Illustrious men who in the company of Prince Vincentius who is now Duke of Mantua had come into the same pallace euen whilst the Prince cōuersed with the Marques became troublesome to Aloysius laughing him to scorne for that he would enter into Religion and endeauouring the most that they could that this renuntiation might not be made The Instrumentes being sealed Aloysius disburdened of all the cares of his fortunes and dominions hideth himselfe alone in his chamber and throweth himselfe with infinite gratitude before the feet of Almighty God for that he had now at last vouchsafed him this wished treasure of holy Pouerty And in the meane while his mind flowed with so many delicaeies celestiall solaces that afterward he was wont to declare that he both often at other times and vpon that day especially did sensibly perceaue the extraordinary grace comfort of God to be presēt with him And truly it is a thing much to be admired that the Marques Ferdinand a Prince so renowned forhis liberality that he was almost reputed to be prodigall shewed so much parcimony towards his eldest sonne and such a sonne so only deere vnto him Especially seing that he himselfe was the only man that gaue order for the reseruing of 400. crownes to his owne proper vse I should verily belieue that God to the intent that he might exhilerate Aloysius who whilst he conuersed in the most famous courts of Europe had alwayes so great a loue of pouerty did of set-purpose suffer that the Marques shold incline to that part which was so contrary to his custome Hauing rendred thankes to Almighty God he sendeth-for into his chamber that venerable priest Ludouicus Cataneus whome when he had requested to hallow with his benediction the cloth-garments which he had caused to be made priuately for himself at Mantua according to the manner of the Society he strippeth himselfe of all his profane apparrell and euen of his shirt it self silke stockings and being adorned with that sacred habit vpon the suddaine he entred into the Parlour where the Princes stayed for their dinner They astonished with the newnesse of the thing could not with-hould from teares and chiefly his Father the Marques who though long endeauouring was neuer able all dinner while to keepe from weeping There Aloysius taking occasion of this present matter began wittily modestly and very well to the purpose to discourse of the occasions dangers of offending the Maiesty of God with which men plunged in the worlde do combat of the vaine frailty of the honours of this life of the manifold difficulties with which the way of Princes and great men to their eternall saluation is incombred of the care which it is requisite euery one should haue for the euerlasting saluation of his soule this with so great authority and vigour of a celestiall spirit that those Noble-men attended vnto him with great shew of reuerence and piety And euen vnto this day his speach is celebrated in many mens mouthes CHAP. XXXIII Hauing obtaïned to be sent to Rome he goeth by Loreto his pious exercises in that Iourney THE next day following after this which was the third before the Nones of Nouember he tooke his leaue of the Duke of Mantua and his Sonne and some other noble women there and that euening at home he humbly besought his Father and Mother vpō his knees for his mother was now lately returned frō Turino that they would giue him their blessing Which whilst they do how many teares they showred downe and especially the Marques his Father may easily be coniectured The next morning he takes his iourney toward Rome with that attendance the Marques had assigned him in which the principall was that truly Reuerend man Ludouicus Cataneus whome he tooke vnto him in that iourney for the administring of the offices of piety Petrus Franciscus Turcius his Gouernour Iohn Baptista Bonus a Doctor one chamberlaine other seruants Furthermore in this his departure although he be held all weeping it is incredible how small propensity of mind he shewed toward his kindred To his younger brother Rodulph vnto whome he had giuen place in the Dignity of Marques who followed him in Coach euen to the riuer Padus where he tooke ship for Ferrara all that way and passage he spake very litle To a certaine prime man in the ship that said he was of a mind that Rodulph conceaued great contentment for that he was inabled to succeed in his dominion he answered Non tanto illum sibi gaudio successisse quanto ipse illi decessisset That he did not succeed him with so much ioy as he departed with it to him At Ferrara hauing saluted Alphonsus de Este Duke of that place and his wife Margaret Gonzaga his kinswoman he bendes his iourney to Bolonia He desired very much in this his iourney to visit the holy house of Loreto moued out of a peculiar piety to that place and also with a desire to performe that vow which his Mother in times past made for him at his birth For although by the Iubiley that was promulgated for iust causes power was giuen them to make exchange of that Pilgrimage for other good offices which both of them had already performed notwithstanding he determined to satisfy that his mothers first purpose and his owne singular zeale His determination therfore was first to go to Florēce to that great Duke Francis and from thence to turne towards Loreto But when he came to Petra-Mala in which place being in the confines of Tuscany towards Bolonia subiect to that great Duke he found