dy that the Citty of Ierusalem should be full of people that it might be vnto him an occasion of more infamy To conclude if this our Lord his election choice iudgement of things be alwaies best as doubtles it is it behooueth thee in imitation of him euer to make choice of the worst for thy selfe flying whatsoeuer tendeth to thy honour and estimation and imbracing whatsoeuer may be for thy dishonour contempt THE 4. POINT TO consider what this B Child hath in heauen as he is Almighty God what in the stable as he is man who he is in both places Ponder how this poore little Infant who is heere lodged in so vile a cottage and reposeth in a manger is a God of infinite Maiesty whose seate is heaueâ— whose throne are the Cherubims whose seruants are al the Angells and whome all do adore and serue This babe is the vniuersall Lord and eternall word in all thinges â—quall with the other two diuine perâ—ons who afterwardes was so gloriâ—usly transfigured on the mount Taâ—or betweene Moyses and 〈◊〉 and â—ho in the day of Iudgement â—â—all sit 〈◊〉 a throne of Maiesty amiddest the â—ood and bad He the very same â—ow in this his entrance into the â—orld lyeth in the cribbe in a hard â—nd abiect manger betweene two â—â—ute beastes preaching and saying â—â—to thee not by word of mouth â—ut of spirit not with many speeches â—â—t with deedes Learne of me beâ—use I am meeke humble of â—art â—â—hold how euen from my cradle â—till my dying day I haue chosen 〈◊〉 my inseparable companionsâ— poâ—â—ty contempt sorroweâ— and affliâ—â—ons Hence maist thou gather thâ—â—â—ing God himselfe so great â— Lord â—ame for thy â—ake so little thoâ—â—st also endeauour to humble 〈…〉 and to become little for vnleâ—â—◠〈◊〉 become as this little one tho◠〈◊〉 not enter into the Kingdome of heauen THE X. MEDITATIOâ— Of the ioy which the Angells and me◠〈◊〉 the Natiuity of the Sonne of Almighty God THE 1. POINT TO consider what passed in heâ—uen at such time as Christ lesus our Lord was borne oâ— earth Then the eternall Father gauâ— commandement that all the Angeâ—â— should adore him as the Apostle Sâ— Paul saith and all of them singing iâ— in the aire Hymnes and Praises 〈◊〉 this new borne King adored hiâ— with most humble and profound 〈◊〉 â—erence acknovvledging that littâ—â—â—â—be to be the only begotten Sonâ—â— of the eternall Father the King 〈◊〉 Lord of heauen earth Ponder how much this 〈◊〉 of the Incarnation of the diuâ—â—â— world was for the glory of Almigâ—ty God for in regard therof he 〈◊〉 glorified by all the celestiall Spiri◠〈◊〉 in heauen and earth who like â—â—to so many flakes of most white how did descend from aboue as it â—ere a ladder from heauen to the â—ittle porch of Bethleem and in toâ—en that they did acknowledge him or their King and Lord they kissed â—is sacred feete Gather hence a great ioy to see his soueraigne King adored by his â—oly Angels and he hartily grieued â—o see him so much forgotten neâ—lected amongst men yea so heiâ—ously offended by them Beseech â—im that thou maist not be of the nâ—uâ—er of those vngratefull persons but â—aist glorify and adore his most holy â—on on earth as the Angels did doe â—lwaies in heauen THE 2. POINT To consider how the Eternall Father did manifest the Birth of 〈◊〉 â—ost holy Sonne to the shepheardeâ— â—ho were watching ouer their 〈◊〉 â—n the night time sending his 〈…〉 bring them the happy 〈…〉 and to declare so high a 〈…〉 â—nto them of which company 〈◊〉 approaching neere vnto them saidâ— Reioyce for behould I shew vnâ—â— you great ioy that shal be to all the people because this day is bornâ— to you a Sauiour which is Christ out Lord in the Citty of Dauid And this shal be a signe to you You shall find the infant swathed in clouâ—s and laid in a manger And presently thosâ— heauenly spirits brake forth into â—â—olt diuine melody manifesting thereby the singular content which they receiued and said Glory in thâ— highest to God and in earth peace 〈◊〉 â—â—en of good will The shepâ—eardes â—earing this so happy newes witâ— great desire and loue inuited one another to seeke out him â—home they heâ—rd so much praised sayâ—ng Let vs go to Bethleem and let vs see this word that is done which our Lord had shewed to vs. Ponder the admiration of these â—oly sheepheards when following thâ— direction of the Angells they found â—ll to be so as they had told them 〈◊〉 were they greatly â—stonished to se◠〈…〉 so 〈◊〉 base 〈…〉 〈◊〉 poore stable an oxe an aslâ— and a â—anger should be the signes to find out the Lord of Maiesty But farre greater was the admiration which this very same caused in the holy Prophet I say foreseeing in spirit â—ong before these shepheardes and â—his great God and Lord so little and â—o much humbled wheresore he said Who euer beard such a thing and who hath seene the like to this God â—n infant God in swathing bandeâ— God to weep a thing so vn beseeminâ—â—is Maiesty and greatnes a thing so â—trange a worke that doth amaâ—◠〈◊〉 â—stonish the indgements of men and Angells Gather hence desires to be hâ—mble and lowly as God Almighty vouch safed to humble himselfe for he manifested himselfe freely anâ— of his own accord to the humble shepheards but not to prouâ—d Scribeâ— and Pâ—arisies He is willing 〈…〉 found of those who carefully 〈◊〉 ouer their owne soules but 〈…〉 those who are ouer whelmed 〈…〉 â—yed in the dead slâ—ep of 〈…〉 a care therefore to watch and pray â— thou shalt find our Lord as these shepheards did THE 3. POINT TO consider the great desire which these holy sheepheardes had to bring home with them to their cottage and cabins if they could haue obtained so much those lightes of the world the Sonne and the Mother seeing them so solitary poore vnprouided of all human meanes to serue and cherish them as far aâ— their small forces and ability would reach in token of gratitude for the high fauour which they had receaued of them when they disclosed manifested themselues vnto them Ponder that for the finding out of Almighty God is not required â—ither a sharp wit or a good vnderstanding much learning or great parts neither will he be found by such if togeather therewith they seeke honour and vaine glory and not God alone but he is sooner fouÌ„d out by an humble Cooke or seruaut in Religion or by a poore simple swineheard and doth most bountifully communicate vnto them his celestiall gifts and fauours as the Holy Ghost himselfe testifieth in the Prouerbes Hence thou maist gather desires to seeke Almighty God with true loue and diligence that thou maist also find him as these silly sheepheards did Beseech him that seeing he is the soueraigne shepheard and thou his sheep marked with his owne most precious bloud he will
