vs God will not forgiue vs our offences and since this is our owne petition we must take heed we condemne not our owne selues Lead vs not into temptation by permitting our frailty to fall but support vs from falling that is from consenting to sinne Deliuer vs from euill because without Christ we caÌ„ do nothing hauing enemies on euery side of vs the chiefest of all within vs to wit our selues Amen as a seale is added which signifieth Be it so if it please thee And thus much for the literall sense of our Pater Noster Of the Aue Maria. CHAP. IX OF all affections that of the mother to her child is held to be the tenderest By the Aue Maria Charity is vnâ— rstood there being betweene these two the greatest naturall vnion and participation one of the other that can be But if this naturall affection be raysed to a degree aboue nature to wit made spirituall that is a naturall affection refined or purified then without doubt there can be nothing added to the perfection of it In this height of affection which is tearmed Charity doth this B. Virgin loue mankind being euer towards him as a most tender Mother a Mother of Grace a mother of Mercy that is a Mother vnto all those that by her mediation aske mercy To this mother let vs come with an inflamed affection with a feruent desire to imitate her charity and purity Now let vs proceed to the litteral explication of the Aue Maria. In the fiâ—st part is contained an Honorable Salutation of our B. Lady vttered by the Angell Gabriel sent vnto her as a messenger from the B. Trinity about the busines of mans Redemption in which this B. Virgin was a speciall Agent Haile Mary full of grace our Lord is with thee she cannot be saluted by a greater title then full of grace since in it all other dignities are contained The Angel would not call her mother of God for as yet she had not giuen her louing consent to be a mother yet a Virgin Yet in calling her full of grace he did signify that shee was come to such height of perfection as was not to be giuen to any but to the mother of God and he was coÌ„manded so to entitle her by that Diuine Counsell that sent him She is called by the Angell full of grace that all sinners might haue recourse vnto her for grace since being her selfe full we might by our humble prayers touch that vessell that some of those graces might fall vpon our soules Our Lord is with thee in a most eminent manner by desire corporally to inhabit in her to make her the Mother of his only begotten Sonne These words also tell from whome the greeting came from the B. Trinity that made her so admirable a peece of workemanship that out of her was drawne by the hand of the holy Ghost the Humanity of Christ Iesus God and man Our Lord was with her euen at the very instan of her Conception then shewing himselfe vnto her a Lord Protectour in defending her from the originall and generall blemish of mankind Hitherto the Angell Now follow the words of S. Elizabeth admiring and praising the happines of this B. Virgin her Cosen Blessed art thou amongest women For six singular priuiledges which thou mayest apply vnto the six Decades Six priuiledges that maâ—e the holy Virgin Blessed amongest vvomen 1. In being chosen out of thousands from all eternity as most fit to beare the Sauiour of the world 2. In giuing her obedient consent vnto the Angell who spake things she vnderstood not 3. In contayning God the second Person in Trinity nine moneths in her sacred wombe 4. In being a mother remayning a Virgin 5. In hauing her owne maker all his whole life obedient vnto her 6. In being priuiledged immediatly after her death to haue her body reunited to her glorious soule And Blessed is the fruit of thy wombe Iesus This last word explicateth the whole sentence for this Blessed fruit of her wombe was nothing else but swet Iesus â—nd this fruit grew vpon no other â—eethen vpon the B Virgin from whom we receaue this pleasant vitall fruite In this Virgin a Paradise of pleasure these spiritual fruits abound for coÌ„tayning this one fruit which hath the nature of heauenly Manna she satisfieth the tast of all spirituall soules for Iesus is a fruit contayning in it selfe all delightes We come now vnto the last of these three harmonicall parts which is sung by our holy mother the Catholike Church and adioyned vnto the two former parts of the Angel S. Elizabeth Holy Mary mother of God pray for v sinnâ—rs now in the houre of our death Had the Church sayd only Holy Mary pray for vs her high preheminence of being mother of God had bin left out And had it bin only sayd Mother of God pray for vs her Dignity indeed had bin specified but it had not bin made knowne from what lowlinesse she was exalted Luke 8. Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae from the humility and lowlinesse of a hand-maid she was raysed to be the mother of God therefore we say Holy Mary mother of God by Mary signifying her humility by the Mother of God the dignity vnto which her being humble Mary raysed her Pray for vs sinners thou that wert exempt from all sinne thou that beganst the ouerthrow of sinne thou that knowest the malice of sinne being the mother of grace pray for vâ— sinners that haue so ofteÌ„ offended thee by offending thy deare Sonne who deserue nothing of our selues Bernard serm 12. in Apoc. nor can better aske for mercy then through thy Blessed mediation knowing thy Sonne Christ Iesus can deny thee nothing Of thee therfore O blessed Virgin we begge to pray for vs. Now and in the houre of our death By the first word Now we consider our present life the misery and calamity of the same We beseech therfore the B. Virgin to assist vs in this life of misery that we may make this Now a passage vnto happines which shall last for Euer And in the hâ—ure of our death in which we haue most need of her powerfull ayde considering that vpon that instant our eternall estate dependeth This is the time in which the tree falleth where it shall remayne for Euer We may here out of these words reflect vpon the tender loue of the Catholike Church towards all her children aduising them by this prayer which she hath taught them to make recourse vnto so potent a friend as the Mother of God is at this most important houre after which immediatly insueth Euer Let these two words Now and Euer sound in thine eare perpetually Neuer thinke vpon the one but let thy thought imbrace also the other Neuer let thy conceit stay vpon Now to wit vpon this present life and the miseries therof but thinke also vpon Euâ—r to wit the ioyes of heauen prepared for
without help beyond the ordinary power of that age 8. Praying in the Temple she is often visited by Angels 9. She giueth example of all vertue to the Virgins who liued with her 10. She is the first who made a vow vnto God of Virginity II PATER NOSTER The gift Vnderstanding 1. AVE The Hygh Priest with the people pray to deliberate about her now mariageable according to the will of God 2. It is reuealed by an Angell that she should seeke her an Espouse 3. She is espoused vnto Ioseph of the family of Dauid 4. God being pleased with her Humility chooseth her to be the Mother of his sonne 5. The Angell of God telleth her she shall be mother of God remayning a Virgin 6. Behould sayth she the handmayd of our Lord let it be done vnto me according to this word 7. Hauing conceaued she goeth towards the Mountaynes to serue her Cosin S. Elizabeth 8. By her salutation S. Elizabeth and S. Iohn Baptist were sanctified the one prophesying the other exalting for ioy in the woÌ„be of his Mother 9. Her spirit reioycing she singeth Mâ—gnificat c. 10. A little before the birth of S. Iohn Baptist she returneth ioyfull to her house at Nazareth III. PATER NOSTER The gift of Counsell 1. AVE The Angell saith vnto Iosâ—ph Feare not c. because that which shall be borne of her is of the Holy Ghost 2. She goeth towards Bethleem with her Spouse to be enrolled and to pay Tribute vnto Cesar 3. Of her is borne our Lord she wrapps him in clouts layeth him in the manger and giueth him sucke 4. She reioyceth that he is reuealed vnto the Sheepheards she sheweth him vnto them and meditating vpon al these things she keepeth them in her hart 5. The eyght day she causeth her Child to be circumcised the name of IESVS is giuen hâ—m as it was ordayned by the Angell 6. She admireth the adoring of the Kings and receaues their mysticall gifts 7. She presenteth her sonne in the Temple and although most immaculate yet obserueth the law of purification 8 She heareth the prophesy of Simeon who fortelleth vnto her Griefe and to Israel Redemption 9. She flieth with her sonne and S. Ioseph into Egypt 10. She endureth in that banishment much hardnes for the loue of her sonne IIII. PATER NOSTER The gift of Fortitude 1. AVE By the admonishment of the Angell she returneth into the Land of Iuda 2. Fearing Archilaus the sonne of Hâ—rode she retireth her selfe vnto Nazareth 3. She goeth towards Hierusalem to the Temple according to the custome where she lost the Child IESVS 4. After three dayes she finds him in the Temple in the midest of Doctors 5. Contemplate how such a mother conuerseth with such a soÌ„ne for those 30. yeares in which he was subiect vnto her 6. At the Marriage in Cana of Galilee she sayd Sonne they haue no wine wheÌ„ce followed the first miracle of water turned into wine 7 She heareth oftentimes her Sonne preaching 8. She seeth him worke miracles and reioycing giueth the glory vnto God 9. She heareth the woman say Blessed is the wombe that bare thee 10. Her soÌ„ne reuealed vnto her the most cruell death which he was shortly to vndergoe V. PATER NOSTER The gift of Knowledg 1. AVE Her sonne takes his last leaue of her going towards his death