short Pilgrimage I may dwell with him for ever in his eternall Paradise The Second joyfull Mysterie She visits The visitation which the blessed Virgin made to her cousin St. Elizabeth Luke 1. She visits St. Eliza. to rejoyce With her for what was told by th'Angells voyce Our Father c. The blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the consideration of Gods wonderfull works Which were now made known unto her by his heavenly Messenger for pondring all his words after his departure from her she admiringly compares her own meaness with Gods Immensity She ravishtly extolls his mercy his goodness his compassion towards poor mankind She gratefully acknowledges her own unworthiness to have such wonders wrought in and by her Hail Mary 2. At the Inhabitation of God within her O the joy of her heart O the jubily of her soul to contain him in her womb whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot comprehend Hail Mary 3. At her perfect Sanctification For she knew her self to be consummated in the fullness of Grace adorn'd with the gifts of the Holy Ghost confirm'd in all vertues absolutely impeccable and secure of her finall perseverance Hail Mary 4. At her singular Illustration For by the Inhabitation of the Eternall word within her she became enlightned both in soul and body In Soul so as to know secrets to understand sciences to foresee things to come as appears by her Propheticall Magnificat In body insomuch as her externall beauty and comliness attested Gods inward presence and we may piously believe with St. Bernard that no one no not her husband St. Joseph could fixedly behold the beames of her shining countenance and so the Gloss understands that passage of St. Matthews Gospell Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth Hail Mary 5. At her journey into the Mountains of Judea For reflecting upon the Angells last Speech Behold thy Kinswoman Elizabeth hath also conceiv'd a Son in her old age She speedily cheerfully and joyfully undertakes this long journey of thirty four miles says Ludolphus and on foot in order to visit her congratulate her assist her Hail Mary 6. At the carriage of Christ in her womb For though the way was long and mountainous though she a tender Virgin and with child yet neither was the journey irksome nor her burden cumbersom nor her travail wearysom because she carried him who supported encourag'd and enabled her Hail Mary 7. At the blessing of Elizabeth Who at her approach runs ravishtly into her embraces and affectionately exclaims Blessed art thou amongst all women and blessed is the fruit which thou bear'st in thy womb Blessed is the Tree together with the fruit the Stemm with the Flower the Mother with the Son Hail Mary 8. At her conjoyn'd Virginity and Maternity For she joyfully perceiv'd that Propheticall saying compleated in her own Person Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son and she as joyfully knew her self to be the Mother of God according to St. Elizabeths expression How deserve I this honour that the Mother of my Lord should vouchsafe to visit me Hail Mary 9. At the overflowing of her Grace into others For at her voyce and visitation St. John St. Elizabeth and St. Zacharieâ— were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Hail Mary 10. At the many miracles accompanying and following this Visitation 1. In Elizabeth replenish'd with Gods holy Spirit 2. In St. John clean's from originall Sin sanctify'd in the womb confirm'd in grace 3. In Zacharies illumination c. Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These prayers Angelical with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O what a confluence of joyes were found at this blessed meeting of these two Mothers of two great Princes whereof one was the greatest that was born of women and the other was his Lord and these made Mothers by two miracles Surely never but in Heaven was a greater extasie of Iubilation The word Incarnate rejoycingly begins to bestow his blessings on the World before he is born into it Elizabeth rejoycingly admires Gods goodness and mercy and his Mothers charity and humility St. John rejoycingly dances in the womb after the harmonious musick of their mutuall Salutations whil'st the holy Virgin her self sweetly in tones her Creators prayses who is the true Author and Origin of all these wonders singing with heart and mouth My ravish't Soul extolls his name Who rules the Worlds admired frame My Spirit with exalted voyce In God my Saviour shall rejoyce Who hath his glorious beams displayd Upon a poor and humble Maid Me all succeeding Ages shall The blessed Virgin-Mother call O the ardent charity of my Saviour Christ and of his sacred Mother He is no sooner conceiv'd in her womb but be carryes her and she him into the mountains of Judea to give the life of grace to the young Baptist O Jesu the powerfull Sanctifier of all souls vouchsafe to give mine also a gracious visite and to inflame it with the fire of your love that I may henceforth more readily correspond to your holy motions more carefully lay hold upon all occasions conducing to vertu piety perfection and more charitably assist my necessitous neighbour And you O most lovely most loving and most beloved Virgin bestow a visit on this poor house and heart of mine Here I live in a vale of teares temptations miseries I sojourn amongst continuall dangers I dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and my being in this world is like that of a child in his Mothers belly expecting with fear and hope to be born into the bright-light of a Blessed Eternity O let your comfortable visitation and your Sons grace-bringing presence disperse my inward darkness qualify my fearfullness fortify my hope and confidence and give me a sweet Antipast of my future happiness Come then O most charitable and most compassionate Virgin My good Mother my gracious mediatrix my only Hope next to your holy Son Jesus Come and cast an Eye of Pity upon your poor servant Let your harmonious voyce resound in my souls eares and obtain for me a tast of your Sons goodness that I may henceforth relish nothing but himself and according to your most perfect example rejoyce in nothing but God my Saviour The third joyfull Mystery He is Born The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Luc. 2. THe Son of God born of a sacred Mayd Between two beasts is in a manger laid Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the first sight of the new-born Iesus O The Jubily of her ravish'd heart To see him safely brought into the world whom she carefully carryed nine months in her womb To swathe and suckle him who is the Son of the most high To kiss him who was comely above all the children of men To embrace him whose beauty the Sun and Moon admire and whose countenance the Angells desire to contemplate Hail Mary 2. At her preserv'd Virginity FOr she now found her self compleatly a
Father How then do I see you panting fainting falling down through feebleness Are not you the supporting strength of this spacious Universe did not your power extend the Firmament encircling therewithall the celestiall Orb 's and fix the Earth upon the point of its own upholding center How then do I now behold you lying prostrate under the oppressing weight of this one single burthen O my Saviour you promise to lend men your helping hand and send them the assistance of your Angells to keep them from all harms in their fallings and your self falls here under your heavy Cross without admitting any succour from your own divin Person from your Angells or from Men in this your extream necessity O my soul how heynous are thy sins which ly so heavily upon thy Saviours shoulders And O my proud perverse spirit which refusest to submit thy stubborn neck to the sweet weight and light burthen of God and his Church Didst thou ever seriously contemplate thy Redeemer Christ Iesus groaning for thee under the burthen of his Cross How then dost thou still continue thy disobedience ingratitude impietie Or didst thou ever take into thy serious consideration thine own perchance nearly approaching passage out of this World to an eternity How then dost thou not apprehend what a heavy weight will oppress thy wicked heart at that dreadfull hour and how thou wilt be beaten down under the burthen of thy sins And alas who will then assist thee when thy angry Creator shall thunder his just judgments upon thy head which like formidable waves wil overflow and drown thy frail vesell What succour canst thou expect when a sad dispair seizing upon thee thou shalt vainly desire to ly cover'd in some cranny of the Rocks or to hide thy head in some hole of the Mountains or to be deep buryed in some Dungeon within the Earths bowels Who will then lend thee a charitable hand in this thy extream calamity or what can comfort a conscience thus cauteriz'd crucify'd oppress'd with so many crimes crying out against themselves for vengance O my soul Let 's not remit our conversion to that dismall hour but let 's now efficaciously do what we shall then fruitlesly desire to have done Leâ—… in the first place discharge our conscience of its deadly crimes whilst time and opportunity afford us leave and leasure Then let 's away with all these fardles of ill-gotten Goods cancell all unlawfull usurarie extortionous contracts cut off all our sinfull customs concupiscences sensualities and finally shake off the two long carryed and over-heavily charging yoake of the World the Flesh and the Devill This done let 's cheerfully receive the Cross of Penance and mortification from the sacred hands of suffering Jesus He carries it before us to encourage us to follow him his is weighty to make ours light and easie he fall under his that we may stand fast under ours and we shall neither want strength nor comfort in this our heroick enterprise of vertu and piety if we frequently cast our faithfull eyes upon our valiant Captain marching before us towards Mount Calvarie with his royall Standard on his shoulders The fifth Dolorous Mysterie Is kill'd Christ our Saviour is crucify'd and dy's on the cross John 19. Luke 23. Mark 15. Matth. 27. With nayles extended on the Cross he dy's Who 's God and Man for Man a sacrifice Our Father Our Blessed Saviour was put to excessive pain and torture 1. At the pulling off of his Garments FOr when by the help of a certain poor fellow call'd Simon he had train'd his heavy Cross to Golgotha His Executioners tear off his cloathes together with his skin and flesh to which they were in severall parts in a manner fast glued with the Blood flowing out of his wounds Hail Mary 2. At his there standing again naked in the sight of all the Spectators TO be hang'd up naked was the greatest disgrace they could put upon the most despicable person and don only to the worst sort of Malefactors Hail Mary 3. At the boysterous stretching out of his body on the Cross WHich they rack'd with such vioâ—ence by the help of ropes ty'd to his wrists and ankles that according to the Royall Prophets prediction all his dislocated Bones might have been numbred Hail Mary 4. At the Piercing of his hands and feet with nayls O Christ my Rock out of these sacred holes I may suck hony draw forth oyl and fully tast the sweetness of your affection Hail Mary 5. At the Erection of the Cross with Iesus upon it TO publish his Crucifixion and shew him to all the greedily expecting people What faithfull Christian will not be now rays'd to hopes of obtaining pardon When he considers his Redeemers arms thus extended to embrace him and his hands thus open'd to bestow benefits upon him Hail Mary 6. At the superscription of the Title of Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews WHich was written in a threefold language that no one might be ignorant of the cause of this his cruell usage but that all might conclude He was justly crucifi'd who had unjustly usurp'd a Kings title Hail Mary 7. At their continued calumnies whilst he hung on the Cross O Princes and People How implacable was your hatred how great your malice how insatiable your fury which could not forbear your abuses in his last Agony But he endur'd your peevishness and kept his own patience and though he descended not now from the Cross he soon after arose from the Sepulcher Hail Mary 8. At the sight of his compassionate Mother standing by his Cross O Sorrowfull Mother you see the Innocent Son of your chast womb wounded and cannot cure him weltring in blood and cannot wipe it off inclining and hanging down his weak and wearied head and cannot uphold it c. What tongue can express the compassion of your tender heart at the sight of these your Sons afflictions Or the grief of his tender heart at the sight of his thus afflicted Mother Hail Mary 9. At his Thirst upon the Cross GReat surely was the naturall thirst of his Body which was almost exhausted and drained dry of all his blood and moysture But far greater was his Souls spirituall thirst for the salvation of Mankind What do you thirst after O dear Redeemer says S. Augustin wine of the grape or water of the River your thirst is my salvation your drink my Redemption Be thou also thirsty O my dry Soul and drink thy fill of that blessed Fountain which thirsts thus after thee Hail Mary 10. At his giving up the Ghost and expiration on the Cross JESUS bowing down his head breath'd out his soul and deliver'd up his spirit freely voluntarily unconstrainedly into the hands of his eternall Father And so compleated and consummated the penall and afflictive part of the great Mystery of mans Redemption Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations
S. Mary Magdalens 25. S. James the Apostle 26. At S. Anne 30. At S. Mark AUGUST 1. AT S. Peters Chains 3. S. Stephen at S. Laurence without the walls 4. S. Dominick at the Minerva and at S. Maria Major 5. Our Blessed Lady of Snow at S. Maria Major 6. At S. John Lateran 10. At S. Laurence and all the days within the Octave 12. S. Clare Virgin 15. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin and all the days within the Octave at S. Maria Major at S. Maria de Populo at Aracoeli at Rotunda and S. Maria de Angelis 24. At S. Bartholomew 28. At S. Augustins 29. Decollation of S. John at S. John Lateran SEPTEMBER 3. THE Nativity of the Blessed Virgin at S. Maria Major at the Rotunda at Aracoeli at the Inviolata at S. Maria de Pace de Populo and de Angelis 14. At the holy Cross in Jerusalem 21. At S. Matthew 29. At S. Michael 30. S. Hierom at S. Maria Major OCTOBER 4. AT S. Francis trans Tyberim 18. At S. Lukes 28. SS Simon and Jude at S. Peters NOVEMBER 1. ALL Saints day and all the days within the Octave at S. Maria Rotunda 2. All Souls day and upon all the days within the Octave at S. Gregory 9. Dedication of our Saviours Church at S. John Lateran 11. S. Martin at S. Peters and at S. Martins 18. Dedication of the Church of SS Peter and Paul 21. Presentation of our Blessed Lady in the Temple at S. Maria Major 22. At S. Cecilia 23. At S. Clement 30. S. Andrew at S. Peters DECEMBER 6. SAint Nicholas 7. S. Ambrose 8. The Conception of the Blessed Virgin at S. Maria Major 21. S. Thomas Apostle at S. Peters 24. Christmas Eve at S. Maria Major 25. Christmas night at the first Mass at the Chappell of the Crib At the second Mass at S. Anastasia At the third Mass at S. Maria Major 26. At S. Stephens in coelio Monte. 27 S. John the Evangelist at S. Maria Major 28. Innocents day at S. Pauls Finally at the Church of S. John Lateran which is the first of the seven Churches of Rome in the Chappell of S. Laurence and in the Chapell of S. John Baptist there may be gain'd every day a Plenary Indulgence Also in S. Laurence Church vvithout the walls every Wensday a Soul out of Purgatory And in the Church of S. Paul every Sunday throughout the year a Soul out of Purgatory In this Church also may be gain'd all those Indulgences which are granted to them who visite the holy Sepulcher where there is every day a Plenary and a Soul out of Purgatory Note also that upon all the Feasts of the twelve Apostles there is a Plenary at S. Philip and James likewise at S. Peters The Practicall manner of performing the aforesaid Roman Stations and gaining these Indulgences with ease and efficacy may be briefly thus 1. Begin with the sign of the Cross as formerly in all your other devotions and Spirituall exercises 2. Then with an humble and penitent heart make this following Act of Contrition Thereby to settle your Soul in the state of Grace which is a necessary condition for the gaining of all Indulgences O my good Lord Jesu who art the Lord of my life and shouldst be the love of my Soul did I not like an ungracious and ungratefull wretch give my heart and sell my affection to fond frail filthy and fading Creatures and comforts which are so far from affording me either quiet of mind peace of Conscience purity of Soul or perfection of spirit which my obligation and vocation require of me that they leave me nothing but trouble confusion and remorse with a world of dismall and desperate thoughts violent passions and vicious inclinations Amidst all which disorders I find no other Refuge nor Remedy than to return to you my true Center to convert my self to you my Soveraign Creator To cast my self at your sacred feet my sweet Lord Jesu And there with an humble and contrite Spirit to sue for Mercy Remission Reconciliation O Heavenly Father I confess and acknowledge my ingratitude treachery rebellion and I am sorry from the bottom of my heart and soul that ever I offended you who deserve from me all possible love honour and obedience beseeching you as a guilty Criminall to take compassion upon your poor and penitent creature and to forgive me the great and grievous transgressions and offences which I have committed against your divin bounty as I do for the love of you my Lord and Maker most freely forgive all those that have any way offended distasted contristated or scandaliz'd me sincerely knowing that I deserve no comfort from any creature but all contempt and confusion and not only to be troubled and trampled on by all on earth temporally but even to be tormented by the Devills in Hell eternally Ha Crucifi'd Jesu take pity on my soul for which you powred forth your sacred blood and gave up your dearest life on the Cross Alas How ungratefull a child have I been to offend so frequently so heynously so disloyally so loving and liberall a Father so meek and mercifull a Redeemer and so sweet and soveraign a Majesty who hath always shew'd himself to me so benign and bountifull sparing me in my sins and expecting me to Repentance wooing me to his love and calling me to his service by a thousand means all which I have either rejected or neglected and still nevertheless continuing unto me my life time and means to do penance Oh my poor soul How hast thou been blinded and bewitched to leave the Bread of Angells and to feed on the husks of Swin to abandon God and all solid goodness upon whom depends all thy hope and happiness all thy quiet content and comfort in time and eternity for trifling vanities empty shadows meer nothings O strange folly and sâ—ensy would I had never sinned and oh that I might never sin more O my God! what have I done and not don would I had suffered on the Cross with you my sweet Saviour and for your love pains of body pangs of Soul and even death it self when I thus grievously sinned And what can I say or do more I abhor and detest whatsoever I have don said thought or desired contrary to your divin will and liking I rencunce all company and occasions which may induce me to offend you I cast my self at your sacred feet to be your faithfull Bondslave for ever I firmly resolve to take up my Cross and carry it after you dear Jesu till death and to do penance and satisfaction for my past pride pleasure and impiety desiring no more in this world but to linger out my pilgrimage at the foot of the Cross like the Penitent Magdalen in perpetuall solitude silence and submission Good Jesu for your infinit Mercy 's and Merits sake suffer not your poor creature to be separated from you eternally O amiable Eternity O Eternall amity of God! Shall
body peace of minde quiet of conscience assist us against all our visible and invisible adversaries destroy in us all carnal and worldly desires impart wholsomness unto the Air and to the Earth fruitfulness unite the hearts both of our Friends and of our Enemies in true love and charity defend all them of our Confraternity of the sacred Rosary from all contagious diseases from all plaguy infection and from all heretical cruelty and incursion Protect our chief Pastor our Superiors the Clergy and the whol Body of the Catholick Church from all misery and adversity give prosperity to the living and rest to the departed and let your divin blessing be upon us all this day and evermore Amen IV. A Prayer for the conversion of Hereticks and Infidels O Almighty and all-mercifull God! who seekest and desirest the salvation of all souls Take pity we beseech thee upon all such as are seduced with pestiferous errors and segregated from the unity of thy sacred Church Pardon them O Lord for they perceive not what they do Illuminate the eyes of their understanding O true light of all spirits that they may see their own blindness and seeing it may speedily abandon it and that so becoming sincerely reconciled to thee the supream Shepherd and to thy Church the onely safe Sheep-fold they may joyfully praise and magnifie thy mercies together with us thy faithfull Children for evermore Amen V. A Prayer for a special Friend PReserve O Lord this your servant and our Benefactor N. for whom we humbly offer up these our Petitions to your sacred Majestie beseeching you to grant him a perseverant constancy in the Catholick Faith a safe passage through this lives dangerous pilgrimage and that no worldly carnal or diabolical temptations may have the power to separate him from you his prime and onely good Pardon his sins we beseech you whereby he hath deserv'd your indignation Increase his justice due to your self and to his neighbour give him grace to correspond to the calling and condition wherein you have plac'd him let him be equally moderate patient resign'd in adversity and in prosperity direct him in all his ways and defend him against all his enemies and grant him finally a happy death and departure out of this world and a speedy passage after death to the fruition of your eternal felicity VI. A Prayer for a Friend in Tribulation VOuchsafe we beseech you O mercifull Creator to afford the sweetness of your consolation to your afflicted servant N. Remove O Lord according to your good pleasure the heavy burthen of his calamities give him patience in his sufferings resignation to your providence perseverance in your service and a happy translation from this calamitous life to eternal glory VII A Prayer for a Friend in his sickness and infirmity O Sovereign Lord God! the Author of our health and our comfort in sickness in the watch of whose divin providence run all the moments of our lives earthly pilgrimage Hear we beseech you the prayers which we pour out before you for N. your infirm but faithfull servant and mercifully restore him to his former welfare that he may henceforth walk more worthy of his calling and make greater progress in Christian virtue and piety But if it be your pleasure O supream Lord of life and death to call him hence to Eternity let your most just will O heavenly Father be accomplished in this and in all things whatsoever onely let Death finde him well prepared and rightly dispos'd Let him humbly kiss your paternal rod which chastiseth him and patiently submit to the cross which your loving hand hath laid upon his shoulders let him behave himself during the remaining time of his infirmity as befits a pious and devout Christian free from pusillanimity and despair full of hope and filial confidence And finally being strengthned with the Sacraments reconcil'd to his Enemies and setled in your grace and favour let him chearfully expect and joyfully embrace Death's summons and his bodies and souls separation Amen VIII A Prayer for our Enemies Detractors and Persecutors O Meek and mercifull Lord Jesu the great Master Exemplar and Practiser of Peace Charity and Union amongst men Who hast commanded us to love our Enemies and to do good for them that hate us and who pray'd on the Cross for your capital Adversaries increase within us we most humbly beseech you the spirit of Christian charity meekness and sweetness that we may freely sincerely and heartily forgive all such as have any way offended us injur'd us or persecuted us and that we may conquer all our Enemies malice by our fraternal compassion and affection Bestow on them also O blessed Saviour the same spirit of perfect peace love and charity and powerfully defend us from all their treachery and deceits Amen IX A Prayer for a Woman great with Child or labouring in Child-bed O Most dread Sovereign who for the just punishment of the first Womans prevarication have pronounced and imposed a severe and unavoydable sentence of malediction upon all Woman-kinde to wit that they should conceive their Children in Original sin that having conceiv'd them they should be subject to many miseries and that they should bring them forth with the hazard of their own lives we most humbly beseech you O undrainable Fountain of goodness and mercy that you will be gratiously pleased by your Blessed Mothers pious intercession to mitigate the rigorous edict of this general Law in behalf of this your poor Handmaid now labouring in the pangs of Child-bed and to give her courage comfort and patience in her sorrows Grant that in due time she may be happily and speedily deliver'd that the Child she bears in her womb may be brought forth into the world accompanied with all such perfections of body soul and senses as are befitting our human nature that it may live to be re-born by sacred Baptism and that both the Child and the Mother may become your faithfull servants Amen X. A Prayer to appease the Divin Indignation in any publick or private necessity WHen we compare O Lord your punishments with our own impieties we are forc'd to confess that our crimes do far exceed your chastisements We are sensible of our sins penalty but we leave not our sinfull pertinacy our sick minds are troubled but our stiff necks are not bowed our life languishes under the burthen of our afflictions and yet we amend not our wicked actions we acknowledg our misdeeds in the day of correction and we forget what we bewail'd after the visitation If you O Lord stretch forth your hand to strike us we make you large promises if you sheath your sword we fail in our performances If you scourge us we petition you to spare us if you mercifully spare us we again maliciously provoke you to scourge us Behold O dread Sovereign you have us self-accused adjudged condemned and we well know that unless you will pardon us we must needs perish Grant unto us O
