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
LOVE O MERCY O MERVAIL You will unite your Greatness to our Baseness your Eternity to our Mortality your Divinity to our humanity becoming Son of Man Son of Mary for an Eternity as from all Eternity you are the Son of GOD the only Son of the Eternall Father 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and Subsistence to our nature I Adore you in this highest Councill and divin Will I Adore you in this new estate and deep Mystery I Adore you in the unity of your divin Person and in the diversity of your natures the one Divin and Eternall the other human and temporall I Adore you as receiving your Eternall Essence from the Eternall Father and as giving your Essence you subsistency to human nature united to your self for an Evermore Vnited I say to your self so intimatly and so powerfully so gloriously and so divinely O Adorable Estate O Unspeakable Mystery O happy Moment of the Incarnation which makes man God and God man Which gives to Heaven a King of Glory and to the Earth a Soveraign To Angells a Repayrer and to Men a Saviour 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us O JESU my Lord and my Saviour I Adore you as Gods Son I Adore you as Mans Son and Man God I Adore you in these two different Estates The one Eternall the other Temporall the one uncreated the other created the one divin the other human joyned together and joyned inseparably But I must yet Adore you as Man-God for man For 't is for us that you would be made Man 't is for us that you live and dy 't is for us that you do suffer 't is for us that you are born in a Stable and bedded on straw 't is for us that you lead an abject laborious suffering life 't is for us that you dy upon Mount Calvary and hang on the Cross 't is for us that you arise and ascend into Glory O Birth O Life O Death O Divin glorious heavenly Life O blessed hour of the Incarnation of the Expiration of the glorification of Gods Son O Estates of Jesus in his Fathers bosom and at his Mothers breasts hanging on the Cross and sitting on the right hand of God! O Abodes O Estates O Mysteries of Jesus in Judea in Egypt in Galilee in Bethleem in Nazareth in Jerusalem in the Crib on the Cross in the Grave on Earth in Hell in Heaven Who can recount your thoughts your griefs your delights in these places But Heaven will one day reveal them unto us and the Contemplation hereof shall be one of the employments of our Eternity till when the Earth must remain ignorant hereof must Reverence them and must be content with the Crums falling from your Saints Tables whom you plentifully nourish with this living and life-giving bread on Earth and in Heaven 6. Jesus Adores his Heights by his Lownesses and rayseth up his Lownesses by his Greatnesses 1. BY their Example and Imitation I Contemplate and Adore you O Jesu my Lord I Adore you in your Greatness and in your Abjectness in your Cross and in your Glory in your life and in your death 2. I Adore you as raysing up your Lowness by your Greatness your human life by your divin Life your disgraces by your glory and your suffring estate by your impassible immutable and eternall condition 3. I Adore you as Adoring your self your Greatness by your Littleness your Divinity by your Humanity your Birth in your Fathers bosom by your Birth of your Mother-Virgin in the Ox-stall your supreme Authority by your humility and your uncreated Essence by your Created Being 4. And after this Contemplation of you in your self I contemplate and Adore you as going forth of your self as extending and spreading your self and as filling Heaven and Earth with your Grace and your Glory with your gifts and your Mysteries and finally with your self O God! O Man O Man-God O Infinitly prodigall of your self 7. Jesus's excessive love in the effusion of his last drop of Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his Greatness and Goodness also upon us I Inlarge my self in the variety of these thoughts I am ravisht in these different Exercises which my Soul makes of your self and I lose my self in the Contemplation of these so high and great verities For in honour of that supream Communication which you receive from your Father in the Eternall generation and in honour of that Ineffable Communication of your Divinity with our Humanity in the Incarnation I look upon you I admire you I Adore you O my Lord as annihilating your self and as exhausting your self that you may bestow your self on men You as it were drayn your Divinity powring it out upon your humanity consuming it incessantly in the furnace of your love and at last sacrificing it in the Holocaust of your Cross you shed your Blood in suffering and you dy by the effusion thereof chosing that kind of death to demonstrate the effusion of your self And the Nayls and Executioners being unable to empty it all the ardour of your love which cannot be extinguish'd in death it self preserv's liquid in death's coldness that residue left in your heart and body to be drain'd out even to the last drop Such was your good pleasure