heauen answerable vnto their name are not only replenished and inflamed with charity but like a spirituall fire do alwayes burne with diuine loue and therewithall do like wise enkindle and illustrate those Angels that are inferiour vnto them Then contemplate the Cherubims so called for their fulnesse of knowledge clearer light of vnderstanding wherwith they excell all other inferiour spirits in so much as they see God more clearly and know more things in him Wherfore they are as it were the Counsellers of the celestiall King excelling in knowledge wisedome which they also communicate to the inferiour Angels Contemplate after this the Thrones who as the familiar and intrinsecall Secretaries of God are adorned with this title for so much as they are as it were the seates and thrones of the King in which the Diuine Maiesty doth after a certaine sort reside and rest which also they carry with them whithersoeuer they goe as it were in a Pontificall Chaire OF THE SECOND HIERARCHY Descend then to the second Hierarchy which containeth three other Quires of Angels that is to say Dominations Vertues and Powers who are seuerally designed to the vniuersall gouernment of these inferiour things And first contemplate the Dominations who representing the dominion of the supreme Prince after the manner of Viceroys haue commaund ouer their inferiours and in Diuine mysteries send them forth for the gouernment of the world Secondly contemplate the Vertues who with their power and vigour representing the infinite power of the Lord of Hosts do mannage all hard and difficult matters to the glory of God do worke admirable effectes in his creatures Thirdly contemplate the Powers who like Iudges do represent the authority and power of the high and vniuersall Iudge and haue the office to keep vnder all aeriall powers and to remoue from men all impediments and hinderances least their way to their saluation be intercepted OF THE THIRD HIERARCHY To conclude I descend to the third and last Hierarchy in which there are contained three other Quires that is to say of the Principalities Archangels and Angels Contemplate first the Principalities so called for that like as this lowest Hierarchy is appointed by God for the execution of his Diuine coÌ„maundments towards his creatures so the Principalities who are the Angels of the first Quire for so much as they represent the prime Prince are deputed to the gouernement of diuers Prouinces and particulaâ— Kingdomes These also euen as they do in chiefe receaue commaunds immediately from God so do they commit the same to other inferiour Angels and afford likewise assistance for the performance of them There follow likewise two others to wiâ— of Archangells and Angells who according vnto their names are as it were Legates and messengers sent for diuers causes from God into the world who are also designed for the keeping of certaine places and men Neither is there any other difference betweene these two quires then that to the Archangels greater to the Angells lesser matters are committed And this is the summe of that little which we are able to vnderstaÌ„d of that diuine architecture and order of the house of God But if the coÌ„ceit of our vnderstanding were able to proceed any further and inwardly to penetrate into the nature and function of euery Angell it would discouer that they as euery one of them particularly haue particular offices and imployments in the heauenly Hierusalem so likewise that they do with their peculiar order meruelously adorne that vniuersall blessed multitude of the celestiall Court. For euen as we see that this our visible heauen adorned with so many stars and distinguished into orbes according to the number of the planets is moued with admirable order and exerciseth its influence vpon the earth vnder it so that spirituall and inuisible heauen is after an order more admirable and diuine adorned with the variety of so many Angels as with stars by which as through so many orbes of Planets 〈◊〉 Lord of the vniurese powreth vpon humane kind the influence of all his spirituall gifts and graces Therfore consider now my Soule that if the Queene of Saba 3. Reg. 10. hearing the wisedome of Salomon and beholding the magnificence of his Kingly pallace together with the number and equipage of his seruants that attended him being astonished with admiration at the prudence of this most wise King as the Scripture sayth Non habebat vltra spiritum she had no longer spirit and said Beati viri tui beati serâ—i tul hi qui stant coram te semper audiunt sapientiam tuam Blessed are thy men and blessed are thy seruants who stand alwayes before thee and heare thy wisedome How much more occasion shouldest thou haue not only with that Queene to admire but euen with that good Prophet to faint through the desire and loue of this blessed habitation if perfectly thou couldest vnderstand the dignity excelleÌ„cy order of the Court of that true Salomon which with his eternall wisedome and art he hath constituted ordained What consolation what ioy I beseech you would it be vnto you if after the course of this life that felicity might likewise befall you that together with those celestiall spirits you might be honoured with the title of Courtier to so great a Lord whom to serue is to raigne Prospher â—p ad Demet. O most holy and pure Angels O how truly blessed are you who perpetually stand before the face of your God with such exceeding ioy contemplate the face of that celestiall Salomon by whome you are adorned with so great wisedome enriched with so many prerogatiues and made worthy of so great glory You most resplendent stars who so happily shine in the Emperiall heauen infuse likewise I beseech you into my soule your blessed influences preserue my fayth vnspotted my hope firme my manners blamelesse my loue entire towards God and my neighbour I humbly petition ô Blessed Angels that you would vouchsafe me