both in her life and after her death Blessed Vraca Roderiguez of Vlmes of most noble parentage and exceeding rich entring into a a Church where she heard the words of our Sauiour si vis perfectus esse vade vende omnia quae habes da pauperibus tooke them as said to her selfe and so bestowed much part of her meanes vpon religious houses builded an hospitall conuerting her owne house into a monasterie and giuing all the rest to the poore Afterward she with fiue of her neeces and three other gentlewoemen entred into this order about the yeare 1491. None was more chast than she none more vigilant She exceld all the rest in patience meekenesse mercie humilitie and dayly labours and at last replenished with merits and sanctitie died lies buried in the monasterie she had erected About the same time liued Blessed Agnes à ferro who sometime did attend on the Queene of Aragonia but afterward being weary of the world and despiseing the vaine honours thereof became religious of this third order liuing in great pouertie humilitie and sanctitie In the yeare 1500. Blessed Anne of Areualo was famous for sanctitie in the monasterie of S. Elizabeth of the third order of S. Francis where she liued for a hundred yeares in exceeding great humilitie patience abstinence prayer and charitie About the same yeare liued Blessed Clare of Fulginea famous for pietie and deuotion being very zealous of regular obseruance and often deseruing to be comforted in apparitions by the seraphicall Father S. Francis About the yeare 1515. florished Blessed Catharine Ruiz whose charitie in assisting the sicke sisters was admirable spending all that euer she could get for them yea begging for them and thereby became famous for sanctitie Blessed Anna Sanchez was one of her companions whose deuotion and continuall prayer was much to be admired yet she was of an excellent prudence for gouernement and therfore was sent to be mother or Abbesse in the Cloyster of S. Clement from whence after she had beene there 20. yeares with great labours and toiles leauing the most fragrant odour of her sweet conuersation she returned to her former place where broken and wearied with pennances fastings and continuall prayers she died with great sanctitie the cell and bed wherein she died did for sometime after shine with a great light to the great admiration of those that beheld it About the same time also liued in Placentia Blessed Baptista famous in her life for many vertues and after her death for many miracles especially for that her body remaining entire doth yeeld a most sweet and pleasing smell In the yeare 1519. liued B. Maria Pennalosa in the monasterie of S. Elizabeth in Segouia a woman of a very religious spirit in humilitie prayer and charitie hardly to be equalised who as it is commonly reported in her life time did obtaine life for a yong man that was dead for which and other things she is worshipped there with great deuotion About the same time B. Elizabeth Pontia together with her two daughters both also holy woemen began the monasterie of S. Anne in the prouince of Carthage and by their example did draw many others to Religion And as in their life they had the generall opinion of sanctitie so after their death their Reliques haue deliuered many that had beene possessed as also cured many diseases Blessed Francisca of S. Anne in the yeare 1525. was brought from the monasterie where she had made profession of the third order to the monasterie of the annuntiation at Grinion in the diocesse of Toledo that she might giue a beginning therto and instruct others that were to come in regular discipline and as she had beene abbesse of the former place so was she abbesse of this with woÌ„derfull fruit of soules for she did excell in prudence charitie pietie humilitie affabilitie modestie abstinence and monasticall obseruance B. Lucie about the yeare 1530. did found the monasterie of S. Clare vnder the rule of the third order and was very famous for perfection of life and miracles Her body is had in great estimation with the faithfull in those parts About this time liued Blessed S. Ioane of the holy Crosse whose admirable life is set forth in out vulgar language and therefore here omitted B. Francis liued in the same time of whom Gonzaga thus writes This most vertuous and religious sister Francis was a child of the third order of saint Francis who declining from the innumerable deceits of the fiend did get a glorious victorie ouer sathan and therefore was much feared by him B. Aldonza about the yeare 1566. was famous for sanctitie and after hauing beene abbesse when the sisters were to remoue she prayed that she might die in the same place which she obtained and six yeares after her death her body was found whole and entire yeelding a fragrant odour wherefore she was held in great veneration Blessed Marie Gonsalue in the yeare 