Citizens WHo can conceive say's S. Hierom how gloriously the world's Queen this day appeared with what affection the celestiall legions met her with what melodious Canticles she was conducted to her throne of glory with what an amiable and pleasing countenance her dear Son receiv'd her into his divin embraces and plac'd her above all other creatures c. Hail Mary 8. At her being exalted above all the Angelicall Orders and Hierarchies ACcording as the Church sings in her prayses You O sacred mother of God! are exalted above all the Quireâ— of Angells c. Hail Mary 9. At her being placed on her Sons right hand FOr as S. Hierom says we may piously believe that our Saviour seated her next to himself in the throne of his glorious Humanity How els had he accomplish'd what himself commanded Honour thy Father and Mother Hail Mary 10. At her being appointed the powerfull Advocatrix of mankind WE have Her to plead for us says S. Bernard who can suffer no repulse because she found grace with God Let us therefore seek Grace from the Fountain of Grace by the Finder of Grace and whatsoever we offer to the divin Majesty Let us commend it to Mary that so all may return to the Author of Grace by the same channell whereby it ran unto us Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Sacred Virgin-Mother your Deifi'd Soul is not forc'd out of your dying Body by the violence of pains but sweetly leaves it in an extasie of love O how welcom how amiable how desirable is death to a Soul that is well setled in the fear of God and fully confirm'd in the divin love and favour And how easily is that thing quitted without any affliction which is possess'd without overmuch affection Thrice happy he who so prudently regulates the use of life as to be always prepar'd to yeild it up to Death Happy he who patiently cheerfully resignedly endures the inconveniences of this soon-passing Pilgrimage in hope of a never-ending felicity in the heavenly Paradise Happy he who willingly deprives himself of this worlds most pleasing contentments upon confidence of laying up therby more solid pleasures in the Magazin of Eternity O glorious Virgin who have left me so perfect a Pattern of living vertuously and of dying happily Assist me I beseech you both in the one and the other I humbly acknowledg to my own great shame and sorrow that my life hath been hitherto far wide from the Imitation of your holy example But O pious Mother passing by my former indignity and pittying my present necessity take my perishing cause into your maternall consideration strengthen my Resolution of living vertuously for the future and assist me in that dreadfull hour of my deaths agony O let your Prayers patronage and protection then fortifie my Faith in its apprehension of the approaching Eternity Encourage my Hope in its consideration of the severe Judgment then near at hand and inflame my Charity in its last tendency to the long desired object of my Soul I now contemplate you great Empress seated there above in a throne of Majesty and satiated with the fulness of glory and felicity And I also consider you the still compassionate Mother the powerfull Mediatrix the pious Advocatrix of poor Mankind Wherefore I humbly begg for the love of your holy Son JESUS and by all that is dear to you in Heaven and Earth leave me not in that last hour but cast then your Eyes of mercy and favour upon me so shall I not doubt to be translated from a temporall death to an Eternall life and to remain perpetually with you in the perfect enjoyment of that fountain of life and love to which you are happily assumpted The fifth Glorious Mysterie Is Crown'd THE Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven The blest Promotress of all Chast desires Is Crowned Queen of th'Celestiall Quires Our Father c. THE Blessed Virgin Mothers Soul was fill'd with inexplicable joy 1. At her being seated upon a Royall throne in the celestiall glory WHere says S. Hierom the Immaculat Virgin-Mother was triumphantly plac'd next to her glorious Son Jesus in the celestiall Palace A Throne of Kingly glory says S. Augustin is prepar'd for you O great Queen-Mother in the Court of the heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary 2. At her being cloathed with Royall Garments ACcording to that saying of the Psalmist The Queen stood on thy right hand in a vesture of gold wrought about with divers colours Whereupon Saint Bernard extasiedly exclaims Gods Mother the worlds Lady Heavens Queen is elevated to the Eternall Fathers Throne and seated next to the sacred Trinity Where she stands on the Kings right hand in a golden garment To wit a body most pure and unspotted encompassed with variety that is a Soul enamell'd with all sorts of vertues Hail Mary 3. At her being adorn'd with Royall Iewells Ear-rings and Bracelets TO wit the Plenitud of all Prudence Science and Intelligence in her Soul and of Clarity Subtility Impassibility in her Body Hail Mary 4. At her being honor'd with a Royall Ring TO wit In her Soul which was the singular Spouse of the Eternall King a singular Joy Glory and felicity And in her Body which was singularly Instrumentall in the Eternall Words Incarnation a singular beauty Hail Mary 5. At her being grac'd with a Royall Scepter TO wit in her Soul by a speciall Power which was given her in Heaven and Earth and in her Body by a speciall prerogative of glory Hail Mary 6 At her being deck'd with a royall crown TO wit first with a generall Crown which is the substantiall and essentiall reward of Eternall glory and Beatitude consisting in the clear vision the perpetuall Fruition and the perfect possession of the Divinity This Crown corresponds to the three-fold Theologicall vertues in the Soul To Faith succeeds vision To Charity Fruition To Hope Possession Now as the sacred Virgin excells here all others in these vertues so her Crown out-shines there all others in Glory Hail Mary 7. At her being crown'd with the silver Aureola of Virgins FOr she being the Immaculat Mother of God and the unspotted Queen of all Virgins having none like her in the first nor any to parallell her in the Second is adorn'd with a Crown as far surpassing the Aureola's of other virgins as the Suns brightness excells that of the lesser Starrs Hail Mary 8. At her being crown'd with the golden Aureola of Martyrs FOr as She endured more than all Martyrs when the sword of sorrow pierc'd her heart at the time of her Sons Passion so she deserv'd a Crown above all Martyrs correspondent to her sufferings Hail Mary 9. At her being crown'd with the Starrie Aureola of Doctors FOr they who instruct others to Justice says the Prophet Daniel shall shine as Stars in perpetuall Eternity Now the sacred Virgin was the Teacher and
favour in the world which makes me in the Order of Grace not only existent by you but existent in you So that by this manner of Grace proper to this Mystery and springing from it in the honour and Imitation of your Eternall Procession I am not only yours not only by you but I am in you I live in you I make a part of you I am bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh let me be then also spirit of your Spirit let me live by your life let me participate of the Interiour of the Grace of the Estate of the Spirit of your Mysteries let me appropriate my self to you let me appropriate them to my self let me appropriate my self to your Greatnesses and to your debasings your Cross and your Glory your Life and your Death 9. The Perfection of a Christian requires that Jesus live in him and that he imprint in his Soul the Spirit and life of his estates and Mysteries 'T Is my desire and my hope but it surpasseth my power and therfore I expect it from the new Grace of the new Man For this Grace joyns me to him and placeth me in a condition not only to work but further to receive and bear his sacred and divin Operations yea and tends to a more strict and inward Communication For this new Grace issuing out of the Incarnation and resembling its own originall and Prototypon tends to this that I be in Jesus and that Jesus be in me as he is in his Father and his Father is in him Be then in me O Jesu live in me work in me form and figure in me your Estates and your Mysteries your actions and your sufferings And as the Father expresseth and impresseth in you his substance as in his divin Character so imprint in my soul and in my life your inward and outward Conversation and make me a lively character bearing the impression of your Spirit of your estates of your holy and wholsom operations You are the Image of God make me the perfect picture of your self make me like to your self conforming me to your Mysteries as you have been pleasd to make your self like me conforming your self to my miseries and let me carry the effects and lineaments of your Grace and of your Glory of your Power and of your life which you led upon earth Let your Birth make me be new-born born Let your Infancy put me in the state of Innocency Let your flight into Egypt make me fly the world and sin let your Servitude render me your slave let your bonds unfetter me and infranchise me from my sins from my passions and from my self Let your hidden and unknown life hide me from the world and from vanity let your solitude entertain me let your temptations strengthen me let your labours solace me let your griefs cure me let your Agonyes comfort me and let your death make me live and be new-born in Eternity 10. The Principall Mysteries of Jesus apply'd to our sanctification And his qualities and offices referr'd to our use LEt me thus enter Commerce and communication with you O my Life and my Love O my God and my All Let the course and the Moments the Periods and the Estates of your Life upon earth be thus apply'd and appropriated to me and let your Qualities and Offices thus work in me and imprint in me their comfortable efforts You are the uncreated Wisdom I will adhere to your Maxims and follow your conduct you are the Doctor of Justice I will enter into your School and Disciplin you are the Holy and Health-bringer of God in you will I have Grace and Salvation you are the live I will live in you you are the way I will walk by you you are the God of Heaven and of Earth I will be yours 11. By how many titles we belong to Jesus and Jesus to us I Know I am yours and that by many titles For I am yours by your Greatness your Powerfulness your Priviledges I am yours by your Dignities your Merits your Benefits I am yours by the gift of your Father who gives me unto you in giving the whol Earths circumference to you I am yours by your own gift whereby you give your self to your Father for me And you are mine for your Father gives you to the world in the excess of his love and you are your Fathers gift you are Gods gift in divers and sundry significations And 't is your own self which thus qualifies your self telling the Samaritan woman Didst thou know Gods gift and who he is that talks wtth thee This was your discourse of your self to this poor stranger whom you happily made a Domestique of your Faith and of your word and vouchsaf'd your self to Catechize so familiarly 12. Jesus is Gods Gift unto us and what this Gift demands of us with an Explication of Christian Grace WHerefore being taught by your sacred mouth that this quality of being Gods Gift is proper unto you I adore you I behold you I receive you in this quality As by this you are mine I will be yours Nor shall it suffice me to be yours by your self and by your Father I will be yours by my self also and by choise of my own Free-will I give my self then to you O Jesu my Lord I give to you my self with my whol power and according to the full extent of your own power and will over me I give my self to the Grace of your Mysterie of the Incarnation Grace which tyes me unto you in a new manner Grace which separates me from my self unites and incorporates me in you Grace which makes me yours in so noble so intimate and so powerfull a fashion and renders me yours as a parcell of your self Grace of life and of death both together Grace of annihilating and also of establishing In the strength and vertue of this Grace which hath its origin in you and in your new estate of God-Man I annihilate my self in my own self to be in you and I will carry within my Soul a death to all things that I may live in you And I will that my Being be reduced to be nothing els than a pure Capacity of you fill'd up with you 13. This Christian Grace is form'd upon the Mysterie of the Incarnation which is its Modell And requires of us a particular manner of Oblation and Donation to Jesus ACcording to the Power efficacy of this Grace which is peculiar to your Mysterie of the Incarnation and which is form'd upon it as upon its Copy I bequeath my self to you O Jesu my Lord I give you my Being my life and my love I give you my time and my Eternity I give you my Body and my Soul I give you my senses and powers I render my self slave to your Greatnesses to your Cross and to you love I put into your hands the last hour of my life which is the decider of my Eternity I offer my self to you I
and obtain for me a happy death and departure out of this World in the Faith Favour and Affection of Jesus To whom be all honour prayse and glory for Evermore Amen ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON EARTH Iesus Maria Ioseph In honour and homage to the Glorious Trinity in Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost O JESU Son of the living God and Saviour of the World O Mary Mother of Jesus and Mediatrix of Mankind O Joseph Bridegroom of Mary and esteemed Father of Jesus O sacred Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph I honour you reverence you admire you in your excellent eminent sublime Greatnesses in which you seem to be an express Image of the Incomprehensible Trinity and I adhere to you in union of the perfect homages which you rendred to the Father Son and holy Ghost by your high Estate and holy operations The deep Mystery of the divin Trinity is Invisible to our eyes Ineffable to our Tongues Incomprehensible to our Spirits And behold the poor Bethleem stable affoards us a human Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph uppon Earth which views adores and Imitates the Trinity of the Empireall Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost This is Increated that is both created and Increated in the Person of the God-Man Jesus This is divin and Eternall That is Deifi'd and temporall The one is Adorable the other honorable The one is admirable in its greatness The other amiable in its sweetness In the one is a unity of Essence in a Trinity of Persons In the other is a union of Love of Grace and of Spirit in a Trinity of Essence and of Persons In the Divin Trinity the Father begets his Son in Eternity In the other by a reverted order the Son gives Being in Time both to the Father and to the Mother In the first the Father and the Son and the Father by the Son produces the holy Ghost in unity of origin In the second Jesus and Mary and Jesus by Mary gives the Life and Being of Grace to Joseph in the unitie of spirit So that Mary hath an admirable resemblance to the Eternall Father the Son of Mary hath an express unity with himself and S. Joseph represents the Holy Ghost For the Father in Heaven is the only Parent without a Mother and Mary upon Earth is the only Parent without a Father And as nothing greater can be attributed to God than his being the Father of a God so nothing more sublime can befall a pure creature than to be the Mother of the same God whereof God is Father The Holy Ghost is the sacred knot and Tye of the divin Persons And Joseph hath a union with Mary as his Spouse and with Jesus as his Father The Holy Ghost form'd Jesus in the Virginall Cloyster of Maryes Womb And Joseph fed him educated him and preserv'd for us far more fortunately than the ancient Joseph of Egypt â— this Bread of the Elect this blessed pledg of our future happiness this Eternall Bliss of Men and Angells Wherfore O Jesu We acknowledg honour and adore you in your Eternall heights and greatnesses we prayse bless and love you in your temporall humiliations sweetnesses we contemplate you in Heaven with the Eye of Faith betwen the Father and the holy Ghost We admire you upon Earth between Mary and Joseph And I invite and conjure all Creatures to prayse bless and adore your divin Majesty in both these estates O Mary We also look upon you as upon Gods sacred Mother and in this supream dignity I salute reverence and honour you with the singular homage of Hyperdulia which is due to your Excellencies and Greatnesses O Joseph I likewise honour you as the reputed Father of Jesus and Bridegroom of Mary and in regard of these two Eminent qualities I subject my self to the power which is given you over my soul by consequence of the Jurisdiction you had over Jesus my Saviour I offer my self to you O Great Saint Joseph Father and Husband without Paragon to be by you presented to Mary I give my self to you O glorious Mary Virgin and Mother without Paralell to be by you addressed to Jesus I consecrat my self to you O Great-little-God-man Jesus as your servant and bondslave to become associated in this qualitie with the domestiques of your sacred Family O Jesu my King reign in my Soul and exercise the absolute power you have over my spirit O Mary my Soveraign Queen after my King Jesus possess my heart and my will to consign them over to your Son O Joseph My chief Prorector after Jesus and Mary take my Body and senses into your safe custody to be consecrated to Jesus O Jesu annihilate and absorp my soul in your affection O Mary Inflame my heart with the love of Jesus O Joseph Bless all my labours and endeavours and present them to Jesus and Mary Let the whol world be replenish'd O Jesu with your mercies be assisted O Mary with your favours be secured O Joseph under the shadow of your Protection For You O JESU are the Fountain issuing forth of the Terrestriall Paradise Mary's Virginall Womb is the Origin of all our happiness you O Mary are the Prime Bason of this Fountain and the pure Glebe from whence it proceeded And you O Joseph are the River who disperse abroad these waters of Life by your efficacious intercessions O Jesu you are the fruit of life O Mary you are the Paradise that bore it and the Tree that brought it forth And you O Joseph are the Cherubin appointed by God to guard it O Jesu You are the sacred Propitiatory of the world O Mary You are the Mysticall Ark of our Reconciliation And you O Joseph are the High Priest who alone are permitted to enter into this Holy of Holies to be the faithfull Coadjutor of Gods great Counsell in the world and the Feoffee in trust of his treasures and secrets In honour therefore of these three ineffable Tâ—es and unions between these admirable subjects which are the greatest under Gods command and Jurisdiction I most humbly beg of you O Jesu Mary and Joseph 1. A chast and filiall Fear of God that nothing either in life or death may separate me from his grace and friendship 2. A faithfull fervent and perseverant Love of God and my neighbour with a generous zeal of the divin honour and my own salvation 3. A good and happy end of my life consummated in the act and exercise of these sacred affections O JESU Be an Advocate for me your Bondslave to your Eternall Father O Mary intercede for me your servant to your Son O Joseph pray for me your child to Jesus and Mary O Jesu shew your wounds suffer'd for my sake O Mary discover your Breasts which suckled Gods Son O Joseph represent your hands which nourish'd the Word Incarnate O Jesu replenish my Soul with the abundance of your celestiall blessings by the effusion of efficacious grace upon it which may intimately
I leave and loose thee for filthy pleasures frail creatures fond friendships fading honors No my dear Lord Be pleased rather to take my Soul out of my body than your love out of my Soul Let me rather dy miserably than sin mortally Let me pass on the rest of my pilgrimage in your grace and fear that I may fiâ—ish it in your friendship and favour Grant me this I beseech you O meek and mercifull Saviour by the merits of your bitter Death and Passion by the intercession of your most blessed Mother by the suffrages of all your holy Saints in Heaven and happy Souls upon Earth Upon all which relying as upon the Anchors of my Hope I absolutely commit and resign my self to your sacred disposition and providence for time and eternity fully trusting that you will marcifully pardon all my sins carefully assist me in all my wants and weaknesses and in the end happily bring me to your Eternall bliss and beatitude by such means as your divin Wisdom knows most expedient for me 3. Then offer up your devotions for the generally recommended ends and intentions in all the Concessions of Indulgences which are specified page 94. of the first Book 4. And whilst you Vocally recite the twenty five Paters and Aves you may mentally reflect upon some one of the Fifteen Mysteries as they are set down in the Rosary of the sacred Name of Jesus dividing the same into three days Stations after this manner Upon the First day meditate upon the Five Mysteries of our Blessed Redeemers Life and Incarnation which are briefly and pithily comprehended in these verses 1. Christ's Incarnation THe Throne and Foot-stool meet Heav'n Cling's to Earth The All conspires to this All-saving Birth Dear Partner of our weakness since we see Thy self made us Oh! change us into thee Five Paters and five Aves 2. His Nativity SEE the fair Sun of Glory doth arise In the dark Midnight of our miseries Sad Clouds of Tears Woes â—'advance our Good Dim his bright Birth but ah hee 'll set in Blood Five Paters and five Aves 3. His Circumcision HEre Innocence whose unstain'd Purity White Robes best sute wears Crimson's guilty Dy. Enough dear Lord Mankind is richly won Oh no these drops a deluge but fore-run Five Paters and five Aves 4. His Finding in the Temple RVn joyfull Mother to embraces run Doctors have found their Master Thou thy Son Lord Consecrate my Heart thy House Of Prayer And I shall find thee wisely teaching there Five Paters and five Aves 5. His Baptism DO Baptist with thy puddled Jordan try To Wash this Spring of spotles Purity Command doth with Presumption dispence Pride is not Pride vouch't by Obedience Five Paters and five Aves and one Creed Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto c. O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us Upon the second day take for your Meditation the five Mysteries of our Blessed Redeemers Death and Passion 1. The washing of his Disciples feet THeir God on knee such sordid work in 's hand Heav'n and th'Apostles both amazed stand Ah! my Affections Feet unto my Soul Thus wash't thus wip't how can you still be soul Five Paters and five Aves 2. The Prayer in the Garden HEav'ns Floud-gates are all ope each widen'd pore Is made a purple sluce Griefs painfull dore Sin drown'd the Earth once in a watry Flood And now drowns Heav'n but ah in Gods own Blood Five Paters and five Aves 3. Christs Apprehension in the Garden SMall cords rude hands on all sides bind th'Immense Twin'd flax doth pinion weak Omnipotence Philistins now seccure Samson invade His greatest strength by 's greater love 's betrayd Five Paters and five Aves 4. His carrying of the Cross THus burthen'd and thus faint See how he droops Under our load of sin Heav'ns Bearer stoops Riddle of Grief which pain afflicted more When th'Cross bore thee or thou bor'st it before Five Pater and five Aves 5. His Descent into Hell REstore thy Prey proud Hell Thy Conquerors sight Breaks sins stiff chains puts thy dark shades to flight Gives the joy-ravisht soul new wings of Love With their triumphant Lord to mount above Five Paters and five Aves and one Creed Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto c. O JESU of Nazareth King of the Jews have mercy upon us Upon the third day take for your Meditation the five Glorious Mysteries of our Blessed Redeemer 1. His Resurrection FAir earnest of our second life this day Glory reviv'd with a new-burnisht ray Cheer up my drooping Soul thou shalt not dy Thy Lord hath earn'd thee Immortality Five Pater and five Aves 2. His Ascension TAke wing my earth-clogg'd-mind and fly along With thy great king ' mongst this heaven'n-soaring-throng And ere thy self return'st to sojourn here Leave with thy Lord thy best affections there Five Paters and five Aves 3. His sending of the Holy Ghost BLest Fire Fount Breath enkindle wash inspire Our Wills Hearts Thoughts with Love Grace pure desire Souls Life Gods Finger Gift revive work win Our flesh sense love to Spirit to Grace from sin Five Paters and five Aves 4. The Crowning of the Virgin Mary and the Saints WInter's ore-blown calm Blisse's endless Spring Charms the glad Birds of Paradise to sing Your Eyes shall know no tears your Face no frown Partakers of my Cross partake my Crown Five Paters and five Aves 5. The Coming to the last Iudgment GReat Day th' Accomplisher of Bliss of Woe Exprest by a joyfull COME and dreadfull GOE Rise guilty Dust and hear though thou bee'st loath At once thy Summons and thy Sentence both Five Paters and five Aves and one Creed Gloria Patri Filio Spiritui Sancto Sicut erat in principio c. O Jesu Christ the Son of the liuing God Have mercy upon us FINIS The generall Table briefly containing the substance of the whol work THE Epistle Dedicatory to the sacred Virgin Mary A Marian Kalender or Catalogue of Saints of the holy Order of S. Bennet devoted to the Blessed Virgin together with her severall Festivities usually celebrated by her faithfull Rosarists The Prefects Oration which shews 1o. Mans naturall inclination to Society Page 3 Christ our Saviour establish'd and commanded it 4 The Primitive Church practised it 5 All succeeding Ages imitated it 6 The Prayses of pious Societies and Confraternities 7 And particularly of this of the sacred Rosary 10 A Digression of our B. Lady's Title of Power 17 S Dominick the beginner of the Rosary 21 Blessed Alanus the Restorer of its decayd use The Greatness of our glorious Mother Mary 22 The dignity to be of her family 24 The profits thereof express'd in five Particulars 26 The duty of the Rosarists in six particulars 35 The first Book of the Rosary which is the Doctrinall part thereof page 44 § 1. That every faithfull Christian ought to have a particular devotion towards Gods holy Mother 47 1. Because she
which Pope Boniface the fourth cleansing the ancient Temple Pantheon consecrated to all the Gods dedicated to the honour of the ever blessed Virgin-Mother and all the holy Martyrs in the year 609. 16. S. Brandanus an Abbot in Scotland a most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin to whom he consecrating the labours sustain'd in his seven years navigation and laying upon the Altar dedicated to her honour a book containing the whol course of his journey was summon'd by a voyce from Heaven to exchange this life for immortality and having finish'd the celebration of a solemn Mass upon the same Altar he most happily expired after the year 570. 19. S. Dunstanus Archbishop of Canterbury a great Favourite of the sacred virgin whom she piously cherish'd even in his Mothers womb prodigiously cured in his tender age and frequently visited during the time of his Pontificall dignity He dyed in the year 988. 27. S. Bede a venerable Priest and most affectionate servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother whose Psalter according to the Institution of his glorious Father S. Bennet he most zealously preached promulgated and planted not only in his own native Countrey England where in the publick places of Prayer he caus'd the materiall Psalters to be hung up to invite all Passengers and Pilgrims to this sort of devotion and which in Veneration of his name are there ever since call'd Bedes even to this day but also says Alanus in France and the neighbouring Kingdoms He dyed full of years sanctity and learning after the 731. year of Christ 29. The Feast of the Miracles wrought by the Mother of Power Celebrated in memory of the many signall and prodigious wonders she hath been graciously pleas'd to work in severall Monasteries of S. Bennets order JUNE 18. THE Feast or Commemoration of the Psalter of the sacred Virgin Mary instituted by the admirable Father and Patriarch of Monks S. Bennet to be observ'd in his holy Order and afterwards propagated by his Disciples throughout the whol world whereof Blessed Alanus de Rupe the great Secretary of the glorious Virgin-Mother and another Restorer after S. Dominick of this Marian Psalter hath these words Apolog. part 1. cap. 8. and part 2. cap. 2. 4. S. Bennet the famous Patriarch of Monasticall Institution introduced the use of the Marian Psalter which he himself had long before practised amongst his Religious Children and this not so much by any precept as by the very use thereof pass'd to posterity as a most pious and religious custome JULY 2. THE Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in memory of her visiting S. Elizabeth after she had conceiv'd the Son of God at whose presence S. John the Baptist leap'd in the womb of his Mother Elizabeth Luk. 1.41 which Feast was instituted by Pope Urban the sixth in the year 1385. and promulgated by his successor Boniface the ninth in the year 1389. to implore the Blessed Virgins assistance against the Schisme which then miserably divided the Church S. Otho Bishop of Bamberg and Apostle of Pomerania a most affectionate servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother whose speciall assistance he always implor'd and obtain'd especially in the Conversion of Nations and to whose honour he erected that famous Cathedrall of Weier He left this life in the year 1139. 14. S. Henry the first Emperour surnamed the Lame otherwise called the second for that he had a predecessor of the same name who out of modestie and humility refused the denomination of Emperour a most devout Client of the sacred Virgin Mother to whose honour he founded that fair Cathedrall of Spire as also that of Basil and severall others and in whose imitation he kept perpetuall virginity together with his wife S. Cunegundis whereby he became so highly pleasing to the Virgin Queen of Heaven that he was frequently admitted to her familiarity He was instrumentall to the Conversion of S. Stephen King of Hungary and the whol Hungarian nation and full of sanctity and all sorts of vertues he yeilded his Soul into the hands of his heavenly Bridegroom in the year 1024. 17. S. Leo the fourth Pope a singular honorer of the sacred Virgin-Mother and promotour of her prayses throughout the whol world He instituted the Octaves of her Assumption and departed this life in the year 855. 19. Blessed Hermannus Contractus so named from the Contraction and weakness of almost all his members a most devâ—ut Monk of Augia which is an Iland in Germany not far distant from Constantia and a most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother by whose powerfull prayers he obtained such inward gifts of learning and wisdom as abundantly recompenc'd the outward defects of nature He wrote much in her prayses and amongst the rest those most famous Anthems Salve Reginae and Alma Redemptoris Mater He dyed about the year 1052. till which time he produced his Chronicle of the worlds six Ages 29. Blessed Vrbanus the second Pope a most holy and learned Man and a most zealous promoter of the sacred Virgins honour whose office composed by S. Peter Damian he confirm'd and commended to the world in the Councill of Clermont in the year 1096. AUGUST 5. THE Dedication of the Church of our Blessed Lady ad Nives or at the Snow which miraculously covering a part of the Exquilin mountain neer Rome at this time when the greatest heats use to parch the City gave occasion to the building of a famous Church to the sacred Virgin-Mothers honour thereby to perpetuate the memory of so signall a miracle in this same place thus by her self designed in the year 367. 15. The Assumption of the most sacred Mother of God celebrated time out of mind with greatest solemnity both by the Greek and Latin Church in memory of her being assumpted or taken up into heaven both body and soul after her dissolution S. Arnulphus Bishop of Soissons in France whose soul amidst the festivall joys of his dear Mothers Assumption was by her visited and call'd out of his body to a blessed eternity in the year 1087. 20. S. Bernard first Abbot of Claravall the singularly beloved Minion Favourite Child and Chaplain of Gods holy Mother whom she as a stupendious argument of her delicate affection frequently fed with her virginall breast-milk familiarly resaluted with Salve Bernarde and lovingly visited cured and comforted in the time of his sickness infirmity He amongst all the Fathers is most profuse in the sacred Virgins prayses in whose honour he composed many most pious and pithy Treatises amongst which is the Ave Maris Stella us'd in the vespers of all the Blessed Virgins Festivities He dyed full of admirable sanctity and learning in the year 1153. 22. S. Bernardus Tolomaeus Founder of the Order of S. Mary of Mount Olivet who being prodigiously cured of a grievous sickness and blindness by the Blessed Virgins intercession vow'd himself to her perpetuall service and forthwith ascending into the Pulpit he divulg'd this divin miracle and decipher'd the
