he had and loue to the heauenly countrey and the felicity of the Blessed which euen absent he had tasted now and then had so great a horrour tediousnes and auersion from humane things as teares to him were of familiar as bread to others nor vsed he food more frequently then teares yea teares themselues were food vnto him so as oppressed with dolours neither would he take his food or so much as thinke thereof while to him thus vehemently thirsting after the presence of God this gibing taunt was obbrayded to his face Where is thy God From al which this same may be â—athered that if in these Galleries though absent Dauid and diuers other Saintly men haue taken such pleasure with what ioyes and delights may we not imagine those to swmme in who are admitted into the secret closet and cabinet of the Spouse If but a slight ray onli of the blessed vision so dazle the eyes of the mind if but a drop of the water of Paradise and fountaine of the chiefest good but lightly sprinckled if but a crumme falling from the table of our Lord so recreates and refresheth mortals what wil the whole sunne himself doe what wil the very Ocean of al good things what wil the table of our Lord himself conferre to the immortals Shal not the hart euen swimme trow you in these delights yea be wholy immersed and drowned in them XX. MEDITATION The preparatory Prayer Actiones nostras quesumus c. THE PRELVDE VVHen he shal appeare we shal be like to him because we shal see him as he is And whosoeuer hath this hope in him sanctifies himself as he is holy 1. Point Consider how great a good how excellent how delectable it is most cleere to behold one God in essence three in Persons Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost and that eternally in the mirrour of the hart Surely the eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor hath it ascended into the hart of man what God hath prepared for such as loue him Tast with the inward sense these delights of the heauenly Paradise and loath the leeke and garlike of AEgipt the miry bogs the empty husks filthines of the world Oh if thou couldst but take a tast or assay before hand with the glorious S. Augustin of the ioyes of the Blessed thou wouldst say with him How sweet to me sudenly it vvas to vvant those svveets of idly toyes and vvhat before vvas a griefe to loose vvas novv a ioy to forgoe vvholy thou eiectedst them from me the true and chiefest svveetnes and entredst thy self in insteed of them svveeter farr then al pleasure 2. Point Ponder how much this same cogitation may and ought auayle to endure and goe through with any hart and difficult entreprise for God and our saluation What changes sudenly and alterations of minds those fruites wrought whith come from the land of Promise which made them surmoÌ„ut the difficulties they feared so much before What doe not the wrastlers generously performe and suffer in sight of the goal and crownes proposed Surely the sufferings of this time are not condigne to the future glory vvhich shal be reuealed in vs. With which only napkin as S. Gregory obserues that glorious and illustrious Champion of the Christian lists S. Paul wiped away al the sweat of the infinit and most greeuous labours and troubles he sustained and so likewise the rest of Martyrs But this especially when S. Adrian being a Soldiours in the flower of his â—ge beheld a great number of Christians to runne very ioyful and glad into torments scaffolds gibbets Crosses fires as it were to a wedding asked what hope it was that drew led them to it and when it was answered they hoped for those goods which the eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor hath ascended into the hart of man he was so mooued and changed therewith that presently he gaue vp his name to be put into the list and vnder Maximian most stoutly and valiantly suffred Martyrdome So much the hope of beatitude could worke 3. Point See how immense and powerful is the diuine loue of IESVS which through grace at last leads a man vnto the vision it-self of the diuine effence wherewith euen God himself is blessed Then thinke what thou oughtst to yeald to recompence this loue againe no lesse no doubt then reciprocal loue For when God loues he would no more then to be loued againe knowing theÌ„ who loue him only to be truly blessed So S. Bernard in his 83. Sermon on the Canticles But to the end thou maist loue God thou art wholy to empty thy hart from the loue of al other things For euen as a vessel which is S. Anselmes discourse the more water is in it or any other liquour conteynes lesse oyle so the more the hart is taken vp with other loues the more it excludeth this There is yet another that as stench is contrary to a good â—dour and darknes to light so is al other loue contrarie to this As therefore contraries doe neuer agree wel together so this loue agrees not with any other loue in the hart THE COLLOQVY SHal be made to IESVS the most deare louer of soules of whom shalt thou earnestly beg to impart vnto