he comforteth her and giues her his Benediction 2. She vnderstands that her soÌ„n is betrayed by Iudas and taken by the Iewes and carried and drawn from tribunal to tribunal 3. She behoulds him whipped crowned with thornes shewed to the people Behould the man 4. She heares the cry of the people Crucify him and free Barabbas 5. She meets her sonne on the way with his Crosse vpon his shoulders who was conducted in hast to Mount Caluary 6. She seeth or at the least heareth the blowes of the hammers with which her sonne was crucified 7. She suffereth with her sonne who betweene two theeues was lifted vp on the Crosse whilest she beares him company vnder the Crosse 8. She heares her Sonne saying Woman behould thy sonne to wit S. Iohn being pure man insteed of the sonne of God 9. She seeth her sonne giue vp his last breath vpon the Crosse his side being opened with a launce after his death 10. Contemplate how she receaued into her armes the body of her sonne taken downe from the Crosse by deuout persons and with her teares she washeth it VI. PATER NOSTER The gift of Piety 1. AVE To her first of all as most worthy Christ appeareth being gloriously risen accompanied with many Saints 2. She is often visited by him in those 40. dayes before his Ascension 3. She accompanieth her Sonne with her eyes and most deuoutly with her hart whilest he ascends into heauen 4. She expects the Holy Ghost with the Apostles comforting confirming them in their faith 5. After the Ascension of her sonne she often visits those places in which her sonne had bin and there she renewes her greife 6. Being ariued to the age of 63. yeares her dâ—parture out of this life is reuealed vnto her by her sonne 7. Before she dieth she behouldeth all the Apostles present she giuen them her last salutation and recommends vnto them the Church 8. Christ descends from heauen to meet and receaue her and she is carried into heauen by Angells 9. She is exalted aboue the Quiers of Angells and crowned Queene of all Saints 10. Sitting at the right hand of her sonne in great glory she prayeth for the Church appeaseth the wrath of God whilest our sinns prouoke him to reuenge VII PATER NOSTER The gift of the Feare of God 1. AVE Next vnto God the Father she is most potent 2. Next vnto God the Sonne she is most wise 3. Next vnto God the Holy Ghost of most goodnesse and of most ardent Charity Laus Deo B. Q. V. M. FINIS
the best we haue since indeed we giue it not but restore it to him of whome we haue receaued it Consider that the great giftes offered to her Blessed SoÌ„ne by the three Kings were by the B. Virgin and her Spouse speedily giuen away in almes since two Doues were now the best gift they had to offer Holy Simeon receauing his Sauiour into his armes singeth Nunc dimittis Luc 2. now thou doest dismisse thy seruant O Lord â—ecause mine eyes haue seene thy â—aluation This holy Saynt haâ—ing seene his Sauiour desired not to liue any longer Here setâ—ing before thine eyes Happines which is the vision of God the Miseries of this world make resoâ—utions worthy of thy choice Our B. Lady hearing both holy Simeon Anne to prophesy of the greatnes of our Sauiour stood withall humility in the Temple conuerting none of all these praises to her selfe who was â—udged worthy by heaueÌ„ to beare â—his Sauiour of the world Lastly her behauiour towards al that were preseÌ„t in such a concourse of praises admirations was such as she endeauoured to make them esteeme of her but as of an ordinary woman who needed Purification The Assumption CHAP. VI. The sixt Feast FIRST the most happy soulâ— of this B Virgin separated froÌ„ her body by death is by Angelicall powers transported vp to heauen In like triumph her body by singular priuiledge is carryed vp by Angels and in all happines reunited to her soule Reflect vpon the ioy at this vnion applauded by the three Persons in the B. Trinity and all the Quiers of Angels and Saintes At the hands of her glorious Sonne she receaueth a Crowne of eternall blisse She is placed at the right hand of her Sonne and proclaimed Queene of Heauen Lastly endeauour thou by al meanes possible to make this Queene of glory adored also heere on earth by drawing and exhorting as many as thou canst to deuote themselues vnto her And thus by these six feasts I haue giuen thee some light how to apply any mystery to thy Beads But wheÌ„ thou art growne expert in this kind of Prayer thou mayest either saying thy whole Beads meditate vpon one only mystery as for example the Conception of this B. Virgin or else thâ—u mayest apply to euery decade or ten one of these mysteries so in thy six decades thou shalt runne through all the six mysteries And thus much concerning the Beads consisting ordinarily of six decades Now we will passe vnto the Rosary consisting of 15. Decades or 150. Aues and of 15. Pater nosters OF THE ROSARY