forth with meekly anâ louingly discouered himselfe vnto hâ disciple calling her as he accustomeâ Mary And the presently acknowâledging his voice ansvvered Maââster seeing her Lord and her Goâ glorious and risen to life she adorâ him Ponder how far the ioy aâ miration deuotion and astonishmeâ she conceiued of so great a wondeâ might extend it selfe finding so muâ more then she desired for seeking dead body she found her Lord aliâ and victorious ouer death And ãâã sting her selfe at his feet she vvouâ haue adored kissed the most cred signes of his wounds that vvâ beautifull and resplendent but oâ Lord vvould not permit her as the saying Do not touch me for I haâ not yet ascended to my Father thou thinkest I am not to leaue thee so soone neyther shall this be the last tyme that thou shalt see me for he fulfilled her desires when he appeared to the women with whome she also was From hence thou mayst gather seruent desires to seeke God for if thou exercise thy selfe in the vertues of loue and deuotion patience ând perseuerance in which this holy sinner exercised her selfe seeking our Lord be assured that albeit thou hast been as great a sinner as this his disâble as he will shew thee his mercy âraunting thee that vvhich he gaue ânto her to wit to see her Lord and âayster risen glorious THE 4. POINT TO consider the infinite charity of thy Redeemer in honouring sinâers truly penitent sith that he chose âran eye witnes of his Resurrection woman a notorious sinner that he should deserue this âsapnâ the Apostles yea bââfore the ãâã of the Apostles before the âsciple singularly belouâd thoue the rest of the Apostles because with so many teares such perseuerance shâ had sought the Blessed body of her Lord. Ponder how that the multitudâ of sinnes past do not preiudice wheâ they are recompenced with greateâ seruour present Wherefore in regard that Magdalen was emineÌt in perforâming many thinges that others diâ not for the loue of Christ as we haââ said in her 25. MeditatioÌ of the seconâ booke was present accompaâ nied him at mount Caluaty assâ sted at his buriall euen so she ãâã most fauoured cherished of all Gather hence courage conâ dence that thou be not dismaid at thâ multitude of thy sinnes for if thoâ some in time art diligent in the seâ nice of God excelling therein througâ particuler seruices he will bestow ãâã thee speciall graces fauours thâ thou mayst deserue to see and eââ him for euer in his glory THE IIII. MEDITATION Of Christ his apparition to the Apostle Saint Peter THE 1. POINT TO consider how Saint Peter S. Iohn went to the monumeÌt entring in saw only the linnen clothes wherein his holy body had beene vvrapt and the napkin lying at one side which they tooke for a certaine signe of his Resurrection as the women had told them Ponder hovv that amongst the disciples of Christ Peter and Iohn were the most seruent and who ââcelled most in the loue of Christ â Lord for although these Apoâles knevv right well of the persecuâon that the lewes raised against the âciples of Christ keeping watchân at the monument they resolued âuertheles to go see how matters âssed Gather hence how the loue of âd maketh all thinges easy ouermaistereth preuayleth agaynst difficulties be they neuer so great Beseech him to graunt thee that loue charity which he gaue to his Apostls that laying aside humane feare thou mayst seeke him and enter whereso euer he shall be THE 2. POINT TO consider hovv these Apostles returning to their lodging Saint Peter retired himself to pray al alonâ and to ruminate vpon this mistery and meruayling with himselfe at thaâ vvhich he had seene and done ouâ Lord appeared vnto him risen anâ glorious Ponder first the singular content and ioy that bathed the hart ãâã the holy Apostle when he perceiueâ him present whome his soule loueâ and desired With hovv liuely a faââ of the Resurrection vvould he say I verily belieue o Lord that thou aââ Christ the Sonne of the liuing Goâ with what deuotion and tears vvoulâ he cast himself at the feet of his Loââ and Mayster who had done the samâ vnto him the night of his Passion deeming himselfe vn worthy of such a sight and presence vvould repeate those vvordes which he had spoken vpon another occasion to wit Goe forth from me o Lord because I am asinnefull man But by how much the more he humbled and debased himselfe the greater were the prerogatiues fauours he bestowed vpon him Ponder secondly what it was whereby Saint Peter made himselfe vvorthy of this apparition and thou âhalt find that it was the prayer and meditation of the thing he had seene in the monument Gather hence desires to be a loâer of prayer because that a good âife repentance of our sinnes and purpose of amendmeÌt are the means âredemy to find see enioy Christ âsen glorious THE 3. POINT âo consider how that the holy Apostle enioying that soueraigne âght and presence of Christ risen ãâã Lord would say vnto him Peace to thee it is I feare not thy sinnes are forgiuen thee Ponder how much S. Peter would be abashed and blush to see himselfe in the presence of his maister calling to mind how he had denyed and offended him and it is credible that he would abundantly renew his teares weeping bitterly and lamenting his sinne crauing agayne pardon therof From hence thou mayst gather how meruaylous great the diuine mercy is towardes all those who hartily bewayle their sinnes doe pennance for them Wherefore if thou lamentest thy sins although thou be a greater sinner theÌ this Apostle was and so vn worthy to receaue fauour benefits yet comming in time thou shalt make thy selfe worthy oâ his soueraygne apparitioÌ in the Kingâ dome of his glory THE 4. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lorâ hauing visited S Peter sayd vntâ him Goe confirme thy brethe in the fayth of this mistery so hâ our Lord vanishing out of his sighâ betooke himself presently with great ioy content to the place where his companions were to confirme them in fayth as his mayster had giuen him in charge And the testimony he gaue of the Resurrection of our Lord was so effectuall strong that many belieued in him Ponder the great desire God hath of thy saluation and that thou shouldst know the mistery of his Resurrection giuing thee maisters to instruct declare it vnto thee that thou shouldst belieue in him thereby to obtaine eternall life And gathering hence desires to be gratefull vnto our Lord endeaâour to make benefit of the fauoure thou shalt receaue at his diuine hand âo confirme thy brethren in vertue with thy exaÌples words that they may glorify prayse him THE V. MEDITATION Of Christ his apparition vnto the two disciples that went to Emmaus THE
to the happy port of euerlasting blisse THE XXV MEDITATION Of the conuersion of Saint Mary Magdalen THE 1. POINT TO consider the course of the life of S. Mary Magdalen Before her conuersion she was of light behaâiour giuen to company-keeping and to wordly meerings esteeming only that which was agreable to her owne gust and pleasure She had neither shame nor feare of God nor of men she regarded not her fame repâtation nor what people did say of her but was held for a publicke sinner Ponder that although this woman was so bad as hath beene said yet her hart being once touchâd with the inspiration of Almighty God she presently withdrew herselfe from all occasions and retyred herselfe from company betooke herselfe to râpentance and shedding teares of sorrow from her eies began to tearâs cast away her gay attâre and her Ie wells which were the snares where with the Diuell held her entangled Purpose not to ãâã thy coâuersion vvhen God shall call thee learne of this holy penitenâ to reject abhorre those things which were instrumeâts of offending him and labour for two things first ãâã to haue a âoly feare and distust of thy owne frâilty learning to beware by the example of this Magdalen who from little euills came to fall into many grieuous sinnes Secondly to hauâ great conâidence in the mercy of God at whose hands this sinner found remedy and thou also maist find the like if as thou hast followed her in sinning thou imitate her in repenting THE 2. POINT TO consider how S. Mary Magdalen vnderstanding that her Lord and Mayster dined in the house of Simon the Pharisy tooke an Alabaster boâe of ointment putting on meane apparell repayred thither to seeks the health of her soule Ponder how she that was a sinner came to the iust and holy she that was sicke and infirme came to the Phisitian the defiled to the Sanctifier the last sleep to the good shepheard And approaching vnto him cast her selfe at his feet and began to water them with teares and wiped them with the haire of her head and kissed them annointed them with a precious oyntment with sighes feruent desires of her hart crauing that she might be reconciled vnto him ãâã the kisse of peace Gather out of all this how necesiary it is for remedy of thy sinnes to haue speedy recourse to Christ our Lord and prostrating thy selfe at his feet and cleauing fast vnto them by humble feruent affection to powre out teares of compunction proceeding from the very bortome of a contrite hart And as S. Mary Magdalen conuerted those thinges which had beene the occasion of her perdiâion to be instruments of her satisfaction imploying her eyes hayre lips and precious ointments and odours and her selfe wholy in the seruice of God so thou oughtest to turne to his seruice whatsoeuer heâretofore thou hast imploied in offending him casting all thy honour reputation at the feet of Christ for there it nothing greater nor better theÌ to cleaue fast to the feete of thy Lord God and Mayster THE 3. POINT TO consider what opinion the Pharisy had concerning B. Mary âagdalen esteeming her a sinner Christ himselfe lesse pure because he permitted himselfe to be touched ây her Ponder how that those who âonuert themselues to God haue âresently some that murmur againât them and censure their actions but God himselfe hath care to defend the as he did Saint Mary Magdalen whâe he demanded of the Pharisy if he did see the woman and her teares sighes and humiliation and confusioÌ that considering them well he mighty blush and be ashamed of the little he did towardes our Saniour and theâeby obtaine pardon of God Thou maist gather hence a desire to serue louâ God very much because these things moue his diuine Maieâty to pitty and clemeâcy and to pardon thy sinnes be they neuer so great and enormous as he did pardon this holy penitent and of captiue of the Diuell set her free and deliuered her out of his chaines and exalted her to the happy and blessed ãâã of the children of God THE 4. POINT TO consider how that albeit Saiââ Mary Magdalen had heard from the mouth of Christ Iesus that all her ânnes were forgiâen her and that she was absolued from all botâ guik ãâã paine through the abundant grace which was communicated vnto her she notwithstanding remained still fixed at her Redeemers feet wold not depart from thence vntill her maister said to her Goe in peace And she began presently to punish her body did great rigorous pennanee all her life time which endured the space of two and thirty yeares after Ponder what an one she was when she came to the feet of Christ what an one she departed thence she came dead but departed aline she came a sinner but departed holy she came the slaue of the Diuell and enemy of God but departed the daughter Espouse of Christ. Gather hence a desire to do pennance for thy sinnes for these be the fruits which this vertue bringeth do not presently forget them againe making