called the Illumiâ—â—tiuâ— Way The end of which way is to Illuminate the soule with the light of sundry truthes and vertues with â—iâ—ely and effectuâ—ll desirâ—â— of knowing God and to vnite himselfe witâ—â—im exercising himselfe in the conâ—iderations of the diuine Mysterieâ— of the life and death of our B. Sauiâ—ur for by meditating of these and â—y carrying them alwâ—yes in his hâ—rt â—e shall stâ—r vp and enkindle in himâ—elfe motions of deuotion proper 〈◊〉 peculiar to this way to wit louâ—â—nd desire of the vertues of Humiâ—â—ity Patience Chastity Obedience â—ouerty of spirit Câ—arity the like For to what vertue can any one bâ—â—nclined wherof he may not find in â—he life and death of our Sauiour meruaillous examples it being as iâ— were a royall table or banquet furâ—ished with all sorts of meates a pâ—â—radise full of all delights a garden â—et forth with all manner of flowers â— market abounding with all things â—and as it were a spirituall Faire repleâ—â—â—shed with all good thinges that wâ—â—an wish for as in this second bookâ—â—halbe seene An Aduertisement â—T seemeth vnto me conueniâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for the better obseruing of our intended breuity not to treate froâ— hence forward in the ensuing Meditations of the Preparatory Prayer of the composition of Place or oâ— the Petition since it wil suffice to hauâ— done it in all the Mediâ—ations of thâ— first Boobe of which euery one may make his benefit and haue a generall knowledge light inough to make alwaies the sayd three thinges according as the subiects of the Meditation shall require for more perspicuity whereof let vs put an example or two Will you meditate vpon the Birth of our Sauiour Christ or on the pennance which he did in the desert c In the Former the composition of place may be as followeth Imagine that you see with the eyes of consideration as it were â— house or cottage vnhabitable forsaken of all open on euery side full of cobwbes and filth exposed vnto the wind and snowy weather and in a corner thereof on the ground vpon â— little straw the only begotten Sonne â—f Almighty God Iesus Christ ouâ— Lord crying like a little infant trâ—bling and quaking for cold the most Blâ—ssâ—d Virgin our Lady and her Spouse S. Ioseph full of deuotion admiration and astonishment adoring him on their knees Let thy Petition be to obtainâ— grace of his Maiesty to performe the like with them and to know serue and be gratefull for the fauours and benefits he commeth to bestow vpon thee thou being so vnworthy of â—hem In the Meditation of the desert the composition of the place may be made thus Behold with the interiour sight of thy soule Iesus Christ our Lord all alone in a desert compassed with high mountaines and craggâ— rocks doing for the space of forty dayes hard and rigorous pennance not eating any thing at all enuironed with the fierce and wild beâ—stes of the woods cast vpon the ground vnder a hedge or at the fooâ— of some tree for such was his shelter and place of repose treating day and â—ight with his Eternall Father about thy saluation The Petition shal be that his Maiesty will vouchsafe to doe thee so great a fauour as thou maist serue accompany him in that desert willdernes for such holy company wilbâ— to thee a paradise and glory And after this manner â—hou mayst alvvaies make in the beginning and entrance of thy Prayer the Composition of place and Petition according as the passage or Mystery which thou dost meditate shall reqâ—ire humbly crauing ayd and fauour of the holy Ghost who as â— most excellent maister of spirit will teach thee far better then I can But one thing is specially to be noted that when thou art to make the Composition of place in some passage or Mistery of Christ either newly borne or bound to the pillar or nayled â—o the crosse thou must not imagine as though it happened a far off in Bethelem or in Ierusalem a thousand and so many yeares since for this doth wearâ— the imâ—gination and is not of so much force to moue But rather imagine those thinges as if they were present and euen now did passe before thyne eyes seeing and beholding with the eyes of thy soule the infant Iesus weeping and crying in the cradle or manger And as it were heare the strokes of whips and knocking of the nailes whereby â—hou shalt both pray with more facility swetnes attention and deâ—otion and be moued more reaâ— more aboundant fruite and profit â—hereof THE I. MEDITATION Of the Conception of our B. Lady THE 1. POINT TO consider and with the eyâ—â— of thy vnderstanding to behold the three diuine Persons Faâ—her Sonne and Holy Ghost in thâ—â—hrone of their glory and Maiesty in whose presence do assist an innuâ—erable number of Angells ordayâ—ing and decreeing in thaâ— supremâ— Councell that seeing the â—uine â—nd perdition of mankind and the forgetfullnes of their eternall weale and saluation was so great to redresse the domage and vniuersall hurt the second person of the most B. Trinity the only begotten Sonne of the Eternall Father should