for feare of the plague a very straite watch kept There although his Companions declared both the name quality of the man and the causes of vndertaking this iourny notwithstanding they could not preuaile with them to yield them passage Therfore vpon necessity returning to Bolonia from thence by his letters he excused himselfe to the great Duke that he could not as he wished tender his duty and seruice to him in his presence From Bolonia by Flaminia he tooke his iourney directly to Loreto whither after he came it cannot be expressed with how great delicacies God and his most Blessed Virgin Mother entertained him The next morning when in that Sacred Chappell he had fiue or sixt houres without intermission assisted at the holy Masses he did receaue the Blessed Sacrament with incredible deuotion being inwardly penetrated with recognizing the benefit which in that place where so great maiesty and sanctity harboured all humane kind had receaued he became all drowned with teares neither did it seeme possible to draw him from thence But to the intent that he might haue more leasure to pray and meditate in that holy place all day he refusing vnto Fa. Rectour of the Society who inuited him to their Colledge that office of courtesy be tooke himselfe togeather with all his company to a common Inne From dinner he returneth to that holy house and
heauen answerable vnto their name are not only replenished and inflamed with charity but like a spirituall fire do alwayes burne with diuine loue and therewithall do like wise enkindle and illustrate those Angels that are inferiour vnto them Then contemplate the Cherubims so called for their fulnesse of knowledge clearer light of vnderstanding wherwith they excell all other inferiour spirits in so much as they see God more clearly and know more things in him Wherfore they are as it were the Counsellers of the celestiall King excelling in knowledge wisedome which they also communicate to the inferiour Angels Contemplate after this the Thrones who as the familiar and intrinsecall Secretaries of God are adorned with this title for so much as they are as it were the seates and thrones of the King in which the Diuine Maiesty doth after a certaine sort reside and rest which also they carry with them whithersoeuer they goe as it were in a Pontificall Chaire OF THE SECOND HIERARCHY Descend then to the second Hierarchy which containeth three other Quires of Angels that is to say Dominations Vertues and Powers who are seuerally designed to the vniuersall gouernment of these inferiour things And first contemplate the Dominations who representing the dominion of the supreme Prince after the manner of Viceroys haue commaund ouer their inferiours and in Diuine mysteries send them forth for the gouernment of the world Secondly contemplate the Vertues who with their power and vigour representing the infinite power of the Lord of Hosts do mannage all hard and difficult matters to the glory of God do worke admirable effectes in his creatures Thirdly contemplate the Powers who like Iudges do represent the authority and power of the high and vniuersall Iudge and haue the office to keep vnder all aeriall powers and to remoue from men all impediments and hinderances least their way to their saluation be intercepted OF THE THIRD HIERARCHY To conclude I descend to the third and last Hierarchy in which there are contained three other Quires that is to say of the Principalities Archangels and Angels Contemplate first the Principalities so called for that like as this lowest Hierarchy is appointed by God for the execution of his Diuine coÌ„maundments towards his creatures so the Principalities who are the Angels of the first Quire for so much as they represent the prime Prince are deputed to the gouernement of diuers Prouinces and particulaâ— Kingdomes These also euen as they do in chiefe receaue commaunds immediately from God so do they commit the same to other inferiour Angels and afford likewise assistance for the performance of them There follow likewise two others to wiâ— of Archangells and Angells who according vnto their names are as it were Legates and messengers sent for diuers causes from God into the world who are also designed for the keeping of certaine places and men Neither is there any other difference betweene these two quires then that to the Archangels greater to the Angells lesser matters are committed And this is the summe of that little which we are able to vnderstaÌ„d of that diuine architecture and order of the house of God But if the coÌ„ceit of our vnderstanding were able to proceed any further and inwardly to penetrate into the nature and function of euery Angell it would discouer that they as euery one of them particularly haue particular offices and imployments in the heauenly Hierusalem so likewise that they do with their peculiar order meruelously adorne that vniuersall blessed multitude of the celestiall Court. For euen as we see that this our visible heauen adorned with so many stars and distinguished into orbes according to the number of the planets is moued with admirable order and exerciseth its influence vpon the earth vnder it so that spirituall and inuisible heauen is after an order more admirable and diuine adorned with the variety of so many Angels as with stars by which as through so many orbes of Planets 〈◊〉 Lord of the vniurese powreth vpon humane kind the influence of all his spirituall gifts and