THE Rosary The Rosary which diuers Sodalities both Religious secular daily vse is made of 15. Dâ—cades or fifteen tymes 10. Aues and 15. Pater nosters is deuided into three Crownes ech crowne containing fiue Dacades of Aues and fiue Pater nosters And to proceed with the first fiue we will apply vnto it the fiue Ioyfull mysteries to wit The Annuntiation Visitation The Natiuity of our Lord his Presentation his finding in the Temple Which fiue mysteries are to be applyed to the first Crown ech mystery to a seuerall Decade Of the first Ioyfull mystery which is the Annuntiation CHAP I. CALL to mind the History of the Annuntiation The first ioyful mistery Luke 1. as it is recorded by the Euangelist in which narration six points are remarkable First the ConsultatioÌ„ made in heauen by the three Diuine Persons in Trinity how they might assist man and bring him againe into the way of saluation and no other meanes was found more expedient then that the second Person of the B. Trinity should become man Consider then the obedience of the Angell in vndertaking and discharging the Embassage he was willed to beare vnto the Virgin Mary dwelling in Nâ—zareth as also how the Angell carryed himselfe towardes this chosen Queene he discoursing with her in an humble low voice briefly and grauely after the manner of treating with Princes Likewise her Virginall modesty beinâ— troublâ—d at the merueilous speaches of the Angell and her deep si ence Luke 1. considering with her selfe what a kind of salutation this was Againe Her singular wisdome â—aving with her selfe Quomodo fiet istud How shall this be done conioyned with a purpose of purity because she knew not man Also her holy feare Feare not O Mary thou hast found grace before God for that the holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the highest shall ouer-shadow thee Lastly contemplate vpon the meruailous fruitfulnes promised her in giuing her consent The obedience of the B. Vâ—rgin highly revvarded Behold thou shalt conceaue and bring forth a Sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus End this point with admiration at the B. Virgins exceeding promptnes and humility Behold the handmayd of our Lord her courage Let it be done vnto me Her faith and confidence According to thy word and lastly her deuout thankes-giuing My soule doth magnify our Lord. The Visitation CHAP. II. The secoÌ„d ioyfull myâ—tery SET before thine eyes the first pilgrimage of our B. Lady in visiting her Cosin S. Elizabeth mother of S. Iohn the Baptist wherin consider these six points applying one to euery Decade First contemplate the B. will of God to be that this iourny should then be vndertaken by the B. Virgin to sanctify S. Iohn by her gracious salutation The B. Virgin knowing it to be the will of God that she should take this iourney sodenly without any delay rose vp went into the mountaines by the which the holy Fathers vnderstand perfection in all vertue at which the whole EuaÌ„gelical law aymeth 3. Make thy selfe present and see the pious strife betweene these happy women allied neerer in vertue then in bloud endeauouring each one to exceed in acts of humility and charity 4. If vve be forced to discouer our ovvne vvorth let vs do it as rather beâ—ng mortified thâ—n pleased to make knovvne vnto oth rs vvh re our measure lyeth The glorious mother of God although she could not hide from her Cosin the greatnes wherto she was called yet her humble manner of disclosing it was such as could not proceed but from the mother of God replenished with all grace and vertue 5. Then consider the vertues practised by the B. virgin for the tyme that she stayed with S. Elizabeth which was three months 6. And out of ech of these flowers sucke like an industrious Bee some sweet document and admiring this Virgin-Mothers vertues and those of S. Elizabeth namely their deuotion diligence courtesy humility most humbly demaund grace now to be both prayser and follower of their vertues and after thy death partaker of their glory The Natiuity of our Lord. CHAP. III. The third ioyfull mistery GOE and put thy selfe into the company of sheepheards and by thy humility and pouerty dispose thy selfe for the inuitatioÌ„ of Angels to go and behold in poore BethlieÌ„ the King of Kinges thy Sauiour and Reedemer