thee his diuine loue which this or the like forme My God giue me tby self behold I loue thee and if this be too litle may I loue thee more I cannot measure how much loue I want of that which were câ—ough This know I only it goes il with me without thee and al aboundance which is not my God is meere pouerty Let the sweet power then of thy loue deuour me grant I may liue and dye with the loue of thy loue since first thou hast so loued as thou hast not only afforded me and done many great things for me but hast likwise wouch safest to dye for me Lastly from the inward bowels make an act of the loue of God aboue al things and so conclude in thee wonted manner with a Pater Aue. AN INCENTIVE Of the Act of the loue of God aboue al things GOod God! thou commaund me to loue thee and threatnest if I doe it not Is there any need of these chaynes for me to be tyed to loue theer Am I so voyd of sense as to be ignorant of thy benefits graces perfections Or rather doe I want a hart to loue an infinit good Now if loue be to be recompenced with loue what loue can parallel the diuine loue Thou hast loued me eternally euen when I was not or possibly could loue thee Thou hast created the world coÌ„seruest it hitherto for my sake Thou hast giuen order to the Angels to guard me Thou wouldst be my reward beyond measure Thou callest me a sinner to grace and pennance But yet is this farre more louely most sweet Sauiour that being God thou wouldst become man to suffer so hard and cruel things and lastly dye on the
is so in the power and worship of the diuinity as hereafter without a great sacriledge and a hainous crime it may not be violated therefore thence forth by no meanes should euer any sordityes be seen there or as things prophane the idoles of worldly fantasies be there suffred to haue admittance 4. Point The Oratory of the hart should rather be dressed adorned with the worthy tapistries of vertues and heauenly ornaments and great care be had that neither by night nor day the incense of prayer the fire of diuine loue the gold of charity be wanting or frequent vowes prayers holocausts or the rest of victimes euer faile THE COLLOQVY ARe we then to thinke that God truly inhabits on the earth Since if Heauen and the Heauens of Heauens be not able no conteyne thee how much less this house What My deare then O loue it 's euen thy place thy Temple thy seat thy Tribunal My IESVS the delight of my soule grÌ„at this day I beseech thee thy diuine presence may consecrate my hart to thee as I truely freely and voluntarily vow giue and dedicate the same to thy Maiesty Possesse it with the best right and assure it with so firme a tye as I may not recouer it againe by any law or tyme surely I wil not but from this Propitiatory begin thou to giue Answeres yea send downe from heauen the fire of the Holy Ghost now presently to consume the hoasts and holocausts laid on thy Altar Pater Aue. THE VVORLD THE FLESH THE DIVEL assaile the hart IESVS saues it for himself THE HYMNE MYne eyes are open now I see The nets snares prepare for me The world and flesh haue laid their baits T' allure my hart the diuel waits Vvhile pleasures of a moment past E're th' are enioyd entice He last But first protectour midst those ginnes Midst snares tangling nets of sinnes Lies lurking And when he'spies The bird ensnared out he flies OIESV may my prayer be heâ—â—â— Spread forth thy nets I am thy bird To catch my hart 'a Pitfal make Set lime-twigs doe but touch take THE INCENTIVE 1. THe world with silke golden chaines the diuel with horrid and crooked irons the flesh with libidinous flames of Hel through force through craft through industry here openly and here couertly labour very busily to ensnare and entrap man's hart Vnlesse good IESV thou as from an ambush dost speedily reskue it with thy succours it is lost it is vndone 2. Looke what the world sets forth to sale are al laid open but the wines she carouseth in her golden cup lye hid the brimms are al besmeared with honny the gal with in is it that hurts that kils Happy he who by diuine power can wel acquit himself of these snares these nets 3. And now behold how amourously good IESVS loues embraceth puls this hart vnto himself and hugs and clings it to his hart Doe so good IESV place my hart in thy Heauen I say with thy delights and loue fil and ouerflow it THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation HElp here O Lord of Saboth Loe bring thy succours hither The enemies invade thy Sanctuary to pollute the same they seeke the sacred fires to extinguish them they violate the Altar of Holocauste to ouerthrow 〈◊〉 they bring in strange and foraine incense sacrilegiously to burne to their Numens Send downe thy auxiliary bands from heauen the confederate host of Angels those spirits which weild and brandish thine armes els certainly al things wil demolish and vtterly perish Traynes are set on euery side nette and snares laid euery where God gingerly and take heed if you be wise Here the world that cheating