mercy upon thee Apply these words to your self and take heed of what follows And his Lord being angry delivered him to the Tormentors until he had repaid all the debt Ponder well the final clause So also shall my Father do to you if you forgive not every one his Brother from your hearts Sins once forgiven return not but the succeeding Ingratitude is made the greater and worthy of double punishment by the greatness of the former benefit This forgiveness must not be verbal only but from the heart and without keeping any grudge 22. Sunday after Pentecost Of paying Tribute to Cesar Mat. 22.15 page 443. Consider 1. Master we know that thou art a true speaker and teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou dost not respect the persons of men Here is delivered a perfect description of an upright man Think how you are in every particular whether you be a true speaker 1. As to your self by a right judgment and estimate of things 2. In relation to others by conformance of your words to Truth and Conscience whether you hold the way of God or not rather the Maximes and Principles of the World whether you care for man so as to fear or love him more then you do God and whether you respect the person of men so as to do or omit any thing for humane respects against your Conscience Ps 4.7 Consider 2. Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar A pertinent Question but proposed with a wicked intention to intrap him in his speeches But there is no Councel nor Wisdom against our Lord who takes them in their own Traps proposing to them a question about the Tribute Coyn saying whose is this Image and Superscription Look upon your self and ask this question Whose is this Image You cannot say it is Cesars or the Worlds it is Gods The light of thy Countenance O Lord is signed upon us But alas how deformed is it become you have made it the Image of the Terrene Man endeavour to reform your self till Christ be formed again in you Gal. 4.19 1 Cor. 15.49 and as you have born the Image of the Earthly so hereafter bear the Image of the Heavenly Rom. 7.13 Consider 3. Render therefore the things that are Cesars to Cesar and the things that are Gods to God God will have us give every one his due To whom tribute tribute to whom oustom custom to whom fear fear to whom honour honour Owe no man any thing but that you love one another Render your self therefore Body and Soul with all your Powers Senses and Faculties to God whose you are by Creation Redemption c. Render likewise what you owe to your Neighbour to wit Love and Charity who is made to the same Image Created by the same hand and redeemed with the same precious Blood with your self 23. Sunday after Pentecost Of the Princes Daughter and the Hemorroisse Mat. 9.18 page 451. see page 420 421 422. 24. Sunday after Pentecost or the last before Advent Of the Destruction of Jerusalem and of the Latter Judgment Mat. 24.15 Consider 1. When you shall see the Abomination of Desolation c. then they that are in Jewry let them fly to the Mountains c. In the first part of this Gospel Christ treateth of Jerusalems Destruction and Desolation in the second of the latter Judgment Death is the time of mans greatest Desolation and the next passage to his particular Judgment on which depends the General Christ therefore warns us to provide for it in time for when it is once come it will then be too late and we shall be so surprized that we shall not have leisure to dispose of our selves or our goods as we would He that is in the house top let him not come down to take any thing out of his house and he that is in the field let him not go back to take his coat Consider 2. Woe to them that are with-child and that give suck in those daies That last day is always at hand and perhaps this may be it Woe be to you if you labour till now in bare desires and have as yet brought forth no good works to light Pray that your flight be not in the winter Stir your self up to Fervour and have a care Death comes not upon you while you are cold and frozen in Gods service Nor on the Sabboth while you are in your jollines You must be disposed for every hour for no hour is secure from danger Consider 3. There shall be then great tribulation such as hath not been from the beginning of the world Such will Death truly be to tepid and improvident Christians that have put off till then what they should have done before the Body will then be tormented all over with a dreadful Agony but much more the Conscience for then it will have a clearer knowledge of Good and Evil and will find the burden of Sin more heavy and unsupportable then ever before If you be wise seek to avoid this Tribulation do now what you would have done then avoid now what you would wish then to have avoided Faults Escaped in Printing IN the Preface page 14. Margent Psa 118.17 read 71. page 34. line 30. of God read of God page 34. Marg. for the first Citation read Luc. 21.11 p. 35. l. 17. Judge r. Judge p. 44 45. all the Citations lower three lines then ought p. 65. l. 14. Title af r. of p. 66. l. 1. Prophet r. Prophet p. 73. Foxes have holes c. r. in the Marg. Mat. 11.4 p. 80. l. 24. robes r. robes p. 169. Marg. The third Station leave out Page 477. line 29. Virging r. Virgins What other Faults have been over-seen the Courteous Reader may be pleas'd to Correct and excuse