mother of them Deuote thou thy selfe by the imitation of these thy holy predecessours vnto this B. Virgin that thou mayest also find her a Mother and mediatrix of Grace 6. Lastly let thy soule affect with an extraordinary loue this holy mother of Grace particulerly in this her sweet departure out of this life and in her miraculous Ascension begging by the merits of them both that she will assist thee with her potent care at the hower of thy death that thou maiest enioy her for euer in blisse The Coronation of our B. Lady CHAP. XV. SINCE thou art to contemplate vpon this high mistery of the Coronation of the Queene of heauen The fifth glorious Mystery dwell willingly in those celestiall parts with thy mind and till thou hast accomplished thy deuotion looke not downe vpon earth nor to the distractions it beareth and say vnto thy mind with holy Macarius the Eremite Thou hast Angels Archangels Cherubims Ioachimus Perionius in vita and Seraphims yea God himselfe for thy obiect Make therfore for a while thy aboad in heauen since no where can be found so noble obiects But it were too much for thee to haue thy mind so obedient vnto thee as this Blessed Saintes was which for the space of two whole dayes togeather remayned fixed vpon those heauēly delights without any distraction at all 1. First behold this celestiall Queene in this day of her Coronation most beautifully adorned withall perfections both of mind and body all the blessed inhabitants of Heauen attending her reioycing at the increase of her glory If these happy soules be so ioyfull at their Queenes exalting what oughtest thou to be since thou art farre off from that happines and desirest to attaine vnto it by her mediation 2. Behold the three Blessed Persons in Trinity ioyntly cooperating to the triumph of this glorious Virgin all of them placing with one consent a Diademe of glory vpon her head the reward of her faithfull seruice to their Deity in this world And meruaile not at the extraordinary glory she is endued with but consider the high vocation she was called vnto and in how great a busines she was imployed in this world and how completely she performed the same 3. Contemplate the allegiance which all the Orders of Angels with the rest of the Blessed Soules in Heauen performed to their new crowned Queene all singing her praises and extolling her dignity worthines 4. This crowne of glory imagine to be her most perfect beholding of Almighty God The B. Virgins Crovvne as much as any pure Creature can do receauing from him as from the fountaine of al glory light these her beames of brightnes 5. According to the capacity of euery soule glory is infused some are more glorious then others and yet all full of glory This glorious Virgin was full of grace heere vpon earth and therfore must needes be full of glory in heauen which fulnesse of glory proceedeth from the happy vision of Almighty God which she enioyeth according to the large measure of her merits 6. Lastly reioyce in the highest degree thou canst at the happy estate of this Queene of Glory and thinke no small happines redoundeth vnto thee since thou hast chosen for thy Patronesse Aduocate one so glorious and powerful and renew thy feruent desires to serue her with all fidelity laying open before her eyes of mercy thyne afflictions begging redresse at her mercifull hands by her potent intercession to her Sonne And thus I haue brought thee to an end of these considerations vpon the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary which as thou hast seene are deuided into Ioyfull Sorrowfull and Glorious the which thou mayest not vnfitly apply vnto the three Estates of men in this world The application of these mysteries who carefully worke their saluation to wit of those who begin those who profit those who are perfect the which three estates are termed by spirituall men the Purgatiue Contemplatiue and Vnitiue For by the Sorrowfull mysteries we may comprehend griefe for our sinnes past which is the way to purge vs since pennance is the next bath vnto Baptisme By the Ioyfull we may vnderstand Contemplatiue when we meditate and ponder vpon those Mysteries which are full of ioy And lastly to the Glorious we may fitly apply the estate of Vnion with Almighty God since Glory is nothing but an effect of this happy Vnion vnto which we all aspire it being the end wherto we were created OF THE SEAVEN Wordes of our Sauiour vpon the Crosse applied vnto the seauē Dayes of the Weeke HAVING ended the Rosary I intend to lead thee into the contemplation of the seauen words spoken by our Sauiour vpon the Crosse applying ech word or sentence to a seuerall day of the weeke that thou mayest the better harken vnto this sweet Sauiour of thine who neuer leaueth preaching vnto thee For vpon his bitter Crosse he teacheth thee these diuine documents shewing euen at his death the exceeding loue he bare vnto thee being then most mindfull of thee that thou mightest the oftener remember him and chiefly vpon his Crosse THE FIRST VVORD Pater ignosce eis quia nesciunt quid faciunt Father forgiue them for they know not what they do CHAP I. FIRST consider the exceeding loue of our Sauiour shewed in Luke 23. these wordes A meditation for Sonday whose afflictions although they were extreme could not make him forget our misery but that crowned with thornes torne with whippes wearied out with paines his sacred hands and feet pierced