to make an aboundant and super-aboundant Effusion both of your blood and also of your self together 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him WHat shall I say what shall I do in the Contemplation of these things Let me forget my self for you forget Your self for me Let me leave and loose my self for you annihilate Your self for me Let me be yours for You are mine let me be all yours for you are all mine Let me be all yours for ever for you are all mine for ever Your Divinity as it were Incarnated is my substance and my subsistence your humanity as it were divinized is my health my life your Body is my diet and your Blood is my Bath your Death is my life your weakness is my strength your Cross is my quiet your suffering is my rejoycing Thus I am yours and you are mine And I am yours O my loving Saviour by your self and by a means so noble and so divin so dear and near unto you and by so many sorts of ways which give you unto me which consecrate me to you and which even draw and drain you all out for me But I discover yet a greater secret in your love and in your Mysteries and a greater favour in your way of dealing with me For you are not only mine and I yours but I am in you I perceive that whilst I Contemplate your self and your Father and see that you are in him that you live in him you frame within me a lively Image of your self and of your divin Emanation and by your Incarnation you establish a new manner of gracious
and being thirty years old throughout Judea and Galile in his preachings 3. when she follow'd him laden with his Cross to Mount Calvary And surely if all the journeys and pilgrimages from place to place of Jesus and Mary upon Earth may not properly be call'd Processions yet they may fitly be styl'd the exemplary Pattern of our Processions which are made to their likeness and in their memory and imitation 6. There are four chief and solemn Processions celebrated yearly and universally by the Catholique Church 1. in the Purification of the blessed Virgin Mary 2. upon Palm-Sunday 3. upon Easter day 4. upon Ascension day in memory and representation of that last Procession wherein the Disciples waited upon our Redeemer to Mount Olivet to see him assumpted into Heaven where it is to be noted that in the Primitive Church there were made two weekly Processions one upon Sunday in memoâ—y of the Resurrection and another upon Thursday in memory of the Ascention Whence sprung up that common Proverb of Thursdayes being neere a kin to Sunday But when afterwards the Festivities of Saints became multiplied the Solemnity and Procession of Thursday was abrogated by Pope Agapitus and transfer'd also to that of Sunday which is therefore still observ'd in the joint memorie of the Resurrection and Ascention in all cathedrall and conventuall Churches 7. To these four Processions may be added those of the greater and less Litanies which are also yearly and generally celebrated the Procession of the great Litanies upon St. Marks day instituted by Pope Gregorie the great to implore the divin assistance against the then raging Pestâ—lence the Procession of the less Litanies upon the three day's before the Ascention begun by St. Mamertus Bishop of Vienna to implore a remedie against the many miseries wherewith France was then afflicted Both which customs were afterwards confirm'd by the Church and commanded to be kept by all her faithfull children 8. Having prefated thus much of Processions in generall let us briefly consider them of the sacred Rosary in particular which as aforesaid are made upon each first Sunday of the month and the blessed Virgins Festivities 1. The first Ceremonie in these as in all other Processions is the carriage of the Cross 1. because it is the ancient and perpetuall custom of the Catholique Church to carry the Cross before in all her supplications 2. because the Cross is the common signe mark and cognisance of all Christians 3. to shew that the pious Rosarists ground all the hope and confidence of their prayers and supplications chiefly upon the merits of Christs passion 4. because the Devill being once fully conquered by the Cross is again foyl'd defeated and put to flight by these Processions 2. The second is the reliques of Saints 1. to profess the Communion of the Saints of both Churches Triumphant and Militant 2. to declare that we beg the Saints intercessions 3. to honour God in them 3. The third is the Statua of the blessed Virgin 1. this is the custom of the Church and the tradition of our Ancestors 2. it is a confusion to Heretiques and Image-haters and a motive to us at the sight of her sacred Representative to pray unto her for their conversion who is entitled by the Church the confoundress of all Heresies throughout the whole World This praying for the conversion of Heretiques being one of the principall causes of these our Processions 3. it is a practice which Heaven hath frequently approv'd of by many signall miracles Let us insist a little upon this point and prove this carriage of our blessed Ladies Image or Statua in