but the whole bread of life Ioa. 6. the whole feast thy only begotten Sonne with him the riches of his diuinitie and humanitie which are inestimable Manha what is this what a precious guift is this what bountie is this That manna was so precious so delicious that it made the Iewes for a time to contemne their flesh pots of Egâ—pt This Manna of the B Sacrament the veritie of that figure hath all delights that the spirituall appetite can desire I therefore will heerafter contemne all worldlie and carnall pleasures all the riches the world can afford as only flesh pots of Egipt and will coÌ„tent my self with this Manna onlie which containeth all spirituall delight and which in a litle roome containeth more then the price of heauen earth O my soule if thou wilt play the wise marchant sell all giue all loose all for this pretious Margarite this Holy and most rich Sacrament and when thou hast it as thou hast it so often as thou receiuest it desire no more it is enough to content an infinite appetite because it is infinite in all goodnes THE 15. MEDITATION How by the Receiuing of this B. Sacrament the receiuer is made the Temple of God THe Foundation of thy TeÌ„ple ô my soule is thy faith which is the grouÌ„d work of all spirituall buildiÌ„g The walles are thy hope which erecteth thy minde and eleuareth it to heauen The roofe is Charitie which sheltreth thee from the winds and tempests of all temptations and couereth the multitude of thy sinnes 1. Pet 4. and hideth them from the sight of God because it quite effaceth them The Bishop who consecrateth this thy Temple is Christ Iesus the high Priest Bishop of the new lawe and his presence is the consecration the Altar is thy hart the Sacrifice is the sacred body bloud of Christ The Temple of Salomon was esteemed so holie that God preferred it before all other places in the world and tooke more pleasure in it and heard the prayers that were made in it more willinglie then in any other place And yet thou o my soule by receiuing this B. SacrameÌ„t art made a more holy Temple then that was That was an vnliuing and inanimat Temple thou a liuing temple in that was the propitiatorie in thee is the propitiatour himself who also is a propitiation for our sinnes 1 Ioa 2. in that were two pictures or statues of two Cherubins in thee is the Lord of Cherubins Seraphins and of all the Angels who as S. Chrisostome affirmeth do waite and attende in troupes with all reuerence on their Lord when the Priest consecrateth and he and thou receauest this SacrameÌ„t for where the King is there are his courtiours In that Temple was the glorie of God which was but a cloud which filled the Temple 2. Paral. 17. was onlie a figure and representation of God his diuinitie in thee is Christ Iesus God and man the splendour of his Fashers glorie and veritie of that figure Hebr. 1. in that were golden candlesticks on which were lights to illuminate the Temple 2. Par. 4. in this is Christs humanitie which was the candlestick that bare the light of the Diuinitie and shewed it to the world In that Temple were the figuratiue Priests who offered the figuratiue Sacrifices of the old Law in thee is the high Priest of the newe lawe Christ Iesus who offered himself in a bloudie manner on the Crosse in an vnbloudie manner in the Sacrament which is in thee That Temple was vested and limmed with pure gold thou art adorned with a richer gold Charitie without which thou canst not be the Temple of God O my Soule seing that by this B. Sacrament thou art made the Temple of God behaue thy self comport thyself be like his holy Temple A TeÌ„ple is instituted to worship honour God by sacrifices psalmes prayers be thou such a teÌ„ple let the sacrifices of prayer thankesgiuing of a contrite he art be alwaies offered in thee Offer vnto him daily an holocaust of thy self by a perfect resignation and denyall of thy self offer in this thy Temple Mar. 11 daylie prayer for his howse and Temple is the house of praier offer vnto him this Sacrifice of his sacred body and bloud which thou hast receiued TeÌ„ples and Churches are swept cleanlie and adorned richlie let then no vncleane thinge be in thee no mortall sinne yea asmuch as humain frailtie will permit noe veniall sinne noe carnall no worldlie cogitatioÌ„s or affectioÌ„s Sweepe the Temple of thy Soule from all such fylth and dust nay wash it with the teares of contrition Mar. 11 froÌ„ all such ordure VVhippe out as Christ did out of the Iewes Temple all buyers and sellers all mortall sinnes by which thou buyest at a deare rate the world and its pleasures and sellest thy self to the deuill for a vaine pleasure or a litle trashe Let thy Temple rather be adorned with faith hope charitie all manner of vertues with chast pure and holy cogitations with the seauen guifts of the holy Ghost Esa 11. and especiallie let it be guilded with the Gold of Charitie That God onelie whose Temple now thou art may be honoured praysed and loued by thee If thou thus sweepe cleanse adorne thy Temple God will willinglie dwell in thee as in his owne proper pallace as in his owne house and home for this is his desire Prou. 8. whose delights are to be with the children of men But as he desireth to lodge and dwell in thee so must thou also desire his companie for he will not be an vnwellcome guest thou must take heede least by any sinne thou expell or disgust