this B. Sacrament was to testifie the greatnes of his loue to his faithfull according to that of S. Iohn Iesus knowing that his houre approched that he was to departe out of this world to his heauenly father wheras he loued his who were in the world he loued them to the end Wherby as in his incarnation he vnited our flesh to his diuinitie by an hypostaticall vnion so doth he in the Euchariste vnite the same to the said diuinitie Sacramentally and doth as it were incorporate it and render it diuine Affection O my euer dearest Rabboni what a huge fire of loue thon laiest to my hart Ah my poore soule must we not needes acknowledge that a deadly colde hath benummed thee if the blood of a God dyeing cannot recouer heate and life into thee He loued thee in the beginning he loued thee before the beginning he loued thee first he loued thee most he loued thee to the end yea after the end sith he applies the blood he powred out for thee daily to thy hart And to what end all this powerfull pressing but to gaine thy hart to loue THE XIII MEDITATION Tbe third Cause That he might remayne with vs. I. POINT CONSIDER that the third cause of the institution of the Blessed Sacrament was that so he might leaue himselfe to vs and be alwayes present with vs that we might familiarly conuerse and coferr with him consult him in all our doubts haue recourse to him in all our difficulties pressures temptations and tribulations making good in effect that of the Prouerbs My delights are to be with the sons of men S. Fran. It is a great miserie and a lamentable infirmitie that hauing him so present we yet should care for any other thing in the world Affection O God thou art truly our gracious Emmanuel our nobiscum Deus our God with vs. No other nations haue their Gods so neere as our God is neere to vs. Thou art alwayes with vs deare Lord and thou hast the words of eternall life to whom then shall we goe for Counsell for comfort for assistance in all our difficulties but to thee alone who hast giuen vs such assurances of thy singular loue and shewen in effect that thou wilt not leaue vs Orphants but wilt gather vs together as the henn gathers her chickens vnder her wings Remayne with vs then deare Lord and we will stay with thee nor will we euer depart or remoue our selues from 〈…〉 at blessed protection of thyne The fourth Cause c. Toleaue vs a representation of his Passion II. POINT CONSIDER that a fourth cause of the inst of the B. Sacram. was that by his last will he might leauevs an Idea formeor representation of his life and Passion which might continually refresh in euery one of vs the memorie of our Redemption purchaced at so deare a price as his owne pretious blood For while we looke vpon the species of the bread alone the dead body of our sweete Sauiour is represented vnto our mynds and by the species of the wine alone we are put in mynd of the effusion of his pretious blood whence S Paule as often as you eate this bread and drinke this cupp you shall announce or declare the death of our Lord till he come Affection O my soule le ts neuer forgett at how deare a price we were bought and thervpon glorifie and beare God about in thy breast This that appeares to thee vnder the species of bread alone is left to represent vnto thee and putt thee in mynd of the deade body of thy deare Master And this which thou seest vnder the species of the wine alone to renew to thee the effusion of his pretious bloud And both togeither crye loude to our hartes as frō his sacred mouth Christians friends at least you my spouses Remember my bloudie sweate Remember the scornes and contumelies I suffered Remember my patience and humilitie in the midst of them Remember my vineger and gale my huge torments my vtter abandonmentes and for loue of you As often as you doe this doe it in memorie of me THE XIV MEDITATION The fift Cause The exercise of all vertues I. POINT CONSIDER that a fift cause of the Inst of the B. Sacrament was to leaue a continuall occasion of the exercise of all vertues Our Faith is exercised while we beleeue that a whole God and man lyes hidd and is contayned really and truly though inuisiby vnder a smale hoste Our Hope while seeing him dayly and hourely bestowe himselfe we cannot despaire of obtayning any thing lesse then himselfe Our Charitie while we looke into his open side which is a fornace of inflamed loue Religion adoreing him with soueraigne worshipe or Latria Our obedience and humilitie while captiuating our vnder standing in obedience to faith we constantly beleeue maugre the suggestion of our senses and our naturall reason that God lyes truly hidd vnder these slender and meane accidens of bread and wine Affection Yes my soule here we may euery day comfortably and meritoriously exercise our faith where sight taste touche fayle Faith with eagles eyes lookes home and assures it is our hiddem Lord that is eleuated before vs. It is my Lord the verie Lord that made me and dyed for me Yes he himselfe tels it me saying This is my body And I imbrace his word adorc him And whom I adore present by a goodnesse which hath nothing like to it how should I not wholy conside How should I but hope in him whome I haue for a pledge in hand that he will himselfe be my reward for euer And how should I not loue him who so graciously stayes with me here below reserues himselfe for me aboue I doe ther-for confesse thee present confide in thee loue worshippe thee ô Lord and stoope downe to this admirable mysterie of Loue with all the humilitie and obedience my hart is able to conceiue The sixt Cause c. A memoriall to preuent obliuion II. POINT CONSIDER that the sixt cause of this Sacred Institution was to leaue a meanes to remoue the greatest mischeife that can befall a poore creature which is the obliuion of his Creatour They forgot God who saued them saith the Psalmist their harts departed from him who made them And what became of it but coruption and abomination corrupti sunt abominabiles facti sunt For by obliuion of God we loose diuine grace waxe vgly and deformed by the infection of sinne and become slaues to the Diuell Affection Ah my soule how should we euer be sovnhappie as to forgett him in whom we liue moue and haue beeing who while we yet were not raysed vs to what we are Who while we abused that beeing and strayed from him had for vs thoughtes of peace and not of affliction thoughtes of reconcilement and saluation Can a Mother saith that Louer of Men forgett the child of her body and though she should yet would I neuer forgett you Ah how should
