not much wickedness and be not a fool that thou maist not die in a time not thine Eccles 7. Time is short 1 Cor. 7. Redeeming time Eph. 5. He swore by him that lives for ever and ever That Time shall be no more Apoc. 10. Wherefore whilst we have time let us do good Gal. 6. XXXVI MED Of Persecutions DO the good persecute you Examin your self Do the wicked torment you Rejoyce We cannot please God and Man We cannot be beloved by the good and the bad If I will please men I displease JESUS Christ If I am hated by the wicked I am lov'd by JESUS Christ Their Persecution pushes us on to Heaven It loosens us from Creatures It maintains us in our duty It hinders us from dispersing our selves It makes us dwell at home It purges us of our Vices It implants virtues in us It gives us a distast to this life It makes us desire death Would you have gon to God had the World lov'd you Would you have sought after God If the World had not rejected you 'T is God gives the word to his Creatures 'T is he that forbids them to make much of you He that orders them to send you packing He that commands them to drive you away He arms the World against you To force you to return to him He sows thorns upon the ground To hinder you from resting there He cannot will sin but he wills the effect of sin He hates the Persecutors but loves the Persecuted O my God! How admirable is thy wisdom How amorous is thy conduct If you had not wounded me I had never been cured Unless you had hedg'd me in with thorns I had made my escape from you I had not been yours if the World would have had me I had been against you if the World had not been against me O how am I indebted to its hatred O what obligation I have to your love O how mercifully severe have you been to me O how kindly have you persecuted me Fill their face with shame and they will seek thy name O Lord. Ps 82. Lord in their anguish they sought after thee Isa 26. I will hedge thy Vineyard with thorns Hos 26. You shall be hated by all men for my sake Matth. 24. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice Matth. 5. XXXVII MED That it is necessary to be afflicted and persecuted THere is no Salvation without a Cross No Merit without Patience No Victory without Combat No Virtue without Exercise Standing water corrupts Flesh without Salt putrefies Iron that is not used rusts A Horse is slow without a Spur. How miserable are you if you have no misery How will you be a Martyr if you have no Tyrant How will you be a Christian unless you be persecuted How will you be saved unless you be afflicted JESUS was hated by the wicked And you would be loved by them JESUS was persecuted and you would be made much off JESUS was contemn'd by the World And you would be honoured by it You must be either a Martyr or a Tyrant Either a Persecutor or persecuted O JESUS Be with me and let all the World be against me I had rather have the hatred of the wicked Than their friendship Their Persecutions rather than their kindness I will not please those that displease you I am overjoy'd that I displease those Whom you cannot please Since I suffer Persecution I have the tokens of Predestination Since I have Tyrants I shall be one of the number of the Martyrs Since I am persecuted by the wicked I begin to be in the number of the good Through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14. If you suffer any thing for justice you are happy 1 Pet. 3. Communicating with the sufferances of Christ rejoyce that we may rejoyce in the revelation of his glory 1 Pet. 4. All that will live piously in Christ JESUS shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. XXXVIII MED Of Human Respect TO displease God for fear of displeasing men To omit any good for fear of the wicked To believe in JESUS Christ and blush at his Gospel To dissemble our faith when we are bound to make profession of it Is to be an Apostate and an Infidel 'T is to be a Christian in name and an Infidel in action There are Apostates of heart There are Apostates of mouth There are Apostates in actions You are not so in your heart But you are by your mouth You are not so in words but you are so by your actions And that 's enough for your damnation 'T is not sufficient for to be saved To have faith in your heart You must have it also in your mouth 'T is not enough to confess it by words But you must profess it by your actions To dissemble your faith upon occasions Is to renounce your Religion If you confess JESUS before men He will confess you before his Father If you renounce him before men He will renounce you before his Father If you blush to be his Disciple He will blush to be your Master If you own him to be your Lord He will own you to be his Servant O JESUS my Lord I have been a long time a Christian in name And a Pagan in action I have the faith of a Christian but the life of a Heathen I renounce my Religion for fear of a What will people say I apprehend more the Jeers of the wicked Than Martyrs did the cruelty of Tyrants Alas You confest me before your Father And I renounce you before men You are not asham'd of me in Heaven And I am asham'd of you on Earth O I hate my cowardice I detest my dissimulation I will shew that I am a Christian And profess my Religion He that is afraid of man will soon fall Prov. 9. I say to you my friends be not frightned by those who kill the body and after can do no more Luk. 12. Every one that shall confess me before men the Son of man will confess him before the Angels of God Luk. 12. He that shall be ashamed of me and my words him will the Son of man be ashamed of when he comes in his Majesty and that of his Father and the holy Angels Luk. 9. v. 26. XXXIX MED Of Slander or Detraction A Word is soon said but not so soon amended It passes lightly but wounds cruelly It pierces the heart of God who forbids Detraction It pierces the heart of your neighbour who suffers the Detraction It pierces the heart of your friend who gives ear to the Detraction It pierces the heart of him who is the Author of the Detraction It is an envenomed Viper that poisons all hearts 'T is a sharp Sword which divides the members of JESUS Christ 'T is a cruel Lance which transpierces his heart 'T is a Robbery of the greatest of goods 'T is a murder of the noblest of lives 'T is a wound of the Soul 'T is an