Processions to have been the continuall practice of the Catholique Church by producing some few but most famous examples amongst the multitude which might be cited out of authentick writers in order to confute not onely such flat Hereticks as fondly affirm these manner of Processions to be no other than modern and monkish inventions but also such ignorant and criticall Catholiques as scruple to render this sort of honour to her who can never be sufficiently honoured by any human industry Poor deceiv d and undevout wretches deserving rather to be pittied for your ignorance than to be satisfi'd by arguments in a subject of so clear evidence we will stick stedfastly to our well-taken up Tenents continue cheerfully in our rightly intended devotions and pray perseverantly for yâ—ur illumination in our sacred Processions hoping at last to conquer your peevishness by our piety and charity and by her power and intercession in whose name for whose love and to whose honour we the children of Mary are gathered together as brethren in one heart soul and mind to march under the Banner of the sacred Rosary We therefore returning to our intended purpose confidently affirm that the Examples of our pious Ancestors and the miracles wrought by the carriage of our blessed Mothers Images in Procession are sufficient warrants and motives to induce us to the same devout practice Examples and miracles which may abundantly be read throughout the whol body of the Ecclesiasticall histories from whence we will borrow these few following instances And to begin with our great St Gregorie who sate in the Roman chair in the year of Christ 601. at which time the Inhabitants of that Citie dyed sodainly lying in their beds sitting in their houses walking the fields standing in the streets so violently raging was the pestilentiall contagion he ind cting a three day's supplication let us say's he O my afflicted children meet together in the Church of blessed Mary the perpetuall Virgin and holy Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and there w th sighs tears and prayers implore the divin mercy for the remission of our sins and the remedie of our miseries The people being gathered together accordingly He in his own person takes the sacred Virgins Picture drawn by St. Lukes pensill which picture is carefully kept and highly honoured even till this day in the same Church of St. Marie ad Praesepe or of the manger in a sumptuous chappell built by Paulus quintus for that purpose and carryes it along the street in Procession when behold the celestiall Spirits are heard ecchoing forth the blessed Virgins prayses in answer to their pious hymnes and Litanies the ayre is fill'd with the melodious harmonie of angelicall Choristers in toning sweet Athems to her honour and saluting her with these sacred words used ever since by the Church in the paschall Office Regina coeli laetare c. O Queen of Heaven rejoyce Alleluja for he whom you deserv'd to bear Alleluja Is risen from death as he foretold Alleluja To which the holy Pope by divin inspiration added of his own Pray unto God for us Alleluja and an Angell is seen upon the top of the Adrian Towr putting up a Sword into its scabbard The astonish'd St. Gregorie inferring from that action a mitigation of the divine indignation denounces to the no less ravish'd people a Quietus est from
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
Fathers help to hold them by the hand and direct their unskilfull footsteps We most devout Auditors are these little weaklings in the wilderness of this world unable of our selves to walk forward or work any thing Let us therefore have recourse to hâ—m from whom is all our force and sufficiencie humbly imploring his presence and assistance by saying Pater noster Our Father 2. If any were to pass over a Field full of Snakes Serpents Dâ—agons and all sorts of venemous creatures had they not need of some holy Guide who were free from being hurt by them Of some valiant Champion who were able to destroy them of some Powerfull Person who were capable to carry them on his shoulders above the reach of the stings and poysons of these ravenous Beasts We live alas in a land full of Infernall Dragons Christ only is this holy valiant and strong Champion who can deliver us from their dangerous morsures le ts therefore incessantly invoke his assistance saying Qui es Who art 3. If any were to pass through some dismall and darksom place had they not need of Heavens light to help them forward We sejourn here in darkness and in the shadow of death Christ is the Clarity of Heaven the shining Sun of Justice the bright Star of Jacob. Le ts therefore often lift up to him our eyes and hearts saying In Coelis In Heaven 4. If any were to make a journey during which whosoever should be caught in a deadly crime must presently be adjudg'd to death had he not need to be himself holy or to be in the company of holy persons we have such a journey to make and the soul that sins mortally dyes presently as to grace and Eternally without Gods great mercy To the end