and perfidious Mounte-banck fete forth his wares to sals precious indeed and specious to the eye at first but whem you heed them bitter alas meer trumpery and counterfeit stuff The purse this pedlery merchant shewes you beleeue me is puffed vp with wind rather then filled with coyne The diadems glittering al of gold or rather glasse amid the few and bastard gemm's affright with thornes and briars The cheynes of gold or iewels take which you wil like iron fetters honour not but onerate and straightly bind What apparel The Silk-wormes excrements with vs being rare and scarce are therefore deare for with the Thracians long a goe these silks haue been but little worth nor wil they like vs if not wrought or interwouen with gold and glitter here and there with sparckling gemmes But to what end forsooth to shroud our nakednes and deformity with a precious mantle With these allurements then the world seekes to intice to it the hart and to that end promises huge mountaynes of gold but yet performes besides the blasts and fickle winds of words euen iust nothing For what law can he keep or true fidelity that wants them both It is much for it to afford one a vulgar fame to puffe an empty breath of a little glory which by and by scarce sensible it blowes another way For as often as you purchase the grace not of the vulgar only but euen of Princes also with the least offence it is suddainly snatched away from you and leaues you gaping after it with a light smatch only Help help againe O Heauen Behold here a new enemy at hand the Stygian Dragon as anciently as subtlily trayned vp in this field that Serpent I meane now so long since cast downe to hel from Heauen and that degree of dignity he aymed and aspired to The Deuil I say that Calumniatour assayes to rush into thy hold and that he may hauock and disturb al things rangeth vp and downe like a fel Lyon in a horrible maÌ„ner that with his dreadful roaring if he crush not the hart altogeather at least he may shake it shrewdly Imagine him an Aspike his throat to swel with poyson his tooth already fastened in the wound the very venome now ready to come forth where the soule is as good as dead already Conceiue him a Basiliske this as king of serpeÌ„ts is more pernitious then the rest as he which with the only eyes inspireth death like a theif enchaÌ„ts the eares with a false whistle and gently distils into the hart a pest with al When being gotten in soaking the humour thence he pines it vp and kils it quite Or shal I cal him a Crocadille You haue then a sworne enemy no lesse of our saluation then of the heaueÌ„ly Court for he faines our human teares puts on our effects to deceiue the better Nor doth Proteus so transforme himself into euery figure as this pragmatike of the world turnes and winds himself euery way into each slight Nor doth this warriour vse alwayes the same weapons or manner of fight for now he takes prosperity for armes and now aduersity nor leaues he any tyme or place for truce or respite Help therefore ô you Citizens of heauen help I say In this combat the Anihonyes the Hilarions and the
Phantasies I may retayne Besides vouchsafe to draw some Saint Begin sweet IESV figure paint Whom I may imitate and loue As did Narcissus From aboue Descend Apelles thou diuine Come euery day and draw some line THE INCENTIVE 1. NOthing is more miserable then the hart when it giues licence to wandring imaginations and liberty to self loue My God! what images what phantasies what enormityes what folies are depainted there 2. But after that IESVS the diuine Painter hath entred into the shop of the hart taken the hart it-self as a table to draw and paint therein thou maist streight discouer the image of God and Trinity reformed the effigies of IESVS and MARY drawne the whole celestial Court represented and the face of the gallantst vertues expressed whether with greater lustre of colours or feeling of piety or delectation of the mind I can not say 3. O most louing IESV imbue my hart with the colours of Heauen paint not shadowes but genuine and natiue images snowy innocence greenes of hope the purest gold of charity that so the closet of my hart may come to be a certaine Cabinet or Reliquary of al perfections THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation MY hart my IESVS is an emptie table since thou hast wipped away thence the images and fading shadowes of worldly things and throwne downe the idols which I my self had wickedly erected in thy Sanctuary take then I pray thy p̄ecils in thy hands and dip them in the liuelyest colours thou hast that no series or tract of yeares nor inclemency of the ayre nor dust raised from the earth may blemish or deface what thy al-working hand from the most absolute idaeas of the eternal wisdome hath diuinely painted For thou o great Artisan hast set downe in writing with thy hand those noble soules Abraham Isaac Iacob and the rest of the family of the predestinate Thou truly art that admirable Authour who didst put the last hand