They say I am to dy Come I am content I willingly resign up my life I render it to him that gave it me I remit my spirit into his hands I recommend unto him my body and my soul I am sorry that I have offended him I accept of death for to satisfie him I believe all that he has reveal'd I hope for all that he has promis'd I give him all that I possess I will dy for his glory I will dy for his sake I will dy in gratitude I will dy for justice sake I will dy because he died I will dy for him as he died for me I will dy that I may see him I will dy that I may love him I will dy that I may bless him And for to sing his Praises for all Eternity O Father of mercy Behold a Prodigal Child Who has wasted all your goods Who has spent his life in Debaucheries That returns now to your house And who most humbly begs your pardon Alas I have liv'd without reason Since I have had the use of reason I have don nothing but evil Since I knew what was good My Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and against thee I deserve not to bear the name of thy Child I am not worthy to enter into thy house But have you ceased to be a Father Because I have ceased to be your Child Have you lost your goodness Because I have lost my innocence Are you no more a Father of mercy Because I am becom a Child of misery O my Father O the best of all Fathers Have pity on the miserablest of all thy Children I was lost and I am now retrieved I was dead and I am risen again I was gon far from you and now I am here ready to appear before you O my Father Come and meet your Child Give him a kiss of peace Forgive him his offences Revest him with a Nuptial Robe Receive him into your house Give him a place at your Feast O JESUS The Physician of the poor sick The Comforter of the poor afflicted The hope of poor Sinners Here am I before you without strength Without motion without speech But my heart says inwardly Come O my JESVS come quickly Draw my Soul out of this Prison Recal me out of this exile Conduct me to my dear Country Behold the Just do there expect me My friends hold forth their arms to me O how beautiful are thy Tabernacles O how admirable is thy Palace O how contented shall I be in Heaven O how happy shall I be in your Company I dy with a desire of dying Com divine Saviour and make me languish no more O holy Mother of God! Who didst see thy Son dying Lo here thy Child is sick Forsake him not in this extremity Com and receive his Spirit And defend him from his enemies O ye Angels of Heaven Com down upon Earth to help me Make a guard round about me Drive away from me the Infernal Lyon Preserve me even unto my Death After having sav'd me from so many Shipwracks Suffer me not to perish in the Haven Come let us go to Heaven Let us go to Paradise My heart is ready O my God my heart is ready It is ready to stay here on earth It is ready to go hence It is ready to live It is ready to dy Thy will be don I recommend my body and soul to you I rejoyced in the things that were said to me we will go into our Lord's house Psal 121. Blessed are those that dy in our Lord. Apoc. 14. Blessed are those that are call'd to the Nuptials of the Lamb. Apoc. 19. In thee O Lord have I hoped I shall not be confounded for ever Ps 30. VVhat is there to me in Heaven and what besides thee would I have on Earth my flesh and my heart have fainted O the God of my heart and my portion God for ever Ps 72. I am straitned on both sides having a desire to be dissolved and be with Christ much more better Phil. 1. One thing have I asked that will I require that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all the days of my life Ps 26. How beloved are thy Tabernacles O God of Hosts my soul doth long and faint after the Courts of our Lord. Ps 83. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house O Lord they shall praise thee for ever and ever Ps 83. All this Psalm is full of sweet thoughts to raise in a sick person a desire of Heaven If thou dost observe iniquities O Lord who can sustain Ps 126. VVith our Lord there is mercy and with him a copious redemption ibid. LII MED A Paraphrase on our Lord's Prayer for the comfort of the sick Our Father I Believe O my God that you are my Father who have given me the life of my soul and body for to serve and love you and which you have repaired by the Death of your Son after I had miserably lost it through my sin You are the Father of all men and of the most miserable of all men whom you see here extended on this Bed O how glad am I that I have such a Father So good so wise so holy so powerful I hope that since you have given â—ne a temporal life you will do me the favour â—lso to give me an eternal one O my Father 〈◊〉 render back unto you the life which you have given me I am sorry that I have employed it so ill and that I have used it to offend you therewith My Father I have sinn'd against Heaven and against you I am not worthy to bear the quality of your Child but receive me I beseech you into the number of your Servants My Father if it be possible let this Chalice of Death and Sufferance pass from my mouth and let me not drink it as yet Yet let your Will be don and not mine My Father glorifie your Son that your Son may glorifie you and since I have not honored you upon Earth make me praise you Eternally in Heaven Which art in Heaven Alas you are in Heaven and I am yet here upon Earth You are in a place of peace and I am in a place of warfare You are in Heaven for to reward me and I am on Earth for to honour you I hope O my God that I shall soon be with you in Heaven I hope so on the merits of the precious blood which your Son hath shed for me O when will that day com How tedious is it to live banished from your presence How the Earth displeases me when I lift up my eyes to Heaven O Heaven O Heaven What ought not we to do to gain thee What ought not we to suffer for to obtain thee All that I endure is nothing in comparison of what I hope for Hallowed be thy Name O admirable name of God! I came into this World for to sanctifie thee and I have don nothing but profane thee I came upon Earth
Throne Jesus contemned riches To teach us to contemn them Compare O Worldling Thy house to his Stable Thy bed to his Crib Thy doon to his Dunghil Thy cloaths to his Swath-bands Thy riot to his Nakedness Jesus is poor And thou art rich Jesus in a Stable Thou in a Palace Jesus on the straw Thou on a doon-bed Jesus is all naked Thou art well clad Jesus wants all things Thou nothing O divine Babe How does your Birth rejoyce me But how does your Poverty afflict me How does your Infancy comfort me But how does your Crib astonish me I will love the Poor since I cannot love Poverty I will relieve the Poor That I may relieve your necessity I will cloath the Poor That I may cover your nakedness I shall not be saved unless I be like unto you I must be poor as you are Or you must be rich as I am If therefore I will not be poor as you are I must make you rich as I am 'T is to do good to you to do it to the poor I will therefore relieve you In the person of the poor I will feed you lodge and cloath you in c. O I think my self happy That I can render back to you What you have given me That I can help you out of your necessity That I can cloath feed and lodge you The foxes have their holes and the Birds of the air their nests but the Son of Man has not where to lay his head Matth. 8. He came into his own and his own received him not Jo. 1. Amen I say unto you as long as you have don to one of these my least brothers you have don to me Matth. 