become Man to redeeme vs. Ponder the excessiue louâ— which did burne and inâ—â—ame his diâ—ine breast for hauing many other meanes to redeemee thee which would haue cost him farre lesse he would notwithstanding make choice of no â—ther but of that which should â—ost him most of all the more to declare his vnspeakable loue towardes thee making himselfe Man that he might be more humbled therby and inueâ—ting himselfe with the basenes of thy flesh to communicate vnto thee â—is greatnesse he that was before impassible became mortall be that was Eternall temporall and oâ— a Lord a â—laue of the king of heauen a worme and reproach of the earth Hence thou mayst gather the great longing desire our good Lord had of thy saluation seeing he would vndertake so much for thee for thy soules health Stir thou vp likewise in thy selfe feruent desires of humiliation the better to serue him for that he so huÌ„bled himself to redeeâ— thee THE 2. POINT To consider how Almighty God hauing determined to make himselfe Man and to be borne of a Mother as other men are ordayned that his holy spirit should begin to build the house wherein he vvas to dwell creating the sacred Virgin our B. Lady pure and without spoâ— or blemisâ— free from all stayne of sinne originall or Actuall And certainely it â—as meete that such a priuiledge should be graunted her in whomâ— God was to lodge and dwell as in hiâ— holy Temple Ponder that as all our hurt and perdition entred into the world by a man and woman God in like manner would that our redemptioâ— should haue beginning by another â—an and another women And 〈◊〉 death entred into the world by Adam and Eâ—e when they sinned so the life of grace should enter by Iesus Mary which neuer sinned vnto whomâ— men should repaâ—re for remedy of their
my selfe hast abandoned them and receaued me I render thee o my Lord God infinite thankes for so great a benefit and mercy Graunt I beâ—eech thee that I may duely prepare my selfe these daies to receaue thee and wellcome thee into the world as this most Blessed Virgin thy Mother and our Lady did diuinely dispose and prepare her selfe for thy comming THE 2. POINT TO consider the liuely and inflamed desire which our Blessâ—d Sauiour had in the wombe of his most Holy Mother to manifest himselfe to the world for the redeeming of mankind and to giue vs repast and food of life euerlasting Ponder that his small and tender body was not so pâ—essed and straitned in that narrow prison of the wombe of his Mother as was his louing hart kept in and straitned with the force of his vehement desire and though euery day seemed vnto him a yeare yet he would neuerthelesse remaine therein the full time of nine moneâ—hes and admiâ— no priuiledge which migâ—t exempt him from suffering or shorten the time of his durance therin Gather hence how mâ—ch it importeth thee to dispose thy selfe these dayes to celebrate with deuotion the feast of his Holy Naâ—â—iuit◠〈◊〉 the inflamed desires â—herewith those ancient Fathers disposed â—hemselues for it For so thou shalâ— reap in thy hart the Blessed fruit of thy hopes THE 3. POINT TO consider how greatly the most sacred Virgin desired at length to behold with her eies the only Sonne of Almighty God the fruit of her wombe to adore and serue him in way of gratitude and thankefullnes for the great fauour he had done herâ—in electing chosing her to be his Mother Ponder with how loude and often cries of her hart she repeated with ardent affection of desire and loue that which the holy Church doth often sing O would to God thou wouldest breake open the heauens and descend and the cloudes raine downe the Sauiour And with the Espouse O my Sonne that I â—ight see thee out of this thy enclosure sucking the breasts of thy mother that I may kisse cherish imbrace thee Hence thou maist gather like affections and desiring that thy Saâ—iour would â—ome vnto thee endeauour to imitate the Blessed Virgin our Lady to the end thou maist see and enioy the diuine treasure which she did And with these or the like words moue quicken thy desires to adorâ— serue the Son of God borne newly in thy soule as the most Blessed Virgin his mother did serue adore him THE 4. POINT TO consider what S. Ioseph did what his thoughts and meditations were these dayes doubtlesse through the great desire which he also had to see his Lord God he often spake these or the like wordes Come at last O hope of all Nations let my eies behold thee before they be closed vp when shall this be O that it were now that I might once come to kisse and imbrace thee most tenderly Ponder how this Holy man perceiuing the Blessed Virgin to be neere her deliuery serâ—ed and cherished her in whatsoeuer his small forces power and ability was able â—especting and honouring her as the Mother of Almighty God and hiâ— most chast Espouse of whose vertue â—olines purity he had now so high a conceit and esteeme Gather hence desires to doe the like esteeming and reuerencing this most pure Virgin seruing her with purity of body and soule and performing these daies some particuler seruice towards her that she may obtaine for thee of her Sonne a good preparation to receaue him as this Holy Patriarch by her meanes obtained THE VIII MEDITATION Of our Blessed Ladyes iourney from Nazareth to Bethleem THE 1. POINT TO consider how the Sonne of the euer-liuing God being to be borne into this world hâ— ordained to leaue and depâ—iue himselfe of those commodities which he might haue had in Nazareth being to haue beene borne in his Mothers house and amongst his kindred and friends where he could not haue wanted the shelter of a warme lodging or chamber yea and further commodity and attendance such as was not wanting vnto Saint Iohn borne at home in his Fathers house Ponder how Christ Iesus our Lord abandoned and contemned whatsoeuer the world loueth to wit