therefore that our selves may be sanctified and that we may be assisted by the Saints and by the Saint of Saints le ts often say Sanctificetur Hallowed 5. If any were to pass through an unknow Countrey to an unknown City had they not need to learn the language or rely upon some faithfull Interpreter Our Pilgrimage is through a strange land to enquire after a far future Citie where the Angells language is used and there are two Schools wherein this celestiall language is learned The Lords Prayer and the Angelicall Salutation Let 's therefore betake our selves seriously to our sacred Rosary and there humbly invoke that name which designs Gods Word by which all things were made saying Nomen tuum Thy Name 6. If any were to pass through the Territories of some cruell Tyrant who made bondslaves of all such as he could catch within his clutches had they not need to cast about for some means of succour in case of their surprisall The World is this Tyrant and Christ is our only succour to whom we must instantly and frequently sue and sigh saying Adveniat Regnum tuum Thy Kingdom come 7. If any were to pass through an enemies Dominion had they not need of a safe conduct or letters Patents The accomplishment of the divin Will says Saint Augustin is our chief liberty Le ts therfore amidst all our dangers produce these Patents pronouncing often Fiat voluntas tua Thy will be done 8. If any were to pass a Field overflow'd with water had they not need of a Ship to support them from sinking This World says S. Basil is a deluge of wickedness and this life is a flood of miseries wherefore lets fly to heaven for refuge saying frequently Sicut in coelo As it is in heaven 9. If the road be rough and rugged with Rocks Hills and Mountains unpassable by reason of boggs and quick-sands unsafe through Earthquaques c. had not the Pilgrims need to seek out some secure path whereby to escape such evident dangers Our souls are such Pilgrims in our bodyes encompass'd with calamities shaken with fears and apprehensions terrifi'd with visible and invisible enemies Let 's therefore walk in the way of our Lords Prayer which will surely lead us to Paradise and say often In terra In earth 10. If any live in a barren land oppress'd with famin and poverty must they not make some daily provision for victualls or els be sure to perish with hunger We live in a dismall desert in a place of horror and vast solitude says the Prophet Moyses Deut. 32.10 in a land of death famin and miserie and Prayer says S. Basil brings in the bread of life for our spirituall sustenance Let 's therefore betake us to our Psalter and pray frequently Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie Give us this day our daily bread 11. If any were engag'd in great sums to a severe prince who would infallibly punish them with death if they punctually payd not their debts yet promising freely to pardon all such as should humbly petition him were it it not a madness to refuse the asking of so great a mercy we are debtors to the Dâ—vin Justice and since we are uncapable to pay we are liable to Eternall Death unless we will pray humbly fervently perseverantly Dimitte nobis debita nostra Forgive us our trespasses 12. If any were presently to suffer a cruell death for their enormous crimes unless they would condescend to pardon some smaller offences of their neighbors were they not miserable unhappy obstinate wretches to deny it This Pardon is given and our own obtain'd by saying cordially Sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris As we forgive them that trespass against us 13. If they who are grievously troubled with Diabolical Carnal Worldly temptations might be freed by the carryage of one little Stone about them were they not strangely stupid to neglect so small a matter for the obtaining so great a benefit our Lords Prayer is this precious Stone which say's St. Augustin preserves from all harms and illusions who then would not have it alwaies in his heart and mouth saying evermore Et ne nos inducas in tentationem and lead us not into temptation If finally any were to sayl over a boysterous sea beset on this side with Syrens Whales Gryphons all sorts of devouring Monsters on that side full of Rocks Sands Gulphs all sorts of death bringing danger And a King and Queen standing on the shore should proffer to give them two Gemms indu'd with power to prevent all these perills might they not be said willingly to perish who willfully refused them This is our case my Christian Auditors who are to sayl over the Sea of this life beset on every side with Devils Sins and all sorts of dangers and behold Christ our King and Redeemer offers us his efficacious Prayer and Mary our Queen Mother her Angelical Salutation to secure us from shipwrack O let us gratefully accept them and frequently repeat in our Psalter Sed libera nos a malo But deliver us from evill Amen This is the Summary of St. Dominicks sermon whereby he parabolically in imitation of our blessed Saviour and efficaciously
