speciall prerogatiues and fauours bestowed vpon thee by the Sonne of God obtaine for me that I may loue him and that his loue come from my heatt from my whole soule from all my forces and thoughts as did thy loue 2. By the authoritie which thou heldest from him and by that Crosier which he put in thy hand procure that his flocke and thine may be extended ouer all Countries on the earth and the soules committed to thy charge and the charge of thy Successors may be defended from the teeth and wyles of the iâ—fernall Woulfe who as a roaring Lyon seeketh whome he may deuoure 3. By all the testimonies of the extraordinary beneuolence that thou receiuedst from thy Maister and ours by all the documents instruments which thou heardest from his owne mouth by all the admirable and miraculous workes hee wrought in thy presence we in all humilitie and earnest affection beseech thee that our holy Father who at this day is gouernour of the Church and all they which shall succeede him in that thy charge may succeede thee also in thy vertues and in the fatherly care thou haddest of the sheepfolde pertaining to the Son of God So as hereafter no one of the sheepe which recognise their Soueraigne pastor and are called Christians may be lost or become a prey to hell 4. And so much as concerneth my particuler I beseech thee O Coriphe of the Apostles Prince and Pastor of my soule that as Iesus Christ changed thy name in signe of the superioritie and prerogatiue which he gaue to thee aboue the rest of the Apostles so he will be pleased to change my manners and to reforme me to his greater glory Thou wert euer placed and mentioned first let my ambition bee to giue place to no man in the loue of my God 5. Thou walkedst vpon the waters to come to thy maister procure that I may treade vnder feete my imperfections to come vnto him 6. By speciall reuelation thou hadst notice that he was the Sonne of God obtaine for mee by thy mediation the guift of a singuler and liuely faith 7. The gates of Hell according to the Diuine promise haue not preuailed nor shall euer preuaile against the Church which the soueraigne Architect built vpon thee guard me so by thy protection that temptations may not preuaile against my soule 8. Iesus Christ payed tribute for thee and himselfe shewing thereby that thou shouldst be the head of his familie obtaine for me by thy prayers that he be pleased to pay to God for me the debt I owe to his diuine Iustice and to make me master Lord and superiour ouer my passions 9. It was thou who at two seuerall times didst drawe to the shore the Nets full of Fish we swimme and tumble as fishes in the tempestuous sea of this world drawe vs to the hauen of blessednes by faith accompanied and quickned by charitie 10. Thou wert commaunded to lauch into the depth and from the hinder part of thy ship Christ Iesus did Catechise the multitudes of the people lift me vp by the force of thy prayers examples and merittes to the highest topp of perfection and procure that I neuer giue eare to any Teacher but to him whose instruction is conformable to the doctrine of the Church 11. The Diuell desired to sift thee but the prayer of the Son of GOD gaue an inuincible force to thy Faith wilt thou not then obtaine for me a vigour strength not to be ouercome by any snares or forces of the infernall legions 12. Thou wast one of the first to whome Iesus Christ appeared after his resurrection obtaine for me that I be not one of the last to whome he will vouchsafe to giue his hand when I shall be in danger of temptation or detained in the paines of purgatorie 13. The diuine worde prostrated himselfe at thy feete with so great humilitie as at last thou wert content he should wash them be he pleased by thy prayers to wash away thâ— filth of my iniquities to purifie mine intentions that I put no obstacle to any thing which he desireth to effect in me 14. It was said to thee alone followe me Oh when shall the hower come and that desired time in with I may follow in all and euer the blessed motion of the holy Ghost liuing no more to my selfe but to him who afforded thee the grace to dye for him and after his example vpon the Crosse 15. Thou didest worke the first miracle vpon the person of Anamas thou madest the first Sermon to the Gentiles and to the Sinagogue after the comming down of the holy Ghost thou didst hold the first Counsell thou didst first visite such as were new baptized for thee as for her head the Church was solicitous and prayed when thou wast in prison St. Paul did not holde his Reuelations for assured that is hee did not thinke they would haue beene accepted for such vntill he had conferred with thee the Churches in which thou wert resident as Bishop are all accounted Patriarchals the Chaire of Rome by thy meanes is the Mother and Mistresse of the rest I beseech thee O Father and Pastor of all ages by this primacie to obtaine for mee the Princedome and absolute Monarchie ouer my selfe hauing so often experience that by subiecting my selfe to my affections and passions I become a miserable and deplorable slaue 16. Who is hee that would not deliuer out of the gallyes â— a slaue if it should cost him but his word Speake then O thou so much fauoured of God for with a word that thou shalt speake in my fauour I a miserable wretch shall be deliuered out of captiuitie and set at libertie that libertie of spirit which Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs with the effusion of his blood Doe it then O blessed spirit moued thereunto by remembrance of the sinne which was forgiuen thee and for which thou didst weepe so bitterly and of those keyes of knowledge Iurisdiction and order which were committed to thy charge 17. When the Sunne in the Spring doth cast the beames vpon the mountaine couered with snowe the snow melteth and of the water distilling from the snow arise great floudes Such were the watrie teares which flowed from thine eyes when the Sunne of our soules cast the eyes of his compassion vpon thy Apostacie why then wilt not thou by thy intercession and mediation procure that the Ice of my sinne may melt in the beames of that beautifull eye of the world Iesus Christ the Sonne of God 18. Pray vnto him that he be mercifull vnto mee and I will thanke him for the mercy that he shewed vnto thee be a suppliant for mee and I will praise him for thee make me such an one as hee commaunds and in so doing thou shalt doe according to his will 19. Thou art able to doe as much as the Angell that deliuered thee out of Prison and made the Chaynes fall from thee wherwith thou wert tyed
cause of true loue being the good of another To loue one truly is to wish him all the good that may be and to loue very much is to will or to wish the same very much vnto him And because it is the Nature of the will and by consequence of loue to doe that which it willeth vnlesse it be hindered Therefore it produceth in vs not onely a desire to heare and vnderstand the good and euill of the partie beloued but moueth vs likewise by all the meanes wee can to prosecute the one and to auoyde the other For the which cause loue is said to bee more effectuall then affectuall Plus enim facit quam â—fficat and according to Saint Gregorie Probatio amonis est exhibitio operis And therefore Loue without these acts and fruits of loue is worse then the Fig-tree which our Sauiour cursed and is indeed no loue at all From whence also it followeth that albeit wee may loue those whom we know not in perticuler as belonging to such an One or as the parts of such a Communitie which is principally beloued of vs and may content our selues with that generall good which we are able to doe them yet if our loue be perfit it is impossible we should not desire to know them and to doe for them also in perticuler if we be able or if our attendance to the perticuler knowledge and seruice of them do not hinder some greater good which otherwise we might performe in generall towards them By which it is manifest that either the Saints in heauen desire to heare vs to releiue vs not onely in generall but also in perticuler when we call vpon them because the one in them can be no hinderance to the other Or else it must needs be granted that they doe not loue vs. For that without this desire it is very plaine they care not for vs. I know some Protestants do here obiect against this perticuler care the same which many Atheists haue also obiected against the prouidence of God Affirming that the Saints of heauen Caluin instit lib. 3. cap 20 per. 24 cannot giue eare to our Prayers or attend to our affaires without some trouble and impeachment to their felicitie But the Protestants granting as they doe that this is no trouble at all neither to the person of God nor to the soule of Christ nor to the Angels themselues Psal 90. 