vnder the accidents of bread and wine by faith and after a most heauenly manner hee sheweth that he is come vnto thee not onely to conuerse with thee bestow saluation as hee did to the house of Zachee but also to vnite him selfe to thee that thou maist bee one certaine thing with him which is the effect of this heauenly meate Who doth not see then that this is a far greater benefite oh my gracious Lord seeing thou hast vouchsafed to enter this poore house of mine giue me grace that it happen not to mee as to the vngratefull Iewes who in the day of Palmes receiued thee with great ioy and triumph into Ierusalem but a little after they cried to Pilate crucifie him crucifie him casting thy crosse vppon thy shoulders cast thee forth of this citie Let me die O Lord before yea let me dy a thousand deaths then that I cast thee out of mee For that were to thrust thee out of thine owne house A Meditation vppon those words of Christ Luk. 19.5 Hodie oportet me manere in Domo tua To day I must abide in thine house WHo am I O most bountifull Iesu that thou desirest to abide with mee who am I that may deserue to entertaine thee the Lord of heauens What dost thou find in mee ' that doth so much delight thee and inuite thee to come vnder my roofe art thou ignoraÌ„t of my most vile beginning I am not of the number of that celestiall and diuine Legion I am not a Seraphin not an Archangell not an Angell nor any of the Thrones or other most sacred Spirits my being differs much from theÌ„ freed are they from all admixtion of body pure and innocent I was born in sinne drawing my beginning froÌ„ the earth so meane a subiect I am not worthie O my Sauiour of thy diuine presence happily thy delight is to bee with the sonnes of men true but I am not Abraham I am not Moyses I am not as the blessed virgin no I beare not the least similitude of these blessed Saints in heauen while they remained in the world What shall I say I am sorie O my Lord I am no more worthie to receiue thee then I am but my comfort is thou tookest mercie on the woman of Canaan and all distressed people that came vnto thee A short forme of confession to bee made in priuate before the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament I Miserable sinner confesse acknowledge with bended heart and handes lifted vp in the presence of Almightie God my many and manifolde sinnes and that I haue transgressed sundry waies against the precepts of the first and second table I am sory from the bottome of my hart and it greeueth mee that I haue so often offended thee I come vnto thee as an humble sutor to obtaine mercie and pardon for all my offences I beseech thee to sanctifie me by thy holy spirit to strengthen my faith against all assaultâ— so seale vp in mee by this holy mysterie that comfortable hope of the life to come Direct me I beseech thee now approching to thy holy table that I may abide with thee and be a fit habitation for thy holy presence both nowe and for euermore wheÌ„ I coÌ„sider thou didst create me not being asked redeeme me not being required it turned my teares of sorrow into teares of ioy my teares of fear into teares of loue O my Sauiour shew mercie for with such great sinnâ—rs as I am thou gâ—ttest greatest honour as thou diddest by Mary Magdalen An admonition moouing all to reconcile themselues and forgiue their enemies before they be pertakers of the most holy Sacrament WHen thou bringest thy gift to he altar sayth Christ our Sauiour Mathew 5.25 and there rememberest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leaue thy offering before the Altar go thy way first bee reconciled to thy brother then come and offer thy gift In the 11. also of Saint Mar. and 25. hee sayth vnto his Disciples When you shall stande to pray forgiue if you haue ought against any man that your Father which is in heauen may forgiue you your trespasses By both which testimonies of holy Scripture we learne y â— all our oblations and prayers otherwise in themselues amongst the best actions of a Christian life are in no case acceptable vnto God without our reconcilement charity first had with meÌ„ The Wiseman Eccl. 28.2.3 could thinke it vnmeet in very reason to ask mercy wheÌ„ we our selues denie mercie We may remember that the vnthankfull debter that wold not remit his fâ—llow seruant Mat. 18.30 for his vncompassionate vsage of his fellow found himselfe the like measure that is iudgement without mercie at his maysters hand With what countenaunce saith one can we looke vp to heauen and say Lord forgiue vs our trespasses and yet reuenge with all extreamitie the least offences offered vnto our selues Noe no hee that seeketh vengeance shall surely find vengeance Mihi vindictam ego retribuaÌ„ vengeance is mine saith the Lord I wil reuenge We must let God alone to right our wrongs vnlesse we will vsurpe that poore which is onely proper vnto hiâ— for our selues we should not forget the Wisemans counsell Forgiue thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done thee so shall thy sinnes also be forgiuen thee when thou prayest should a man beare hatred againâ—t man and desire forgiuenesse of the Lord Peter saith vnto Christ maister how often shall my brother sinne against mee and I forgiue him vntill seauen times no Peter saith our Sauiour I say not vnto thee vntil seuen times but vntil seuenty seueÌ„ times that is quoties totâ—es how often soeuer he sinne against thee so often shalt thou forgiue The offering vp of sacrifices in the olde lawe was a speciall parte of that worship the people were wont to performe vnto Almightie God as an acceptable seruice vnto him But the prophete Esai telles them Esa. 1.11 all their offerings were vtterly displeasing vnto him for why they were all set on crueltie and reuenge their hands were ful of blood and therefore God woulde accept of no sacrifice at their handes Our oblations that are done in loue with God and man these ascend like the smoke of Abels sacrifice and are wel pleasing vnto the most highest But howe shoulde fleshe and bloode forgiue where wrong and iniurie hath been offered that which Adam cannot beaâ—e Christ can that which to nature is so much against nature and therefore difficulty is to grace nothing so that which heathen men will so hardly brooke is to Christians who haue or should haue a further perfection more facile and easie Wherefore our Sauiour tels his disciples of somewhat more thâ—n louing them who loue first Ego dico vobis diligite inimicos I say vnto you loue your enemies do good vnto them that hurt you pray for them that persecute you we forgiue we loue our very enemies for his sake who hath done farre more for