accouÌt that they are already âorgiuen thee because this happy woman and Blessed Saint did not so âmitate her and although thy sinnes should haue beene many more and much ãâã then here were though thou hast lost the grace of God âat oftener thou mayst recouer it and attayne vnto a great degree of sanctity aboue many iust which neuer lost it THE XXVI MEDITATION Of the miracle of the siue Loaues THE 1. POINT TO consider hovv different the piety mercy of the Apostles is from that of our B. Sauiour for they besought him seeing there was not where with to feed so great a multitude to dismisse them that going into the towne they might buy themselues victualls But our Sauiour perceauing the stendernes of their mercy and charity shewed the greatnes of his owne most bountifull mercy and sought by himselfe affectually to remedy that necessity ãâã he did Ponder the care which Christ âath to supply the wantes of those which serue him and how that his will desire and pleasure is such and it pleaseth him greatly that thy mercy be not scant or sparing but great free Teaching thee to lift vp thine eyes to heauen and acknowledging that from thence all good is to be expected Gather hence desires to place thy confidence not in money albeit all thinges obey it neyther in the world or humane forces but in the bounây and infinite goodnes of thy Creatour whose hand as the Apostle saith is alwaies open to releeue and giue his blessing to the hungry and needy not only of corporall but also much more of spirituall food THE 2. POINT TO consider how the Apostles being demanding by our Blessed Sauiour of the fiue loaues which they had forth with and without repugnance and with a very good will they presented them vnto him togeather with the two fishes they had in
the like comfort and benefiâ by thy paines afflâctions if in them thou haue recourse to prayer as our B. Sauiour had in his THE 2. POINT TO consider how the Sonne of God praying with more force earnestnesse the anguish sorrow feare of death and the manifold torments which he was to suffer did so wonderfully increase that his sweat became as drops of bloud âtickling downe vpon the earth Ponder first the greatnes of the torments which our Sauiour suffered for if the only representation of them wrought so strange an effect in him who is the vertue and fortitâde of God what may we thinke it was to endure them Ponder secondly the example which our Lord giueth thee to striue strongly with thy passions and bad inclinations withstanding them all valiantly euen to the shedding of thy bloud if it be needfull for the ouercomming of them Gather hence desires to fight against them propâsing to thy selfe all those things which may terrify thee or cause thee any way to shrinke in the way of vertue or in the accomplishment of the diuine will whether ât be feare of pouerty dishonor sicknes griefe torment or vvhatsoeuer other difficulty that thus preparing thy selfe thou maist preuaile and get victory ouer them THE 3. POINT To consider the immensity of the loue of Christ our Lord and the great liberality vvhich he shevveth thee in shedding voluntarily his precious bloud for thy sake not staying till the tormentors should doe it vvith their stripes thornes nailes Ponder hovv great the agony sorrovv of our Lord was though the apprehension of all the torments vvhich he vvas to suffer in euery part of his body sith it vvas of force to make a bloudy svveat to fall dovvne from his face necke breast shoulders leauing him vvholy bathed and embrued in his ovvne bloud Gather from hence desires that all the parts of thy body might become as so many tongues to praise magnify the loue and mercies of thy Lord or so many eyes to weep tears of bloud for thy sinnes or so many hands to chastise reuenge thee on thy flesh by rigourous and sharp pennance it hauing beene the cause why thy Sauiour suffered so much especially at that time all at once and vpoÌ a heap all that he was to sustaine after at seuerall times THE 4. POINT TO consider the vigour and force which the most holy flesh of Christ receaued by praver to encouÌter with the many griefs torments of his passion it being strengthned to vndergo that which before it did naturally fly from abhorre Ponder that the causes of courage and strength of mind and body which our Lord shewed hââre were tvvo First because he saw that by his death and passion he was to heale al the mortal soares wounds of the mysticall body of the Church which are the faithfull Secondly to giue vigour force courage to his elect to vanquish and subdue their spirituall and corporall enemies vâdergoing for him and for his honour and glory afflâctions persecuâions reproaches torments Crosses and death as Saint Peter and S Paul S. Andrew S. Steuen S. Laurence many others did imitating like faithfull souldiers their valiant Captaine who went before and gaue them a liuely example of suffering patiently constantly Gather hence a desire to arme thy selfe like a true souldier of Christ with the armour of prayer which is the aâmour of light that in all thy labours and afflâctions thou mayst fight and get the victory ouer thine enimes the world the flesh and the âiuell THE XXXV MEDITATION Of the comming of Iudas of the inturies done vnto our Sauiour THE 1. POINT TO consider how that our Saulour hauing ended his prayer that salfe traitor âained friend Iudas approached with a great multitude of armed men making himselfe the leader and Captaine of them to apprehend Christ our Lord. Ponder the extremity of euills wherinto this wretch is falleÌ because he did not resist his couetousnes at the beginning and vvhat may be expected from thee if thou resist not that which thou feelest in thy selfe especially hauing got so good meanes of vertue as he had for thou dost