worlds vanity and contempt with such eloquence and efficacy that he presently obtains many followers and disciples In the year 1370. under Pope Vrban the Fifth SEPTEMBER 5. S. BERTIN Abbot of the Monastery call'd Sithin and Founder of the famous Abbey now known by the name of S. Bertins at S. Omers in Artesia a most zealous Promotor of the sacred Virgins honour both by himself and his succeeding disciples especially by S. Joscio surnam'd the Rosie He was translated to immortality in the year 698. 8 The Nativity of the most Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God celebrated both by the Greek and Latin Church in memory of her happy birth by whom the holy author of all life was born into the world ever since the Councill of Ephesus which was held in the year 436. against the Nestorians denying her title of Deipara or Gods Mother 22. S. Salaberga Abbesse of Laudune whom the Blessed Virgin took into her speciall care and protection and frequently comforted with her presence and visitation She dyed about the year 614. 24. S. Gerardus Bishop and Martyr the Apostle of Hungary and Protomartyr of Venice a most fervent and faithfull Honourer of the Virgin-Mother whose sacred Name he never pronounced without a most affectionate shew of reverence and devotion and who counsell'd King Stephen to make his whol Kingdom tributary to the Queen of Heaven styling her always and saluting her under the title of Queen of Hungary He was crown'd with Martyrdom in the year 1047. OCTOBER 7. THE Commemoration of Holy Mary of Victory instituted by Pope Pius the fifth in memory of the signall Naval Victory gain'd by the sacred Virgins assistance this day over the Turks in the year 1571. Which solemnity was afterwards decreed by Pope Gregory the thirteenth to be yearly celebrated upon the first Sunday of this Month under the name and title of the Feast of the Rosary in the year 1573. 8. Blessed Beatrix sister to the blessed Amadeus a most chast Spouse of Christ to whom she consecrated her virginity under his holy Mothers Ensignes instituted at Toledo an order entitled of the sacred Virgins Conception which was confirmed by Pope Innocent the eight in the year 1485. and having most zealously propagated the holy Virgin-Mothers honour throughout all Spain she dyed full of merits and sanctity NOVEMBER 16. S. Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury dedicated himself to the sacred Virgins service from his tender age before whose Statua he maturely and deliberately making a vow of perpetuall Chastity placed a Ring upon the finger of the Image as a pledg of this his bethroathing and as a perpetuall argument of his most chast affection He departed this life in the year 1246. 17. S. Gertrude surnamed the Great a noble Virgin of Germany despising all worldly pompe and vanity vow'd her self to the service of Christ her Spouse and of his sacred Mother who both of them most frequently and familiarly conversed with her and instructed her in the mysteries of Faith in the manner of prayer and in the way of perfection which she communicated for the inestimable benefit and comfort of all devout souls in her divin Books of Insinuations She dyed Abbess of Elpidia in the year 1311. 18. S. Odo the first Abbot of Cluny who was dedicated to Christ and his sacred Mother by his Parents before his birth which was in the night of our Saviours Nativity ordained that the Reformation of his Order should be celebrated by his successors under the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary He chang'd this life for a better in the year 942. 19. S. Mechtild the naturall sister of the Great and Admirable S. Gertrude and Chantress of the famous Monastery of Elpidia vulgarly named Helfte whereof her sister S. Gertrude was Abbess a most dear darling of the Virgin-Mother who was pleas'd to reveal many secret Mysteries unto her See page 221. of the second Book following which she charitably left to Posterity in her Treatise of spirituall Grace and Revelation She departed this life full of Mâ—racles sanctity and the Spirit of Prophecy after the year 1300. 21. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple of Jerusalem where in her tender age she vow'd herself to God both body and Soul Which Feast was anciently celebrated in the Greek Church as appears by the Orations and Homilies of the Grecian Fathers related by Surius in his sixth Tome and introdâ—ced into the Latin Church by Nicholas the French Abbot in the year 1373. and afterwards approved and generally received 27 A Commemoration of such Saints as have been singularly devoted and addicted to promote the sacred Virgins honour and service the great number whereof appears by their monuments of piety left to posterity 28. S. Gregory the third Pope a most meek wise and learned Prelate and a most zealous defender of the sacred Virgins honour and Images against the then raging heresie of the Iconoclasts He was translated to a happyer life in the year 741. 29. Saint Joscio surnamed the Rosie famous for his sincere devotion towards Gods sacred Mother and for her singular benevolence towards him departed this life at Saint Omers in the Monastery of Saint Bertin in the year 1163. upon the Vigill of S. Andrew At whose sacred departure happened this signall Miracle He us'd daily to recite Five Psalms whereof the first letters in Latin express the Name MARIA which devotion so highly pleas'd the sacred Virgin that she vouchsaf'd to cause Five fresh and fragrant Roses to spring out of the dead face of her servant Joscio One out of his Mouth Two out of his Ears and the other Two out of his Eyes all stamp'd with five Golden Letters MARIA Which Miracle was manifested to all the multitude of Spectators who flock'd thither for seven days space from the parts far and near to behold it The Five Psalmes are these Magnificat Luk. 1. Ad Dominum Psal 119. Retribue Psal 118. In convertendo Psal 125. Ad te Levavi Psal 122. DECEMBER 8. THE Conception of the glorious Virgin MARY Mother of GOD. A Feast anciently and solemnly celebrated in the Greek Church and introduc'd into the Latin Church by S. Anselme Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the year 1106. and commanded to be generally celebrated by Sixtus the Fourth in the year 1466. In memory of her miraculous and immaculate Conception of her old and barren Parents S. Joachim and S. Anne and of her being sanctifi'd in the womb from the first instant of her Conception 18. The Feast of the Expectation of our Blessed Lady or the O Instituted by S. Ildephonse out of his extraordinary affection and devotion to the Virgin-Mother and lately approv'd and confirm'd by Pope Gregory 13. 24. The Feast of the Descent of the sacred Virgin into the Church of Toledo instituted in Spain by S. Ildephonse in memory of her miraculous apparition unto him and cloathing him with a celestiall garment 29. S. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr a most devout
condition O devout children of the Rosary as to any other secular Sodality or Confraternity whatsoever For though all well ordered Congregations and Societies marching under the Ensigns of Christianity and approved of by the Church Catholique the onely Royall seat of true Faith Religion and Devotion are highly praise-worthy and exceedingly pleasing to the divin Majesty since though their Lawes are different their ways divers their devotions distinct Yet they aym all at the same end steer their courses towards the same Haven breath the same zeal of Gods honour and glory seek with like ardour their own and their neighbours Perfection and Salvation Yet I may boldly say there are none more holy more honourable more happy than such as choose the glorious Virgin Mary the powerfull Empress of both worlds for their Protectress and Patroness And this in respect of her Dignity her Power her Perfection her Puritie and her other Attributes Priviledges and Prerogatives which prefer her before all other Creatures and which cannot without Heresy or Blasphemy be by any Christian denyed or doubted of For First she was appointed designed predestinated by the sacred Trinity from all Eternity to be the worthy Mother of the Word Incarnate Secondly her birth was not only prefigured promised prophecied but foretold by an Angell appearing to her barren Parents immediatly before her Conception Thirdly being born free from all sin she led a life so full of all Sanctity so singular in all Purity so excellent in all Perfection that she deserved yes She deserved says Saint Augustin by her Creators mercy the prime Author of this her Purity Innocency and Perfection to be chosen the Mother of Gods Son Fourthly a Mother yet remaining a Virgin a Mother of God which is an Attribute containing alone all that is great glorious excellent Fiftly an Attribute which constitutes her Queen of Angells Saints and Men for to which of them all says our St. Bernard hath God said You are my Mother This is the Priviledg of Mary an Attribute not communicable to any other creature A Dignity to which all other heights and excellencies yield homage reverence A Prerogative to be silently admired since it is impossible to be explicated And what marvell is it if whol multitudes of faithfull children have flocked to the protection of such a Mother What wonder that so many worthy Assemblies have desired to shelter themselves under her sacred wings in hope to sail securely over the dangerous Sea of this lives pilgrimage by her powerfull tutelage and direction This greatness therefore this glory this excellency of the Virgin Mary is the cause of so many holy Confraternities erected in her honour whereof some fixing upon the mysteries of her life have made choyce of the Annunciation or the Conception or the Nativity or the Purification or some other mysterie for their particular Motto and name of their pious Confraternities Others observing the places which she hath been pleased to make famous by her frequent miracles have entitled their devout Societies from Loretto in Italie from Mount-Serrat in Spain from Liesse in France from Hall and Sichem in Flanders Others admiring and honouring her in her effects and attributes have founded severall Congregations according to her severall properties qualities denominations And as she is the Lady Mother of Power which is the title of this our little Altar of Pity of Vertue of Grace of Comfort of Mercy of Deliverance So there are as many particular Assemblies distinguished from each other by these divers denominations but all concentring in the sacred Virgins honour all conspiring in their zeal and devotion to her service all desirous to testifie that though their choyce is different their statutes severall their wayes many yet their design is common their end and aim is one and the same To discourse here of all these devout Confraternities erected in her honour and dedicated to her service were as endless a project in it self as useless to my present design and purpose and therefore contenting my self to have given you these generall notions names and prayses of the most eminent and signall Orders Sodalities and Congregations I shall confine the residue of my discourse to declare that onely Confraternity which we our selves have happily made choyce of I mean the Arch-Confraternity of the sacred Rosary which contains all the other Societies under its generall name and title and communicates it self to their generall Subdivisions as the great Ocean the generall Magazin of waters discharges it self into many Sea-armes creeks and bosomes But before I lanch forth into this large Ocean I shall with the permission of your patience speak a word since it particularly concerns our Confraternity of our Lady Mothers title of Power the sirname of this our sacred Altar and consequently the Notion under which we have engaged our selves in the sacred Virgins service and Sodality A Title Most devout Rosarists truly Royall Noble Glorious A Quality capable to call invite and encourage all afflicted Souls to fly to her Patronage A Name which only pronounced cannot choose but afford present comfort Is there any one amongst you afflicted in mind perplexed in spirit over-tyrannized by your passions overswayed by your sensuality apprehensive of malicious enemies fearfull of threatned torments tribulations persecutions Have you not a powerfull Mother as ready as able to help you Are you sayling upon the boysterous Sea wafted to and fro with the tempestuous winds and billows bruised against the rocks run upon the quick-sands in eminent danger of utter ruin shipwrack and drowning Lift up your eyes hands and hearts to Heaven look for present help from Mary your Powerfull Mother Are you journying by land strai'd from your right path set upon by robbers surprized by nights darkness tyred troubled disconsolated with the inconveniencies of travell Think upon the Mother of Power who will pray for you and protect you Are you seized upon by sickness alarm'd with deaths summons thunder-stricken with the terrour of Gods severe Judgments the torments of Hell-fire the length of your doubtfull Eternity O despair not distrust not quit not your hopes and hold you have a mercifull Father to pardon you a Powerfull Mother to Patronize you Are you assaulted with sodain strong furious temptations shaken with secret suggestions violented by your lawless affections ready to give consent to mortall sin O resist manfully resolve valiantly fight confidently under your Powerfull Mothers ensigns visit this holy Altar with your thoughts and affections reflect upon the sacred Confraternity whereof you are a member Are you deprived by some accident of your fortunes fame friends reduced to poverty infamy extremity Remember your Mothers Power and Charity implore her prayer's and protection and doubt not to obtain either patience to support what so much troubles you or a speedy deliverance from it Finally in all dangers difficulties distresses think upon the Mother of Power call upon the Mother of Power let her not depart from your mouth let her
patience there being no Pope since Sixtus the fourth who hath not freely opened the Churches Storehouse and added new priviledges prerogatives and benefits unto his predecessors liberalitie in so much as I find above forty authentick Bulls and Instruments issued forth of that highest spirituall Court for the approbâ—tion confirmation and ornament of this renowned Arch-Confraternity of the Rosary Fourthly I may add to this large inventory of spirituall profits That to be of this Confraternity is a probable sign of being predestinated to eternall feliâ—ity For if with the holy you shall be holy sayes the Psalmist and with the Elect elected what better sign of holiness what surer token of election can one have in this life than to be associated with so many good Souls aspiring zealously and unanimously to piety to perfection to salvation Fiftly the last profit to let pass many others is a confidence a comfort and a kind of security in the article of Death Death is commonly accompanied with three corrosives Bitterness because of the Cessation of all pleasures the pâ—ivation of all worldly riches the separation of body and Soul two ancient friends and companions Danger because of the dire conflicts and dismall temptations of the then most busy devill Dread and terrour because of the doubtfull and severe judgment immediatly ensuing Now the devout and diligent members of this sacred Confraternity are exempt from the most part of these alarm's For death seems not to them so bitter because long before expected prevented pâ—ovided for The enemies assaults and temptations are not to them so dreadfull and dangerous because the dayly use of their spirituall weapons renders them expert in these combats able to foil their adversaries and experienc'd to defend themselves The apprehension of Gods Judgments is not to them so terrible because they continually think of them and accordingly order their Life and actions discharge their consciences of sin practise works of piety and endeavour to acquire the sacred Virgins favour in hope to have her then their friend and advocate which is surely the best way to dy with safety and security The just man dy's says Saint Bernard as well as the wicked yet the just man dy's with this advantage and assurance that the ending of his life here is the entrance into a better Life hereafter and therefore he living dy's to the world that dying he may begin to live to God O Life truly holy O Death truly happy where the conscience is pure and the Soul unspotted These are some part of the spirituall profits which proceed from this renowned Society of the ROSARY It now remains that I briefly tell you how you may become capable to participate of these priviledges and prerogatives and what duty and devotion befits the faithfull servants of the sacred Virgin Mary and the true members of this most holy Society For it is not enough to have registred your names in the Rosary Catalogue to enter with the rest into her Chappell to be externally associated to this Confraternity but in the first place 1. You must resolve upon an honest honourable holy life A reformation of your manners a renouncing of all vice and vanity a pursute of all vertu piety perfection Yea you must strive to surpass in devotion and sanctity all such other worldlings as have not that honour and happyness you have to be of the blessed Virgins familie for you O devout Rosarists have dedicated your selves more particularly to God service you make a more speciall profession to honour his holy Mother than they who walk in the wide track of the World and if you surpass them not in perfection how deserve you the title of her particular servants If you make not appear in your lives and actions more Modestie Humilitie Patience Piety Devotion and all sorts of vertues than others how are you worthy to be her speciall friends and favourite Finally if you pretend to be truly her children and domesticks she expects from you cleaness of heart purity of conscience sanctity of life and conversation 2. And in order to obtain this mundicity purity and sacntity you must have a high esteem and make frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance as being the main Pillar of a spirituall life the soveraign Medicin to recover our Souls decayed health the first and fundamentall step to all perfection Yes every Christian who hath any Zeal for his own salvation much more we who make a profession of somewhat more than ordinary devotion must presently upon his lapse into mortall sin dispose his Soul to Contrition his mouth to Confession his hands to Satisfaction his body to Penance which is the true Dâ—ttany curing these bitings the wholsom Mithridat expelling these poysons the clear Fountain cleansing us from these filths and impurities O how important is the observation of this point to all pretenders to piety and perfection and how prejudiciall the neglect of it For first a Soul faln into one mortall sin hath set the dore open to let in a second and that makes way for many followers Such is the weight of sin says St. Gregory that it bears dow the Soul under it and sways the inclination to commit more and more on Abyssus calling on another Secondly a Soul in mortall sin looses all her good works all merit all hope of Heaven all title to eternall happyness no alms avail her no prayers profit her no austerities help her no good actions can open to her the gates of Paradise without the key of an intire confession or a true Contrition Thirdly sin as it gains time gets strength becoms insensibly master of the Soul shutts up the dores against the divin mercy and at length leaves her in despair of pardon and makes her give over all hopes of favour and petitioning for grace Ah! what comfort what confidence what means of salvation is left to a miserable Soul that wilfully persevers in her impiety The longer she stays in it the deeper she sinks into it the lesse she deserves favour the more highly she provokes Heavens anger and revenge Fourthly and which is yet worse a Soul wounded with mortall sin and uncured by Confession or Contrition is continually worried with a worm of remorse and if she be grown so insensible as not to feel now its gnawings she shall surely resent its dismall bitings at the approaching hour of death and much more piercingly after her departure when this worm that devours her shall never dy where the fire that burns her shall never be extinguished Behold the inevitable ruins the irreparable losses the unexplicable miseries which are by them incurred who after their fall delay to do Penance Let it be therefore your chief care O devout Rosarists to arise speedily to present your selves presently to the Tribunall of confession to announce your frailty renounce your impiety that so you may obtain grace to walk afterwards more warily For as a spot or stain is sooner rubbed off at first than
Arch-Confraternity of the holy Rosary considering all these things and being desirous to oppose the most prevailing Antidote against that most pestiferous Poyson of the Albigean Heresie then largely spreading it self abroad and blasphemously raging against the sacred Virgins honour judged it expedient and necessary to have recourse to this valiant Judith And therefore by her own advice and revelation he invented this now practis'd Rosary consisting of the fifteen Mysteries recommending the use thereof to all devout Christians Which sort of Piety prov'd so prevalent and succesfull that soon after that Infernall fire was quench'd that contagious current was stopp'd that wicked Heresie was utterly abolished If we therefore lay hold of the same means make use of the same remedy and present the like humble and hearty petitions to the same Mother of Mercy and Power We may also hope to obtain the same happy effects and to see these our blind Adversaries enlightned these stray'd Sheep reduced these our obstinate Countreymen converted 'T is therefore convenient for all Christians and proper for us in particular to practise this sort of Piety and devotion to Gods glory his Mothers honour and the extirpation of Heresies §. 4. What the Rosary is THIS Word Rosary betokens properly a Rose-bed border or place planted with Rose-trees Or also it signifies the Bushes themselves which bring forth the Roses upon their severall branches But as we here understand it and generally all devout Christians practise it The Rosary is a spirituall Posie made up of Mysticall flowers which we present to the glorious Virgin Mary the Mother of our Redeemer as a sweet smelling garland to adorn her sacred head That is to say The Rosary is a certain peculiar manner of offering up our Prayers to the divin Majesty in the honour of his holy Mother by the recitall of one hundred and fiftie or onely fiftie Angelicall Salutations interposing our Lords Prayer between each ten of them and meditating in the mean while upon he divin Mysteries of our Redeemers Incarnation Life and Passion The sacred flowers whereof this Mysticall Garland is compos'd are the principall Prayers and the prime Mysteries of our Religion These prayers are the Pater noster and the Ave Maria. The First pronounc'd by our Redeemers mouth The Second deliver'd unto us partly by the heavenly Ambassadour the Archangell Gabriel partly by S. Elizabeth the holy Baptist's Mother partly by the Catholique Church These Mysteries which make up and connect together these sacred Prayers into this sweet smelling Posie and Garland are flowers of three severall colours Green Red and Azure of each colour Five and in the whol Fifteen The Green are the Mysteries of Christs Incarnation called Joyfull as bringing gladness to the World The Red are the Mysteries of our Redemption called Dolorous as being dy'd with the vermillion tincture of our Redeemer's Blood The Azure are the Mysteries ensuing upon our Saviours Resurrection call'd Glorious as being commemorations of his and his Mothers triumph §. 5. The Rosary is twofold the great Rosary and the little Rosary THE Great Rosary is so call'd for that it contain's fifteen Tens or Decads that is fifteen times ten Ave's and fifteen Paters and hath all the fifteen Mysteries to be run over in Meditation during the time of its recitall And this great Rosary is otherwise nam'd the Psalter of the sacred Virgin because it comprehends the same number of Angelicall Salutations as the Prophet Davids Psalter doth of Psalm's The little Rosary is so tearm'd for that it ends in five Tens or Decades That is fifty Ave's and five Paters and takes only five Mysteries during its recitall for the subject of its Meditation And this is commonly call'd he Third part of the Psalter because being thrice perform'd it makes up the whol Psalterium §. 6. Why this manner of prayer is call'd the Rosary FIrst because as a Rose-bed hath many bushes bringing forth sweet Roses which refresh and recreate the senses of such as gather them So this manner of praying contains a multitude of Paters and Ave's which wonderfully comfort rejoyce and perfect their souls who with a due devotion with an humble reverence to the Divin Presence and with a diligent attention to the sacred Mysteries of our Saviours Life and Passion shall use and frequent them Secondly Because as we commonly name such works or collections Rosaries which contain the prime and principall points that can be deliver'd upon that subject for that the Rose is the Princess of all flowers So this manner of Devotion is fitly call'd a Rosary for that it involves the chief form's of Prayer to wit the Pater noster which as Saint Thomas largely proves is the prime of all Prayers directed to the Divin Majesty and the Ave Maria which is the chief of all Salutations directed to the Blessed Virgin Thirdly because this word Rosary signifies also a Garland of Roses which name may properly be apply'd to this pious Exercise it being a certain spirituall Crown circular Garland compacted of these chief Prayers and presented to the Sacred Virgin Fourthly Because as the Rose-Bush consists of Leaves Prickles Flowers so this our Rosary is compos'd of Joyfull Dolorous and Glorious Mysteries The Joyfull correspond to the Leaves The Dolorous resemble the prickles The Glorious sympathize with the Flowers §. 7. That the Rosary comprehends the two sorts of Prayer Vocall and Mentall MEntall Prayer is conceiv'd onely in the Soul and Spirit without any pronunciation of words Vocall Prayer is pronounc'd with the Mouth and also conceiv'd in the mind The Mentall prayer is surely more perfect First as being more like that of the celestiall Inhabitants Secondly As consisting in a simple and quiet aspect of the understanding without any motion or mixture of discourse Thirdly as being more conceal'd from the sworn Enemy of our good and therefore less expos'd to the danger of his temptations and of externall distractions And this sort of Prayer is most proper for such as have made some progress in a spirituall course of life and who can soar aloft upon the swift wings of their internall desires and affections fixing the eyes of their spirits upon the Eternall Splendor of the Divinity it self which they can as stedfastly behold and contemplate as the Eagle doth the Sun The vocall Prayer though 't is less perfect yet is conceiv'd to be more proper for the generality of Lay-people and especially for all ignorant illiterate and unexperienc'd souls who are commonly farr more capable to comprehend exteriour words actions and ceremonies than the interiour ways and conceptions of the Spirit Now to recite the sacred Rosary as we ought we are to make joint use of both these manners of Prayer vocall and Mentall That to pronounce the Pater and Ave distinctly with our mouths This to meditate devoutly upon the divin Mysteries And this way of vocall and mentall Prayer may in a short time of practise become easy and familiar even to