your helping hand to coÌ„duct me by that royall way of humility which you first traced that after this my life I may togeather with you deserue to contemplate the face of our eternall Father and be bestowed in the place of some star that hertofore through pride fell from Heauen OF THE ANGELS IN PARTICVLAR The second Part. OF S. MICHAEL ARCHANGELL BVT next to the contemplation of thâ— Angelicall Hierarchies it well befitteth vs to contemplate something also of that victorious captaine of the celestiall army S. Michael the Archangell who in respect of his transcendent zeale and fidelity was by God constituted the Prince of all those Angels who are sent into the world for the performance of diuers ministeries Moreouer this most Blessed Michaell was honoured with this name which is interpreted Quis vt Deus who is as God For when proud Lucifer was stirred vp against God endeauoring to be esteemed equall vnto him this most couragious Archangell not tolerating so great iniury to be offered to
which seemed to represent the fiue most sacred woūdes of our Sauiour But he whose whole mind was alwayes set vpon piety supposing the same to be manifested vnto him by Almighty God to giue him to vnderstād that he should suffer the like paines that Christ did turning to his mother See Lady sayth he what God hath represented vnto me will my Father yet with-hould me from being a Religious man After that he did long beare an honour to that stone for so much as it was a token of Christs passion After they came into the Court the Marques vndertooke his ancient office of Chāberlayne Aloysius and Rodulphus being chosen for Pages of Honour serued Iames the Prince sonne to the Catholique King Philip the second elder brother to Philip the third who at this day raigneth Aloysius continued more then two years in Spayne during which tyme he did very diligently apply himselfe to the study of learning A certayne Priest singularly learned read Logick to him And one Dimas the Kings Mathematician deliuered vnto him the description of the Sphere Besides these he dayly after dinner applyed himselfe to a certaine master who read vnto him naturall Philosophy and Diuinity In which he grew so great a proficient that when by chaunce at that tyme he tooke a iourney to A 〈…〉 a where a certaine student of Diuinity had propounded certayne questions to dispute on and F. Gabriel Vasques whome after he heard explicating Diuinity at Rome sate as Moderatour 〈◊〉 at their request he being but the a youth only of fourteene yeares of age did with exquisite arguments with singular prayse and applause of them that were present endeauour to proue that the mystery of the most holy Trinity might be knowne by the naturall force of our vnderstanding Aloysius being strictly tyed to these imployments of the Court of learning did easily perceaue that there could remaine vnto him but little tyme for the applying him selfe to mattets of piety especially for so much as sometymes he had not commodity euē to say those praiers which he vsed to do nor so often to frequent the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist And now that forward desire so speedily to renounce the commodities of Fortune those same fiery dartes throwne into his brest by Almighty God wherewith formerly his mynd was so inflamed began by litle and little to languish Wherefore by the powerfull instinct of God setting light by the rumours and iudgments of men he determined to liue in the Court it selfe with as much Religion Innocency as possibly he could For that purpose he choose for his Confessarius Fa◠Ferdinand Paternus a Sicilian of the Society of Iesvs who at that tyme liued at Madrid Neyther after that did he euer omit often to purge his soule by Pennance and the Eucharist Furthermore how purely and vprightly he conuersed in that Court abounding with all things which are wont to infect the minds of men the letters of the forsayd father may testify dated in the yeare 1594. the beginning of which was in this manner Most Reuerend Father I will resolue you in briefe that which you request of me I haue alwaies found in Aloysius our brother whome from his very childhood I was acquainted within Spaine so singular a candour and innocency of soule that during all that time which was for the space of some yeares I was so far from finding him guilty of any mortall sinne the which he did abhorre as much as any man neither did he euer commit any in all his life time but euen very often not so much as touched with the least veniall sinne which might stād in need of absolution neither can these thinges be attributed to any slownes of nature or dullnes of wit or vnderstanding as who euen at that age was far liker an old man then a youth both in grauity of manners and sharpenesse of wit and prudence He was a great enemy to sloath and idlenesse Therfore he was alwaies busied in honest exercises but for the most part in reading the holy Bible in which his mind receaued great contentment In like manner I noted so great modesty in his speaches that he neuer gaue offence to any one so much as in the least word By these wordes of this Father who had heard his confessions and other which hereafter I purpose to set downe it may very clearly appeare that he in the very middest of Court-imployments liued after a celestiall and Angelicall manner For it ought to be accounted a certaine singular commendation when one conuersing in the court is declared not to be guilty so much as of those sinnes the which although they are veniall yet haue need of absolution In publike he was so composed and so modest that he neuer so much as lifted vp his eyes from the ground Therfore vpon occasion of such like speach he declared when he was now a Religious man that he was not able to find the way without a guid neither at Madrid where he liued certaine yeares nor at Castilion where he was borne brought vp which guide he was wont alwaies