11. Dan. 10. 13. Zac. 1. 12. Math. 18. 10 Lue. 15. 10. Acts. 12. 15. Apoc. 8. 3. make this Obiection against the Saints of God with lesse reason and more malice then it was made by their Masters before them against God himselfe Secondly therfore this desire of theirs will yet better appeare by the consideration of the Nature of Charitie in perticuler For according to that which hath bene said as to loue another is to will the good and by consequence the will of another which is also the reason that a wicked man because he willeth not his owne good as he is wicked can neuer be truely beloued so to loue God is nothing else but to will the will of God and therefore in effect to desire that it may be perfitly fulfilled both in our selues in all other Creatures And because as the Apostle speaketh This is the will of God Thes 4. 3 oâ—r sanctâ—fication or which is all one the saluation of our selues and others Therefore to loue God about all thinges wherin consisteth the nature of all charitie includeth a will to attend aboue all other thinges vnto the sanctification saluation first of our selues and secondly of all our Brethren Now then to goe forward as nothing is desired but that which is good so the greater the good is if it be well knowne and considered the more it is desired And therfore as there is nothing so good as the will of God so nothing by many degrees can bee so much desired of those that truely loue God as that his will be most perfitly fulfilled in the sanctification and saluation of all men Againe as the will of God himself is the end of all things so the loue of his will and the desire of dooing thereof is the end of all other loues and all other desires And therefore as God himselfe hath ordained so it must needs bee that our loue of his will and desire to fulfill the same if our loue be right doe exceede with like proportion all other worldly loues or desires whatsoeuer Wherefore to conclude this point if true loue in the lowest degree not onely of grace but also of Nature produceth in vs a perpetuall and constant desire not onely to heare and vnderstand the good and euill of the parties beloued but also to endeauour by all good meanes and courses to releeue them how great must the floud and Torrent bee of that desire which floweth continually in the highest degree from the Fountaine and sowrse of all loue which is God himselfe into the Soules of the Saints of heauen to complie and cooperate with his eternall will by all the meanes they can in the sanctification and saluation of others And if the zeale of men on earth not onely in the time of grace but also vnder the dead letter of the Law extend it selfe with such desire not only to heare and vnderstand but also to succour and redresse by their daily prayers infinit dangers continuall labours and miseries of their brethren coÌ„passing both Sea and Land as our Sauiour saith to make one Math 23 15 Proselite or to conuert one soule vnto Christ how much more doth the inflamed charitie of the Saints in heauen transforme their soules into the like desire And admiring so much as wee doe the vehement loue of Moyses and zeale of Saint Paul while they liued amongst men to their Naturall brethren the Exod. 32 32. Iewes not refusing to bee strucken out of the Booke of life and to bee made an Athema if need Rom. 9. 3 should be for their saluation How wonderfull and vnmeasurable thinke you is the desire of the Saints of heauen to procure the saluation of their brethren here on earth and how effectuall to recommend their perticuler prayers which here euen in this world is the least and most easie office that one friend can do for an other certainly this desire in these golden vials must needs so farr exceed the former in those eartheÌ„ vessels as the easines of the one exceedeth the difficultie of the other And as their knowledge and loue of God whome now they see exceedeth the obscure knowledge which they had of him and their imperfect loue towards him when they could not beholde him Adde vnto all this that the felictie of the Saints of heauen is much increased and perfited by the saluation of their brethren on earth And therfore as much as they desire the perfectioÌ„ of their owne felicitie they can no lesse desire to receiue and to recommend our prayers vnto God
most humble pardon for all the honour which since I came first to the vse of reason I haue giuen to creaturs without referring it actually or habitually to thee who art the fountaine of all greatnesse and excellencie it selfe of which excellencie honour is but a testimonie and marke 9. To conclude I acknowledge and adore thee O soueraigne Deitie Father Sonne holy Ghost as often as I breath or as there are minutes in an houre starres in the Skye leaues vpon the trees sands in the sea thoughts in the hearts of men and Angels 10. Dispose of the world as it shall please thee doe with me and with all creatures as seemes best to thy Maiestie raise vp plucke downe chastice cherish be thou such to Angels men in Heauen in earth in time and in aeternitie as stands best with thy liking In all and by all and alwaies I will adore thy prouidence I will conforme my selfe to thy will as the onely paradice of my soule And I will make good to all against all this most certaine truth that thou canst not do but that which I will for I will whatsoeuer thou dost Title 2. Thankesgiuing 1. I Thanke thee O my GOD that thou art as thou art the greatest good that can befall mee 2. I thanke thee O mightie Father that knowing thy selfe thou ingendrest a word which is thy Sonne and another thy selfe 3. I present most humbly thanksgiuing O incomparable Father that thou louest thy Sonne and thy Sonne loueth thee with such a loue and so admirably perfect that it carryeth with it the common essence nature and substance of you both 4. I thanke thee O my God for the extraordinary graces which thou hast bestowed vpoÌ„ the soule of our Sauiour Iesus Christ thy Son and I thanke thee my sweete Iesus for those which thou hast imparted to thy worthy Mother and I thanke thee O mercifull holy Ghost for those which the Angels the Patriarches the Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the Court of Heauen haue receiued from thee not onely during their abode heere in earth but also since their happie abode in Heauen 5. And in particuler I giue thee thankes for the grace and glory thou hast bestowed vpon mine Angell guardian and vpon the Saint my patron of whom by thy especiall prouidence I haue my name 6. What thanksgiuing shall I render vnto thee for the goods of my soule and body which I haue receiued from thee I doe giue thee thankes for them in him for whome and by whom thou hast bestowed them vpon me who is Iesus Christ thy Sonne And I giue thee thanks that in his name and by his merites I haue receiued them not willing to haue any thing but by him and for him I present vnto thee the same thanksgiuing which the soule of my Lord thy Sonne did offer vnto thee at that instant when it knew it selfe created of nothing and personally vnited to the word 7. I giue thee thankes for