contentments pleasures and pamperings of the flesh and sought for all that which the world abhorreth and flyeth as he demonstrated in the pouerty and want of all things in which he alwaies did exercise himselfe and choosing to be borne in Bethleem at the time when all thinges should be wanting vnto him in a houre season so incoÌ„modious sharpe rigorous Heere confound thy selfe beholding so rare an example and bâ— ashamed to see thy selfe so great a louer of thy owne commodities and delicacies Humbly beseech him to giue thee grace that thou maist renounce whatsoeuer pleasures and delights of the flesh and loue and imbrace pouerty and want of all things as he alwaies did THE 2. POINT TO consider the occasions which Christ our Sauiour tooke to make this his iourney that therby all might know he came to obey and serue and not to doe his owne will but the will of his Father who had sent him Ponder that as Christ our Sauiour was borne in obedience so he also dyed in obedience that thou mightst learne to obey In regard of which obedience his holy will was that his Mother and himselfe in her should profesâ—â— seruice and alieagiance and submit themselues to the commaundement of Augustus Caeâ—ar who as Emperour and Lord of the world had commaunded that all his subiects should be enrolled for the paying him tribute Gather hence that if the King of heauen entred into the world humbling himselâ—e and professiâ—g allegianâ—e to a temporall King it cannot be much for thee to humble subiect thy selfe to a heauenly King to thy Superiours his substitutes on earth to whose will thou must endeauour to forme all thy actions for this is the will of Almighty God THE 3. POINT TO consider the discommodityes which our Blessed Lady suffered who being poore the way long the season sharp and cold and in the hart of winter comming to Bethleem â—ll weary and destitute of humane comfort yet she carryed all with admirable patience and conformity to the will of Almighty God Ponder how the Blessed Virgiâ— and S. Ioseph went that iourney all alone vnknowne and forgotten of the world notwithstaÌ„ding they werâ— the most precious Iewells the world had â—uer yielded in highest esteem in the sight of God! O how little did the B. Virgin S. Ioseph regard the world with all the pompe honour thereof Gather hence desires to be forsaken of men and be ashamed of the little loue which thou hast to suffer that thou so easily dost complaine oâ— the leaâ—t discommodity which is offered Learn from this day forwards to set all thinges at naught but only vertue holines of life THE 4. POINT TO consider how that after two or thee daies iourney these
most B. Virgin receiued her beloued Sonne endeauouring to comfort him taking him in her armes laying him at her virginall breasts giuing him to sucke of her most pure milke and saying O spouse and King of glory how deare doth the sinne of â—dam cost thee how soone dost thou performe the office of a redeemer suffering paines â—heding thy bloud for mankinâ— Stir vp in thy selfe a desire to accompany this Blessed Virgin in her teares and good offices towardes her Sonne And shedding aboundant teares of compassion bewaile thy sinnes and offences that thou mayst obtaine pardon of them And render vnto Christ our Sauiour most humble thankes for the bloud and teares which he shed for thee auoyding heereafter to increase his paine with other new offences Beseech the B. Virgin to obtaine for thee grace of her most holy Sonne that at the entrance and beginning of this new yeare thou mayst renew thy life forsaking and casting off thy old garments wherein thou hast been hitherto wrapped to wit thy lukewarmnesse sloth and negligence in thy spirituall exercises putting on from hence forwardes feruour loâ—e and charity towardes God and thy neighbour THE XII MEDITATION Of the comming of the three Kings and of their giftes THE 1. POINT TO consider how the same day on which Iesus Christ our Sauiour was borne in Bethleem he sent to these Kings or Sages a new and most bright shining star giuing them thereby to vnderstand that the true King redeemer of the world was borne in Iury and they illuminated with that heauenly light and inflamed with diuine loâ—e much reioyced at the sight therof congratulating and iouiting one another to go and adore that true King of Kings and forthwith leauing their Counâ—â—ey they went with much content and ioy to seeke Câ—rist Iesus in a forraine Land and to behold with their corporall eyes whome they had already seene with the eyes of â—ayth knowing very well how blessed those eyes should be that should behould him Ponder how great the deuotion was of these Kinges which moued them to leaue their owne Countrey to vndertaâ—e so long and so dangâ—rous a iourney to breake through so many difficultâ—es which they might well imagine would befall them herein whereas many though they be no Kings because they will not depriue themselues of their coâ—modityes and vndergoe some small difficulties for the loue of God will not so much at set one foot before another for his seruice and so doe not find him And it falleth out oftentymes that those who are very faâ— from Christ do bâ— little little draw neere vnto him and find him as may be seene by these holy Kings and that those who be neere at hand are cast backe and left of Almighty God for their ingratitude as it happened vnto Herod and to those of his Court. Gather hence a liuely 〈◊〉 to seeke find and adore this great King â—nd soueraigne Lord of all 〈◊〉 as often as thou shalt see the starre of his diuine inspiration to vvit the voice of thâ— Superiour the rule of thy profession following it with great alacrity though it bring thee to the stable because there thou shalt certainly â—ind Almighty God THE 2. POINT TO consider how the Kings being come to Bâ—thleem the star stood ouer the place where our