not learne in such a schoole thou seest not such miracles neither conuersest with such a Mayster nor with such school-fellowes Yet all this was not âhough to restraine this accursed conpânion and keep him from falling like another Lucifer from the highest degree in the Church to the deepest bottome of all wickednes to wit to become the head conspirer of the death of Christ. Gather out of all this a great feare of the iudgements of God beseeching him not to leaue thee least thy impiety proceed so far as to work thine owne ruine by the benefits which he bestoweth vpon thee THE 2. POINT TO consider that the signe vvhich this traytor had giuen to the Ministers of Sathan to betray his Mayster was this Whomesoeuer I shall kisse that is he hold him fast Ponder that the enemies of the authour of life could entrap him by no other wile then by shew of loue And âe accepted this cruell kisse that with the swetâes thereof and of his meeknes he might soften the rebellious and obstinate hart of Iudas From thence thou maist gather a great confidence in the mercy of this our Lord that he will not refuse nor disdaiâe thy kisse nor of those sinners which desire to reconcile thâselues to him renew their friendship with him which they haue lost seeing he did not reiect the kiââe of him who so cruelly betrayed him sold him as Iudas did THE 3. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord encountred those impiouâ officers of iniustice and demanding of them Whome seeke yee they answered him Iesus of ãâã and âur Lord said vnto them I am ãâã Ponder first that word of Christ whome seeke yee as if he should say âake heed you seek a iust innocÌetââan who doth good to al ãâã no man You seeke him who descended from heauen to earth for your eternall weale and saluation and you seeke him to depriue him of his life Gather from hence desires to seeke this thy Lord but after a far different manner to wit for thy saluation and remedy for his honour and glory thou mayst be assured that seeking him after this manner thoâ shalt find him Ponder secondly that word I am he A vvord which vnto his good Disciples vvas alvvayes a great comfort in their trauailes and afflictions but vâto the bad it is of so great feruour and dread that it alone did fell them flat to the grouÌd neither could they haue risen agayne if the same our Lord who ouerthrew them with one only word had not giuen them leaue to rise Gather hence desires to seeke God and note by the way that vnto the good who seeke him in prayer he is a Father and protectour he is their repose and ioy But vnto the euill vvho seeke him to offend him and
Ghost which thou wantest and hast need of THE 2. POINT TO consider that wheras our Lord God was rich he made himselfe poore as S Paul saith that by his pouerty we might be rich Ponder how much God loueth pouerty being himselfe the chiefest riches sith he calleth Blessed the poore in spirit promising vnto such the kingdome of heauen Gather hence desires to be poore in spirit in this world that thou mayst be rich in heauen saying with the Prophet Looke vpon me o Lord and haue mercy on me because I am needy and poore For what King or Prince is there in the world that lodging in the house of a poore man bringeth not with him his royall furniture for his owne chamber and at his departure bestoweth not on him great graces and fanors Wherefore O Lord seeing thou being the cheifest riches hast vouchsafed to lodge in my poore cottage adorne it with the hangings of grace and vertue which are the furniture of thy royall house and pallace doing some fauor to the maiââer of the place where thou art entertayned THE 3. POINT TO consider the graces benefits which our Lord God did bestow on Obededom and all his for hauing recaaued into his house the Arke of the Testament which was only a shadow figure of this most holy SacrameÌet but more greater benefits are receaued wheresoeuer this diuine Arke coffer of the treasurs of God entreth which is his most sacred body pierced opened in so many places discouering his riches Ponder how this our Lord entring corporally into the house of S. Peters wiues mother deliuered her from her Feuer entring into the house of the Arch-sinagogue he reuiued his daughter In the Pharisees house he pardoned Saint Mary Magdalen her sinnes finally entring into S. Elizabeths house he sanctified the infant Saint Iohn replenished his Mother with the holy Ghost for where God entreth he worketh great wonders and miracles Beseech him that seeing his diuine maiesty vouchsafeth to enter into thy poore house and to be lodged therein and is so rich in mercy he vvould make thee partaker thereof pardoning thy sins and restoring thee to a new life of grace to make thee a Worthy habitation of his THE V. MEDITATION That Christ our Lord is a good Pastor THE 1. POINT TO consider that Christ Iesus our Lord to make himselfe known to be a good Pastor would not only put on the grosse skin of our humanity that his sheep which are his select might know follow and loue him not fly from him but would also feed maintaine them with his owne most precious bloud Being parched with heat cold with frost leeping on the ground fasting day and night finally like a good sheepheard being slaine leaning vnto a tree to deliuer his sheepe from the infernall wolfe Ponder the good offices which this excellent sheepheard hath done for thee an vnprofitable sheep feeding thee curing thee seeking thee with the grieâe of his hart teares of his eyes and the sweat of his browes vndergoing so many afflictions and toyles to reduce bring thee backe to the fold vpon his shoulders and shou like a lost vngratefull sheep hast strayed and cast thy selfe so often from him to betake thy selfe to lewd pastures which did poison and kill thy soule