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
seuere and impartiall iudge not as an indulgent Redeemer 6. Lastly returne with these disciples to Hierusalem and imitating their vnion in spirit expect the comming of the Holy Ghost If thou desire to know Gods holy will retire thy selfe as they did and in this inward attention vnto the voice of thy Sauiour perseuere praying to know his diuine will and no doubt but he will impart it vnto thee Luke 12. which when thou knowest put it in practise otherwise the imputatioÌ„ of knowing the will of thy maister and not performing it will lye heauy vpon thee The comming of the holy Ghost CHAP. XIII YOV haue seene in the precedent mystery what diligent preparation these holy followers of Christ made The third glorious Mistery to the end they might be more fit vessels to receaue the holy Ghost And besides the former points of their peace and vnity amongst themselues and retyring from the conuersation of the world it is moreouer specified in holy Scripture that the better to make this retirement of theirs Act. 1. They went vp into an vpper chamber Of which words I would haue thee a pious interpreter and to imagine this vpper roome to be the superiour part of the foure to wit thy reason in which thou must dwell whensoeuer thou desirest to know the will of God neuer staying below in the sensuall part which in such a busines serueth for nothing but to blind thine vnderstanding Let thy sense be commanded by reason and it will presently teach thee that God is to be serued before the world and the Creatour before the Creature 1. Consider at the comming of the holy Ghost There was made â— sound from heauen Act 2. as of a vehement wind comming by which noyse The povver of the holy Ghost thou mayest consider the power of the holy Ghost which as it oftentimes st rreth vp in vs great conflicts betweene our owne peruerse nature and Gods Grace that offereth to enter into it so also it maketh vs most valiant and constant in the seruice of Almighty God and the maintayning of his glory the sound pre-figuring vnto vs the difficulties which outwardly may arise by the constant profession of his holy name 2. Most fitly is the comming of the holy Ghost expressed by fier the signe of loue and charity the holy spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne by a feruorous act of loue Neuer resist this holy spirit which will breath diuine loue into thy soule separating thine affections from earthly things 3. No sooner had these fiery tongues lighted vpon the heades of these holy disciples but with the gift of tongues which was then infused into them they doe speake of the great workes of God Imitate the feruour of these and let neuer the grace of God be void in th e 1. Cor. 15. but put in practise those giftes which God hath giuen thee by vsing them sincerely in his seruice 4. Consider how vncapable of spirituall things those are who measure all things by the conceit of the world this gift of tongus is interpreted in the Apostles to proceed from madnes or from some excesse committed Let not the fond interpretation of the world hinder thee from the seruice of God for if the Crosse of Christ were as the Apostle saith to the Gentils a foolishnes and euen to the very Iewes a scandâ—ll 1 Cor. 1. neuer be detected if the world laugh at thy proceedings which it vnderstandeth not Matt. 10. for the disciple must not place himselfe aboue his Maister 5. The cooperation of these holy disciples with the grace of God was such as they were all replenished with the holy Ghost working miracles in the face of Hierusalem Act. 5. and their very shadowes were potent to heale infirmities At the gate of the Temple S. Pâ—ter giueth an almes of health to a lame creature from his Natiuity Act. 3. Act. 2. He conuerteth three thousand at his first Sermon See of what great vertue the holy spirit is without which neither in thy selfe nor in others thou canst make conuersions 6. Beholding with thy selfe attentiuely how this spirit is attained vnto how necessary it is to haue it and how easily it is lost make resolutions in thy soule fit for one who hath this spirit knowing it giueth life vnto thine actioÌ„s and abhorre sinne that expelleth it The Assumption of our B. Lady CHAP. XIIII The fourth glorious Mystery Cant. 8. BEHOLD this glorious Virgin ascending Flowing in delightes leaning vpon her beloued with all contemplate vpon our B. Sauiours tender affection towards his dearest Mother requiting as it were her loue who in his infancy was borne in her blessed armes and leaned vpon her now he assisting her in this glorious triumph beares her vp towards the place of her Eternal Happines 1. Thou mayst here consider the happy passage of this B. Virgin out of this life feare not by considering this death to fall back vnto sorrowfull mysteries since death is heere glorious how the Apostles dispersed through the whole world were miraculously brought togeather to be at this glorious departure of the mother of God Togeather with the Apostles were also there present S. Denis Dionys ad Timeth Damas de dormit Deip. S. Timothy Disciple vnto S. Paul and S. Hierotheus Ponder the excessiue ioy of these Saintes behoulding the troupes of Angels attending the instant of her happy soules departure ready to accompany it into heauen No