1577. died with great opinioÌ„ of sanctitie after she had fouÌ„ded a monasterie of this third order wherein she lead a life of great perfection aswell in seruing the poore as in compassionating their miseries and wants she did alwayes sleep without any bed vnder her exactly obseruing the fasts of the whole yeare with rigorous and bloudy disciplines Blessed Olalia Grinesia was famous for sanctitie about the yeare 1583. For entring into this order and therein desiring the height of pennance she was not contented with the ordinary austerities of her order but inuented new fastings all the lents and vigils in bread and water and three times in the weeke did take bloudy disciplines being much addicted to pouertie and humilitie she would willingly serue all and continually did meditate on our lords Passion and not without teares Lastly falling into a dropsy now fourscore yeares old she died most blessedly The sisters by her reliques did cure very many diseases About the same time liued B. Clare Martineira whost abstinences fastings watchings teares haircloaths rigorous disciplines humble exercises feruent prayers mortificatioÌ„s pious workes most great temptations deuout actâ—oÌ„s celestiall visions diuine fauours frequent miracles both in her life and after her death are set downe by Daza And least I be ouer tedious in rehearsing so many holy persons to omitte many others which may be seene in the martyrologe amounting to two hundred vpwards I will conclude this chapter with Blessed Innocentia who liued in these our times and died in the yeare 1624. This Blessed virgin of noble parents in Cicilie from her infancy gaue her selfe to pietie vertue and temperance obseruing the fasts very strictly and despiseing the pompe and vanitie of this world out of her great desire of perfection entred into this third order giuing very good example of humilitie pouertie chastitie and obedience And by her continuall meditation she was so enflamed with the fire of diuine loue especially when she communicated that she was often rapt into extasie Her body remaines as yet whole and
sleepe seldome or neuer composeing himselfe thereto vnlesse by reading labouring preaching or such like he was forced to it and then in his habit on the ground taking for his pillow the Bible or some stone His great hospitalitie was the cause that his table neuer wanted guesse and those principally of the poorer sort sick or lame in so much that if God had not miraculously prouided for him he could not haue sustained it and for such vpon his owne charges and expenses he would pleade and defend their cause whereupon he was called Aduocate of the poore Notwithstanding all this besides his continuall preachings with great fruit he neuer omitted the quiet peace of minde but addicted himselfe to contēplatiō wherein he was often visited by Angels by whome he had many things reuealed vnto him and at last his owne death whereto he prepared himselfe with great deuotion and with the generall opinion of sanctitie confirmed afterwards by miracles He was canonized in the yeare 1347. taken by them of little Brittany as their Patron who make vse of his name in time of battaile or conflicts as we vse the name of S. George Finally that he was of the third order is manifest by the statute made in the generall chapter of our order held at Lions in the yeare 1351. where it was ordained that his feast should be celebrated on the 27. of october which is the day of his translation Bernardinus a bustis the firmament of the three orders and all the ancient writers of our order make mention of him I neede not here set downe the liues of Blessed S. Elzear and S. Elizabeth Queene of Portugall commonly called peace-maker because they are both extant in our English language Yet for the better content of the Reader I will briefely runne ouer the liues of some beatified saints of this order whose fame is more diuulged through the whole world THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER Contayning the liues of some beatified saints of this order BLessed S. Rose from her infancie began to feare God giuing her selfe to feruent prayer mortification austeritie and pennance and would often substract from her selfe to giue to the poore which God blessed so much that she wrought miracles Whilst she was but a child by the admonishment of our Blessed lady she tooke vpon her the habit of this third order whereby she suffered great persecution both from her father friends and cocitizens for she was therefore exiled the cittie though after ward by reason of her famous miracles and spirit of prophecie she was brought backe againe with great honour Where after many reuelations she died in the yeare 1251. namely at Viterbia where she is famous to this day with innumerable miracles Many Popes haue intended her canonization and the citizens of Viterbia doe keepe