Sauiour was borne and sparckling cast forth bright beames of light as it wâ—râ— saying vnto them Loe heere he is whome you doe seeke And entring the place they found the true Lambe of God who taketh away the sinneâ— of the world reposed in the armes and sucking at the breasts of his B. Mother Who illuminating their vnderstanding with a celestiall beame of diuine light discouered vnto theâ— how that little babe though in exteriour shew the most poore and contemptible in the world was true God and Lord of all Ponder the goodnes mercy of this our Lord who vouchsafed 〈◊〉 impart the faith of this sacred Mystery of the incarnation in such plenty vnto the Gentills and communicated himselfe vnto them so gratiouâ—â—y as to call them vnto him though they had no knoledgh at all of him before to seeke them out in so farre Countreyes though they liued without thoght of him to call as it werâ— at their dores eÌ„ter into their harts as if he had need of them not they of him Hence thou mayst gather that he hath often done the same to thee for thou being neither able to desire him nor to tast of any such matter he hath sought called chosen theâ— euen when thou wert most carrelesse of him and didst fly away from him Be therefore thankefull and seruiceable towards him for it as these holy Kings were And if thou hast nothing els to offer take all thy sinnes togeather and with harty sorrow and repentance for thine offences committed against this thy Lord God offer them vp vnto him that they may be consumed with the fire of his diuine charity and thy soule remaine perfectly cleane and pure from them all THE 3. POINT TO consider that albeit these holy Kings saw this poore infant lodged in a vile stable â—rapped in poorâ— ragges layd in a â—ard manger so destâ—â—â—te and forsâ—ken of all humane help and comfort yet they stedfastly belieued that he was the true King and Lord of heauen and earth and forth with câ—st their Sceptâ—râ— and Crownes at his feet and prostate on the ground with great humility and reuerence â—dored him and offered him gold as to their King Incense as to their God and myrrh as to a mortall man Ponder that as these holy Kings offered vnto this heauenly King and Blessed Infant these three mysticall gifâ—es so were it meet thou didst offer him whatsoeuer thou hast receiued from his most bountifull hands And prostrâ—â—ing thy selfe before him and adoring him as thy King and Lord â—ith ferueâ—t loue in lieu of gold wouldst offer vnto him all the riches goods of the world so that if they were thine thou â—ouldst most willingly lay them at his feet In lieu of Incense all the smoke and vanity of the honours and glory which the world can affoard thee And insteed of myrrh the delights pleasures of the flesh wholy and most vvâ—llingly renouncing them and desiring not to haue or enioy them although they were offered thee Hence thou mayst gather great â—onfidence in the liberality of this Soueraigne Lord that he will râ—ceaue this thy Presenâ— and returne thee abundance of spirituall riches for the pouerty which thou hast promised him Victory ouer thâ— Paâ—â—â—ons and thy flesh for the vow of Chastity which thou hast made vnto him And for the vow of Obedience his diuine loue grace that thou maâ—st alwayes keep his holâ— Law and Câ—mmandements And â—hou maâ—st offer thy selfe vp wâ—oly and entierly 〈◊〉 euery thing to thy Lord God as â—â—ese holy Kings his disciples did offer themselues and al that they had THE 4. POINT TO consider that after the offering was
days which he was in the temple from his parents how he watched and prayed there all the night offering himselfe vp to his Eternall Father for the saluation of the world Ponder that his bed whereon he reposed all that while was the hard ground or some stoole or bench in the Temple and yet thou must haue thy bed so soft His dyet was a little bread gotten of almes and thou seekest delicacies and superfluities yea it is more probable he passed all the time without eating for of all these temporall matters he made but small reckoning where contrary wise thou wilt that nothing be wanting vnto thee but wilt abound in all Hence thou mayst gather affections and purposes of imitating our Sauiour by imbracing the pouerty and want of all thinges seeing the Lord of them all endured suffered in himselfe so great penury of them Haue also compassion of his pouerty and solitarines because for thy sake he put himselfe in these straits of extreâ—â— necessity THE 3. POINT TO consider how the day followin the most Blessed Virgin returned with Saint Ioseph to seeke her beloued Sonne our Lord in Hierusalem Ponder with how great solicitude with what fighes groanings and teares and with how much care she sought him demanding of all she met whether they had seene whome her soule loued and giuing them signes whereby they might know him she said with the Espouse in the Canticles My beloued is white and ruddy chosen from amongst thousands But when no body could answere her demand she turned her selfe to the Eternall Father with most seruent and deuout prayer beseeching him not to chastice her so rigorously if she had committed any negligence in the seruice of his Sonne and her God acknowledging her selfe not worthy to be his handâ—ayd From hence thou mayst gather two things First that a most certain and assured meanes to find Almighty God is to acknowledge that thou deseruest not to find him and peradâ—enture he hath left thee through thine owne default albeit thou knowest it not The second is that Christ our Lord is not to be found among the delights and pamperings of the flesh bâ—t in afflictions paines and desolations not among kinsfolkes and acquaintance but in his holy Temple there thou art to seeke him if thou desire to find him THE 4. POINT TO consider how that after our B. Lady togeather with her Spouse Saint Ioseph