by meanes of them is conferred the Holy Ghost and his Grace which is done either by vertue of the work it self or in respect of the merits and disposition of the person that worketh Beseech our Lord that he would in like manner breath upon you inspiring you with his divine Spirit Say with the Spouse in the Canticles Come Southwind Cant. 4.16 blow through my garden and let the aromaticall Spices thereof flow that is all manner of vertue Zachar. 13.1 Consider 3. Whose Sins you shall forgive they are forgiven c. Ponder the dignity and power expressed and conferred in these words He gave not the like to the Priests of the old law nor to the Angels themselves Besides he did not confine it to any determinate number or quality either of Sins or of Priests but would have it general for all by the Sacrament of Confession to shew the Riches of his Bounty Give him thanks for so great a benefit and so easy a remedy of your Sins For this is truly a fountain lying open to the house of David and to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem for the ablution of the Sinner and of the menstruous Woman Jo. 20.26 Christ appeareth to his Disciples when S. Thomas was present Confider 1. The great Incredulity of S. Thomas and how he came to fall into it 1. He was singular and a part from the rest when Jesus appeared 2. He stubbornly rejected what the others alleaged in testimony of the Resurrection 3. He presumptuously prescribed God the means without which he would not believe Vnless I see in his hands the print of his â—ailes c. I will not believe 4. He persisted in that obstinacy eight whole days nothwithstanding the perswasions and endevours of them all and probably of the B. Virgin herself See you be not singular and Learn how dangerous a thing it is willfully to be ruled by ones own judgement and not to yeeld to others Consider 2. Christs goodness like a good Pastor seeking after his lost sheep He returneth therefore he entereth again the doors being shut he saluteth as before and turning to Thomas rebukes him not nor reprehends him but sweetly calls him to himself in these words Pat in thy singer hither and see my hands and bring hither thy hand and put it into my side and be not incredulous but faithfull O how was his heart inflamed when he put his hand into those burning fornates of love In like manner ought yours to be inflamed as often as you receive him in the Holy Eucharist if you were not wholy insensible and colder then the very Ice Ps. 29.9 13. Consider 3. The Admirable Confession of S. Thomas My Lord and my God He acknowledgeth him true Man and true God expressing his â—â—â—an nature in the first word and his divine nature in the other Ponder with your self these titles and seeing he is your Lord carry your self not as your own man but as his and for that he is also your God see that you yeeld him due Worship and Honour Say with the Prophet To thee O Lord I will cry and I will pray to my God And Lord my God for ever I will confess to thee Of Christs wounds shewed to S. Thomas remaining in his Glorious Body Jo. 16.33 COnsider 1. Our Lord out of his goodness would retain the marks of his wounds and the very holes of the nailes for diverse ends 1. To strengthen his Disciples and us in the beliefe of his Resurrection demonstrating thereby that it was the same body that rose and that was before nailed to the Cross 2. In sign of his Victory and Triumph over the world according to that Have confidence I have overcome the world 3. That they might be a perpetual memorial of his love towards us to provoke us to return our love and to suffer for him whence S. Paul said I beare the marks of our Lord Jesus in my body to wit Gal. 6.17 by continual mortifying the flesh Is. 49.15.16 Consider 2. He retained them 4. To shew what care he would have of us in Heaven according to that of Isaie why can a woman forget her infant c. Yet will not I forget thee Behold I have written thee in my hands 5. That he might present them to his Eternal father pleading for us as our