middest of dangers temptations and sufferances for it is Iesus crucified that we seeke Affection Ah my soule since the messengers of heauen haue assured vs that our Iesus is risen from his graue I will no longer lye buryed in earth but will rise and goe to that good father of ours Since our Lord and our life liues we will no longer languish and dye but I will seeke him whom my hart loues without feare we will passe the watch which the Iewish world the flesh and the Diuell may sett to keepe vs from our Iesus If happily where we seeke him we find him not wee wil neuer cease to seeke him till we finde him and hold him and locke him vp in our harts That we are to seeke him by S. M. Magdalens example II. POINT CONSIDER that though it be a most Christian practise with S. Marie Magdalen to follow Christ in his life not to forsake him at his death to reioyce with a great ioy in his Resurrection yet it is not enough wee must with her too vse diligence to find him out being risen In his life she is weeping at his feete At his death neerest to the Crosse and last at his graue but her vnwearied loue leaues not off there she rests not She 's vp againe varie earely in the morning whilst it is yet darke to seeke him at his Sepulcher it beeing her absolute resolution and practise continually to seeke till she finde him whom her soule loues Affection Let vs ô my soule put our selues wholy vpon the search of our deare Rabboni by the example of that blessed penitent at all tymes in euerie place let our thoughts as hers were be vpon him ouer night and earely in the morning resolutly and incessantly crying out thee it is I seeke thee I desire thee I hope for to thee my hart hath said I haue sought thy countenance ô Lord thy countenance will I seeke for euer for all that seeke thee as they ought finde thee and who finde thee finde life euerlasting THE V. MEDITATION How we ought to seeke Iesus by the same example THE I. POINT CONSIDER that it is not enough to seeke Iesus vnlesse we seeke him as we ought truth it selfe assuring that some seeke him and finde him not and dye in their sinne That is with diligence with care with cost with vndaunted courage with feruent loue as S. Marie Magdalen sought him Affection O my soule let this dreadfull Doome pronounced by a Iudge who cannot deceiue or be deceiued you shall seeke me and and dye in your sinne spurre on our drowsinesse to seeke Iesus as we ought with the blessed Magdalene that is with a timely diligence with the whole care of our hart as being the only necessarie thing neither weighing what it may cost vs nor fearing what may befalle vs while with feruent loue we looke for Iesus of Nazareth crucified II. POINT CONSIDER that though the Natiuitie of our Sauiour was a day of great Ioy to all the world because a Sauiour was borne to it and our young Emmanuel began to liue amongst vs yet was that Ioy mixt with teares and soone after with blood as being the life of a Godman borne to labour and sufferances And though the daye of the death of Christ was a subiect of greatest comfort to all Christians yet was it clowded with the teares and lamentations of a God dying But this glorious day where in he is resussitated or regenerated to a new life is a day of perfect Ioy without all mixture of sorrow a day of exultation and triumph when our dead Master is risen to a life of immortalitie and glorie Affection Reioyce reioyce my soule in this great priuiledged day of Iubilie with a full Ioy exempt from all mixture of sorrowe This is a day which our Lord peculiarly made representing in some measure the dayes of eternitie which know no night let vs exult and spring with Ioy in it Our young Emmanuel who whilome wept in cloutes is clad with glorie his lately torne shoulders are now armed with impassibilitie his bodie subiect to death indewed with immortalitie There are now no more bloodie sweates noe more whippes crownes of thorne nayles speares crosses to be feared Death hath now no more dominion ouer him Alleluya Alleluya Alleluya THE VI. MEDITATION We must ryse with Christ I. POINT CONSIDER that as we haue endeuored to dye with Christ in his Passion by compassion diligently to seeke him ioyfully to finde him and happily to ryse with him in newnesse of life so must we especially striue to make that new life become a perfect imitation of the life of Christ that that of the great Apostle may be verifyed in vs and by our actions appeare to the eyes of others to Gods glorie I liue I now not I but Iesus Christ liueth in me That is I am moued to what I doe by his grace according to his example and for his loue Affection For this my soule it is that we liue for this we beare the name of Christians that we might imitate what wee worshipp In vaine doe we celebrate the feasts of Christ if we striue not to imitate the life of Christ If we haue hitherto then expressed the image of our earthly father by adhearing to earth let vs now expresse our heauenly father by aspiring to heauen Le ts then shew his impassibilitie by our eauennesse as well in prosperitie as aduersitie his claritie by making the light of our good actions shine before men our agilitie by our prompt obedience and feruent charitie finally our subtilitie by peircing heauen with our harts by feruent prayer II. POINT CONSIDER what kind of life Christ ledd which brought him to this new life this impassible life this life of glorie And we shall finde it was in pouertie humilitie and abiection in his birth In labours in temptations watching fasting prayer from his youth At his death in extreamities contempts thornie crownes infamous Crosses withdrawings of all comforts absolute abandonements by heauen and earth Affection We all pretend my soule to be followers of Christ must we not then resolue to take the same waye he tooke wee ayme at noe lesse then to haue a part of his glorie and can we wisely hope to attayne to it by other meanes then those that wisedome made choice of in his owne person and left vs to imitate Can we iudge it reasonable or decent my soule that while the Master is in labours the seruant should liue at his ease the Master in pouertie and the seruant in plentie the Master in the middest of contumelies and the â—eruant in honours THE VII MEDITATION Of the blessed fruites of Chr. Resurrection That as well our dying as rysing with Christ are Gods giftes I. POINT CONSIDER that if we haue dyed with Christ by compassion sought him with diligence found him with ioy risen with him in newnesse of life and striuen to leade a life conformable in some smale measure to his they are
harte by the hole of his side and confirmes vs in faith by the familiaritie of his presence and makes vs absolutly conclude with the same S. Thomas Dominus meus Deus meus Affection Obserue my soule what aduantages accrue to vs by this vigilant care of shutting the doores and liuing retiredly at home to our selues Iesus doth againe and againe visite vs. He answers our secrete desires We touch him we talke with him we behold him by faith and by that secreete and sweete communication he affords so much delight to our mynds that our weake faith is more and more confirmed so that we cannot doubt but that it is indeede our Lord Iesus God and man who is present with vs and makes our hartes burne AN ENTERTAYNEMENT FOR THE ASCENSION OF OVR B. SAVIOVR THE FIRST MEDITATION That it is the Feast of most absolute ioy I. POINT CONSIDER that of all the feastes of Christ this bringes the most absolute and accomplish't ioy to all Christians which truly loue Christ The Natiuitie gaue him to teares labours pouertie and miserie The Circumcision to bloudsheding The Epiphanie how euer he was adored by a few to the malice of many but this wipes away all teares and bloud and makes him to be adored by men and Angells And albeit his glorious Resurrection shewed him Conquerour ouer the world death sinne and the Diuell yet did it restore him to the world againe but this restores him to heauen to the Angells to his heauenly Father Affection Let heauen and earth then and all those that haue bene so happie as to was he their stoles in the bloud of the Lambe conspire togeither with great ioy and iubilie to sing tbe Canticle of the Lambe saying with a loud voyce The Lambe that was slayne is worthy to receiue power and diuinitie and wisdome and strength and honour and glorie and benediction on this most triumphant day and for euer and euer Amen That it is a confirmation of our faith leauing noe doubt behind it In their sight he was cleuated c. II. POINT CONSIDER that the rest of the feastes of Christ left still