Gather hence instamed effectuall desires to follow the steps of thy shepheard vvalking vvhere he walketh and be assured that if thou permit thy selfe to be ruled and gouerned by him nothing shal be wanting to thee THE 2. POINT TO consider how often in presence of this soueraigne shepheard without feare or shame thou hast grazed and fed in the greene meddowes and forbidden pastures of thy intemperances not fearing the perill danger of falling into the gripes teeth of the infernall wolues which be the Diuells from whence this good shepheard bath so often deliuered thee that wert their prey Ponder how vngratefull thou hast beene to this great Maystershepheard Christ Iesus for the fauors benefits he hath bestowed on thee in giuing his life for thee sith not coÌtent to be an vnprofitable erring sheep of his fold thou art also becom a rauenous wolfe persecuring him with thy sinnes From hence thou mayst gather desires to bewayle and lament them to call vpon thy Pastour vvith mournefull bleating that he may seek and find thee saying as a wandring and lost sheep vnto him My Pastour I knew well to stray and loose myself ãâ¦ã to reclayme and recouer my ãâ¦ã I knovv not Seeke me O Lord fetch me out of the briary bushes of my sinnes into the fertile pastures of thy fauour and grace THE 3. POINT TO consider that this good Pastor sayd I knovv my sheep they know me and I loue them so vvell that I haue not doubted to giue my life for them And if this seem much how great an argument of loue may it be to haue offered and giuen himselfe for those wolues which haue maÌgled and slaine him Ponder first how much it importeth thee to treate often with thy Pastour that thou mayst know him and vnderstand his pleasure desire will for this is it which he most expecteth of thee Secondly how much it auaileth thee to knovv thy selfe that if thou haue any thing not beseeming the sheep of such a Pastour thou correct and amend it least he expell thee out of his flocke which were the greatest disaster that could befall ãâã Gather hence ãâã to be the sheep of this sheepheard giuing him all thou hast without reseruation of any thing to thy selfe that is thy soule and body with thy senses thy hart thoughts meanes honours life and contentment sith he gaue all these first for thee and now to seale vp the whole he giueth himselfe to thee as food to eate And if he haue loued thee so much and bestowed such fauours on thee being his Enemy what will he giue thee or what will he deny thee being his Friend a good and profitable sheep in regard thou art marked and sealed with his precious Bloud THE VI. MEDITATION That Christ our Lord is a Spouse THE 1. POINT TO consider that our LORD is the Spouse of thy soule in whom in most perfect manner â found all that which can be desired in a good Spouse Beauty as God and as man for he was goodly of beauty aboue all the sons of men Nobility of birth as well of his Fathers as of his Mothers side Discretion most perfect for he is wisedome it selfe Infinite riches for he is heire of all that God hath in heauâ and in earth finally he is very louing and of a sweet and peaceable coÌdition Ponder that this spouse knoweth right well how to honour adorne and beautify with his graces and vertues the soule that is to be his Espouse obseruing towards her the ceremonies of true loue and taking pleasure to see and discourse with her dayly and to cherish her with the pretious and
this holy exercise of preparing thâ selfe for death it being a bridle foâ many euills and a spurre to all kinâ of vertue THE 3. POINT TO consider that it is a law appointed by Almighty God as Saiââ Paul doth testify to all men once ãâã dye not twice or oftener Wherupon ensueth that the hurt and domage of an euill death is irremediable for all eternity as likewise the profit of a good death is euerlasting Ponder that if it be but only once that thou art to dye and theron dependeth thy eternall saluation or damnation how liuest thou then so carelesly not exercising thy selfe during life in such manner that thou mayst dye a happy death Gather hence a great desire to mortify thy selfe in whatsoeuer thou disordinatly louest be they thy Parents Brethren Friends Honours riches or pleasures seeing thou art to leaue and depart from all at thy death And to the end thou mayst feele it the lesse procure often to dye in thy life tyme mortifying thy senses and shutting vp thy eyes least they may see that which is not lawfull to be desired for thy saluation refrayning thy tongue least it speake things hurtfull to thy Neighbour c. for so dying and mortifying thy selfe in thy life time thou shalt find Almighty God fauourable vnto thee at the houre of thy death THE 4. POINT TO consider how perplexed and troubled thou vvilt be in that traunce and agony of death vvhen thou shall see a holy candle lighted aâ thy beds side and thy winding sheeâ spread vpon thy bed and the standers by calling vpon thee to prepaââ thy selfe for death and to commend thy selfe with thy hart if thou cansâ not with thy mouth vnto the mercy of Almighty God Ponder the terrour anguish and perplexitâ of mind thou art to feele in that passage not so much for that thou art to leaue the beloued company and society of thy body other things which thou didst willingly enioy as for to see and vnderstand that the dreadfull houre of account and finall sentence doth approach the which shal be according to thy works either of eternall saluation or damnation to enioy for euer God Almighty or to burne for all eternitâ in âell fire Gather hence a great feare and âerrour calling to mind the insupporâable paines and trauailes that thy âody and soule are to endure in the âoure of death and withall a liuely âesire neuer more to forget the same âhylest thou liuest Reprehend