thy guifts not because they are mine but because they are thine not because they are agreeable to my will but because they are conformable to thine being most ready and willing to be depriued of them when it shall please thee to take them to thee againe beseeching thee that thou wilt so doe when thou shalt iudge it more for thy glory 8. Thou hast bestowed graces vpon mee which through thy grace I know and acknowledge and thou hast bestowed vpon me others of which through mine owne blindnesse I am ignorant Thou hast bestowed and wouldst yet bestow more if it were not long of my selfe Thou wilt bestow also others which I shall not acknowledge and which through my frailtie and accustomed ingratitude I shall abuse For all which my God God of infinite goodnesse mercy I giue thee thanks with all the force that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon mee not knowing nor being able to doe it as I should I doe it in Iesus Christ thy Sonne with the same affection acknowledgement and thanksgiuing which his holy humanitie hath giuen and doth giue incessantly to thy Diuinitie for whatsoeuer fauours or graces it receiued of thee 9. I am also to giue thee thankes for those graces and fauours which I neuer receiued and which out of thy infinite goodnesse and prouidence thou hast forborne to bestow vpon me as knowing that I would haue abused them and thereby haue become more accomptable to thy most exact and most perfect iustice 10. Ouer and aboue all this as I stand greatly oblieged vnto thee for thy fauours and graces themselues So it is true that I am much more obliged for that loue charitie out of which thou hast bestowed them vpon me For the which because it is infinite I giue thee infinite thankes in him who is the efficient instrumental meretorious and finall cause of all thankefulnesse Iesus Christ thy Sonne for whom and by whom thou hast done all praise loue and glory bee vnto thee in him and by him world without end Amen Title 3. Petition 1 IF I were mine owne O my God I would demaund many thinges according to my owne sence and will but seeing it hath pleased thy merciful Charitie that I should not be mine owne but thine what can I desire for my selfe which is not for thee and according to thee Doe thâ—â— for me as for thy selfe and dispose of me as of a thing that is thine 2. O Lord I am thine by creation by conseruation by redemption and by especiall vocation by condition of nature and election of my owne will why then dost thou permit that a stronger take from thee thine inheritance that I or any other should enter into possession of that of which the peaceable proprietie appertaines to thee why dost thou endure that any other will then thine should be accomplished in me of whome thou art onely and wholy possest 3. Hee that doth that which is more doth easily that which is lesse thou giuest thy selfe to me take me then vnto thee To create me it cost thee only thy word but to regenerate me it cost thee thy life To forme me an act only of thy will was sufficient but to reforme me th' effusion of thy bloud was iudged necessary Both the one and the other being effected by thee nothing remaineth but that thou doe and say what thou wilt so as thou dispose of mee according as thou hast deserued 4. So often as I aske of thee any thing doe the contrary if the contrary shall bee more agreable to thy will and to thy greater glory For such is the intention of my Petition 5. My wils are no wills my petition refusals my desires so many detestations when thou wilt otherwise then I desire 6. If I knew in euery thing what is thy will O God the center of my soule I would make knowne both in Heauen and earth that I haue no other intention then to accomplish thy holy will 7. Can one
MOst happy Spirits which incessantly stand before the Throne of God and who as the elder brethren of his house haue care of his inheritance looke downe vpon vs with a mercifull eye vpon vs I say who are your younger brethren out of the respect and regard you bâ—â—re to him who is the head both of th' one and th' other nature that is both of Angels and men And whom you serue in helping vs and please in assisting vs. 2. You purchased your blessednesse good cheape with one onely act of your will and consent you were confirmed in grace and receiued that glory which you shall for euer enioy without all feare to loose it But we contrariwise after many good deedes and many torments suffered and endured are alwayes exposed to danger of shipwracke which many like to vs haue made neare to the hauen After many battailes wee are still in danger to bee ouercome but you after one victorie tryumph assuredly Many dayes passe before wee can ariue there whether you are come in an instant Haue then compassion vpon the imperfection of our beeing yee whose beeing is so perfect pitty our feeblenesse and weaknesse yee that are strong our ignorance yee that are so wise our malice yee to whome goodnesse and Charitie is continuall in the highest degree 3. You take and borrow nothing from naturall abiects as helpes to comprehend created verities For from the first instant of your creation you haue euer had imprinted in your vnderstanding the expresse image of euery naturall thing and beholding your selues you come to know all thinges that are without you And that by an action of simple intelligence running as it were without the helpe of any discourse from the principles to the conclusions and from the Antecedents to the consequents 4. Wee contrariwise can conceiue nothing with our vnderstandings which hath not first passed through the siffe of our sences And our sences depend of the obiects which oft deceiue them and make our iudgements erronious if they be not corrected in their deceitfull operations by reason and grace 5. Moreouer our discourses depend of our propositions and they of the termes of simple apprehension And the apprehension is made out of the imagination and sensitiue faculties And in all this Flux and reflux of thoughtes and Ideas O yee thrice and foure times happy intelligences who is able to expresse how many times we perticipate our selues into errour Taking then notice of the great aduantage you haue ouer vs and not only you but the wicked Deuils who haue lost nothing else but their grace and glory retaining still their nature in which they are equall to you fortifie and strengthen vs against the gyants of which the Scripture maketh mention Leuiathan Belzebub Baalmorith Asmode Astaroth and other princes of that armie of darknesse 6. We craue but the crums that fall from your table and the poore scrappes and remainders of your banquet Our petition to you is very reasonable which is no more then that yee the good Angels bee pleased to doe so much for our saluation as the wicked Deuils doe for our ruine and destruction That yee be as ready to succour vs as they are to annoy vs to heale and preserue vs as they are to hurt vs as diligent in conducting vs to God as they are in withdrawing vs from him and to doe vs all the mischiefe to which their knowledge and power can extend Title 11. To the holy Patriarckes 1. HOly soules who during your abode heere in this vale of teares were the salt of the earth light of the world how great haue your vertues beene how great your perfection had you liued vnder the Gospell as you liued vnder the Law of nature and Moses we are in the fulnesse of time to which you so much aspired and for which you so often suspired obtaine for vs the grace to acknowledge correspond to so great a benefit and that wee may liue as holily after the incarnation of the Son of God as you did before his comming and that wee may now doe as much for his glory as you would haue done if yee had liued in this happy time 2. By that ioy not to be vttered by any tongue wherewith you were then replenished when the most holy soule of our and your Redeemer descended to those places vnder earth in which you were detained expecting the