to make vse of both least there might any occasion be giuen of distracting the thoughts of his mind and also as he said that he might be attentiue to his meditations Concerning this modesty and temperance of his eyes I do purpose truly to relate a thing very new and vnheard of which vpon the testimony of the Prouinciall of Naples of the Society of Iesus whom he vsed as his familiar friend is cōfirmed by the publike monumentes Thus the matter passed Aloysius as it is said before tooke his iourny out of Italy into Spayne in the company of the Empresse afterward whilst he remained in the Court he went almost euery day with Iames the Prince to salute the same Empresse and to conclude was put vpon a thousand oportunities to see and behould her exactly Notwithstāding so singular was his modesty that he confessed to that Father which I spake of that he had not so much as once seene her face or viewed her persō And who is ignorant with how great a desire all men are possessed for the most part of seing and curious perusing as often as occasion is offered all such kind of personages placed in dignity what great concourse of multitude is made to behould them in those places where they are to passe He began euen then to haue in great esteeme ouerworne and old cloathes and stockins with patches vpon the knees of which the meanest men are wont to be ashamed Questionles he hauing this corrupt world in contempt made but little esteeme what acceptance his deeds had with them who were slauishly subiect therunto For in like manner he would defer as long as he could the putting on of those new cloathes which were made by his Fathers command and when he had once or twice gone appareled with them he did most gladly returne to his old ragges againe
did very much afflict him for he feared least this came to passe out of the small vnderstaÌ„ding that he had of himselfe and least by this meanes those inward darke mists should ouershaddow his mind which he had often heard of and truly also read of that might expose him to very much danger And by this how great the purity of his mind was may easily be gathered To this were a great help the many endow meÌ„ts of his mind some of which I purpose to declare in this place least it may seeme a thing incredible to some that he could possibly maintaine so great integrity cleanenesse of conscience First of all by daily industry which from his very first childhood he had bestowed in subduing the affections of his mind therby hauing gotten an habit had now arriued to that perfection that neither his mind seemed to be disturbed nor moued with any sense of mortall things no not so much as with the first motions of any inordinate desires Surely very many with whome he conuersed when he was in ReligioÌ„ haue testified vpon their oath that they haue beene so far at any time from finding him in any errour that might beare the shew of a veniall sinne that he neuer so much as discouered any the least signe of a mind suddenly or without the discourse of reason stirred either with anger impatience or any other distemperature Which immunity from all insolent affections is so much the more to be wondered at for that as we said in another place it proceeded not from any dulnesse of nature as who besides that he was now in his youth of a hoat sanguine coÌ„plexion was of a subtile and perspicacious wit aboue the capacity of his age But questionles this is to be ascribed to the speciall grace of God the habits of excellent vertues vnto which perpetuall meditation and exercise of bridling and reducing himselfe to the square of reason and celestiall doctrine had broght him This also may be added that in all his actioÌ„s he followed not his affection as a guide which often times precipitates a maÌ„ beyond the bounds of reason but the light of a prouident mind Therfore he said he that is gouerned by his passions is subiect to many errours Neither truly in the meetings and company of his fellowes would he euer for desire of victory descend into any vaine strife of words but hauing ingenuously declared what his opinion was if there were any one that contradicted him he resisted him not vnlesse sometimes he thought good to answere somewhat in a mild manner with plausible speach and a peaceable mind for the patronizing of truth but if the other persisted in a contentious manner he held his peace as if the matter had nothing at all belonged to him Moreouer he did most carefully reiect not only euery indifferent desire but which is more euen euery good and holy one that might neuer so litle disturbe the calme and quiet state of his mind and awake any superfluous cares Wherfore his mind alwayes enioyed a certaine perpetuall rest and tranquility which by continuall vse he had now in a manner turned into nature Furthermore it was a helpe vnto him then which none could be greater for so much as he did not only put before the eyes of his mind Almighty God daily in all his actions for whose sake there was nothing that he vndertook in which he did not labour with all possible diligence but also for that he was consociated with him by perpetuall vse of prayer CHAP. XI Of his singular hability in Prayer and familiarity with God IN which prayer he placed so much industry as he reposed therin all his hope of acquiring perfect sanctity He was of opinioÌ„ that he who was negligent in prayer and recollection could neuer obtaine any absolute and continuall conquest ouer himselfe nor aspire to any higher degree of absolute and excellent vertue and wisedome Which by his experience it selfe he did sufficiently make shew of Therfore those imperfections of mind in some that professe ReligioÌ„ those trobled vnquiet motions that irkesomenesse of themselues he attributed to their neglect of the custome of sacred meditation and prayer This he said was a compendious and ready way to perfect vertue and this he desired to persuade all vnto For he made no doubt but if any man had but once tasted the sweetnesse therof he would neuer suffer himselâ—e to be drawne from it againe He did admire and commiserate the sloth of some men who when being busied in necessary imployments haue had by chaunce sometimes no leasure to meditate according to their holsome custome do by degrees take vp a habit of intermitting this diuine exercise euen when they do most abound with time and oportunity But he had so with his whole affectioÌ„ giuen himselfe thervnto that the summe of all his delight seemed to be comprised in that time which he applied to prayer or meditation And by those thinges which he had found in himselfe by long vse he gathered many very excellent precepts of the right course of meditation Therfore F. Robert Bellarmine who is now in the number of the Cardinals when in the Roman Colledge he explicated to diuers students there the Chapters of meditations described in that little Booke of spirituall exercises of the Society hauing deliuered any excellent documeÌ„t of orderly meditating was woÌ„t to adde that he learned this of our Aloysius He prepared his mind very diligeÌ„tly reading for a quarter of an houre or at the least for halfe a quarter of an houre certaine pointes which the next day after he would meditate vpon So soone as it was day in the morning he did his endeauour that he might be prepared for meditation a litle before they rung to the beginning therof In which time he laboured to compose his mind being recollected to a calmenesse and to free it from all care whatsoeuer other inordinate desire For he said that it could not possibly be but that the mind should be otherwise set on worke and refuse to imprint in it selfe the image of God vnto the similitude wherof he ought most to conforme him in meditation contemplation whilst in the meane tyme it is inthralled with the solicitude loue or desire of any other thing I do remember that I haue heard him when to that purpose he made vse of this similitude Euen as the water being wafted with the wind doth either by reason that it is trobled not shew at all the shape of that man that staÌ„deth by it or if it be cleare it doth not shew all the members continuate with the body but representeth them as it were seuerally cut in sunder disseuered so he said that a mans mind who in his contemplation combateth with contrary blasts of perturbations or is turmoiled with affections and desires can by no meanes be aptly or rightly prepared to preset the image of God or conceaue any similitude of so
Neither was he euer after as he himselfe affirmed vnto me and others for the adding to the glory of this Beatus vexed with those kind of torments Laelius Guidiâ—â—ionus a gentleman of Luca fell into a malignant feuer at Rome the same was accompanied with a very sharpe paine in his head and perpetuall want of sleep disquiet languishing of his pulse imbecillity of his strength mournefull sighs and those fetched from the very botome of his hart which he thought he felt pricked with a thousand needles with the small pox also which when they had but scarcely broken forth seemed to threaten the striking in againe his hearing some what impayred his â—oyce low faint great difficulty of breathing All which wheras neither inward nor outward remedies did mitigate being held for desperate of the Phisitians making his confession and receauing the Eucharist he prepareth himselfe for death In the meane while he is visited by some of the Fathers of the Society of IESVS who declaring the sanctity of B. Aloysius the benefits and admirable thinges which by his mediation Almighty God had performed promised that they would bring vnto him some part of his reliques He being excited with zeale towards him and expectation of his reliques began to be as confidently persuaded of his owne recouery as if he had already receaued some pledge therof froÌ„ Almighty God supposing that the reliques being but once hung at his â—eek he should be cured presently The next morning he of his owne accord requested to haue them The same day they being brought he did with feruent deuotion receaue them when he had with them made vpon himselfe the signe of the crosse imploring with all the affection that he might the patronage of that Beatus he hangeth them about his necke Immediatly his malady is appeased The Phisitians in the euening found the man well eased The cruell fitte which they thought would haue depriued him of his life did afterward wholy forsake him his torments ceased his rest returned in the night he slept soundly after he waked he found himselfe free and light-some The Phisitians the next morning returning vnto him found not in him so much as the least footstep of the feuer which caused them more to wonder there remained euen no dregs of so difficult a disease in him The whole matter was by authority of the Magistrates registred and placed in a painted tablet at the sepulcher of B. Aloysius CHAP. V. A Religions Virgin at Florence by the Reliques of B. Aloysius is cured of a very trouble some Canker THE yeare 1599. when certaine Religious women who liue in Florence at S. Mary de Angâ—lis had read the life of Blessed Aloysius as it was at first set downe by me they obtained some little peece of his bones which to this houre they keepe with singular piety and honour There was in that Monastery amongst the younger Virgins which being newly consecrated vnto God are held in more strict discipline then the rest one who was called Angela Catharina Carlinia who for foure whole yeares was tormented with a great griefe ouer all her left side from the crowne of her head to the very sole of her foote but especially her shoulders and armes were vexed with that payne Doubtlesse that humour or distillation oppressed her from which she feared some great mischiefe might grow vnto her as afterward it came to passe For in the yeare 1600. in the moneth of