15. He was made poor being rich that by his poverty you might be made rich 2 Cor. 8. XCIV MED Of the Humility of the Infant Jesus GOD did annihilate himself By uniting himself to nothing He hath humbled all his whole greatness He has made himself as little as he was great He debased himself as much as he was elevated His humiliation is infinit substantial eternal As long as he keeps his humanity He will keep the marks of his humility Why was he made man Why was he made passible and mortal Why did he take our flesh Why was he made an Infant Why would he be born of a Woman Why would he lodge in a Stable 'T is to pull down our pride For to teach us humility For to win our hearts For to be more like us O Divine Babe How great are you in Heaven But how little are you on Earth How are you honoured by the Angels But how are you despised by men How do I respect you in the form of God But how I love you in the form of an Infant 'T is an astonishing thing To see a God humbled But much more astonishing To see a Man elevated O how am I confounded To be proud before an humbled God Whosoever shall humble himself like this little one he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 18. Behold God is my Saviour I will do confidently and will not fear Isai 12. He exinanited himself taking the form of a Servant Phil. 2. XCV MED Of the Divine Humiliations in the Mystery of the Incarnation THe Word was God and he became Man The Word was happy And he became miserable The Word was holy And he took the form of a sinner He became man For to communicate his Divinity to us He became miserable For to communicate his felicity to us He appeared to be a sinner For to communicate his sanctity to us O Jesus annihilated under the form of Man Of a Sinner of a Wretch O the greatest and the least O the first and the last O the highest and the lowest My Soul Wilt thou be proud Seeing thy God annihilated Wouldst thou appear to be a Saint Contemplating thy God under the form of a Sinner VVouldst thou live in pleasures Seeing thy God in misery O Nothing VVilt thou never annihilate thy self VVilt thou never be in thy proper place What good hast thou don What ill hast thou not don Whence didst thou com Whether art thou to go 'T is an unsupportable pride For man to grow proud When he sees his God humbled The Word was made flesh John 1. He exinanited himself taking the form of a servant Phil. 2. God sending his Son into the similitude of the flesh of sin Rom. 8. Him who knew not sin he made him a sin for us that we might be made the justice of God in him 1 Cor. 5. XCVI MED Of the Holy Name of Jesus JESUS is a name of greatness sweetness valour Of greatness which signifies the God of men Of sweetness which signifies the Father of men Of valour which signifies the Saviour of men His greatness makes him to be ador'd in Heaven His sweetness makes him be belov'd on Earth His valour makes him be fear'd in Hell When I pronounce the Name of JESUS I represent to my self the greatest of all Kings The most charitable of all Fathers The most valiant of all Warriours The most humble of all Men. The most faithful of all Friends The mildest of all Masters The most obliging of all hearts The most amiable of all Espouses When I pronounce JESUS My sadness is dissipated My courage is raised My heart displays it self My spirit awakens My soul melts into joy All my Enemies fly away If Jesus is my Saviour cannot he save me Ought he not to save me He is charged with my Salvation He has accepted the commission of it He makes it his business He will spare nothing for that end It will cost him his life What can I fear having a Saviour What ought not I to hope for Having such a Saviour O JESUS The Father of the poor The Comforter of the afflicted My Soul is speechless before you My heart says to you that you are all its good Be unto me a JESUS in my life Be unto me a JESUS at my death If I have committed what may damn me You have not lost what may save me O JESU Put your self as a seal upon my heart As a seal upon my mouth As a seal upon my arm That I may think on nothing but you Speak of nothing but you Labour only for you O JESU I adore you as a name of greatness I love you as a name of sweetnese invocate you as a name of valour I will give my blood for to be saved Since you gave yours for to be a Saviour I will suffer Wounds as you did That with you I may be a Saviour of men But thou art in us O Lord and thy holy name is invocated on us Jer. 14. It shall be that every one who invocates the name of Lord shall be saved Joel 2. For there is no other name under Heaven given to men in which we must be saved Act. 5. In the name of Jesus let every knee bow Phil. 2. XCVII MED Of the
hand He brings them back when they go astray He casts himself into the bryars For to draw out him that is lost He lays him on his shoulders He carries him back to the fold He testifies a joy at it And he does him no hurt Jesus is a good Shepherd He feeds his dear Sheep He leads them into fat Pastures He nourishes them with his Word He fats them with his Flesh He inebriates them with his Blood He fortifies them with his grace He quickens them with his spirit He enriches them with his merits What Shepherd feeds his sheep With his own Flesh and his own Blood as he does Jesus is a good Shepherd He gives his life for his sheep He does not feed upon their flesh Not cloath himself with their wool Not strip them to cloath himself He fasted for to feed them He labours only for them He defends them against the wolves He hinders them from coming near them He helps them to drive them off He lifts them up when they fall He carries them when they are feeble He comforts them when they are sad He cures them when they are sick He raises them to life when they are dead O Jesus How good a Shepherd are you But what bad sheep have you They stray away from your conduct They despise your Pastures They will not eat at your table They go every where to seek after wolves They howl and run after them They devour the sheep as they do O my Divine Shepherd For my part I will follow you every where I will never go astray from your ways I will go up to the Mountains with you I will go down into the Vales with you I will never complain of you I will be always contented with you I am a good Shepherd I know my sheep and my sheep know me John 10. He goes before them and the Sheep follow him ibid. And I am not troubled following thee my Pastor Jer. 17. Our Lord governs me nothing will be wanting to me he placed me in a place of pasture Psal 22. I have gon astray like a sheep that is lost seek after thy servant Psal 118. CXXII MED Of the Sheep of Jesus Christ THe Sheep loves his Shepherd He follows his Conduct every where He hears and owns his voice He is in assurance with him He is lost when he goes a stray He goes well when he follows him Jesus committed to Saint Peter The Conduct of his Flock His voice is heard in the Church Out of the Church it is not heard Virtues without Obedience Are large steps out of the way One goes astray instead of advancing Who advances without being directed A Sheep does not argue He goes whither he is led He never goes righter Than when he follows his Shepherd He leaves himself to his Conduct He