graces Therfore consider now my Soule that if the Queene of Saba 3. Reg. 10. hearing the wisedome of Salomon and beholding the magnificence of his Kingly pallace together with the number and equipage of his seruants that attended him being astonished with admiration at the prudence of this most wise King as the Scripture sayth Non habebat vltra spiritum she had no longer spirit and said Beati viri tui beati serâ—i tul hi qui stant coram te semper audiunt sapientiam tuam Blessed are thy men and blessed are thy seruants who stand alwayes before thee and heare thy wisedome How much more occasion shouldest thou haue not only with that Queene to admire but euen with that good Prophet to faint through the desire and loue of this blessed habitation if perfectly thou couldest vnderstand the dignity excelleÌ„cy order of the Court of that true Salomon which with his eternall wisedome and art he hath constituted ordained What consolation what ioy I beseech you would it be vnto you if after the course of this life that felicity might likewise befall you that together with those celestiall spirits you might be honoured with the title of Courtier to so great a Lord whom to serue is to raigne Prospher â—p ad Demet. O most holy and pure Angels O how truly blessed are you who perpetually stand before the face of your God with such exceeding ioy contemplate the face of that celestiall Salomon by whome you are adorned with so great wisedome enriched with so many prerogatiues and made worthy of so great glory You most resplendent stars who so happily shine in the Emperiall heauen infuse likewise I beseech you into my soule your blessed influences preserue my fayth vnspotted my hope firme my manners blamelesse my loue entire towards God and my neighbour I humbly petition ô Blessed Angels that you would vouchsafe me your helping hand to coÌ„duct me by that royall way of humility which you first traced that after this my life I may togeather with you deserue to contemplate the face of our eternall Father and be bestowed in the place of some star that hertofore through pride fell from Heauen OF THE ANGELS IN PARTICVLAR The second Part. OF S. MICHAEL ARCHANGELL BVT next to the contemplation of thâ— Angelicall Hierarchies it well befitteth vs to contemplate something also of that victorious captaine of the celestiall army S. Michael the Archangell who in respect of his transcendent zeale and fidelity was by God constituted the Prince of all those Angels who are sent into the world for the performance of diuers ministeries Moreouer this most Blessed Michaell was honoured with this name which is interpreted Quis vt Deus who is as God For when proud Lucifer was stirred vp against God endeauoring to be esteemed equall vnto him this most couragious Archangell not tolerating so great iniury to be offered to
they are endowed with the cleare light of glory wherby face to face they behold their creatour And in their Wil habituated with charity wherwith louing God with the loue of perfect friendship they are made both the children and friends of the selfe-same God Now therfore my Soule contemplate the beauty of these celestiall Citizens who like so many morning stars yea euen most cleare sunnes shine most gloriously in the Citty of God in which as in most cleare mirrours are the perfectioÌ„s diuine as infinite power eternal wisedome ineffable goodnesse and most ardent loue of their creatour O how amiable how pure and innocent-white are these Blessed spirits How zealous of setting forth the glory of their Lord how desirous and solicitous of our saluation and therfore most worthy to be by vs peculiarly loued worshipped For if honour as the Philosophers say be a certaine worship which is due to some one in respect of the excellency or vertue which he hath in himselfe and therfore although all men according vnto nature are equall one to another we are wont to exhibit most honour vnto them who excell others in some kind of prayse how much rather ought we being so vile and abiect creatures in comparison of these celestiall spirits to attribute vnto them all honour and worship seing that euery one of them how little soeuer he be doth far excell the most noblest of vs human creatures in the abouenamed endowments excelleÌ„cies Moreouer if these holy Angels being creatures so much exalted aboue others in nature and grace do submit themselues to the honour of man-kind in respect that God himselfe hath loued and honoured the same surely much more conuenient it is that we most contemptible wormes should with all honour and deuotion prosecute those whom God so much honoureth and exalteth in heauen For these are the beloued children who alwayes contemplate the face of their Father Math. 18. those white and pure Lillies amongst which be taketh his repast Cant. 2. And those mountaines replenished with aromaticall odours in which that heauenly spouse doth walke and recreate himselfe Secondly next to the dignity and excellency of this celestiall Court consider the number and order of the Courtiers therof And first as concerning their number it is so great that it doth not only exceed the number of all men now liuing but euen of all those that either haue or shall be extant euen til the day of iudgment The multitude of these blessed spirits is resembled to the sands of the sea and the stars of the firmament which the Wiseman sayth are impossible to be numbred Eccl. 1. And as S. Dionyse of Areopagita