him for he is light and cannot consort with such darknes thou must therefor enter taine him by chast and holy cogitations and meditations and especiallie by loue and charitie for he hath shewed thee great loue in making thee by this B. Sacrament his Temple and therefore expecteth loue for loue And now that thou hast him dwelling with thee and in thee lay hold on him linke him to thee by the golden chaine of Charitie leaue him not and he will not leaue thee Saye vnto him as Iacob sayd vnto the Angell who represented the person of God non dimittam te nisi benedixeris mihi Gen. 32. I will not let thee goe vnlesse thou blesse mee and because I will neuer want thy blessing I will neuer let thee goe 2. Reg. 6 Obededon and all his house was blessed with many a benediction for receiuing into it the Ark of the old law shall not I ô Lord receiue many blessings by receiuing thy Sonne Christ Iesus the Ark of the new law the veritie of that figure O let not this Arke bring fewer blessings with it then that did I desire not the temporall blessing which Isaac gaue to his sonne Iacob to wit the dew of heauen Gen. 27 the fatnes of the
earth and aboundance of corne and wine Ephes 1 But I desire the benediction by which thou hast blessed vs in all spirituall blessing in celestials Luc. 2. And seing that I now haue thee in my armes with Simeon I desire his benediction that I may departe and dye in peace with thee and all thy Saints and Angels Matth. 5 I desire those eight beatitudes blessings of pouertie in spirit of meeknes of mourning for my sinnes of hunger after Iustice of mercifulnes of cleanes of heart of peace making of patient suffering persecution for iustice sake And lastlie I desire thy eternall benediction which consisteth in the cleare vision and fruition of thee by which all the Angels and Saints are blessed and this I most humblie craue and in a manner claime by vertue of that thy promise made to all worthie receauers of this B. Sacrament Io. 6. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath life euerlasting and I will raise him vp at the last daie Bestow on me then ô Lord a benediction of thy grace now and after my death a benediction of thy glorie in the next life where I maâ—e liue in blisse with thee and thy Saints for euer THE 16. MEDITATION Of the good purposes which after Communion are to be made AFter that thou hast receiued this B. Sacrament and no lesse theÌ„ thy Sauiours flesh blood soule and diuinitie in it to shew thyself gratefull for so great a benefit and so noble a guest thou shalt do well and pleasinglie vnto him if thou make these ensewiÌ„g good purposes for not onlie to do good or to promise good but euen to purpose what is good is a disposition to doing good and so pleasing vnto him Say therefore vnto him thou hast vouchsafed to enter into mee by my mouth as by the dore and gate of my house This gate hereafter shall be shut as was the Eastern gate of which Ezechiel speaketh It shall not be opened and men shall not passe through it Ezech. 44. it shall be shut for the Prince This gate o Lord shall be shut to all but thee the Prince thou onelie shalt haue the coÌ„mand for the opening or shutting of it The world flesh or deuill shall neuer enter by it none but thou or for thy sake And therefore hereafter my mouth shall neuer speake but of thee or things belonging to thee and thy honour It shall be opened onelie to praise thee or to praye vnto thee Psal 70. Repleatur os meum laude vt caÌ„tet gloriam tuam let my mouth be filled with praise that I may sing thy glorie Ephes 4 All naughtie speech let it not proceed from it It is the gate of thy Temple let no vncleane thinge haue entrance by it It is the gate of the Citie keepe it shut and fortifie it by thy grace that it may keepe out thy enemies and withstand all the batterie assaults of their tentations It hath been filled with thy sacred bodie blood let it here after be filled with praises of thy name thaÌ„kesgiuing And because my tongue hath been the bridge by which thou hast passed and which thou hast sanctified with thy sacred body embrued as it were with thy holy blood I purpose neuer to prophane it by idle vaine speeches much lesse to pollute it by detraction calumnious and reprochefull speeches by lasciuious talk by lying or swearing or blaspheming but I will with thy grace exercise it hereafter in praising thy holy name in praying to thee in talking of thee of thy life and death of thy great benefites and in particular of this B. Sacrament which so often I haue receaued of heauen and heauenlie things And therefore hereafter I will not aduenture without thee to gouerne this voluble variable and inconstant creature mooued with euerie winde like a reed I could neuer gouerne it and no meruaile because Linguam nullus hominum domare potest Iaâ—obi 3 No man can tame the tongue thou only canst because Domini est gubernare linguam Prouerb 16. it apperteineth to our Lord to gouerne the tongue and so to thee I yeeld vp the rule of it to thy direction I commend it that it may be silent wheÌ„ thou wouldest haue it be silent and that it may speake onelie wheÌ„ thou wouldest haue it speake and what thou wouldest haue it speake And because thou ô Lord by this B. Sacrament art my noble fast frieÌ„d See the med 12. I will neuer shake haÌ„ds with thy enemies the world flesh deuill nor shall I loue any