evermore 4. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Efficacious Purpose and Resolution of self-deniall I Desire no longer O Eternall Father to follow my irregular appetites and to march under the Banner of my own will and opinion which are the fountains of all my defects disloyalties transgressions No Lord For your love I utterly renounce them with all possible horrour and hatred All my will and wish is that your sacred will may be accomplish'd in me upon Earth in Heaven in all things whatsoever purely perfectly eternally for all your Ordinances are full of Justice and Equity I adore them all I embrace them all I submit to them all Thrice happy those souls which are truly conformable to you which incessantly contemplate you which unweariedly follow you which faithfully serve you and perpetually prayse you 5. Give us this day our daily Bread Petition for a supply of our Necessities IT is the property of Children oppressed with hunger to address themselv's to their Parents with tears and cry's to move them to compassion Behold here your poor Child O loving and liberall Lord God! extreamely labouring with spirituall thirst and hunger exceedingly wearied in the worlds service you are my Father my Feeder my daily Bread And it is you only who are capable to satisfy my hunger quench my thirst comfort me in this my calamitous condition All Creatures are but small Crums falling from your Royall table O how sweet and savory is the Bread of teares and the Water of contrition to a truly Penitent Contrite Converted Soul Your sugred words O Lord and your celestiall inspirations are her most delicious sawce and the participation of your most precious Body and Blood her daily Bread O my God Let not the affection to temporall objects deprive me of spirituall comforts nor let any earthly solicitudes and greediness after worldly goods choak up the memory and gust of those better goods you have promis'd and prepar'd for me in Heaven But let my daily Exercise be to sanctify your holy Name Let the interiour feeling of your Kingdom of Love in my soul be my only pleasure palace and Paradise and let the accomplishment of your sacred Will be my daily Bread and sustenance during the space of this my Pilgrimage But alas 6. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Reflection upon our Impieties and Supplication for pardon WHen I consider O Father of Infinit Clemency not only my life past but even my present condition not only all my enormous and innumerable offences but even my daily and hourly imperfections negligences iniquities to wit 1. My Time still lost either in doing Evill or in doing nothing or in doing things impertinent 2. My lingring and voluntary complacencies in thought against Charity Chastity Humility 3. My continued Resistency contristation hinderance of your holy spirit in my self or others 4. My Irreverence Indevotion Tepiditie in my prayers recollections spirituall Exercises 5. My Excesses of Tongue Eyes Ears and all my senses as well in respect of your divin Majestie as my neighbour and my self When I say I seriously reflect upon these and the rest of my manifold transgressions I find my self so deeply indebted that I should undoubtedly turn Bankrupt did not your fatherly goodness and my deer Redeemers boundless mercy and merits give me hope comfort and encouragement For O my God! In what large sum do I stand ingaged to your sacred Justice 1. I owe thanks for so many signall Benefits 2. I owe Contrition for so many committed Crimes 3. I owe love for love my life for your Sons death my whol self for your self given and regiven so frequently unto me And yet insensible wretch that I am I pay none of these just debts but daily increase my obligations by my daily Ingratitude VVhat other course then can I now take but humbly to cry out Dimitte mihi Pardon your prodigall Child O compassionate Father for the love of your dear Son Christ Jesus He is my surety and he hath satisfied for my debts even according to the severe rigour of your divin Justice whose least drop of blood is abundantly sufficient to expiate the whol worlds impieties If therefore my own guilt shuts up my mouth and your Mercy gate yet his sacred blood will be my Key to open both the one and the other Pardon me then O my pious Father for your Crucified Jesu's sake as I for the love of him do most freely heartily and sincerely pardon all them who have injur'd wrong'd and offended me in any thing whatsoever 7. And lead us not into temptation Recourse to the divin Protection I Am day and night O most Powerfull Father and Protector assaulted with an infinit number of Enemyes which incessantly seek my utter ruin and destruction The flesh charmes me the world enchants me the Devill cheats me and every thing becomes an object of Temptation unto me Ah! How shall poor I conquer such powerfull champions I find no other means than to make my addresses to you My all-powerfull Father and humbly to shelter my self under the wings of your paternall Protection For Alas such is my frailty that I shall surely fall without the support of your Grace being faln I shall be