Ladder of Iacob and the Key of Dauid to come forth I beseech you to obtaine of your deliuerer for all poore sinners such as I am that wee may get out of the darke dungeon of ignorance and the filthie quagmire of our bad and lewd customes And that as the gates of Hell could not preuaile against the King of glory so sinne may froÌ„ henceforth no more preuaile against such as beleeue in him in whome you placed your hope and with whom vpon the day of his tryumphant Ascention you ascended to glory crowned with immortall Lawrels carrying in your handes and sweetly tasting the fruites of your liuely Faith longanimity hope and inflamed Charitie 3. Yee hold the ranke of Patriarckes amongst those which beleeue in the name of the Son of God bee yee then vnto vs good Fathers for the loue of him vpon whom dependeth all Father-hood both in Heauen and Earth and obtaine for vs the spirit of the children of God a contrary spirit to that of mercinarie feare to the end that wee may one day come to be partakers of that inheritance of which ye now are peaceable possessors Title 12. To the holy Prophets 1. PRotonotaries of Heauen Registers of truth and mirrours of the Diuinitie your holy soules haue bene the organs and your mouthes the harmonious instruments of him who is the fountaine of wisdome oracle of all truth Obtaine for vs that we may see by Faith what you did fore-see by the spirit of Prophecie and possesse that by charitie which you hoped for 2. The light of Prophesie is a personall and free guift bestowed vpon you for the instruction of Israell and consolation of Christians Herein we content our selues onely to admire you but in another thing we desire to imitate you And that is in that interiour Attention you had to the presence of God the better to vnderstand his voyce and hauing vnderstood it to follow and put in execution his inspirations O when shall I see that desired houre in which I may say with one of you I will heare what our Lord saith in mee 3. His wordes are words of peace his voyce a voyce of benediction Why then O you holy censurers of our manners doe I so often lend him a deafe eare Awake by your prayers my spirit pacifie my affections illuminate my darknesse addresse mine intentions to the center of euery iust desire which is the accomplishment of his diuine Will onely to bee loued and desired Title 13. To Saint Iohn Baptist 1. PRaecursor of the Sonne of God voyce of the word and paranymph of the heauenly
and seeing that thou hast bestowed such vertue vpon the plants the stones the hearbes seeing the Sunne by the aspect and influence of the Beames doth worke such wonders in nature euen to the making and forming of mettalls in the very bowels of the earth seeing also the Adamant draweth vnto it the yron Amber the straw the Starre the steele by reason of a kinde of simpathie and naturall impression which thou the author of nature hast giuen vnto them Is it conuenient that thy most holy body and incomparable treasure honour my body with his presence that thy most precious bloud be in me and that thy diuine humanitie should really touch mine and not lift vp my soule to thy diuinitie Permit not this monster in Grace and this prodigious wonder in nature 13. Bestow vpon me the charitie which thou didst so straitly recommend vnto thy Apostles and graunt vnto me the guift of prayer and teares as well to accompany thee in thy prayers as that I may be able to resist my temptations according to thy instruction 14. By the feare which ceazed upon the inferiour part of thy soule and by the streames of bloud which did wonderfully run downe caused by thy sorrowe and vehement apprehension I beseech thee my benigne Redeemer to assist me at the houre of my death and to doe me the fauour that albeit my life hath beene so vnprofitable vnto thee yet at last I may honour and serue thee by my death which I desire may bee no other then that which thou shalt Iudge to be for thy greater glory 15. Grant that by the stroke of thy worde I may lay a long thy enemies and mine That I may be tyed and manacled in ropes and chaynes of thy loue That with thee and no otherwise I may appeare before the Tribunall of God thy Father That the Spirit of sweetnesse and meeknesse which thou didst holde towards that accursed fellow which did blindfold thee may accompany me in all occasions That I may be clothed with a white robe of Innocencie and with the purple garment of charitie that by the merrit of thy whipping my body may be a sanctified vessell instrument of thy glory That in vertue of the Crowne of Thornes which pierced thine head I neuer consent to any euil thoughts but especially to such as tend to any pride 16. When will the houre be when one seeing me may say not in derision as it was said of thee but in sinceritie and truth Beholde the man of God bring this to passe my sweet Iesus by the merrits of thy most profound humilitie 17. Then I shall be content with quietnes of minde hear the sentence and iudgement which the wicked shall giue of me and little regard what the world esteemeth of me at this time which passeth though it should be a definitiue sentence of death as vniust and detestable as was that which was pronounced against thee 18. I shall carrie the Crosse with thee such a Crosse I say as it shall please thy diuine prouidence to lay vpon my shoulder I shall edifie by my example the predestinate soules the true daughters of the heauenly Sion 19. But when shall I haue spoiled my selfe of selfe loue whē shall I be as it were naked in respect of thinges of this world to be nayled with thee to the Crosse It shall be then when the nayles of thy feet shal nayle my affections the nayles of thy hands my actions the Speare that pierced thy side shall pierce all my intentions 20 Wash me ô my God God liuing and dying for my loue wash me in the bloud which flowed from thy sacred person so as from hence-foorth I may appeare before thee as a newe washed sheep comne out of the pond as a Lamb without spot readie to be sacrificed 21. Pardon and forgiue all those which wish or doe me euill help all those which are in deadly sinne and neere to their end that they dye not in that pittifull estate as thou didst help the good Theefe in his extreamitie Commend me with the beloued disciple to the protection of thy vnspotted Mother acomplish in me the thirst of thy desires Consume whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee consummate all thy mercies towards me Abandō me not leaue me neuer alone Receaue my soule into thy hands as God thy father receaued thine at thy giuing vp thy Ghost Deliuer from Purgatorie the soules which are in paine as thou deliueredst the holy Fathers out of Lymbus where they were detayned Giue vs such a resurrection to life by grace as that we neuer more die by sinn And seeing that our hart ought to be where our treasure is seeing that thou the Lord of the world art placed at the right hand of thy Father lift vs vp to thee and transport our affections aboue the heauens Finally impart vnto vs some part of those graces bestowed vpon thy Apostles Disciples vpon the day of Penthecost that from hence foorth we may become the Temple of thy glorye thy heretage the chosen people with which thou takest pleasure to make thy abode Prayers and considerations as it were in passing according to the occurrences that fall out euery day Title 28. When a man is tempted 1. I Protest my GOD that I giue no consent in any sort to this temptation and that my will desireth the cōtrary of that which is proposed with as great affection proceeding from reason as I feele inclinations arising from sensualitie 2 I thanke thee O my gracious Creator that sence or feeling and consent or yeelding are two different thinges For if euery feeling were a yeilding ioyned with offence of thy diuine Maiestie I were vtterly vndone Temptation hath the one in his holde but none shall haue possession of the other but thy diuine Maiesty The world the flesh and the Deuill haue a power to make me feele but my consent or yeelding shall be euer in thy power 3. My God leaue me not alone deliuer me frō my selfe 4. I cannot liue without thee make mee then I pray thee liue to thee Title 29. When any thing falleth out that pleaseth vs. 1. IT is thou my sweet Iesu who art the author of all reasonable contentment from thee proceedeth all pure consolation I desire it not then but from thee in thee by thee and for thee Dispose thou otherwaies when thou shalt be pleased to depriue mee of it and I shall accommodate mee thereunto with all resignation and indifferencie Title 30. When any thing displeaseth vs. 1. I Accept of this displeasure as a present sent vnto me from my beloued Iesus Christ accoūting my selfe too happy y◠I may be worthy to participate to carry and to kisse his Crosse 2. The beloued of my soule shall be placed in my bosome as a bundle of Mirrhe 3. Looke with how great affection I desire to be deliuered of this affliction with no lesse I aske and aske againe the continuance thereof if O my God it