fears nothing in his Company 'T is to be without judgment To trust to one's own judgment It is to have no guidance Not to be willing to be guided A Sheep does not murmur He does not fall into impatience Does not take offence at his Shepherd Does not complain of his conduct Suffers himself to be stript Goes quietly to his death Suffers his Throat to be cut Dies without saying any thing There is need of extreme patience For to indure impatient men They would have God to endure from them But they will endure nothing from God A Sheep hath no fangs He does not bite his Companions He is the mildest of all Creatures He has nothing of fierceness or wildness He hates singularity He maintains himself in unity He keeps Society Is pleased in the Community The Mark of the Sheep of Jesus Is Mildness and Charity Are you one of Jesus's his Sheep Do you love the Pastor of the Church Do you follow God's Conduct Do you leave your self to his Providence Do you obey your Superiours Do you renounce your own proper lights Do you complain of your losses Do not you murmur in your pains Do you love your Neighbour Do not you offend him in word Have you a compassion of him Are not you angry as he is Thou that rulest Israel attend who leadest on Joseph like a Sheep Psal 79. My foot has followed his footsteps Job 13. He shall be led like a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb before the shearer he shall be dumb and shall not open his mouth Isai 53. I was dumb and did not open my mouth because thou didst do it Psal 38. In this shall all know that you are my Disciples if you love one another Jo. 13. If you bite and eat each other see ye be not consumed by each other Gal. 5. CXXIII MED Of the Ascension of our Lord. WHither go you O divine Shepherd Is it thus that you forsake your Sheep Whither go you O charitable Father Is it thus that you forsake your Children Whither go you O glorious Captain Is it thus that you forsake your Souldiers What will poor Sheep do in the midst of Wolves What will poor Children do in the midst of the Streets What will Souldiers do in the midst of their Enemies Go my well beloved Quit this ungrateful Earth That has used you so ill An immortal body like yours Ought not to be in the region of death An incorruptible body like yours Ought not to be in a place of corruption An impassible body like yours Ought not to be in a place of affliction Go great Conquerour Ascend up to Heaven which you have gained Take possession of the Kingdom Which is yours from all Eternity Carry along with you your victorious Troops For to honour your Triumph Stop not till you have reach't the highest Heaven Go and sit upon the Throne of God It is just that you should rest After having laboured so much It is just that you should receive glory After having been so mightily humbled Go Ark of our Lord After having been beaten with the Waves Go and rest on the highest Mountains of Armenia Arise O Lord ascend to your place of rest You and the Ark of your Sanctification You have broken down the Gates of Hell Go now and open the Gates of Heaven Enter into the Palace of your glory Go and prepare us a place Go and present your self to your Father Go and shew him your Wounds Go and be our Mediatour Go and send us your Holy Spirit O Jesus Since you are gon to Heaven I find no more comfort here upon Earth My heart is where my treasure is My soul would fain quit her body For to go and enjoy your presence When shall I go out of this exile When shall I return to my dear Country O Jesus The hope of forlorn Souls The comfort of afflicted Souls You promised to draw all things to you When you were elevated from the Earth You are now above all the Heavens Perform now your promise Draw me out of this World Take me off from Creatures Draw me strongly For I cling close to the Earth
Draw me quickly For I am weary of living Alas What a life Ah! What a death O my dear Life Give me death that I may dy to my self And live Eternally to you And our Lord Jesus after he had spoken was assumed into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God Mark 16. Ascending on high he led captivity captive he gave gifts Eph. 4. Let not your heart be troubled I go to prepare you a place I will take you to my self that where I am you also may be John 14. And if I be exalted from the Earth I will draw all to my self John 12. Draw me after thee Cant. 5. CXXIV MED Of the coming down of the Holy Ghost WE are not members of Jesus Christ Unless we live by his Spirit The Spirit of JESVS Is a Spirit of Life which animates us 'T is a Spirit of Grace that sanctifies us A Spirit of Wisdom which instructs us A Spirit of Love which unites us A Spirit of Peace which pacifies us A Spirit of Purity which purifies us A Spirit of Liberty which disengages us A Spirit of Joy which comforts us A Spirit of Humility which humbles us A Spirit of Obedience which subjects us The Spirit of JESVS Makes men Gods Of sinners just Of weak makes us strong Of sad glad Of cold fervent Of cholerick mild Of ignorant wise Of timid courageous The Spirit of JESVS Does not descend upon the proud It does not repose in turbulent hearts It has a horrour of impure souls It withdraws it self from vain spirits It is not in agreement with the flesh It makes a mortal War with it It could not com down upon the Apostles Whilst they saw JESUS sensibly It lives in us by Grace It dwells in us by Charity It reigns in us by Love It reposes in us by Peace We afflict it by Venial sin We stile it by Mortal sin We lose it by the love of the World We drive it away by the love of the Flesh O my God! How gentle is your spirit How severe is mine How holy is yours How profane is mine How humble is yours How proud is mine O Holy Spirit Father of the poor Comfort of the afflicted Com and descend down to us and comfort us Enlighten us by your Light Conduct us by your Grace Sanctifie us by your Love Support us by your Strength Penetrate us by your Unction Adopt us by your Charity Pacifie us by your Presence Save us by your Mercy 'T is the Spirit which enlivens John 6. They were all replenisht with the Holy Ghost Act. 2. Grace is diffused in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given to us Rom. 5. If any one hath not the Spirit of Christ he is not his Rom. 8. Whoever are acted by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God ibid. If we live in spirit let us walk in spirit Gal. 5. CXXV MED Of the most Sacred Trinity MAn believes that there are as many Gods As he loves Creatures He adores a Trinity on Earth And contemns the Trinity of Heaven He esteems only the grandures of the World He seeks after nothing but earthly riches He desires nothing but the pleasures of the Senses He despises the Wisdom of God He laughs at the power of the Father He outrages the goodness of the Holy Ghost Is it to believe that God is wise And not to apprehend his Wrath Is it to believe that God is holy And yet offend him by so many Crimes Is it to believe that God is pure And yet to cleave to the pleasures of the Senses Is it to believe that God is good And yet not to love him Is it to believe God to be independent And yet not to adore him Is it to believe God to be beneficent And yet not to thank him O most Holy Trinity I bless thee and I adore thee I will love thee both in Time and Eternity Glory be to the Father who created me Glory be to the Son who redeemed me Glory be to the Holy Ghost who sanctified me Glory be to the Father who supports me by his Power Glory be to the Son who governs me by his Wisdom Glory be to the Holy Ghost who sanctifies me by his Love Glory be to the Father who sustains my Being Glory be to the Son who enlightens my Understanding Glory be to the Holy Ghost who consecrates my Will Let the Holy Trinity be blessed By Angels and Men in Time and in Eternity Amen So be it Going teach ye all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28. Three there are who give testimony in Heaven the Father Word and Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 John 5. Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts the Earth is full of thy glory Isai 6. All that is in the World is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life 1 John 8. CXXVI MED In form of a Dialogue Of the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar The Disciple I Will speak unto my Lord Altho I am but ashes and dust O my God! How wonderful is your Wisdom How profound are your Mysteries Whence coms it that you would remain on Earth Since your Body is glorious Ought not the noblest of all Bodies To be on the top of the highest Heavens Your Throne is in the Firmament The Earth is but your Foot-stool Why do not you dwell in your Palace What do you do upon our dunghill The Master I would remain here upon Earth For to content my love I converse with men For to content their desires I am with my Disciples For to content them by my Presence I am amongst my sheep For to defend them against the Wolves I leave my self to my Church For to serve them for a Victim I immolate my self on the Altars For to do homage to my Father You would have no Religion If you had no Sacrifice The ancient ones are abrogated There is only I alone that can be immolated My body is in Heaven as in its Natural place My Body is on Earth as in a Sacramental place When I came down upon Earth I did not for that quit Heaven And when I re-ascended to Heaven I did not for all that quit the Earth The Disciple I will again speak to you O Lord Altho I am but ashes and dust Whence coms it that remaining on Earth You did not make your self visible Why did you hide your self Since you desire to be beloved You would have won all hearts If you had discovered your self to your eyes The Master I am a hidden God One must dy for to see me I hid my Divinity under the form of a Man And I hide my Humanity Under the form of Bread Your life is a state of Faith My Body ought therein to be veyled Your life is a state of Merit Your Understanding ought therein to be humbled Adam did not
Mortification 53 Of Venial Sin 26 June 29. SS Peter and Paul Of Faith 134 Of Charity 142 Of Obedience 208 June 30. Commemoration of S. Paul Of the conducts of God 183 Of the love of Jesus 337 July 2. The Visitation of our B. Lady 321 July 22. S. Mary Magdalen Of Simplicity 362 The conditions of true Pennance 32 Of Charity 142 Of divine Vnion 370 July 25. S. James Apostle Of the Duties of Fathers c. 166 Of Conformity 162 Of vain Desires 42 July 26. S. Anne of Driness 190 Of the Will of God 9 Of leaving our selves c. 186 July 29. S. Martha Of good Works 178 That we ought to do our works well 175 Of divine Vnion 370 July 31. S. Ignatius Conf. Of the love of JESUS 337 Of the love of our Neighbour 164 Which is the noblest Intention 145 Aug. 5. Our B. Lady ad Nives Of Devotion to our B. Lady 310 Aug. 6. Transfiguration of our Lord. Of Solitude 342 Of the Imitation of J. Christ 217 Of Heaven 368 Aug. 10. S. Laurence Of Patience 155 Of Mortification 53 Of the Two Eternities 24 Aug. 15. Assumption of our B. Lady 328 Of the Death of our Lady 323 Of her Resurrection 325 Aug. 24. S. Bartholomew Apostle Of the excellence of Mortification 55 Aug. 25. S. Lewis King Of the conducts of God 183 Of the Benefit of letting our selves be conduducted 186 Of God's Dominion over his Creatures 3 Aug. 28. S. Austin Doctor Of God's Incomprehensibility 360 Of God's Amability 355 Of Faith 134. Of Humility 149 Aug. 29. Decollation of S. John Baptist Of the Hatred of the World 45 Of Fidelity in small Matters 176 Of Human respect 77 Sept. 8. Nativity of our B. Lady 331 Sept. 14. Exaltation of the Holy Cross 155 Of the Cross 155 Remedies against Sadness 84 Sept. 21. S. Mathew Apostle Of Avarice 97 Of Poverty 204. Of Inspirations 199 Sept. 29. S. Michael Archangel Of Pride 89. Of Humility 149 Oct. 4. S. Francis Of Assis Of Poverty 204 Of the Cross 155. Vseful Thoughts 12 Oct. 9. S. Denys Of divine Vnion 370 Of divine Perfections 350 Of Prayer 130 Oct. 15. S. Teresa Of Dryness 190 Of Annihilation 347 Of the fulness of God's riches 366 Oct. 18. S. Luke Evang. Of the excellency of Mortification 55 Of the Peace of the Soul 41 Of the Pains of the Mind 61 Oct. 28. SS Simon and Jude Of the love of our Neighbour 164 Of Persecutions 73 That Persecutions are necessary 75 Nov. 1. All Saints Of Heaven 368 Of the Two Eternities 24 Of the Divine Perfections 350 Nov. 2. All Souls Of venial Sin 26 Of Pennance 28 Of the good use of Time 71 Nov. 11. S. Martin Of Alms. 180 Of good Works 178 Of the Death of the Just 14 The affections of a Just Soul 111 Nov. 21. Presentation of our B. Lady 333 Nov. 30. S. Andrew Apost Of the Cross 155 Of the Five degrees of Perfection 349 The End of the Table of the Meditations for the FEASTS A TABLE OF MEDITATIONS For the renewing of VOWES 1. OF the End for which Man was made 1 2. Of the Dominion of God over his Creatures 3 3. Of the care of our Salvation 6 4. Of the Obligation we have to love God 10 5. Of the Will of God 9 6. Of Tepidity 43 7. Of Customary Sins 102 8. Of the Conditions of true Pennance 32 9. Of the Happiness of a Religious state 203 10. Of Poverty 204 11. Of Chastity 206 12. Of Obedience 208 13. Of Regular Disciplin 210 The End of all the TABLES The FIRST Meditation Of the End for which Man was made I Came from God I belong to God I subsist only in God I live only for to serve God As I cannot be but from God I cannot be but for God It is not necessary that I should be in the World But supposing that I am therein I must be all God's All things speak to me of God All things draw me to God All things make me know God All things tell me that I deserve not to live Unless I live for God That I ought not to have a Heart Unless I will love God That I cannot serve two Masters That I must either be the Devil 's or God's Whom have I obey'd Which of the Two has been my Master For whom have I labour'd Whom have I contented Alas it has been the Devil This is the Master that I have preferr'd before God I have made my self his slave I have don all his Wills and Commands Oh