with grosse nailes he would yet beg pardon for his enemies neglecting his owne painfull estate Loue this louing Sauiour of thine and loue him ardently since thou canst neuer loue him inough who loued thee so entierly 2. He seeketh all meanes possible how to obtaine their pardon for he calleth vpon God by the name of Father a name of meekenes a name of mercy as if he should say I thy obedient Sonne who suffer heere vpon the Crosse call vpon thee my Father to forgiue them for they know not what they do In imitation of thy Sauiour forgiue thine enemies endeauour to make others to do the like diminishing their errours hiding their offences 3. Consider that our Sauiour did not only pray for these present persecutors of his but for all who euer did or shall offend him euen from our first Parents to the worlds end imagin that when thy deerest Sauiour pronounced these words he beheld euery particuler sinne of thine pondered the circumstances considered the occasions and marked the great malice of thy sinne in despising him and preferring before him some idle transitory pleasure and yet would aske thy pardon so earnestly excusing thine offence Oh then loue this ardent louer weep bitterly that euer thou hast offended him 4. One only offence in the Angells was eternally punished God more seuere to Angels then to men and yet for thy many offences
forsaken me That all men may be redeemed let all Iesus be tormented The most innocent tongue of Christ suffered also for vs. that no part may want his speciall redeemer especially the tongue the instrument of so many offâ—nces of detractions bearing false witnes of impure words and oftentimes denying Christ this petition was heard Math. 27. and incontinently one of them running tooke a spunge filled it with vinager and put it on a reed and gaue him to drinke 5. In the three first Words our maister Christ Iesus recommeÌ„ded vnto vs three great vertues Charity towards our enemies Mercy towards those who are miserable and Piety towards our Parents In this fourth Word he coÌ„mendeth vnto vs Humility a vertue most necessary for all men and where could he shew vs more humility then in these words My God my God why hast thou forsaken me For here Christ sheweth through the permission of God all his glory and excellency to be quite obscured before the face of the whole world as appeared by those strange obscurityes in the heauens Vidimus gloriam eius saith S. Iohn we haue seene his glory Iohn 1. but it was not heere where he saw it Great was the difference betweene mount Tâ—abor and mount Caluary in one Christ could not be seene for light in the other he could not be seene for darknes 6. Lastly consider that this darknes was light to some being an argument of beliefe meanes to the light of faith Learne out of this to make thy best of euery thing If light may be gathered out of darknes farre easier may vertues be drawne out of afflictioÌ„s which although they be brought vnto vs by a certaine necessity yet may we make this necessity a vertue by our intentioÌ„ giue life to that which otherwise would haue bin a dead action THE FIFTH VVORD Sitio I thirst CHAP. V. HAST thou not yet my sweet Sauiour receaued torments inough A meditation for Thursday Will that Thirst of thy diuine loue towards man neuer be extinguished O dolorous Iesus vnfould this mystery and let our thirsty souls receaue the influence of thy graces that we may thirst after nothing but thee the fountaine of life 1. First contemplate vpon this word I thirst and take it litterally seeing our Sauiour through the losse of so much bloud could not but feele an exceeding thirst his natural moysture being almost wholly spent his sacred veynes being empty his tongue scarse able to mooue for very drought which forced him to speake in one only word I thirst as if he should haue said In this excessiue torment which I feele of Thirst is there none who will affoard me any refreshment See thy Sauiour in this distresse and still be sorrowfull for thy sinnes that were the cause of these his afflictions 2. I thirst after the consummation of the businesse I haue in hand The cause of his thirst the redemption of man for whose loue I thirst after more torments I thirst after afflictions that men an easy imitation of me should not desire and thirst after offences my thirst is satisfied with gall and vinagre that thine might be satisfied with those heauenly ioyes which I promised thee I am content to endure all hardnes for thee only requiring at thy hands that thou wilt make vse of my sufferings 3. We read in holy Scripture only twice where Christ discouered his thirst once to the Samaritan woman Iohn 4 Iohn 19. and now heere vpon his Crosse in both he discouered his infinite charity towards mankind thirsting after the conuersion of soules he asked drinck of the Samaritan only to giue her occasion by