of certain spirituall exercises tending to the common end of our Creation the fervour and good examples of his faithfull Associats warm his Tepidity excite his Piety and add the continuall fewell of courage and constancy to his holy Resolutions according to that saying of the Wiseman Si unus ceciderit fulcietur ab altero c. where many are united together if one falls he may be rais'd up by his fellow and if one be assaulted two may be able to repulse the adversary For Funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur A triple cord says he is not easily broken And one man alone is as a small single slender threed feeble frail and easily pash'd in peeces but being twisted and ty'd to many others by the strong bands of a spirituall friendship he becoms formidable to all his Infernall Enemyes And this by reason of the mutuall succour of their multipli'd prayers and merits according to that pithy expression of Saint Ambrose Dum singuli orant pro omnibus sequitur ut omnes orent pro singulis When as every single person pray's for all it follows that all pray for every single person Now though generally in all confraternities there is a Communication of prayers merits and spirituall goods yet not in all alike And this is the particular point wherein this Arch-Confraternity of the Rosary seems to excell all others In which according to their severall Institutes Approbations Intentions this participation of Prayers and Communitie of Merits is confin'd to some certain place where they are receiv'd and to that congregation whereof they are children and members Whereas the Brethren and Sisters of this Arch-confraternitie being any where receiv'd are every where priviledg'd and who so is inroll'd in this Book of our Blessed Lady of Power is forthwith made a happy partaker of all their spirituall perfections who are registred in Rome in Paris in any place of the whole universe The learned Doctor Navar gives the reason hereof Because says he this Communication is express'd and declar'd in the Statuts Erections and Confirmations of this Confraternity without which particular expression they could not enjoy that speciall priviledg For confraternities are certain associations of severall people together In societatem autem non veniunt nisi bona expressa say the Jurists In Societies there is no farther communication of any goods amongst the associated persons than only of such as are express'd in the contract of association Therefore proceeds this famous Canonist Hanc communicationem universalem ipse tanto magis suspicio quanto minus memini logere per aliarum Confratriarum Statuta esse similem factam I set a higher price upon this Confraternity by reason of this universall Communication for that I remember not to have read the like in the constitutions of any other Confraternity Besides this Priviledge which gives the Confraternity of the Rosary a precedency before all its collateralls and which is thus briefly here insisted upon not to obscure their lustre but to blazon its own splendor there is yet another in which it also much more surpasses all other confraternities whatsoever Which is The vast Treasure of Indulgences conferr'd upon it by the prime Pastors of the Church there having been no Pope since Sixtus quartus who hath not liberally layd open the Churches Store-house to enrich the sacred Rosary and added new benefits to his predecessors bounty as will apear by the sequall of this discourse §. 11. Of Indulgences in generall BEfore we give in the large Catalogue of Indulgences it may be very convenient to declare the nature reason and ground of all Indulgences with as much brevity and plainess as is possible for their information whose capacities cannot reach the intelligence of School-Divinity It is therefore an assured Tenet amongst all Orthodox Authors as is elsewhere largly declared in our Oration of Indulgences and may be abundantly prov'd by many express'd passages of Holy Writ That when our Mercifull Creator pardons the fault of a converted sinner he doth not always remit the punishment which he hath thereby deserved Adam and Eve the first sinners and the first Penitents were surely pardon'd and yet severely punish'd for neither was he restored to the priviledg of Immortality nor she exempted from the pangs of childing God pardon'd his Idolatrous people by the interecession of Moyses but bids them expect to be punish'd in the day of his revenge Nathan declar'd King David absolv'd from his Adultery and yet God visited him for the chastisement of the same crime with many rigorous adversities Our Originall Sin is remitted in Baptism and yet our understandings remain still punish'd with ignorance our wills with malice and all the faculties of our bodyes and souls with sensualitie and Rebellion against our Reason From which and other infinit examples we must needs infer That when the fault is pardon'd the punishment is not always relaxed and consequently That after our Reconciliation to the Divin Mercy by our due Contrition Confession and Conversion we are still liable to make satisfaction to the Divin Justice This then being suppos'd as most certain First That whosoever offends God mortally on the one side committs a fault and on the other side contracts an Obligation to satisfie for it which are called culpa and poena Secondly That the Fault may be pardon'd by Confession and the penaltie by Penance and satisfaction either in this World or in the next Thirdly That few in this world either do or can fulfill that penance which their sins deserve Hence it is That every sinner stands in need of some forraign assistance to warrant him from the flames of Purgatory in which he must pay Usque ad ultimum quadrantem Even to the last farthing who hath not payd it in this world And this Assistance must necessarily be deriv'd unto us from the superabundant merits of our Blessed Redeemer whose precious Blood Death and Passion is the prime source of all Christians merit and satisfaction Now say our learned Divins The same blood of our Saviour which hath merited for us a Remission of our crimes and a Reconciliation to Gods favour is also applyed to us for the relaxation of our deserv'd punishments By four manners of means First By means of the Sacraments Secondly By means of some Heroique Act of Charitie such as is Martyrdom c. Thirdly By means of satisfactory works done in the state of Grace such as are Almesdeeds Fasting and Prayer Fourthly by the means of Indulgences The First three are the Ordinary means whereby our Redeemers Satisfactions are apply'd unto us The last of Indulgences is the extraordinary means whereby they are also apply'd unto us either by our Saviour himself immediatly or by him instrumentally who is intrusted with this power by our Saviours own concession express'd in these words Tibi dabo claves Regni Coelorum c. I will give to thee O Peter the Keys of my heavenly Kingdom Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon Earth shall be
the Court of Heaven And O admirable prodigy of the divin mercy O clear testimony of holy Maryes Power there immediately follow'd a full and happy delivery from that dire disease and mortalitie And is not this onely miracle wrought in the open view of the world done in the head-Citie of the Universe acted as to that part of it which is cavill'd at by the Churches chief Pastor and Christs vice-gerent upon earth and registred by so many undeniable and authentick authors able to confound you O Heretiques and Image-haters capable to convert you O half-Catholiques and dishonourers of holy Mary sufficient to comfort you O devout children of the sacred Rosary yet cast an eye upon some others of like nature in the succeedding ages St. Stephen the third making a Procession on his bare feet together with the Roman Clergie and people and carrying a holy Image on his own shoulders to the same Church of St. Marie at the Manger implor'd and obtain'd the like heavenly assistance Sergius the Patriarch of Constantinople carryed the sacred Virgins Image in procession about the Citie-walls and receiv'd a present and miraculous remedie against Caganus and the rest of the Scithians his besieging enemies The same was done under Heraclius the Emperour in his Persian expedition who thereupon obtain'd a compleat victory over his enemies destroying with the loss only of fifty of his own Souldiers the two vast Armies of Duke Razates whose golden Armour he afterwards hung up as a trophe to the victorious Virgin And when the same Citie of Constantinople was again straightned by the cruell Saracens the distressed Inhabitants making their accustomed addresses to their Powerfull Patroness and carrying her sacred Effigies as formerly about their besieged walls saw their Enemies suddenly perishing before their faces some with fire from Heaven the rest with famin pestilence shipwrack and such like severe punishments In memorie of which miraculous delivery the gratefull Citizens celebrated an annuall Festivity in her honour by whose help they obtain'd it Many more examples might be here multiply'd in Constantin the last Eastern Emperour Emmanuel the Conquerour of Pannonia Joannes Ximisca the Overcomer of the Russians Joannes Commenius the Triumpher over the Persians c. But these few are more than sufficient to vindicate this our pious custom not only from Innovation but from all other aspersions whatsoever The fourth Ceremonie in these our Processions is the carryage of wax-Candles or Torches in imitation of the Churches ancient custom observ'd upon the day of the blessed Virgins Purification of which our St Bede said long since This good custom speading it self abroad was kept also in the other Festivities of the sacred Mother and Virgin Mary The fifth and last Ceremonie is the singing or reciting of the Litanies of our blessed Lady of the Rosary which Litanies are sung in the Church called our Lady of Minerva in Rome and in many other Churches throughout all Italie upon every Saturday by the approbation and authoritie of Pope Gregorie the thirteenth in his Brief bearing date Aprill the fifteenth 1580. which Litaâ—ies are as follow 's after this Elevation §. 17. An Elevation for the Procession of the Rosary O Sacred Virgin-Mother Conduct my foot-steps my thoughts and my prayers 1. That I may honour your Excellencies Greatnesses and Glories 2. That I may submit to the Soveraign power you have over me 3. That I may implore and obtain your favour and mercy which are the three Ends and Intentions I propose to my self in accompanying this sacred Procession which is now made in your honour by your faithfull children and servants I intend also hereby to honour all your sacred courses and journey's The first which in your tender age you made to the Temple to present and consecrate your self entirely to the divin Majesty dedicating to him your body by a vow of perpetuall Virginitie your soul by a resolution of future affection and all your Actions by a Sacrifice of your whol life to his service The Second which being declared Gods Mother you made into the Mountains to visite your Cousin Elizabeth to sanctify St John Baptist to bless that whol Family The third which being big with the divin Word Incarnate you made from Nazareth to Bethleem to shew your loyall Obedience to an Earthly Princes Edict but more to profess your prompt subjection to the Heavenly Kings Providence The fourth which bearing your Blessed Babe in your arms you made from Bethleem to the Temple to offer up to the Eternall Father the highest and holyest Oblation that ever was or shall be offered to his divin Majesty An Offering which was the full accomplishment of all the ancient Figures and Sacrifices The Fifth which to avoid Herods cruelty you made with your tender son Jesus and your dear Husband St. Joseph into Egypt The sixth which having lost your beloved Jesus you made to Jerusalem carefully seeking him The seventh which during his three last years preaching you made throughout Judea and Palestin painfully following him The eighth which in the time of his Passion you made to Mount Calvary dolefully accompanying him The ninth which having compleated your happy Pilgrimage upon earth you made to Paradise to remain there the glorious Empress of Heaven for evermore In the honour of these your journeys O sacred Virgin Star of the Sea and Guide of my life I will take my stepps in this present Procession humbly desiring to run after the odours of your sweet perfumes that is to imitate the examples of your heroique vertues that so I may be found worthy to accompany you in Celestiall glory and there with you to bless praise and honour the Father Son and Holy Ghost for all Eternity Amen THE LITANIES OF OUR BLESSED LADY OF THE ROSARY Antiphona Sub tuum Praesidium confugimus Sancta Dei Genitrix nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper Virgo gloriosa benedicta Domina nostra Mediatrix nostra Advocata nostra tuo filio nos reconcilia tuo Filio nos commenda tuo Filio nos representa nunc in hora mortis nostrae KYrie Eleyson Christe Eleyson Kyrie Eleyson Sancta Trinitas unus Deus miserere nobis Virgo Audi nos Virgo Exaudi nos Sancta Maria Sancta Dei Genitrix Ora pro nobis Sancta Virgo Virginum Mater Pietatis Mater Veritaetis Mater Charitatis Virgo Potentissima Virgo Prudentissima Virgo Clementissima Ancilla Domini mitis Ancilla Christi humilis Ancilla Dei fidelis Sponsa aeterni Patris Filia summi Regis Templum Spiritus sancti Domus Dei Sanctuarium Christi Sacrarium Paracleti Speculum Justitiae Sedes Sapientiae Fons Misericordiae Salus Infirmorum Refugium Miserorum Advocata Peccatorum Stella rutilantior Luna pulchrior Sole splendidior Scala Coeli Porta Paradisi Domina Mundi Cedrus Fragrans Myrrha Conservans Balsamum Distillans Flos Virginitatis Lilium Castitatis
Rosa Puritatis Palma Virens Virga Florens Gemma Refulgens Oliva speciosa Columba Formosa Mulier Gratiosa Rubus Incombuftus Hortus Conclusus Puteus Signatus Vellus Gedeonis Favus Sampsonis Thronus Salomonis Vitis fructificans Navis abundans Arca Salvans Gloria Saeculi Honor Populi Nutrix Parvuli Regina Angelorum Regina Patriarcharum Regina Prophetarum Regina Apostolorum Regina Martyrum Regina Confessorum Regina Praedicatorum Regina Virginum Regina Sanctorum Omnium Regina Sanctissimi Rosarii Ab omni malo Peccato Libera nos Domina Per salutiferam Nativitatem beatam Praesentationem tuam Te rogamus Domina Per sanctam Purificationem caelestem vitam tuam Te rogamus Domina Per admirabilem Assumptionem gloriosam Coronationem tuam Te rogamus Domina Ut veram paenitentiam perseverantiam nobis impetrare digneris Te rogamus Domina Ut Ecclesiasticos ordines Catholicos Princâ—pes conservare digneris Te rogamus Domina Ut hanc nostram Cunctasque Congregâ—tiones tibi devotas augeâ—e Conservare digneris Te rogamus Domina Ut hanc nostram Cunctasque Congregationes tibi devotas augere conservare digneris Te Rogamus Domina Ut Populo Christiano Pacem salutem abundantiam obtinere digneri Te rogamus Domina Ut Navigantibus portum pro Fide pugnantibus Victoriam Fidelibus vitam defunctis Requiem aeternam Impetrare digneris Te rogamus Domina Vers Ave de coelis Alma Resp Sucurre nobis Domina Vers Ave de coelis Pia Resp Fer opem nobis Domina Vers Ave de coelis Dulcis Resp Intercede pro nobis Domina Vers Sancta Maria Mater Christi Resp Audi rogantes servulos impetratam nobis coelitus tu defer Indulgentiam Vers Orate pro nobis omnes Sancti Dei Resp Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi Vers Salvos fac servos tuos Ancillas tuas Resp Deus meus sperantes in te Oremus SUpplicationem servorum tuorum Deus miserator exaudi ut qui in Societate sanctissimi Rosarii Dei genitricis Virginis Mariae congregamur ejus intercessionibus a te de instantibus perisulis eruamur Deus cujus unigenituâ— per vitam mortem Resurrectionem in nostrae carnis substantia nobis salutis aeternae praemia comparavit Da famulis tuis haec omnia per Sanctum Rosarium recensentibus imitari quod gessit sentire quae pertulit assequi quod promisit Tribue quaesumus Domine omnes Angelos Sanctos tuos jugiter pro nobis orare cos clementer exaudire digneris Ecclesiae tuae Domine preces placatus admitte ut destructis adversitatibus erroribus universis secura tibi serviat libertate Custodi Domine famulum tuum N. Patronum nostrum pro quo Majestati tuae supplicam us ut in fide Catholica constans perseveret ac vita hujus pericula illaesus pertranseat nullisq tentati nibus a te summâ— bono unquam so paretur Remittantur illi quaesumus peccata quibus iram tuam promeruit Augeatur in eo justitia Tibi Majoribus Proximis exhibenda Vocationi suae in qua degit probe satisfaciat aequè in prosperis atque in adversis rebus sese moderatè gerat Atque finem Vitae faelicem te duce conseqatur Corpus illius Animam Vitam mortem tuae divinae gratiae magnoperè commendamus ut Benedictionis tuae Virtute in Viis omnibus dirigatur contra omnes hostium tam visibilium quam invisibilium insidias defendatur Per Christum Dominum nostrum Vers Ave Maria Resp Gratia plena Vers Dominus tecum Resp Benedicta tu in mulieribus Benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus Jesus Christus Amen Vers Sancta Maria Mater Dei ora pro nobis Peccatoribus nunc in hora mortis nostrae Resp Et fidelibus defunctis requiem sempiternam impetra Amen Benedictio Nos cum Prole pia Benedicat Virgo †Maria. A devout recommendation to the ever blessed Virgin after Procession O Mother of Mercy Mother of Power Mother of Jesus Mother and Advocate of poor and repentant Sinners to whom your care and affection is greater than that of a Mother to her child Into your sacred hands and heart I do most humbly recommend this day and for ever my body and soul all that I am and have my life and my death that in all I may seek your Sons honour and find my own happiness Beg for me O blessed Mother diligence to seek Jesus love to find him obedience to follow him purity to see him charity to embrace him patience to suffer for him devotion to sigh after him indifferencie to adhere to him and perseverance to remain with him for evermore O Empress of Heaven Beauty of Angells and Lady of Love How long shall nature sensuality and selfishness bear sway How long shall I seek and not find sigh and not enjoy live and not truly love Jesus and Mary the good Son and glorious Mother the holy Fruit and happy Tree O my compassionate Mother obtain for me your poor child counsell in all my doubts comfort in all my distresses courage in all my temptations and confidence in all my troubles Help me O holy Mother of my Lord Jesus to be truly humble in my self truly devout and loyall to my God truly obedient to my Superiors and truly meek to all Be you alwaies mindfull of me O my dear Mother both living and dying and then especially have a care of me when I forget my self by falling into Sin and when my Soul must be forc'd out of my Body by death that after death I may see praise and love both you and your Son Jesus for all eternity Amen THE LITANIES OF OUR BLESSED LADY OF LORETTO So called For that they are usually sung in that sacred Church of Loretto upon all the Saturdays in the year and Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary THE pious Rosarists may please to take notice that some years since there were certain Religious Persons who agreed together to recite daily these holy Litanies for the happy death of each other to whom many thousands joyn'd themselvs throughout all Italy Spain France Germany and the Indies And why should nor the like sacred Association be established also in our Countrey amongst such devout Christians as are equally zealous of the Blessed Virgins honour and as much desirous of a happy death We therefore the Compilers of this Book do hereby declare unto all you the devout Children and Servants of our Common-Mother the ever Blessed Virgin Mary that we intend henceforth to recite daily these following Litanies for each others happy death And that we do now even by these presents without any further declaration or ceremony admit receive and associate unto our selv's and to a joynt Communication with us in these our prayers All such as being desirous therof shall mutually perform these three following points 1. Recite daily these Litanies
with the adjoyned Antheme and Prayer to the sacred Virgin and to Saint Joseph 2. Recite them for all such as arâ— thus associated as they all recite the same for him 3. Recite them for his own and their happy death and for the obtaining of Grace necessary for that purpose ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! despise not our Prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son recommend us to your Son represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ hear us O Christ graciously hear us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us Pray for us Holy Mary Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins Mother of Christ Mother of Divin Grace mother most pure Mother most chast Mother undefiled Mother untouched Mother most aminable Mother most admirable Mother of our Creator Mother of our Redeemer Virgin most Prudent Virgin most Venerable Virgin most Renowned Virgin most Powerfull Virgin most Mercifull Virgin most Faithfull Mirrour of Justice Seat of Wisdom Cause of our Joy Spiritual Vessel Honourable Vessel Vessel of singular Devotion Mystical Rose Tower of David Pray for us Tower of Ivory House of Gold Ark of the Covenant Gate of Heaven Morning Star Health of the Weak Refuge of Sinners Comfort of the Afflicted Help of Christians Queen of Angels Queen of Patriarchs Queen of Prophets Queen of Apostles Queen of Martyrs Queen of Confessors Queen of Virgins Queen of all Saints Queen of the most sacred Rosary Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Spare us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Hear us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Have mercy on us ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! Despise not our prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son Recommend us to your Son Represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Vers Pray for us O holy Mother of God Resp That we may become worthy of Christs promises Let us pray REmember O most compassionate Virgin Mary Mother of Power Mercy and Consolation That it was never yet heard or known that any one was by you rejected who in his grievous pressures and afflictions had recoâ—rse to your powerfull Prayers Patronage and Protection Imboldned with this confidence we your distressed Children of the holy Rosary with eyes full of tears and hearts full of sorrow make now to you O sacred Virgin Mother our most humble addresses in these our present and pressing necessities Despise not our words we beseech you O Blessed Mother of the Word Eternal and Incarnate Reject not the Petitions of your poor servants O you pious Comforter of all afflicted Souls but graciously vouchsafe to hear us to help us to protect us and to obtain for us the accomplishment of all our just and humble desires That we may have fresh occasion to admire your transcendent Mercy Charity and Compassion and to magnify and praise with eternal gratitude and thanksgiving the infinit goodness of your Divin Son our sweet Saviour Christ Jesus The Verse and Prayer of Saint Joseph Vers The just man shall flourish as a Palm-tree Resp He shall be multiplyed as the Cedar of Libanus Let us pray ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the merits of Saint Joseph thy sacred Mothers Bridegroom that what we are unworthy to obtain may be granted us by his intercession who livest and reignest world without end Amen §. 18. Several other Prayers Wherof one or more may be sometimes added after the Litanies of our Blessed Lady according to each ones Devotion Occasion or Necessity I. A Filial Recommendation of our selv's to the sacred Virgin-Mothers protection O Sacred and Sovereign Lady-Mother next after God the onely hope of my soul Into that singular faith commendation and custody wherby your tenderly loving Son Christ Jesus my Saviour recommended you from the Cross to his dearly beloved Disciple Saint John I do this day and all the days of my life commend and commit my body my soul my senses my honour all my hope and comfort all my anguishes miseries and afflictions all my thoughts words and actions my whol life and the final end thereof Most humbly beseeching you that I may by your powerfull intercession be preserved from all sin from all scandal from whatsoever may any way displease yours or your Son 's pure eyes provoke your anger or hazard the loss of your favour and from a sudden and unprovided death Obtain for me I beseech you O my glorious Lady-Mother that I may be truly penitent for all my past offences that I may manfully resist all present occasions of sin that I may walk more warily and innocently for the future Let me feel your prompt and powerfull assistance during the whol course of this my lives pilgrimage and in the dreadfull day of my judgement be you pleas'd O sacred Mother to become my pious Advocatrix at the Tribunal of your Son Christ Jesus To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for evermore Amen II. A Prayer for a happy death O My dear Lord Jesu I most humbly beseech you by those most bitter pains and pangs which you suffer'd for me in your cruel passion and particularly in the hour wherein your Divin Soul pass'd forth of your Blessed Body take pity upon my poor and sinfull soul in its last agony and in its passage to Eternity And you O compassionate Virgin-Mother Mary remember how you sadly stood by your dear Son dying on the Cross and by that your excessive grief and your Sons sacred death assist my soul in its last conflict with death and conduct it to a happy Eternity And you O glorious Saints John Joseph Nicodemus Lazarus Mary Magdalen Mary of James Mary of Salome and Martha who stood by my dear Redeemer Christ Jesus expiring on the Cross assist me also in the hour of my souls departure and accompany it to a happy Eternity Amen III. A General Prayer for our selvs our Friends and the whol Church DIssolve we beseech you O Lord by your bounty the bonds of our sins and by the intercession of the sacred Virgin and all your blessed Saints preserve us our Friends our Brethren and our Benefactors in your grace and sanctity Purge O Lord from all impiety and enrich with solid virtues and perfections all such as have any relation to us by consanguinity affinity or familiarity grant us health of
that the materiall Rosaries or Psalters which in honour and imitation of his name they call'd Bedes and which a thing well worth the noting are so nam'd amongst us till this day were hung up every where in the Churches Chappell 's and publick places of Pâ—ayer to invite all people who would please to make use of them to this manner of piety and devotion And to pass over an hundred and six other famous Prelats and Saints of the same Benedictin Family which are nam'd and prays'd by our Gabriel Bucelinus upon this particular score of having been devout servants of the Sacred Virgin and diligent practisers and preachers of her Psalter St. Dominick call'd Loricatus from the Iron Breast-plate wherewith he perpetually mortifi'd his body one of the great Ornaments of our glorious Order another Baptist of his Age the mirror yea andumiracle of all Penitents who dyed in the year 1060. and whos 's sacred Corps remaining after his Souls departure nine dayes uncorrupted was interr'd by our St. Peter Damian the Eye-witness and faithfull writer of his admirable life and actions â— us'd to recite his Psalter nine times a day adding frequently whol nights to his dayes continued and uninterrupted devotions Also Peter the Hermite treating with Pope Urban the second concerning the expedition into the holy Land and inviting all Christians to that sacred enterprise recommended to them this very manner of prayer and devotion in 1093. and the years following of whom and the diligent propagation of the Marian Psalter by him and others of our sacred Order read the Benedictin Annals largely and authentically describing them The same devotion of the Psalter was most zealously preach'd and promulgated by St. Otto the Bishop of Bamberg and Apostle of Sclavonia who in the year 1139. not only recommended this sort of Prayer to that new converted Nation but commanded the people to bear about them the blessed Virgins Psalters as outward badges of their interiour affection and devotion towards her which custom is yet generally kept amongst the Christians of that Countrey where both sexes are seen to wear Chains and Bracelets of Bedes about their necks and arms even till this day Finally this pious practise of honouring the holy Virgin-Mother by the recitall of the Psalter became afterwards very common throughout the whol Church as may be read in the Tripartite Historie where it is regâ—stred that the devout Christians made certain Cords distinguish'd with greater and smaller knots for that sacred purpose St Bernard also the most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin and amplifier of her honour compos'd a Psalter to her prayse in imitation and according to the number of that of King David sicut vidi tenui say's Alanus which I have beheld with these eyes and held in these hands for which and his other devout practises of piety towards the Queen of Heaven he deservd to become her speciall friend and favourite St. Mary of Ognia practis'd the same in a most eminent manner adding to her dayly performance of the Davidical Psalms the devout recitall of as many Angelical Salutations which make up the compleat number of our Psalter And this custom of joyning together both Psalters was generally observ'd amongst the Religious persons of those times and afterwards embrac'd by them of the Carthusian Family who after each Psalm of David usually saluted the sacred Virgin with certain pithy verses artificially compos'd for that purpose All which Examples to which many more might be added aboundantly prove this sort of Virginall Psalter to have been anciently in use amongst some or other pious honourers of the sacred Virgin in all precedent Ages though by degrees as the divin Charitie grew colder in mens hearts so all sorts of Devotion decreased and this manner of prayer became also neglected When behold the divin providence rayses up a Saint Dominick to revive and reestablish it He lived in Spain at what time the Albigean Heresie had infected a great part of Christendom An Heresie so black and blasphemous that to recount its Tenents were methinks to offend the eares of faithfull Christians yet whosoever hath the curiositie to know and can have the patience to read such impieties may find them largly registred and solidly refuted by the learned Antoninus This glorious Champion of Christ and his Church St. Domâ—nâ—ck zealously opposes himself against this perverse Heresie praying preaching travelling and using all possible endeavours to suppress the rage of its contagious infection But alas all his pious endeavours were to very little purpose so deply was the custom of libertie sin and sensuality setled in mens hearts and affections The holy man therefore with heart full of grief and eyes full of tears makes his addresses to the Mother of Mercy and of Power humbly complaining expostulating and questioning why his so great diligence his so many painfull journeys his so frequent and fervent exhortations declamations and disputations should prove so fruitless and ineffectuall To whom she was graciously pleas'd to return this answer No mervail if the Earth wanting moysture becomes barren and fruitless nor is it any wonder that worldlings wanting the dew of the divin grace remain devoid of Faith and of the fertility of good Works When God in his mercy intended the Worlds reparation he prepar'd it with Rain the Angelicall Salutation whereby it became blessed and fruitfull Preach thou also my Psalter and there will follow a present and plentifull fruit of thy painfull labours The Saint did as he was commanded propagating the sacred Virgins Psalter throughout Spain France and Italy fitting it to each ones capacity reducing it into a fraternall unity and confirming his doctrin with such evident miracles that Christians became every where not only converted from the Albigean Heresie but also devout servants of God and diligent honourers of the Virgin Mary Thus most devout Rosarists you have the Virginall Psalter briefly brought down to St. Dominick who not only reviv'd its decayed use but is undoubtedly the Author of the Rosary as to the particular method and manner wherein we now recite it and who is the Beginner of this sacred Confraternitie whereof we are members as appears by the Bull of Pius Quintus whose last words we shall only here produce to avoid unnecessary prolixity in a matter of so great certainty The blessed St. Dominick say's he directed as is piously believ'd by Gods holy Spirit upon the like occasion that now happens in the Church when France and Italy were miserably ore-spread with the Albigean Heresie lifting up his eyes to Heaven and beholding that Mountain the glorious Virgin Mary Gods holy Mother invented and propagated a very easie plain and pious manner of praying call'd the Rosary or Psalter of the most sacred Virgin Mary whereby the said Blessed Virgin is honoured with the Angelical Salutation an hundred and fifty times repeated conformably to the number of Psalms contain'd in the Davidicall Psalter with our Lords Prayer interpos'd