and âondemâe thy carelessenes demaund âften times of thy selfe How if I âeane to dye well do I not liue well for it is a Law common and ordinaây that he that liueth well dyeth âell he that liueth ill dyeth also ãâã Craue of thy Blessed Sauiour ââat by his most holy death he will âouchsafe to giue thee also a good âappy passage âHE IIII. MEDITATION Of the particuler Iudgement THE Preparatory Prayer as before The composition of place shal be to imagine Christ our âuiour as the soueraigne Iudge seaâd one a Throne of Maiesty ready to âdge thy soule which is accompaâed with thy good and bad deedeâ and that on either side of thee stand thy good and bad Angell expecting whose prey thou shalt be The Petition shal be to beseecâ our Lord God that he will vouchâasâ to shew thee his goodnes clemeâcy vsing toward thee not Iustice bââ Mercâ seeing he is as S. Paul âaiââ the Father of Mercies THE 1. POINT TO consider the time and placeâ wherein the particuler Iudgmenâ of euery one is to be to wit the verâ instant of death at the point wheâ the soule shall leaue the body deââ poiled of all the good it had and ãâã that very time moment the whoââ iudgement shal be concluded the seââ tence giuen and executed Ponder how much it behoââeth thee to haue alwaies before ãâã eyes this houre and moment ãâã whichâ is to be a beginning of thy ãâã ternall good or euill For in eueââ moment of these thou maist meritââ demeâiâ either life or death which to endure for euer The place of ãâã iudgement shal be wheresoeuer deââ âhall first arrest thee on the land or ân the sea in thy chamber or in the âtreet in thy bed or on the way for âs this soueraigne Iudge hath power ând iurisdiction in euery place so in âll places he hath this Tribunall and ââaketh his iudgement that in euery âlace thou mayest feare because thou ânowest not whether that shal be the âlace of thâ Iudgement Out of which âou art to draw a great feare of ofânding God in any place where he âay iudge thee THE 2. POINT TO consider the most rigorous examen whereunto the Iudge shall âll thee seeing it to be vniuersall âf all thinges whatsoeuer charging ââee withall thy sinnes of deedes âords and thoughts euen of those âhich thou hast idly done or spoken ââough thou shouldst haue quite forââtten them this accusation shall ãâã so cleare euident as no manner ãâã doubt may be made thereof Seeââg therfore thy selfe coÌpassed about âith so many anguishes and straits âhat canst thou doe but say with the Prophet The panges of death hauâ enuironed me and the sorrowes oâ hel haue compassed me round abouâ Ponder the affliction paine â sorrow wherein thy poore soule shaââ find it selfc at so strait and rigoroââ an examination in which it is to giââ an account of vvhatsoeuer it hâââ fraudulenty taken euen of a pin ãâã âagge of a point There thou shaltââ asked account of thy life thy goodâ and family of the inspirations ãâã God and aboue all of the most prââcious bloud of Christ and vse of thâ holy Sacraments Gather hence a great desâââ from this day forward to examiââ thy conscience with the greatest ãâã uerity thou canst chastising thy seâââ rigorously for the faultes thou âhâ find though theâ seeme but littleâ sith he that is afterwards to examiââ and iudge thee is God who âeeâ more then thou art able to see Bââ seech him that he will not enter inââ iudgement with thee because noâ liuing as his holy Prophet testify ãâã âhalbe iustifyed in his sight THE 3. POINT âO consider how sad and sorowâfull thy soule will be at the deââting from thy body into which ââd hath infused it wherwith it ãâã liued in so strait a band of loue ãâã amity for it shall be scarce out ââhe body when as troupes of diââls will straight encounter it ãâã it forth with to appeare in iudâânt before the tribunall seate oâââd Ponder the terrours and feares ââich then will be set it on euery side ââw then it shall feele true sorrovv ãâã paynes which in comparison of âââse it hath sustained in this life ââough otherwise great shall seeme ãâã were painted What griefe shall âaue when it shall perceiue that âââre is noâmore appealing from the ââall sentence which the supreme âge shall pronounce How will it ââe to know whether it be in Godâââour or no For of the
he had negotiated and broght to passe by his death said vnto them Peace be with you Ponder how great a friend Christ our Lord is of peace sith the first word he vttered by the ministery of his Angells when he came into the world was giuing peace to men And being in the world he sayd to his Apostles My peace I giue vnto you And being to depart out of thâ vvorld My peace I leaue to vouâ purchased by my death and Passion Whence it followeth by good conâsequence that our Lord recommended vnto vs in life death nothing so much as peace and because sinnâ had beene cause of so great emnitâ betweene God and man Christ ouâ Lord vouchfased thereby to reconcile and set vs at peace with his Eternall Father to receaue the blowes oâ his rigorous iustice vpon that sacreâ humanity rent and torne in a thoâsand places and setting himselfe ãâã the middest to say Peace be vviâ you Hence thou maâst gather two thinges the first how often thou being at emnity with God he hath inââted thee to peace thou hast not âdmitted it nâuer ceasing to warre âgainst him with thy sinnes The seâond how little peace thou hast kept with thy neighbour falling out with âim for matters of small importance ând trifles Beseech this Lord who is God of peace to come into thy soule â graunt thee that which the world âannot giue establishing peace beâvvene thy soule and thy spirit beâeene thy powers and senses beâeene his Eternall Father thy breâren THE 4. POINT To consider how Christ our Lord entring the disciples were troââed and affrighted imagining that âey saw a spirit and