great reuerence and deuotion before any attempt against his enemie his wont was to receiue the holy Eucharist Euseb. in vita Constantin By the force of this Sacrament the force of the diuell is rebated Ignatius ad Ephes. Saint Cyprian calleth this blessed Sacrament a ioyfull solemnitie Cypria de caena Dom. Of the olde Christians it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an assembly of loue Charitie it selfe A prayer of thanksgiuing after the receiuing of the most holy Communion I Giue thee thankes O most louing Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed to admit me a sinfull creature to the magniâ—â—cent and quickning feast of thy sacred table Thou wouldst that I shuld bee as the Arke of Couenant where thou thy selfe vouchsafest to abide Thou wouldest that in this Arke Mâ—nna should bee kept wherewith thou didst feede thy people vntill they entred into the Land of Promise Cause I beseech thee that this Manna nowe receiued wherof that was but a figure may bee preserued in my Soule that I may feele the effectual fruit of thy passion for the remission of my sinnes the merit of righteousnes and reward of euerlasting glorie Cause also that like as in the Arke the Tables of the Lawe were kept so a desire of fulfilling thy will may bee contained in my Soule Graunt that I may honour loue and obey thee that I be seperated from this loue by no allurement whatsoeuer of my ghostly enemie Tarrie with mee O blessed Iesu vntill the euening of my age and when the night of death approacheth I will not let thee goe till thou hast blessed mee and yeelded to this petition of my sobbing soule O Lord fulfill her desire neuer depart from her What blessing shal I giue vnto thee O my deere Sauiour where shall I beginne to expresse by loue and duetie towardes thee which hast sayd Behold I am with you euen vnto the end My soule desireth to be satisfied in the beholding of thy countenance euen as the Hart longeth for the fountains of water Turne thee O my soule into thy rest for the Lorde hath done well for thee hee hath shewed thee maruailous great kindnes in the land of the liuing Fâ—r this cause also shall my flesh rest in hope Blesse thou the Lord O my Soule Another forme of thanksgiuing OMnipotent most louing father I cannot giue thee thaÌ„ks worthy inogh according to the desire of my minde for the treasure of this heauenly foode which thou hast now giuen mee in this heauenlie mysterie ineffable that is to say the true bread of heaueÌ„ that euerlasting meat that aabideth for euer thy blessed Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ Iesus in whom I haue obtained by the gift of this hâ—ly Communion a pledge of an inheritance to come Grant O Lord that I may daily profit in vertue godlines that this sacred vnion with Christ may bee of such force in me that reiecting al euill waies I may goe forward in pietie towards God instruction towards my selfe charitie towards my neighbour to thy good pleasure through the same our Lord sauior Iesus Christ Amen The Soloquie AWake O my â—oule and behold the new â—â—uor wherewith louing 〈…〉 prosecute thee Thou hast good cause to reioyce that the Lord of Maiestie vouchsafeth to come vnto thee to comfort thee Continue onely a good will for all this bountie Bee not as the nine vnthankfull Leapers who forgat their cuâ—ing Cast all thy care vpon him who careth for thee cease not to magnifie him O my soule for he that is mightie hath magnified thee and done great things for thee Thou knowest how the son of God loued thee when departing out of this world vnto the Father hee left so comfortable a remembrance and seale of all his mercyes O loue without measure returne O my soule vnto thy rest for the Lord hath blessed thee Returne vnto thy gracious Sauiour of whome thou mayst say Here will I rest here will I dwell foreuer Can it bee O Lord that thou wouldest follow man with such loue as to vnite thy selfe vnto him Reioyce O yee sonnes of Adam for no longer shall that of the Prophet be applyed against you My teares haue beene my meate day and night whilst they yet daily sayd where is nowe thy God Teares are now no longer your meare but the gladsome foode of Angels your God is with you euen vnto the end The poore do eate and are satisfied O Lord graunt mee the grace of Deuotion and thankfulnes that I may aske it instantly expect it patiently receiue it gratefully conserue it humbly vse it diligently to the glorie and honor of thy holy and blessed name Amen I desire to offer my selfe my soule and body a sacrifice vnto thee nay I offer vp all my sinnes both originall and actuall vpon the acceptable Altar of thy mercy consume them with the sacred fire of thy loue and let this offering as Abels offering be well pleasing in thy sight but to returne vnto this heauenly foode now offered Ah hard and peruerse hart of mine how canst thou continue earthly when as thou art fed with the bread of heauen When at length wilt thou become heauenlie Howe is it that thou dost remaine sensuall and alienated from the spirit which art spiritually conserued Is it because thou dost consist of earth O Iesus remember here what thou hast else wher sayd I come to send a fire and what is my desire but that it bee kindled Let it be kindled in mee that I may be carried vpward and seek the things where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God that though my body conuerse here in earth my affections may bee in heauen that from henceforth not so much I liue as thy grace may bee sayde to liue in mee The eleuenth generall Meditation to bee vsed aftâ—r the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament COnsider with what labours teares Adam after hee was cast out of Paradise did eate the bread of carefulnesse all the dayes of his life But now man receiued into the state of grace is come to feede on the bread of life it selfe 2 Consider that as the Israelites when they had eaten the Pascall Lambe were deliuered froÌ„ Pharaoes bondage made no stay in the darknes of Egipt but set forward forth with towardes the Land of Promise So after this our Passeouer wherein a mighty deliuerance from the hands of our spirituall Pharo is signified were to depart from the works of darknes to go forward without delay fâ—oÌ„ grace to grace froÌ„ vertue to vertue vntill we come to our heauenly Canaan 3 Consider how the wisemen when they had seene Christ at Bethlem and there done their humble reuereÌ„ce Math. 2.12 they returned not by ambitious and cruell Herod nor by troublesome Ierusalem but Per aliam vtam another waye So wee hauing visited Christ at our Bethlem which signifieth the house of bread and there offered our Soules and bodyes a sacrifice vnto him should returne towards our owne countrey which is
perceiueth not y e things which are of God 1. Cor. 2.4 Let the Christian man haue all the goods of this mortall life if that bee wanting him which is contayned in the holy Sacrament lie hath nothing yea rather he may truly bee called miserable 5. Lastly the bread before it coÌ„meth to his perfection it suffereth many things for the graine of corne which is the matter thereof is first sowen is couered in the earth theÌ„ is cut bound as a malefactor imprisoned in the barne is threshed out winowed grouÌ„ded in the Mill is boulted scorched with fire so that it may very well agee with this Sacrament wherein the elementes are not whole but broken powred out wherein also the passion of Christ our Lorde his suffering so great thinges for vs is represented before he become this diuine foode of our soules 4 The Pasâ—all Lamb was a figure of this Sacrament Exod. 12.3 of which this was the ceremony It must be a Lambe without blemish of a yeare old it must be eaten at Ierusalem rosted and in haste with wild Lettice and sweet bread those who shold eate thereof must haue their shooes on their feete by which ceremony God signified to the Iewes that they were strangers Saint Chrysostome in his 83. Homely vpon Mathew applyeth in this manner that ceremonie vnto vs If saith hee the Iewes about to go onely through Palestina were fed with a Lambe after so curious an order with what vigilancie ought we to be fed in this Sacrament with the true immaculate Lambe which haue our iourney to heauen do eate thereof in his church heat with charitie going forward to our land of rest in 15. of Leuit. God saith you shall eate of the old fruit vntill the new come so did his people of the old passeouer the same day they were deliuered from Egypt had wee deliueraunce from a worser seruitude of the Pascall lamb a bone must not bee broken those parts of this lambe are the faithful as if it were from God sacrificate filium sacrifice my Sonne Sinite hos abine let these go Iohn 18. 5 A Figure of this was Manna giuen to the people of Israel in the desert Exo. 10.15 Saint Paul saith that the redde Sea was a figure of Baptisme and Manna of this holy Sacrament which Manna had these properties First although some gathered much and others lesse yet there was one sufficient measure for all so in this Sacrament of the Lordes Supper there is no lesse vertue in the lest part thereof then in the whole 2 Manna might be gathered any day except the Saboth and when the sunne arose it vanished So this venerable Sacrament serueth vs vntill the euerlasting Saboth of the life to come and when the Son of glorie shall appeare it shall then cease 3 Manna did giue taste of all kind according vnto the will of the eater This Manna hath sweetnesse vnto the faith of the faithfull receyuers so and so disposed 4 Many of the Iewes were grieuously punished for that they contemned Manna saying our soule loathed this light meate Numb 21.5 So S Paul sheweth 1. Cor 1â— 30. That in his time many were weake and sick among theÌ„ for that this most diuine Sacrament was dispised and many vnworthily communicated 6 The sixt Figure was the Arke for like as the Arke saith Th. Aquinas was made of Shitim wood Exod. 25.10 that is to say of shining and pure cedar so was this of the most pure bodie of the Sonne of God Againe the Arke was guilded within without which may resemble the wisdom loue of Christ. Ther were 3. things in the ark of speciall note The golden pot the rod of Aaron and the two tables of the law The golden pot contayning Manna may betoken the soule of Christ contayning the fulnesse of the dietie The rod of Aaron his priestly power the two tables that he was the eternal lawmaker But the holy scripture maketh mention of two things principally concerning the Arke which do maruellously appeare in this Sacrament The one that by the befite of the Arke the people were not onely preserued but much pestered The other that God grieuously punished those who vnworthily entreated this Aâ—ke or gaue not worthie reuerence vnto the same we reade Samuel 1. 