her feast with great solemnitie on the 4. day of September And that which most encreases the deuotion of the people is that her body whole and entire is at this day to be seene with haire and nailes which doe continually grow which the religious woemen of the monasterie where her body lies doe cut of turning her body vp and downe without any derriment and which is more miraculous in the yeare 1357. her tombe and all things that were in the chappell where the tombe was yea the habit vpon her backe were consumed with fire which was so vehement that it melted the rings from her finger without doing the least hurt to the holy body Blessed S. Margaret of Cortona was very beautifull had beene giuen to wantonnesse but conuerted to God and lamenting her former life she began to despise all vanities and carnall pleasures and with effusion of teares did implore the mercy of God applying her selfe to good workes especially of cōpassionating the poore and out of her great desire to lead a penitentiall life she humbly begged the habit of the third order which was denyed her for three yeares space aswell in consideration of her former life as yongnesse of yeares but perseuering in her firme purpose she obtained it at length in the yeare 1277. at Cortona and began a new life which was to be admired for choosing a solitarie place she addicted her selfe wholly to abstinencies fastings disciplines watchings and continuall prayer lyeing on the ground hauing a stone for her pillow She went in a poore and humble habit being full of charitie and pittie to the poore oftentimes substracting from her selfe to giue to them And by the continuall meditation of the passion of our Sauiour she obtained the gift of compunction weeping very frequently aswell for her owne sinnes as also for the sinnes of others She was oftentimes troubled by the Diuell appearing to her in diuers formes but was as often cōforted by our Sauiour by our Blessed lady and by the holy angels and strengthened by their celestiall visitations which made her as much to shine in most profound humilitie and high pouertie as in the loue of Christ whereby she was often rapt in extasies and had many reuelations whilst she applyed her minde to the contemplation of diuine things By the spirit of prophecy she did foretell things to come and reueale the secrets of many hearts and consciences being very famous both in life and after her death for many miracles euen to this our time which made Pope vrbane the 8. that now is in the yeare 1623. to put her in the number of the Beatified and to giue licence that the diuine office might be made of her through the whole order of S. Francis Of this order also was that great contemplatiue blessed S. Angela who in this penitentiall habit did vndertake a wonderfull strict way of pennance wherein she was consolated by celestiall visions Being much giuen to contemplation for twelue yeares space she tooke no other food than the Blessed sacrament Her body remaines at Fulginea whole and entire She hath left behinde her many excellent things exceeding the ordinary capacitie of men which are extant in lattin Italian spanish and French and are to be desired in our vulgar lāguage if I doe it not as I much desire to doe I pray God to raise some one that will performe it as a worke very necessary for all religious persons those principally who seeke the way of contemplation as this saint did I omit to speake of many other beatified saincts as of S. Conradus whose office is serued in the whole order and of S. Roch who is held as a canonized saint through the whole Church with many others I will now set downe briefly a catalogue of the principall religious woemen who haue beene famous for sanctitie and miracles in this order according to their yeares which I haue collected out of the Martirologe of the Friar Minors If any list to know more of thē they may read the said martirologe and they shall find what Authors haue written of them THE NINTEENTH CHAPTER Containing a briefe catalogue of the principall holy persons that haue beene in this
and octaues of S. Clare which is not ordinarily granted vnlesse they were patrons or patronesses THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER Of the life and death of Blessed S. Lewis king of France THis glorious saint was borne of blessed parents to wit of Lewis the 8. king of France and Blancha queene of Castile both holy persons in the yeare 1215. being obtained of almightie God by the intercession of our B. lady For his deuout mother who also was of this third order grieuing that she had no children to succeed in the kingdome was persuaded by S. Dominicke to implore the aide and helpe of the B. virgin and to that end instructed her the manner of saying the Rosarie which had newly begunne Her prayers were not without fruit for she obtained her desire in enioying so