some doubts in the heauie hartes of men who are slow in beleeuing The Angells gloria at the Natiuitie was comfortable but the childs teares then and bloud in his Circumcision litle perswayded the Presence of a God To dye for sinners was an argument of greatest loue yet it was deemed a follie by many His Resurrection though glorious and apt to conuince yet was it doubted by the most and found some incredulous Thomases who would giue credit to it vpon noe lesse assurance them putting his hands into the wounds of his side But this best and brightest of dayes leaues noe mistes of doubte behind it where the eyes are witnesses of the power of a God in raysing God-man aboue the cloudes At this sight we are forced to to crye with S. Thomas Dominus meus Deus meus Affection Most iustly therfor my soule may we conclude with blessed S. Augustine that the Ascension of our Lord is the absolute Confirmation of our Catholike faith The ioyfull Natiuitie indeede brought the first hopes the Circumcision gaue the earnest pennie in dropps the sacred passion plentifully payd downe more then the whole debt in flouds of pretious bloud the glorious Resurrection comfortably raysed drouping hartes But this day signes seales and deliuers the whole Deede of mans Redemption neuer more to be doubted of let vs exult and reioyce in it Alleluya Alleluya Alleluya THE II. MEDITATION The first fruite of Christ's Ascension I. POINT CONSIDER that if by the first Adam man was banished out of Paradice By the seconde Adam he was restored to Heauen If by the first he fell lower then man by the second he is raysed aboue the Angells Archangells Cerubines and Seraphins being placed at the right hand of his heauenly Father There is our nature praysed magnified adored by all those celestiall Courtiers in the person and vpon the sight of that God-man Affection O admirable dignation To what a stupendious hight is this that mercy hath raysed poore lost man O great God what dost thou discouer in man that thou dost so mightily magnifie him and what is the matter that thou dost so put thy heauenly hart vpon him Ah my soule looke vp to this dignitie with a louing and gratefull astonishment and learne from it a holy pride to looke downe with disdayne vpon the world and all earthly thinges knowing that thou art better then they The 2. fruite of Christs Ascension The raysing of our hopes II. POINT CONSIDER to what a high pitch our hopes must needes ascend in the Ascension of Christ to see our humane nature in the person of him inuested in his heauenly fathers glorie Since in Iesus Chr. as saith holy S. Augustine there is a portion of the flesh and bloud of euery one of vs bones of our bones and flesh of our flesh For thy Sonne our God did not take vpon him the nature of an Angell but the seede of Abraham being made like to vs in all thinges saue sinne alone witnesseth S. Paule Affection Say then my soule in an humble confidence with B. Sainte Augustine where any part of me raignes there I conceiue my selfe to raigne where my flesh is glorified there I apprehend my selfe to be glorious where my bloud beares dominion there I find my selfe to rule Though my sinnes keepe me backe yet my substance and communication in bloud calls me on to a stronge confidence My deare Lord loues the flesh which he tooke vpon him to seeke vs out and saue vs. Herein my soule let vs place our whole confidence THE III. MEDITATION The third fruite of Christs Ascension The sending of the H. Ghost I. POINT CONSIDER that our Iesus hauing now absolutly accomplished his Fathers will in performing the worke for which he was sent and hauing put a happie periode to his painefull pilgrimage hath left vs yet we ought to reioyce since it is to returne to his father yes to his father and our Father to his God in qualitie of man and to our God He hath left vs but it is expedient for vs it is to send vs another comfortinge Spirit which would not come to vs vnlesse he departed from vs. Affection Reioyce my soule reioyce and how euer comfortable the presence of Iesus may seeme to thee be alwayes willing to leaue Iesus for Iesus for the accomplishment of his will for the aduancement of his glorie If you loued me saith that deare brother of ours you would reioyce because I goe to my father That is to rest after labour to glorie after ignominie from the societie of men to that of Angells from man to God to your father Ah my soule let not selfe loue deceiue vs we loue not indeede Iesus as we ought if we loue the sweetnesse of his presence more then the accomplishment of his euer best and most adorable pleasure Nor can we loose by that
i' st your sute to liue I 'am endlesse life and endlesse life doe giue O then quitt vncoulth wayes hope not in lyes To find out truth nor th' life that neuer dyes In fading moments Ah you seeke in vaine To find true life in th'land where death doth raigne THE COMMVNICATION OF THE diuine goodnesse by imparting of his Glorie OVR sea of goodnesse still streames on there is Noe end in it we tend to endlesse blisse Those guifts of nature grace and all the rest Are gu'in to bringe vs to eternall rest Our joyes were great at the coming of that guest Our hearts reioyc'd to lodge him in our breast But ah he will not haue vs end our storie Till he conduct vs to the state of glorie So saith our faith to this our hopes are raysd With this excesse our charitie's amays'd That goodnesse free from want our dust should choose To place it's loue vpon and kindly loose Himselfe on man Ble'st prodigalitie By th' guifts of his diuine Hypostasie To be himselfe companion in his way To call him backe by grace in case he stray To feede and fatten him with his owne bloode O that this happinesse were vnderstoode To proue in death bis sauing sacryfice And endlesly to be himselfe his price So saith his word I 'le be my selfe thy hyre What more then this can vastest heart desire AN APOSTROPHIE TO THE DAMES OF SION O Then deare Dames let th' loue I dayly find Mongst you increase and all your hearts cobind In one loue-knott vse all your wit and Arte To haue but all one comon soule one heart This God command's this Austine doth aduise Doe this alone deare soules it will suffice FINIS SINE FINE GLORIA TIBI DOMINE MEDITATIONS Vpon our blessed Sauiours Passion THE FIRST MEDITATION Of the last supper THE FIRST POINT CONSIDER that now the blessed tyme of grace and mercy drawing neere wherin our sweete sauiour Iesus-Christ had determined to pay mans ransome not with the corruptible price of gold and siluer but euen with the effusion of his owne pretious bloude he graciously daigned in testimonie of true loue to feaste with his beloued Apostles before his departure See him louingly accompanie them into the roome where they were to suppe and let vs take the humble boldnesse to follow him inn and to receiue some of his last words I haue had an ardent desire saith he to eate this pascall lambe with you it being the consummation of all the ancient sacrifices and the last I shall eate And say to him cordially Affection That in verie decede we find our selues exceeding hungerie but that we neither doe nor indeede can possibly find any meate which feeds and saciates vs saue himselfe or from his table The rest doe but puffe vp and swell they doe not solidly feed and fatten so that by how much more we eate by so much the more doe we languish and pine away Tell him that verily you are not worthy you know it well you confesse it to the whole world but thar it is he alone who makes vnworthy creatures worthy who makes sinners iust and that