the adorned streets through which thou diddest passe with triumph as much vpon the mount Caluarie as vpoÌ„ the mount Thabor as much dying as liuing as much buried as risen again as much in Lymbus as in Heauen Onely grant that I may be thine and that I neuer depart froÌ„ thee whether I be in consolation or desolation poore or rich in plentie or in want all shall be one to me so I may be wholly and only thine Title 54. When we feele our selues drie at Prayer I wil continue with perseuerance before thee not giue ouer O my God I will honour thee with my body seeing I cannot doe it with my soule It is good foe me that thou hast humbled me Now I begin to knowe and feele what I I am Now I touch with my hands my owne misery well perceiue that I am able to do nothing with out thee This is as it were a returning to the nothing from which I took my origen out of which I was drawn by thy omnipotency Blessing praise thankes be to thee my God for euer I merrit not so much as once to enter into thy thought or that thou shoudst once think of me And should be to happy it that I might serue thee but in the condition of a stone or thing without sense and life Receiue the homage don by my miserabie condition to thy blessed selfe who art independant of any hast all contentment in thy self Title 55. When one is despised O My God I haue lost nothing so long as I loose not thee haue I any thing that appertaineth vnto me whether it be goods honours bodie or soule Can any thing fall out in the worlde without thy prouidence Is any thing done sinne only excepted which is not done by thy will If then thou be pleased that I be dispised why should any opposition be made who is he so insolent so bolde a Theife that dare entermeddle with things appertaining to thee contrary to thy will maist not thou doe with that which is thine according to thy pleasure when I am honoured should I reioyce there at for my selfe Is it a thing appertayning to me or to thee It is inough for me O great God that I be thine whether I be an Ant or an Elephant an Egle or a Gnat dirt or golde Title 56. Eleuations of spirit which may be done vpon euery occasion 1. MY God my all IESVS the delight of Heauen earth when shall I be all thine as thou art wholy mine 2. Father of mercy make me such an one as thy Sonne hath deserued and thy holy spirit desireth I should be 3. God of my life when shall I die to my selfe that I may liue to thee 4. Take me my God whether I wil or no seeing I am not so wise as to giue my selfe vnto thee as to haue the will to giue my selfe vnto thee 5. If it should fall out my beloued that I should desire any thing but thee which I desired not for thee I renounce it euen froÌ„ now as if it were then and protest that I haue nothing to loose or gaine besides thee 6. O God God of my soule permit me not to bee at all or procure by thy grace that I may be to serue thee as I am and haue my being from thee 7. I will haue â—o eye but to look vpon thee no eare but to heare thee no tongue but to speake of thee no heart but to think vpon thee no hands but to worke for thee no feet but to walke seek after thee no body but for to offer vp vnto thee no life but to make a sacrifice therof to thy honour and glory 8. God which art Loue giue me Charitie 9. God which wert made Man graunt me Humilitie 10. God which art a pure Spirit bestow vpon me Puritie 11. Omnipotent power strenghthen my weaknesse 12. Eternall wisdome illuminate my darknesse 13. Incomparable mercy pardon my haughtinesse 14 Incomparable beautie to late I haue loued thee 15. Infinite goodnes too late haue I knowne thee 16. Hee that loueth not thee what doth he loue 17 He that admireth not thee what doth he admire I will loue my self not because I am mine but because I am thine I will haue care of my selfe not for any oâ—her reason but because thou so willest and commaundest I esteeme my selfe more happy in thy happines thâ—n I count my selfe wretched for my owne miserie And the contentment I take that thou art that which thou art farre exceedeth the discontentment I feele by being that which I am Be thou then my God for euer that which thou art make me other then I am That is wheras I am my selfe miserable I shall be in thee blessed and happy To thee in thee by thee for thee O my God be all things Amen
this point is euidently testified euen by Protestant Authors For Fulke a Fulk â—n his reâ—oinder to Bristow confesseth that Ambrose Augustine and Hierome held inuocation of Saints to be lawfull That b Agaiâ—st the Reâ—ish Teâ—tament Nazianzen Basill Chrisostome make mention of inuocation to Saints That Theoderet speaketh of prayers vnto Martyrs That Leo ascribeth much to the prayers of Saint Peter All 2 Pet. 1 these auncient Fathers And more in particuler That c Answer to Counteâ—feit Caâ— pag. 46 Saraâ— in defeâ— tract diuersiâ— c. paâ— 349. 346. Morâ— Apol fâ— part pâ— 227. 2 Ormâ— Pist p pag. 2 Vigillantius the heretick wrote against the inuocation of Saints him saith hee Hierome reproueth For the which likewise Sarauia a great Caluinist and Beza himself do acknowledge that Vigillantius was charged condemned by the Fathers Morton likewise acknowledgeth in expresse tearmes That all antiquitie taught the inuocation of Saints Adde vnto these Ormerod who therfore saith That the Fathers did not ponderously consider of this question And Perkins who speaking of the Primitiue Church setteth downe these wordes that follow Perkins Prob. pag. â—3 There was in the Church intercession to Saints in perticuler for men or thinges in perticuler And afterward hee presumeth to say That the auncient â—bid pag. Fathers especially after 400. yeares of Christ did sinne in the inuocation of Saints yea were guilty of sacriledge And so damneth to Hell the greatest Saints of Heauen now crowned with glory to iustifie the Dreames and fantasies of his owne deuices Now then my good friend to conclude this my first argument out of Scripture let any well minded Protestant consider whither not beleeuing these Councels Fathers but coÌ„demning them of sacriledge he doe not incurre the censure of our Sauiour that hee is no better then a Heathen for not beleeuing the Church it selfe and whither it be not only the heresie of Vigillantius reproued by St. Hâ—â—rome to disallow the inuoâ—ation of Saints but also as St. Augustine speaketh most insolent madnesse to dispute against it THE SECOND ARGVMENT Supposing the Creed of the Apostles to bee the infallible worde of GOD and if not Scripture yet certainly contained in Scripture I prooue the lawfulnesse or rather necessitie of prayer to Saints out of our Beliefe of the Communion of Saints Which doubtlesse for this cause among other reasons it hath pleased God to make an Article of our Creede to excite vs so much the more thereby to this kinde of pyous worship inuocation of them For if sinfull men on earth are truely