between each Decade and the rest of the meditations comprehending the whol life of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus c. Let 's now cast a view upon the Excellency Dignity and Utilitie of this our sacred Rosary which can be no better declared than by shewing the Excellencie of each severall part whereof it is compos'd to wit the Creed the Lords Prayer the Angelical Salutation and the Meditations upon the fifteen Mysteries In the Creed we profess our Faith and by Faith we please God in the Lords Prayer we speak to God as it were in his own dialect and we may be confident the Eternall Father will hearâ—… to the divin words which his own dear Son dictated In the Angelical Salutation we gratefully commemorate the chief mysterie of our Salvation which is our Redeemers Incarnation And in Meditating upon the fifteen mysteries we sweetly melt away in the admiration of the divin love mercy and goodness The Creed wherewith we begin and conclude our Rosary and which may therefore be fitly called the first and last accidentall part thereof contains as many Excellencies fruits and profits as Faith it self whereof it is a formall Act and Profession Now the fruits of Faith are so many that meerely to relate them would make up a large volum and therefore be pleas'd to content your selves for the present most devout Rosarists to take only a compendious touch of such as are expresly registred in holy Writ 1. Faith purges our sins Thy Faith O Woman say's our Saviour to the Penitent Magdalen hath saved thee 2. Faith purifies our hearts sayes S. Peter 3. Faith joynes espouses and unites our souls to God say's the Prophet Oseas 4. Faith is the very life of our souls The just man says the Prophet Abacuc and after him the Apostle S. Paul lives by faith And Christ our Saviour He that believes in me though he be dead in flesh he shall live in his soul 5. Faith enobles exalts and dignifies our nature rendring us Gods adopted children He gave power say's S. John to them who believe in his name to become his children 6. Faith is here the beginning of the hereafter ensuing eternall life This is eternall life says our Saviour to know the only true God 7. Faith gives all the fruit worth and merit to our works Whatsoever is not of Faith says Saint Paul is a sin 8. Faith is our Armour against all sorts of Temptations of the World Flesh and Devill Above all says S. Paul take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked And S. Peter Your Adversary the Devill goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in Faith And S. John This is the victory that overcomes the world even your Faith 9. Faith causes our Prayers to be heard and our Petitions granted What things soever you desire says our Saviour When you pray believe that you receive them and you shall have them And S. James Let him ask in Faith nothing doubting and it shall be given him 10. Faith works Miracles He that believes in me says our Saviour shall do the works that I do and greater than these And S. Paul proves this by many instances throughout his whol 11th Chapter to the Hebrews Finally there are no greater riches no higher honours no better substance in this world says S. Augustin than the Catholique Faith which saves sinners cures the sick justifies the righteous repairs the penitent perfects the just and crowns all the Elect. These are a part of the innumerable fruits and profits which spring from Faith as from the foundation ground work and root of all goodness and which may be aboundantly gather'd by you O Faithfull servants of God and devout children of Mary by renewing exciting and professing it in the recitall of your Creed at the beginning and end of your Rosary The second Part of the Rosary is our Lords Prayer so called from its divin Author Christ Jesus and for its own excellencie as being says S. Thomas an Abridgment of all that needs to be desired or ought to be demanded This sacred Prayer contain seven Petitions and that not without speciall Mysterie For as this inferior world is govern'd by seven Orbes or Heavens which are under the starrie Firmament and is cherish'd and conserv'd by the Influences of seven Planets And as Man consists of the three powers of his soul and the four Elements whether virtually or formally it matters not which compose his Body And as our spirituall Perfection depends upon seven vertues The three Theologicall and the four Cardinall And as the gifts of the Holy Ghost wherewith our souls are adorned are seven And as the Beatificall Dowries make up the same number three of them belonging to the soul vision love fruition and four to the Body Impassibility Agility Subtility Clarity So Christ our Lord the Eternall Fathers Coeternall wisdom concluded all things for which he would have us pray in these seven short and sweet Petitions To relate all the fruits and effects which are reap'd by the devout recitall of this divin Prayer were to run over the large fields of prayer in generall whereof this our Pater noster is a perfect summarie as hath been already prov'd by the authoritie of S. Thomas and may be further confirm'd by this saying of S. Augustin If thou searchest after all the sacred Prayers that ever were compos'd thou canst in my opinion meet with nothing which is not herein contained and included And by that of S. Cyprian O what mysteries are in our Lords prayer How many and how great Sacraments are in this short speech contracted in words but copious in spirituall sense and vertu In so much as there is nothing at all to be pray'd for which is not comprehended in this compendium of heavenly doctrin To which Encomiums of these great Saints omitting almost infinit others of Tertullian S. John Chrysostom S. Gregory and all the Fathers we shall only add this excellent expression of a modern Author Amongst all divin Prayers and prayses nothing is comparable to the Pater noster It far excells all the supplications of the Saints It fully contains all the conceptions of the Prophets all the expressions of the Psalms all the sweetnesses of the Canticles It asks all that is necessary It prayses God highly It joyns the soul to God entirely c. See Thomas a Kempis Enchirid. Monastic cap. 5. But to make you most devout Rosarists yet more enamour'd with your Pater noster We shall succinctly deliver unto you its manifold fruits and effects in the very sense of S. Dominick himself the Author of this our Confraternity who by divin Inspiration preach'd to his numerous Auditory of Tolosa upon a solemn feast of the sacred Virgin to this effect First says Saint Dominick if little weak children were to walk through some wild and uncouth wilderness had they not need of a
cause of the Cross and thou shalt easily quench the fires of all thy passions 6. It gives us hopes of our salvation For what may not he hope who beholds Christ dying on the Cross for his Redemption and who looks upon Christ more faithfully than he who frequently imprints his Cross upon his heart and forehead to which the Apostle alluding exhorts all Christians to remember at how dear a rate they are bought and to glorifie and carry God in their Bodyes 7. It inflames our souls in the divin love and charity For who can consider Christ expiring on the Cross for his sake and continue cold and tepid God commends his love towards us say's the Apostle In that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us 8. It a verts from us Gods indignation and revenge In which sense that saying of the Psalmist is understood by S. Gregory of Nice and by S. Hierom. Thou O Lord hast given a sign to them that fear thee that they may fly from before the Bow 9. It defends us from all our enemyes so the same Fathers explicate that other passage of the Psalmist shew some sign upon me for good that they who hate me may see it and be asham'd because thou O Lord hast holpen me and comforted me 10. It drives away the Devills Sign thy self says S. Cyril with the Cross in the forehead that the Devill perceiving the Kings character may be affrighted and fly from thee And again This sign says he is a comfort to Christians and a terrour to the Devills And the Martyr Ignatius The sign of the Cross is a Trophe against the power of the Prince of this world which hearing and beholding he fears and trembles Finally The sign of the Cross says S. Cyrill is the Seminary of all vertues and in it alone says S. Ambrose consists the prosperity of all Christians And if any shall question you O Christians says Tertullian whence this Ceremonie had its first rise and origin Answer them boldly Tradition hath taught it custom hath confirm'd it Faith hath practis'd it Since therefore this sign is of so great power and efficacie against the Devills so assured an Antidote against all sorts of dangers so undrayn a â—lea fountain of all desirable good and happiness as in these few words supported by the authority of such ancient and learned Fathers seems sufficiently declared Let us O devout Fellow-members of the sacred Rosary be carefull to arm our selves therewith upon all occasions at all times in all places and especially at the beginning and end of our Psalter remembring that we are spirituall Souldiers listed by Christ our Captain to fight under the banner of his blessed Cross against the World the Flesh and the Devill undoubtedly hoping by vertue thereof to overcom and vanquish them §. 2. Of the Apostles Creed which is The first part of the Rosary THe Apostolicall Symbol or Creed is so called for that it was made compil'd saith S. Clement by the twelve Apostles being yet together each one of them adding what was conceiv'd necessary to the end that when they were separated they might preach this Rule of Faith to all Nations which as S. Augustin largely declares is a Plain Short Compleat comprehension of our Faith that so its Plainness might correspond to the Hearers capacitie its Shortness to their memorie its Compleatness to the contained doctrin For that which in Greek is named Symbolum is called Collation in Latin because the Catholique doctrine is compendiously knit and collected together in this divin Symbol which signifies also Indicium a mark note or token whereby Orthodox Believers might be known and distinguished from all others Now some of the Reasons why this sacred Creed ought to be recited at the entrance upon our Rosary may be briefly these 1. Because order and Reason seem to require that after the solemn confession and Invocation of the Holy Trinity which is don as aforesaid by making the sign of the Cross We should in the next place make a profession of what we believe of the Trinity 2. Because Faith being the Foundation of Prayer as the Apostle expresly tells us He that comes to God must believe We do hereby most fitly at the begìnning of our Prayer renew excite and reduce our Faith from its habit to an act 3. Because the Church begins and ends the Canonicall Office with a Creed and the Rosary as hath been declared is an Imitation of the Davidicall Psalter and Church Psalmodie 4. Because the Fathers do most seriously recommend the frequent recitall of the Creed to all faithfull Christians Amongst whom S. Augustin some of whose many pithy expressions upon this point we shall only here produce to avoid unnecessary prolixity says thus Having learned your Creed recite it daily when you rise out of your bed when you compose your selv's to rest c. Let iâ— not seem irksome to repeat it Repetition is convenient to avoid oblivion Do not pretend that you said it yesterday that you said it this day that you have it fresh in your memory but express it again repeat it contemplate it let your Creed be your glass there consider your selv's and see whether you believe what you profess and rejoyce daily in your Faith Let your Faith be your richess and let your Creed be as it were the continuall cloathing of your interiour Do you not cloath your body when you rise out of your Bed So by reciting your Symboll you cloath your soul least forgetfulness should leave it naked c. An Exercise upon the Apostles Creed I Believe I Believe acknowledge and confess with heart and mouth all such Articles of Faith as the holy Church proposes to be believed because God who is the Truth it self hath revealed them In particular I believe all that is contain'd in the Apostles Creed whereof I here make my profession in the presence of God my Creator and all the Court of Heaven protesting and promising to live and dy in this Faith O Lord encrease my Faith I believe Lord help my unbelief I believe in God the Father Allmightie Creator of Heaven and Earth I Believe in the first Person of the sacred Trinitie the Eternall Father whom I acknowledg to be full of all possible and imaginable might and power and that he produc'd the Heaven the Earth and all Creatures both visible and invisible of nothing by his sole word and command and out of his own free-will and goodness O my Allmightie and Allmercifull Father you can as easily bring me back into the dark Abysmus of my first Nothing as you from thence powerfully drew me and gave me this present Being Behold I most humbly acknowledg the absolute and perpetuall dependancie which I have upon your divin Majesty I confess that of my self I am nothing have nothing can do nothing and that my whol Being breathing and motion proceeds from your bounty goodness and power And in Jesus Christ his only
Son our Lord. I Believe in the second Person of the sacred Trinity the Son whom the Father begot from all Eternity communicating to him all his own Essence Greatness Perfection who continuing God became Man for the Salvation of Sinners was nam'd Christ Jesus and is the Soveraign Lord and King of all Souls O divin word which descended from Heaven to Earth to deliver me from sin and Satan be you my Lord by Election as you are by Creation and Redemption I freely give and bequeath my self to you for your perpetuall Bondslave Live O Jesu and reign in my Soul as you do in the whol extent of this large Universe Who was conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary I Believe that Gods Son that he might become Man did vouchsafe to unite to his divin Person a Rationall soul and a human body which the Holy Ghost miraculously form'd in the chast bowels of the blessed Virgin Mary and of her proper and pure blood so that he was truly conceiv'd in her and truly born by her without any prejudice to her Virginity O Jesu the lover of Purity who chose the chastest woman of the World for your Mother by the Immaculate Purity of your Conception and Nativitie give me the gift and grace of purity of Life and Conversation Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucify'd dead and buryed I Believe that the Son of God Incarnate endured very severe Torments in his humanity for the Worlds Redemption that he was adjudg'd to dy by the Prefident Pilate and that after his death he was buryed and laid in a Sepulchre O Jesu the Redeemer of my Soul your death is the only hope of my Life be you graciously pleas'd to apply to me one single drop of your sacred Bloud and I shall rest secure in this Life and be happy for all Eternitie He descended into Hell the third day he arose again from the Dead I Believe that in the death of my blessed Saviour his Soul was really seperated for a time from his Body to descend into that part of Hell which was call'd Limbus Patrum where all such souls as from the Worlds first beginning departed this life in a good estate were till then detaind I believe that he deliver'd them from that Dungeon and that upon the third day his Soul return'd to his buryed Body became reunited unto it and rays'd it up to Life and Immortality O most glorious Soul of Christ my Saviour which thus mercifully visited the Patriarchs lying in the sad Prison of Limbus vouchsafe to give me also a gracious vâ—sit that whil'st I live I may duly and devoutly love and honour you and when my Soul shall be call'd out of this imprisoning Body it may be rays'd up to Contemplate admire and prayse your greatness goodness and glorie for all Eternitie He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Allmightie I Believe that Jesus my Redeemer being by his own power resuscitated from death to life ascended up to Heaven by his own strength where he sits at the right hand of God his Father to whom he is every way equall as the chief of all the Blessed full of glory and felicity O Jesu my Redeemer how worthy are you thus to triumph to reign to be exalted above all creatures But O forget not in the state of your greatness the condition of your miserable Creature bought with the price of your precious Bloud O King of glory grant that all my thoughts words actions and desires may aym at nothing but your only honour From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I Believe that Christ Jesus when he shall please to put a Period to time and all sublunary things will descend visibly from Heaven in his glorious Humanity to judg all Manking both the good and the bad and publickly to reward to punish every one according to their works Ah! just Judg of all consciences what shall I then do or what shall I answer when you shall question me concerning my whol lives transactions I believe in the Holy Ghost I Believe in the third person of the sacred Trinitie the Holy Ghost who joyntly proceeds both from the Father and from the Son and is to them equall in Greatness in Majestie in all things whatsoever O sacred Spirit the God of Infinit Love and Charity breath upon my flinty heart mollify it into meekness towards my Neighbour and melt it into the sweet affections of your pure and perfect Love I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints I Believe the Catholick Church to be the only Church of Christ that it is holy universall apostolical and infallible in things appertaining to Faith and that in this Church there are found many pious Souls pleasing to the divin Majesty which mutually help each other by their prayers and good works O my Lord and my God! I render you most humble and hearty thanks for having made me a child and member of this holy Church in which I have so great hopes and so many helps to save my soul give me your grace good Jesu that I may improve this signall favour and persever in this saving Faith that from it I may pass to the clear vision of your prepared glory The Forgiveness of Sins I Believe that God is both able and willing to forgive me my Sins and that he hath left power in his Church to remit them be they never so heynous and enormous and this especially by the Priests absolution in the Sacrament of Penance O God of Infinit goodness and mercy let all Creatures Eternally prayse and magnifie your sacred Name for having given such power to men and such comfort to poor sinners The Resurrection of the Flesh I Believe that the very body in which my Soul now lives and breaths and all human bodyes though after death they are redâ—c'd into dust in their graves shall at the end of the World and at the great day of generall Judgment be rays'd to lâ—fe by Gods omnipotent command and his Angells ministry to be then rejoyn'd to their same souls and to live for evermore O Dread Soveraign in whose hands are life and death and to whose beck all things are obedient Ingrave deeply in my heart and soul the hope of a happy Resurrection that the horrour of this temporall dissolution and death of my body may not over-terrify and dismay me And life everlasting Amen I Believe that the good shall live in Heavenly glory for all Eternitie and that the wicked shall live eternally in infernall torments O good God! grant that I may so live in your grace during this my short Pilgrimage that I my live with you in glorie in your Eternall Paradise Amen §. 3. Of the Pater Noster or our Lords Prayer The second part of the Rosary THe Pater Noster is the Prayer which our Lord Jesus taught his disciples informing them from his own sacred mouth
as is due to Gods sacred Mother I salute you admire you congratulate you O amiable Virgin-Mother Mary as the chief Instrument of our Redemption the prime Ornament of Paradise the singular Glory of human nature and the bright Star shining unto us by your exemplary Vertues and directing us by your powerfull assistance in this sea of miseries and place of Pilgrimage Full of Grace I salute you O most sacred pure and perfect Virgin-Mother as full of Grace from the first instant of your immaculate Conception full of Sanctity during the whol course of your unspotted life upon Earth full of glory in the happy state of your Eternity in Heaven O most Powerfull and most Compassionate Virgin-Mother out of this your plenitude of grace vertue sanctity and perfection impart what you see wanting to my poor needy and naked Soul Our Lord is with thee Our Lord God was is and will be evermore with you O Virgin-Mother and you are and allwayes shall be with him He was with you upon Earth in your womb in your arms at your breasts He is with you in Heaven by his beatifying presence he will be there still with you bestowing on you a continued Eternity of glory O most unspotted Temple of the sacred Trinity by this your perpetuall and perfect union with the Divinity obtain for me that I may pass on this my Pilgrimage in the dayly exercise and reflection upon the divin presence to the end I may with you be perpetually united to him hereafter in his happy Paradise Blessed art thou amongst women O Mary the only Mother amongst all Virgins O Mary the only Virgin amongst all Mothers you conceiv'd without Sin brought forth without sorrow liv'd without blemish and after your death were translated to Eternall glory without the least touch of corruption therefore blessed are you above all women who were totally exempted from the common curses of all other women You bore him in your womb who bears up the whol World you infolded him in your arms who encompasses the spacious frame of the vast Universe you nourish'd him with your breast-milk who gives Being life food to all Creatures Finally you were are Gods Mother in which miraculous word is included all the privileges perfections which can posibly befall a creature and therefore you are justly styl'd and shall be so esteem'd by all succeeding generations the most blessed of all womankind O blessed Mary the Paragon of all Mothers the Crown of all Virgins the Joy of all the Saints the best and most accomplish'd of all Gods Creatures by these and all other your numberless Benedictions avert from me those maledictions which I have deserv'dly incurr'd by my enormous sins and transgressions And blessed is the fruit of thy Womb Jesus O Jesu the sacred fruit of Maryes virginall body be your Name and Majesty eternally blessed by all creatures in Heaven and upon Earth Blessed be your divin Person which you thus vouchsaf'd to unite unto a human body and soul for the Worlds Salvation Blessed be your Will which was thus inflam'd with the love of lost Mankind Blessed be your Memory which mercifully reflected upon us miserable and caitiff creatures Blessed be your Understanding your Wisdom your Power your Providence and all your ineffable Attributes which found out such an efficacious way to win us to your self and wed us to your sweet affection and friendship O Amiable Jesu the Ornament of the Universe the Beauty of Heaven the Glory of Mankind Be you blessed in each member part and particle of your most pure immaculate virginall Body which you expos'd to such cruell torments for our Redemption By these and all other the infinit blessings which are in you and belong to you sweet Jesu bestow on me the blessing of your grace in this my lives Pilgrimage and of your glory in your Eternall Paradise Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death O blessed Mother of blessed Jesus despise not them for whom the dear Son of your womb disdain'd not to dy upon the Cross but in your tender pity and compassion succour the miserable encourage the weaklings comfort the afflicted and let all such feel the happy effects of your helping assistance as have recourse to your powerfull Prayers and Patronage We beseech you O gracious Mother by all the greatnesses which God hath given you by the glorious Name of Mary and Title of Gods Mother wherewith he hath honoured you by the singular love he bore you upon Earth and the supereminent glory wherewith he hath Crown'd you Queen of Heaven Pray now for us that we may pass on the short remainder of our lives Pilgrimage in his grace and favour and when Death shall summon us to depart out of this miserable World Then O then most charitable Mother chiefly assist encourage and strengthen us your poor children and conduct our Souls to the happy mansions which your divin Son our dear Redeemer hath before all time prepar'd for them in his Heavenly Kingdom wherewith you O most glorious Queen-Mother they shall see him enjoy him and be united to him for all Eternitie If we would thus devoutly reflect sometimes upon these or the like mysticall senses and rayse up our Souls to such like affections when we recite these divin forms of Prayer we should probably reap more Spirituall profit by their frequent repetition But we therefore take little or no gust in these and our other pious Exercises and make small progress in perfection because we commonly content our selvs with the bark and bare out-side of the words and seldom or never penetrate into their inward marrow sense and meaning §. 5. The manner how to recite the Rosary 1. IN the first place you are to settle your self reverently in the divin presence and seriously recollecting your senses to cast of all evagations of mind and extraversions which is the generall preparation to all Prayer 2ly To the end your understanding and will both which concur in all well-order'd Prayer and Meditation may be profitably employ'd you may please to remember these two Rules which were before intimated in the first book of this present Treatise § 8. The First Rule which concerns the action of your understanding is To represent before the Eyes of your Soul that mysterie whereon you are to meditate as even then acted in your presence As for Example The mysterie whereupon you intend to make your meditation is The Nativity of our Saviour Imagin your self standing in a privat corner of the poor Bethleem Stable beholding hearing and admiring all that there passed in that sacred night run over in your mind the condition of the place and the circumstances of the Persons and think what were their thoughts affections words actions above all consider who it was that appeared to the World in this mean equipage to wit the Son of God the King of Glory the Monark of the whol Universe