griefe could heere enter since all things gaue arguments of ioy and those teares that fell from the Apostles when the B. Virgin made her last pathetical speach vnto them were teares of comfort and consolation 2. As S. Denis writeth the B. Virgin ending this mortall life and beginning an immortall Epâ—st ad T mâ—th S. Thomas was absent and comming to Hierusalem three dayes after her departure all which time S. Denis saith that himselfe with the rest heard most melodious harmony of Angels and vnderstanding she was buryed in Gethsemani requested he might behold her dead whome he was vnfortunate in not seeing to dye 3. And to satisfy the deuotioÌ„ of S. Thomas they opened the monument ib d. which breathed forth most sweet sauours Consider the antiquity of this holy tradition and finding the body taken away they al firmely beleeued it was also by the hands of Angels carryed into heauen and reunited to her glorious soule this priuiledge being but coÌ„formable to the rest with which she was indued in her life 4. As in this so in other verities reuereÌ„ce the authority of Traditions in the Catholike Church which hath deuoted it selfe euen from the Apostles time vnto this glorious mystery of the Assumption of the mother of God 5. Consider the true resignation of this holy company assembled at the blessed departure of the mother of God al of them bearing that respect vnto her liuing as they now doubted not to find her in heauen a most carefull
right hand shall imbrace me Thou hast already beheld the imbracing of the right hand which was stretched forth vpon the Crosse ready to imbrace and intertaine all sinners this was cleerly shewed by calling the Theefe out of sinne into grace and out of a world of torments into a Paradise of ioyes Now let vs consider the left hand 1. First behold it as full of bloudy streames as the right and in euery point as full of paine what comfort could the Espouse take in laying this bloudy and painfull hand vnder her head Perhaps she desired to haue the impression of this bloudy hand left in her hart to the end she might neuer forget it striue to coÌ„serue fresh in thy memory this left hand of thy Sauiour The left hand Iustice by which his Iustice is signified and by the impression of it remember that sacred bloud which was shed for thee of which they who make not the best vse shall find a seuere iudge who as he called one at his right hand so he permitted an other at his left to perish 2. Endeauour to keep this left hand vnder thy head Betweene the earth and thee let the Iustice of Almighty God mediate Earth caÌ„ attempt nothing against thee when it shal behold how strongly thou art guarded Weigh all thy actions in the ballance of Iustice and thou shalt neuer offend If thou lay pleasure in one scale lay torments due vnto it in the other If this life being but a moment present delights vnto thee call Eternity vnto thee and let it confront that moment and it will soone haue victory 3. His left hand vnder my head Loue is commonly distinguished betweene filiall and seruile That is the loue of a child to his Father and of a seruant to his Maister let this Left hand to wit the Iustice of our Sauiour be vnder our head that is betweene the earth and vs let at the least the feare of Iustice be placed If we ariue not to that perfection which we al ought to tend vnto to contemne the pleasures and vanities of the world meerly for the loue of God preferring that pure affection before all things yet let vs contemne them for the dangers that are in them and for feare of the seuere hand of Iustice which punisheth those who follow them 4. His left hand vnder my head and his right hand shall imbrace me so that vnlesse his left hand be vnder thy head his right hand shall not imbrace thee Doth thy soule desire the louing imbracements of thy Sauiour and the sweetnes of his mercy lay vnder thy head the feare of his Iustice let that be thy foundation and the beginning of thy wisdome Psal 110. then shall his right hand imbrace thee when it shall find his left hand vnder thy head 5. The Espouse desireth his left hand may be vnder her head that is from her beginning from the first entrance into this world till her going out of it that al the dayes of her life she may walke the pathes of his Iustice Most fitly was this spoken of the immaculate Virgin Mother who had this left hand vnder her head being euen in her very Conception indued with originall Iustice the which vnder her head as it were in her first beginning most graciously preuenting her made her worthy to beare the Sonne of God and Sauiour of the world 6. His left hand vnder my head As thou hast hitherto applied this left hand to the Iustice of God so heere apply it to that Iustice which euery true Christian that is which euery follower of Christ ought to beare towards himselfe If we our selues lay this left hand vnder our head and become our owne iudges in this world measu ing our actions by the rule of Iustice and making them streight by penance then shall we facilitate our iudgement in the next world preuenting Gods seuere and rigorous sentence then shall his rigâ—t hand imbrace vs because our owne left hand hath chastised vs. Apply these points as the former The Side CHAP. III. AND now descending from the Mercy Iustice of our Sauiour let vs repose our selues in