vnderstood to bee here comprehended vnder the name of Saints much lesse may the Blessed soules of Heauen be here excluded from that tytle And who can imagine that the Soules of the iust are seperated by death from the communion of the Church wherein they liued For as Saint Augustine saith why doe they run so fast to the Sacrament of Baptisme in extreame danger of death that were neuer in the Church before Or why doe they make such hast to be reconciled therunto before they dye that are deuided from it vnlesse it be to inioy after death the communion of it Wherefore I do not see how we can beleeue that there is one Communion of the Saints in heauen and the Saints on earth according to our Creed except we beleeue a Communion or which is all one a Communication of Mutuall offices betweene them wee praying to them and they praying for vs the greater helping the lesse and the lesse in all their necessities hauing recourse vnto the greater THE THIRD ARGVMENT Is also in explication and confirmation of the former And supposing that if it be lawfull to pray the Saints of Heauen it is no lesse lawfull to pray vnto them as I haue shewed before in the third consideration It may be framed in this maÌ„ner It is lawfull to recommend our wants by way of prayer or intreatie vnto all the friends of God that are desirous to heare vs and are able to helpe vs in perticuler But such are all the Saints of Heauen Therefore it is lawfull in such manner to commend our selues and our wants vnto them The Maior is so euident euen by the light of Nature that there needeth no Scripture to confirme it For as now at this day so no doubt before the Scripture was written it was lawfull for the childe to recoÌ„mend himselfe vnto the prayers of his Father or of any other holy man because it was beleeued that such kinde of men were able and willing to helpe them by their prayers And the onely reason of any waight which the Protestants alleadge for their not praying to Saints is especially this because they thinke the Saints of heauen doe not heare them Wherefore if they heare and can and will helpe vs there is no further doubt but that wee may pray and beseech them to relieue vs. The Minor therefore that the Saints in Heauen are most desirous and likewise most able both to heare and helpe vs is prooued first a Posteriore or from the effect and secondly a Priore or from the cause a Posteriore thus They doe actually present or recoÌ„mend our prayers vnto God The foure Apoc. 5. â— Beasts and the 24. Elders hauing golden vialls full of Odours which are the Prayers of Saints Therefore they not onely know our prayers in perticuler vnlesse thou wilt imagine that they Offer them sealed vp in a Bag as ignorant of that which is contained in them but also are a meane to God for vs and helpe vs to obtaine them The same is also prooued a Priore three manner of waies And first by the perfit loue and charitie which is between the Saints in heauen and their brethren here on earth For as Saint Paul saith Charitas nunquam excidit Charitie which is the loue of God and our brethren neuer falleth away but remaineth with his Saints for euer And the reason thereof is manifest For louing God so perfitly as they doe they must needes loue all those whom they know to bee so much beloued of him as that he gaue his onely Son to redeem them This therefore being supposed out of Scripture and the Minor consisting of two parts The first that the Saints of heauen desire to heare and helpe vs And the second that they are able to doe both the one the other The first part I proue by the latter in this manner The Saints of God desire it therefore they cannot want the means to performe it That they desire it is proued first out of the Nature of all true loue in generall For the which you must vnderstand That Loue being the first act of the Will and the formall obiect of both the act and power of the will beeing that which is good to loue another is nothing else but to will him that which is good especially for this reason because it is good vnto him So that the finall and formal
Spouse by that wonderfull similitude of thy conception natiuitie life and death to that of him whose baptist thou wert by the graces priuiledges and prerogatiues extraordinarily bestowed vpon thee loose my tongue that I may praise God as thou didst loose the tongue of thy Father Zacharie Obtaine for me that I may flie the occasion of sinne according to that example thou hast left me who from thy tender yeares diddest retire thy selfe into the desert Obtaine I say that the dew of thy grace may fall aboundantly vpon me that I may be washed and clensed in the floud of pennance by the merites of that precious bloud the sacred vessels whereof were washed by thee in the floud of Iordan 2. And if I must be great let my ambition bee to aspire to that greatnesse which was in thee that is to bee great before God If I must be couetous that it may be after the imitation of thee a couetousnesse of the riches which are Eternall If voluptuous let it be of these pleasures which thou diddest seeke with thy haire and sackcloath 3. I haue I confesse a â—ee very contrary to that vertue wherewith thou wert indued and this vice is the too great loue and care of this body which is nothing else but a sacke of wormes a dunghill of corruption and sincke of miseries Obtaine for me O great Anchorite great Prophet and great Martyr that I may from henceforth become an enemy to the sensuall and brutish part of my soule and aduersary to this stinking dunghill and a rigorous iusticer towards this liuing carkasse It being a thing most certaine that no man can hurt him who hurteth not himselfe 4. Thou hast maintained truth and iustice with danger yea with losse of thy owne life procure for mee that the one may be immouably seated in my heart and the other inuariably placed in my mouth 5. Inconstancie mother of perfidiousnesse accompanieth me and I am the reede continually exposed to the windes from which thou wast shadowed Obtaine for me by the merites of this thy vertue and by the abundant heauenly succour which thou neuer wantedst that from henceforth I may be more firme constant in such resolutions as proceede from the holy Ghost I aske this of thee O Champion of the liuing God and vnconquerable Soldiour by all the victories which thou hast gotten to the honour of him who by a speciall grace did with his owne mouth canonize thee 6. Heauen hath powred vpon thee so many benedictions that thou hast beene a wonder of the world and an astonishment of all ages by these graces I aske of thee as of the Angell of great Councell wisdome as of a Patriarcke saith as of a Prophet hope as of an Apostle of God the Father charitie as of a Martyr constancie as of a Doctor vnderstanding as of a Confessor deuotion as of an Anchorite vâ—ion with God and the guift â—f teares as of a Virgin puriâ—ie as of one who was kinne to â—esus Christ and his holy Mother that holinesse and alliance which the Sonne of God hath promised to contract with them who shall doe his holy will To whome hee hath promised that he will take them and treat them as his brethren Mother and sister O inestimable honour Title 14. To Saint Ioseph 1. TReasure-house of the incomparable treasures of Heauen earth Foster-father of him who nourisheth all creatures true and faithfull spouse of the Mother of God what comparison betweene the commaund giuen by Pharaoh â—o Ioseph the Patriarch ouer all Aegipt and this commaund giuen by God to thee Moyses conducted the people of God thou hadst the conduction of God him selfe AbrahaÌ„ was Father to the children of adoption but the true Son of God called thee Father Dauid gouerned the people of Israel according to Gods harts desireâ— but thou wert the gouernour and as it were the maister of God him selfe The Queene of Saba iudged the seruants of Salomon happy because they were eye witnesses of his maiesticall cariage and great wisdome but thou