had sought her beloued Sonne both within and without the Citty of Ierusalem at last after three dayes they found him in the Temple it selfe sitting in the middest of the Doctors hearing them and asking them with so great modesty with such gsauity prudence with so singular wisdome and eloquence that all were astonished that heard him demading of one another Who is this What child is this What â—isdome is this in so â—èder years Whose Sonne is this child Ponder how great ioy and content our Blessed Lady receiued when she found her most holy Sonne and saw him so much honoured esteemed and her hart being not able to endure any delay she entred among the middest of the Maisters and Doctours approaching vnto him she speake these moanefull and tender words Son why hast thou so done to vs Behold thy Father I sorrowing did seeke thee He answered her That he had done so that he might attend and imploy himselfe in the affayres of his Father Gather hence a desire that all thy whole life and endeauours may be imployed not in the aâ—rayres of this world or of selfe-loue but in â—hose which are of God and for God â—ee ashamed to see how far thou hast â—itherto beene from obseruing this â—duise and procure from this day â—orward euer to imploy thy powerâ—â—nd senses in the seruice of Almighty God seeing his diuine Maiesty alwaies imployed himselfe in that which was for thy good and benefit For by so seeking our Lord God thou shalt find him and neuer loose him THE XVII MEDITATION Of the life of Christ our Lord til he 〈◊〉 thirty years of age THE 1. POINT To consider that as Christ our Lord grew euery day in years so likewise he increased in wisdome and grace with God and men Not that he properly receaued any more wisdome grace or sanctity as he did increase in age for nothing could be added to that which he had in these things because 〈◊〉 the very instant of his conception he was endued with all plenitude of graceâ— buâ— he increased in the exercise thereof giuing dayly greater demonstration of knowledge and vertue or wisedome and sanctity to all the world Ponder how gracious our Saâ—iour was in the sight of his Eternalâ— Father and how pleasing a thing â— was vnto him to see his holy Sonne not only in that height of all wisdom and grace wherewith he was replenished but also to see him to proceed therin in the sight of men to so higâ— a perfection Learne to desire to proceed daily increase in vertue endeauouring to be perfect in that state wherunto thou art called whether it bâ— religious or secular and be ashameâ— considering how often tho◠〈◊〉 gone back in the way of vertue remembring that as S. Bernard saith in the way of God not to go forward is to go backeward THE 2. POINT TO consider how our Sauiour foâ— the space of thirty yeares was â—â—biect to his Holy Mother and to S. Ioseph vntill he dyed obeying them in all they commanded him Ponder who he is that obeyeth and subeicteth himselfe to whom and in what things He that obeyeth is God Lord and Creatour of all things whome all are obliged to obey and be subiect vnto Whome doth he obey Not only the Blessed Virgin who was his true Mother but also for her sake obeyeth Saint Ioseph who though he were not indeed his Father yet was he so accounted being a poore Carpenter In what thinges doth he obey To wit in meane and base thinges such as are wont to be done in the house of a poore Artificer as to saw hew timber and other thinges of the like â—â—tture Be confounded and greatly â—shamed considering thy Sauiour Christ Iesus hewing timber driuing â—ayles c. and beholding thy selfe â—ow thou refusest to do such things And gather hence that the exâ—ellency of a spirituall life consistâ—th â—osrso much in doing workes whiâ—h of théselues be glorious as to preach to gouerne to teach c. as in doing those works which God commandeth vs to doe by meanes of our Superiours though of themselues they be but base and very meane And bâ— ashamed of thy pride and little obedience in not subiecting thy selfe not obeying thy parents and Superiourâ— for the loue of God euen in little matters seeing the King of Heaueâ— as Saint Bernard sayth subiecting himselfe to the very dust of the earth the Creatour of all things to his creatures and be ashamed to desire and seeke after honourablâ— offices and imployments seeing Almighty God to exercise himselfe in thinges
a slaue Ponder how much our Lord vvho inuesteth the heauens vvith cloudes beautifyeth the fields vvith flowers couereth the trees with leaus the birdes vvith feathers the beastes with woll and haire would be abashed beholding himselfe so naked poore vvithout any thing to couer himselfe vvithall and thâ—t before such a multitude of people that were there present hauing none to take compassion on him nor so much at to cast a cloake ouer him to couer his nakednes Gather hence affection of pitty and compassion seeing thy God and Lord in such extreme need abandoned naked exposed to all ignominy shame compassed about with his enemies vvho desired to drinke his bloud THE 3. POINT TO consider how those cruell and barbarous tormeÌ„tors hauing that t hast most delicate body now naked amongst them bound him hand foot fast to a pillar that they might beate him more freely at their pleasure Ponder the great barbarousnes and cruelty wherwith theâ— began to lay on load with thonges roddes on that most tender backe of thy Saâ—iour heaping stripes vpon stripes and woundes vpon woundes vnâ—ill that most sacred body all bruized torne and flayed the bloud bursting out and trickling downe drop after drop on euery side became so diâ—â—igured and imbrued with bloud that his owne mother could hardly haue knowne him From hence thou mayst gatheâ— a great detestation of thy sinnes for they vvere the cause of so outragious a punishment and a great desire to chastise them with rigorous pennance