blessed an ofspring who at twelue years old was crowned king of France yet remained vnder the protection of his mother who would often incultate these words vnto him My most deare sonne I had rather thou shouldest vndergoe a temporall death than by one mortall sinne offend thy creatour Which words tooke such root in his mind that Gods grace so preseruing him he neuer sinned mortally in his life his mother still instructing him in the way of vertue and procureing alwayes some religious men especially Franciscans and Dominicans to be with him that by their example he might be drawne to vertue and pietie And being now of age fit for marriage she prouided a wife for him to the great ioy and comfort of all his subiects but for three nights after his marriage he still continued in prayer bridling his coniugall desire with the feare of God and euer after liued most chastly with his queene Hee was greatly addicted vnto pietie and deuotion daily saying the canonicall houres and much loued humilitie pouertie charitie patience and other vertues studyeing the workes of pennance and mercy liuing in watchings prayers fastings disciplines and haircloath and continually meditateing on the sacred misteries of the Incarnation and Passion of our Sauiour the principall instruments whereof he from all places procured as that of the crowne of thornes great part of the Crosse the Iron of the lance that opened our Sauiours side with many others He was very deuout in hearing Masse and did communicate often and that with such deuotion that he would allure others to pietie so strong in faith thereto that being one time called to behold an apparition of a most beautifull child when the priest did eleuate the holy Sacrament he refused to goe to see it saying that such signes were for those that did not belieue Out of his great zeale of Gods honour he went forth to make warre with the Sarazens wherein at the first he properously proceeded but in the end God so willing he was taken prisoner but by composition being set at libertie in his returne God by his prayer deliuered both himselfe and his company from shipwracke And as in this he shewed his feruent desire to reduce those infidels to the light of faith so he alwayes did defend the Church against its enemies he loued and maintained all religious orders especially those of the Friar minors and Preachers but was a seuere enemie to all heretickes euen to the houre of his death for on his death bed it was one of his last and greatest charges he gaue to his sonne Fili saith he fis deuotus obediens matri nostrae Romanae Ecclesiae summo Pontifici tanquam Patri spirituali be deuout and obedient to our mother the Romane Church and to the Soueraigne bishop as to a spirituall Father It is reported of him that going in pilgrimage to Rome he passed by Perusia to see Brother Giles one of the companions of our holy Father a man of great contemplation who by reuelation vnderstanding of his comming and meeting the king in a disguised habit for he went in a pilgrimes weed he presently most ioyfully receiued him and both falling prostrate to each other and both rising together after an houres space they went one from another Brother Giles being demanded why he did not speake to the king sith he knew him he answered we saw one anothers hearts so clearely that it was not needfull to speake any thing Omitting many other most excellent things in his life I will conclude with his death which was thus In the yeare 1270. hauing receiued all the Sacraments of the Church with great deuotion and casting himselfe prostrate on the ground with a haire-cloath and ashes vnder him holding his hands stretched forth in the forme of a Crosse he gaue vp the Ghost and afterward shined with many miracles especially that of curing the disease commonly called the kings Euill and as some will haue it from him all the succeeding kings haue that vertue For the great vertues and miracles that God wrought by this saint he was canonised by Pope Bonifacius the 8. in the yeare 1298. And that he was of this third order is manifest by all the ancient monuments of our order the whole order hauing alwayes celebrated his feast with peculiar right And Paulus 3. in his Bull Cum à nobis petitur 1547. numbers him amongst the saincts of this third order See the Martirologe of the Friar Minors on the 25. of August THE SEAVENTEENTH CHAPTER The life of S. Iuo Patrone of the lawyers BLessed S. Iuo was borne of noble Parents neere Trecore in little Brittaine in the yeare 1258. who at competent age was sent thēce to Paris where hauing past his studies with praise as well in humanitie as Philosophy and diuinitie he departed thence and went to Orleans to study the cannon law where fearing the occasion of place and companie he began to exercise himselfe in the way of mortification and vertue which much encreased his good