thing which is offensiue to thee See aboue med 12. Se medit 12. Thou by this holy Sacrament art my Father and Mother I shall therefore honour thee feare thee loue thee obey thee Thou art the louing Spouse of my soule and the mariage betwixt it and thee is coÌ„summated by this B. Sacrament I will therefore wed my self to noe creature by inordinate affection that were to play th' Adulteresse and to breake the bond of this sacred wedlock nor will I loue any but thee or for thee And being married to so great an Emperour as thou art and thereby made also of high and noble condition who by sinne before was base I will putt on the Emperiall robes of holy conuersation fit for thy spouse my old habit of my old base behauiour and conditions I will laie aside I will become a new creature and in thoughts words and deeds I will carrie myself noblie as becometh thy chast spouse Thou hast feasted me with the royal fare of thy sacred flesh and blood which maketh me noble and of Princelie blood I will therefore behaue my self Prince-like Luc 14. not as assaue to my passions and sensualities but as a Lord and commaunder ouer them And as the Prodigall sonne after that his Father receiued hiÌ„ into grace had feasted him neuer returned againe to his hoggish fare so I being now fedde with heauenlie fare will scorne hereafter to tast any more of any worldlie or carnall delights the hoggish fare of sinners I ame by receiuing this Holie of Holies thy sacred bodie bloud sanctified consecrated dedicated to thee onlie and to thy seruice I will therefore neuer prophane myself again I will neuer employ my self to the seruice of the world or flesh or deuill or to any but thee or for thee The holie Chalice though it be but of earthlie metall be it siluer or gold yet it is oeuer imployed to any other vse then to receiue thy sacred blood The Church after Consecration is neuer vsed but for thy seruice And shall I who am better consecrated and sanctified then they because I am more capable of Sanctitie then they permitte my self to be put to prophane vses I am by this Sacrament made the Temple of God which is the house of prayer thou then ô Lord shalt be onelie serued in this teÌ„ple thou onelie shalt be honoured praised in it Thy entrance into me hath sanctified my bodie and all the partes of it my soule and all her powers and faculties all therefore that is in mee shall hereafter be emploied to thy honour and seruice To my soule and all that is in mee I will say with Dauid Ps 102 Benedicanima mea Domino omnia quae intra me sunt nomint sancto eâ—us My soule blesse thou our Lord and all things that are within me his holy name My vnderstanding do thou think and meditate allwayes of him my will do thou euer loue him my memorie do thou euer remember his benefites and this B. Sacrament in particular which he hath bestowed on mee my eyes looke on heauen and this Blessed SacrameÌ„t where he is my hands lift vp your selues in thankes giuing my feete follow his steppes traces and exaÌ„ples which he hath giuen because I and you all are consecrated and dedicated to him by receiuing this B. Sacrament And if it be an vnworthie thing to cast a consecrated Chalice into the dirt is it not fare more vnworthie to defile hereafter my bodie and soule by sinne which are wholie consecrated and dedicated to God O my soule do not thou presume to prophane that which by God is sanctified least he punish thee as a prophaner of holy things VVherefore as my bodie and soule and all the partes of my body and faculties of my soule by this B. Sacrament are consecrated to thee So ô Lord let them euer be and so they shall be if to my will thou ioyne thy will and to my force thy gracâ— this is now my mind and purposeâ— and I desire to die in this mind 〈◊〉 with it that at my death beinâ— thus prepared I may feed on thâ— sacred body and blood in the Bâ— Sacrament by a worthie Communion and by vertue of it after mâ— death may be admitted to feed 〈◊〉 on thy Diuinitie with their Bâ— Saints in Heauen by a cleare vision and fruition of thee the Father and the Holie Ghost threâ— persons and one God to whom be all Honour and glorie foâ— euer FINIS
our Sauiour we should receaue this B. Sacrament VVHEN thou hast O my soule by the considerations alleadged in the former meditation stirred vp thy selfe to a filiall feare and reuerence thou must also endeauour to moue thy selfe to a feruent loue and charitie towards thy Sauiour whoÌ„ thou art to receaue To this all thy former meditations will conduce for that by them is shewed what a good house keeper how liberall an Hoste what a Father what a Mother what a Friend Spouse Phisitian and Pastour all which are titles of loue Christ hath shewed himself vnto the in this B. Sacrament Saye then vnto him thou hast shewed they self in this B. Sacrament a noble house keeper giue me the loue belonging to one of thy familie thou hast shewed thy selfe a bountifull Hoste giue me the loue of a louing guest thou hast shewed thy selfe a Father and Mother make me a louing and obedieÌ„t childe Thou hast shewed thyselfe a louinge friend make me loue thee reciprocallie yea a Spouse make me a louing spouse yea a Phisitian make me a louing patient yea a Pastour inflame my heart with the loue of a louing sheepe Thou neuer shewedst more loue to mee then in this B. Sacrament by which out of a great loue thou giuest to me