themselues with exteriour purity alone as the foolish virgins and Pharisies did but much more procuring the interiour Because all the glory of the daughter of the King which is euery pure soule as the Holy Ghost sayth is within Gather hence a desire if thou desire to ascend vp to the mount of God and enioy his blessed sight to obtayne not only corporall but also much more spirituall purity for it is not fit that the TeÌple of God should be polluted or not pure seeing therfore thou art his Temple as S. Paul sayth and the Holy Ghost hath his aboad in thee endeauour and striââ alâayes to be pure and cleane both in body and soule that in thee the beames of the diuine light may appeare and shine as in a very clean pure christall glasse for if thou loue this cleanesse and purity of hart thou shalt haue the King and Lord of heauen for thy friend and enioy his sight THE 7. BEATITVDE TO consider how God calleth the peace-makers the children of God for not only those who haue peace in their soules with Almighty God but those chieâây who also procure to haue the same with their neighbours shal be the children of God and of our Sauiour who with special prerogatiue is called the peaceable King and ordained that when he came into the world his Angells should salute men with this peace and made so much reckoning thereof that he vsually saluted his Disciples with this peace saying vnto them Peace be with you Ponder the innumerable perâecuâions afflictions which Christ Iesus our Lord sustained to make peace betweene his Eternall Father and vs purchasing for vs true peace and sheâing himselfe peaceable euen with those who did hate him Gather hence how behoofull it is for thee to haue peace with thy self and with thy neighbours Thou shalt haue it with thy selfe if thou be carefull to breake and subdue thine inordinate appetites attending to the contituall exercises of mortificationâ and vvaging continuâll vvaâre with vice for peace is gotten by warre With thy neighbours thou mayst haue peace if thou endeauour neuer to giue them occasion of offence or trouble but rather to agree make peace with euery one and so doing though shalt be the beloued child of Almighty God THE 8. BIATITVDE TO consider how Christ our Lord calleth those Blessed which suffer persecution for iustice that is for verâue and sanctity sake which perseâution is not vnderstood to be suffeâed in one or two things only but in all kind of iniuries to wit in lands liuings honour content life and death c. Ponder how our Saâioâr Christ from his very cradle till his dying day suffered for iustice and sanctity the greatest persecutions and ãâã which were euer endured and with the greatest patience that eues any had and for the most iust and innocent cause that could be to wit for reprehending vice and sinne and for the saluation of soules Gaâher hence a great desire to suffer persecution in imitation oâ Christ neyther esteem it any wonder sith his enemies persecute him that thine also persecute thee but remâebring that if it was necessary that Christ our Lord shold pass through innumerable tribulations and affâactions and so enter into his ovvnâ glory it is euident that neyther thoââ not any other shal enter into the glory which is not thine but only bâ this way of persecuion Wherfor animate thy selfe to suffer persecutioâ and affliction because our prefeâ tribulation which is momentary and light as also our life is workeâh aboue measure as the Apostle âaitâ an eternall weight of glory in vs. THE XXIII MEDITATION Of thetempest at sea THE 1. POINT TO consider that our Blessed Sauiour being entred with his Disciples into a little boat he fell a sleep forth with a great tempest arose on the sea Ponder two things first that if the ship wherein Christ sayled be tossed and couered with waues what will become of that wherein the Diuell is Pilot that is if the soule of a just and holy person be persecuted afflicted with temptations the soule of a wicked man and of a sinner what shall it endure What will become of such a one Secondly ponder how that all those that betake themselues to the seruice of God ordinarily sustayne tempests and tentations for so the Holy Ghost sayth Sonne comming to the seruice of God stand in iustice and feare and prepare thy soule to temptation Wherfore many times Almighty God permitteth great teââpeâtuous stormes of temptation and pârsecutious to be raysed against vs and he semeeth to vs as if he were a sleep neglected vs. Gather hence purposes to ãâã the fury of thy temptations for God will assist thee and relieue thee in time of thy greatest need and deliuer shee out of danger as he deliuered his Apostles when they came vnto him and craued his help and assistance THE 2. POINT