4. when the people of Israel in one warre against the Philistines had lost foure thousand men they procured that the Arke was brought into their tents hoping that by the presence thereof to obtaine the victorie But the contrary happened for the Arke of God was taken by the enemie and 30000. men perished of the host of Israel for their peruerse life and small pietie The Philistines also which vnworthily handled the Ark setting it with their idolatrie so sharply were they punished but chiefly the men of Ashdod as that the holy scripture saith 1. Sam. 5. The hand of God was greeuous vpon them 7 A figure of this Sacrament was the meale of Helizeus 1. King 4. when the prophet commaunded that certaine hearbes should bee sodde for the children of the prophets they tasting them found that they were so bitter that they cryed to Helizeus O man of God death is in the pot Wherefore the holy prophet cast meale into the pot wherewith he tooke away the bitternes So Christ by meale or bread of the Sacrament taketh away the bitternesse of our afflictions causeth that they bring vs life and not death 8 A figure of this most holy institution was that great Passeouer which K. Hezechiah kept 2. Chron. 30.17 wheÌ„ he prayed for the people that God would be mercifull vnto him that prepared his hart to seeke the Lord God of his Fathers though hee were not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary when he spake comfortably vnto the Leuits the whole multitude kept the feast with great ioy Our Hezechiah hath not onely praied for the purifying of his people but hath sanctified them spoken comfortably kept a ioyfull passeouer such as neuer was in Israel Names of excellencie attributed vnto the holy Sacrament and gathered out of the writings of ancient Fathers O Great Sacrament O Inestimable Sacrament O Diuine Sacrament O Most noble Sacrament O Pure Misterie O Venerable Misterie O Eternall Misterie O Laudable Misterie O misterie of Pietie O misterie of Peace O Holy of holies O Blessing O Hidden Manna A short Meditation vppon these names of excellencie WHat couldest thou do most merciful Lord for vs and our good that thou hast not done Thou hast taken our fraile nature vpon thee and giuen vs thy diuine thou hast freely offered vnto vs the riches of thy mercie the treasures of thy grace the abundance of thy loue by this great inestimable and most diuine Sacrament by this blessed pure and venerable misterie the mistery of peace and pietie the holy of holies the hidden Manna whereby it is euident with what flames of loue thou didst burne whose delight is to shew mercy And because the
of Kinges 6.7 was suddenly stricken how can I not but feare tremble in this case O Lord as I feare thy greatnesse So do I also feare the multitude of my sinnes I am that foole Psal. 14 1. that said in his heart there is no God I liued so dissolutely as by my manners I profest as much I feared not thy iustice I dreaded not to transgresse thy lawes I rendred not thanks as I ought What other thing hath my life beene then a dayly warre against thee What other thing haue I done by my sins and carelesse comming to this misterie of former times then offered thee open wrong stricken thy blessed head with a reed My sinnes haue beene the speare that gored thee the thornes that pearced thee How therefore shall I bee so bold as to come vnto thee Shall I repose thy sacred bodie in a denne of Dragons a nest of Scorpions what other thing is a soule ful of sinne wherefore doest thou cast thy childrens bread vnto dogs and thy precious Margarite to swine How wilt thou rest with me O my Lord which art the puritie of a virgine the fountaine of all pulchritude Thy most holy bodie taken from the crosse was wrapped in fine linnen laide in a new Sepulcher wherein neuer any was laid but what part of my soule is cleane what new How then shall I receiue thee O my Sauiour and redeemer I am ashamed so often as I behold my selfe in such a state I blush considering what I am and whether I am about to come my refuge is to flie vnto thy mercy according to which mercy O Lord looke vppon mee did the stones cleaue asunder when thou sufferedst thy passion shall my stonie heart bee nothing moued for whome thou didst suffer did the earth moue and shall my earthly mind stand vnmoueable like a dead center noe noe I am moued O my Sauiour Another forme of coâ—â—fession TAke it not haynously O my Lord that being such a one as thou seest me to bee dare presume to come into thy sight I remember thou wast not offeÌ„ded with the poore woman which had the issue of blood Matth. 9. But didst accept her saying bee of good comfort daughter thy faith hath made thee whole I haue a greater issue and come vnto thee to be cured I call to minde Marie Magdalene who washed thy feet with her teares and wiped them with the hayre of her heade who had much forgiuen her Behold here lyeth a sinner which hath more sinnes but fewer teares shee was not the first nor the last whome thy mercie receiued receyue mee O Lord though I haue not shedde so many teares as may washe thy feete yet hast thou shead as much bloud as can wash my sinnes O my Lord thou hast not chaunged thy office and nature though thou seemest to bee farre away I reade in the holy Gospell that all that were diseased did resort vnto thee and that the multitude Luk. 6.19 sought to touch thee for there went vertue from thee the leapers came vnto thee and thou streatching forth thy blessed hand didst heale them thou gauest vnto the blind their sight vnto the lame their limmes Thou didst cure the sicke dispossesâ—e the deuill raise the dead and canst thou not forget to shew mercie which art mercy it selfe I come vnto thee O my Redeemer I come vnto thee O eternall creator of heauen and earth beseeching thee that as the holy king Dauid did accept at his table and