fame and esteeme of all men and made the Archdeane of Rhemes to choose him for to be his officiall which office he performed with great applause He euer cherished the poore helped orphans and comforted those that were in any affliction he was a great peacemaker neuer giuing sentence or iudgement but with teares accompanying it as vnwilling to displease any one In all things he did shew his great charitie to the poore and singular loue to God for whose sake he despised all the things of this world Which that he might more perfectly effect he tooke the habit of this third order which humble state made him to leaue his office or place although now he were officiall to the Bishop and retire himselfe to a poore little Parish Church where with more freedome he might be attentiue to diuine contemplation And now going in his poore habit vnder which also he did weare a hairshirt with most strict fasts euen in bread and water very frequently did remaine in extasie and sometimes for the space of seauen dayes together He celebrated Masse with exceeding great deuotion as also the diuine office which he said alwayes at midnight very sparing in
and element containeing themselues within the limits of their natures to the vse of man But that which excelles all is that man was made to the image and likenesse of God that he might alwayes tend towards him and conforme himselfe entirely to his holy will nothing being sufficient to content him saue only God So that beholding himselfe he had occasiō to contemplate the maker of all things and consider the dignitie of his owne soule To be briefe Adam had such great prerogatiues in the state of innocency that he was alwayes vnited to God his soule enriched with grace was pleasing to God his appetite without contradiction was subiect to the lawes of reason his body should have beene alwayes vigorous and strong c. Who is he that beholding this well carued image is not rauished and astonished or can refraine from extolling the honour and praise of the workeman Who can behold so noble a creature not magnify the Creatour who hath made man the ornament of the world the epitomie of the grand vniuerse the loue of heauen the terrour of the diuell cōpaniō of angels sonne of God and brother of Christ Iesus what shall I say more It is impossible to conceiue much harder to declare the preheminence dignity and nobility of man in the state of Innocence when as he was cloathed with that royall robe of originall iustice whereby man was subiect to God all the inferiour powers to reason But alas this did not long continue as is to be seene in the following chapter THE 23. CHAPTER Declaring mans fall from the state of Innocency HOmo cum in honore esset non intellexit comparatus est iumentis insipientibus similis factus est illis Psal 48. Man when he was in honour did not vnderstand he was compared to the foolish beasts and became like to them Adam did not know his excellency and dignity but he became like an irrationall creature without iudgement and transgressed the commands of God by eating of forbidden fruit and so by his disobedience did as it were make a massacre vpon all mankind which thus piously S. Augustine deplores vpon S. Paules epistles O durus durior casus c. ô cruell and more than cruell fall alas what is it that man hath lost what is it that he hath found he hath lost the beatitude whereunto he was created he hath found death from whence he was exempted O infortunate Adam thou hast chased vs out of our country thy sinne hath banished vs into this troublesome desart of cursed earth and from immortall as we were we are become mortals O miserable seruitude inestimable losse insupportable paine and most grieuous torment ô vnfortunate Adam what hast thou done wherefore last thou so soone forgotten the commande of thy creatour transgressed the precept of thy master and trodden vnder foot the law of thy God what disorder what passion what intemperance hath seased on thee that thou couldest not be contented with so great abundance of all good but must needs eat of forbiddē fruit whereas thou mightest at thy pleasure eat of all the rest S. Chrysostome in his homily de Adamo in the person of God doth the same Vbi imago meaprimum for mosa c. where is my image that I haue created so beautifull where is that most pretious ornament of Paradise where is the chiefe worke of my hands where is the liuely heire of my kingdome where now is my familiar friēd O vnfortunate sinne that hath depriued mankind of so great good made him to be cast out of paradise and to be condemned to teares labours griefes and death both in himselfe and all his posteritie No sooner then had man disobeyed God but concupiscence began to raigne and domineere ouer the spirit and the inferiour powers to rebell against reason He who euen now was the most noble and most perfect of all sensible creatures