Câ—lest hierar c. 9. affirmeth the number of euery order of the Angels is greater then any order of materiall things in the world The Prophet said Millia milliâ—â— ministrabanâ—â—i decies millies centeâ—a milliâ— assistebaâ—◠〈◊〉 A thousand-thousand ministred vnto him and ten thousand hundred thousand assisted him Where the Scripture according to her custome putteth a certaine number for an vncertaine and a number truly which may seeme in the opinion of men the greatest to giue vs to vnderstand that the number of them is only knowne vnto God and wheras with God they are numerable with vs they are infinite and innumerable And therfore we read in Iob Numquid est numerus militum â—ius Job 25. May their be fouÌ„d any number of his souldiers Of the number of which the kingly Prophet also made meÌ„tion speaking of Angels Currus Dei decem millibus multiplex millia lâ—tantium Dominus in eis in Sina in sancto Psal 67. The Chariot of God is ten thousand fold thousands of them that reioyce our Lord in them in Sina in the holy place The holy Euangelist likewise as it is in the Apocalips sayth that he saw a great multitude in the presâ—nce of God of all people and â—onguâ—s and nations who were impossible to be numbred Iâ— this number of the Elect which we know shall be but the least part of mankind be so great that it is not to be numbred how great do we thinke that of Angells shall be who are ten times beyond the number of all men put togeather and most worthily hath this celestiall Monarch so great a number of courtiers for if as the wise man sayth In multitudine populi dignitas Regis in paucitate plebis ignominia Principis Prou. 14. In the multitude of people consisteth the dignity of a King and in the scarcity of subiects the ignominy of the Prince sâ—ing that God is that most excelleÌ„t Prince Rex Regum dominus dominantium the King of Kings and Lord of Lords it was a thing most congruous that in that spatious Kingdome immeÌ„se pallace of heauen he should haue an ample Court and a numerous family O my Soule how much ioy and solace would it yield thee if thou couldest but behold this multitude of so many noble creatures so blessed in glory and in nature and grace so excelleÌ„t O that so happy a chaunce may once befall thee that thou maiest conuerse amongst those celestiall troupes in the company of so great Princes the children of God yea and euen thy brothers for tâ—ose sublime and amiable spirits are not ashamed to acknowledge vs men for their brothers for so much as their Lord did not only not feare to be called but by taking vpon him our flesh certainely to become ouâ— brother O with how harty a good will wouldest thou amoÌ„gst those Angelicall voyces prayse and blesse thy Lord for hauing receaued from him so great a benefit Thirdly consider the admirable order deputed and designed by the Diuine prouideÌ„ce to these Angelicall spirits either in respect of God or of themselues or in comparison of other creatures of this world For if you consider them in respect of God there is amoÌ„gst them no difference for all of them with one vnanimous consent adore and reuerence him as their sole Prince and Lord of their celestiall citty If amongst themselues there is in so great a multitude no confusion an order most exact a distribution most admirable agreeing to the diuers Orders of intelligences One higher and more excellent then another according as God reuealeth vnto them his secret mysteries and maketh vse of their ministery for the saluation of men And that we may descend vnto particulars the whole multitude of those glorious spirits are coÌ„tained vnder three Hierarchies that is to say the highest middle lowest And euery Hierarchy is distinguished into three Quires the highest the middle and the lowest OF THE FIRST HIERARCHY The first of them containeth Seraphims Cherubims and Thrones Where by their names you may easily coniecture the offices in which they are exercised for it is the property of God to impose names to his creatures conformable to the offices committed to their charge Contemplate therfore first the Quire of Seraphims who as the secret and intimate chamberlaines of the King of
priuy to that most high secret of his Incarnation did first of all publish it to the world This is that gracious Para-nymph who was mediatour betweene that most high God and this poore humble Virgin of Nazareth betweene the Eternall word and our humane Nature Now the better to vnderstand the dignity of this Archangell consider seuerally the offices committed by our Lord vnto him And first of all as some holy men affirme it may piously be belieued that he was particularly assigned to the Blessed Virgin as her gardian And as God had no other pure creature neither in heauen nor earth that was more noble or did more feruently loue him then the Blessed Virgin Mary so you may imagine that as the Princes of this world are wont to commit those thinges that are most deare vnto themselues to the custody of those Courtiers that are most faythfull and most addicted vnto them euen so in that celestiall Court this glorious Angell Gabriell was worthily accounted with the King of heauen amongst his best and deerest Consider moreouer an other office of this Blessed Angell which was to be a Legate sent from the most holy Trinity about a supreme businesse and of the greatest moment that may be to wit about the incarnation of the only begotten sonne of God and the redemption and saluation