and after so admirable a manner as loue is ingenious thy bodie bloud soule and diuinitie By Incarnation thou impartedst thy self onlie to that nature which thou tookest of the B. Virgin But by this Sacrament thou bestowest thyself on all in particular who receaue it VVith what loue shall I paye this loue Thou giuest thy All vnto me and can I giue lesse then my All to thee and yet so shall I not rendre like for like because my All is nothing to thy All nothing somuch as if a begger should giue his raggs for the Kinges purple robe crowne scepter and kingdome I vse to take kindelie all which a freind giueth be it but a ring or Image because I imagine that he giueth his loue in his guift yea and himself also in his guift though not in person with what loue then should I answer to thy loue who giuest thy selfe vnto me not onelie in thy guifts and effects as thou giuest by creation iustification and glorification but also by this B. Sacrament in thine owne person Children loue their parents and nurces because they feed and nourish them brute beasts loue them who giue them meate be it but crustes and bones hay or strawe how then should I loue thee O Lord who feedest me with thy owne flesh bloud seasoned and sauced with the Diuinitie O my heart to shew thy self that thou art not made of flint marble or steele but of soft flesh resolue thy self into loue for thy Sauiours loue shewed in this B. Sacrament and being so resolued and transformed imploy thy selfe and all thou are for his loue and honour If thou thus prepare thy selfe by a great reuerence and loue to this B. Sacrament in which the Sonne of God resideth as in his cabinet not onely he but his Father also the first person in Trinitie and their holy Spirit the Holie Ghost the third person who procedeth from them both consubstantiall and coequall vnto them will all three come vnto thee not onely to visit thee but also to dwell with thee for this God the SoÌ„ne promiseth saying If any loue me he will keepe my word Ioa. 14. and my Father will loue him and we will come to him and will make abode with him And because thou art notable of thyself to furnish thy howse so as it may be fitt for the entertainement of so great personages they will bring with theÌ„ their tapistrie and ornaments of grace and vertues by which thou shalt be adorned to their liking And because thou canst not prepare a feast worthie such guests though thou shouldest seeke sea and Land for it they will bring their feast with them to witt this Blessed Sacrament the Manna which conteineth all that can delight thy spirit and with it they will bring aboundaÌ„ce of all grace by which they will feast thee and will be feasted of thee THE 13. MEDITATION To be made immediatlie after Communion How thanâ—kefull the Receauer should bee VVHen thou hast receaued this B. Sacrament pause awhile and think what thou hast receaued Thou hast receaued more then the worth of Heauen and earth the Sonne of God in whom be all the treasures of wisedom and knowledge hidden Coloss 2. in whom dwelle the fulnesse of the God head corporallie who is the head of all principalitie and power thou hast receaued him who is worth so much that he is inestimable no price caÌ„ be sett on him Antonius and Cleopatra did on a time vainlie striue who should make the greatest feast And Antonius prepared all that Sea and Land could affoard Cleopatra not sollicitous for any such fare tooke an vnion which hung at her eare and resoluing it drank it at a draft and putting her finger to the other eare to take another vnion he who was elected arbiter and Iudge betwixt them bad Cleopatra hold her hand for that she had alreadie surpassed Antonius his feast hauing drunk alreadie the price of all Egypt But thou O my soule by receauing this B. Sacrament eatest and drinkest at once the bodie and bloud of Christ for with his bodie his bloud alwayes is by concomitance and inseparable vnioÌ„ which is more then the price of Egypt yea theÌ„ a thousand worlds And therefore if thou shouldest resolue thy heart into gratitude and thankes giuing thou coulds not shew sufficient gratitude for this so great benefit Say then to thy bountifull Iesus with gratefull Dauid Psa 115. Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi what shall I render to our Lord for all things that he hath rendred to me nay what shall I render to my Lord for this onlie thing which he hath bestowed on mee thou hast ô Lord not onlie bestowed on mee great benefites and this the greatiest of allâ— but thou hast also rendred good for euill mercie and grace for my sinnes what can I render thee for this Psa 115. I will follow King Dauids counsell I will take the chalice of saluation and I will inuocate the name of our Lord I will take the chalice of thy Passion which thou didst drink on the Crosse I will offer that sacrifice for this and both for all thy benefites and by them I will inuocate and praise thy name for euer If I could speake at once with all the tongues of men and Angels I could not ô Lord giue thee sufficient thanks for this so great a benefit which conteineth thy sacred self and thy holie flesh and blood Deifyed by thy Diuinitie VVherefore in an astonishment at this great benefit and thy great liberalitie I will be silent and by my silence I will testifie and confesse that thou hast bestowed on me in this B. Sacrament more then