shewe fauour vnto Mesphâ—bosheth 2. Sam. 9.11 though of himself deformed yet for the loue of Ionathan of whom hee came willing thereby to honour the sonne for the fathers sake So may it please thee to admit mee though of my selfe most deformed in the loue of him in whom thou art well pleased I offer vnto thee an humble heart and had I many hearts I would offer them all vnto thee Lord I can be no more without thee nor liue without thee then can this bodie of mine remaine when life is taken from it Wherefore necessitie driueth mee vnto thee and mercie ministreth boldnesse by howe much the more vnworthy I am by so much the more art thou glorified in shewing mercie A Meditation vpon these wordes Whence commeth this that my Lord commeth vnto me HE bringeth him self that sendeth not an other he which hath so many spirits his ministers commeth himselfe vnto his seruants visiteth the sicke lifteth vp and comforteth the fallen helpeth the afflicted refresheth the hungrie with his owne body and bloud who aboundeth with so many so diuers meanes medicines as to whome the fulnesse of the whole earth doth appertaine He bringâ—â—â— himselfe vnto thee O 〈◊〉 soule as a father when hee prosecuteth thee with loue as a brother when he maketh thee by adoption the sonne of God as a fellowe when hee appointeth thee a coheire of his heaueÌ„ly kingdome as a heauenly repast for thy eternall safetie as an intercessor for the remission of all thy sinnes O the wonderfull loue of the sonne of God! vnde veâ—it from whence commeth this that my Lord commeth vnto me A Meditation vppon these wordes of the centurion Mat. 8.8 Non sum dignus vt intres sub tectum meum Lord I am not worthy that thou enter vnder my roofe O Lorde hadst thou rather be at an other mans house with dishonor then at thine owne with honour at least O good Iesu if thou hadst no respect of thine honour if thou castest vnder foot all praise renowne if thou takest vnto thee euerie vile sinner yet haue regard to my estate Lord I confesse I am not worthy thou shouldest come vnder my roofe Thou knowest my pouertie and need I haue this poore cottage farre vnmeet to cetertain so great a guest as thou O my Lord This body is not compact of gold siluer but of dust ashes and also subiect to infirmities diseases and death This soule ioyned to my bodie is farre from that holines it should bee endued withall farte vnmeet a place is it for such a personage I am altogether confounded I tremble shake at the comming of so great a guest into so poore a house as my selfe Tantum dic verbum sanabitur anima mea But onely say the worde and my soule shall liue ANd art thou ignorant O my Lord who thou art what a one and how great Thou art God omnipotent thou art Lord of all thou art the Creator of heauen and earth whatsoeuer is contained in the vast compasse thereof thou hast raysed me vp as all other things els of nothing Thou hast clothed me with this bodie and hast giuen me a right and righteous soule thou hast restored this soule fallen from the state of innocencie Thou hast illuminated it by grace and washed it in the sacred Fonte of baptisme O my Lord thou art he that rulest and gouernest me thou wouldest for my sake become man die for mee suffer for mee the verie death of the crosse
vs. What greater loue saith Saint Iohn then for one to giue his life for his friende yet greater was Christes loue who gaue his life for vs that were his enemies we haue some reason to helpe the distressed to relieue the poore needie for the verie beholding of their necessitie doeth often moue compassion but to loue our enemies wee haue no reason in the world but onely for his sake who hath commanded all those who professe his name and expect his kingdome saying Diligite inimices loue your enemies We forgiue and why Christ hath forgiuen vs wee shewe mercie and why Christ Iesus hath shewed mercy vnto vs. Quid contra nos proximus saith an ancient father shall wee see what our neighbour hath done against vs and shal we not see what Christ hath done for vs God forbid All that we do or can forgiue are pence only Christ he forgiues tallentes wee some few hee ten thousand wee shew loue but Christ shewed loue in deed loue without example Were we as readie to remember benefites as wee are iniuries wee would bee more charitable then we often are But being readie to reuenge doe wee know how soone wee may stande in need of God our selues no verily and therefore we had need to shewe compassion to others When as now Iacob their father was dead Iosephs brethren thought Ioseph would reuenge all the wrong they before vniustly offered their brother they were deceyued Ioseph telles them he meant nothing lesse Am not I saith he vnder God as if hee shoulde haue sayde my selfe am reedie to aske forgiuenesse of God and should I not from â—y heart forgiue you my brethren I doe I doe Wherefore one saith Qualem erga te Deum habere vis talem te erga proximum ostendas as thou wouldest haue God bee vnto thee so bee thou to thy neighbour that hath offended thee To moue Christians to this loue Christ our Sauiour goeth further and sayeth forgiue that you may bee children of your father which is in heauen for he causeth the Sunne to arise on the iust and on the vniust It was a token that Dauid was of the stocke of Iesse when hee would not onely not huâ—t King Saule his enemie when hee was aliue but woulde euen shewe mercie vnto his ofspring when he was dead they giue testimonie that that they are his followers who prayed for his enemies father forgiue them who shew themselues ready to remit and can finde in their hearts to forgiue offences offered S. Amâ—rose told a great Emperor of the world how Christians did auenge themselues our weapons saith he are our prayers our teares we weep for our persecutors wee pray for them Neither shal our