Mother of God and Man and entirely a pure and unspotted Virgin O News exclaims S. Bernard never before heard of A Mother and yet a Virgin A Virgin and yet a Mother Hail Mary 3. At her bringing forth without pain O You Blessed and the only Blessed amongst women says the same Saint who alone were exempt from the generall curse of all women But what wonder if he put his Mother to no pain at his birth who was born to take away all pain from the whole world Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Iubilation FOr She saw the heavenly Court rejoycing at her Sons Nativity and heard the alternate Echo's of their Glory to God on high and Peace on Earth to People of good will Hail Mary 5. At the vision of the divin Essence FOr if She frequently enjoy'd this priviledge in her life-time as is the opinion of many learned Fathers She now surely enjoy'd it in a most eminent manner when she brought forth Gods Son into the world Hail Mary 6. At the many benefits bestowed on Mankind by her Son's Birth TO wit The Exaltation of human Nature The Redemption of the World The satisfaction for sin The victory over Satan The Promotion of Man to vertu Sanctity Perfection The certainty of Faith The Erection of Hope The Encrease of Charity The conferring of an Eternall Life and Kingdom Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of miracles wrought then for his manifestation to the World FOr 1. A great bright unusuall Star invites the Wise-men to Bethleem stable 2. Three Suns appear in Spain soon after joyning themselves into one Body signifying says S. Thomas that the Flesh the Soul and the Deity of the then born Infant were united in one person 3. A golden circle encompasses the Sun in the midst whereof stands a beautifull Virgin with a child in her bosom which the Sybill shews to Octavian the then Roman Emperor with many other wonders declaring to the whol world the divin Majesty and glory of her new-born Son Hail Mary 8. At the Adoration of the Wise-men WHo exteriourly summon'd by the appearing Star and interiourly instructed by the Holy Ghost came and fell down at his feet full of Faith Religion and Devotion and there brake forth into Acts of Adoration and extasies of Admiration Hail Mary 9. At their mysticall offrings WHich were Gold as to a great King Frankincense as to a true God Myrrh as to a mortall man who was to dy for the worlds Redemption Hail Mary 10. At the Vocation Conversion and Salvation of the Gentills WHereof she saw a happy beginning in these holy Kings Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth Is your Mercy your Compassion and your Charity to poor Mankind so excessive as that you should thus descend from your Throne of Majesty into a vale of misery for our salvation O Virgin-Mother the choyce Chamber Temple and Tabernacle of Gods Son the Queen of Heaven and Lady of the World Be you Eternally blessed who have been found worthy to bring forth the so long desired and expected of all Ages O Jesu My Lord and my Redeemer who were born of a poor Handmaid wrapp'd in poor Swathes hous'd in a poor Stable Bedded in a poor Cribb Give me true poverty of spirit and a perfect contempt of all worldly honours and greatnesses O sweet Saviour of the World who call'd the Kings to acknowledge and adore you in your Cradle and commanded them to return back by another way into their Countrey Call and compell my rebellious heart unto you by the powerfull light of your efficacious grace shining in my interiour and dispersing all darkness and indevotion in my soul that I may there find you feel you see you adore you and offer up to your divin Majesty the Myrrh of true compunction and mortification The Frankincense of fervent Prayer and devotion the Gold of ardent love and affection O grant that I may henceforth more faithfully follow your holy lights vocations and inspirations which will conduct me into the right way leading to my heavenly home out of which I have hitherto stray'd by my own wilfull malice negligence and sinfullness O my glorious new-born King Christ Jesu you were pleas'd to want a lodging upon Earth that you might lodge me in Heaven To be deprived of all worldly conveniences that you might heap on me your Celestiall comforts To embrace Poverty Humility self-contempt abnegation annihilation that you might inrich me with all the spirituall Treasures of vertu and perfection And shall I gape after temporall goods and glories seek for fleshly solaces and satisfactions place my affection upon poor and perishable trifles No my dear Redeemer I will henceforth endeavour to imitate your most perfest Example And O that I were sincerely willing to abandon all truly content to be abandon'd by all and really resolv'd to submit my self and all to your sacred will and disposition that so I might be absolutely conformable to you my All and All O holy Virgin O happy Mother how sweetly is my Soul ravish'd in the contemplation of that unspeakable joy and gladness which your dilated heart felt when you first embrac'd the long desired of all Nations in your tender folds I congratulate this your happiness O glorious Mother of my good Jesus and humbly creeping in amongst the holy crew of admiring Angells Kings and Shepheards I affectionately present you with these my meaner Canticles of conjubilation We were the poor banish'd miserable progeny of our unfortunat mother Eve we were the wretched Bond-slaves of sin and Satan we were the forlorn lost and stray'd sheep wilfully fled away from our faithfull Shepheard We were the Prodigall children carryed abroad by our own concupiscences from our loving Father and by your Sons means O Blessed and most fortunate Mother we are disingaged deliverd redeem'd from all these miseries woes and disasters O the happy change of our unhappy condition O Eternally Blessed Tree and Blessed Blossom Blessed Womb and Blessed Fruit Blessed Mary and Blessed Jesu The fourth joyfull Mystery offer'd THe Oblation and Presentation of Christ to his Eternall Father in the Temple And the Purification of his Blessed Mother Luc. 2. The Virgin 's purifi'd her dear Son warm's Old Simeons breast presented in his arms Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the carriage of her sweet Son Iesus FOr upon the fortith day after our blessed Saviours birth she cheerfully sets forth of Bethleem stable with her little Jesus in her armes and S. Joseph in her company towards Jerusalem to fulfill the Law of Moyses and to offer up her Son to his Eternall Father in the Temple And though she had just reason to dread King Herods cruelty yet she was more afraid to offend the divin Majesty The way says Ludolphus was five miles long yet she felt not the least
in following you more carefull in keeping you more sincere constant perseverant in serving and obeying you Be you my guid O most glorious Virgin-Mother in this my inquest after your dear Son Following your footsteps to the sacred Temple I shall find him by your favour whom I have lost by my own fault And having once found him O let me never more loose him by my disloyaltie that living here and dying in his sweet embraces I may live with him hereafter and enjoy him eternally in his blessed Kingdom Amen Then end this first part of the Rosary with the Profession of your Faith and the sign of the Cross saying I Believe in God c. with the Prayer To the sacred and undivided Trinity c. as it is set down in the end of the 5. § The second Part of the Rosary containing the Five Dolorous Mysteries Begin this Part of the Rosary with the Prayer sign of the Cross and Creed as in the first Part. The First Dolorous Mystery He Prays THe Agony of Christ whilst he was at his Prayers in the Garden Matth. 26. Christ in the Garden pray's his anguish'd Brest Is in his face through sweats of blood exprest As in the Precedent Joyfull Mysteries we have shew'd that those five principall and common heads comprehended under their signall notions severall particular Joys of the sacred Virgin-Mother so each one of these five generall Dolorous Mysteries like a long chain made up of many links includes a multitude of particularly aggravating circumstances in our dear Redeemers Passion and his holy Mothers compassion which Concatenation of sorrows we shall endeavour as before in the Cohesion of Joys to reduce briefly to Ten Heads or points of Contemplation correspondent to the respective Decades of this second part of the Rosary Our Father c. Our Blessed Saviour was exceedingly sad and sorrowfull 1. At the apprehension of the loss of his corporall life FOr if Death is of all things most horrible to human nature it was surely according to the said human nature much more horrible to him than to any other because his life was of greater dignity than that of all others by reason of its conjunction to the Divinity Hail Mary 2. At the foresight of his sufferings FOr his understanding clearly comprehending the quality and quantity of his approaching pains and torments And his souls eyes efficaciously seeing all the causes of fear and sadness and furthermore he permitting say's S. John Damascen each one of his senses and Powers to act according to its own naturall propertie it must needs follow that as his knowledge was most perfect his sufferings were most excessive Hail Mary 3. At the consideration of Sins heynousness FOr he came to suffer for all the offences of Mankind in generall and for each ones sin past present and to come in particular O the anguish of his soul at the sight of their multitude and malice Hail Mary 4. At the Iewes Ingratitude FOr besides his particular Benefits showr'd down from time to time upon that perverse people he had now borrow'd his humanity from their Blood conversed many years amongst them preached his Gospell unto them wrought infinit Miracles before them And that they after all this should so inhumanly unnaturally ungratefully condemn kill and crucify him was surely a corrosive more bitter to his afflicted heart than death it self Hail Mary 5. At the little profit which Christians would reap from his Passion FOr though the least drop of his precious Blood was abundantly sufficient to redeem not only all men but many worlds yet he well knew how few would make themselves partakers of the fruits thereof And this foreseen sloth negligence and wilfull ingratitude of Christians if we will credit S. Bernard Bonaventure and Hugo more afflicted our dear Redeemer than all the corporall calamities he endur'd on the Cross for them Hail Mary 6. At the Treason of Judas FOr that a Servant should betray his Master a Disciple his Lord an Apostle his Saviour And this by a fraudulent Kiss the sign of peace friendship and affection are circumstances says S. Ambrose much aggravating our Redeemers sorrow Hail Mary 7. At the Scandall scattering and flight of his dearest Disciples friends and followers O the Affliction of his tender heart To see Them whom he lov'd so sincerely Them whom he had serv'd so diligently Them whom he had so lately comforted and confirmed by his long Sermon and so earnestly commended to his Fathers care and custody Them whom he had from time to time fed so efficaciously with his sacred Doctrin and feasted so deliciously with this Blessed Body and Blood in the very last nights Banquet to fly now fearfully from him to be scandaliz'd at him and to seem to doubt of his Divinity And above all to see Peters Ingratitude Infidelity Pusillanimity did surely pierce his Soul with inexplicable sorrow Hail Mary 8. At his taking binding and bringing out of the Garden of Mount Olivet IMagin O my Soul What injuries thy Innocent Saviour here suffer'd by a band of barbarous Souldiers set on by the spitefull Jews ledd on by the Sacrilegious Judas egg'd on by their own malice and fury See how violently they rush upon him binding his armes baring his head beating his body pulling his beard tearing his hair and every way abusing him insulting over him deriding him blaspheming him Hail Mary 9. At his presentation to Annas and Caiphas and the suborning of false witnesses against him O What an affliction To be tryed by such unjust and partiall Judges and to be made guilty by such envious and sinister proceedings Hail Mary 10. At his Blows Buffets and other opprobrious usage all night long FOr when the wearied Ring-leaders and wicked Priests had deliver'd him over to be baited by the rabble of the enraged people O how inhumanly did they handle the meek humble and patient JESUS His face says S. Bonaventure which fills Heaven with Joy is here defiled with loathsom spittle smiten with sacrilegious hands cover'd with mock-hoods c. and nothing was omitted which malice could invent to torment him Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O holy Jesu the absolute Pattern of heroick Resignation grant that in all the accidents which by the dispensation of your divin providence shall befall me during this my earthly Pilgrimage I may cheerfully cordially affectionately say with you and to you Not my will O my heavenly Father but yours be done O let me have no wishes but that your will may be accomplish'd no desires but that your commands may be obey'd no designes but that you may be faithfully serv'd lov'd prays'd by all creatures Give me O Jesu the gift and spirit of Prayer which is the chief exercise of Religion that in Imitation of your example I may henceforth more seriously addict my self unto it especially in the time of my
crown'd with cruell thorns your amiable face besmear'd with the mixture of tear's blood and spittle your whol Body mangled with whips and scourges and all this for my sake can I choose but loath my self for my sins and love you for your sufferings O my soul what dost thou in token of thy gratefull acknowledgment for thy Saviours great charity thus crown'd wounded mangled martyr'd for the expiation of thy sins and procurement of thy Salvation Canst thou see thy Redeemer doing so much for thee and not be asham'd to do so little for thy self and him and to live so unconformably to his example which should be the modell and pattern of thy life and actions Is it decent for a member to addict it self to sinfull vanities pleasures and sensualities under a head crown'd with thorns O what an excess or rather an abuse of love and sorrow do I here contemplate Love is mistaken in making choyce of so amiable and honourable a person to be the object of undeserv'd derision and torments and sorrow is as much mistaken in not seizing upon some odious and abominable wretch who might have justly deserv'd to be so dealt withall 'T is I alas 't is I who deserve to be thus despis'd tormented crown'd with cruell thorns and every way punish'd persecuted afflicted since 't is I that have by my heynous Crimes betray'd my Creators cause incurr'd his indignation and willfully forfeited all my claim and pretention to the Kingdom which he had mercifully prepar'd for me I deserve to wear no worthyer a Crown upon my wicked head than one gather'd from the Tree of Malediction plaited together with perpetuall woes and interlac'd wirh the sharp prickles of all sorts of punishments miseries and torments Such a Crown is according to my deserts O dear Jesu I most heartily acknowledg it most humbly confess it and most obediently submit to it But since you are evermore ready O compassionate Redeemer to Crown a truly contrite converted and penitent soul with your favours and benefits bow down your blessed Head I beseech you towards me your unworthy servant and according to your wonted mercy bestow on me some effect of your tender affection Behold O my most loving and most beloved Lord Jesu my soul being pierc'd with a lively sense of your severe sufferings for her sake and desirous to conform her self O that she could do it perfectly to you her most perfect Saviour makes here a deliberate choyce of this Crown of sufferance in this world thereby to obtain the Crown of Justice which is the only means to purchase the Crown of Grace and lastly to attain to a Crown of Glory which she hopefully expects from your goodness in your heavenly Kingdom A Prayer In honour of the sacred Crown of Thorns THE ANTHEM O Blessed Crown whereby we are delivered from the severe punishments of eternall death which our sins have justly deserv'd Thou art the hope of offenders thou art the strength of weaklings thou recoverest our lost Crowns for us Vers O Christ we adore your sacred Crown Answer And renew the memory of your glorious Conquest Let us Pray GRant we beseech you O Almightie Father that we renewing the memory of your dear Sons Passion and humbly reverencing his holy Crown of Thorns upon earth may become worthy to receive from him the happy Crown of honour and glory in his celestiall Kingdom where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever The fourth Dolorous Mysterie Carries Christ our Saviour painfully carries his Cross to Mount Calvary John 19. Of shame and dolour to increase th' account They make Christ bear his Cross up to the Mount Our Father c. Our blessed Saviour was exceedingly aggriev'd 1. At the Jews new invented accusation FOr they perceiving the unwillingness of Pilate to condemn the innocent Jesus produc'd their last envious Stratagem to strik him dead This man say they hath made himself Gods Son and therefore deserves to be destroy'd as a blasphemer of the divin Majesty which they so vehemently urge and so maliciously aggravate against him till at last they force the fearfull President by their threats and clamors to give way to their unjust desires Hail Mary 2. At the pronunciation of Deaths cruell sentence upon him FOr when the Judg saw that neither pity would move them nor justice could prevail with them apprehensive of Cesars indignation and of the peoples disfavour he sentences Jesus to dy on a Cross O how easily doth he swerve from Justice who seeks not Gods honour but is sway'd by human respects in his actions Hail Mary 3. At his contumelious leading out of Ierusalem FOr the cruell sentence was no sooner spoken but the greedy hang-men flock about this meek lamb fastning cords to his neck and hands and tugging him as a Traytor Blasphemer and notorious Malefactor out of the Town towards the place of Execution Hail Mary 4. At his association with Thieves THey had already prefer'd Barrabas the murderer before him and now they place him in the Thieves company that so the ignorant people might conceive him to be a complice in their Crimes Hail Mary 5. At the carrying of his own Cross on his shoulders O Unheard of proceedings It was never known that any wicked criminall was constrain'd to carry his own Gallows but only the good Jesus O Saviour the true Isaac you bear the wood on your back and the fire in your heart to be immolated for me upon Mount Calvarie Hail Mary 6. At the oppressing weight of the heavy Cross WHich was fifteen foot long say severall holy Doctors and Fathers and of a massie thickness proportionable to its length O ponderous burthen to his tender and already bruised weakned and wounded shoulders Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of people thronging about him SOme triumphing at his miserie and laughing scoffing spitting at him others pressing pulling thrusting stricking and spurning him Hail Mary 8. At the doleful lamentation of the devout women WHich were those who had faithfully serv'd him before his Passion charitably sustain'd him and his Disciples with their temporall faculties painfully follow'd him from Galilee into Judea and now mournfully waited on him to Mount Calvarie 9. At the compassion of his most sorrowfull Mother WHo undoubtedly made one amongst the sad number of his followers O her inexplicable grief to see her dear Son Jesus in this dismall condition And O the anguish of his affectionate heart to behold his sweet Mothers tears and tribulation Hail Mary 10. At the circumstances of the place TO which he was led and where he was to be put to death to wit the most loathsome stinking despicable Mount Calvarie the common Theater for the execution of all Malefactors to shew that he suffered in generall for all Mankind Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Jesu my dear Redeemer are you not equall in omnipotency to your eternall
Petitions O My Soul would'st thou know where thou mayst assuredly find thy sweet Saviour Jesus the desired object of thy dearest affections It is upon Mount Calvary There he feeds upon Gall and Vineger There is his habitation upon the hard Cross There he reposes with extended leggs and stretched forth Arms to have his feet and hands pierced with horrid nayls There and thus he expects thy return from far O prodigall child ready to embrace thee with a Fatherly affection And dost thou see thy sweet Saviour hanging thus on the Cross for thy sake and yet solacest thy self in sinfull delights remainest still wallowing in the mudd and myre of thy wicked customs and not content thy self to commit sin and give scandall to others by thy bad example teachest them lessons of malice to draw them to thy unjust desires and their own utter damnation O sinful wretch Return now at least into thy self turn to thy sweet Saviour and run into the open'd arms and bosom of thy beloved Jesus calling thee alluring thee ready to receive thee He cry's out to thee from his Cross I thirst after thy conversion correction salvation He cry's aloud to awake thee excite thee hasten thee to accept of his proffer'd love before he renders up his life O when will the time come in which they who are buried in the Sepulchers of deadly sin and ly rotting in the graves of their inveterate crimes will hear the voyce of God's Son and hearing it will return to the life of grace if not at this present when he himself dyes to resuscitate them When will earthly souls full of terrestriall affection fear and tremble if they now remain unmoveable when will the Rocks of stony hearts be rent asunder with sorrow if they are now insensible When O my soul will the veil of thy vicious conscience be corn from the top to the bottom by a true confession of thy secret sins if shame and cowardise keeps it now cover'd when Jesus hangs naked on his Cross When will the Sun of thy Pride and vanity be obscured if it now shines when the glorious Sun of Justice shuts his eyes and becomes totally eclypsed O Jesu you call me And it is high time for me to answer to your summons you incline your sacred head towards me to give me a kiss of Peace and to whisper in the ears of my heart and Soul Behold I dy for thee I dy willingly for thee I dy purely for the love of thee And O my heart and Soul What answer do you make O my Jesu my sweet Saviour my dear Redeemer my soverarign Lord and Lover you dy and do I yet live O that I who have hitherto liv'd so little for you and so long for the world That I who have liv'd so long without you in negligence forgetfulness ingratitude That I who have liv'd so long against you in sin Impiety rebellion That I who have employ'd so small a portion of the time and talents you lent me faithfully and sincerely in your love and service O that I might now at least dy for you and with you Or if your providence will have my Pilgrimage yet prolong'd O Let me not live hereafter one moment but only for you and let me rather lose my life than your Love that living and dying I may be entirely yours for all succeeding time and Eternity Amen Then end this second part of the Rosary with the Creed sign of the Cross and Prayer To the sacred and undivided Trinity c. as before in the first part The third Part of the Rosary containing The five Glorious Mysteries Begin with the sign of the Cross Prayer and Creed as formerly The first Glorious Mystery Rises THE Resurrection of our Lord JESUS Mark 16. Our Saviour Rises reindu'd with breath Victorious over Hell and horrid Death These five Principall and common heads of the Glorious Mysteries may be also subdivided into many particular points of contemplation which according to our precedent method in the Joyfull and Dolorous we shall reduce to the number of Ten answerable to the Decades of this third part of the Rosary Our Father c. Our Blessed Redeemer and his sacred Mother exceedingly rejoyced 1. At his Bodyes cloathing with Immortalitie FOr by conquering death it was triumphantly rais'd up to a glorious immortall incorruptible life Hail Mary 2. At the joynt Glorification both of Body and Soul NOt that the Soul of our Blessed Saviour which was absolutly glorious from the first instant of his Conception receiv'd now any new encrease of glory but that the Miracle which retain'd his souls Glory from redounding into his Body did now cease upon this day of his Resurrection So that his Body receiv'd now its hitherto hindred Dowries of Claritie Agility Subtility Impassibility Hail Mary 3. At his exaltation above all creatures 1. THat in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow 2. That by no other means than his merits any one should be saved 3. That he should have all power in Heaven and Earth 4. That he was constituted the Judg of the living and dead All which he deserv'd by his exact obedience to his Eternall Father Hail Mary 4. At his entire victory over all his enemyes FIrst The Jews who having upbrayded him of Impotencie in not descending from the Cross were now utterly confounded at this far greater miracle of his Resurrection from Death 2. The Devill and all the Infernall Powers whose Pride he abated whose Kingdom he invaded whose spoyl's he divided c. Hail Mary 5. At his delivering the Holy Fathers out of Limbus TO wit Abraham Isaac Jacob Moyses David and the rest of the Patriarks Prophets and holy Persons whom he triumphantly led out of their long sustain'd captivity Hail Mary 6. At the now perfected Redemption of mankind FOr his and his mothers present joy and glory were commensurate to their former grief and sorrow undergon in his late cruell death and passion Hail Mary 7. At his being the true cause and perfect exemplar of the future Resurrection of all Mankind FOr as Christ is risen we also shall arise to wit to immortality c. Hail Mary 8. At the filling up the places of fall'n Angells THe Resurrection of our Saviour says S. Gregory was the festivity of the Angells for their number was to be compleated by his calling us to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary 9. At the corroboration consolation and confirmation of the Apostles ANd at the Reparation of their Faith Hope and Charity which were not only shaken but even lost and they exceedingly contristated and scandaliz'd at his death Hail Mary 10. At his frequent Apparitions for forty days space TO his dearely beloved Mther To the pious Magdalen and the rest of the devout Women To all his Disciples in generall To S. Thomas in particular wherby he manifested to them the reality of his glorious Resurrection and by them to the whol world Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to
the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions WHy weep you O sacred Virgin Why do you grieve and mourn O glorious Mother of Jesus your Son lives triumphs reigns He that was lately accounted the out-cast of the people is now the most happy of all mankind He that was crucifi'd dead and buried appears now cloathed with Clarity Agilitie Subtility Impassibilitie Behold the Man look up O Blessed Mary upon your beloved Jesus the lively Image of the Eternall Father the beauty and brightness of Heaven and Earth the Crown and ornament of Men and Angells Lo He here presents himself unto you to wipe all tears from your eyes and disperse all sorrows from your heart Hear him speaking unto you in his wonted tone and tearms of respect All Hail my most honoured Mother Peace and joy be with you 'T is I my self who am the comfortable Messenger of this happy exchange of yours and my sorrows into gladness and Jubilation both that you may with me incessantly prayse and bless my Eternall Father and also that you may take the first and best share of joy who have the greatest interest in me and had the greatest part with me in my passion of any mortall creature See and admire the power of the Almightyes right hand in the person of your Son The disgrac'd is glorifi'd the defam'd is justifi'd the condemn'd is absolv'd the crucifi'd is resuscitated Rejoyce then dear Mother together with you joyfull Son for whom you need not now fear any further miseries persecutions Crosses since he is above the reach of mans malice and the Devils power having put on the robes of glory impassibility immortality The short Winter of suffering is turn'd into a perpetuall Summer of consolation The stormy showers of blood into a sweet dew of blessings All my wounds are perfectly cur'd and the scarrs only remain as Rubies of my honour and badges of my victory O the excesses of Joy which transported your extasi'd heart and soul O sacred Virgin-Mother at the sight of your now again living and gloriously triumphing Son Jesus And O my soul If thou desirest a share in these Joys and gloryes of Jesus and Mary thou must also resolve to bear a part in their sorrows and sufferings Thou art much mistaken in thinking to triumph without trying for the Victory or to be crown'd without conquering No my delicate Soldier Christ thy King and Captain suffer'd before he entred into his glory Queen Maries heart was pierced with sorrow before it was replenish'd with comforts All the Saints combated before they were crown'd And refusest thou all sufferings all sorrows all combates all that thy flesh and blood cannot relish O dear Jesu What will you do with me who dare not encounter with the least difficulties How will you deal with me who bear the name of a Christian soldier and am indeed no better than a base and cowardly sensualist If I love the glory of your Crown why dislike I the ignominie of your Cross If I desire the reward of a Conqueror why do I not adventure into the field of the combat O why should your painfull death and passion so much affright me since your glorious Resurrection confirms me in the Hope and Faith of a future felicity why should I more dread in reflecting upon the difficulties occurring in my Pilgrimage than rejoyce in fixing my thoughts upon the pleasures of Paradise which is the end of my Pilgrimage O why am I not content to suffer with Jesus and for Jesus were there no reward to be expected for all my sufferings It being a sufficient glory to a faithfull Christian to be conformable to Christ his Captain Behold therefore I humbly prostrate my self here at your sacred feet O my victorious Redeemer imploring your pardon for my past pusillanimity and purposing to behave my self hereafter more manfully Come all sorts of crosses and losses all sorrows and sicknesses all punishments and persecutions all derelictions and desclations I will no more be daunted or dismay'd but animated by your example and assisted by your grace O Christ my King my Captain my glorious Conqueror I will either pass through them couragiously or pass by them patiently or pass over them victoriously Yes my Lord Jesu I will receive henceforth all afflictions from the hands of your divin providence as pledges of your paternall affection and most willingly joyfully resignedly embrace them as the happily offered occasions for the encrease of my merit the exercise of my vertu the perfection of my soul the expiation of my sins the crowning me with glory The second Glorious Mystery Ascends THE Ascension of our Lord Jesus into Heaven Mark 16. His great work don and his Commisons given In Glorious triumph he ascends to Heaven Our Father c. THE Glorious Virgin-Mother exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the Ascension of her Son Iesus in hers and his Disciples presence FOr upon the fortieth day after our Redeemers Resurrection his sacred Mother with the Apostles the seventy two Disciples and many more of his faithfull friends and followers met together by the divin instinct upon Mount Sion and march'd from thence proâ—essionally to the Mount Olivet distant a mile from Jerusalem to be spectators of this admirable catastrophe of their dear Saviour Christs humanity and to receive his last blessing before he left the Earth to ascend into Heaven Hail Mary 2. At his great Power shew'd in his Ascension FOr he elevated himself by his own strength and vertu nor could he need any forreign help or assistance whose inhabiting Divinity and glorifi'd soul could move his impassible and agile body as himself pleased Hail Mary 3. At the joyfull meeting and acclamation of the Angelicall spirits WHich undoubtedly descended all to accompany his humanity to congratulate his victory to echo forth the triumphs of his prayses Hail Mary 4. At his soaring above all the Heavens TO wit above the spheres of the seven Planets above the Christallin orbe above the starrie Firmament even to the Empyreall seat of the Divinity according to that sentence of the Apostle He ascended up far above all the Heavens that he might fulfill all things Hail Mary 5. At his ascending above the Angelicall quires and all creatures whatsoever ACcording to that expression of the same Apostle God the Father placed him his son Jesus far above all principalities and Powers and Dominations and every thing that is nam'd not only in this world but in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet Hail Mary 6. At his being seated on the right hand of his Eternall Father ACcording to that of S. Mark He was assumpted into Heaven and sits on his Fathers right hand And of S. Paul His Father set him on his own right hand in the heavenly places Which is a Metaphoricall expression signifying equality and society of Majesty honour power felicity c. Hail Mary 7.