to the azure orbes of Heauen appliedst the purest gold to the Starres the greenes of the emerald to the herbs the snowy candour to the lillyes the crimson to the rose the purple to the violet pale with yellow mixed Thou sprincklest cristal on the adamant the etherean brightnes on the saphir the Vulcan flame on the carbuncle Lastly thou hast endowed al things as wel sensible as insensible with such variety of colours and sweet delectation as the eye cannot be satisfied with beholding them And in this huge vastnes of the world my God thou hast shewne thy omnipotence which the eye of the mind may wel admire though not conceiue or comprehend but in the diuersity of created things which a strange knot concording discord and discording concord most streihtly tyes together thou hast impressed the liuely image of thy infinit wisdome in the order of this vniuersal Al but there is not among al thy creatures any one no not the least of them wherein conspicuous draughts of thy goodnes shine not euery-where Since therefore my hart is a void table already sit to be wrought draw I beseech thee diuine Painter and here delineate only these foure images which deuouring tyme with no age may cancel or were out And first frame in this table that last grimme and dreadful line or period of my life and let these here be the draughts of this sad image Let me lye as dying with eyes sunke into my head with pale and deadly face leaden lips let death stand by threatning with a terrible iauelin in hand here the deuil menacing with weapons of temptation there the Guard an Angel breaking his thrusts in my defence Aboue be the Iudge seen attending the passage issue of the soule let the children houle at the doleful bed the seruants each prouiding for himself adde if thou list the cossin lying not farre off wherein the senselles corps is to be laid vntil that day whē the last trumpet's found shal sumon the buried to arise Oh holsome and profitable Picturel whole only aspect wil shew me that is my nothing to my self and laying the swelling winds wil hold me in my earth that I grow not proud yea wil giue me a generous and stout hart that triumphantly I may trample on the trash and trumpery of the world and creeping on the ground with frequent sighes preocupying death before my death mount vp to heauen Now pious IESV I pray draw and finish also the other part of the table of the other side with due lineaments Be that maiesty set forth wherewith as Iudge thou shalt appeare one day and be seen of al to handle and discusse the causes of the liuing and dead let me here behold thee sitting in the clouds with the mouth armed with a two edged sword and with an eternal seperation seuering the sheep from goats On which image as often as I shal cast mine eyes I may feele the bit and feare of thy dreadful iustice cast vpon me whensoeuer I shal lash out like a fury into the precipices of vnbridled appetites Goe on heauenly Artificer now must thou paint a Hel that lake so dreadful for its sulphur and flames where the vnhappy soules cheyned together with howling and disparing cryes fil al things and with that tragedy publish their wretchednes and miserable condition So exhibit the whole as I may seeme to behold the vncleane spirits touch the darknes self as with the finger feele the gnashing of teeth heare the horrible blasphemies their cries their pathes their flegme which in vaine they cast forth against God their bans and cursings wherewith they cruelly teare one another that being astonished with the sight of this picture I may eternally sing thy mercies which hath held me vnworthy a thousand and a thousand times from this lamentable abysse of infinit euils Lastly my good Painter looke where the rest of the ample space of my hart seemes void I say not expresse but shadow I pray the image at least of eternal glory and beatitude Exhibit howsoeuer which a rude draught that house royal seat where thou layst open the most diuine treasure which thou hast reserued for thy children with the title of inheritance Here let that great and blessed City of celestial Hierusalem built al of gold and precious stones euen dazle the eyes there let the Citizens of heauen be seen clothed with the sunne that graue Senate of Patriarchs and Apostles with heads crowned with golden diadems besides those valiant Heroes who with the price of their bloud and life haue purchased themselues immortal laurels Figure also that mount purer then christal wherein the candid mother of the lamb and the rest of the virginal flock deliciat with the Lamb himself amid the chast delights and Quires Now then that these foure pictures may the better be conferued let them not be enclosed I pray in Mosaical work with certain litle stones linked and cimented togeather least perhaps disagreeing with themselues they fly a sunder but let one be set in ebony