for your part you relie not vpon your owne merites which are none without his mercys but run intirely to his free mercy Tell him that euen your dogges eate the crums which fall from their masters tables and in that confidence you approche or els with an humble and contrite hart fall downe at his sacred feete with the mournfull Magdalaine and make lamentations teares and grones more fully speake your hart The seconde Pointe Consider with what compassion and mildnesse our blessed sauiour begins to comfort his disciples whyle he obserues them sorrowfull and sadd vpon the apprehensiō of his departure which he fore told them saying my deare Disciles be not sorrowfull let not your harts be troubled I vvill not leaue you Orphantes t is for your sakes that I goe But seeing them yet some weeping some sighing his fatherly bowells were wholie moued to compassion and he spoke to them in these sweete tearmes my tenderly beloued sons my deare Disciples be not terrified bee not troubled behold I am vvith you till the end of the vvorld Affect This sweet sauiour shall be my comfort in all my desolations that though thou seemest to absēt thy selfe yet wilt thou not leaue me an Orphā whether it be that thou goest from me by permitting me to fall into some temptations or spirituall drynesse for my greater trial and merite or it be that thou often lettest me fall into little faultes that I may better learne to run back to thee my louing father this shall still be my consolation that thou dearely sweete and loueing Lord ar◠still with me till the end of the world THE II. MEDITATION Of Christs humilitie and loue shevven at his last supper Cons 1 COnsider what is done at that his last supper looke about and you shall see him rise vp from the table to giue by his owne example and in his owne person that first and most necessarie lesson humilitie the ground of our christian building and euen of all christian discipline as S. Augustine esteemes it You shall see the master become all his seruants seruant the vertue of the highest lowe laid at his creatures foule feete him in whose name all knees are bowed kneeling to wash to drye to kisse his seruants feete in fine the king of glorie so farre as I may say forgett his glorie as humbly officiously and louingly to fall downe euen at a disloyal Iudas loathsome feete Affect Ah my soule what is this we behold are wee deceaud or is it the king of heauen we see at the traiterous Iudas his feete shall we euer then haue the hart and courage to swell againe after this wonderfull humiliation If God indured this for me shall not I endure this or that reflecting vpon some difficultie we haue to stoope for him nay for my selfe for myne owne aduantage and eternall good or if this cannot moue me what will be euer able to moue my proud hart O my sweet sauiour euen for thy felfes sake bestow vpon me some scrappe of this wholesome dishe and grant me in euerie occurrence of difficultie submission or humiliation to haue this thy blessed example liuely placed before myne eyes Consid 2. Consider that notwithstanding that Christ knew by certaine knowledge that his heauenlie father had giuen all power and authoritie into his hands that he came from him and went to him rhat is that he was indued with fulnes of knowledge issuing from him by his eternall generation and returning to him to take possession of his owne right yet disdained hee not for our example to rise from supper to putt off his vpper garment to take a linen and girt about him to putt water into a basine to washe his disciples feete to wipe them with the Iinen which he had put before him Affect O God I haue nothing to saie but am lost in astonishement and
meerely in life but euen to death Aff. O God the loue of my hart and my part for euer how I desire to desire thee how I wish to haue this poore frozen hart of mine inflamed with this holie fire ô holie fire which burnes vp and euen consumes the sacred hart of my sauiour may some sparke of it fall vpon the hart of that-sinner who for want of that heate is readie to perish and loose it selfe 2. Point Consider that death could put no period to my Souiours loue it did not onely liue to it but liue and raigne in it as a sacred Salamander amidst her flames He loued vs not I saie to death onlie but through his excesse of loue he loued euen death it selfe for our sakes I haue saith he a baptisme or lauer wherein to be baptised or washed to witt the bath or lauer of my blood and how am I sollicited pressed and oppressed as it were with a burning desire of that wishfull houre Affect O God how excessiue great must that loue needes be which endures not onely constant to death but euen ardently loues and desires death for our loue And howgreat ought our loue to be to answere the loue of so louing and gracious a benefactour 3. Point Consider that though death in its owne nature is iustly reputed the most horrible of all horrible things and this death the most horrible of all deathes as being accompaigned with all the circuÌ„stances which might bring with them horror dread and confusion as insufferable paines disloyall abandonings of all his dearest friends abismall abiections and humiliations contemps blasphemies c. Yet did my Sauiour the better to imbrace it for our sakes eye it as a certaine demonstration of his admirable loue to his heauenly father and to vs and receaued it as proceeding from his holie hand as a subiect to crowne his obedience c. as such it was most deare vnto him THE VI. MEDITATION Of our svveete sauiours going into the Garden Cons HAuing now done supper you must accompanie him into the Garden together with Peter Iames and Iohn Where you shall see the valourous young Dauid louingly prodigall of his youthfull and delicate bodie desirous to begin the battell yea drawen on and animated with a feruent loue of mans saluation goe first to the place of combate without constraint of his owne accord marke what kind of weapons he had prouided himselfe of no other then humilitie charitie praier with a resolution to indure all for the loue of vs poore creatures Let vs be alwaies furnished with the like weapons and the victorie is ours Affect Sweete Iesus in this thou renderst me perplexed for I know not whether I ought to ioy in thy loue or sorrowe to see loue moue thee to so great a paine for an vndutifull seruantes sake Ioy to see the book of life begin to be opened wherein all the treasures of knowledge and wisdome are contained or sorrow to foresee the rude manner of opening it euen at hand And againe thou renderest me confused when I reflect vpon my-selfe and finde my felfe so backward yea happly one of the laste and most backward if anie difficultie be to be endured though for my iust deserts while I finde thee who art altogether innocent comme first to the place of paine and sufferance and this my pouertie deare Lord I willingly laie open before the eyes of thy mercie hoping to be cured of this spirituall infirmitie by thy souueraigne and omnipotent goodnesse Cons 2. But alas looke about you now and you shall see a strange alteration you shall see him who according to his spirit wished to haue all things accomplished in himselfe which were decreed by the eternall wisedome of God the Father and the consell of the holy Ghost yet according to his tender and passible flesh being of a most delicate and noble complection begin to haue a horrour through the strong apprehension of neere approching death and therefore he begins to sorrow to feare and to be irck some outwardly to quake in all his members inwardly