our Lord sayd them Why are you troubled and âgitations arise into you harts See ãâã handes and feet that it is I âdle and see for a spirit hath not ãâã and bones as you see me to ãâã Ponder the sweetnes of his voice which was sufficient to appease them rid them of all feare to makâ them to know him as who shoulâ say My deerest disciples I am thâ same I was wont to be in my nature in person in quality I am you Sauiour your Master your brother your God feare not the fury of thâ Iewes nor the indignation of thâ Gentills nor the cruelty of Kings Princes who haue risen against me nor those who oppose theÌselues anâ persecute you for I being in your câââpany you are secure in safeguard Gather hence security confââdence for thy soule timerous feaâ full through the manifold sinnes thâ hast committed saying to her O mâ soule feare not for although thy ãâã be many this Lord promiseth sureth thee of the pardon of them This Lambe is he that taketh avvâ the sinnes of the world and he ãâã will take away thine if he be protectour of thy life of who shouldst thou be afrayd âHE VII MEDITATION âf Christ his apparition to the Apostles Saint Thomas being present THâ 1. POINT TO consider how our Lord the disciples being gathered togeather entred and sayd to his âisciple who had not belieued the Miâââery of his Resurrection Put in thy ânger hither see my handes being hither thy hand put it into ây side be not incredulous but âithfull Ponder the infinite charity oââod in being solicitous for the vvellâre of his sheep for hauing expected ãâã dayes to see if Thomas vvould call himselfe and acknowledge the ârdnes of his âart he would not âferre the remedy any longer but me in pârson to cure this his ãâã and lost sheep and taking him by âhand desired to put place him his hart Gâther hence hovv great the mercy of God is graunting thee ãâã infallible promise and assurance ãâã he will not conceale himselfe froâ thee if thou seeke him yea albeit thâ hast been as incredulous as S. Thââ mas confessing him for thy ãâã thy God as he did he will grauââ thee that which he afforded him thââ is his body not only to touch hiâ but also to receaue and enioy him thy brest THE 2. POINT TO consider how that our Lorâ who permitted not himselfe to ãâã touched by Mary Magdalen louiâââ him so deerly and seeking him earnestly taketh Thomas as we ãâã being incredulous by the cold ãâã froâen hand maketh it warme ãâã cherisheth it and putteth it into bosome heaping vpon him so maââ benefits Ponder how that whatsoeâââ S. Thomas desired and asked ãâã Lord graunted him as if by his liâuing some profit were to ensuâââ Christ whome loue made to ãâã for gaynes as his owne yea ãâã procure them euen with his losse Gather hence an exceeding deââre to beare with the defects of thy brother not to be slacke nor weaâyed with seeking his redresse but euen leauing thy owne right to goe vnto him if he will not come to thee ând with breach of thine owne will âo coÌdescend vnto his perfectly imiâating Iesus Christ our Lord who alâeyt he was triumphant and glorious âet did he not omit to come and doe âaint Thomas so great and speciall âauours and priuiledges And as he âid with him so doth he also dayly âith thee when thou commest to reâeaue him corporally and spiritually âarne to be gratefull and seruiceable âerfore THE 3. POINT TO coÌsider S. Thomas his worthy ãâã confession for as soone as he touââed as piously vve may belieue âe precious wounds of his Sauiour had his eyes enlightned with that ââuine Sunne he became so illumiâââed with the rayes beames of his ââuine light and splendour that he confessed plainly clearly the articlâ of his resurrection which he had noâ belieued before Ponder the loue which Chrisââ our Lord hath to sinners and whicâ himselfe shevved to haue to this hiâ incredulous and sinnefull Apostleââ sâth the sinne of his small sayth waâ not inough to make him leaue to bââstow such fauours and benefits vpoâ him as being impâssible gloriouâ to vouchsafe him his diuine hands ãâã feet bowells and hart to touch anâ handle Ponder secondly how the Apââstle seeing himselfe so honoured anâ fauoured of our Lord brake out iâ to these tender and deuoât vvord saying My Lord and my God ãâã with good reason he called him hiâ and not our Lord because he louâ him so tenderly that for his good loue âe appeared to all the Apostleâ and forgetting as it were all the ãâã vpon him alone bestovved the ãâã and benefit to inflame him in his ââuine loue From hence thou mayst ãâã desires to confesse with S. Thomas that Iesus is thy Lord and thy God for his loue is so exceeding great that âhe is ready to do for thee alone that which he did for Saint Thomas sith that as well for thee as for him he deliuered himselfe vp to death to purchase for thee eternall life THE 4. POINT TO consider the worder which our Lord said to his Disciples Becausââhou hast seene me Thomas thou haââ belieued Blessed are they that haue not seene haue