unable to rise without the help of your strength being raysed up I cannot hope to persevere without the continuall influence of your assistance Shield me then under your sacred wings Protect me as the Apple of your eye command your Angell of light to preserve me from the darkness of Sin from the dangers of my Adversaries from the dismall sleep of sudden and unprovided death from all that is any way displeasing to your divin will and liking 8. But deliver us from evill Aspirations to perfection fruition union WHen O Father of Glory shall I be freed from sin from Sathans from my self from all that hinders the coming of your Kingdom O Kingdom of Peace Kingdom of love Kingdom of all desirable felicity There it is O Father that I shall sanctify your Name that I shall perform your will purely perfectly eternally There I shall no longer beg of you my daily Bread but remain abundantly satiated with the sight of your blessed face and the fruition of your beatifying glory There my Debts will be all payd my sins pardoned my soul glorified There will be neither Temptation nor Tribulation neither occasion of sin nor punishment of sin but all tranquillity all conformity all perfection There lives thy loving Father O my Soul There is thy home and Countrey there lyes thy portion and patrimony O Jerusalem my dear Countrey my delicious Kingdom my desired Inheritance when shall I possesse thee O sweet Father when shall I sincerely love you O my poor Soul when shall I see thee free from stains and blemishes full of purity and perfection Let 's yield let 's yield to our good Father Let 's promptly submit to all his precepts and Ordinances Let 's serve
and are here set down in that direct order which ought to be observ'd in meditating upon them which is First to begin with the five joyfull mysteries Secondly to proceed to the five Dolorous Thirdly to conclude with the five Glorious For according to this order they were accomplish'd in the Persons of our Saviour Christ and his Blessed Mother The five Joyfull Mysteries So called for that they contain the chief Joys which the most sacred virgin Mary felt concerning her Son Christs human nature 1. The Annunciation of Christs Incarnation by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary which is briefly express'd in these verses Heav'ns loftyest turret to earth's center bends Th' Incarnat Word to our low vale descends And Eccho's there usher'd by Angells voyce And by a purer Virgins vocall choyce While She according to this word of thine Humbly reply'd thy Masters word be mine 2. The Visitation which the Blessed Virgin made to her cousin Saint Elizabeth Mary salutes Eliza while from far Our Sun is brought to light his morning Star The Star though clowded feels the welcom ray And leaps to shew he can fore-run his day Dance unripe Child before thou com'st to light An after-dance will cause thy fatall night 3. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Learn Man what wonders in this birth appear The lesser Orbe involves the greater Spheare Etheriall lightning leaves its native shrowd Comes forth not breaking the mysterious clowd Angells their God their Master Beasts discern Of those above of these below thee learn 4. The Oblation or Presentation of Christ to his Eternall Father in the Temple and the Purification of his Mother How cheap a thing is light and more we pay For oylin flame than goulden locks of day His ransom who from darkness all redeem'd The Priest a two poor Turtle-Doves esteem'd Jews are wise marchands this new Sun ere old Must to the Priests again b' as cheaply sold 5. The Finding of Christ in the Temple disputing amongst the Doctors Found in the Temple midst the Doctors plac'd Jesus at once vertu and learning grac'd If Church and Schools be severd zeal turns blind And knowledg lame they both are perfect joynd Adore the Altar reverence the Chair Learn what to ask and then present thy pray'r The five Dolorous Mysteries so called for that they contain the chief sorrows which Christ our Redeemer felt in his bitter Passion 1. His Agony whil'st he was at his Prayers in the Garden What man of sorrow with two blood-shot eyes Ten thousand bleeding pores there prostrate lyes All middle colours by extreams are bred His candour with our blackness makes him red Whose present dress though Scarlet but displays The rosy dawn of two more Crimson day's 2. His most cruell Flagellation Can all these bleeding wounds that scourging find No blush in face no pity raisd in mind Behold the Man you worst of savage beast Malice enough has done more Hell detests Hate forward goes till her loath'd object she Not to be wretched knows but not to be 3. His Crowning with sharp Thorns The pungent cares on regall Scepters born Do prove all Diadems be crowns of thorn Yet Kings from scoffs and low contempt are free Derisions reach not earthly Majestie Christs Crown no fewer slights than thorns emboss More keen than those sharp nayls that pierc'd his Cross 4. The Carrying of his Cross to Mount Calvary Striving his Cross to bear he faints and falls He that