to be seased vpon by a deadly anguish Harke and you shall heare him impart the abundance of his greefe to his best friends Tristis est anima mea vsque ad morteÌ„ my soule is sorowfull euen to death as though he should say the anguish which I endure is sufficient to procure my death See how the euent shewes his words most true for who euer sawe feare cause a bloody sweate burst out from euerie member Affect O vnspeakable goodnes ô incomprehensible loue was euer the like seene or heard what louer was euer like to this louer of mine O my soule my soule how comes it to passe that we can be so little affectionate so intolerably vngratefull as not to be inflamed nay not at all to be touched with or seeme to be concerned in this vnheard of argument of affection shewen by a person so infinitly great to vs so extreamely litle vile and miserable how become we so obliuious as to forgett this memorable fact how so vngratefull as not to be willing to correspond by enduring with patience such diminutiue crosses contempts contumelies contradictions temptations and tribulations aâ— Gods wise prouidence and fatherly loue permitts to fall vpon vs and that too euen for the cure of our sins which are so great and so many THE VII MEDITATION vpon the same subiect THE FIRST CONSIDERATION RVn to him and demand the cause of this his so mortall greif and you cannot be so little kinde nay euen so barbarously cruell as not to ease him so farre as lyes in your power and I thinke you shall receaue from him that alas there is no other cause then that the heauie and numerous burthen of mankinds and of your owne sins presseth so hard vpon him according to his humanitie that it quite in a manner oppresseth him together with the ingratitude of those whom he most loueth yea euen so much as to take vpon him sinne Ponder the heynousnes therof since it appeares too heauie euen for the shoulders of a God Waigh also how greate your owne ingratitude would proue if by sinning you should giue him who loues you best occasion to crie out Tristis est anima mea vsque ad mortem Affect Confesse then with S. Augustine saying Ego ego dulcissime Iesus sum tui plâ—ga doloris tuâ—e culpa occisionis They are my sins deare loue which are the cause of thy so great greife mine the guilt thine the punishment ô strange censure strange disposition of an vnspeakable misterie the wicked offends the iust is punished the guiltie goes scotfree and the innocent is beaten man commits and God endures how farr how farr ô son of God will thy humilitie descend how farr will thy charitie burne what end will thy pietie haue to what degree of miserie and torment will thy loue and compassion leade thee ah euen for all these and for this thy vnheard of greife I
torments but solace my smale sufferances in the same THE XXI MEDITATION Our Sauiours Prayer vpon the Crosse Father pardon them c. 1. Point COnsider how our high preist who is now readie to sacrifice himselfe a torne and bloodie host such as you haue seene him for the sinns of his people begins first to offerr vp his praiers for them to his heauenly father saing Pater dimitte illis non enim sciunt quid faciunt Father pardon them for they know not what they doe Affect O ineffable mercie mildnesse and longanimitie While their inhumanitie hath left him neither hand nor foote free he wantes not a tongue to pleade for his persequutors peace and reconcilement O my soule let vs Learne le ts learne by this example to pardon our enemies be the offence neuer so great 2. Point Consider that thus it was that our Sauiour Iesus Christ taught vs from the Crosse euen amidst his greatest torments when the most innocent person that euer liued receiued the most barbarous treatie that euer malice inuented and euen in such circumstances this lesson of praying for our enemies c. he left vs to followe Obserue with shame how we Christians complie with it Is our first addresse to God when we meete with Crosses tribulations contradictions c. Is our first sute for pardon for those that iniure vs Doe we studie to finde out some excuse for them or rather doe we not indeede fall to muttering and murmuring and impatience and euen offend God by returning euill for euill because others offende vs In lieu of pardoning or begging pardon for them doe we not desire and seeke for reuenge Doe we not insteede of extinuating striue by the sophistrie of the Diuell to aggrauate little and inconsiderable deedes words or mistakes And yet we are not Christs we are not innocencie it selfe yea contrarily we are faultie enough and as subiect to doe as to receiue iniuries Affect Alas alas my soule the Copie hath no resemblance with the originall it s as farre differēt as light from darknesse This is not to expresse Christ in our actions but the Diuell his mortall enemie It is but in words and in name to professe Christ and infacts to denie him and to sweare with S. Peter that we know not the man whose language wee speake whose liuerie we weare and beare his name And yet this was a lesson he alwaies taught in his life A lesson which he preached and practised dying A lesson which he left written in letters of blood for vs to practise after his death Resolution I vvill pardon such and such a vvrong in memorie of this excessiue mercy THE XXII MEDITATION Of the Ievves tauntes scornes and blaspheamies 1. Point Consider how their tygerish rage runs still on against this innocent dying Lambe which mutters not The streames of blood which flowe downe from euery part gluts not their malice extreame torments which their rude violence puts him to appeases not their furie It seemes not enough to their hellish madnesses to leaue no member without its torture vnlesse they fill his eares and hart with scoffes and scornes and blasphemies If he be the king of Israel let him come dovve from the Crosse and vve le beleeue him If thou beest the sonne of God descend from the Crosse He saues others and cannot saue himselfe Vau avvaie vvith him vvho destroies the Temple and vvithin three daies builds it vp againe Affect Ah my deare dying Lord what extreamitie of torment is this that thou sufferest for me and by thine owne nation what hart conceaues not an absolute detestation against those most barbarous bloodsuckers yet beware my soule that by the same iudgement which thou zealously conceauest against them thou condemnest not thy selfe Looke home and see with confusion whether a great part of that rage that malice that madnesse be not lodged in thine owne hart As often dost thou crucifie him with them as thou preferrest the concupiscence of the flesh concupiscence of the eyes or pride of life before him And as often dost thou add new woundes ouer and aboue the wounds they inflicted as often as thou comest downe or callest others downe by ill example or counsell from the Crosse which is putt vpon them for Gods glorie or despairest of his power to be able to helpe thee in thy greatest Crosses afflictions and temptations Let sinne therefor be most hated as it is indeede most criminall and truly put thy Christ to death 2. Point Consider that though this so hugely afflicted person is he who is only said to be free and subiect to no restraint yea he who alone giues power to others to tye and vntye hath often been tyed for our loue and our libertie as in the stable in poore clothes in the garden and from thence to Annas Caiphas and Herods howses in cordes in the Pretorie to the Pillorie to be whipped yet neuer was my deare Lord and spouse so closely and cruelly tied and torne as I see him here vpon the hard Racke of the