vnto our Lord after they haue receaued it For the excellency and soueraingty of this diuine Sacrament in which is contained God himselfe requireth that the disposition and preparation therto be made with all care possible And therefore one of the best preparations wherewith all may come to receaue aboundant grace will be retiring themselues first to consider well some one point of the sixe which are set downe in the two ensuing meditations vvhich are of the Feare and Loue of God because these two vertues vnite the soule with God are the two armes vvherewith she is to imbrace her spouse and which do instruct and teach her what God is and what she is For Feare causeth in the soule humility and reuerence Loue confidence deuotion Feare discouereth the greatnes of God and thy basenes Loue his goodnes and clemency Feare his iustice and our sinnes Loue the mercy and confidence we ought to haue of the pardon of them If therfore loue and feare worke so great good in the soule thou must endeauour by all meanes that these sayd considerations may ingender and produce in thine these two pearles But because our corrupt Nature so much affecteth variety that though the consideration be most excâllent yet is it presently most weary of it I will put in these two Meditations six points as I haue sayd which may serue for preparations to six CoÌmunions for new meat sharpneth stirreth vp the appetite of man exciteth in him a new hunger desire to vnite himselfe with God for all these sauces and seasonings of considerations are necessary to make him eat the bread of Angels who hath set his affection on the delights food of beasts After these shall follow six Meditations which containe eighteen points or considerations wherein the seruant of God may find sufficient matter for so many coÌmunions to render due thanks after he hath receaued out of which he may reape the fruit and profit he desireth THE I. MEDITATION Of Feare THE 1. POINT TO consider the immensity and maiesty of that Lord which really truly is contained in the most B. Sacrament for he is the very same who with his only will hath created conserueth gouerneth heauen earth with it alone can anihilate destroy it all Ponder the admiration and astonishment which it caused to King Salomon to see that the greatnes of God came to liue in that holy TeÌple vvhich he had built for him being notwithstanding the most solemne the most sumptuous and most magnificent that was in the world With hovv much more reason oughtest thou to maruell feare and tremble being but a poore Emment and silly vvorme to goe to receaue into thy house of base clay that immense and diuine maiesty Creatour conseruer and gouerner of the world whome the Apostle S. Saul calleth the brightnes of the glory of God being so ill prepared as thou art thy brest also hauing beene not the Temple of the Holy Ghost as in reason it ought to be but rather a denne of dragons receptacle of serpents basiliskes Gather hence a great feare of the iustice of God with a detestation of thy manifold sins for thou being so vile a creature and vnworthy to haue in thee so great a good thou fearest not to enclose retaine harbour in thy strait and narrovv brest this omnipotent Lord God whom the heauens cannot comprehend THE 2. POINT TO consider who thou art who he is whom thou goest to receaue and thou shalt find that an abhominable sinner goeth to receaue his Sanctifier a vile creature his Ceatour a wretched slaue his Lord finally a miserable caâiffe the supreme omnipotent God at whose beauty the Sunne Moone do meruaile whose maiesty heauen and earth do reuerence by whose bounty the society of all the Blessed is maintayned Ponder how being so vile base as thou art thou art notvvithstanding admitted to receaue a God so high hovv being so little canst thou entertayne so soueraigne a maiesty The Creatour of the heauens the King of Angells men before whose greatnes the strongest pillars of heauen do tremble and the most high Seraphims shrink in their wings for very feare and reuerence and if all thinges created be in the sight of this great God as if they vvere not vvhat I pray thee vvilt thou be in his diuine presence to receaue him The Church singeth and much admireth that this great Lord vnto vvhome heauen and earth is a straite place disdained not to enter into the wombe of a Virgin Measure her purity with thy impurity her grace with thy deformity her innocency with thy malice and thou shalt find far greater reason to wonder at thy boldnes in harbouring the Sonne of God of the most B. Virgin whome she conceaued and conserued in her breast with so great humility Gather hence great feare least this soueraigne King and Lord command his seruants to bind thee hand and foot for that thou commest not with the garment of due innocency and purity to this holy table and celestiall banquet cast thee into the vtter darkenes of hell there to receaue thy deserued punishment THE â POINT TO consider the great iustice of our Lord and how much he abhorreth sinne those which full often thou hast committed against his diuine Maiesty for which thou deseruedst many yeares ago to haue been burning in hell fire and as if thou wert very iust and holy with so little feare thou presumest to entertayne into thy house the terrible Iudge searcher of thy life manners not remembring the menaces threats of the Apostle against sinners who vnworthily as thou dare eat drinke the sacred body and bloud of our Lord. Ponder that if S. Iohn Baptist so pure a creature sanctified in his Mothers wombe said that he was not worthy to loose the lachet of the shoe of our Lord how shalt thou be worthy to receââe him In like manner iâ S Peter Prince of the Apostles and heâd of the Church being astonished at the power Maiesty of Christ âel downe at his knees saying Go forth from me because I am a sinnefull man how darest thou come to put thy mouth to his diuine side sustaine thy self with that precious wine that springeth Virgins From hence thou mayst gather a great feare reuerence before thou commest presumest to receaue the maiesty of this soueraigne God and an humble acknowledgement of thy basenes a deep sorrow for thy sins perfectly imitating that sinner the Publican to obtaine pardon therof who knocking his brest said God be mercifull to me a sinner THE II. MEDITATION Of Loue. THE 1. POINT TO consider that as great as God is in Maiesty in iustice and in detestation of sin as hath been said in the precedent Meditation so great he is in goodnes in mercy in loue towards sinners which causeth him to present himselfe in human flesh in the most B. Sacrament