Advocate Whence it is that David said Behold O God our Protectour Ps. 83.10 and look upon the face of thy Christ ss 12.3 Consider 3. He kept them that they might be as so many fountains and rivers of his grace and favors like to those fountains which watered all Paradise Whence the Prophet said You shall draw waters in joy out of the Saviours fountains 7. That they might be an universal refuge in all out afflictions according to that Ps. 103 1â— The rock a refuge for the Irchins that is Sinners For the Rosk as the Apostle saith was Christ As often therefore as you are afflicted betake your self to these wounds Enter into the rock with Isaie and be hid in a pit Isa 2.10 in theÌ„ ground from the face of the fear of our Lord. Abide with the Spouse in the Canticles in the holes of the Rock Cant. 2.14 in the hollow places of the wall Our Lord ruleth me and nothing shall be wanting to me in the place of pasture there he hath placed me Ps. 22.2 Gen. 31.40 Of Holy Communion Consider Christ as a Good Pastour Is. 53.7 COnsider 1. What Christ saith to day in the Ghospel I am the good Pastour Jo. 10.11 Ponder how well this title aggreeth with him A good Pastour was Jacob who said of himself Day and night I was parched with heat and with frost and sleep did fly from mine eyes But much better was Christ who after thirty three years heats and colds lastly laid down his life for his sheep and himself become as a sheep was led to slaughter But what Shepheard did ever feed his sheep with his own bloud That did Christ to raise and make them fit for Heaven He gave them his body and bloud for meat and drink Who would not wish to be fed by such a Pastour Ezech. 45.11 c. Consider 2. This Pastour will come to you to day in the Holy Eucharist to take care of you to feed to cherish and to defend you from the Infernal wolves For there is no part of a Shepheards Office which he doth not most willingly perform Therefore he saith by the Prophet Behold I my selfe will seek my sheep and will visit them as the Pastour visiteth his flock c. In the most plentifull pastures will I feed them c. That which was Iost I will seek and that which was cast away I will bring again and that which was broken I will bind up and that which was weak I will strengthen and that which was fat and strong I will keep and will feed them in Judgement Ponder
of John made great resort unto him and not only the common people but the chief Magistrates began to doubt whether he were not Christ Therefore they sent from Hierusalem Priests and Levites to him that they should ask him who art thou Ponder how powerful Innocency of life is to move mens minds and how true is that which S. Bernard saith Bern. Serm 55. in Cant. That louder is the voice of works then of words Consider 2. The divers acts of Humility of S. John in this occasion for whereas he was in such esteem with the Jews as to be held for Christ he did not therefore vainly vaunt himself above what he was as worldly men are wont in like occasions but confessed and did not deny and he confessed that I am not Christ This is the first degree of Humility to disown what he knew belonged not unto himself and to resign it where it was due See whether you do not otherwise making your self more then you are and concealing what in truth you are Mat. 11.9 Consider 3. How when the Jews demanded again whether he were not Elias or some Prophet he answered No. He might have given himself out for Elias in Spirit though not in person and for a Prophet and more then a Prophet as he was stiled by the Angel and by Christ himself But he that is truly humble doth not only refuse what is not his own but also takes off as far as truth will permit from what is his due He never commendeth himself Bern. Ep. 87. but rather as S. Bernard saith as much as lies in him will not be known what he is Be ashamed therefore to seek the applause of others and not content with that to be your own Trumpeter Of the Jews Message to John Jo. 1.23 Part 2. COnsider 1. The Jews still urging him to give some account of himself He said I am the voice of one crying in the Desart make straight the way of our Lord. He boasteth not of his Race Parents Priesthood c. as worldly men are wont He calleth himself a Voice expressing thereby his Office of Precursor and signifying withall that whatsoever he was belonged wholly to another to wit God whose Instrument he was in speaking This is a third degree of Humility that when we are constrained to discover some good or perfection that we have we acknowledge it only as a gift of God and not as any thing of our own Consider 2. They said to him Why then doest thou baptize if thou be not Christ The Jews check him as