Ianuary by night being waked out of her sleepe with a vehement distillation and cough vnder her left pap she found as it were a certaine heauy burden to lye vpon her with a sharpe paine and the part affected after a certaine sort gnawne when she felt it with her haÌ„d she found a thing as hard as marble of the bignesse of an egge which afterward was discouered to be a Canker Hardly and with great griefe did she moue any part of her body she went bowing her head but nothing was more bitterly painfull vnto her then to lift vp her armes In the night she could by no meanes lye on that side and if by chaunce she turned herselfe vpon it in her sleepe transfixed with paine she presently awaked Oftetimes she was able to take no sleepe and whilst she was eating so great was her trouble that scarcely durst she take that which sufficed nature Neuerthelesse partly out of modest bashfullnesse partely out of a desire to suffer some aduersity for Gods sake ten whole weekes she intertained this new torment in secresy But when she began to take the spirituall Exercises of S. Ignatius which the holy Virgins of that Monastery are accustomed euery yeare to doe wheras in the middest of them her disease increased she was moued in conscience to conceale it no longer Therfore she discloseth to Maria Pacifica Tonalia the gouernesse of her and the rest of the young Virgins there the whole matter who communicating the same with Euangelista lucundia and with Maria Magdalena de Pazzi Mistresse of the Nouices they presently visit the sicke womans griefe and by their handling therof discouer that it was a Canker which in like manner not very long before had occasioned the death of a certaine other Virgin of the same Monastery Her mistresse reposing no confidence in naturall remedies betaketh herselfe to implore the helpe of God and finding in her prayers a certaine instinct that by way of fauour she should request of B. Aloysius to recommend this matter vnto God she exhorteth likewise the Virgin to do the same Moreouer so soone as she vnderstood how much was attributed to the sanctity of B. Aloysius for three dayes one after another she with those Reliques which I spake of before signed her with the signe of the crosse And the first time all the paine went away wherewith her flesh was outwardly tormented the other incommodities of her disease remayning Therfore they determine to commit the same to the charge of the Phisitians and to cure that by other remedies Now they had certainely resolued the very next morning to set in hand with the medicinall cure therof when this Virgin enflamed with a desire to see the glory of IESVS-Christ amplified with the honour of B. Aloysius applieth herselfe with great ardour of mind to beseech him that he would not suffer that day to passe which was the 8. of Aprill being Saturday in Albis as they call it without vouchsasing her this fauour that is to say that she might be made partaker of her health not through humane helpes but by his recommendation And after that all the whole day in her sacred meditations she had implored that benefit at last towards the euening respecting only the honour of God and his holy seruant she retireth herselfe secretly into her closet to her prayers There whilst she reiterateth that her sute remaineth constanly fixed therin she sensibly perceaued her mind to be replenished with confidence and certaine hope to obtaine that which
little meate his disease to remit the swelling of his brest to fall and finally his feuer and all his other infirmity being driuen away to the Phisitians admiration health succeeded Moreouer to the intent that this might be so much the more remarkable it was the pleasure of God that another miracle should happen to the same child For some two moneths after this he fell againe into a malignant feuer his neck swelled his throte was stopped with the small-pox in his legs there grow two carbuncles so pestilent ones in so much that the Phisitian viewing them presently gaue ouer the Child as desperate and counselled his mother to separate him from her as far as well she might for so much as in them was contained such vehement contagion that they might depriue of life within in the space of 24. houres whatsoeuer the most healthfull maÌ„ liuing The Father of the child betaking himselfe to the propitious assistance wherunto hertofore he had recourse and making togeather with his wife a vow for the health of their child made vse againe of those sacred religues The next day in the morning the Phisitian returned enquired whether he were yet liuing the parents smited he visited the boy found that his feuer had altogeather left him and that the malice of his other disease was dissipated Being astonished with the strangenesse of the matter hauing signed himselfe with the signe of the crosse departed being of this opinion that there was now no more any cause to returne againe to this cure In like manner an expert Apothecary who the day before togeather with this Phisitian had beheld the sicke child striken with admiration when he had lifted his hand to his forehead put it euen as low as the very ground to wit as he said that by the proportion of that crosse he might designe the greatnesse of the miracle But after vnderstanding being had of the vow that was made no one doubted but the glory of so great a matter was to be attributed to B. Aloysius The child being brought to his combe the rablet according to their vow was placed there Of which things an instrumentall register was made vnto which two Phisitians and that Apothecary gaue their testimony Franciseus Crottus a Gentleman of Brescia being grieuously assaulted with a sharpe feuer within few dayes in a vehement fit began to be distracted outragious now the Curate was speedily sent for that he might annoyle him as a man whose state was lamented of all and if truly he returned to his senses he might purge him with