TO consider how the Apostles seeing all their labour to be in vaine went presently to our Sauiour foâr help and awaking him sayd Lord saue vs we periâh Ponder how our Sauiour made as though he sleept and did not presently deliuer his Apostles albelt he saw the danger in which they were partly that they might know and vnderstand how little they could doe without his help and partly because he would they should call vpon him in time of their greatest necessity Ponder furthermore how negligent thou hast beene in stormes of temptations wherein thou hast byn often tossed and how sloathfull thou hast been in hauing speedy recourse to Christ our Lord in beseeching him to fauour and ayde thee And hence it hath come to passe that the little boat of thy soule hath beene often plunged and ouerwhelmed with the waues Gather hence purposes to run to God at all times for his help but especially in time of temptation and affliction saying vnto him O Lord deliuer me from this temptation that âauseth this tempest in my soule delyuer me from this vice from this perill and affliction For if thou call vpon him with fayth and confidence he will ayde and succour thee as he did his Apostles And will command by the vertue of his diuine word the blustering winds of thy temptations tribulations which are those that raise these stormes in thy soule to cease and be quiet presently great tranquility and peace of mind will follow THE 3. POINT TO consider how Christ our Sauiour awaking reprehended his disciples sayd vnto them Why ase you fearefull O yee of little faith as if he should say I being in your company you need not feare Ponder the loue that Christ sheweth to his Disciples and how he requireth the like loue of them againe and that they trust in him fasten the anker of their hope in him for they shal be secure in the middest of the raging and tempestuous sea of this life though the waues should riss to the very clouds Gather hence a great desire to
To whome we may imaâine that our Lord would ansâere Blessed art thou Simeon Bariona beâcause flesh and bloud hâth not reuealed it to thee but my Father which is in heauen S. Iohn like wise would enkindle in himselfe affections of loue seeing his âoueraigne Maister not only to vnite himselfe so vnto him as to permit him to leane on his breast buâ also to do him so great a fauour ãâã to enter into his soule body for morâ perfect coniunction Learne when thou commest tâ receane our Lord to bring with theâ these vertues to wit fayth purity and loue as these holy Apostles did that thou mayst reap such profit â they did follow our Lord as they did follow him â It is to be noted that in the enâ of the ââird booke a ãâã meditation are added for prepatation before ãâã thankes-giuing after we haue râceaâued this most â Sacrameat vvherâ he that is ãâã to know how ãâã prepare himselfe and to giue ãâã thanks after vnto our Lord for ãâã benefit receaued may find them THE XXXIII MEDITATION Of our Blessed Sauiours prayer in the Garden and agony there THE 2. POINT TO consider the great desire that Christ had to suffer for our sake and because the tyme seemed âong till he should be deliuered into âhe tormetÌors hands that they might âee that he did nor shrinke nor yet âây supper being ended he went into âhe garden to pray that being a place well knowne to the traytor Iudas to âhew that of his own free will he offerâed himsâlfe to prison to death it âelfe Ponder how our Lord for no âanner of afflictions or perils would ââaue his good and laudable exercise of prayeâ and meditation for supâer being ended he betooke ãâã âorth with to a solitary place to pray âefore he was to enter vpon his pasâion Be confounded because through thy tepidity and negligence for euery light occasion thou leauest thy prayer and forgettest thy laudable customs whereas thou shouldst do quite contrary because in time of greater perills afflictions and temptations we ought to haue more particuler recourse vnto Almighty God prayer being the only meanes to strengtheâ our selues in them THE 2. POINT TO consider how our Redeemer being come to the garden wenâ aside from his disciples and began ãâã wax sorrow full to be sad Ponder what is that which maâketh our Lord to grieue to be sad and afflicted he ãâã the ioy of Anâgells whom when they behold they are exceedingly reioyced thou shal find that the cause of this afflâctioâ was the feare of the ãâã and ãâã the death which he ãâã to âo staynââ the remembrancâ and liuely appââ hension of the sinnes of all men preâsent pasts and future the multitudâ and grieuousnes of them both waâs the cause of this his trouble griefâ â also the vnspekable domage which ãâã sinne commeth to men in that ãâã it they deserue to be condemned