as in pulpit so the hart encompassed al with flames therewith round beset most constaÌ„tly alwayes burnes and is not consumed but euer shines and flasheth ligth since IESVS raises and resuscitates those fires and feedes the immortal flames Marke here how high the smoak of these fires mounts vp to heauen Goe to then come hither with your thuribles and incense How nigh in a moment the incense of such fires sends forth most sweet odours to Heauen How speedily the vowes and prayers commen ded to this fume arriue at the throne of heauen The Heauens with this exhalation shal breath forth Nectar The ayr repurged shal sauour sweetly the threats and rage of Deuils shal expire for indeed they can no more endure these odours the grunting snowts of swine abide the breath exhaling from the sweetest smelling lillyes and therefore shal they be enforced to fly away and returne againe into the immost and most hidden receptacles of Hel. This is the fire this the flame which quenches the heat of concupiscence for as one nayle driues out another so the fire of diuine loue expels and represseth the libidinous flames of base and carnal loues Burne therefore my hart o IESV the dearling of my soule and let not the oile of the lamp be euer wanting be this fire as a wal vnto me be it as a sunne and be this my chiefest ambition that I burne and be consumed with this flame Yea and be reduced into ashes then those ashes into a litle worme and presently become a new hart O Metamorphosis of loue But first would I haue the old be throughly tryed in the litle furnace of his loue the drosse and al the dregs to be scoured thence and no humane and terrene lees to be left behind but meerly to take a heauenly state vpon it to liue a spiritual life to feed on spiritual food to vse a spiritual tongue to haue spiritual feet and hands yea diuine cogitations and affections not done by aspects only but euen Angelical In summe may this hart thus purged and purified giue forth hereafter naught but a liuely and euerlasting figure of a blessed immortality So then doe thou my dearest IESV here fix thy hart at last dwel here in thy Palace and here shoot forth the glittering rayes of thy glory XVII MEDITATION The preparatory Prayer Actiones nostras quesumus c. THE PRELVDE I Came to send fire into the earth and what would I els but haue it burne 1. Point Consider how necessary it is the hart enflamed with loue should mount vp and vanish into vapours and so great is the force of this flame as it ascends to heauen streight where it arriues without impediment nor hath the world without God ought that can satiate and replenish the bosome of the hart 2. Point Consider how subtle and actiue the flame of diuine loue is piercing cleare neuer idle vnquiet impatient to beheld shut vp in any other place then in the bosome of the Crucifix where as in a furnace of loue it purges and repurges ouer and ouer and receiues new life and vigour againe 3. Point Note the matter and fuel of this fire to be al those things which Superiours enioyne in the execution whereof is manifestly discouered what force there is in this fire THE COLLOQVY SHal be directed to Christ whom I wil seeme to behold with two burning lamps in his hands I wil beseech him to purge whatsoeuer is vnperfect or vicious in me and to reduce the very hart to dust ashes that a new may arise like a Phenix which after he hath laid downe the spoyles or weedes of his mortallity resuscitates a new and reuiues againe from the tomb it-self more beautiful and a great deale better Pater Aue. IESVS CROVVNES HIS DEARE HART WITH Palmes and Laurels THE HYMNE THe restles hart which heretofore Could not stand stil but euermore Was beating oft with throbs opprest Til now could neuâ—r be at rest It was ambitious now I find Naught could content th' aspiring mind Had honours pleasures wealth good store Yet euer craued was seeking more Which shew'd there was yet somthing stil Which this capacious hart might fil A triangle the soule hath three Distinctiue powers The Trinity Is such that fils it rest is found Loe th' hart is quiet new it s crowned THE INCENTIVE 1. YOu good Angels weaue you garlands with garlands laurels with laurels and crowne therewith the fortunate hart which then glories and triumphs most when with Olympian study and labour of vertues and mortification it hath gayned but this prize for reward to deserue to be beloued of IESVS 2. O ioyful O festiual day wherin we may behold and gather euen from thornes and toyles the purest roses from sweat and armes palmes and laurels lastly of spitle vinegre and clay immortal eternal crownes which IESVS himself plants and fastens on with his owne hand 3. What slookst thou then o poore hartland tremblest at the multitude of euils which enuirone thee and beset thee round Cast thine eyes rather on the laurels which attend thee after thy victory For nothing can breake or so much as moue him whom the hope and expectation of palmes erect susteynes THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation GOe to you Angels goe to o blessed Spirits make hart with your palmes and laurels from your posyes weaue you garlands and with