the sacrament of pennance When the Curate came with all expedition bringing the sacred oyle he fouÌ„d him not only besides his senses and speaking all thinges extrauagantly but also by the violence of the disease agitated with such furious exorbitancies that it was scarce possible to keepe him in his bed Now his sonne persuaded his mother that in the behalfe of his Father she would be pleased to make a vow to B. Aloysius She falling downe vpon her knees vowed that if her husband might obtaine his perfect health she would procure that Masse should be said in honor of the said Beatus She had scarcely pronounced all the words of her vow but his frenzy remitted the sicke person returned into his senses with integrity of mind confessed his sinnes and so much afterward was his feuer mitigated that the next day he was found by the Phisitians in good health neither did he euer after fall into any relapse of the same This vow being performed there were in like manner made therof authenticall writings at Brescia CHAP. VIII A woman of Brescia is deliuered from a feuer from a bloudy fluxe another in like manner from a feuer a great laxe A certaine man is preserued in failing from a great precipice IVlia Marinia of Brescia an ould woman of 75. yeares of age after three yeares of a menstruous bloudy flux from her wombe being vtterly exhausted was also set vpon with death-threatning fits of a scorching feuer Two Phisitians of principall account in that citty namely Bettera and Grillus being informed of her disease first by heare say after they themselues being ther of ey-witnesses concluded her malady both of it owne nature and also in respect of the womans great yeares to be incurable for so much as her flux of bloud bursting forth with paine was a certaine signe of some vlcer lying secretly in her wombe and that no remedy could preuent but that a very trouble some droply wherof she already gaue very manifest signes would at last with swelling her seet legs be her end But she by the aduise of her Sonne that was Mansionary of the chiefe Church of Brescia vpon that day which was solemnized as festiuall at Brescia in the honour of B. Aloysius making a vow imploreth his help within the space of three dayes was deliuered of her feuer flux of bloud and all her griefesâ— her feet in like manner her thighs in a few daies their is swelling being assuaged recouer their former strength This thing being testified at Breseia was registred and her vow performed A poore man at Rome was surprised with a feuer and the tenth day after with so violent a fit together with so great a loosenesse and scouring that he did verily thinke his life was at an end And for so much as he had nothing either to sustaine his life â—â—â—â—couer his health hauing in vaine peritioned two Hospitals to receaue him into them for Christs loue he tooke his iourny to that Insirmary which is in Mont Celio not for from the Church of S. John Lateran In his iourâ—y he turned out of the way to the Church of the Annuntiata where the body of B. Aloysius lyeth and casting himselfe prostrate before his tombe with a most seruent mind Behold me B. Aloysius said he if thou â—ilt vouchsafe me the fauour that this my feuer and flux may be appeased although I am but a beggon hither do I vaw to bring the guift of one Crowne Hauing gone out of the Church whilst he houldeth on his way a little after he perceaued that both his feuer his laâ—e had for soken him and all his other hodily informities besides neither did any of these euer returne againe Therefore after that by begging he had gathered togeather the summe of a Crowne he performed his vow Franciscus Fabrinus a Citizen of Rome wâ—â— vpon S. Matthews Eue he heard a certaine â—oyse in the night that was made vpon the roofe of his house to discouer what the matter was he mounted vp vpon a certaine wall two perches a half high from whence he might take a view of the same Where he found his feet violently carried from vnder him as it were by some one that endeauoured to strike at him and his foot-hold failing him he fell head long with his head downward into the gutter of his house And if he had fallen directly downeward he
the Kingdome of heauen And IESVS calling vnto him a little child placed him in the middest of them and said Amen I say vnto you vnlesse you be conuerted and made as little ones you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen Whosoeuer therfore shall humble himselfe like this little one he is greater in the Kingdome of heauen Take heed that you contemne noâ— one of these little ones for I say vnto you that their Angels in heauen do alwayes behold the face of my Father who is in heauen THE PROPHECIES 1. Who is as our Lord God who inhabiteth the depths and beholdeth all things humbled vnder him both in heauen and in earth Psal 112. 2. Almighty God exalteth the humble Iob. 5. 3. I expected till the Thrones were placed and the ancient of dayes did sit his vestment was white as snow and the haires of his head like bright wool a thousand thousands ministred vnto him and ten times ten hundred thousand assisted him Dan. 7. Apoc. 5. 4. He hath giuen commaund vnto his Angels ouer thee that they may keepe thee in all thy wayes Psal 90. 5. The Angell of our Lord shall put in amongst them that feare him and he shall deliuer them Psal 33. 