ãâã the euerlasting torments of hell ââat of all this arose his so increââble âârrow Gather hense affections of griâfe ââd sorrovv for the torments death ââhich is euen novv to come vpoÌ thv âord for thâu hast beene the cause âhis pavnes and afflâctions Endeaâour from this day forvvard to abâorre and detest and fly from sinne ââh thou seest in what case thy Lord ãâã to deliuer thee from it and from ââe eternall damnation which for thy ãâã thou dâseruest THE 3. POINT TO consider the ãâã of our Saâuiouâ in his prayer many ââmes crauing of his Eternall Father ãâã the selfe same thing to wit ââat the bitter chalice of his paââion âight passe Ponder the deuotion âwrodââeling the teares and sorrovv of thy âord how solitary destitute comârtles he is in this his so great affliction his disciples were aloofe of fast a sleep his Eternall Father gaue him no answere neither graunted him his petition his most holy Mother was also absent his enemies now ready to come vpon him notwithstanding all these afflictions discoÌforts he remained constant and perseuered in his prayer Gather hence the great esteeme shou oughtst to haue of prayer seing Christ teacheth thee that the only remedy of thy afflictions and sorrows it not talke or conuerse with men but to treat with God continue in prayer confiding that though in the beginning he deây that which thou askest yet at last he will graunt it if it be a thing conuenient for thee THE 4. POINT TO consider how the Son of God seeing his Eternall Father gaue him no answere the first nor second tyme had recourse vnto him the third tyme and repeating the same prayer with great loue and confidence said Father if thou wilt transfer this Chalice from me But yet not my will but thine be done Ponder that the cause why the Eterâall Father did defâr so long to make answere vnto the prayer of his most holy Sonne vvas to let thee know the great necessity thou and all haue of the passion and death of our Sauiour Learne not to complaine not to be weary when thou prayâst if God do not heare thee for certainely he heareth thee But if vnto Christ our Lord who deserued to be heard at the first opening of his mouth anâswere was not made till he had prayed the third time what vvonder is it if thy petitions be deferred who in regard of thy sinnes deseruest not to be heard at all Ponder secondly how Christ many times will not comfort nor remedy thy necessity in prayer that thou mayst perceiue and know the need thou hast to haue recourse vnto him with patiânce and perseuerance THE XXXIV MEDITATION Of the apparition of the Angell and the sweating of bloud THE 1. POINT TO consider how the Eternall Father seeing his most Blessed Sonne in so great affliction and anguish of mind and that according to the inferiour part he feared to suffer and dye he sent him an Angell from heauen to comfort and strengthen him and to propose vnto him the glory of God which thence wold arise the benefit which would follow to all mankind by meanes of his passion and that for humiliation and ignominy of the Crossâ his Name should be exalted and adored of all creatures Ponder how the Lord of Angells as if he had forgotten his owne soueâaigne Maiesty vouchsafeâ to receaue comfort by one of his creatures and being the Fortitude of the Father and he vvho vvith power might gouerneth and suâtaineth the world receaueth comfort and reliefe from an Angell hauing made himself by reason of humane nature which he assumpted inferiour to the Angells Gather hence that the office of the Angells is to assist vs in our prayers to comfort and animate vs and to present our prayers in the sight of God which if they be performed as they ought they haue their effâât for God doth either deliuer vs out of tribulation or giueth vs force to endure it with patience and ioy Trâst in God that thou shalt reap
ãâã thy selfe poorely apparelled and to want necessiâies seeing so rare an example as Christ our Lord hath giuen thee of sâfferances nakednâsse pouerty in all his life and specially in his death for his nakednes must be thy garment his dishonour thy liuery his pouerây thy riches his conâusion thy glory and his death thy life of grace glory THE 2. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord being now naked the souldiers âaying the Crosse on the ground they commanded him to lye downe vpon it on his backe that he might be nayled to it so he did Ponder first the most excellent obedience of thy Sauiour which shined most in hearing and obaying in whatsoeuer hard difficult matters those cruell tormentors proposed vnto him giuing thee an example to subiect thy selfe to euery humane creature for his loue where there is no sinne Ponder secondly âow our Sauiour lying vpon that bed of the Crosse which thy sinnes had prepared for him lifted vp his eyes to heauen and rendred thankes to his Eternall Father for hauing brought him to that point wherein he beheld himselfe so poore so dishonoured and misused for his loue Gather hence whân thou shalâ see thy selfe in adâersity and distresâe to be resigned to the diuine vvill in thâ giuing Almighty God due thanks for them for once giuing thanks to God in aduersity is more worth and of mâre merit then many tymes iâ prosperity THE 3. POINT To consider how Christ our Lord was mayled on the Crosse the âxâessiue paines which he felt when those rough and boisterous nailâ eâtred breaking the veynes piercing ãâã sinewes and renting thâ most tender parts of the most delicatâ body of all bodyes enduring with great patience and loue to see himselfe so loaden with painââ ful of vââpeakable sorrowes Ponder how our Lord permitted the nayles to pierce his sacâed hands and diuine feet to shew theâ that he should haue thee alwayes imprinted in his hands feet so great was the loue and holy zeale whicââe had of the saluation of soules and of thine in particuler Gather hence deâires of thy he owne saluation and of thy neighbours setting light by whatsoâuer difficultyes paynes and trauells which to deliuer them out of siâne may befall thee that by this meanes as a souldier of this spirituall warfare thou mayst imitate in some âort thy Captaine Iesus who vvith so great loue gaue his life for them hanging on the Crosse. THE 4. POINT TO consider that after Christ our Lord was nayled to the Crosse his enemies lifted it vp on high with that true lambe of God vpon it who taketh away the sinnes of the world letting it fall downe voilently into the pit which they had made for the purpose Ponder the paine confusion and shame vvhich Christ our Lord had when he savv himselfe on high naked in the middest of an open field full of innumerable people and as another Noe exposed shamefuâ to the sight of all without any thing to couer his nakednes withall noâ hauing any to affoard him any thing but many who were ready to take from him all that might be giuen him Gather hence a great shame confusion at the small griefe sense feeling thou hast of the paynes of our Lord not shedding so much as onâ teare of compassion wheras he powreth out all his bloud And seeing the insensible creatures which want both reason and feeling made so wonderfull demonstration of sorrow at the death of this our Lord that they were âorne and rent in pieces for euery griefe it is good reason that thou who art his creature and the cause âhy he endured that which he did shouldst acknowledge be thankeâull for it and haue a speciall and inâard feeling thereof seeing he suffeâed it in benefit of thee THE XLIX MEDITATION Of the seauen wordes which our Lord spake hanging on the Crosse. THE I. WORD TO consider the great charity of our Lord which waâ such that before he vvould comfort his Mother before he vvould prouidâ for his friends before he would coÌmend his spirit to his Father he promideth his enemies of remedy Wherfore the first word he spake on thâ Crosse was to excuse his enâmiââ who crucified blasphemed murdered him Ponder how Christ Iesus our Lord being full of grieâous dâlors paines in euery part of his body noâ finding any place of rest in that harâ bed of the Crosse euen then did lifâ vp his diuine eyes to heauen shedâding teares of most tender loue anâ compassion opening his diuiâ mouth not to commaund that firââ should câme from heauen as Eliââ prayed but to beseech his Eternall Father to pardon those which were there and the sinne they committed in crucifying him Gather hence how exactly our Lord God fulfilleth the precept he bath giuen thee To loue thyne enemyes to pray for them that persecure thee that by this example thou mayst learne and know to doe the like THE 2. WORD TO consider how that the second Word which thy Redeemer spake from the chayre of the Crosse was to pardon the Theefe graunt him heauen Because he confessed his fault and declared the innocency of Christ our Lord and freely and plainely âalling him King craued fauour aâ his hands saying Lord remember âe when thou shalt come into thy Kingdome And so our Lord Iesus âid honouring this thâeâe before his âternall Father aâ he conâessed him âeforâ men ânduing him with so exceeding great graces priuiledes that being the last ãâã made him of all mortall men the first who departing this life should presently reâeaue the reward of glory Ponder that if God rewarded him with so great liberality who did only follovv him not fully three houres hovv will he reward those who shall serue and follow him vvith perfection all the houres dayes of their life And if our Lord shewed