forgiuing go away emptie for this actiue mercy shewed vnto men shall be rewarded with passiue mercy by him who hath said Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtaine mercy Hence it commeth to passe that our enemies may doe vs as much good as the best friends we haue in the world whereas in forgiuing them wee receiue forgiuenesse of God but for one drop of water giuen wee receiue by a gainefull interest a whole ocean sea for our two mytes the whole treasure of the temple We giue and forgiue some small benefites trespasses but with God there is no depth of his bountie no number of his mercies If at any time we are iustly moued as we often are to vse that Quid rependam as of the Prophet Psal. 116.11 what shall wee doe vnto the Lord for all the benefites hee hath done vnto vs then most especially approaching to these holy misterie which the old Christians in the Primitiue Church well remembring gaue euident testimonie at this solemne occasion by their liberalitie to the poore their visiting the sicke and other like works of mâ—rcie And besides their charitable reliefe of the needie it is wonderfull to consider and it may do a good mans hart good to call to mind the vâ—iforme peace and peaceable vnion they retained amongst themselues all assembled in one communion of Saints to worship him in earth with whom they hoped shortlie to reioyce in heauen They forgat not that charge left by Christ at his departure from the worlde by this shall men know that you are my Disciples that you loue one another nor that louing entreatie of Abraham had with Lot Gen. 13 11. Let there bee no strife betweene thee and me betweene thy heardmen and my heardmen for we are brethren Bee of one mind saith the Apostle 2. Corinth 13. liue in peace and the God of loue and peace shall be with you and to the Ephesians he saith let all bitternesse and anger and wrath bee put away from you with all maliciousnesse bee courteous one to another forgiuing one another euen as God for Christes sake forgaue you There is but one bodie one spirit on faith one baptisme one God which is aboue all through all and in vs all In this misterie as the faithfull find wrought tranquillitie of conscience within So also finde that the spreading of charitie towardes men abroade which charitie thinketh no euill beleeueth all thinges hopeth all thinges endureth all things When as Christ our Sauiour was now to celebrate his last supper he washeth himselfe his disciples feet wypeth them with a towell giueth a precedent of humility loue admitteth Iudas that bare an euill mind towardes him to his owne-dish giueth him a soppe speakes mildly vnto him which all were tokens of loue should we not take example by our Lorde and master When may we more fitly vse that hymne of the Angels respecting the common cause of ioy wee haue Glorie be to God on high in earth peace towardes men good will and not good will in shewe but euen in singlenes of heart Wherefore to conclude with that of the Apostle Philip. 3.1 If there be any consolation in Christ any comfort of loue any fellowship of the spirite be we of one accord let the same mind be in vs that was in Christ who humbled himselfe wherefore God hath highly exalted him and giuen him a name aboue all names that at the name of Iesus euery knee shold bow Philip. 2.10 A Prayer before the holy Communion O Lorde Iesus Christ which art the onelie Sonne of God the most high king of kinges Lorde of Lords the image of the Father the brightnesse of eternall light whom the Angels do only desire to behold who after all thy suffering praying for thine enemies now sittest at the throne of glorie who am I that doe presume not onely to beholde thee my God but also to take and receiue thy bodie into the lodging of my bodie and house of my soule contaminated sinner O miserable that I am and most vnhappie of all men which doe this so exceeding great iniurie to thee my God and Sauiour for when a thousand yeares of teares are not sufficient to receiue at the least but once worthily this reuerent and most precious Sacrament so high
you shall aske mee what that is I say that the first thing is that thou walke carefully all this time that with the holy man Iob thou feare all thy works that thou haue diligent regard of thy selfe throughly examine thy conscience and that thou take heede in all thy conuersation that thou committe nothing which may offende the eyes of God not onely mortally but negligently also as much as thou canst Neither onely ought wee to decline from the sinnes themselues but also from the occasions of them as immoderate laughing pastimes and wanton sports and all vaine conuersation and all those exercises which are seldome done without sinne no otherwise saith a learned man then a handsome and adorned woman when on the Saboth day shee hath put on cleane apparrell and goeth forth abroad doth most diligently beware that shee handle not those thinges wherewith shee may be contaminated So wee in this time ought to walke more carefully then at another and to bee 〈◊〉 loathed that wee may bee worthie to come to receiue the King of Angelles and sitte at his Table Before all thinges the tongue must bee kept with all diligent care all this time in the old law the vessels without couer were counted vnclean Let regard be had that the mouth vtter no vaine idle words much lesse offensiue that the doore may be kept pure and clean through which that heauenly foode shall enter to our Soule No lesse diligently let the heart bee kept pure from all vain vncleane and vnquiet cogitations For an vnseemely thing is it that in the place where GOD should take vp his mansion to leaue any thing offensiue to his cleane and heauenly sight And because the place of his abiding is peace for in peace saith the Psalmist is his staying Lette vs therefore put farre