Crosse where he neither findes nor hopes for any case or libertie at all but that which he must purchace with the price of his life when death shall free his afflicted soule out of his barbarously tortured body Affect Ah my soule must thy deare Lord treade the wine presse alone Must thy Master and Redeemer who is alone free among the dead purchace him selfe and thee libertie by the losse of his owne life And must the bounden slaue liue still at libertie and ease Whereas indeede we are neuer free so long as we liue vnder false libertie which is true slauerie and not vnder the true seruitude of Christ which is true libertie Gods seruice is a true raigne Happie saith your holy father is that necessitie or tye which compels vs to better vnhappie that libertie which lyes open to our ruine Resolution My calling is and shall be my happie Crosse to vvhich the consideration of these cords shall tye me for my Masters loue and honour for euer Hic habitabo quoniam elegi eum Here vvill I euer dvvell because it vvas mine ovvne choice THE XXIII MEDITATION Of the Princes of the people and Priests blaspheamies 1. Point COnsider that though all these bodily torments of my deare innocent crucified Lambe be inormiously greate beyond all measure yet they are but as it were the body of torment whereas the life and soule of torment indeede is the torment of the soule Those cruell Deicides tooke him they bound him they haled him they boxed him they whipped him they spitt in his face they crowned him with thornes they nailed him hand and foote to the Crosse they brought him to the verie doore of death but all this was performed vpon his bodie But when he heares his Fathers power and loue to him called into question by the Princes and Preists and People saying he saies he is the sonne of God in him he is confident let God now deliuer him if he will
inferiour motiues We offer gale to Christ when we complie with the world more then with his loue We offer a mixed cuppe of vineger and gale when we thinke to serue God and Mammon to liue piously and yet follow our owne inclinations passions and pleasures In fine we offer vineger and gale to Christ when knowing much we performe but litle knowing his blessed will we endeuour not to accomplish the same 2. Point Considera Noe sooner was this inhumane and barbarous present made but my sweete Sauiour pronounced againe Consummatum est all is consummated or ended All the ancient sacrifices types and figures For here the true Abel is slaine by his owne brother The harmelesse Ioseph is sold to the Ismaelites The saueing Noe is turned naked and mocked by his owne children The innocent Isaac is sacrificed by his owne father being otherwise the same Fathers onely hope and ioy So that vpon the Crosse we find the accomplishment of them all Affect To witt my soule our deare all-sauing Noe may seeme to conceiue the Deluge ouer because he drawes neere to the periode of his life sending out this voyce as a gentle doue to bring the good tydings of the same All is accomplished Our peace my soule is neere vpon the point of being concluded with his heauenlie father Our saluation is neere at hand O how many haue desired to see what we now see and to heare the Consummatum est which we haue the happinesse now to heare and yet saw and heard it not Resolution We wil be for euer thankfull for this so singular a grace which God out of his free mercy pleased to bestow vpon vs. THE XXVIII MEDITATION Of the same subiect 1. Point COnsideration All is accomplished or fulfilled All the Prophecies He hath giuen his body to the strikers and his cheekes to those that boxed them He hath not turned his face away from rebukers and spitters He hath bene despised and made the most abiect of men He hath borne our infirmities we haue seene him as à leper and strucken of God He hath putt vpon him the iniquities of vs all He hath bene offered because he himselfe would and opened not his mouth He hath bene ledd as a sheepe to slaughter and as a lambe before his shearer His soule hath laboured he hath bene reputed with the wicked and deliuered his soule vp vnto death As the Prophete longe agoe foretold We haue seene him in his thirste presented with vineger and gale We haue seene lotts cast vpon his garments We haue seene him à worme and not a man a reproche of men and out-caste of the people We haue seene him compassed with calues and dogges and beseiged by fatt bulls We haue heard him crye out my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Euen as it was foretold by Dauid Affect Is it not true then my soule that all is consummated all the Prophecies fulfilled Is it not true that sicut audiuimus sic vidimus that what was foretold we haue seene accomplished Is it not true that all these testimonies are made but too too credible exceeding apparant to all the world But ah my Iesu thou dearest Authour and Consummatour of our faith Is it not true too that thou didst strugle through strange cōtradictions the while for my sinnes for my saluation for the loue of me Ah this consummation was purchaced at too too deare a rate If euer I forgett these abismall labours let my right hand be forgotten and let my tongue sticke to my iawes if I euer cease to magnifie these ineffable mercyes of thyne 2. Point Consideration All is accomplished in fine to witt the whole law for our good law giuer came not to breake the lawe but to accomplishe it nor is the accomplishment of the Law any other thinge but the loue of God and our neighbour nor can any expresse a greater loue then to lay downe his life and such a life the life of a God not for friends neither but for enemyes for vnworthy seruants for loste slaues and that too in circumstances of greatest tormentes abismall abandonnements infamie and scorne Affect Yes the Law is indeed accomplished my soule since loue is the fulnesse accomplishment and perfection therof as to dye for the beloued is the fulnesse and perfection of loue Our louing Lawgiuer then hath performed his owne law in perfection since he dyes for loue and that not for his friendes onely but euen for his enemyes euen while they persecuted him to death Ah how pure how generous how disinteressed is this loue of his He finds himselfe forsakem by his Father and yet he is noe lesse readie to dye for his loue and honour He finds vngratefull man paying his loue and labours with iniuries and yet for his loue he will lay downe his life This ought to be the rule of our proceeding We must not lesse loue and serue God because he seemes some tymes to leaue vs in afflictions in temptations c. nor leaue off to loue our neighbour because he renders euil for good Noc for our ayme and obligation is to accomplishe the lawe with Christ and the accomplishment of the law is loue THE XXIX MEDITATION 1. Point COnsideration Finally all is consummated his obedience to his heauenly father euen vnto death and the death of the crosse All the great worke of mans redemption imposed vpon him and imbraced by him with such an infinite measure of charitie that he was pressed and oppressed by the same till he accomplished it All his labours and paynes and dolours All the mysteries of infirmitie and documents of vertue Affect It s true my deare Sauiour the lesson of obedience is cōsummated Thou hast left vs so perfect à paterne of it that contempt scorne ignominie tormentes death it selfe could not shake it Thou hast bene in labours from thy youth and thy paynes and dolours haue increased with thy yeares Thou hast past through all the Mysterie and as I may say all the miseries of infirmitie a cold stable a hard manger a locke of hay poore cloutes heate cold hunger thirst and much bodily wearinesse And thou hast left vs all the documents of vertue of humilitie myldnesse pouertie patience c. so that thou mightest wel say to mans hart what could I haue done to my vinyarde which I haue not done And we should as we might most iustlie answer nothing deare Lord for thou hast absolutly performed all that might be glorious to thy heauenly father all that might conduce to our plentifull redemption and spirituall instruction and putt the highest commendations vpon thy loue to poore man that could be putt by cruel torments streames of bloud and the most infamous death of a God 2. Point Consideration Hitherto hath my sweete Sauiour looked vpon his heauenly father as a sterne Iudge by whom he is smitten as he himselfe professes saying propter scelera populi mei percussi eum for the sinnes of my people I strucke him By whom