taking upon him by his own private Authority an Office not belonging unto him But he contendeth not in his own defence nor maketh any Apology but referring the matter to God proceedeth in villifying himself Saying I baptize in water but there hath stood in the mids of you whom you know not c. whose latchet of his Shoe I am not worthy to loose This is a fourth degree of Humility to be backwards in ones own excuse O that we would all practice it Consider 3. The Jews sent the Message to John not to Christ of whom notwithstanding they might have been better informed So we often seek comfort from creatures instead of the Creator Observe moreover the blindness of the Jews who hearing of John that Christ whom they fought conversed among them notwithstanding made no further enquiry after him For your part be diligent to understand the Will of God in all things and when you have understood it be as faithful to put it in execution c. Of Christs Baptisme Mat. 3.13 Part 1. COnsider 1. How Christ beginning his Preaching goeth first to be baptized to teach us that we should begin the work of God with a clean heart Therefore he taketh leave of his Mother who though she cannot but grieve thereat for the absence of such a Son yet withall she rejoyceth for the Redemption of Israel drawing so near at hand He taketh a long journey to John the greater to the lesser the Lord to the Servant to be baptized by him as a finner among the Publicans and Souldiers and among the Rout and Scum of people Admire this Humility of the Son of God and learn that it is the best preparation towards the undertaking of great things according to that And that which shall bâ— saved of the House of Juda and which is left Is 37.31 shall take root downward and shall bear fruit upward Consider 2. How John by Divine Revelation knowing our Lord at his coming modestly refuseth to baptize him saying I ought to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me Think what affections of joy reverence and submission John felt at that time in his heart seeing the Creator humbling himself so low as to receive Baptisme of his Creature Stir up the like affections in your self as often as he comes to you in the B. Sacrament Consider 3. Christs answer Suffer me for this time for so it becometh us to fulfill all Justice Ponder those words All Justice and learn to omit nothing in the way of Virtue that may benefit your self or edifie your Neighbour Examine your self whether you do so and whether you put in practise what you teach others by word of mouth for as S. Ambrose saith That Pastor fulfilleth Justice Ambr. in 3. Luc. that makes good by deeds what he teacheth by words Of Christs Baptisme Part 2. Luc. 3.21 22. COnsider 1. What S. Luke saith Jesus being baptizâ—d and praying Heaven was opened and the Holy Ghost descended in corporal shape as a Dove upon him For God is wont to exalt and honour the humble Christ therefore is honoured here 1. By the opening of the Heavens to signifie that by him Heaven Gates were opened to us 2. By the coming down of the H. Ghost to express the fulness of Grace and Heavenly Gifts which were in him and were by him to be derived unto us all 3. He is proclaimed the Natural Son of God to whom all creatutes ought to give due honour Consider 2. The Holy Ghost appeared in the form of a Dove to shew what manner of life ought all they to lead that are baptized That every one may understand saith S. Augustine if he hath the simple spirit that is August Tract 6. in Joan. of truth and sincerity that he must be like a Dove have peace with his Brethren which the Doves kind kisses do signifie And lastâ—y to hurt no body for the Dove hurteth not so much as a fly Is 54.7 Consider 3. The heavenly effects of our Sacrament of Baptisme expressed unto us in Christs Baptisme 1. The opening of Heaven Gates 2. The revealing of Divine Mysteries 3. The Remission of Sins 4. The Unction of the Holy Ghost 5. The Adoption to be the Children of God Give thanks for so manifold a benefit and being now made the Son of God raise up your thoughts and affections to your heavenly habitation that