the seat of his diuine Loue and beholding it as it is in heauen glorious let vs adore those streames of his ardent Loue which issued out of that sacred hart the Cittizens of heauen exulting at the sight of so immense charity Psal 45. Fluminis impetus laetificat ciuitatem dei The violence of this riuer sayth the Prophet maketh the Citty of God Ioyfull when those blessed Inhabitants beheld the violence and force of this bloudy riuer bringing into that hauen of felicity new Colonies to replenish the seates of fallen Angels this being that riuer which issued out of the place of pleasure Gen. 2. to water Paradise as well that celestiall Paradise by replenishing it with daily increase of glory as the terrestrial Paradise of the Church by prospering and increasing his graces the seeds of glory 1. First therfore let vs behold this glorious wound in the side of our Sauiour hanging vpon the Crosse in which we are not to consider any griefe this wound being inflicted after his death out of the circuÌ„stances therfore frame thy pious meditation as that as soone as the soldier with a speare had opened his side Iohn 19. presently there came forth bloud and water that being here fulfilled which was prefigured by Moyses striking the rocke with his rodde Exod. 18. O happy wound of the gracious side of our Sauiour out of which Tract 9. in Ioan. saith holy S. Augustine issued the holy Sacraments 2. That Riuer which watered Paradise deuided it selfe only into fower but this that streamed from the sacred side of Iesus multiplyed it selfe seauen times making seaueÌ„ most precious bathes whose nature is to wash soules make them pure for heaueÌ„ When thou makest thy accesse vnto these diuine Sacraments remember the sourse whence they did spring and let thy deuotion be sutable to the dignity of those mysteries thou desirest to be partaker Thinke saith S. Chrysostome when thou commest to drinke of the holy Chalice Hom. 84. in Ioan. thou doest put thy mouth vnto Christ his side and sucke thence his sacred bloud 3. Consider with thy soule how zealous Diuine Loue shewed it selfe towards mankind in the busines of his Redemption Nature endeauouring to succour the humanity of Christ drew into the last hold as much streÌ„gth as was possible striuing to fortify the hart diuine Loue triumphed ouer this humanity in such sort as euen after death it entred this sacred fort being the sole commaunder therof and drew forth all those forces with which Nature endeauoured to haue resisted As thou doest admire this feruour of Loue so bend thy forces to imitate the same and sticke not vpon toyes and trifle of this world Ponder this vvell that endeauour to keep thee from an entier oblation of thy selfe to Almighty God Canst thou see thy
and thou wilt not sinne for euer OF THE FOVRE last Things Of Death CHAP. I. OMITTING the diuers explications which deuout meÌ„ haue made of Death let vs only consider that there is a good and a bad death the one an entrance into ioyes the other into torments Of those who dye a happy death we haue this Beatification out of holy Scripture Apoc. 14. Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur Blessed are the dead who dye in our Lord where I would haue thee note that they are tearmed Blessed who are dead and afterwards dye Blessed are the dead who dye not the liuing whence we may conclude that it is a Blessednes to begin betimes to dy to this world and not to be found liuing when death shall come Of the other death the Royall Prophet telleth vs what it is Psal 33. Mors peccatorum pessima the death of sinners is the worst and the reason is because sinners take vpon them to liue to much in this life and neglecting the memory of death thinke there shal be no end of enioying their pleasures To this effect the same Prophet saith Vidi impium superexaltatum et eleuatum super cedros Libani Psal 36. et transiui et ecce non erat c. I haue seene saith he the impious man highly exalted and aduanced as the Cedars of Libanus and I passed by behold he was not and I sought him and his place was not found and indeed happy it were for the sinner if after this life he had no place or being since both his place being shal be so miserable 1. Consider mans nature to be such that it cannot possibly auoyd death it remayning as a punishment for that sinne which we all consented vnto in our first parent therfore that thou mayst the better coÌ„sider this death imagine thy selfe who must once dye to lye vpon thy death bed lamented by thy freinds despaired of by Phisitians and expecting hourly to giue vp thy last breath 2. Then thou wilt easily perceaue thy folly in spending so much time which was giuen thee to serue God in the seruice of the world in following thine owne vnlawfull appetites and reiecting Gods holy inspirations Then thou wilt make many purposes of satisfying for thy sinnes Make vse of time of liuing a more exemplar life of abandoning euill company of resisting foule sinnes and the like but alas thy time is short thou hast many purposes but where is the time to performe them in After this life there is no time of satisfaction or of merit Assure thy selfe that these discourses thy soule will haue at that terrible hower therefore vse time which is now so mercifully giuen thee De imitat Christ lib 2. Cap. 25. and do now what thou wouldest