6. Doe not say before the Angell there is no prouidence least perhaps God being angry against thy speaches disseuer all the workes of thy hands Eccl. 5. THE FIRST PART OF THE Considerations in common 1 CONSIDER by what meanes Christ our Lord according to that great loue wherwith he affecteth vs his creatures neuer ceaseth to minister new occasions vnto vâ— of obtaining his grace and proceeding forward in vertues that we may at last arriue to that end that is to say to eternall felicity by him prepared for vs. And therfore it was his pleasure that in his Church all the mysteries of our Redemption should be celebrated that by dayly renewing the memory of all those thinges which our Lord either did or suffered for our saluation we might be excited to loue and honour him and in like manner to conforme all our actions to that most holy example of his life which he hath left vs. And being not content with this thing alone it was his will likewise that in the same Church there should be made a peculiar memory of his most holy and blessed Mother in particuler and of certaine other Saints excelling before the rest and selected from others of that celestiall company to the intent that they might be as our Patrons and Protectours and might with their prayers assist vs in all our necessities both corporall and spirituall and might withall minister occasion vnto vs of imitating their vertues and holy conuersation Moreouer he would also that for so much as the Church and all we do daily by the ministery of Angels receaue from his diuine Maiesty so many and so great benefits that there should be likewise had of them euery yeare a solemne memory And certainely it was very conuenient that men should exhibit towards them some signification of a gracefull mind seing that they do so much desire and procure our saluation For that cause therfore doth holy Church make a memory of the glorious S. Michaell her Protectour and of all the other Angels and Archangels of the celestiall Hierarchy because all of them as testifieth the Apostle are administrâ—torij spiritus helping spirits labouring after a certaine sort for the saluation of all the Elect. Those Blessed spirits do not disdaine to submit themselues to the ministery of men being otherwise much their inferiours in regard that they see that good and great God whome with so great desire and feruour they serue so far forth to haue humbled himselfe that euen for mans saluation he tooke vpon him the forme of a man Neither also doe they disdaine to adopt and admit man into their owne society that of vs most base and vile dust-creeping wormes they might build the wals of the Celestiall Hierusalem that their ruines might be repaired because they adore as their superiour God himselfe being made man And consider heere with how great congruence holy Church doth read this present Gospell of the vertue of humility vpon the feast of this victorious Archangell For as proud Lucifer attempting to vsurpe diuine honour was cast headlong from that â—igh throne of paradise into the bottomlesse pit of hell so humble S. Michaell with all that army of good Angels subiecting themselues to their creatour and through their zeale of his glory opposing themselues to this proud serpent were so much honoured and exalted to so high dignity This Gospell is likewise designed for the solemnity of all those Angels who togeather with S. Michaell by the vertue of Humility obtained the crowne of glory that men might vnderstand that this is the ineffable and eternall decree of Almighty God that no man shold arriue to this glory which the Angels possesse but by the way of humility which they first traced Yea Christ our Sauiour by the benefit of this vertue acquired the glory of his sacred body as the Apostle sayth Humiliauit semetipsum fact us obediens vsque ad mortem c. propter quod Deus exaltauit illum Phil. 2. He hath humbled himselfe being made obedient euen vnto death c. for which God hath also exalted him Wherfore it were a prodigious thing if his faythfull would thinke to enter into the Kingdome of heauen any other way then by that which their head hath entred 2. Consider the excellency of these celestiall Courtiers the Princes of Paradise which though our mind is not able perfectly to apprehend notwithstanding according vnto that small light communicated vnto vs by their ministery we will endeauour in the honour of them to place before our eyes some part of that dignity and glory vouchsafed vnto them by our Lord. Therfore 3. thinges there are which are wont to illustrate the Court or Army of a great Prince First the Nobility of the persons 2. their Number 3. their Order All these 3. are principally apparent in these Angelicall spirits First of all consider their Nature For they chalenge vnto themselues the principall place amongst those workes created by the omnipotent hand of God that great artificer they are spirituall substances by their owne nature incorruptible and of all other creatures the most noble of so great intelligence that in the notion of naturall things they are exempted from all errour and ignorance Likewise to this their so great light of Vnderstanding they haue their Will so firme and perfectly conformable that it is not possible for it either to be assaulted or ouercome with any perturbation But if you contemplate their state in which by the benefit of grace they now remaine they without euer admitting any sinne haue obtained glory and eternall felicity Moreouer they are essentially adorned with the habit of Diuine grace which rendreth them most faire and gracious in the sight of Almighty God In their Vnderstanding