themselves to their Ghostly Father they find themselves free and the Enemy gone So likewise those that dispose themselves to Confession God doth often justifie before hand by Contrition I said saith the Prophet I will confess against me my injustice to our Lord and thou hast forgiven the impiety of my sin Go therefore always speedily that you may speedily be cleansed Of the ten Lepers Luc. 17. Part 2. Luc. 17.15 COnsider 1. And one of them as he saw that he was made clean went back with a loud voice magnifying God So ought we to be thankful to God for the benefits we receive from him according to that of the Apostle 1 Thes 5.18 In all things give thanks for this is the will of God This is to be performed 1. With a loud voice that is with a great and hearty affection Ps 33.4 2. With magnifying God and with David exalting his Name for ever 3. With due Humility falling prostrate at our Lords feet acknowledging our selves unworthy of his so great mercies and benefits Aug. in Ps 49.13 There can be no Offering made more grateful to God saith S. Augustine then that of Thanksgiving Consider 2. Of ten that were cleansed only one returned back There was not found that returned and gave glory to God but this stranger Think how few there are among so many thousands whom God doth daily preserve and feed that acknowledge the Benefit They take their Meat which is sent them from Heaven even like bruit Beasts without once lifting up their head or thoughts thither I have brought up children and exalted them Is 1.2 but they have despised me saith our Lord These carry themselves as Inhabitants and Sons of the Earth and as if they had here a setled habitation but do you account your self as an Alien a Stranger and Pilgrim in this world and then you will come to acknowledge Gods gifts and favours unto you in all things Consider 3. This Stranger by being grateful for the recovery of his corporal health received yet a far greater benefit the Cure of his Soul in his Conversion to the Faith therefore our Lord said unto him Arise go thy ways August l. 2. c. 4. Sap. 16.29 because thy Faith hath made thee safe The other nine probably were Rebrobate For the faith of the ungratful shall melt as winter Yee and shall perish as unprofitable water Be not therefore ungrateful to God Of the Deaf and Dumb Man Mar. 7. Part 1. Marc. 7.32 COnsider 1. While Christ was passing through Galilee they bring to him one Deaf and Dumb and they besought him that he would impose his hand upon him Ponder how meritorious a thing it is to bring others to Jesus and excite your self thereunto endeavouring by such means as your Calling doth afford to bring to Christ those that you shall find spiritually deaf and dumb Consider what it is to be spiritually deaf He is deaf that gives not ear to the Verities of Faith and that hears not the Voice of God calling and exciting him to Perfection See whether you be any thing given to this deafness and do not stop your ears to God lest he do the same to you according to that Prov. 1.28 Then shall they invocate me and I will not hear Is 56.10 Consider 2. What it is to be spiritually dumb He is dumb that corrects not his Brother when he sinneth nor hindereth his sin when he may whence such are called by the Prophet Dumb dogs not able to bark He is dumb that doth not preach Christ to others when his Calling is such not openly profess his Faith when he ought Lastly he that makes not due use of his tongue to the praise and honour of God in Divine Exercises of Devotion in Pious Discourses and the like Woe is me saith Isaie because I have held my peace Is 6.5 Is 62.6 And you that remember our Lord hold not your peace Consider 3. Christ rejected not the distressed man but took him aside from the multitude and cured him Do you also retire your self from noise and company to Prayer and spiritual Exercises if you desire to be cured by Christ Observe how he cured this man not by his Word only or Command as he did others but he put his fingers into his ears and spitting touched his tongue c. Because our Lord doth diversly cure and exercise those that are his some more some less Submit your self in all things to his Divine Pleasure that you may be cured of all your infirmities Of the Deaf and Dumb Man Mar. 7. Part 2. Mar. 7.34 35. COnsider 1. After our Lord had spoken the word Be thou opened immediately his ears were opened and the string of his tongue waâ— loose and he spake right Consider how that the sign of our ears being opened is not to contradict or resist the Divine Inspirations but humbly to obey them according to that The Lord hath opened mine ear Is 50.5 and I do not gainsay c. See therefore whether the ears of your heart be open or whether you be not rather one of those that stop their ears and will not hear the voice of the Inchanters Ps 57.5 6. and of the Sorcerer inchanting wisely Jac. 3.6 Consider 2. How it is said of the cured person not that he spake much but that he spake right that we might learn to have a care of our tongue which is as S. James saith a whole world of Iniquity He speaketh right that speaketh nothing but the praises of God or what appertains to Salvation who speaketh not of Vain or idle matters nor uttereth detraction nor murmurings Examine your self by