is now become of all the most miserable and because he had rebelled against his God he finds a continuall rebellion within and against himselfe being as the Apostle S. Paule saith Rom 7. venundatus sub peccato sold vnder sinne and he his posteritie deliuered vp to the slauery of originall sinne and tyrannie of concupiscence The flesh is become a remora to the spirit in its course to heauē whereof each one may iustly complaine in himselfe saying I see another law in my members repugning that is rebelling to the law of my minde and captiuating me in the law of sinne making me subiect to the law of sinne that is my concupiscence In so much that vnwillingly and with reluctation I am forced to feele its vitious inclinations and I cannot escape its snares Well hath the wise man sayd Eccl. 40. Great trauell is created to all men and an heauie yoake vpon the children of Adam from the day of their comming forth of their mothers wombe vntill the day of their burying into the mother of all In their whole life they are to suffer many infirmities wants griefes lamentations mournings cares anguishes labours contradictions persecutious wearinesses iniuries rapines slaughters temptations and other innumerable troubles and afflictions in so much that life seemeth no other than a long and continuall death a prolonged death or decaying life I will conclude omitting many yea innumerable euills that haue proceeded from this sinne of Adam and only set downe the ten effects of originall sinne which Cardinall Bellarmime in his booke de amiss gra doth assigne to wit Ignorance in the vnderstanding malice in the will concupiscene in the flesh calamitie labour and paine in the members death in the body anger and wrath of God captiuitie vnder the diuell strifes debates brawlings seditions and warres with our neighbours enmitie and rebellion of irrationall creatures and innumerable euils comming from the heauens and elements O grieuous yoake of mankind THE 24. CHAPTER Declaring how we may reduce our selues to the state of Innocency HAuing thus briefly shewed what the state of innocence was and what we haue lost by Adams sin it is now time to explicate the Popes words afore cited and see how we may be reduced to the state of Innocence The light and Doctour of the Gentils Rom. 5. saith If in the offence of one death reigned by one much more they who receiue abundance of grace and of donation and of Iustice shall reigne by one Iesus Christ Therfore as by the offence of one vnto all men to condemnation so also by the iustice of one vnto all men to iustification of life As if he should haue sayd If by the fault of Adam all his posteritie did incurre the guilt paine of death know that Christ hath exhibited a farre greater benefit for Christ by his grace hath giuen vs greater gifts than Adam by his sinne hath taken from vs. For saith he not as the offence so also the gift For if by the offence of one many died much more the grace of God and the gift in
Psalmist Psal 12. They that troubled me will reyoice if I be moved O doe not offend leaue and misprise God who is your Creatour and Saviour Doe not contristate his B. mother most ready to helpe you and most zealous of your saluation doe not dishonour your Angel Guardian who most sincerely loues you keepes you most carefully and admonishes you most faithfully rather to follow and hearken after the suggestions of the diuell than to the most wholsome exhortations of the Angels Doe not make your selues odious and contemptible to the triumphant Church of the celestiall court Doe not yeeld your selues to be a shame mokquerie prey to the most envious most cruell enemies But rather pray with the wise man Eccl. 23. O Lord Father and dominatour of my life leaue me not in their counsell least I fall in the fight of mine adversaries and mine enemies rejoice The 8. is presently to resist in the beginning of the tentation principally in the tentations of the flesh from which as from their obiects occasions incitations and subiects they are incontinently to turne the eies of the spirit and of the body the imagination fancy memorie and convert them to behold and consider some holy and compunctiue things as beholding the crucifix and the Passion the last endes weighing also the breuitie and incertitude of this present life Moreouer they ought to be magnanimous and laudably vindicatiue that so they may afflict the diuells their enemies by so much more earnestly and vncessantly addicting themselues to all workes of vertue principally of profound humilitie Obediēce Charitie by how much more they endeavour to withdraw them from their saluation say with the true warrier Psal 17. I will pursue mine enemies and ouertake them And I will not returne till they faile I will breake them neither shall they be able to stand they shall fall vnder my feete The 9. is to ponder the basenesse impietie