they are endowed with the cleare light of glory wherby face to face they behold their creatour And in their Wil habituated with charity wherwith louing God with the loue of perfect friendship they are made both the children and friends of the selfe-same God Now therfore my Soule contemplate the beauty of these celestiall Citizens who like so many morning stars yea euen most cleare sunnes shine most gloriously in the Citty of God in which as in most cleare mirrours are the perfectioÌ„s diuine as infinite power eternal wisedome ineffable goodnesse and most ardent loue of their creatour O how amiable how pure and innocent-white are these Blessed spirits How zealous of setting forth the glory of their Lord how desirous and solicitous of our saluation and therfore most worthy to be by vs peculiarly loued worshipped For if honour as the Philosophers say be a certaine worship which is due to some one in respect of the excellency or vertue which he hath in himselfe and therfore although all men according vnto nature are equall one to another we are wont to exhibit most honour vnto them who excell others in some kind of prayse how much rather ought we being so vile and abiect creatures in comparison of these celestiall spirits to attribute vnto them all honour and worship seing that euery one of them how little soeuer he be doth far excell the most noblest of vs human creatures in the abouenamed endowments excelleÌ„cies Moreouer if these holy Angels being creatures so much exalted aboue others in nature and grace do submit themselues to the honour of man-kind in respect that God himselfe hath loued and honoured the same surely much more conuenient it is that we most contemptible wormes should with all honour and deuotion prosecute those whom God so much honoureth and exalteth in heauen For these are the beloued children who alwayes contemplate the face of their Father Math. 18. those white and pure Lillies amongst which be taketh his repast Cant. 2. And those mountaines replenished with aromaticall odours in which that heauenly spouse doth walke and recreate himselfe Secondly next to the dignity and excellency of this celestiall Court consider the number and order of the Courtiers therof And first as concerning their number it is so great that it doth not only exceed the number of all men now liuing but euen of all those that either haue or shall be extant euen til the day of iudgment The multitude of these blessed spirits is resembled to the sands of the sea and the stars of the firmament which the Wiseman sayth are impossible to be numbred Eccl. 1. And as S. Dionyse of Areopagita Câ—lest hierar c. 9. affirmeth the number of euery order of the Angels is greater then any order of materiall things in the world The Prophet said Millia milliâ—â— ministrabanâ—â—i decies millies centeâ—a milliâ— assistebaâ—◠〈◊〉 A thousand-thousand ministred vnto him and ten thousand hundred thousand assisted him Where the Scripture according to her custome putteth a certaine number for an vncertaine and a number truly which may seeme in the opinion of men the greatest to giue vs to vnderstand that the number of them is only knowne vnto God and wheras with God they are numerable with vs they are infinite and innumerable And therfore we read in Iob Numquid est numerus militum â—ius Job 25. May their be fouÌ„d any number of his souldiers Of the number of which the kingly Prophet also made meÌ„tion speaking of Angels Currus Dei decem millibus multiplex millia lâ—tantium Dominus in eis in Sina in sancto Psal 67. The Chariot of God is ten thousand fold thousands of them that reioyce our Lord in them in Sina in the holy place The holy Euangelist likewise as it is in the Apocalips sayth that he saw a great multitude in the presâ—nce of God of all people and â—onguâ—s and nations who were impossible to be numbred Iâ— this number of the Elect which we know shall be but the least part of mankind be so great that it is not to be numbred how great do we thinke that of Angells shall be who are ten times beyond the number of all men put togeather and most worthily hath this celestiall Monarch so great a number of courtiers for if as the wise man sayth In multitudine populi dignitas Regis in paucitate plebis ignominia Principis Prou. 14. In the multitude of people consisteth the dignity of a King and in the scarcity of subiects the ignominy of the Prince sâ—ing that God is that most excelleÌ„t Prince Rex Regum dominus dominantium the King of Kings and Lord of Lords it was a thing most congruous that in that spatious Kingdome immeÌ„se pallace of heauen he should haue an ample Court and a numerous family O my Soule how much ioy and solace would it yield thee if thou couldest but behold this multitude of so many noble creatures so blessed in glory and in nature and grace so excelleÌ„t O that so happy a chaunce may once befall thee that thou maiest conuerse amongst those celestiall troupes in the company of so great Princes the children of God yea and euen thy brothers for tâ—ose sublime and amiable spirits are not ashamed to acknowledge vs men for their brothers for so much as their Lord did not only not feare to be called but by taking vpon him our flesh certainely to become ouâ— brother O with how harty a good will wouldest thou amoÌ„gst those Angelicall voyces prayse and blesse thy Lord for hauing receaued from him so great a benefit Thirdly consider the admirable order deputed and designed by the Diuine prouideÌ„ce to these Angelicall spirits either in respect of God or of themselues or in comparison of other creatures of this world For if you consider them in respect of God there is amoÌ„gst them no difference for all of them with one vnanimous consent adore and reuerence him as their sole Prince and Lord of their celestiall citty If amongst themselues there is in so great a multitude no confusion an order most exact a distribution most admirable agreeing to the diuers Orders of intelligences One higher and more excellent then another according as God reuealeth vnto them his secret mysteries and maketh vse of their ministery for the saluation of men And that we may descend vnto particulars the whole multitude of those glorious spirits are coÌ„tained vnder three Hierarchies that is to say the highest middle lowest And euery Hierarchy is distinguished into three Quires the highest the middle and the lowest OF THE FIRST HIERARCHY The first of them containeth Seraphims Cherubims and Thrones Where by their names you may easily coniecture the offices in which they are exercised for it is the property of God to impose names to his creatures conformable to the offices committed to their charge Contemplate therfore first the Quire of Seraphims who as the secret and intimate chamberlaines of the King of