discoursing with him to know that he was able to giue her water of life if she demaunded it and heere he thirsteth the generall good of soules and their true returne vnto him and to the end that may be effected he thirsteth after torments yea death it selfe 4. Desires are well termed thirstes what we desire that we are sayd to thirst after our good desires Christ thirsteth after to haue them perseuere to the end for our euill he thirsteth after the extinguishing of them if our thirst be after heauen how pleasant is it to the soule that thirst is as great a fulnesse as can be possessed in this world where true happines is only possessed by desiring it but if our thirst be after transitory things as riches honours pleasures and the like which the world falsely calleth goods then we shall truly experience that this thirst is a torment and an insatiable desire which is more and more increased by how much more we possesse what we desire 5. Wonder and with greife consider with thy selfe how thou canst behold thy Sauiour in his whole life and passion so ardently thirst after thy saluation and yet thou thy selfe remayne carelesse of the same as if thy saluation were a thing of nothing and that it concerned thee not how thou canst desire and continually thinke vpon gayning those thinges which thou must leaue perchance to morrow and neglect those things which remayne and which in ioy thou mayst possesse for euer 6. Lastly Christ thirsted after that glory which he had voluntarily put oâ— liuing in this vale of misery 33. yeares apparelled in our naturall habit now knowing the end of his pilgrimage to approach he desired the glorious company of his heauenly Father Reflect heere vpon thy selfe and consider that where thy treasure is there is thy thirst thy hart thy desire imitate thy Sauiour in thirsting after heauenly thinges and if there be thy treasure there wil be thy thirst VVhere thy treasure is there is thy thirst but if thy treasure lye vpon earth thy desires also wil be earthly for desires alwaies take their natures from those things which are desired THE SIXT VVORD Consummatum est Is it consummated CHAP. VI. CONSIDER heere a Proclamation for the generall pardon of the sinne of mankind A meditation for Friday endited by the eternall Word written by the finger of God in the paper of our humane Nature vpon the altar of the Crosse sealed with the bloud of the Lambe subscibed by the holy Trinity dated the houre of Christ his death recorded by S. Iohn the Euangelist and pronounced by the mouth of Iesus then crucified in these words It is consummated that is mans ransome iâ— payed Gods wrath is appeased men shall haue mercy grace and glory Gods Iustice is fully satisfied the ruine of Angels repayred mankind made free of heauen Glory be to God peace to men 1. Contemplate heere with holy S. Augustine vpon this place that our Sauiour had an especiall eye and regard vnto those truthes which he had giuen forth by the Prophets Aug. in cap. 19. Ioan. all being euen vntill his death most exactly fulfilled which they had foretold there remayned only to be verifyed his death He confirmeth therfore by this word It is consummated all that had bin said of him
yea euen his death For hauing sayd It is consummated bowing downe his head he gaue vp the Ghost 2. Consider also with S. Chrysostome these words to haue bin sayd in regard of the power of those who had crucified him which was now consummated and ended Rom. 6. Mors ei vltra non dominabitur death shall no more insult ouer him He is freed from his laborious pilgrimage and brought againe vnto that glory which he most willingly left for our redemption The greatest sacrifice of all is now offered and consummated in which sacrifice the Priest was both God and man the Altar was the Crosse the Lambe the sacrifice the fire of this sacrifice was Charity and the fruite of it the Redemption of the world 3. Since we haue seene the exact fulfilling of the prophesies before Christ and that by this very word It is consummated all that was foretold was verified why are we so incredulous of those things which are to come and are foretold by Christ himselfe and his Prophets We haue heard of the generall punishment by water Gen. 7. and in the time of Nöe it was executed 2. Petr. We heare daily of the worlds consuming by fire at the later day and yet we liue as if we beleeued it not and with such greedines imbrace those things which if we liue to those times shal be taken out of our armes by consuming fire 4. As thou hast meditated before with holy S. Chrysostome that by this word It is consummated was vnderstood the consummation of that wearisome and dolorous pilgrimage of Christ So here consider that although it were most panifull yet it lasted but thirty three yeares a moment in regard of Eternity in which he shall possesse perpetuall ioyes The