this how right you are wont to speak and remember that as David saith A man fall of tongue shall not be directed in the earth Ps 139.12 2 Cor. 6.4 Consider 3. Christ likewise here commanded them not to tell any body to teach us to shun what lyeth in us the applause of men But so much the more a great deal did they publish it and so much the more did they wonder Neither were they disobedient in this because Christ did not Command with intention of obliging them but did therein what on his part was Humility and they returned Honour and Glory which was but the duty of gratitude on their part Lastly it is said here of Christ He hath done all things well that you might learn not to be content with doing only some things well neglecting others but to do all well whence the Apostle saith Let us in all things exhibit our selves as the Ministers of God Of Holy Communion I will love thee O Lord my strength Our Lord is my Firmament and my Refuge and my Deliverer Ps 17.2 Consider Christ as the Strength of your Soul Ps 21.16 COnsider 1. What is read to day in the Gospel Mat. 9.1 c. Of Christs curing the Man sick of the Palsey
Angelical behaviour and incomparable Innocency of Life Consider 3. Upon this occasion Christ said The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away Think how true that was in S. John in the Martyrs and in all the Saints There are two sorts of Violence the one exteriour which curbs the flesh the other interiour which bridleth the inordinate appetites of the mind whereof this latter is the more excellent but both to be used wherefore S. Hierom with good reason did say So much shall you profit Hieron ap Rodrig p. 2. tr 1. c. 5 by how much you offer violence to your self See what and how much it is that you do in this point Of the Martyrdome of S. John Baptist Mat. 14. Marc 6. Marc. 6.22 Eccles 7.2 COnsider 1. Herod made the supper of his Birth-day to the Princes c. Worldly men place their felicity in the enjoyment of this mortal life which notwithstanding passeth away like a shadow On the contrary the Holy Ghost saith Better is the day of Death then the day of Nativity for that this bringeth us into this world and into innumerable miseries the other if we have lived well uniteth us with God himself Therefore have your eye always upon that and dispose your self to it in all your actions Pro. 23 2â— Consider 2. Among their Cups and Dances was demanded and granted the Head of a most innocent and holy man where you may learn what crimes Riot and Wantonness do beget whence the wise man saith Be not in the feasts of great drunkards Herod fell into this Precipice for that he would not hear S. John which word signifieth Grace Take heed therefore you do not expose your self to the same ruine by resisting Gods holy Grace and Inspirations Woe to thee that despisest Is 33.1 shalt not thy self also be despised Ps 115.6 Consider 3. S. John received the Sentence of Death with great joy and with as great constancy laid his Head on the Block whence he breathed forth his blessed Soul into the bosom of Abraham Precious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saints Beg that you may come to the like end whereby you will have a most secure and short passage to Heaven Offer your self often to God for Martyrdome Imitate the example of so many glorious Martyrs of your Country by the continual practise of Virtue and constancy in Faith and Religion Of five thousand fed in the Desart Mat. 14. Jo. 6. Mar. 6. Part 1. Mar. 6.34 COnsider 1. How a great multitude of people followed Christ into the Desart drawn by his Miracles and Doctrine He had compassion on them c. and he began to teach them many things He first giveth them spiritual food afterwards also corporal You must also retire into the Desart far from the noise of worldly cares if you desire to be regaled by our Lord Osce 2.14 I will lead her into the wilderness and I will speak to her heart saith our Lord of a faithful soul Observe also the Apostles care for the people saying Mat. 14.15 Dismiss the multitudes that going into the Towns they may buy themselves victuals Ibid. Consider 2. Christ having demanded of his Disciples what they had to set before the people they answered him We have not here but five loaves and two fishes This was all the provision of that Apostolical Family a few course loaves and two fishes although they were themselves Fishermen Moreover they promptly exhibit what they have without alledging their own want or scarcity that you might learn what you can to help others according to that Tob. 4.8 As thou shalt be able so be merciful Ps 67.4 Consider 3. The Order of the Miracle the loaves being brought Christ commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass The Apostles minister himself looking up to heaven blessed the loaves and distributed them In the same manner ought you to look up to heaven before you eat that is to lift up your heart to the Giver of all good that you may not fall upon your meat as beasts do Therefore David Let the Just make merry and rejoyce in the sight of God Of five thousand fed in the Desart Mat. 14.20 c. Part 2. Ps 77.19 Deut. 32.13 COnsider 1. How the Loaves by Divine Power were multiplied in the Apostles hands so that although they were continually distributing yet still they found either in their hands or in the Baskets more to distribute the Angels as is probable secretly supplying new provision of loaves and fish In like manner formerly at the prayers of Elias neither Meal nor Oyl was wanting although the present provision was daily spent Who would not willingly serve so good and powerful a Lord who can prepare a Table in the Desart and is able to bring forth honey out of the Rock and Oyl out of the hardest stone Is 55.2 Consider 2. They did all eat and had their fill The delights of this world may please and content us for a while but cannot fill for the Souls capacity and appetite is greater then to be satisfied with such Trash Christ alone is able to give it full content wherefore he saith by the Prophet Why bestow you silver not for bread and your labour not for satiety Come therefore to him that you may be filled Pro. 19. 17 Consider 3. After all had eaten the Apostles gathered out of the leavings more then what they had given out to wit twelve full baskets of the fragments So God is wont to reward the Charity of his Servants and is liberal to the liberal He lendeth our Lord that hath mercy on the poor and he will repay him the like Give therefore to your Brother good measure and pressed down Luc. 6.38 and shaken together and running over that you may receive the like into your bosome Christ flyeth Jo. 6.14 not to be made King Ps 43.5 COnsider 1. Those men therefore when they had seen what a sign Jesus had done said that this is the Prophet c. They were astonished at the strangeness of the Miracle of feeding five thousand with so little provision and would therefore have made Christ their King Our Lord worketh daily a far greater Miracle in feeding the whole world bringing forth plentiful Harvests out of a few grains of Corn why therefore do we not make him King of our heart obeying him in all things Thou art the same my King and my God which commandest the salvations of Jacob said King David Consider 2. Jesus therefore when he knew that they would come to take him and make him King he fled again into the Mountain himself alone Soveraignty was due to Christ as being Son of God it was due also to his Merits and Bountifulness towards men but he would not accept of it and whensoever there was any Treaty about it he fled away and hid himself
How few are there that would do so now-a-days But Christ did it to reach us to fly honours as much as lieth in us and to affect humility and lowliness See how you are in this point and whether you do not rather seek after such things as bear a lustre and greatness in the eyes of the world or at least prefer your self before your Companions and Neighbours Mat. 14.23 Consider 3. What our Lord did on the Mountain He ascended saith S. Matthew into a Mountain alone to pray It was his uâ—ual custome to retire himself far off from the multitudes to pray and this for our example for he stood not in need of prayer for himself but was continually beholding the Face of God by the Beatifical Vision Imitate therefore this example of our Lord and endeavour to joyn the contemplative life with the active Eccli 18.22 Be not hindered saith Ecclesiasticus to pray always Of Holy Communion Our Lord shall bind up the wound of his people and shall heal the stroak of their wound Is 30.26 Consider Christ as the good Samaritan COnsider 1. What is read to day in the Gospel Luc. 10.30 Of a man who fell among Thieves that wounded him and of the Samaritan that bound up his wounds Consider how this man was Adam the Thieves the Devils who by Original Sin dispoiled him and us all in him of all grace and other free gifts and wounded him as Divines teach in his Natural Faculties in the Understanding by Ignorance in the Will by Malice in the Irascible Power by Weakness in the Concupiscible by unlawful Concupiscence and these are the four Wounds of our Nature S. Tho. 1.2 q. 85. ar 3. as S. Thomas teacheth Such therefore is your state and condition Zachar. 