hast bene an eye witnesse of him in whome are all the treasures of knowledge wisdome of the father and who was the very originall source or spring from which Salomon did draw the wisdome that was in him Many Kings and Prophetes desired to see but one of the dayes of him whome thou didst bring vp and nourish both in his childhood in his youth Simeon thought himselfe happy to haue receued him but once into his armes thou hast an hundred and an hundred times had him in thine and placed him in the armes of his Mother sweetly kissing his feete as the feete of thy God his hands as the hands of thy Lord his cheeke as the cheeke of the Infant of thy Spouse God conducted his people going out of Egypt thou conducted'st God going into Egypt Hee by Iosua brought them into the Land of promise and thou broughtest backe Iesus into Palestine and broughtest him into Nazareth God was in the middest of his people by the mediation of Angels by day in the forme of a cloud and by night in the figure of a pillar of fire God himselfe in person hath been dayes nights weeks monthes and yeares one of thy familie thy foster childe The Arke of God gaue victorie in time of warre and plentifull benediction to Obedience in time of peace the humanitie of the Sonne of God which he tooke of thy holy Spouse was the true Arke of God in which was kept the Manna of diuinitie the Rodde of discipline the Tables of exacte obedience to the lawe of his Father 2. What graces what vertues what blessings did the Father then power vpon thee by the merittes of his Sonne the Sonne by the prayers of his Mother O thrice and foure times happy Patriarch by these so great priuiledges obtaine I beseech thee for me this grace that I neuer abuse the graces of my God And seeing that in the heauenly Sacrament of the Eucharist wee haue the same Child Lord and God of which thy Spouse was deliuered at Bethelem in Iuda and which was carryed by thee into Egypt and Nazareth and there nourished by thee and called there thy Sonne by the credit thou hast with him and by thy instant prayer bring to passe that I may be most deuout to this holy Sacrament and that my soule may melt in the presence thereof and that I may liue as it is fit hee liue who so often partaketh of that ineffable mysterie 3. By that extaticall affection which thou feltst towards the Sonne of God when hee called thee Father and towards his holy Mother of whome thou wert the Spouse beg of God by thy intercession for me the guift of an intrinsceall vnion and familiaritie with God accompanied with three qualities which were very eminent in thee Tender loue Humble reuerence Loyall fidelitie Title 15. To Saint Peter 1. LOuing Apostle Porter of Paradice and supreame Leiftenant of the crowne of Heauen by the
Deliuer mee then out of the prison of sinne breake in peeces the chaynes of my bad customes that they may fall from mee before the face of my God Title 16. To Saint Paul 1. VEssell of Election Apostle of the holy Ghost Interpretor of the Diuinitie Doctor of the Gentiles it is to thee that I haue my recourse and in whom I haue particuler confidence Considering the Charitie that made thee desire to be an Anathema for thy bretheren thy Humilitie which made thee name thy selfe a Childe vntimely borne acknowledging that thou haddest persecuted the Church thy inflamed Loue towards Iesus Christ which made thee liue more in him then in thy selfe 2. Thou calledst them thrice yea foure times accursed which loue not our Lord Iesus Christ deliuer vs then from this malediction and make vs such by thy prayers as in thy writings thou desirest we should be 3. Thou wouldst whilst thou wast heere vpon earth if it had beene in thy power haue set the whole world on fire in the loue of God 4. Thou now art able to doe what thou wilt enflame then my heart with the fire of Charitie so as I may truely say with thee I liue but I liue not in my selfe for Iesus Christ is my life 5. O when will the time come that my life may be hidden with God in Iesus Christ when will the hower come that I shall liue to him who dyed for me 6. When shall I put off the olde Adaem to put on the new formed and reformed according to God 7. When is it that thy iudgement shall make little or no estimation of the world when shall I neglect the figure of this world which passeth 8. When shall I aspire to that permanent Cittie to the free Ierusalem to the habitation of the Saints 9. Thou great Maister and Chatechist of our soules didst make so little reckoning of Faith if it were not accompanied with Charitie that albeit by it thou haddest transported mountaines distributed all thy goods to the poore spake with the tongues of Angels and of all Nations hadst had perfect intelligence of all the wonders of nature and of all the mysteries of Faith yea though thou haddest exposed thy body to flames all this had serued to no purpose but to make as it were a sound and noyse in the world but before God had beene thou saidst of no valew at all Obtaine then for me this faith quickened by Charitie frō which the iust draw the spring of life and by which as Saint Iames saith Abraham and all the Saints were iustified 10. Thou wilt that wee owe nothing to each other but mutuall loue assuring vs that Charitie is the bond of perfection loue vs then and in louing vs procure that we may loue each other 11. Thou didst carry incessantly the mortification of Iesus Christ in thy body procure that I may haue an internall sense feeling of his wounds that I may willingly be nayled with him to the Crosse 12. Thou prayedst thrice to be deliured from a troublesome tentation and it was answered vnto thee that the grace of God should suffice thee for that vertue is perfected in infirmitie Thrice yea foure times I make supplication to thee not to be deliuered from my temptations but that thou wilt obtaine for me grace and force to ouercome them to the glory of him who hath placed vs here in this world as in a field of warre in the sight of Angels and men to crowne such as shall fight valiantly Thou art hee who didst sight a good combat runne a good race happily end thy course kept thy faith and promise made and for whome the crowne was reserued in the handes of the iust Iudge obtaine for vs this great grace and these tryumphant Lawrels which shall neuer wither 13. More then two hundred soules by thy intercession were not drowned in shipwracke neere to the I le of Malta obtaine by thy prayers that wee may escape the shipwracke of sinne and safely ariue at the happy port of blessednesse 14. Thou desiredst with an inflamed desire to be deliuered from thy mortall body to bee the more neerly vnited to Iesus Christ assist mee that my desire bee alwayes transported to thinges Coelestiall and Eternall 15. Thou diddest afflict and tame thy body and not withstanding thou hadst no reprehension of conscience yet didst not thinke thy selfe in assurance Keepe me from vaine presumption and obtaine for me a filiall feare 16. We thinke our selues often to haue charitie toward God and towards our neighbour when we haue it not if we had the former who could seperate vs from the fidelitie we haue sworne to him could tribulation affliction hunger nakednesse danger persecution the sword No no wee should be assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor any creature should be able to seperate vs from the charitie founded in Iesus Christ 17. And if we had the latter our charitie would be sweete being without emulation without ambition without precipitation It would not be puffed vp by pride it would not bee stirred by choller it would neuer reioyce in anothers infirmitie but contrariwise reioyce in his perfections thinke well of him endure with patience what hee should doe vnto vs conceiue good hope of him Charitie neuer faileth shee is euer like to her selfe as well whether it be towards the learned or the ignorant towards the poore or the rich towards friend or foe towards him that is of