from vs all vnquietnesse of minde and perturbations whatsoeuer The euening beeing come when as thou shouldst Communicate early in the morrow following verie laudable is it either to misse a meale or else at the least to bee content with a small or light Supper after which thou mayst not eyther betake thee to pleasurable delights or be present in the concourse of mamâ— but that thou mayst bee quiet and more fitte to spende a good part of the night in preparing thy mind for the daye following When thou art layde in thy bed before sleepe doth close thy eies perseuere coÌ„tinue in good thoughts beseeching God that hee deliuer thee froÌ„ all idle fantasies and illusions of the diuell that thou mayst the next day goe vnto the Lords table with more puritie both of bodie and Soule So often as thou awakest in the night by and by call to minde the same thoughts in prayer Very earlie in the morning thy eyes not yet fully opened thinke thou art lying in the armes of Christ crucified exercise thy minde in the remembrance of his passion about which wee spend the day following sometime thinking of his ineffable Loue sometime of his extreame suffering in a word because this sacrament was instituted in remeÌ„brance of his Passion most profitable and acceptable vnto God is our deuout remembrance of the same that by this meanes we may accomplish also the will of the Testator The manner of communicating vsed by a certaine virgine In prax vit sprit BEfore the communion I prepare my selfe after this manner some two daies before I examine mine owne conscience I humblie confesse me and am hartely sorie for my sinnes when I may not fast at the least I eat and drinke sparingly 2 The nexte morning I beginne sooner then at other times a prayer in my minde therin desiring grace of God to be communicate and that he make me such a one as I ought to be comming to his holy table that this most holy Sacrament may obtaine in my heart that fruite which it obtayneth in the heartes of them which worthily communicate 3 Then I consider how great a thing it is to bee partaker of so holy a misterie to receiue him whom the Angelles adore the Prophetes haue desired the Apostles loued the martyrs imitated and all holy men coueted with vnspeakeable desire to honour loue and vnite them vnto him by this holy Sacrament 4 Moued with this desire I studie to enflame my soule more largely by considering Christs vnspeakable loue by calling to mind the manifold graces this sacrament bringeth with it to the soule of the deuout communicant 5 When I come to communicate I exerecise my hart in these contemplations 1. I call to mind my own vilenes 2. I cast my selfe downe at the feâ—t of â—esus by humility 3. I make a short confession of my faith as I belieue that thou art the very Sauiour of the world O blessed Son of â—od which wast crucified for me dead and buried descendedst into hâ—ll and didst rise againe 4. I am sory that I come so little prepared as I do but euer hoping hee will accept my humble intention I put my trust in his mercie and merites 6 Sometimes I talke thus with my soule saying behold my soule thy Lord and God loue him whom thou desirest with such care account thy selfe happie if thou acknowledge him loue him desire him to dwell with thee 7 Laâ—â—ly I lay before him all my sinnes and infirmities had in the depth of my heart and I most feruently desire that hee would pardon them all I purpose earnestly to amend and so with al humble reuerence I come to the Lords table My demeanour after the Communion AFter the communion I betake mee to some secreate place that I may talke onely with my Lord whom I haue by faith receiued into the house of my soule and first I set before God the Father the holy sacrifice of Christ our Lord and I set before him whatsoeuer he hath suffered for me vsing these or the like words Behold O eternall Father thy sonne whom of thy infinite loue thou hast sent from heauen vnto the earth that hee might take flesh of man be borne in a stable flie into Egypt by the persecution of Herod should be in great pouertie Behold O Father what great thinges hee hath done and suffered for mee in the wildernesse in preaching in fasting in praying in iourning in persecutions of the Iewes in hearing blasphemies sustayning iniuries and reproaches all which he suffered at the handes of the vngratefull Iewes see him betrayed and sold for thirtie pence I offer him to thee O holy Father bound in the garden lead away to Annas beaten and busseted in the house of Caiphas accused before Pylate mocked of Herod sâ—ourged and cruâ—â—fied of the Iews Behold O Father his head hanging down his face pale with death his handes and â—eete pearsed through his most sacred side opened Behold the heauens and earth mourning after their manner the sorrowfull mother the deere disciples bewayling him and the vngratefull Iewes by so much the more to waxe madde against him I offer him vnto thee annointed
fire of this loue could no longer be hid it must needs breake out by this holy misterie left vnto vs For which O Lord wee giue vnto thee honour prayse power and dominion now and for euermore Amen Certain short meditations vpon the passion to be vsed before and after the receiuing of the holy Communion O Good and gracious Iesu thou didst eate the Pascall Lambe in Ierusalem with thy deare beloued disciples and arising from supper didst gird thy selfe about with a towell and powredst water into a bason and kneeling vpon thy knees thou meekely didst wash the feete of thy disciples and wipedst them with a towell O most good gracious Iesu thou before thou shouldest suffer didst bequeath a most excellent good thing vnto thy children leauing for vs thy most sacred bodie to be our meate and thy most precious bloode to bee our drinke there can no wit nor vnderstanding penetrate