9.17 COnsider 2. The Pious Samaritan will come to you this day in the Holy Eucharist to bind your wounds and take care of you He will powre into your Soul Wine springing Virgins and the Oyl of his Mercy wherewith he doth comfort Sinners He will lay a Salve of his own Sacred Flesh to your wounds and unless you put a hinderance he will enlighten your Understanding like to the Honey by which Jonathas his eyes were illuminated 1 Reg. 14.27 Is 6.6 He will refine and rectifie your Will like to the burning hot Coal which cleansed the lips of Isait He will strengthen and enable you to endure hard things like to the Loaf that strengthened Elias Lastly 3 Reg. 19.8 he will temper the heat of Concupiscence like to the Manna which lay upon the ground Exod. 16.14 like unto the hoar frost Is 64.1 Consider 3. How much you ought to wish for that hour wherein this Samaritan is to come to you say with the Prophet Would God thou wouldest break the Heavens in sunder and wouldest descend and with that other Prophet Jer. 17.14 Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed save me and I shall be saved and above all be sure to entertain him with hearty love that cometh so lovingly to you Of Christs allaying the Tempest Mat. 8. Mar. 4. Luc. 8. Marc. 4.38 COnsider 1. Christ went with his Disciples into the Boat to pass over the Lake and while they were sailing he was in the hinder part of the Boat sleeping upon a Pillow Our Lord betakes himself to sleep though but for a while to shew himself subject to humane infirmities In the mean time there ariseth a Tempest the Boat is in danger the Disciples are troubled So Almighty God doth often permit us to be tossed with temptations and almost overwhelmed while he in the mean time in a manner sleepeth that is deferreth his peculiar assistance thereby to humble us and force us the more earnestly to implore his help Consider 2. The Disciples seeing themselves in danger came to him and raised him saying Lord save us Mat. 8.25 Marc. sup we perish And Master doth it not pertain to thee that we perish So ought we with a filial confidence to have recourse to our Lord in our temptations and to say with the Psalmist Arise why sleepest thou O Lord arise and expel us not to the end Ps 43.23 Observe moreover how our Lord being awakened reprehended his Disciples for their little confidence in him See whether he may not justly accuse you for the same Consider 3. How Christ rising up Mat. sup commanded the Winds and the Sea and there ensiled a great Calm So all Creatures even the Irrational obey their Creator Man alone is refractory to his Commands deaf and obstinate to his Councels and hard to be gained by any fair means Be sorry for having often been such and be sure to mend your self for the future Ps 94.9 And even to day if you shall hear his Voice harden not your heart Christ upon the Water Mat. 14.22 c. COnsider 1. Christ commanded his Disciples to go up into the Boat and to go before him over the water while he himself ascended into a Mountain alone to pray In the mean time there arose again a Tempest the Boat was tossed with waves Mar. 6.48 and they labouring in rowing Thus we are to suffer temptations over and over again wherein we must not neglect our selves but take the Oars in our hands use all our endeavours and betake our selves to prayer and the like Our Lord came to his Disciples at last walking upon the Sea to shew his Power He will also be at hand to assist us and be an helper in opportunities Ps 9.10 in tribulation Consider 2. The Disciples seeing our Lord walk upon the Sea said that it is a Ghost Mat. sup So many hold Christ for a Phantasm solid virtue for old Wives devotions interiour inspirations for the effects of a melanchollick humour Others on the contrary take their own Fantasies for Christ their Dreams for Revelations their Passions for Virtues Anger for Zeal and their own Private Interest for Gods greater Honour We must therefore avoid both Extremes and follow that counsel of the Apostle Believe not every spirit 1 Jo. 4.1 but prove the spirits if they be of God Consider 3. Those words of Christ It is I fear ye not Mat. sup It was a sufficient inducement to them of casting off all fear to hear him say It is I that is I who but a little before miraculously sed five thousand I who allayed the like Tempest by commanding the Winds and Sea and do now walk upon the waters c. Rejoyce for having so powerful a Helper and Refuge in your necessities Peter walketh upon the Waters Mat. 14.28 COnsider 1. The fervour of S. Peter who as soon as he understood it was our Lord was presently inflamed with an ardent desire of being with him saying Lord if it be thou bid me come to thee upon the Waters A true Lover knoweth not how to be separated from the Party he loveth and overcometh all