I abhor my infidelity I acknowledge my injustice I will henceforth be God's I will love none but God I will live no more but for God I will serve none but God I will make it an absolute necessity For me to love and content God Lord make mine end known to me that I may know what is lacking to me Ps 38.5 I have created him framed him and made him for my glory Isa 43.7 I am the beginning and the end Apoc. 2.8 I have brought up Children and exalted them but they have despised me Isa 2. v. 2. II. MED Of the Dominion of God over his Creatures YOU have not always had a Being There was a time wherein you were not It was God who drew you out of nothing 'T was He that gave you a Being You are therefore His Creature He has an absolute dominion over you He may command you what He pleases He may put you where He pleases He may preserve you or destroy you Raise you up or pull you down Comfort you or afflict you Make you die or make you live As He depends upon none So is He answerable to none God is your first Beginning He is Master of your life He is the preserve thereof He is the repairer thereof You depend upon Him necessarily You depend upon him 1. Essentially 2. Absolutely 3. Continually 4. Eternally Is it not then just that you should obey The Master on whom you depend He that planted the Vine Has he not right to eat of it He that built the House Has he not right to dwell in it What injustice is it to expel God Out of a heart which he framed with his own hands From a heart which he Redeemed with his own Blood From a heart wherein he has a mind to dwell From a heart which he would sanctifie What a pride is it for a Vessel of Earth To murmur against its Maker God is your final End He created you for his glory He desires to make you happy 'T is for that end he has placed you in this world Every thing tends to its own end That is the term of its motions That is the center of its rest That is the beginning of its strength The weight of its inclination The very top of its perfection Out of that end a thing is unhappy It is weak It is vicious Ah! why do we not then go to God Ah! whence comes it that we quit God O my
wert either cold or hot Apoc. 3. Pervent in Spirit Rom. 12. Remember from whence thou art fallen and do pennance and do thy first works Apoc. 2. Because thou art tepid I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth Apoc. 3. XXIV MED Of the hatred of the World THe World is a cheat It must be contemned It never performs what it promises Its goods are not true ones They are not solid not pure not lasting They cannot fill the heart nor content the mind They give many disquiets and never give any rest Have you ever had any whilst you were in its service We ought to hate the World 'T is an enemy to JESUS Christ 'T is the Devil's Confederate He that loves the World believes the Maxims of the World And not those of the Gospel He is therefore a Christian only in name But an Infidel in heart The Devils believe there is a God This belief makes them tremble But they believe not in God Because they do not do his Will The Worlding believes there is a God But he does not believe in God Satan believes and trembles The Worlding believes and mocks He is then worse than the Devil Who ever is a friend to the World Declares himself an enemy to God Is it to be loyal to your King to love his Enemies We ought to fly the World Its company is dangerous We cannot live in it with security 'T is a Sea full of shelfs The World is 1. Judg'd 2. Condemn'd 3. Accursed 4. Excommunicated And can we after all that frequent it 'T is better to be hated by the wicked Than be beloved by them If you are of the World you will die in your Sin Why will you love the World Was it the World that created you That redeemed you That will save you JESUS says That he is not of this World And you say That you are of this World You are not then a Disciple of JESUS Christ Have not you renounc'd the World When you were baptized You renounc'd it before the use of reason And you adore it having the use of reason You renounc'd it without your liberty And you love it with your liberty Doubtless had you had the use of reason You would not have been baptized O JESUS How many adorers has the World And how few servants have you The World cheats all men And yet all men serve it You cheat no body And yet no body obeys you O! I am a Christian I have learnt to contemn the World and not to adore it I had rather be little with humble JESUS Than great with the ambitious World I had rather weep with afflicted JESUS Than divert my self with the voluptuous World Want all with poor JESUS Than possess all with the vicious World VVo unto the world from scandals Matth. 18. I am not of this world John 8. Now is the judgment of this world John 12. I pray not for the world John 17. Have confidence I have conquer'd the world John 10. He that loves the world the charity of the Father is not in him 1 John 2. XXV MED Of the small number of the Saved THe Flood overflow'd the whole Earth There were but eight men saved Of six hundred thousand fighting men There were only two that past the Jordan Of a field sown with Wheat Only the fourth part is fruitful Of many that run a Race only one gets the Prize The way to Hell is broad The greatest part of men take that way The way to Heaven is narrow And few there are that find it God will have all men to be saved He never forsakes them unless he be first forsaken He refuses his grace to no body Whence comes it then that so few are saved 'T is because Nature is corrupted Because it always tends downward Because we use no violence to it Because we are tyed to the pleasure of our senses Because we follow the Maxims of the World Because we do no Pennance Because we do not what we ought Because we begin to do it too late Because we stay to the very last When we are no more able to sin God contemns them at their death Who contemn'd him during their life The Devil keeps those fast at their death Whom he possest during their life Seldom can one in his old age shake off The wicked customs of his youth Every one carries to his Grave The Vices of his first years They hide themselves in his bones And sleep under his ashes with him O my God! Shall I be saved Shall I be damned If I am saved 't will be by your grace If I am damn'd 't will be through my own fault For there is nothing wanting to me for my Salvation What would I wish to have done at my death What sorrow shall I have in Hell Is a short time too long to prepare ones self Eternity Enter in at the narrow gate Math. 7. Many are called but few chosen Thy perdition is from thy self O Israel in me alone is thy help Hosea 13. What more could I do to my Vineyard and have not don it Isa 5. His bones shall be fill'd with the sins of his youth and sleep with him in the dust Job 20. XXVI MED Of Scandal or bad Example BAd Example is a bad Master It teaches evil to those that are ignorant of it It perswades those to it that abhor it It facilitates it to those that apprehend it It commands it to