FOr the spitefull Pharisees hearing the Apostles speaking all sorts of languages sought to undervalue the miracle by vilifying them as Drunkards but St Peter standing up in his own and his brethrens defence solidly refutes their malicious imputation to the great joy admiration and confirmation of all the Auditors and confusion of his enemies Hail Mary 7. At the sodain multiplication of the faithfull FOr St. Peters efficacious Oration was no sooner ended but three thousand Souls were presently converted to the Faith of Christ and forthwith baptizd in his name and five thousand more within few dayes after Hail Mary 8. At the fructification of Christs Passion FOr the blessed Virgin-Mother saw not only the present fruits of her Sons death and sufferings spread abroad in the Apostles and the new converted Christians but she also foresaw the future multitude of martyrs who should couragiously dy for his love besides the vast number of confessors virgins and religious Persons who should cheerfully take up their Crosses and faithfully follow him Hail Mary 9. At the great encrease of the divin honour and worship FOr Pagans Gentills Idolaters and people of all professions renouncing their ancient errors came flocking in amain to be instructed in the Faith of Christ and to follow the Evangelicall doctrin Hail Mary 10. At the accomplishment of the number of the Elect. FOr the blessed Virgin joyfully foresaw that all such souls as should depart this life in the true Faith of of her Son Jesus inform'd with charity were to be added to the number of the Saints and to be admitted to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Glorious Creator How great is your Mercy how infinit your liberalitie How excessive your affection to undeserving and ungratefull Mankind After your only Son was so ill treated amongst us would you also send down the Holy Ghost unto us It plainly appears that we have a potent Advocate in Heaven Jesus Christ the just to plead our cause and a Powerfull Mother upon Earth Mary the Mother of Jesus to impetrate for us this extraordinary favour It is therefore the Mothers merit and the Sons Mercy and the Eternal Fathers liberalitie and the Holy Ghosts goodness that this holy Spirit descends from Heaven upon us A Spirit of life and love a Spirit of solace and sweetness a Spirit of grace and happiness a Spirit which comes in form of fiery tongues to clear our understandings with his light to inflame our wills with his heat and to govern our tongues and affections with his gracious direction A light which dazels not a fire which consumes not a tongue which threatens not accuses not condemns not O sacred and divin Spirit you are the Father of the afflicted the Distributer of graces the enlightner of hearts the comforter of Souls and alas how opposite are my actions to your properties perfections inspirations You descend to instill into me the spirit of sweetness meekness patience and I converse with such as are under my charge and with others who are perchance far better before you than my self with a spirit of choller and peevishness with a spirit of rigour and harshness with a spirit of revenge and bitterness Ah uncharitable wretch that I am shall I contristate my neighbour instead of comforting him shall I exact from others instead of conferring benefits upon them shall I under-value my brethrens actions censure their intentions obscure their reputations instead of putting a charitable construction upon all things whatsoever Change this my crooked and crabbed disposition O powerfull Spirit thâ— plentifull bestower of all perfect gifts by the efficacy of your sacred influence upon my soul purge me I beseech you from my present imperfections pardon me for my past impieties and prevent me from future fallings by implanting your spirit of true peace and charity in my interiour which may keep my heart evermore burning in the love of you and my neighbour till I come to be totally absorpt in you together with the coequall Son and Father in your blessed Eternitie Amen The fourth glorious Mysterie she dy's THe assumption of the blessed Virgin up to Heaven Allegorically understood by Maryes chosing the best part Luke 10. The Virgins sacred Corps too rich a prize For Earth is born by Angels 'bove the Skyes Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mothers heart was replenish'd with exceeding great joy 1. At the news of the near approaching dissolution of her soul and body FOr as the holy Doctors deliver unto us after the dispersion of the Apostles into the Worlds severall quarters to preach the Gospell the blessed Virgin retir'd her felf into a privat dwelling near adjoyning to Mount Sion that she might pass the remaining day 's of her Pilgrimage upon earth in the devout contemplation of her divin Sons actions and the frequent visitation of the holy places of his Baptism Fasting Passion Buriall Resurrection Ascention when behold at the time appointed by the eternall providence a heavenly Messenger probably the Arch-Angell Gabriel reverently saluting her in her Sons name informs her of her near approaching departure out of this life Hail Mary 2. At the securitie of heâ— Glorious and speedy Resurrection FOr as Albertus and all the Doctors agree she could not possibly doubt of her present and immediate Translation to Eternall happiness Hail Mary 3. At her dying without any dread terrour or trouble FOr how could She fear death who was so fervent in Charity as that she desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ How could She be terrifi'd at Deaths approach who was absolutely free from all sin and impiety Or how could She be troubled at the apprehension of Gods severe Judgments who was secure of her salvation 4. At the presence of the Apostles at her departure FOr it is a generally receiv'd Tradition of the Fathers That all the Apostles were by divin instinct sodainly gather'd together from the worlds severall climats to honour her with their personall presence at this time of her earthly dissolution Hail Mary 5. At the sweet separation of her Soul aâ—… Body FOr say's S. Hierom as She was free from the corruption of the flesh so she was exempt from the calamities of Death And S. John Damascen The pain 's which she suffer'd not in childing and dying She payd at the time of Christs Passion Hail Mary 6. At the Ioyfull Re-union of her Soul and Body in her Resuscitation and Assumption into Heaven FOr according to S. Augustin There was no reason corruption should seize on her after death whose integrity was preserv'd in her life c. but 't was fit she should be always living who was the Parent of all life and that she should be always with him who for nine months space was with her in her womb c. Hail Mary 7. At Christ's meeting her accompanyed with the Heavenly
thought proceeds that it would much redound to the honour of Christ our Lord and Saviour and conduce to the encrease of devotion in the hearts of all pious Christians If as according to the very ancient institution and generally receiv'd custom severall godly people use to recite sixty three Angelicall Salutations with our Lords Prayer seven times interpos'd in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary according to the number of years which she is esteem'd to have liv'd upon earth which kind of prayer is call'd the Virgins Crown so they would also inure themselv's to recite thirty three Lords Prayers interposing four Angâ—lical Salutations in the honour of our Redeemer for a commemoration of the years in which he convers'd upon earth amongst men which would be as it were our Lords Crown c. We whom it behoves to promote the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ as farr forth as he shall enable us and to add fewell to the devotion of his faithfull flock Do approve and confirm the aforesaid manner of Prayer invented by that ancient and recluded Hermit and will have it call'd the Crown of our Lord c. Given at Florence the 18 of Feb. in the year 1516. The same Rosary or Crown of our Lord was afterwards confirm'd by Pope Gregory the 13. and endow'd with more and greater Indulgences vide Augustinum Florentinum Lucam Eremitam Bucelinum in Annalibus Benedictinis c. The Crown therefore consisting of 33. Pater Nosters or Lords Prayers consonant to the number of years in which our dear Redeemer convers'd with men in his human flesh upon earth to merit for us a happy Crown of Glory in Heaven and of four Ave Maries or Angelical Salutations with one Creed added for a conclusion is divided into four parts whereof the three first parts are Decades or Tens there being in each of them a ten-times-repeated Lords Prayer and one Angelical Salutation and in the fourth part there is only a Thrice-repeated Lords Prayer with one Angelical Salutation and the Creed and may be recited as it is here distinctly set down with an additionall point of Meditation upon some of the pious Mysteries of our Saviours life and a short Aspiration which may easily be dilated with more affections and resolutions according to each ones Spirit of devotion The first Part of the Crown of our Lord. Of Christs coming into the World 1. OUr dear Redeemer descended from his royall Throne from his eternall Fathers Bosom from his happy Heaven into this vale of misery and cloath'd himself with human flesh in the holy Virgins Womb. O Jesu how excessive is your Mercy how infinit your affection how stupendious your condescendency to undeserving man Ah! that my heart were perfectly free from all that displeases you that so it might deserve perpetually to harbour you Our Father 2. HE being conceiv'd inspir'd his sacred Virgin Mother to take a journey into the Mountains of Judea there to visit salute and serve St. Elizabeth her Kinswoman O Jesu that my soul were alwaies pliable docible obedient to correspond to your sweet and sacred impulses motions and aspirations how cheerfully should I then serve your soveraign Majesty and how charitably should I assist my necessitous neighbour Our Father 3. AFter he had been carryed nine months in his Mothers chast entralls he was born in a cold Stable wrap'd in poor raggs cradled in a hard Cribb O Jesu make me in love with poverty humility and mortification which you have made so amiable by practising them in your own divin person Our Father 4. THe Angells congratulate his happy birth with their heavenly Canticles and the shepheards humbly joyfully and admiringly adore him O Jesu let my tongue incessantly sing forth your Prayses let my heart perpetually breath forth acts of gratitude for your Mercies and let my soul sweetly melt away in her reciprocall affections Our Father 5. UPon the eighth day after his Nativity he was circumcis'd and call'd Jesus O Jesu O sacred and sugred Name O Jesu be unto me a Jesus O that my tongue heart and hands with all my senses powers and faculties of body and soul were truly circumcis'd from all superfluous curious vitious inclinations passions and affections that so I might never more think speak or act any thing offensive to your divin will and liking Our Father 6. HE was diligently sought out by the Eastern Sages humbly ador'd by them and highly honoured by their royall Presents and Oblations O Iesu let me never leave seeking till I find you the only belov'd Object of all my affections and strengthen me sweet Iesu to make a totall Oblation Consecration and Resignation of my whol self to your holy will and pleasure entirely irrevocably eternally Our Father 7. HE was carryed to the Temple in his sacred Mothers arms to be presented as her first-born to his eternall Father shewing himself in all things subject to the Law O Iesu shall not I humble my self and submit to all men for your sake Our Father 8. HE to avoid Herods cruelty sustain'd a tedious banishment in his tender years O Jesu give me patience in all my persecutions temptarions and troubles and let not my grievous sins banish me from your sweet grace and presence Our Father 9. HE return'd from Egypt after his seven years sufferings O Jesu let your efficacious grace recall me from vice to vertu let me return into you my first Origin and let me repose in you my only center and security Our Father 10. HE dwelt with his Parents in t he City Nazareth O Jesu dwell in my soul here by your grace that my soul may dwell with you hereafter in your eternal glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who having conceiv'd your divin Son without sin and brought him forth without sorrow serv'd him so diligently during the time of his minority appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and intercession Hail Mary The second Part. Of Christs Conversation amongst men 1. OUr dear Redeemer being twelve years old went up with his Parents to Jerusalem to perform his devotions where he was lost sought and after three day's found in the Temple O Jesu replenish my heart with solid devotion that sincerely seeeking you I may happily find you and having found you I may faithfully keep you company in my interiour for evermore Our Father 2. HE return'd with his Parents to Nazareth and was subject unto them O Iesu break my rebellious will that I may promptly obey you and my Superiors according to your most perfect trample Our Father 3. HE being thirty years old was baptiz'd by St. Iohn in the river Iordan O Iesu permit not my sinfull soul to pass forth of my body till it be baptiz'd in a river of tears and restor'd to purity by the Sacrament of Penance Our Father 4. HE fasted forty dayes and nights in the Desert and was tempted by the Devill O Iesu give me courage to subdue all
down his holy Spirit upon his Apostles and the rest of his chosen children to instruct them in his will to encourage them in their duties to confirm them in their Faith to assist them in their preaching to strengthen them in their persecutions O Iesu send also your holy Spirit to cure cleanse and comfort my sick sinfull and sad soul adorn each corner of my interiour with your divin love and grace that you sacred Spirit may find there a sweet and gratefull habitation rule reign and remain in my heart O Iesu King of Glory for evermore Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother whose soul was dilated with such unspeakable joy and sweetness in the glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascention of your divin Son JESUS appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary Conclude this holy Crown with that Apostles Creed saying I believe in God c. Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus our blessed Redeemer in honour of the Thirty-three year 's of his holy Life 1. O Good Jesu the word of the Father convert me 2. O Good Jesu the lamb of God! puryfie me 3. O Good Jesu my Master teach me 4. O Good Jesu the Prince of Peace govern me 5. O Good Jesu the sure hope of penitent Sinners behold me 6. O Good Jesu my Refuge defend me 7. O Good Jesu my Instructor direct me 8. O Good Jesu my Patience comfort me 9. O good Jesu the chief Comforter of sad Souls refresh me 10. O good Jesu my Redeemer save me 11. O good Jesu my Lord and my God! possess me 12. O good Jesu the life the way and the truth enliven me 13. O good Jesu my firm Foundation strengthen me 14. O good Jesu the light of the world illuminate me 15. O good Jesu my Justice justifie me 16. O good Jesu my Mediator sanctifie me 17. O good Jesu the Physitian of my soul heal me 18. O good Jesu my Judg absolve me 19. O good Jesu the Son of Justice shine upon me 20. O good Jesu my King deliver me 21. O good Jesu Son of David pitty me 22. O good Jesu my sanctification cleanse me 23. O good Jesu the living bread descending from Heaven satiate me 24. O good Jesu the wine bringing forth Virgins inebriate me 25. O good Jesu my Father bless me 26. O good Iesu the only joy of my heart visit me 27. O good Iesu my Helper assist me 28. O good Iesu my Protector protect me 29. O good Iesu my Love transform me 30. O good Iesu my Propitiation hide me in your wounds 31. O good Iesu the faithfull Shepheard feed me 32. O good Iesu the eternal Life receive me into the number of your Elect. 33. O good Iesu my Glory gloryfie me An Advertisement to them of the sacred Confraternity of the holy name of IESUS AFter the recitall of the Rosary of Jesus or Crown of our Lord and these Thirty-three Petitions in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy life you may make use of some of the following Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord and to the holy Trinity according as your opportunity and devotion shall dictate unto you and not as any part belonging to the said Rosary of Iesus which contains nothing more than what is before prescribed and expressed for though they may be practis'd with very great spiritual profit by all faithful Christians as containing a most eminent sublime and heroick manner of offring up our selv's to the divin Majesty yet the frequent use thereof is especially proper to the members of this sacred Confraternity who above all others ought to adore Gods greatness admire his goodness extoll his mercies and dedicate themselv's to his perpetuall service by the continuall remembrance of the mysteries of his Life and Incarnation which is the end of their devout Confraternity and the drift of these divin Elevations ELEVATIONS TO JESVS CHRIST our Lord In honour of his severall Estates and of the singular Mysterries of his Life TO ADORE The supream greatness of JESUS And to offer our selv's to him in way of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable Union of the Divinitie with our Humanity 1. The Eternall Greatness of the word Incarnate O IESU my Lord King of Angels Redeemer of Men Soveraign of the Universe only Son of God only Son of the Virgin Born from all Eternity in the Eternall Fathers bosom and in times fullness born of the Virgin Mary true God true Man I adore you in your eternall and your temporall Greatness in your divin and human Fullness in your created and uncreated Highness You are the second Person of the sacred Trinity but equall to the First and origin of the Third you are the Splendor and Glory of the eternall Father you are his power and his wisdom you are his lively Image and perfect resemblance you are his only Son and his eternall word you are God of God Light of Light 2. The Equality and Consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself YOU are in these Greatnesses by Birth Such a Birth which Equalls the Power and Paternity of him who is your Father and which is one and the same thing with the Divinity A wonder not in the world but in Eternity not in the created but uncreated Being and the Prime wonder of Eternity For you are the first Production of the Eternall Father and source of the last And by this wonderfull Birth you are Infinit as he is All-powerfull is he is God as he is Beginning and Originall of a Divin Person as he is Nor is there any other difference but that in one self-same Divinity in one equall Eternity in one semblable Majesty He is Father and you are Son you are Son but without inequality without posteriority you are Son yet of even antiquity of equall authority with him and Eternall God as he is You are Son but without diversity of Essence or of Power or of Wisdom having the unity of Essence with the diversity of Subsistency in which you are one only God with him you are adored as he is and you are the Creator Conserver and Commander of the whol world as he is 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us THese Greatnesses dazle our souls we cannot look upon them from out our Earths obscurity They are to be adored not beheld and we must vail our faces in the presence of this divin object as did the Angells by Isay's relation in the sight of your Throne But you are willing to exercise you mercy's upon us you will cast a cover upon your self and render your self visible to our weak spirits and to our mortall aspects you will stoop down to us and become accessible and by a Councill which even ravishes us with wonder you will come neer us and make your self as one of us For O
the end Amen Ave Maria c. 4. The fourth Exercise may be to practice some particular devotion upon such day's as are dedicated to the blessed Virgins memory and honour which are all the Saturday's besides the rest of her annuall Festivities These devotions may be to visit her Altar to recite her Litanies to make use of some of these or the like prescribed forms c. 5. The fifth Exercise may be the paying of some Annuall Tribute as St. Peter Damian tearms it to the blessed Virgin how little soever it be in token of the homage and servitude due to her Soveraign Empire This Tribute may be tendred at some Altar dedicated to her honour together with the recitall of this Prayer Receive O Soveraign Empress this small Tribute which I here most humbly present to your sacred Majesty in acknowledgment of that supream Dominion you have next after God over my heart and to testifie the desire I have to live and dye your Bond-slave Permit not O sacred Virgin that I ever pay unto Sathan the World or my sensuality any Tribute of Sin and procure for me a happy passage from this my earthly Pilgrimage to the Heavenly Paradise there to offer up to your Son and You an Eternall Tribute of prayse and benediction Amen 6. The sixth Exercise may be that of Penance and Mortification by discreetly taking a Disciplin or wearing some harsh thing upon the bare skin c at certain times of the year according to each ones strength of body and the counsell of his Ghostly Father reciting upon such day 's seaven times the Salve Regina in memory of the blessed Virgins seven sorrows and adding this Prayer taken out of St. Peter Damian O my most glorious Lady the Mirror of purity and pattern of all vertu I wretched Sinner do most humbly acknowledg that I have higly offended your Son and You by the foolish and besotted liberty of my body and soul and therefore having now no other Refuge left me I here prostrate my heart before you O my compassionate Mother bequeathing my self unto you in quality of a Bond-slave and submitting my whol self to your holy Empire and command Curb I beseech you this rebellious body of mine receive this contumacious and stubborn heart and let not your Mercy reject me a sinner since your Immaculate Virginity brought forth the Author of all Piety 7. The seaventh Exercise may be these sublim Elevations following which may be divided into severall parts and recited according to each ones opportunity and devotion ELEVATIONS TO GOD AND ADORATIONS To the thrice holy Trinity In honour of the share he was pleas'd to give unto the Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation effecting it in her and by her and to honour the most holy Virgin in that Dignity of being Gods Mother And to offer our selves to her in the state of Dependencie and servitude which is due unto her upon this title and to correspond by our inward devotion to the speciall Power which she hath over us by consequence of this her divin and admirable Maternitie 1. Adoration of the Sacred Trinity SAcred Trinity Adorable in your self and in your works I praise Admire and Adore you in the Unity of your Essence in the Equality of your Persons in the Profundity of your wisdom in the Extent of your Providence and in that your Work of Works which makes God Man and a Virgin Gods Mother 2. The Greatness of the Mystery of the Incarnation WORK Ineffable Admirable Incomprehensible Work only worthy the power and greatness of the Worker Work The chief of your works the Originall of your Mysteries the Sampler of your Greatnesses and the Sun of your Mervails Work which incloseth your Essence is terminated by one of your Persons and produces the most Eminent dignity which was ever brought forth into a Being out of the Divinity 3. Which is so Eminent a Work AND this Work so great so rare so Eminent was don in a Moment yet not for a Moment but for an Eternity This Work is done in time yet not for a time but for an ever and ever This Work is don in Nazareth yet not for Nazareth but for the whol universe This Work is don on Earth not in Heaven but 't is done both for Earth and for Heaven This Work is don amongst men but 't is done for Angells for Men and for the God of Gods For it gives a Mother to God a King to Angels and to Men a Saviour 4. And the chief work ad extra of the Divinity 'T IS the Head-work of your hands O Divin Admirable and Adorable Trinity which imitates and expresses the Life the Communication the Society which we Adore in the divin Persons For you who Work all things for your self and in contemplating your self would in this Work imprint an Idea of your self would in the honour of your own life and communication which is divin and eternall make a life and communication divin and temporall would enter into society and communication with your creatures to Imitate and honour the communication and Society which is in your persons would in a fair Resemblance seem to match the force of your inward love and internall communication in this outward effusion of love and externall communication out of your own Essence And making choice of your lowest creature would enter into league into communication into unity with men by singularly imparting your self and peculiarly associating your self to one human nature and to one human Person To one human nature by the Incarnation of one of your Persons To one human Person by the Operation of your three Persons who in the greatest of their Works would in a manner enter Society with the Virgin 5. The mystery of the Incarnation is divided between the sacred Trinity and the Virgin O Infinit condescendency The Three divin Persons living and acting in perfect unity eternally happy and compleatly content in their own mutuall Society will extend this Society to a new person and being to operate jointly the Head-work of their Power and Bounty will associate the Virgin to themselv's in this their greatest operation in that for the full accomplishment of their own glory love and greatness being to conjoyn the Created Being with the Being Increated in one of their Persons and to give it a new nature they would share the Glory of this great work between the Virgin and themselves and making choyce of her amongst all Creatures they made her worthy and capable to give together with themselv's this new Nature and to be Mother of the word Incarnate thus elevating a human Person to such a pitch of Power and to so high a Prerogative and conferring on it so great a part in so great a Mystery Blessed be you O sacred Trinity in this your divin will and holy Councill which makes the Son of God Mans Son and which makes a Virgin Gods Mother Highest Councill therfore worthy the