them deck you vp the triumphant hart victorious now after so many assiduous labours Crownes are sacred free from thunder priuiledged from the heauens and signifye exemption and immunity Now the winter is passed away the showers blowne ouer and quite vanished Now the lyonly rage of the sworne and professed enemyes of the hart is repressed vanquished tamed prouide you eternal laurels victorious palmes and giue them into the hands of the most sweet IESVS that he may settle on the hart the crowns or garlands so prepared The magnanimous King Dauid affecting much the fat and fruitful oliue symbol of mercy humbly prayes his hart may be crownd with diuine mercies The penitent Magdalen and Peter weeping bitterly resemble the Amaranth an herb which in the midst of waters retaynes both its natiue bitternes and perpetual greenes The voluptuous worldly and licentious men are wholy taken with roses and lylâ—ies Let vs crowne our selues say they with roses before they wither be there no â—eadow which our luxury ruÌ„nes not ouer O Phrigian luxury O wantonnes But now a dayes forsooth the Princes and Potentates of the earth crowne not themselues so much with golden diadems and precâ—ous stones as load them rather O ambition o pride But what doth the most sweet IESVS I pray he loues the victorious palmes with these crownes he decks his dearest hart For they indeed haue truly merited those glorious wreaths who haue not only constantly opposed the hart as a target to receiue the shafts approaching of aduerse fortune but euen as daring the enemy more slow to anger
haue scorn'd and derided dead it-self Surely the squadrons of Martyrs and Quiers of Virgins triumphing in Heauen cary Palmes in their hands howbeit the 24. Seniours ware on their heads crownes of gold which through their glorious conquests and set triumphs by them made vpon their enemyes they had purchased to themselues Blesse therefore the Lord thou holy soule through whose singular and especial fauour thou hast atteined to the top of perfection Praise thy Lord through whose mighty power thou hast walked and trampled on the sands of the sea crossed the Iourdan with a dry foot the people of harts incircumcized and enemyes professed looking on the while and gazing with amazment to whom so vanquished thou gauest lawes and laidst perpetual tributes on them they being not able any wayes to barre thee passage into the land of promise and â—egion of Palâ—stâ—nâ— Blesse thy God â—hen o hart ful of Heauen and al of 〈◊〉 And since now thou hast obâ—ned a certaine pledge of felicity an infallible hope enter a Gods name at thy pleasure with a notable and triumphant pomp into the Capitol of the heauenly Hierusalem whereso many purple Kings triuÌ„ph as haue heretofore repressed their lewd concupiscences and the insolence as wel of their interiour as exteriour senses Ioyne thee to the inuincible Martyrs and keep among the Quiers of Virgins let the body be thy triumphal chariot which Saphirs and Carbuncles most precious iewels embellish as with so many twinckling starres Let Clarity Agility Subtility Impassibility those foure dotes of the blessed body be as so many wheeles and permit thy self to be drawne wheresoeuer the diuine spirit sitting on the coatch and wheeles shal snatch thee or fly thou where thou wilt thy self diuine loue shal play the Coach-man Besides the Princes of darknes sigh and groane as thy runne before the chariot whom thou hast vanquished with the singular demission and lowlynes of mind Let death it-self be constreined likwise to put on the cheynes and follow after since by the death of Christ thou hast triumphed vpon it also weakned and broken and that already by the same guide and wagoner as before Let the vanquiâ—hed world come in and make a part of the said pomp which then thou stoutly trampledst vnder-feet when with a generous scorne and loathing contemning its wealth and honours thou madst no more reckoning of its vast immensnes insolent cariages and flanting promises then of a figure drawne in the water or Chimaera laboriously framed in the folish shop of the phantasy Draw I say these ancient cruel enemyes now happily vanquished and tamed wel loaden with cheines and reproaches before the oual and triumphant chariot that is the rich bootyes noble spoyles ample tropheyes and victories atcheiued in many warres But especially haue care that sensuality aboue the rest the chiefest part of the triumph be tyed and bound to the Chariot which with an heroical fortitude thou hast conquered made more like indeed to a dead then a liuing thing pale meagre and of so feeble forces as it may neuer after dare to appeare in the field or make any resistance But now in warlike standards and enseignes let the cityes and towers which thou hast ouer-throwne be painted which kind let the mad tower be first set downe which thou had leueld with the ground and let al the complices and confederates thereof subdued and braught vnderyoke and so cheyned together be led as ambition vanity