sustains Heaven and Earths massie balls Simon succeeds on whose weak shoulders they The shadow of the Cross not substance lay Simon the wood the weight Christ only bore A world of heavy sins throng'd in each pore 5. His Crucifixion and Death upon the Cross Hail Tree of life whose trunck the table made Whereon the worlds dear price was told and payd On thy fair planks our sinking souls that bore Poor shipwrackt men layd hold and swim to shore Raisd from the depth by thee they floating stood Boy'd up with spring-tides of Christs copious blood The five Glorious Mysteries so called for that they contain the chief Glories which befell Christ and his sacred Mother 1. The Resurrection of our Lord JESUS The piercing sword leaves sad Maria's brest Sorrow's old wound makes for new joy 's a nest Jesus himself and her revives his light Relumins many a fire long quencht in night She sees the Patriarks shine with him his ray Dimms not their weaker Stars yet doubles day 2. His Ascension into Heaven Our Heav'n-ascending Lord no fiery Steed's Nor flaming Chariot of Elijah needs The wings of wind or Angels are too slow His feet in thier own motion swifter go The Sun at his approach that fabulous sign Of Aries leaves in him the Lamb tâ— shine 3. The sending down the Holy Ghost to his Church In form of fire a rushing wind conveighs Ardours divin the Infant Church to raise And high enthrone in a majestick Sphear Above the reach of cold distrust or fear Th' Elect thus freed from bonds of narrow sense In all known tongues all unknown truth dispence 4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin up to heaven Enoch alive translated walks with God Walks finds yet in bliss no fix't about The zealous Thesbite undissolv'd ascends And at Heav'n gates the worlds last year attends Death 's the sole way to life Maria dyes Closes on earth open's in heav'n her eyes 5. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven T is thy Sons light Maria makes thee shine The beam's are his the sole reflection thine Bright as the Moon thou look'st for borrow'd rays Both tributarie to the Prince of days The Sun her globe opposed only fills On thee full light thy Sun conjoyn'd distills These fifteen Mysteries for greater ease of the memory are briefly comprehended in these six verses Annun Vis Nat. Present and Find Reduce the Joyfull Five to mind Pray'r Scourg Thorn Cross Crucify Do the five Dolorous imply Res As Parac Assump corone By those the Glorious five are known Or thus in three verses She 's told She visits He 's Born Offer'd and Found He Pray's is whipp'd is crown'd carryes is kill'd Râ—ses Ascends sends down She dyes is Crown'd §. 7. Of the fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary in particular The first part containing the five Joyfull Mysteries 1. The first Joyfull Mystery She 's told THE Annunication of Chirsts Incarnation by the Archangell Gabriel to the Blessed virgin Mary Luca. To Blessed Mary th' Angell of our Lord Announces she shall bear th' Eternal Word This first Principall and Joyfull Mystery as also all the others hereafter following comprehends under its notion may other singular and particular Joy's wherewith the sacred Virgins soul was ravish'd and replenish'd upon the news brought down to her from Heaven of the Eternall Words Incarnation in her womb which we shall both here and hereafter briefly reduce to Ten heads or points of Meditation according to the number of the Angelicall Salutations which are
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
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
mortall infirm and miserable life upon â—arth and depressing this humanity thus united to the Word in the state and mysterie of your mortall wayfaring unregarded and suffering life for this Humanity being in this sort elevated into the Throne and estate of a divin Person should not have been in any other condition than of Glory and Splendour Of Splendour I say befitting the Divinity to which it is inseparably united And yet O Love O Bounty you depress it for me even to an estate and form of an humble life and serving your own creatures and at last even to the opprobrious cruell and servill punishment of the Cross 13. An Oblation of our selv's to Jesus in honour of this his double estate of being a servant THerfore in honour of this double estate and form of servant unto which you have been pleas'd to reduce your Supream Greatness I offer and present my self unto you O Jesu I render my self for ever a Slave to you and to your Adorable Humanity I render my self Slave to your Love Slave to your Greatness and Slave to your depressions I embrace this condition and make it universally and totally subjecting all whatsoever is in me For my will is that all that which I am my will is that my life of nature and of grace and all my actions be yours and your sacred Humanities as things belonging to it in a new manner by this qualitie and condition of servitude towards it which I now here offer And I require that my life my estate and my Soul carry a Particular badge of this