of the whole world Therfore very well befitteth him the name of Gabriel a name full of mystery which is by interpretation Vir Deus Man God for he denounced vnto the world Christ who was to be both God and man Furthermore this name of Gabriel more properly is as much as to say Fortitudo Dei the fortitude of God and this to notify that mystery which he denounced to the world that is to say a most strong and triple cord to wit the most strict vnion of the Diuine nature with the most holy body and soule of Christ in one hypostasis and person of the eternall word as it is written â—uniculus triplex difficile rumpitur Eccl. 4. a threefould cord is hardly broken He is called also Fortitudo Dei the fortitude of God because by the benefit of his Embassy he communicated vnto vs the diuine fortitude in this that God togeather with humane nature tooke vpon him likewise our imbecility WherupoÌ„ men through the benefit of this fortitude became so valiant and couragious that they did many things which exceeded all naturall fortitude and humane strength O Angell truly valiant for so much as by thy Embassage thou didest bring vnto men not only Diuine strength but euen Goâ— himselfe the most potent aboue all others who taking away the spoiles and putting to flight that strong armed Monster who so long a time had cruelly tyranized ouer vs rescewed vs out of seruitude restored vs to the liberty of the Children of God Oâ— S. RAPHAEL THE ANGELL Also of our Angell Guardian IT remaineth now after that we haue considered the zeale and illustrious facts of the Prince Michaell and the mysticall fortitude of the Archangell Gabriell that we consider likewise the officious charity of the Angell Raphael who for so much as he is as he himselfe witnesseth one of those seauen spirits which do continually assist in the fight of God it is probable that he is one of the principall Angells of Paradise And after this we will coÌ„sider the many benefits which euery one receaueth from his Angell-keeper both in his body and his soule For this glorious Raphael both in respect of his name and the offices of mercy which he performed to both the Tobies the elder and the younger was alltogether an expresse figure of those things which our Angell-keepers do toward vs. And first of all most fitly is the name of Raphael appropriated vnto him which is by interpretation Medicina Dei the Medicine of God of the effect of that so spirituall a medicine which he gaue to the younger Poby as also of that corporall one wherby he restored vnto the elder Toby his sight And doth not thy Angell-keeper performe the same office towards thee both of a corporall and spirituall Phisitian as shall be spoken of herafter Wherfore that thou maiest the better vnderstand the same consider that there are three states of humane life The first is that in which a man liueth whilst he is yet iâ— his mothers wombe The second is from thâ— time of his natiuity euen til his death the particular iudgment of his soule The third is that which a man remaineth in after his death Therfore in euery one of these states contemplate all those peculiar offices which thy Angell-keeper exerciseth towards thee conformable to all those actions of the Angell Raphael As concerning the first state the Scripture recounteth that the elder Toby when he was determined to send his sonne into a remote Countrey he was solicitous how he might commit vnto him a fay thfull companion And behold before this good yong man departed from his Fathers house an Angell sent from God offered himselfe in humane shape as a companion and likewise a guide in his whole iourny O immense charity and more then Fatherly care of our benigne creatour who before thou didest issue out of thy motherâ— wombe before thou hadst any notice of thy enemies or the perils hanging ouer thy head gaue commaund to one of his blessed spirits who alwayes behold his diuine face and to that selfe same whome first he deputed as keeper to thy mother that he should take thee into his charge should begin in that tender state when thou wert subiect to many daÌ„gers to preserue thee togeather with thy mother to the intent that without any impediment thou mightest securely arriue to the grace of baptisme and be enrowled in the number of the Children of God But what speake I heere of that care and memory that God had of thee when thou wert but yet in thy mothers wombe yea from all eternity before he had created either the Angels or any thing else when as yet the Abysses were not the foundations neyther of heauen nor earth as yet placed then euen then O miserable man was he mindfull of thee and solicitous about thy saluation And although from all eternity he foreâ—aw thy vnworthinesse and ingratitude neuerthelesse out of his meere goodnesse without any precedent merit of thine he did not only determine to affoard thee all that assistance but euen to bestow vpoÌ„ thee all those benefits which hitherto from the very first moment of thy conception thou hast receaued and moreouer that which at the last thou art to receaue which is the greatest of all other to wit thy eternall beatitude Moreouer as concerning the second state of thy life when thou camest forth into the light of this life the sacred Scripture addeth First euen as the Angell Raphael going together with Toby out of the house of his Father promised that he would be vnto him a faythfull companion throughout all his iourny and that he would