a different humour from ours and him who is conformable to vs in our humours 18. When shall it be O great Champion of God Pillar of the Church wonder of the world that I shall haue these qualities Till then I will not cease to knocke at thy gates and I will not giue truce to my lippes or repose to my heart vntill I be heard in this suite Graunt it then grant it O holy Apostle amiable in Heauen imitable vpon earth redoubtable to the Spirits of Hell 19. By all the ropes with which thou wast tyed by all the prisons which thou sanctifiedst by the shipwrackes stonings whippings false accusations treasons and persecutions in which and by which thou didst honour the Sonne of God I beseech thee that my life may be to him a sacrifice and my death an holocaust Title 17. To St. Iohn the Euangelist 1. AS St. Peter was the most louing Apostle so thou wast the most beloued a quality which is singuler for which thou wert to be enuied with an holy aemulation and for the attaining whereunto three remarkable vertues should be necessary which all three shined admirable in thee Charitie Humilitie Puritie what will it cost the◠to obtain them for me 2. One neuer loueth God truly but he is beloued of him and one is not beloued of God but forthwith hee loueth God obtaine then for me O Secretarie of God that I may loue if not so much as I ought yet so much as
by his grace my forces are able to stretch vnto 3. Thou diddest drinke and draw from the fountain it selfe when thou leanedst vpon the breast of the Sonne of God a speciall signe of his fauour and loue to thee I doe asmuch as often as I present my selfe at his holy table but alas it is not with equall deuotion but with too much coldnes distraction drynesse and miserie Obtaine for mee thou fauorite of the word an obliuion of my selfe and an extasie of perfect dilection that receiuing him into me I may enter into him and hauing him neere to my heart I may be according to his heart And that albeit I receiue not frō him an Apocalips or reuelation of his secret iudgement yet that I may receiue at least a cleare and manifest knowledge of his holy will And howsoeuer I be not worthy presenting my selfe to his holy table to receiue into my selfe him betweene whose armes thou diddest repose yet at least I may not be so vnworthy as I am 4. Thou wert a domesticall witnesse of his most secret actions in the acknowledgment of which fauours obtaine for me the guift of a most straight vnion and internall conuersation with his diuine Maiestie 5. Thou hadst by vertue of his last will and testament the most noble part of the inheritance of the Son of God which was his blessed Mother In regard of this fauour I beg of thee an inflamed deuotion towards her to the end that being vnder her protection I may be so much the more in fauour with her Sonne by how much the more I shall by thee bee recommended to the Mother 6. Amongst all the rest at the last Supper thou tookest particuler notice of the traytor that betrayed his Lord and maister let no man then surpasse me in discouering temptations the enemies of his glory and ouercomming of them And as the poysoned cup did thee no hurt So pray you that no naughtie suggestion may hurt me 7. Thou camest out of the boyling Tunne of oyle without hurt I desire that I may so goe out of the occasions of sinne cleane and voyde of offence And that as thy banishment in the I le of Pathmos serued thee for a neerer approach to God comming thereby to vnderstand the more high mysteries of our Faith So the aduersities of this present life may be to me as a spur and motiue to draw nearer and nearer to God and to purge and purifie mee from the drosse of the world 8. Charitie to our neighbour was perchance neuer so rare in the world as it is now and yet neuerthelesse it was the lesson read vnto vs by that heauenly Maister first and afterwards by thee Exercise yet one acte of charitie towards me in obtaining for me the guift of a vertue which was so familiar vnto thee and without which we are vnworthy so much as of the name of Christians seeing it is the marke and liuerie by which his disciples are knowne which is Charitie it selfe 9. Eagle of the holy Ghost Virginall integritie and inflamed Charitie were the two winges which lifted thee vp to so pure and high contemplation of the Diuinitie Obtaine for vs the grace that our reason may be lifted vp to the loue of God with as great heate of affection as our sence is drawne downe to the loue of thinges corporall by the heat of concupiscense that I may be as much inclined to desire thinges coelestiall as the common sort of the world are inclined to desire thinges terrestriall And that the loue and affection I beare to my Creator may deuoure and consume all loue affection to his creatures sauing only that by which I shall loue them in him by him and for him 10. This is it O Secretarie of God which thou hast practised thy selfe wished vnto others ioyne to the documents thou hast giuen vs and to the examples thou hast left vs thy prayer and intercession to God for vs and wee shall be feruent imitators of the first patterne of all holinesse of whome thou hast beene and shall be for euer the best beloued Disciple Title 18. To the Apostles 1. FIrst and chiefest Peeres of Christianitie Princes of the Church you are the noble pearles of the mysticall body of our Redeemer the 12. Patriarches from whome descended the true Isralites the 12. Princes generals and conductors of the Armie of God camped about the humanitie of his Sonne the tabernacle of the Diuinitie You are the 12. sent to take a view of the Land of promise who haue brought vs newes of the wonders which are in that true land of the liuing flowing with milke and honey of aeternall comfort and consolation The 12. ouer-seers of Salomons house who furnish the Church with all necessary prouision The 12. Fountaines which the people found in the desart The 12. loaues of proposition who with the heate of perfect charitie alwayes appeare before the face of the highest The 12. precious stones set in order in the Rationall of the high Priest Iesus Christ The 12. young Lyons which support the Throne of the great King The 12. Oxen that carryed the Sea of his mercies The 12. Starres of which the crowne of the Church his spouse were made O Fathers of our soules obtain for vs the effects of your fatherly charitie pray for the whole Church that all errours heresies and superstitions may bee abolished Pray for the Sea Apostolique that it may be acknowledged for such of all the Nations of the earth Make the sound of your wordes so to be heard euery where as Christians dishonour not the excellency of their Faith by the corruption of their manners that they may liue in peace and brotherly amitie and that wee altogether both in this life and in the next may bee Heyres of your Faith Legataries of your Charitie fellowes and partakers of your glory Title 19. To the holy Euangelists 1. TRumpets of Israell cornets of the liuing GOD Notaries of Heauen Secretaries of the Church I haue now my recourse to you for the obtayning from him who is the mouth of wisdome and the Oracle of all truth a firme faith with true vnderstanding and vertue strength to put in execution the words documents miracles and misteries which you haue set down in writing Giue force to my voyce cleerenes to my conceit by which I may be able to oppose my selfe against the contrary opinions and by vertue of that which you haue writen bring backe againe to the bosome of the Chuoch such souls as are led out It shall be more easie for you to pray then to write to demaund then to perswade to intercede then to conuert doe then the one seeing you desire the other Banish out of our souls all error abuse superstition haeresie selfe iudgment To be short all whatsoeuer is any way repugnant to the truth of your wordes to the perfctions of your instructions to the example of your liues Title 20. To the holy Martyrs VIctimes of Paradice