it and tyde it out 20. Nay my deare crucified Loue thou art indeede smitten by him for the sinnes of his people but thou art not forsaken we haue thyne owne word for it He that sent me is vvith me and hath not forsaken me He will within a short space deliuer thee and glorifie thee Wert thou forsaken by him thou wert forsaken by thy selfe too since thou art one and the same God with him and all your outward actions are common Thou hast povver to lay dovvne thy life and to resume it at thy pleasure Thou art thus treated and sacryficed because thou thy selfe wouldst Ah saith that louing seruant of thyne S. Augustine who is he who so easily sleepes when he would as Iesus dyed when he would who is he that with so much facilitie putts off his garment when he would as thou puttest off thy garment of flesh when thou wouldst 21. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me was noe complainte then but a voyce of the humanitie which yet was neuer separated from the Diuinitie which broke out from the excesse of his anguish Noe repining against his heauenly father but a lesson and reproche to vs my soule who see and heare these abismall excesses with drye eyes as not concerned wheras indeede the whole concernement is ours who had bene abandonned for euer had not our deare Lord for our loue for the loue of lost man dayned to be thus abandonned 22. A strange lesson making an absolute demonstration of the haynousnesse of sinne which can neuer be better knowne then by the inestimable greatnesse of the price and the ineffable strangenes of this abandonnement But a shamefull reproche if after the due consideration of this we liue in league with sinne and therby crucifie againe our crucified Loue. 23. A lesson pronunced with a loude voyce to strike through man's huge deafenesse to rouse vp his ingratitude and insensibilitie But a reproche if he remayne still deafe to so diuine instructions vngratefull for such heauenly benefits senselesse of such prodigious torments of a God 24. A lesson speaking a greater measure of sufferance and consequently a greater excesse of loue then euer the thoughts of men or Angells were able to reach too so that if the rest of his benefits of his Natiuitie c. putt a great waight vpon Christian harts and presse them to loue this seemes not so much a great waight as euen an intolerable and insupportable burden and doth not so much presse vs to loue as euen oppresse and beare vs to it by a dearely sweet force For here indeede God the Father putts the greatest commendation vpon his charitie that euen omnipotencie it selfe was able to putt While that Sainte of Saintes to whom Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus is sung in his Kingdome is abandoned in this direfull soyle to the excesse of torments and left dying for a sinner While he spares not his owne onely sonne but deliuers him vp for an vngratefull vngracious sinfull seruant while finally God is exposed and left to be murdered by and for miserable man But a most confounding reproche if at this moment we make not strong resolutions to deteste and forsake for euer that tyrannicall Monster sinne which putt our Lord and Master our best Benefactour our dearest spouse to such excesse of torments that they forced from him My God my God vvhy hast thou forsaken me 25. In so much that he the fountaine of liueing water is exhaust and waxen drie and he cryes out sitio thinke in this you heare him say t was I that created the sea fountaines all other moistures 't is I that rule the clowdes and powre downe rayne in due seaon T is I that offered the Nectarian cupps of eternall beatitude to Angells and Saintes and yet beholde for your sake haue I not a droppe of colde water to coole my exceeding heate But aske him and peraduenture he 'le tell you that his thirst is after another thing to witt Mans redemption for his meate and drinke was to haue his fathers will performed which was Mans Saluation Or els he thirsts after more sufferāce sitio that is notwithstanding these horrible paines and desolations which you haue seene me endure notwithstanding that the blood of my bodie is quite exhaust yet remaines the desire I haue to suffer for Man insatiate and readie to embrace a thousand deathes 26. O loue which alwaies burnest and art neuer extinguished burne my hart burne it wholie that it may liue only for thee and loue only thee and for thee And we my poore soule haue we nothing to offer to our loue our spouse in this his extreamitie haue wee nothing that may helpe to quench his thirst ô yes his drinke is his heauenly fathers will and his fathers will is whatsoeuer good we doe or suffer whether it be a deuout thought a sigh a teare spent in the consideration of this B. Passion or it is a taunt a scorne an infirmitie a temptation a reprehension an affliction corporall or spirituall tolerated for his loue or it is a fast a prayer a vigill a mortification an act of obedience a worke of Charitie or the like offered vp in his honour all this is an agreeable cuppe vnto him all this doth quench his thirst and can we be so mercilesse and vnkind as to offer none of these or shall we peraduenture be so inhumane and cruell as to present him with the contrarie as the barbarous Iewes doe with vineger and gaule for alas this was all the consolatiō offered him in his exceeding anguish 27. O vos omnes qui transitis viam dicite si est dolor sicut dolor meus ô all you that passe by say whether there be any greife like my greife Dolor from all sortes of men Iewes and Gentiles friends and foes by my Apostles absence and my Mothers presence Dolor in my fame honour and glorie Dolor in Bodie and Soule in euerie part in euerie sense à planta pedis vsque ad verticem capitis non est sanitas in me And yet after all this being thristie gaule and vineger are administred Popule stulte insipiens haeccine reddis Domino Deo tuo ô foolish and brainsicke people is this the returne which thou makest to the Lord thy God What haue I done to thee or what fault haue I committed that thou art so cruell towards me tell me is this a fitt exchange for all the benefitts I haue done thee I deliuered thee safely out of Aegypt I caused the sea make waie to thy drye passage I prostrated thine Enemies I fedd thee in the Desert with that heauenly food Manna I haue taken thy nature vpon me and haue peaceably cōuersed amongst you 33. yeares haueing left as it were for your loue my heauenly Raigne and is a cuppe of vineger and gaule the best present you can find in your harts to bestowe vpon me at my departure Popule stulte insipiens haeccine reddis Domino Deo tuo 28. Ah!