Iewes triumphed for an houre as it were ouer Iesus Iudas had an houre of content in his auarice Pilate enioyed for an houre the friendship of Augustus but how many yeares haue these already bin punished for that houres false contentment and yet their torments shal neuer end Let vs thinke them most happy who from their youth take vp the Crosse of Christ and seeke thus meritoriously to be afflicted as long they can in this life since the passions of this time so short transitory Rom. 8. are not condigne to the glory to come that shal be reuealed in vs. 5. By this word It is consummated is vnderstood the victory which Christ made ouer hell the infernall spirites when by his victorious death he tooke mankind out of the Diuels power arming vs with his grace against all assaults Since Christ our glorious Redeemer hath so vanquished our ennemy and as it were taken his sting from him why do we so often yeild our selues vnto one who is so weake hauing him on our side whose very name putteth him to flight Since so many by thy assistance of Christ Iesus our Captaine haue giuen this enemy so many ouerthrowes why should we feare why should we doubt but to be able to do the like hauing the like helpes 6. Conuince thine vnderstanding with this former argument Lib. 8. Confes c. 11. as S. Augustin did placing before himselfe many Saintes who had giuen this ouerthrow to the enemy and among the rest he set before him diuers tender Virgins and sayd vnto himselfe Why canst not thou do what these and these haue done These and these could not haue dōe these things without the help of their Lord and God Heere say vnto thine enemy It is consummated thou shalt haue no more power in me since all thy power proceedeth from my selfe no man receauing wounds but from his owne hands THE SEAVENTH VVORD Pater in manus tuas cōmendo spiritum meum Father into thy hands I commend my spirit CHAP. VII THAT our redeemer Iesus endured all these afflictiōs most voluntarily A meditation for Saturday not by constraint or violently forced is most euident since he needed not haue suffered vnles he would therefore if euer action were free this was it the which in no part was forced and the more free it was the more it bindeth vs to loue him to deale also more freely with him that dealt thus freely with vs. And that these sufferings proceeded out or a naturall propension he had to suffer for vs appeareth out of his manner of suffering for he endured most for vs in the end of his passion In finem dilexit nos Ioan. 13. he loued vs to the end there receauing more paines for vs then euer The condition of al naturall motion is to be greater in the end then in the beginning which proueth well to our purpose for the Euangelist here recordeth Luc. 23. that Iesus cryed out with a loud voice which before he was not wont to do Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and saying this he gaue vp the Ghost 1. Consider the literall sense of these words he saith Father and with great right because he was his obedient Sonne euen vnto death Into thy hands that is vnto thine vnderstanding knowing al things and vnto thy will able to do all thngs I do commend as it were giuing vnto thee as a depositum or pledge that it may be restored me when due time shall come My spirit that is my corporall life which I recommend vnto thee My Father that thou wilt shortly restore it to my body which now it leaueth 2. Consider why our Sauiour shewed this care of his body recommending vnto his heauenly Father his spirit that it might not long leaue the body destitute Our Sauiour was not sollicitous for his soule for he knew that was already most blessed and needed none to defend it he only had care of that which had need of care teaching vs to prouide and be sollicitous for that part of vs which requireth our care to wit our soule by often recōmending it into the hands of him who created it and without whose helping grace it would degenerate stray from that end vnto which it was created As for our bodies the least care is to be had since do we what we can they will fall into dust The end of pampering our bodies and the more we pamper them the greater banquets we make for wormes and perhaps fuell for hell-fire 3. Let vs contemplate vpon the wonderfull accidents which happened immediatly after these words were pronounced Matt. 27. And behold the Veyle of the Temple was rent in two peces from the toppe euen to the bottome by which was signified the opening of heauen vnto mankind the Veyle that tooke from vs the beholding of the Holy of Holies being rent in two and man made capable of the blessed vision of God It was rent from the toppe to the bottome to shew that this holy vision of God was granted to all from the highest to the lowest but as our Sauiour saith There are many māsions in the house of my Father Iohn 14. which signifieth the