those that hate it It makes it honourable to the great ones It makes it necessary to the lesser sort It makes it lawful to the good It makes it pleasing to the wicked A scandalous person does more harm Than a great Saint can do good Example damns more people Than all the Preachers have ever saved Ignorance is one part of Innocence Evil would scarce ever be don Had it not been seen don One is ashamed to be good When one is amongst the wicked Only those Beings that are perfect Can produce perfect Beings like themselves One must be compleatly wicked To make others wicked A scandalous man is an Antichrist He is a Master of Iniquity He is a corrupter of Innocency He is the Devil's Substitute He is the Minister of his will A scandalous person ruins the Empire of JESUS He extends the Empire of Lucifer He fights under his Standard He draws men to his side He Martyrizes Innocence He damns the Souls of his brothers He commits as many sins As he is the cause of being committed He shall be damn'd as many times As he hath damned people He shall have as many Hells As he hath sent Souls to Hell O Scandalous Soul What has JESUS don to thee That thou shouldst persecute him What has thy Neighbour don That thou shouldst damn him Hast thou reason to be wicked because he is good And to wish him ill because he is innocent Hast not thou committed sins enough Wthout loading thy self with the sins of others What rest wilt
deserves He was forsaken in his Soul And consumed with sorrows in his Body All his Senses were crucified His Eyes by the sight of his Enemies His Ears by their Blasphemies His Smell by the infection of the place His Touch by his wounds His Tast by the bitterness of the gall His Memory by the sight of our crimes His Understanding by the darkness His Will by the terrours His Appetite by infirmity By disgust and by sadness He had no Part in his Body Which was not loaden with wounds He suffered like a mere man Who neither had been God nor happy The Victim was indeed flayed But it was still sound within The whips had taken off the skin But they had not touch'd the entrails That he might afflict all the organs Of our Excesses and Gluttonies He suffered a cruel Thirst He makes the bitterness of his Chalice Descend down into his Body Then was the Book of this divine Lamb Written both within and without Jesus complains that he is athirst Knowing that they would give him gall to drink He discovers to us his sorrow And the love that consumed him He thirsts after our Salvation and Perfection He desires to suffer more 'T is Love that makes him dy O Jesus my Saviour What can I do for your relief Cannot I quench your thirst Doubtless you desire something of me What is that thirst that burns you O I know what it is that you require You would have me quit this Sin Renounce that company Draw near unto your Cross Entertain my self with your Sufferings Apply my self a little to Prayer Give my self to Devotion Keep silence when I am provoked and offended This is what you desire of me This is what will quench your thirst Shall I dare to refuse This relief to your Pains O that I did burn with your love As you burnt with mine O that I could suffer for you As much as you suffered for me O how love makes me languish O I have long desired to dy That the Scripture might be fulfill'd he said I thirst John 19. O that som one would give me water of the cistern of Bethlehem which is in the gate 1 Par. 11. Woman give me to drink John 4. They gave for my food gall and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink Ps 98. As the heart desires the fountains of waters so doth my soul thirst after the living God Ps 41. CXIV MED On the sixth Word of our Lord on the Cross ALL is Consummate Jesus having taken the Vinegar said All is accomplished The Holocaust is consummated The Commands of my Father are executed The Gospel is announced The Prophecies are verified The ransom of mankind is paid Their sins are pardoned The Captives are delivered Heaven is opened The Sacraments are instituted The Devils are overcom The World is repaired I have nothing more to say do or suffer I have nothing now to do But to give up my soul 'T is now in the power of men To live well and save themselves O the happy Consummation of the just O the unhappy Consummation of the wicked All is Consummate the sinners will say Our pleasures are past Our pastimes are at an end Our fair days are eclipsed Our hopes are vanish'd away Our time is slid away Our life is ended Our malice is Consummated We must now begin to suffer An evil which can never end We must begin a misery Which will never be Consummated All is Consummate the Just will say Our evil days are past away Our sufferings are terminated Our combats are ended Our troubles are calmed Our sorrows are allayed Our infirmities are cured Our tears are wiped away Our Miseries are Consummated There is no more Cross for us to bear No more evil to suffer No more Pennance to do We are going into a Country of Peace Where our joy shall never have an end Choose O Christian Soul One of these two Consummations You must of necessity one day say All is Consummate Will you say it as Lazarus did Or will you say it as Dives did Will you say it as JESVS did Or as Pilate did When your time is Consummated You will find that all is but vanity O Jesus the Author of our Faith And the Consummator of our Salvation Let me consume my life for you As you consumed yours for me Let me accomplish all your commands Let me spend my self for your glory Let me burn with your love Let me make a victim of my body Let me annihilate my self continually Let me fulfil all your designs Let me acquit me of all my duties Let me say with truth when I dy All is ended All is consummate It is consummate John 19. By this one oblation he consummated for ever the sanctified Heb. 10. Looking upon the Author of faith and the Consummator Jesus Heb. 12. He learnt by those things which he suffered obedience and he was made consummate Heb. 5. If a man lives many years and do rejoyce in all these things he must remember the darksom time and the evil days which when they com the things that are past will be argued of vanity Eccles 11. CXV MED On the last Word of JESVS Christ on the Cross FAther into thy hands I commend my soul Jesus leaves himself to his Father When he is forsaken by him He teaches us how to dy As he taught us how to live He teaches us confidence After he had taught us patience Let us imitate Jesus living Let us imitate Jesus dying Let us rest betwixt his arms Let us recommend our souls into his hands He is our Father Can he forsake us He is our Saviour Will he damn us Let us at our death say to Jesus Christ Father into thy hands I recommend my Spirit It came from thee as from its beginning It returns to thee as to its end It is a blast of thy mouth 'T is an emanation of thy spirit 'T is the price of thy blood 'T is the Sanctuary of thy Grace I recommend it into thy hands Which were pierced for its sake I recommend it to thy heart Which burnt with love for it O Lord take it into thy care And when it hath left its body I beseech thee not to forsake it Unless it fall into thy hands Alas its Salvation is desperate O Lord permit not that Soul to be lost Which has cost thee so dear Go forth O my Soul quit thy Body How coms it that thou apprehendest death JESUS has answered for thee He has recommended thee to his Father When he recommended to him his own Spirit Go forth of thy Body O Christian Soul In the name of the Father who created thee In the name of the Son who redeemed thee In the name of the Holy Ghost who sanctified thee Jesus calls thee to his Heaven Bow down thy head through obedience Fear nothing thou art in security In the hands of JESUS Christ Jesus crying with a loud voice said Father into thy hands