himselfe so gratefull to this sinner who had iniuried him innumerable tymes for one only time that he confessed and honoured him what manner of gratitude will he shew to him who shall spend his vvhole life in seruing and honouring him Gather hence desires to serue him alwayes that securely vvitâ confidence thou mayst haue accâssâ vnto him and aske him thââ vvhich this good theese did aske him saying Remember me o Lord that is remember not my sinnes nor the robberies which I haue done but that am a frayle man and infirme that am thy creature made to thy imagâ likenesse wherefore I beseâh the to remember me THE â WORD TO consider that the third word which Christ our Lord spake froÌ the Altar of the Crosse was to recommend his B. Mother to Saint Iohn S. Iohn vnto his Mother And from that houre the disciple tooke her to his owne and loued her with speciall loue Ponder the exceeding great griefe vvith vvhich this vvord of recommandation pierced the hart of the Blessed Virgin for she throughly weighed the inequality of the change which
he had negotiated and broght to passe by his death said vnto them Peace be with you Ponder how great a friend Christ our Lord is of peace sith the first word he vttered by the ministery of his Angells when he came into the world was giuing peace to men And being in the world he sayd to his Apostles My peace I giue vnto you And being to depart out of thâ vvorld My peace I leaue to vouâ purchased by my death and Passion Whence it followeth by good conâsequence that our Lord recommended vnto vs in life death nothing so much as peace and because sinnâ had beene cause of so great emnitâ betweene God and man Christ ouâ Lord vouchfased thereby to reconcile and set vs at peace with his Eternall Father to receaue the blowes oâ his rigorous iustice vpon that sacreâ humanity rent and torne in a thoâsand places and setting himselfe ãâã the middest to say Peace be vviâ you Hence thou maâst gather two thinges the first how often thou being at emnity with God he hath inââted thee to peace thou hast not âdmitted it nâuer ceasing to warre âgainst him with thy sinnes The seâond how little peace thou hast kept with thy neighbour falling out with âim for matters of small importance ând trifles Beseech this Lord who is God of peace to come into thy soule â graunt thee that which the world âannot giue establishing peace beâvvene thy soule and thy spirit beâeene thy powers and senses beâeene his Eternall Father thy breâren THE 4. POINT To consider how Christ our Lord entring the disciples were troââed and affrighted imagining that âey saw a spirit and our Lord sayd them Why are you troubled and âgitations arise into you harts See ãâã handes and feet that it is I âdle and see for a spirit hath not ãâã and bones as you see me to ãâã Ponder the sweetnes of his voice which was sufficient to appease them rid them of all feare to makâ them to know him as who shoulâ say My deerest disciples I am thâ same I was wont to be in my nature in person in quality I am you Sauiour your Master your brother your God feare not the fury of thâ Iewes nor the indignation of thâ Gentills nor the cruelty of Kings Princes who haue risen against me nor those who oppose theÌselues anâ persecute you for I being in your câââpany you are secure in safeguard Gather hence security confââdence for thy soule timerous feaâ full through the manifold sinnes thâ hast committed saying to her O mâ soule feare not for although thy ãâã be many this Lord promiseth sureth thee of the pardon of them This Lambe is he that taketh avvâ the sinnes of the world and he ãâã will take away thine if he be protectour of thy life of who shouldst thou be afrayd âHE VII MEDITATION âf Christ his apparition to the Apostles Saint Thomas being present THâ 1. POINT TO consider how our Lord the disciples being gathered togeather entred and sayd to his âisciple who had not belieued the Miâââery of his Resurrection Put in thy ânger hither see my handes being hither thy hand put it into ây side be not incredulous but âithfull Ponder the infinite charity oââod in being solicitous for the vvellâre of his sheep for hauing expected ãâã dayes to see if Thomas vvould call himselfe and acknowledge the ârdnes of his âart he would not âferre the remedy any longer but me in pârson to cure this his ãâã and lost sheep and taking him by âhand desired to put place him his hart Gâther hence hovv great the mercy of God is graunting thee ãâã infallible promise and assurance ãâã he will not conceale himselfe froâ thee if thou seeke him yea albeit thâ hast been as incredulous as S. Thââ mas confessing him for thy ãâã thy God as he did he will grauââ thee that which he afforded him thââ is his body not only to touch hiâ but also to receaue and enioy him thy brest THE 2. POINT TO consider how that our Lorâ who permitted not himselfe to ãâã touched by Mary Magdalen louiâââ him so deerly and seeking him earnestly taketh Thomas as we ãâã being incredulous by the cold ãâã froâen hand maketh it warme ãâã cherisheth it and putteth it into bosome heaping vpon him so maââ benefits Ponder how that whatsoeâââ S. Thomas desired and asked ãâã Lord graunted him as if by his liâuing some profit were to ensuâââ Christ whome loue made to ãâã for gaynes as his owne yea ãâã procure them euen with his losse Gather hence an exceeding deââre to beare with the defects of thy brother not to be slacke nor weaâyed with seeking his redresse but euen leauing thy owne right to goe vnto him if he will not come to thee ând with breach of thine owne will âo coÌdescend vnto his perfectly imiâating Iesus Christ our Lord who alâeyt he was triumphant and glorious âet did he not omit to come and doe âaint Thomas so great and speciall âauours and priuiledges And as he âid with him so doth he also dayly âith thee when thou commest to reâeaue him corporally and spiritually âarne to be gratefull and seruiceable âerfore THE 3. POINT TO coÌsider S. Thomas his worthy ãâã confession for as soone as he touââed as piously vve may belieue âe precious wounds of his Sauiour had his eyes enlightned with that ââuine Sunne he became so illumiâââed with the rayes beames of his ââuine light and splendour that he confessed plainly clearly the articlâ of his resurrection which he had noâ belieued before Ponder the loue which Chrisââ our Lord hath to sinners and whicâ himselfe shevved to haue to this hiâ incredulous and sinnefull Apostleââ sâth the sinne of his small sayth waâ not inough to make him leaue to bââstow such fauours and benefits vpoâ him as being impâssible gloriouâ to vouchsafe him his diuine hands ãâã feet bowells and hart to touch anâ handle Ponder secondly how the Apââstle seeing himselfe so honoured anâ fauoured of our Lord brake out iâ to these tender and deuoât vvord saying My Lord and my God ãâã with good reason he called him hiâ and not our Lord because he louâ him so tenderly that for his good loue âe appeared to all the Apostleâ and forgetting as it were all the ãâã vpon him alone bestovved the ãâã and benefit to inflame him in his ââuine loue From hence thou mayst ãâã desires to confesse with S. Thomas that Iesus is thy Lord and thy God for his loue is so exceeding great that âhe is ready to do for thee alone that which he did for Saint Thomas sith that as well for thee as for him he deliuered himselfe vp to death to purchase for thee eternall life THE 4. POINT TO consider the worder which our Lord said to his Disciples Becausââhou hast seene me Thomas thou haââ belieued Blessed are they that haue not seene haue
belieued Ponder that albeit our Lord âpproued the confession of S. âhoâas yet wold he not call him Blessâââhe did S Peter when he confessed âim for the Sonne of God and the âeason was because he had been flow ãâã belieuing wherefore insteâd of âraysing him he repreâended him ââying Because thou hast seene me Thomas thou hast belieued as who âould say Thankes be to thy hands ãâã eyes which I haue giuen thee to âelieue that I am thy Lord and thy âod Endeauour to gather hence anâ earnest desire to see Christ thy Lord if not corporall as the disciples saw enoyed him with their corporaâ eyes at least spiritually sith those who belieue his Resurrection not hauing seene him Almighty God calleth Blessed THE VIII MEDITATIONâ Of his apparition to the Apostles vpoâ Ascension day THE 1. POINT TO consider how our Sauiouâ appearing to his disciples tolââhem that the same day he waâ to go to his Father that if they lââued him they shold verily be glad ãâã regard that it was expedient for theâ that he went to heauen Ponder how desirous the discââples were not to loose the corp orââ presence of their Maister seeing it ãâã necessary vvith these and other likâ speaches to aduertise them that was not only expedient for his ãâã to ascend to heaueÌ but also that it imported them much thereby to make mere perfect their faith to raise their hope to purify their charity For if I go not to my Father our Lord sayd vnto theÌ the Holy Ghost shall not come to you Gather hence that if to loue the corporall presence of their Lord and Mayster with a loue somewhat lesse pure in part interessed would haue hindred the comming of the Holy Ghost to the discipls how much more will it hinder thee to loue thy selfe or any other creature with an inordinate loue THE 2. POINT TO consider that our Lord sayd vnto his discipls to comfort them Reioyce my beloued disciples at my departure because I goe to prepare you a place