doe not so my soule doe not so but rather wholy offer thy selfe such as thou art to him for verily he hath offered himselfe wholy for thee and inuite earnestly all creatures to praise him Laudate Dominum omnes gentes laudate cum omnes populi quoniam in this act of vnparralled loue and mercie confirmata est super nos misericordia eius at least run to him and craue pardon his fatherly bowels are easily wonne to compassion his louing and royall hart cannot denie a bowne we haue a good proofe of it for euen the theefe his doubtfull demand is accorded and he hath alreadie heard mecum eris in Paradiso A great grace and consolation for poore sinners Demand his benediction before he goe least we may be after forced to complaine with that faithfull Soule heu mihi Domine heu animae mea recessisti consolator animae meae nec valedixisti ingrediens vias tuas benedixâ—sti tuis nec affui Woe is me woe is my soule thou didst depart ô thou comfortour of my soule without bidding me farewell and taking thy iorney thou gauest thy blessing to thy friends and I alas was not present 29 And alas he cannot long now indure for infinite torment possesseth at once euery sense and member see how the weight of his torne and wearie bodie vnioynts his armes and shoulders riueing the holes of his haÌ„ds and feete and harke he cries out Consummatum est Heauenly Father the worke is done for which I was sent my commission is accomplished my Mission is ended The predictions of the Prophetes are verified the types and figures and Sacryfices of the old law are abolished the miracles and wonders wrought the cures finished the debt of all mankind well nigh discharged and an eternall league made betwxit Heauen and earth in myne owne bloud Consummatum est 30. Yes eternall Father for what could I haue done for my vineyeard which I haue not done I haue manifested thy name and truth vnto it I haue taught thy people by word and example seconded and confirmed by wonders and prodigies I haue waded through whole seas of indignities contumelies and contempts and a storme of tormentes haue almost wracked me There is not one member of my body left intire the whole stocke of my bloud is spent the conduites wherin it ran my vaynes are dryed vp and my hart the source is quite drayned my iawes are horce with crying and scarce now is there so much breath left in my body as to giue thee this short accompt of my selfe and my Embasie in saying Consummatum est and so deliuer vp my soule or life into thy holy hands 31. Ah my soule my soule what haue we seene and heard and what doe we now heare The soule of thy Sauiour is readie to be giuen vp for thy sinnes Whither whither hath thy miserie and malice togeither with his mercie and charitie lead thy Lord and thee Thy malice hath run with a stiffe necke into a lande of huge disproportion and his mercy hangs vpon the Crosse with a humbled head bowed downe to receiue thee home with a kisse of peace Thy malice hath run thee out of breath in sinning and his mercy in suffering Thy malice wholy spends its thoughtes vpon rebellion against God and selfe-affliction and his mercy vpon thoughtes of peace and reconcilement Thy malice imployes its words in prouoking Gods wroth and his mercy is exercised in petitioning thy Pardon Thy malice prodigally powres out the last farding of thy substance to loose thy selfe and his Mercy more prodigally the last droppe of the bloud of a God to saue thee 32. Yes yes my soule it was not thought enough to thy Christ for thy loue to haue taken thy nature vpon him to haue bene borne in a stable layd in a manger in humilitie abiection and pouertie to haue conuersed 33. yeares among men as one of them in labours from his youth to haue preached and practised all sorts of vertues to haue sweate bloud to haue bene betrayed taken bound scourged crowned calumniated condemned to a most shamefull death nayled to a most infamous Crosse But he would also stay there till the consummation of all to the last droppe of his pretious bloud to the last breath of his body till he had yeilded vp his Ghost into his heauenly fathers hands 33. Nor is it enough for vs Christians to begin well to run prosperously for a tyme to liue in humilitie pouertie and abiection to watch to fast to pray to practise religious discipline It is to finall perseuerance saluation is promised It is to the coÌ„summation or end of the worke the crowne is giuen Looking then vpon the Authour of our faith and consummatour Iesus be as prompt to suffer with him as to adore him and pray to him Be still as readie for the ignominie of Caluarie as the glorie of Thabot Prefixe noe end to our labours caluminies contradictions temptations c. but that of our life Prescribe noe limit to what euer abiection torment abandonement c. Gods wise prouidence and good pleasure may permitt to fall vpon vs but constantly remayne in the midst of them nayled to our Crosse with Christ dying with him to the world to worldly respects to selfe interests to our selues with him I say who is euen a dying for we haue heard Consummatum est 34. And harke now we heare In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum into thy hands ô Lord I commend my spirit Ay me Ay me my dearest spouse my Loue my life my God is deade Yes my soule he 's deade noe longer can his weake necke susteyne his sacred heade As we haue followed him liuing and looked vpon him dying so let vs now for a sad farewell take our last view of our dead Lord who was slaughtered for our loue Alas he is wholy deformed there is neither beautie nor comlinesse left in that Fairest farre beyond the sonnes of men A gastly palenesse hath seased vpon his glorious face whilome the Angells ioy Wounds gaules goarie bloud wholy couer his Virginall body All whitenesse is fledd from that white Lilie of the vnderualleys totus rubicundus est dilectus meus my Beloued is all redd Be all honour and glorie and benediction and thankes-giuing to that tender Lambe who was slayne for loue Amen AN OBLATION OF the life and Passion of our Sauiour for the remission of sinne O Sweete Iesu I haue alas all the dayes of my life offended thee and haue bene incessantly vngratfull vnto thee my dearest Creatour and Redeemour I haue mangled thy gifts not preseruing them intire nor making a right vse of them but haue hindered thy grace and still added new faults to the old Verilie my offences are exceeding great and many but yet thy mercy is infinitlie greater and without all limite I confesse I am vtterly vnworthy to be called thy sonne I cannot howeuer but acknowledge thee to be my Father as thou truly art and in