arrogance and the rest of those military troops Let another banner exhibit the bloudy warres to be read which thou hast valiantly atteÌ„pted faught and the victoryes nobly atchiued against luxury and rebellion of the senses Let those gallant exploits be wouen here in silke and waued in banners vp and downe through the ayr as thou passest wherewith thou hast mastered and tamed thy flesh that fierce and cruel beast Let the inuincible courage of thy mind be here seen and read as fasts abstinences austerities mortificatioÌ„s wherewith as with a sword and buckler thou hast fought against this fierce and mischeuous enemy Let the Stygian Pluto also that damned loue of riches be caryed in an other flag whom long since thou hast trod vnder-foot in preferring religious pouerty before al the treasures of the world Let besides the dastard weake and languishing slouth sitting on her snayl come forth in this triumph which slow and sluggish beast thou hast stirred vp with the sharp prick of generosity and diligence and beyond al hope prouoked and preuayled with at last Lastly in a table higher then the rest let this inscription be read registred in capital letters for a record and perpetual memory THROVGH THE HELP SVCCOVRS AND MERITS OF THE MOST LOVING IESVS HAVE WE FAVGHT AND VANQVISHED AND ARE NOW CONVEYED TO HEAVEN TO TRIVMPH THERE AMIDST THE GLORIOVS PALMES AND LAVRELS But now what remaines forsooth this last of al that when thou shalt consort thy self aboue with those 24. Seniours and Quiers of Angels thou lay downe thy crowne at the feet of the immaculate Lamb chanting with those blessed Citizens of Heauen this oual and triumphing song Benediction clarity and thanks-giuing honour vertâ—e and fortitude to our Lord for euer and euer Amen XVIII MEDITATION The preparatory Prayer Actiones nostras c. FIRST POINT I Wil fayne my self to be armed at the top of the Hil whither I had got with great endeauour and much labour and trouble I wil cast and reflect the eyes of my mind on the diuers wayes and traces I had passed thither the precipices I escaped and the perils of assassinates and wild beasts I haue auoyded For so it is indeed with such as haue attayned to the top of perfection For these should attentiuely consider with theÌ„selues as from an eminent place how many and how great dangers temptations and sinister chances being assisted by the diuine mercy they haue escaped from the world and al the rest of the enemies of mans saluation 2. Point I wil consider the lawes of these lifts to be such that None shal be crowned but who haue lawfully faught conteÌ„ded therein The Palme belongs but to the Conquerour and I wil admire also the goodnes of God for crowning vs himself with his graces and commanding the Angels to crowne vs with those laurels which we haue purchased to our selues with our owne vertues 3. Point I wil ponder and weigh with my self with what riuers of ioyes the hart flowes to whom is affoarded to arriue to the top of diuine loue and who already beholds his owne perseurance which only vertue makes vs blessed and secure without which the rest auayle but litle or nothing for perseuerance alone is it which is crowned THE COLLOQVY SHal be directed to the most louing IESVS to whom of duty al our crowns belong For we are not conquerours so much as vanquished while he indeed hath broken and subdued our refractory and rebellious hart Wherefore to him as to
amost mightie conquerour and victorious Captain with those 24. Seniours in the Apocalips are we to offer vp our crownes palmes laurels with this solemneverse of theirs Benediction and clarity and thancks gi-uing honour and vertue and fortitude for euer and euer be to IESVS the Conquerour and triumpher to come Amen Pater Aue. IESVS CELEBRATES THE HEAVENLY Nuptials in the hart THE HYMNE THe nuâ—tâ—al supper now I see O happy soule preparâ—â—d for thee The table 's coâ—erd but what seaâ— Hast thou for thy repose What meat Except a Lamb I nothing find The amourous Spouse is now so kind That what â—e fed thee with before From th' eye shal be conceal'd no more As with a fleece in species white He long in earth appear'd in sight As with a fleece by grace gaue heat But now behold the Lamb thy meat In â—im repose freed from annoy By seeing comprehend enioy THE INCENTIVE 1. IESVS the bloudy Spouse or Spouse of bloud leads his beloued whom now long since he purchased with the price of his life vnto the Nuptial supper of the Lamb into the heauenly Bride-chaÌ„ber The hart therefore who admires not is the banqueting roome of these Nuptials and the Bed-chamber of the Spouse IESVS himself 2. It is a supper truly because these ioyes are not affoarded til after the toyles of the day and labours past Expect not lampes here hanging on sumptuous and precious seelings These Pallaces shine within and without sunne moone and starres The Lamb himself is the lamp within and he the banqueâ— Host and Ghest who is the Spouse 3. Seest thou this royal Table here These things are al prepared for thee