then haue wished to haue done 3. This is the hower of indifferency in which thy eyes being opened thou shalt see things as they are not painted and falsly set forth by thy preiudicate affection Here what thou esteemedst in thy life time beautifull will seeme foule what then was most pleasant thou wilt not now endure to behold Since by the consideration of death we grow so iudicious to esteeme euery thing as it deserueth would to God we did alwayes carry about with vs the memory therof how sincerely should we then serue God and performe the end for which we were sent into this world how innocently should we liue how charitably one to another how diligeÌ„t in performing many good works and how strong in resisting sinne 4. Contemplate with thy selfe being in this agony thy life being more and more despayred off that saying of the Prophet Et qui iuxta me erant de longe steterunt Psal 37. and they who were neere me stood a farre of from me euen thy very freinds will leaue thee shewing their greatest affection by shedding a few vnprofitable or faygned teares for thee and being thus left of all consider what the friendship of this world is which is ended by death if it last so long make thy freindship therfore with the Saints and Angels who will neuer leaue thee but chiefly make freindship with good Works gather as many togeather as thou canst whilest thou art in perfect health for they are those who are to be thy chiefest friends who will not feare to appeare with thee before that seuere Iudge alleadging strong arguments for thee will bring thee to eternall happines 5. It is a matter of great moment to imprint in thy soule the consideration for what place we were created If we perswade our selues we were made for this world we are much deceaued for placing thy selfe as thou diddest before in the point of death thou shalt see thou wert created for an other world which is to last for euer It is but the body the meaner part of thee that dieth now thy soule is immortall The different coÌ„dition of the souâ—e and the body and must either ioy or lament eternally If it depart from the body into blysse it is because it ruled the body and made that sensuall part obey vnto reason but if thy soule departing from thy body be condemned to eternall paines it is because thy soule behaued it selfe like a slaue obeying her seruant and permitting that to comaund which was created to obey 6. If the placing of thy selfe neere vnto death hath made thee more capable to vnderstand the danger of thine estate seriously thinke with thy selfe and without any art of perswasion that thou mayst be neerer thy death then thou imaginest from which thou art no moment free There is no actioÌ„ no place no time in which death hath not surprized men Think seriously vpoÌ„ these things for it may be these are the last good purposes that euer thou shalt make and the last good worke that euer thou shalt do so thinke of al thinges whatsoeuer thou doest Let vs think euery action to be our lost it may be this shal be the last Prayer that euer thou shalt make do it therfore deuoutly In taking thy refectioÌ„ thinke this may be the last time that euer thou shalt haue need to feed that carkasse of thine do it therfore with sobriety In conuersing with men thinke this may be the last tim that euer thou shalt discourse let it be therfore of some vertuous subiect and so deale with all thy actions thinking they shal be thy last and by this meanes thou shalt make them to be thy best After thou hast contemplated vpon these six points and applyed thy six Decade vnto them earnestly beseeching the Mother of Grace to increase in thee the memory of Death and to assist thee in that agony I would haue thee peruse this ensuyng table which will more fully informe thee of the nature of death and make the same more familiar vnto thee OF DEATH 1. The Necessity Proceedeth from 1. Reuelation Naturall reason Experience 2. The Vncertainty Proceedeth from 2. The Time The Place The
yet experienced or could conceaue being the most perfect that may be free from any mixture of sorrow or feare of ending it must needs be wholy rauished in the loue of him whome it possesseth O how wil that soule magnify the goodnes of Almighty God in giuing it grace to ariue vnto this infinite happines and how will it reioyce in hauing cooperated with the same in this world 2. Heere it will reflect with exceeding ioy and contentment vpon the afflictions it endured in this world most clearly perceauing Rom. 2. that the passions of this life are not condigne to the glory that shal be reuealed And now this soule most euidently seeth with what great crownes small actions are rewarded how important it is to haue serued God Almighty to haue contemned the world to haue kept in seruitude the body and to haue fed the soule with coÌ„templation of heauenly things oh how abiect and vile will all contentmeÌ„ts of this world seeme to this blessed soule how mad and fencelesse will it esteeme theÌ„ to be who preferre these worldly fooleries before those ioyes which are in heauen 3. If it were possible for a soule in heaueÌ„ hauing bin shewed those delights which God hath prepared for those who loue him to be taken thence againe and placed in this world what would not that soule do to be brought to that sight once againe although it were but to endure for one houre If penaÌ„ce were the meanes to obtaine it what would it not vndergoe If abnegation of it selfe how perfect would it becoÌ„e in that admirable vertue If by exercising acts of charity how feruent would it be seeking occasions to exercise it If for the enioying of that happines so smal a time a soule who had seene it would vndergoe so much what should we do vnto whome the possession of these ioyes is most certainly promised for euer Blessed are they who beleeue before they see Ioh. 20. since our faith increaseth our reward 1. Cor. 2. For neither hath the eye seene nor eare heard neither hath it ascended into the hart of man what God hath prepared for them who loue him 4. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Apoc. 21. and death shal be no more nor crying neithâ—r shall there be sorrow any more because the first things are past This will Almighty God do to all his constant seruants who haue suffered any thing for his sake in this world as soone as euer they are made partakers of this happines their eyes shed no more teares neither shall there be sorrow any more because the first things are gone and past as a shadow which vanisheth away at the presence of light All things that are in this world are short and endure a small time and as the pleasure of it is short which blind man so much seeke after so are the puÌ„ishments which are inflicted vpon the good and this short and as it were momentary suffering is to end and to be rewarded without end according to that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 4. For that our tribulation which presently is momentany and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glory in vs we not considering the things that are seene but that are not seene For the things that are seene are temporall but those that be not seene are eternall 5. Heere consider in the best manner thou canst the admirable estate of a soule in blessednes and as thou hast seene before that this blessednes consisteth in our vnderstanding which is most properly explicated by this word Vision yet doth it not so consist therin as that it excludeth our wil which is made partaker therof by the delight which a soule receaueth from that diuine vision of Almighty God And to know what that delight is and how great no vnderstanding vpon earth can conceaue the reason is because we cannot possibly conceaue what God is from the sight of whom this delight proceedeth Our best way is to make a comparison though it be infinitely defectiue with the delights of this world and those of heauen If we delight in the possession of any thing in this world let vs consider how many defects are in the thing possessed as also in the possessour which hinder the completenes of this happines both are changeable and subiect to infinite alterations and ends neuer was there yet any worldly contentment so enioyed but that if it were truely looked into there was conioyned with it some corasiue that might change the tast of the Enioyer But in heauen both that which is possessed and the Possessour are most permament and this fruition is not capable of any alteration or end this delight is complete mingled with no sorrowes since from God that delight floweth in whome there is nothing but delight 6. When we haue arriued by the contemplation of heauen vnto the delights therin our vnderstanding presently butteth vpon Almighty God who is a Non plus vltra and the end of all that we can thinke of since in him all this Beatitude is contayned as in a place inaccessible vnto mans vnderstanding Well may we whilest we are in this world goe about this hidden treasure to wit the Nature of Almighty God by outward signes in his Creatures ghesse somewhat at that which is included in him but neuer can we truly comprehend and know what this infinite happines is Exod. 53. till we see him facie ad faciem face to face and be partakers of that diuine torrent of pleasure How feruently haue all Gods Saints desired the enioying of his felicity Phil. 1. S. Paul desired to be dissolued and to be with Christ because he had seene those things in his high extasie which were not lawfull for man to speake S. Peter hauing but seene a glimpse of Christ his glory which then was far inferiour to that with which he now shineth in heauen yet as hauing ariued to the toppe of felicity Math. 17. he desireth to remayne there And leauing the infinite number of Saints betweene their time ours whose desires were the same let vs behold the blessed Father Ignatius de Loyola who in his contemplations vpon heauen cryed out with a true contempt of this world In his life Quam sordet terra cùm caelum intuâ—or how base and foule seemeth this earth when I behold heauen Oh that we would imitate these great Saintes whose eyes were truly purged contemning this earth the thornes that grow thereon and hauing their thoughts fixed in heauen and vpon true happines were euer in a continuall flame and desire to attaine thervnto Of Hell CHAP. IIII. THE calling backe of thy Vnderstanding from the toppe of heauen and leading it to the Center and bottome of the earth where the damned soules are tormented must needs breed a great alteration in thee and by it alone perswade thee that this world is full of changes and that our Vnderstanding is as mutable as