discipline THE 4. POINT TO consider how the torturers being weary of scourging that innocent body of Christ our Lord already spent with stripes which a mounted as some Saints affirme to abouâ— fiue thousand they vnloosed him but he not being able to stand on hiâ— feete fell downe vpon the cake of hiâ— owne bloud that lay at the foot of the pillar Ponder the solicitude and desolation of Christ our only good who had not there any friend or aâ—quaintance to help him vp but his only enemies who did tread kick spurnâ— him that gathering forces out of feeblenes he might get vp agayne Neyther was there any who would go aduertise the most Blessed Virgin of the extrâ—me need nakednes of her beloued Sonne that she might with speed come to couer him with her veile who so often had vvrapped him in clothes when he was a child Gather hence a great confidence of the remission of thy sinnes seeing this Lord endureth so much to deliuer thee from them and an earnest desire to rest cleaue fast to the feet of Christ kissing sometimes in spirit deuotion the ground embrued vvith his most sacred bloud other times that holy pillar bathed and enameled with the precious bloud of this holy Lambe which was shed to make thee strong as a piller in the Church of God that is to make thee haue a couragious inuincible hart to withstand thyne enemies thy pâ—ssions temptations THE XLV MEDITATION Of the purple Garment and Crownâ— of Thornes THE 1. POINT TO consider how those cruell soldiers hauing mode an end of whipping him they iâ—uented anothet punishment to affâ—ict him withall wherfore approaching vnto our Lord Christ they cloathed him with an old scarlet cloake which was a wearing for Kings but they put it on him in derision scorne to giuâ— the people to vnderstand that being â— wile base fellow he vvould hauâ— made himselfe a King Ponder how Christ our Lord would be thus made a King in mockery to declare vnto the vvorld thaâ— all the honours Kingdomes of thiâ— life are but mockeries that therefore little reckoning is to be made of theÌ„ as our Lord himselfe did so little esteeme them so that which the world accounteth an honor in others he would vndergo therby to be disgraced abased by the same vvorld which scoffed mocked at him Gather hence great compassion at the extreme dishonour which thy Lord God suffered for this his humiliation being made the scorne mocking stocke of the people And humbly beseech him that thou mayst not make so light of him as to contemne him through thy sins as those souldiers did but rather serue loue him desiring that he would vouchsafe to inuest honour thee with this his precious costly liuery that following him albeit the world despise thee therefore thou maist deserue to see enioy him clad with the rich precious robes of grace glory THE 2. POINT TO consider how those cruell enemies forthwith brought a cruell crown of sea-rushes which were certaine sharp and long thornes fastened it on his sacred tender head by which on the one side he sustained intolerable payne on the other extreme disgrace Ponder how that this crowne was not of gold nor siluer not of pearles nor precious stones of roseâ— nor odoriferous flowres albeit this Lord right well deserued it being â—he true King of heauen and earth but that which insteed of these they gaue him was of strong boisterouâ— bâ—ambles and thornes which pierceâ— his delicate head our Lord permitting this because thou hast often bound and crovvned thy head vvitâ— roses flovvres of pleasures delights Gather hence how great thâ— bounty charity of God is toward men seeing that when they are busiâ—ed in preparing for him so cruell anâ— terrible a crowne therewith to affliâ—â— and torment him be prepareth for them a crowne of glory in heauen to reward them And seeing God teacheth thee by his example that by the crowne of thornes the crowne of glory in heauen is gayned and that the crowne of affliction which pricketh in this world is better then that of pleasures and delights which torment in the life to come Procure to crowne thy selfe and make choice of the first as S. Catherine of Siena did to auoid the second THE 3. POINT To consider how that to increase his confusion and reproach they after this put into the right haÌ„d of thy soueraigne King and Lord a Reed â—nsteed of a Kingly scepter smote his head there withall to the end that â—he world might know that his Kingdome was hollow vayne and without substance he voyd of iudgement and vvit making himselfe a King Ponder how our Lord Iesus did not refuse to take the reed into â—is hand but rather willingly accepted it held it fast as an instrument of his contempt From hence thou mayst gather how much it importeth thee to resist and reiect honour selfe estimation to imbrace humility submission of mind in regard that by this way meanes our soueraygne King entred into his Kingdome by the same no other thou must enter into the Kingdome of heauen which is not thine but anothers to giue thee if thou desire it THE 4. POINT TO coÌ„sider how those fierce people more cruell then Tygers not contenting themselues with the former iniuries which they had done to that meeke