name of JESUS 6. He nourish'd fed and maintain'd Him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affords food and sustenance to all living Creatures And cloathed him who furnished the Lillyes Roses and flowers of the Field with all their beautifull Robes and Ornaments 7. He was in some sort the saver of his Saviour by sheltring little Jesus from Herods rage and crueltie and stepping aside with him into Egypt whilst the Innocents bought the palm of Martyrdom with the price of their blood 8. He commanded him who commands all earthly Princes and Monarchs and had him obedient to the beck of his hand to the nod of his head to the twinkle of his eye and to the sound of his voyce before whom the Powers of Heaven fall down and tremble O the admirable power of S. Joseph O the adorable subjection of Jesus O the sublimâ—tie of Joseph to command Jesus O the Humility of Jesus to obey Joseph 9. He possessed and practis'd all vertues in their perfection especially Humility as being to passe the remainder of his days in her company who being the greatest was the most humble of all pure creatures And in his companie who being the Son of the most high made himself the least and lowest amongst the Sons of men Nor can S. Josephs vertues perfections and Greatnesses be comprehended and measur'd by any better means than by the greatnesses of Jesus and Mary to whom he was so strictly allied For he wâ—… Mary's true Husband and consequently the true and legall though not the carnall and naturall Father oâ— Jesus O what Communications oâ— affections what extasies of spirit what unions of hearts was there amongst these Three JESUS MARIA JOSEPH Now since God give grace proportionable to each one place vocation and office surely a S. Joseph's Office was exceeding great so was his grace vertu and perfection great excellent and heroique 10. He was as the Fathers pioufly and probably believe elevated to Heaven both in Body and Soul upon the day of his glorious Sons triumphanâ— Ascension and remains there inthron'd next to the Humanity of Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the Celestiall Kingdom as he was neerest and dearest unto them during the time oâ— their earthly Pilgrimage 11. He is the faithfull powerfull and charitable Protector and Advocate of his devout children and clients in the Court of Heaven as having so great credit with his Son King Jesus and his Spouse Queen Mary that his demands may seem in some sort to be commands and his Petitions being presented to the Throne of Mercy with a Fathers confidence and authority will not easily be rejected by Jesus in Heaven who was so obedient to Joseph upon Earth 12. He is the chief Patron of all Contemplatives and the Great Master Guide and Director of the Interiour hidden and Spirituall life S. Teresa happily experienc'd this verity and frequently expressed it saying They that cannot meet with a Master to instruct them in the manner of their Prayer Let them take the Glorious Saint Joseph for their Teacher and Tutor and they shall infallibly find the safe and secure way to solid Sanctity and perfection A SHORT ROSARY IN THE HONOR OF S. JOSEPH CONTAINING The principall Mysteries of his Life drawn out of the precedent Excellencies and distinguished into Five Tens or Decades Begin also this Rosary with the sign of the Cross and the Creed The first Decade Of his Election SAint JOSEPH was chosen in the Councill of Gods Eternall Wisdom and Providence to be the worthy Bridegroom of Mary and the â—…puted Father of JESUS Our Father c. 1. He was the highest and holiest of the Patriarchs Hail Mary 2. He descended from the Royall Progenie of David Hail Mary 3. He was particuarly prefigur'd by Joseph the deliverer of Egypt Hail Mary 4. He was sanctifi'd in his Mothers â—omb Hail Mary 5. He was confirm'd in Grace and Vertu Hail Mary 6. He was a Just man by the testimony of the Holy Gospell Hail Mary 7. He was instructed from Heaven in the Mystery of Incarnation Hail Mary 8. He was indu'd with the plenty of all spirituall blessings Hail Mary 9. He was enriched with gifts and qualities both naturall and supernaturall sutable to the sacred charge for which he was design'd Hail Mary 10. He was the first after the Virgin-Mother who by Vow consecrated his Virginity to the Divin Majesty Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. As in the Great Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Second Decade Of his place office and dignity SAint Joseph was appointed the Head Governour and Steward of Gods Family upon Earth Our Father c. 1. He was espoused to the sacred Virgin Mary Hail Mary 2. He was the Guardian and witness of her Virginity and allotted by Divin Providence to be her Counsellor Comforter and Companion upon all occations Hail Mary 3. He was her faithfull Assistant in her journey to Bethleem Hail Mary 4. He found out the Stable for her harbour when the Innes refused to entertain her Hail Mary 5. He was present at our Redeemer's happy Birth into the world Hail Mary 6. He help'd the holy Virgin-Mother to swath him cloath him and cradle him in the Maâ—ger Hail Mary 7. He was the first who with the extasi'd Mother had the honour to adore the New-born Man-God Hail Mary 8. He concurr'd with the sacred Virgin to Christs Circumcision and together with her impos'd upon him the sweet Name of JESUS Hail Mary 9. He was reverenc'd by the Eastern Kings when they offer'd their Royall Presents to his reputed Son JESUS Hail Mary 10. He with his Virgin-Spouse presented JESUS to his Eternall Father in the Temple Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The third Decade Of his Flight into Egypt SAint JOSEPH took the yong Child and Mary his Mother and departed into Egypt so preserving Jesus from Herods cruelty who sought to oppress him in his Infancy Our Father c. 1. He readily resignedly and in the night season obey'd the Angells admonition Hail Mary 2. He cheerfully undertook a long tedious and troublesom journey into an unknown Countrey Hail Mary 3. He patiently endur'd with Jesus and Mary a seven years banishment Hail Mary 4. He provided food for him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affoards food to all living Creatures Hail Mary 5. He cloath'd him who cloathes the flowers of the field Hail Mary 6. He next to the sacred Virgin was the most ardent of all Jesus's lovers serving him in his Exile with more than Seraphicall affection Hail Mary 7. He lov'd the sacred Virgin with a naturall affection in respect of her eminent perfections with an acquired affection in respect of her reciprocall favours with a supernaturall affection in respect of her celestiall
dignity Hail Mary 8. He was an Instrumentall Cooperator with God in his great design of mans Redemption Hail Mary 9. He was in some sort the Saver of his Saviour by sheltring him from his enemy's Tyranny Hail Mary 10. His life was a continued Contemplation Recollection and Extasy in the perpetuall presence of Gods Son and Gods Mother Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The fourth Decade Of his return from Egypt and of his Death SAint JOSEPH inform'd by Angelicall Revelation of Herods death returns home with Jesus and Mary Our Father c. 1. He Jesus and Mary after their banishment dwell together in Nazareth Hail Mary 2. He conducted Jesus when he was twelve years old to the Temple in Jerusalem Hail Mary 3. He there lost Jesus to his unspeakable grief and sorrow Hail Mary 4. He retriv'd him after three days enquiry sitting amongst the Doctors Hail Mary 5. He reconducts him home to Nazareth where Jesus the great Monarch of both worlds was subject and obedient to Joseph's command Hail Mary 6. And as he had the Priviledg to enjoy the Innocent embraces of Jesus in his childhood so he had the honour to enjoy his holy entertainments in his riper years and his divin actions examples and instructions in his perfect age Hail Mary 7. He also had the honour to govern the sacred family of Jesus and Mary for thirty years space Hail Mary 8. He had the happiness to be assisted by Jesus and Mary in his last Agony Hail Mary 9. Having compleated the course of his Earthly Pilgrimage he chang'd this life for Eternity Hail Mary 10. He sweetly breath'd forth his soul in a high act of sigh and love in the sacred embraces of Jesus and Mary Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The fifth Decade Of his Glory SAint JOSEPH was elevated to Heaven upon the day of his Son 's triumphant Resurrection Our Father c. 1. He is inthron'd there above next to Jesus and Mary as he was here below neerest and dearest unto them Hail Mary 2. He is adorn'd with a Garland of virginity for having preserv'd it unblemisht to his last breath Hail Mary 3. He is enobled with the Aureola of Doctorship for having instructed the ignorant and particularly the Egyptians in the time of his so journing amongst them Hail Mary 4. He is rewarded with a Crown of Martyrdom for having hazarded his life for his Sons preservation Hail Mary 5. He is a Powerfull Protector of all them who are particularly devoted unto him as having great credit with the All powerfull Jesus Hail Mary 6. He is the generall Patron of the Church Militant as being the speciall Favourite of its head Christ Jesus Hail Mary 7. He bears a singular affection to all that sincerely love Jesus and Mary as being so neerly allyed unto them Hail Mary 8. His Petitions are presented to the Throne of Mercy with a Fathers confidence and his Requests will not easily be rejected by Jesus in heaven who was so obedient to Joseph upon earth Hail Mary 9. He is the chief Patron of all Contemplatives Hail Mary 10. He is the great Master Guide and Directors of the Interiour hidden and spirituall life Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Credo c. as in the great Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary Conclude this Rosary with these ensuing Elevations ELEVATIONS TO S. JOSEPH TO Honour God in him and him in God in his Dignity of being the reputed FATHER of the Word Incarnate and the BRIDEGROOM of the Blessed Virgin MARIE And to offer up our selv's to him in the state of dependencie which is due to him upon these titles and to correspond by our inward devotion to that power which he hath over us by consequence of the power he had over the Son and Mother of GOD. GReat and glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph The worthy Bridegroom of Mary and esteemed Father of Jesus In the honour of Gods beholding and electing you in the Councill of his Eternall Wisdom and of his placing you at the time appointed by his divin Providence in these two high and sublime estates In honour and union of all the singular graces prerogatives priviledges and perfections which he plentifully heap'd upon you in order to render you capable of these eminent offices and undertakings In honour and union of your souls extraordinary sanctity of your Bodies virginall Purity of your profound humilitie of your perfect Obedience of your voluntary Povertie and of all the rest of your consummated vertues In honour and union of your dear affection to Jesus and Mary of the continuall application of your spirit towards these two divin objects of the tenderness of your devotion unto them and of your silent solitarie retired recollected and contemplative life with them In honour and union of all the services you rendred to the Word Incarnate in the state and order of his hypostaticall postaticall union with our nature In honour and union of that last Act and sigh of love wherein you sweetly breath'd forth your faithfull soul in the embraces of Jesus and Mary your divin Son and dear Spouse In honour homage and union of all your other Greatnesses and especially of the right power and jurisdiction you had over Jesus and Mary in quality of Father and husband and of the subjection obedience and duty they rendred you Finally in acknowledgment of your having been establish'd the Head the Steward and the Director of Gods Family upon Earth The Father the Tutor and the Trainer up of Jesus the Bridegroom the Guardian and the Helper of the holy Virgin Mary I do now choose you O great and glorious Patriarch for my particular Patron for my powerfull Protector for my pious Father and for my chief Soveraign next after Jesus and Mary And upon this score I do here yeild and resign unto you all the power I have over my self desiring to become your servant and Bondslave willing to submit my self to you as my Saviour Jesus was subject unto you and begging your leave to place all the future transactions motions and passages of my life during this my earthly Pilgrimage under your sacred conduct government and protection Make me worthy O glorious Father by your merits to become with you a faithfull Member of Jesus and Maries Family and to be thereunto firmely and intimately united associated and incorporated by Grace and Sanctity And obtain for me by your powerfull intercession that I may never be separated from sweet Jesus and Mary in my life in my death in my Eternity Take also O powerfull Protector the last moment of my life that Moment which must decide my Eternity into your pious care and Custody Assist me then I beseech you in that harsh Passage
Joyfull Mysteries The first Joyfull Mystery branch'd into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections Elevations Petitions 309 The second Joyfull Mystery 318 The third Joyfull Mystery 327 The fourth Joyfull Mystery 337 The fifth Joyfull Mystery 348 The second Part of the Rosary containing the five Dolorous Mysteries 359 The first Dolorous Mystery divided into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections c. 360 The second Dolorous Mystery 372 The third Dolorous Mystery 381 An Anthem and Prayer in honour of the sacred Crown of Thorns 391 The fourth Dolorous Mystery 392 The Fifth Dolorous Mystery 400 The third Part of the Rosary containing the five Glorious Mysteries 410 The first Glorious Mystery drawn into ten heads or points of Meditation with Affections 411 The second Glorious Mystery 421 The third Glorious Mystery 431 The fourth Glorious Mystery 440 The fifth Glorious Mystery 450 The first Appendix JESUS or the Confraternity of the most Sacred Name of JESUS with Elevations sutable thereunto 462 The Author and origin of this Confraternity 463 The reason and end of its Institution 463 The five Rules of it 463 The plenary Indulgences omitting many partiall granted to it 465 The manner of reciting this Rosary of the Name of Jesus 467 A brief Declaration of the Crown of our Lord. 471 Its Author Origin Manner of reciting and Confirmation by Pope Leo the tenth 472 The Crown of our Lord consists of 33. Pater nosters and of 4. Ave Maria's with one Creed added for a Conclusion 473 The first Part Of Christs coming into the World consists of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations upon each Pater noster 474 The second Part Of Christs Conversation amongst men consists likewise of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations correspondent to this Decade 479 The third Part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion consists also of Ten Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations as in the two precedent parts 483 The fourth Part Of Christs glorious Triumph after death consists only of Three Pater nosters and One Ave Maria with points of Meditation and Elevations correspondent 487 Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy Life 490 An Advertisement to the Practisers of these sacred Devotions 493 Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord on honour of his severall estates and of the singular Mysteries of his Life To adore the Supream Greatness of Jesus and offer our selves to him by way of humble servitude and absolute Dependencie which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable union of the Divinity with our Humanity 495 1. The Eternall Greatness of the Word Incarnate 496 2. The equality and consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself 497 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us 498 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and substance to our nature 499 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us 500 6. Jesus adores his heights by his lownesses and raises up his lownesses by his greatnesses 501 7. His excessive Love in the effusion of his Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his greatness goodness also upon us 503 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him 504 9. The perfection of a Christian requires That Jesus live in him and that he imprint in his Soul the spirit and life of his Estates and Mysteries 506 10. The principall mysteries of Jesus apply'd to our sanctification and his qualities and Offices referr'd to our use 508 11. By how many Titles we belong to Jesus and Jesus to us 509 12. Jesus is Gods gift unto us and what this gift demands of us with an explication of Christian Grace 510 13. Christian Grace is form'd upon the Mystery of the Incarnation which is its Modell and requires of us a particular manner of Oblation and donation to Jesus 512 14. A totall reference and oblation of our selves to Jesus 513 Elevations to the sacred Trinity upon the Mystery of the Incarnation To adore the Supream Greatnes of Jesus and offer up our selv's to him in the state of humble servitude and absolute Dependencie which is due to him by reason of the ineffable union of the Divinity with our Humanity 514 1. God creates two Natures capable of himself upon one he exercises his Justice upon the other his Mercie 515 2. The Mysterie of the Incarnation is the Head-work of Gods love and power And what is proper to the Person of the Father in the Mysteries of the TRINITY and Incarnation 516 3. What is proper to the Person of the Son in these Mysteries 517 4. What is proper to the person of the Holy Ghost in these Mysteries 519 5. Contemplations upon the Humanity of Jesus 520 6. Contemplation upon the associating of the B. Virgin in the Mystery of the Incarnation 521 7. An Oblation of humble servitude to Jesus and his Deifi'd Humanity 522 8. A larger expression of this servitude 523 9. The life of the Divinity in the Humanity 523 10. The denudation of Jesu's Human subsistencie is the cause that his Humanity and all its actions are appropriated to the Person of the Eternall Word by which it subsists 524 11. An Oblation of all that we are have and can to this sacred Humanity 525 12. Jesus is doubly in the state of a servant First by humbling his Divin Person to a created nature Secondly by dying on the Cross 526 13. An Oblation of our selves to Jesus in honour of this his double estate of being a servant 527 14. The continuance of this Oblation of servitude 528 15. A Confirmation of this our oblation of servitude 529 16. An ardent desire of an unseparable union with Christ 530 17. The Humanity of Jesus is the Temple of the Divinity 531 18. What great things are wrought in this Humanity 532 19. This Humanity is holy by the Divinity it self which is a substantiall sanctity flowing from him into himself and thence into us 533 20. And this sanctity sanctifies even that created Grace which is in himself 534 21. An humble yeilding submitting and dedicating of our whol selves to the Deifi'd Humanity of Jesus in the way of perpetuall Bondage 535 the second Appendix Maria or the Devotion call'd the Bondage of the Blessed Virgin MARY with Elevations sutable thereunto 538 1. The Author and Origin of the Bondage 539 2. An ancient and authentick example of the practise of this Bondage 539 3. Whereupon this Devotion of the Bondage is grounded 542 The B. Virgin made up the chain of her Bondage with the links of 12. vertues 543 4. The Rules of this Devotion of the Bondage 545 The Blessing of the Chains for the Bondage 546 The Prayer and Oblation of our selv's in Bondage to
sensuality constancy to resist all temptations and strength to conquer all my enemies Our Father 5. HE painfully went from place to place preaching the Gospell to the people O Jesu let my soul incessantly thirst after your honour and the salvation of my neighbour Our Father 6. HE honoured marriage with his presence and with his first miracle and afterwards for three years space he plentifully powr'd forth his miraculous benefits upon all sorts of Persons O Jesu overflow my heart with a generall affection and compassion towards all Christians and permit me not to grow weary in performing works of piety Our Father 7. HE often times spent whol nights in Prayer and suffered hunger thirst cold heat poverty and persecution for my sake O Jesu how much have you done and endur'd for me and how little have I done and endur'd for you and my self Our Father 8. HIs chief lesson was humility Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart O Jesu This is one of the vertues I chiefly stand in need off Ah! that my heart were truly simple supple innocent and humble how happy a Scholler should I be O my Redeemer in your holy School could I as cheerfully practise as I can easily resolve Our Father 9. HIs principall precept was Charity I give you a new commandment that you love one another O Iesu this is the other vertu I principally want and wish for Ah! that my whol interiour and exteriour my heart soul body and senses were nothing but pure Charity that so it might be impossible for me to speak think act or breath any thing but the perfect love of you and my neighbour Our Father 10 HE made his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in order to his Passion sitting upon an asse and he shed tears amidst the peoples applauses and acclamations O Iesu give me a true sight of my self and of the World that perfectly knowing my own vility and its vanity I may incessantly bewail my selfwretchedness weep for the Worlds wickedness and render to you only all honour and glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so faithfully diligently and devoutly accompany'd follow'd and serv'd your divin Son in his manly age appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull prayers and intercession Hail Mary The third part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion 1. OUr dear Redeemer after his last supper wash'd the feet of his Disciples and instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist O Iesu which shall I most admire your stupendious humility or your unheard-off charity Our Father 2. HE entred the Garden with his Disciples where after he had most fervently pray'd he fell into a vehement Agony in which bloud mix'd with sweat trickled down from his whol body O Iesu how great are my sins which are the cause of your so great sorrow place your Passion I bessech you between them and your judgment O let your sufferings cancel their heynousness and let your precious bloud wash away their erronious filthiness Our Father 3. HE was seiz'd on by a crew of armed Souldiers manacled with cords dragg'd away to Annas and Caiphas O Iesu dissolve the bands of my unruly passions perverse inclinations and impure affections and take me tie me shackle me and draw me unto you with the sweet cords of your sacred love and charity Our Father 4. IN the whol night of his passion he suffer'd all sorts of injuries vexations and torments O Jesu and shall I repine at small pains and persecutions shall I faint under the light burthen which your loving hand lay's upon my shoulders O meek lamb of God! pardon my past impatience and give me a perseverant Resignation to your will and pleasure Our Father 5. HE was contemptibly hurried away to Pilate and Herod and by them scorn'd as a silly Ideot O Jesu you are every way humbled depressed annihilated and I seek nothing but honour applause estimation Is this to imitate you my Lord and Master O change me correct me convert me by your power in your mercy by your example Our Father 6. HIs tender body was ty'd naked to a pillar and torn with whips and scourges O Iesu uncloath me of the old man with all his wicked works and revest me with the new created in justice and sanctity according to your own heart Our Father 7. HE was beaten with a cane buffeted with their fists spurned with their feet defil'd with their spittle crown'd with Thorns every way abused O Jesu the beauty of Men and Angels how are you worried for my wickedness O wound my soul with a deep sense of your sufferings that I may henceforth absolutely detest all sin trample upon all sensuality cancel all vanity serve you more innocently and adhere to you more fervently Our Father 8. HE was forc'd to carry his heavy Cross upon his weak and wounded shoulders from Jerusalem to Mount Calvarie O Jesu let me cheerfully take up the Cross of self-contempt self-abnegation self-denyall and follow you till death constantly couragiously perseverantly Our Father 9. HE was stripp'd naked and stretch'd on the Cross having his hands and feet barbarously nayl'd unto it and his side pierc'd with a Launce O Iesu strip me of all that displeases the eyes of your divin Majesty dilate my heart with celestiall affections and fasten my â—oul to your self with the sweet nayls of your sacred Love Our Father 10. HAving hung three hours on the Cross inclining his head he gave up the Ghost O Iesu you dy'd for me that I might live eternally O let me dy to all things that I may henceforth live to you only who are to me All in All. Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so patiently constantly perseverantly stood by your divin Son dying on the Cross for me appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary The fourth Part. Of Christs glorious Triumph after Death 1. OUr dear Redeemer rising victoriously upon the third day from his Sepulchre replenish'd the hearts of his holy Mother Disciples and Friends with unspeakable joy and gladness O Iesu give me grace strength and courage to shake of the death of my inveterate vices and bad customs and to rise to newness of life and conversation O let me henceforth savour the things which are above and not these vain vile terrene and transitory trifles which can never satiate my soul created for you only Our Father 2. HE triumphantly ascended to Heaven on the forti'th day after his Resurrection amidst the jubily of Angells in the company of the Patriarks in the sight of his sacred Mother Disciples and Friends where he sits at his Fathers right hand blessed for evermore O Iesu that my soul might follow you the only object of her affections O that I could incessantly aspire to you long after you languish for you my only center and security the only comfort of my life and Crown of all my desires Our Father 3. HE sent