my belonging dependency and servitude to you and to your Humanity thus Deifi'd and thus depressed both together 14. The Continuance of this Oblation of Servitude AND could I but come to the knowledge of any estate and reference of my self towards you more dependent of you and any relation more humble and more strict than this of bondage and servitude I would forthwith embrace it therby to refer my self to you as a thing due both to the greatness of the estate to which your Humanity is elevated by the Hypostaticall union as also the excess of its love and of that voluntarie depression whereunto it humbled and annihilated it self for my salvation and for my glorie 15. A confirmation of this our Oblation of Servitude BUT alas what shall I do your greatnesses are permanent our duties of Fealtie are perpetuall and I come late to these lights and yet they also are unsteady and our minds do easily permit themselv's to be diverted from things so great so worthy and so just But I will confirm my self in these verities and in these Intentions I will repair the time past I will render my self yours even for all that time in which I might have known you and might have serv'd you I will bequeath unto you for ever all that I am and all that I can I will that all that which is in me reflect towards you and serve you only and perfectly I will have no other conduct motion or sense but by you and for you And I will that in vertu of this present cogitation intention and oblation each moment of my life and each action of the same appertain to you O Jesu and to your sacred Humanity as if I made a particular tender of them all unto you 16. An ardent desire of an inseparable union with Christ O Only Son of God! The Tye wherby you have fastn'd your self to us is indissoluble nor was Death which you suffred nor Hell which you entred nor Mens sins which you carryed able to break it I would also make with you an indissoluble knot O Jesu my Lord You can grant me this favour And that on my part I may dispose my self thereto I Adore you in the unity you have with the Father Unity which renders you inseparable from him I adore you in the Union which you have with us Union so strong that nothing can dissolve it Union so inward that it cannot be more intrinsecall and immediate since that it penetrates even to the bottom of human Being In the honour and in the efficacy of this union I offer up to you this my desire of being united to you for evermore And I make irrevocable as much as possibly I may this my Oblation Donation and servitude to you and to your humanity as being holy and sacred by reason of your Divinity it self which is substantially and personally resident therein 17. The Humanity of Jesus is the Temple of the Divinity O Holy Humanity you are the Temple of the Divinity and even so he calls you who chose you for himself and united you to himself and who hath the words of life for he said to the Jews Dissolve this Temple and I will in three days build it up again And those gross and materiall minds apply'd this discours to their Temple and to their stones But O Jesu according to your own Apostle you spake of another Temple of the Temple of your body A Temple principall singular and particular of the Divinity which was pleas'd to choose this Body this Humanity to triumph in it and by it and render it self visible in its greatnesses in the midd'st of the Earth 18. What great things are wrought in this Humanety THE Divinity therfore reposeth in you O sacred Humanity as in its Temple Temple living and animated Temple consecrated by the unction of the Divinity it self which is present subsistent and living in you to take up there its repose to be there acknowledg'd and ador'd and there to operate divin and adorable actions And it reposeth in this Humanity more holily more divinly and more admirably than even in the order and state of glory And it cooperats there things more high and more great than it doth in Heaven For we see that in it God is Man and Man is God God is born and dying God is living and suffering and Man-God is satisfying in the tearms of Justice to the Divin Justice A thing far surpassing all present and possible condition of Grace and Glory 19. This Humanity is holy by the Divinity it self which is a substantiall sanctity flowing from him into himself and thence into us I Also Reverence and Adore you O sacred Humanity as the most holy thing after God which God himself finds amongst the Treasures of his Wisdom and amongst the unexhaustible depths of his absolute power For notwithstanding that you resemble us in nature you are not like to us in Grace because the Grace and Sanctity which is proper to you is not such as is proper to Angells and men which though it were infinitly multiply'd could never arrive to the shadow of your sanctity but would be still infinitly distant But you are holy with a holiness incomparably higher with a holiness proper to your self with a holiness which is adorable with a holiness issuing from the divin Essence and Person as from its act and from its proper