and turpitude of tentation and vice and so presently with an indignation turne themselues as from a stinking most detestable carron Euen as a marchant would with indignation refuse iron or dung that the buyer should giue him for gold or balsome so when for our Lord God eternall infinit most worthy and for the most pretious guift of his grace glorie the world the flesh the diuell should propound vaine filthy and base things let them answere with great contemptand not vouchsafe to behold or hear ken to those who suggest such things nay rather according to that which the standard bearer of Christ Iesus Blessed S. Francis hath tought vs let them say to the tempter Open thy mouth and I will cast dong into it The 10. remedie is to discover aswell in confession as out of it what passeth is hidde in they spirit to discreet good and charitable men and humbly obey to their counsells and instructions The tēpter doth seeke meanes to deceiue vs propounding false and perverse things vnder the species of true and good and doth lay snares and guiles wherfore he feares to be discovered For according as Christ hath said in the Gospell Ioan. 3. Euery one that doth ill hateth the light and commeth not to the light that his workes may not be made manifest Wherfore a man hath then almost vanquished the diuell and discouered all his deceits and trecheries when he hath declared all the secrets of his heart to men of iudgement It is also and act of humilitie and discretion in such sort to discouer the interiour and to desire to be wel instructed therein and therfore let them overcome thus the pride of the diuell Many other things may be added as to haue recourse to our B. Lady to the Saincts towards whome they haue particular devotion And principally to haue a serious consideration of the Passion of our Saviour For Christ hath giuen great power and inestimable vertue to his Passion death wherby he hath redeemed humane kind It contayneth in it selfe an infinit merit because by a soveraigne and most ardent charitie most perfect Obedience most profound humilitie most firme patience most strong constancy and most mild spirit he hath submitted himselfe to it his divinitie added to his humanitie did giue to it an immense efficacy of merites wherfore by how much more a man is ioyned to Christ by more humble ardent and strict charitie by so much more abundantly he may participate of his vertues and merits If then they be tempted with any difficulty or rigour of the Order and of its observance as of the hardnesse and austeritie of Religion that it theeme greeuous and painfull to carrie the Crosse and follow Christ let them consider diligently what he hath suffered for them how in his agony for horrour of death he hath shed a bloudy sweat and was sadde euen to death and carrying vpon his owne shoulders the heauie gibbot of the crosse he was most ignominiously ledde to the place of Calvarie If they be tempted with the delights of the flesh or with the desires of pleasure dissolution play sport vnmeasured laughter let them consider the griefe that he suffered for vs when his most delicate flesh was torne even to the opening of his sides and most cruelly rent with the blowes of scourges when his hands and feete were transpierced with rough and great nailes of Iron when his head was crowned with thornes and beaten with a reede If they be tempted with ambition let them consider how for our sakes he became reproch of men and out cast of the people He was mocked with a white garment derided in purple bespitted on his face blasphemed and despiced handled and slaine as the most base and the most wicked amongst men for those who did see him did mocke at him saying Mat. 27. If he be the king of Israel let him now come downe from the Crosse c. If the rigour of abstinence or of fasting be troublesome and painfull to them if they be tempted with more delicate meat or drinke let them remember that they gaue him gall for his meate and in his thirst they gaue him vinagre to drinke Psal 68. If the motion of Pride the impetuositie of impatience or anger assault them because some haue done them iniuries or other contrarieties let them consider how most patiently he hath endured all things when he wa◠carried before Pilate with a mos◠mild heart not saying one word when he was most enormously accused If rancour or motion of envie strike them let them remember how he fastened to the Crosse already environed with anguish and prickings of death and more interiourly transperced did pray for those who crucifyed him If sloath assault them let them call to mind with what ardēt charitie he hath procured our saluation Briefely in all temptations let them interiourly consider what and how great things he hath vndertaken excercised and suffered for our saluation with what most bitter and most cruell death he was slaine and most violently