and throughly see the bottomles depth of thy charitie O most good and gracious Iesu thou comming to the garden of Oliuer begannest to feare and to bee heauie wherupon y â— saidst to thy disciples My soule is sorrowfull vnto death And then diuided and sundred from theÌ„ thou setst thy selfe vpon thy knees and falling vpon the earth flat on thy face thou prayedst vnto thy Father and fully and wholly resignedst and yeeldedst thy selfe vnto him saying Father thy will bee done and at length through most painefull agonie wherwith thou was grieuously oprest afflicted thou sweatest throughout all thy body a bloudy sweate O good gracious Iesu thou kindled burning with an ineffable desire to redeem me wentst to meete thine enimies sufferedst Iudas the traitor to kisse thee thy selfe to be taken to bee bound with all confusion shame most vnworthily to be led vnto Annas where thou sufferedst most meekly to bee striken on thy most innocent face O good gracious Iesu thou being fast bound like a notorious malefactor wast led vnto the house of Cayphas the high Priest wher the Iewes most vniustly accused thee most spitefully struck buffetted thee scornefully wast thou mocked blindfolded being bidden to prophesie who strucke thee doing to thee innumerable iniuries all the night O good gracious Iesu thou in the morning wast broght before Pilate with most sweet plesant couÌ„tenaÌ„ce casting thine eies down stoodest before him in the IudgemeÌ„t hall when thou wast most fasly accused of y e Iews many a rebuke reproach was giuen thee thou meekly heldst thy peace and madest no answere O good and gracious Iesu thou was sent from Pilate to Herode this Herode of a very curious and vaine mind coueting to see some miracle at thy hand asked demanded many things of thee the Iewes cried out against thee but thou amongst all these most wisely heldst thy peace For this cause Herod and all his despised thee O how vnmeasurable was this humility and obedience at the will pleasure of thine enemies thou wentst forth thou returnest again suffering theÌ„ to do to thee what they would O good and gracious Iesu thou in the iudgement hall stripped naked and without all compassion being bound fast to a pillar wast most cruelly scourged there was thy virginall and tender flesh cut with whips and torne with stripes altogether mangled and deformed with blacke blew and many a wound so that the streames of thy most precious blood ranne downe on euery side vpon the earth O good and gracious Iesu after that sore and sharpe scourging of thine to put thee to more shame thou waste clothed with a purple red garment vile and torne They also making a crowne of thornes painefully pressed the same vpon thy most holy heade and while the sharpe thornes pricked grieuously wounded sore thine head thy most pure blood ranne down aboundantly ouer all thy louely face neck then they putting a reed into thy right hand and kneeling downe before thee in scorne saluted thee saying All haile King of the Iewes O good and gracious Iesu thou wast brought forth by Pilate vnto the furious Iews to bee gazed looked vpon wearing thy crown of thornes purple garment but they cryed out with more cruelnes to haue thee crucified O good gracious Iesu thou wast deliuered vp vnto the will pleasure of the Iewes which by and by led thee to bee crucified laying thy heauie crosse vpon thy sore and bloudy shoulders thus didst thou beare most meekly thine owne crosse whose great weight pained thee ful sore coÌ„ming vnto the place of thy suffering all weary and breathlesse wyth paine for my sake thou didst not refuse to taste wine mingled with gall and mirrhe which was there giuen vnto thee O good gracious Iesu wheÌ„ thou wast stripped naked theÌ„ were thy sore wouÌ„ds by the violent plucking of thy clothes renewed O what a bitter and cruel paine didst thou suffer when thy tender hands vndefiled feet were with blunt and rough nayles fast nailed to the crosse and when the ioyntes of thy lims were loosed oh with what loue and sweetnes of charity didst thou offer thy hands feet to bee bored through Then out of the woundes of thy hands feet as it had bin out of the wels of thy precious blood plentifully gushed out O good gracious Iesu thou hanging vpoÌ„ y e crosse betweene two theeues wast assailed with blasphemies but thou praiedst vnto thy father the while saying Father forgiue it them they wot not what they doe Then didst thou promise Paradise vnto the thiefe then gauest thou thy deare beloued Mother who pearced with the sword of sorrow stoode by the crosse vnto thy disciple Iohn and after thou haddest suffred three long houres intollerable paines and thirsted very vehemently they gaue thee eysell to drinke which when thou hadst tasted bowing downe thy venerable head thou yeeldedst vp thy spirit O good and gracious Iesu O good shepheard thus thou bestowedst thy selfe for thy sheepe the right side of thy bodie was opened with a speare out of which flowed both water and blood for vs thou wouldest that thy louing and tender heart should be wounded for my sake afâ—terward thy immaculate bodie was taken downe from the crosâ—e Ioseph Nichodemus wound it vp in sindon or cleane linnen laide it in a sepulcher My dear beloued yea the deare beloued of all my desires thou didst vouchsafe thus to die bee buried for my sake which liuest and raignest blessed glorious for euer and euer worlde without end Amen A Prayer O Sonne of the liuing God most highest God which for thy exceeding great charitie that thou didst beare towards me hast vouchsafed to bee made man thou wouldst for my sake be borne in a stable and laid in a manger to be fedde with the little milke of the maiden thy mother to suffer needines and pouertie to be sore troubled three thirtie yeares with manifold labors and careful paines thou woldest for