Ponder how that thy Redeeââer directeth lik wise the same speech âo thee as to his Apostles Reioyce âecause I goe to heauen that novv from this day forward thou mayst âaue entrance therin reioyce for that I ascend and goe before to open for thee those celestiall ãâã by which thou albeit a wretched sinnefull creature mayst haue franke and free entrance vvhich beforâ I ascended was not graunted to the iust and holy Reioyce because I ascend to day ãâã that thou mayst ascend to morrow ãâã be seated by me in the place assigned thee by my Father Hence thou mayst receâueâ meruailous great ioy and content for that thy Lord and thy God ascendethâ into heauen because for him principally it vvas created Craue of him his diuine grace that by meaneââ of a good vertuous life thou maisâ deserue to see and enioy him in his glory THE â POINT TO consider hovv our Lord hauing comforted his disciples said vnto them Tarry in the Citty tilâ you be endued vvith povver from aboue Ponder that word Tarry that is they should abide rest and stay vvhereby he meant to signify thaâ they were to expect him with patience and perseuerance vvith repose of body and mynd Secondly God commanded them to keep in the Citty to giue them to vnderstand that this fauour was not done to them alone but was also ordayned for the good of the vniuersall world Gather hence desires to expect the coÌming of this diuine spirit vvith repose and quietnes because God desireth that his though they liue in the middest of the streets and noyse of the world may haue their mind quiet and peaceable that they may pray and attend to him with such spirit and recollection as his diuine maiesty requireth to thee shal be necessary THE 4. POINT TO consider how Christ our Lord commanded his disciples forthâith to betake themselues to mount ãâã because from thence he vvas âascend to heauen Ponder how these holy disciâles vvould call to mind that the ãâã which their Lord and Mayster had chosen to suffer iniuries reproathes on the Crosse he now chose to mount thence vp to Heauen there to enioy the immeasurable greatnes of his glory that the way to ascend to heauen is the mount Oliuet or of oliues which signifyeth charity and mercy Gather hence desires to be charitable mercifull towards thy neighbours to extoll magnify thâ wisdome prouidence of God who is able to make that which is the beginning of thy humiliation contempt to be the origen cause oâ thy exaltation prayse as may bâ seene in Ioseph whose calamity iâââamy imprisonment God vsed as meanes to mak him soueraigne Lorâ King of Aegipt THE IX MEDITATION Of the ascension of Christ our Lord. THE 1. POINT TO consider that fourty dayes being past after the resurrection of Christ our Lord in which he had treated and conuersed with his the houre of his glorious asâension being come hauing all his disciples present he tooke his leaue of them with manifold signes and demonstrations of loue and as a most louing Father who departeth lifting vp his hands he blessed them and so departed from them Ponder how great the griefe feeling of these most louing children would be for the departure of their Father when they should see that Lord to leaue them for whom they had left all thinges It is to be belieued that then some would cast themselues at his feet others would kisse his most sacred hands others would âang vpon his necke and all would say Hovv O Lord dost âhou go and leaue vs thus alone and orphanes in the middest of so many enemies What shal children do without their Father disciples without their Maister sheep without a Sheepheard feeble and vveake souldiers without their Captaine But our Lord comforted them promising them the fauour and ayd of the Holy Ghost and his perpetuall assistance and prouidence vvhich neuer should fayle them Gather hence desires that this Lord before he depart to heauen vouchsafe to giue thee his benediction taking hold spiritually of his hands casting thy selfe at his feet hanging on his necke thou shalt ãâã an other Iacob say vnto him I vvill not let thee goe o Lord vnles thouâ blesse me for thereon my whole remedy and euerlasting blisse dependeth THE 2. POINT TO consider how that glorious boâdy of Christ our Lord hauing imâparted his benediction to his in theiâ presence ascended to heauen the disciples remayning in suspence and astonished to behold their Elias mount vp to heauen whereas they could not follow their Lord with their bodies they followed him with their eyes harts Ponder the great admiration of the Angells and men which were there assembled seeing that sacred humanity of Christ our Lord to mount aboue all celestiall spirits towards that Citty and to be seated at the right hand of the Father vvho had been so much debased