular who were to receiue the benefite therof And besides that there was an infinite multitude whom he might haue created if it had pleased him who would haue profited him more glorified him more vsed this sacrament better then those that he created would do hee did foresee also how many were to receiue it to their perdition how many to abuse it to their damnation howe many to blaspheme it to their eternall ruine and for all this his loue was so great hee determined to giue himselfe wholly to all for the generall loue he bore to all and in particular to his elected O what a comfort and consolation this point wel disgested wil minister to all good soules who deuoutly participate this blessed food when they consider that God himself had thē
significatioÌ„ because that maiesty properly we giue kings thereby signifying their dignity whiche proceedeth from their authority power dominion they possesse ouer ther kingdoms This same transferred to God signifieth the dignity he possesseth by the right title he enioys of the ful dominioÌ„ ouer the world which proceedeth from three perfections of God for that he is the first beginning the last end and conseruer of all things The loue of god in instituting this sacrament was most maiesticall because therin he shewd his dominion ouer al dominion that is the compleat right he had in disposing of his owne person as a king should giue himselfe to redeeme his kingdom his loue by al reason ought to be deemed most kingly and maiestical for in renouncing his right he shevveth his ful authority eueÌ„ so our sauior by debasing himself so low in a certain sort renouncing his right declareth most manifestly the maiestye of his loue By ordaining this sacrifice of himselfe hee manifesteth likwise the maiestie of his loue in the aforesaide three perfections For none but he that hath full and complet dominion ouer God can institute a sacrament or sacrifice wherein the contained is God and consequently he sheweth himselfe to haue power and authoritie ouer all that appertaineth to God Besides instituting it to conserue our soules he declares how to him properly belongeth our spirituall conseruation and since this sacrifice tendeth to God as the finall cause of all our supernaturall good he revealeth vnto vs that he is our end and that by possessing his loue we attaine our consummate felicitie Therefore it proceedeth from a loue maiesticall containeth a maiesticall and tendeth to a maiesticall Tenth Glory THe glory of God cannot be seperated from his loue for as all his other attributes and internall actions are the selfe same thing with his deitie so is his loue and therefore as infinite in perfection as the rest we call his loue glorious because it issueth speaking according to the capacities of our wits from the light of glory whereby God is blessed in himselfe besides it is one essentiall part of his selicitie to loue himselfe and therefore wee ought the more to prize this loue that hauing before it all goodnesse all beauty all delight al wisdome al power and in fine al perfections it would vouchsafe to extend it selfe to vs and impart infinitie goodnes as though it were not sufficiently satiated at home It is lastly glorious because it appointeth a sacrament wherin Gods maiestie is exceedingly glorified our soules and bodyes are embalmed against corruption preserued for glory in life euerlasting Eleuenth Libertie HIs walking among the seauen candlestickes manifested his libertie that he was not bound so to one church but that he might leaue it go to an other nor so restrained to any but that he might leaue them al forcertain it is that as he freely of loue without need created this world so freely of loue he instituted the Eucharist and as he created the world not from the beginning but after an eternitie to giue vs to vnderstand that he who enioyed al felicitie a whole eternitie without the world had no neede of it but onelye for our good and his loue he produced it in tyme in like sort he instituted not this blessed Sacrament strait after Adams falnot for foure thousand yeeres after to manifest vnto vs that for our profite and his loue not for any other interest he instituted it at his departure out of this world Twelfth Iustice THe two edged sword which issued out of his mouth declareth the vindicatiue iustice and reuenge of loue because as his goodnesse is vehement in louing so his iustice is exceeding in punishing for feruent loue bordereth alwayes vppon extreames either extremely hating or extreamely affecting the experience wee may see in Putifars wife who as vniustly Genes 39. hated Ioseph for his chaste deniall as before shee vehemently loued him for her vnchaste desite the which example although it be of impure loue yet it declareth the nature of loue For as a riuer that hath free passage runneth mildely and calmely if it be staide from the naturall course it swelleth and threatneth a ruine of al that hindereth the way euen so loue if it can passe quietly wyth that it pretendeth loue surpasseth all waters in calmenesse but if the course be stopped it swelleth and either as water it wil wash away whole citties or as fire blowe vp whole mountaines Our blessed Sauiour therefore in this Sacrament of loue hath ballanced his loue and his ire if loue cannot preuaile reuenge shall take effect for this sword cutting on both sides threatneth a punishment to disloyall louers with one side it cutteth them who refuse his loue by not accepting this Sacrament with the other those that accept it not well The first are Infidels the second Heretikes and ill christians Pagans reiect his loue Heretikes impugne his loue ill Catholikes abuse his loue But let them not doubt since they will not accept the cup of his honied affection they shall drincke the gall of his bitter hatred Moreouer this double edged sword signifieth the punishments God inflicteth in this worlde vpon those who abuse his loue in this sacrament of death madnesse and horrible diseases as infinite examples alleadged in Vide S. Cipâ—libr de laps 1. Cor. 11. histories most euidently declare Saint Paul seemeth to affirme who after hee had reprehended the Corinthians for irreuerently receiuing the sacred eucharist he adeth Ideo inter vos multi infirmi imbeâ—illes dormiunt multi therefore there are among you many weake and feeble and many sleep and in the world to come for he that eateth it not or vnworthily cannot haue the life of grace without grace hee is dead in sinne the death of sin transferreth the soule to the eternall death of hell Besides this dubble cutting sword representeth the mortall woundes both of bodie and soule that it causeth in them who receiue it not as they ought to do for questionlesse as those which receiue it worthily shall bee receiued both in bodie and soule after a more particular manner then infants who receiue it not at all euen so those that eate it vnworthily shall deferuedly be punished particularly both in Sap. 11. bodie and soule because proportion of paines must bee correspondent to transgressions In quo quis peccat in eodem punitur In that one sinneth in the same he must be punished Ah what a terrible sight will it bee to them to see him comming in iudgement both accuser and iudge who irreuerently irreligiously and impioussie handled him by sacrilegious consuming the sacred Eucharist What confusion will it bee to see that face which in a manner they did spitte in by despising his loue what flouds of gall will those eyes poure into their consciences which came once to glannce streames of sugered peace into their soules what an eternall sting will those lips