Seekest thou daintyes Hardly are thy seen of mortal eyes Such as sit downe here are alwayes feeding they drinke without gluttony are alwayes satiated and yet a-thirst without any loathing or irksomnes at al. Behold al things are ready Come to the wedding the Spouse cals THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation IESVS receiues the soule whom he gratiously beheld though fowly dight with her immundityes before and now hauing cleansed her with purging waters and adorned with feminine brauery takes her I say not only to his Spouse but if she keep her holily and chastly to him casting her out of the most miserable banishment of this life he leades her vnto the great solemnity of the Nuptials into the heauenly house of his Father where he tyes her eternally to him with an indissoluble knot of wedlock Whereto belongs that sacred Epithalamium Let vs reioyce and exult and giue glory to him because the Nuptials of the lamb are come and his Spouse hath made herself ready and she hath had giuen her shining and whâ—e silke to weare Yt is surely a great matter to be reckoned of the family of the King of Kings more to be accounted among his freinds and familiars but most of al to beheld the Sonne of God the brother and coheyr of Christ I wil speake more boldly yet this same is surely more honourable then al these to be called in the weding the Spouse or Wife of the Lamb that is partaker in a manner of his bed and bord companion of his throne crowne And this is that honour if I be not deceiued which the Prophet Esay meanes I wil giue then a place in my house and within my wals and a better name then sonns and daughters For children being but a slender part or portion of parents chalenge and retayne indeed much of their right and substance from them but for man and wife so great is the society and community between them of their whole life of al their goods and titles and they are bound together with so streight a tye as how farre so euer they be asunder yet are held to be as is were in one place and al one which happens also in the celestial wedlock of IESVS with the soule For who adheares to God is in al one spirit with him as the Apostle hath taught Whence it is that the soule perfectly vnited with God is not only diuine but in a certaine manner if I may so say is made God And hence is al whatsoeuer it is which is surely very great that dignity profit and sweetnes of these nuptials For looke whatsoeuer els besides haue any connexion with them doe al euen flow from thence as from an endlesse spring of al good and beatitudes especially those three to say nothing of those of the body to wit the most singular and eminent dotes of the soule espoused wedded to IESVS as Vision Comprehension Fruition Which are not procured her either of parents or nature it-self but being so poore a Spouse are most bountifully affoarded her by IESVS the Spouse himself as with Kings is wont when they match with any of low degree most richly to endow their beloued Spouses by reason of their nuptials had between them But in reguard these things of themselues are greater then can be worthily weighed by vs much lesse expressed the diuine Scriptures doe lightly shadow at least and adumbrate in a sort al the excellencies and delicious fruits thereof with the pleasant and most apt figure for our capacity of royal nuptials and a wedding supper The reason is for that no noises of affaires negotiations nor cares which commonly fal out by day doe not trouble or disturb the peace and delights of suppers for the feasts of royal Nuptials they vse especially to be very curious and dainty indeed where no part of the senses abounds not with exquisite delights Here the eyes are fed with various Emblems of the tapistries of the Hal most gallant to behold with the gorgeous apparel of the Ghests and waiters also with the gold of the plates and iewels of the whole furniture there Here the eares are charmed with the artificious harmony of musical instruments voyces Here the sent most sweetly is perfumed with the delicate odours of flowers and herbs and boxes ful of the sweetest oyntmeÌ„ts the palat seasoned relished with delicious wines and the daintyest viands purchased with the greatest study and industry and sought for farre and neere by al the exquisit meanes that may be deuised and dressed especially by the rarest Cookes Lastly to the end the sense of feeling the most brutish sense of al the rest might not want it 's peculiar delights also the touching hath its proper delectation from the softnes of downy beds and curious carpets from the feathers and downe of swans and the like Let vs runne ouer a while if you please the gardens pictures of the great Assuerus that from that feast the royallest perhaps that euer was in the memory of men by ghesse at least we may gather in some manner what a baÌ„quet it is which IESVS furnisheth forth in the hart of his Spouse He then as wel to shew the riches of the glory of his Kingdome and the greatnes and the