I commend my spirit And saying this he gave up the Ghost Luk. 23. And bowing down the head he gave up the Ghost John 19. Our King before ages wrought Salvation in the midst of the Earth Psal 73. He that adheres to our Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6. If God be for us who is against us Rom. 8. Therefore let those who suffer according to the Will of God recommend their Souls to their faithful Creator in good deeds 1 Pet. 4. CXVI MED Of the Death of the Son of God JESUS is dead Who will fear death He died for us Who will refuse to dy for him He died wasted with pains Who will refuse to suffer He died for his Servants Who will serve any other Master but him He died for our sins Who will dare to put him to death again O the good Shepherd Who died for his Sheep O the High Priest Who immolated himself for men O the faithful Friend Who lov'd us until death O the Divine Master Who placed his Chair on Mount Calvary O JESVS Since thou didst dy for me It is just that I should dy for thee Since thou hast given me the example I must dy as thou didst Wherefore I pardon all my enemies I hope thou wilt give me thy Heaven Recommend me I pray to thy good Mother Bid her take care of me O forsake me not O my God When all the World forsakes me Sustain me by thy grace When I have lost the strength of my body I thirst I desire to see thee I desire to dy When will my end com When shall I consummate my Sacrifice O my Father I recommend my spirit into thy hands I unite my death with thy Son 's Remember that he redeem'd me with his blood Lose not my soul which is of so great value Bowing down his head he gave up the Ghost John 19. The just man perisheth and no body thinks of it in his heart Isai 57. Think upon him who endured such contradiction against himself from sinners that you may not be wearied in your minds fainting Heb. 12. He died for the wicked Rom. 5. Christ died for us ibid. For this end did Christ dy and rose again that he might be Lord of the quick and the dead Rom. 14. Your are dead and your life is hid with Christ c. Col. 3. CXVII MED In form of Prayer on the seven Stations of the Sufferings of the Son of God 1. STATION O Jesus my Saviour who didst sweat blood and water in the Garden of Olives at the sight of thy torments and of my sins And who didst strip thy self of thy farce for to cloath thy self with my Infirmities I aadore thee all bathed in thy blood I give thanks to thy sacred heart for having afflicted it self for my sake I detest all the sins which did cause so great a sadness I resolve to dy rather than ever more to afflict thee Give me grace that I may as thou didst conceive a great sorrow for my iniquities that I may resist even unto blood the Temptations of the Devil and of the Flesh and that I may conform my self in all things to thy example and to the will of thy Father 2. STAT O Jesus my Lord who wert buffeted and ill treated in the houses of Annas and Caiphas I give thee thanks for having suffered these injuries and these confusions for the love of me Alas how often have I buffeted and injured thee in the person of my neighbour since thou reckonest as don to thy self all the ill that is don to him I beg most humble pardon of thee for it And I resolve henceforth for thy sake to suffer all the injuries that shall be don to me and never more to offend thee in the person of my Brothers either by action words judgment or will 3. STAT O Jesus my King who wert scorned by Herod and by the Jews when they preferred a Robber a Seditious felow and a Man-killer before thee I beg pardon of you for having so often preferr'd the Devil and wretched Creatures before you I promise never more to dishonour you You shall always be the King of my heart and I will rather dy than lay you as I have don under the feet of Lucifer that Robber that Seditious wretch and Murderer of all men 4. STAT O Jesus the purest and chastest of all men whose innocent flesh was torn with the blows of the Whips in Pilate's house for to expiate the Criminal Pleasures that we take in our flesh I acknowledge that it was for my sake that you suffered such cruel torments I am sorry for having given you so many wounds and that I have so often renewed them by the satisfaction which I have given to my Senses I conjure you by your Dolours to sanctifie my Body and Soul and to wash them with your pretious blood from all their Impurities and never to suffer that that flesh which has been washed in your blood be ever stain'd with any sin 5. STAT O Jesus the greatest of all Kings who wert crowned with Thorns and didst wear on thy Shoulders the Royal Marks of thy Principality I acknowledge thee for my King as despised and disfigured as thou art And since thou hast no part of thy body which was not wounded I will take no more pleasure in my body but will live in grief and pain that I may be one of thy Subjects and one of thy Members 6. STAT O Jesus my Redeemer who for my sake wert fastened to a Cross and who didst shed all thy blood for to rescue me from the power of the Devil whose Slave I was I give the thanks for this incomparable love that thou didst bear to me for so many torments which thou didst suffer for my sake I kiss with respect thy sacred feet and thy sacred hands which were pierced for my sake I adore that sacred heart which was opened for my love and I promise rather to dy than ever more to crucify thee in mine 7. STAT O Jesus my life who didst dy for me and who wert forsaken by thy Father that I might not be forsaken at my death O most meek Lamb immolated for the Salvation of men Victim of Love and Patience who wert consummated on a pile of sorrows O the Saint of Saints O the King of Kings What can I do for to acknowledge so great a goodness Why may not I dy for you as you died for me I believe that thou art my Saviour and I should despair did I not believe it I hope that thou wilt pardon me my sins and that thou wilt bestow on me thy Heaven since thou gavest me thy life I detest my Crimes which are the cause of thy death and I will rather lose my life than ever make thee dy in my heart since this death is infinitly more sensible and more ignominious to thee than that of the Cross I beg your pardon for all those who have offended me I give my self