Lambe they add yet another iniury for bowing their knes before him in mockery scorne they sayd vnto him Hayle King of the Iewes and presently they stroke his diuine face with a reed deriding making faces at him Ponder iâ— how different a manner the celestiall spirits adore thiâ— great King and Lord from that men adorâ— him on earth The Angâ—ll◠〈◊〉 him as God and King of all thinges men adore him as a falsâ— God and counterfaite King they calâ— him holy holyâ— and men wicked sinner possessed with a Diuell Gather hence desires throâ—ghly to feele and lament thy sinneâ— and that which thy Lord and God suffâ—â—eth and as his louing child and true friend prostrating thy selfe on the ground adore him as thy King and Lord after another manner theÌ„ these â—do and say from the bottome of thy â—art Hayle king of heauen earth King of Angells and men saue me O Lord and admit me into thy heauenâ—y Kingdome when I shal depart this â—â—iserable life â—HE XLVI MEDITATION â—f the words ECCE HOMO THE 1. POINT TO consider hovv these cruell souldiers led thy Sauiour in this so lamentable a plight vnto the President Pilate who wondering to see him so ill handled carryed him vp to an eminent place whence he might be seene of all to the end that moued with compassion they might cease to seeke his death Ponder first how much our Lord was ashamed at his appearing in so reproachfull an habit with the crowne of thornes vpon his head 〈◊〉 â—eed in his hand a rope about hiâ— necke his body all bruized rent weaâ— ried exhaust with so many stripes all goare bloud through the multyâ—ude of those blowes and with thâ— drops of bloud which trickled dowâ— his venerable face those lights oâ— heauen vvere eclipsed almost blinded Ponder secondly the differencâ— betwene the figure wherein our Sâ—uiour appeareth now and that whiâ—â— he shewed in the glory of the mouâ— Thabor that which was so glorioâ—â— and pleasant he discouered only 〈◊〉 three of his disâ—iples this so paineâ—â— and ignominious he sheweth to 〈◊〉 the people of Hierusalem that iâ— mountaine all alone and retyred this in the middest of a great populous Citty Be confounded at thy pride seeing thy Lord so much humbled and despised for thy sake and thou endeauourest not to be so handled of men but rather with all honour and esteeme desirest that they should know the good which is in thee that they may prayse thee THE 2. POINT TO consider hovv Pilate shevving Christ our Lord in presence of all the people sayd aloud Behould the Man Ponder these words in the sense and meaning with which Pilate did pronounce them and thou shalt find that moued with pitty to behold so wofull a spectacle he desired to deâ—iâ—uer Christ our Lord and therefore the savd Ecce Homo Behold this man and you shall perceaue him to be so punished that he hardly retavâ—eth the shape of man being so diâ—â—igured misused wherfore in regard â—hat he his a man as you are and no bâ—ast haue compassion on him But they vvould not affoard him a good looke nor haue any pitty on him Hence thou mayst gather deâ—â—rs that God would graunt thee eyeâ— of compassion and a hart of flesh that beholding him thou mayst be â—oued to compassion seeing he suffered so much for thy sake and giuâ— thee grace to loue theÌ„ that hate thee seing that in thiâ— kind our souâ—raignâ— Lord God and man hâ—th giuen the◠〈◊〉 rare an example THE 3. POINT TO consider vpon the sayd words of Eccâ— Homo how much it behoouâ—th thee to stir vp thy selfe and to behold with the eyes of liuely â—â—yth this our Lord say vnto thy â—oule Eccâ— Homo behold â— my soulâ— this man for albeit he is so wounded with stripes so defiled with spittle sâ— bruized with buffets crowned witâ— thornes hath a reed insteed of a scâ—pâ—ter in his hand iâ— clad with an igâ—nominious garment yet he is morâ— then a man he is also God Ponder the great desire whicâ— the Eternall Father hath that thou wouldst behold this soueraigne Lord God and man with meeke compassionate eyes and make benefit of thy tyme he allotteth thee to do it and not mispend so great a lewell nor omit to reap profit by beholding this man for if thou marke it well thou shalâ— find that this is the man which that sicke man that lay at thâ— Pond stood in need of and requiâ—â—â— his help that he might rise goe inâ—â— the pond and be cured of his disâ—aâ—â—â— infiâ—mities This is the man whâ— is the head oâ—â—ngellâ— men and iâ— so much disgraced to honour them so defiled to beautify them condemned to death to exâ—mpt men from a greater death and to saue them finally he is the man who is madâ— thâ— outcast of men to make theÌ„ the children of God Gather from hence hoâ— abominable a thing sin is in the sight 〈◊〉 God seeing it brought his only Soâ— to such a passe and in what case thy sinnes may haue left thy soule wheâ— the sinnes of others haâ—â—â—rought sâ— straâ—g an effect in the fountayne of all beauty it selfe what confusion shame will a sinner sustaâ—ne for his owne seeing the Sonne of God hath sustayned so much for the sinnes of other men THE 4. POINT TO consider the hatred and rancour of those cruell enemies against Christ our Lord seeing that so lamentable and pittifull a spectacle was not able to mollify their harts but rather raysing their voyces they began to cry aloud Away away with him out of our sight as who woâ—â—d say seeing thou hast made so good a beginning commanding him to be whipped make an end of that which thou hast begun and crucify him Ponder that although such so woful a spectacle could not assâ—age pacify those raging minds yet was it doubtles of force to appease the wrath of the Eternall Father who had beene moued to iust indignation foâ— beholding his most Blessed Sonne so ill handled for to obey him and for our loue he graciously pardoned all those sinners who with sorrow for their sins with deuotion and confidence beholding this figure of their Sauiour shold represent it vnto him saying Ecce homo Thoâ— seest O Lord the man which thou hast giuen vs the worke of thy right hand thâ—e man that is so humble so obedient so meeke so louing From hence thou mayst gather harty sorrow coÌ„passion to see him so much abhorred by his own people who deserued to be loued most of all Endeauour from this day forward â—o be so much the more seruent in the seruice of this Lord by how much his enemies did the deeper abhorre him so doing he will giue thee grace with pure and cleare eyes to behold imitate him THE XLVII MEDITATION How our Blessed Sauiour carryed his Crosse. THE 1. POINT To consider how the President seated in his tribunall seat