shew how great this Love and Devotion ought to be That is to say it ought to be next to our Love and Devotion to Jesus and Mary CHAP. III. Of the great Love and special Devotion we ow Saint Joseph and that it ought to be next to that we have for Jesus and Mary CERTAINLY none can refuse to pay this debt of Love to our Amiable Saint Joseph to this object of the Love of Jesus and Mary and to one so highly belov'd by God himself For can the Eternal Wisdom Error be Deceiv'd Can Mary engage her Affections without Reason Or can we charge God with partiality because he Loves Saint Joseph next to Jesus and Mary Certainly such thoughts as these can never enter into a Pious Heart Wherefore we must conclude that since he was so amiable they cou'd not elsewhere lodge their Affections better or give a present of their Love to any one more deserving than Saint Joseph Let us therefore see how they Lov'd him and endeavour to Love him as they did Believing that God has renderd him lovely above others to move us to Love him above others and move us to follow the track's of his own Divine Affection towards Saint Joseph 'T is hereby we shall know that we are proficients in this Divine School of Love when we come to Love Saint Joseph above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary in which consists that special Devotion we ought to have to him I say not this to lessen your Love and Devotion to any other Saint but to augment your Love and Devotion to this Saint who in regard of his Merits hold's the first rank in Heaven and Earth not only upon account of that Love that Jesus and Mary bore him but of the Love that God has manifested towards him by those high perogatives he has bestow'd upon him Not but that God has also very highly favour'd many other Saints of his Heavenly Court such as Saint John Baptist whom the Divine Word declar'd the †Inter natos Mulierum non surrexit major Joanne Baptista Matth. 11.11 Greatest amongst the Sons of women and such as the Apostles also were who are Pillars of his Church and like Stars of the first magnitude in the glorious Firmament of Heaven as well as several other Saints like unto these but we must remember what the Learn'd and Devout Gerson says that if the first Ranck and Hierarchy in Heaven is that of the Father Son and Holy Ghost so the second is this of Jesus Mary and Joseph and that all other Saints are of a lower Rank and of a different Hierarchy These other great Saints hold indeed the first place in their Rank and Hierarchy according to the ordinary Law of Love but not in that of the Order of the Hypostatical Union and in the Mistery of the Incarnation wherein those are only compris'd who most nearly relate to Jesus and Mary namely Saint Joseph who compleats this Created Trinity as I before signifi'd and therefore makes a Hierarchy apart of far greater Excellency and Dignity than the rest But still to set forth more at large Saint Joseph's Dignity I will here declare the Source and Order of this Hierarchy which comprehends none but Jesus Mary and Joseph We must therefore take notice that God who is admirable in his Works was not content only to make Man after his own Image and Likeness but wou'd also make a Created Image and Likeness of the Increated Trinity in these three wonderful personages Jesus Mary and Joseph whom he chose for the Mistery of the Incarnation So that as the three Persons of the Increated Trinity have all Cooperated to the Sacred Mystery of the Incarnation so they wou'd also make an Illustrious and Created Emblem of themselves to Cooperate likewise towards the same Mistery For Example first in the subsistance of the two Natures of JESUS CHRIST his Soul Body and Divinity are United in the Person of the Son of God So by the Union of the admirable Love and singular Report that these three Persons Jesus Mary and Joseph have to one another they Contributed to it upon Earth Mary bears the Image of God the Father Jesus is the Son according to his Humanity in a just likeness to what he is in Heaven as he is the Word or Son of God And Saint Joseph Represents the Holy Ghost in the quality of Spouse to the Blessed Virgin or in the Love he had for Jesus and Mary which he manifested by the care he took both of the one and of the other What Affections therefore are due to this Admirable and Venerable Created Trinity as the Learn'd Gerson stiles it either in general or in particular And if the greatest Honour be confer'd upon them by this Title why ought not the greatest Love to accompany it If Love attends Merit what can be next the Uncreated Trinity but the Created And next to the Father Son and Holy Ghost but Jesus Mary and Joseph who ought to take the next place in our Affections And as it wou'd be amiss for any one first to Love God the Father secondly to Love God the Son and then breaking the Order of the Trinity to Love one of the Angels placeing the Holy Ghost in the same Rank with these Holy Spirits so infinitely inferiour to him in all things if therefore this wou'd be very Preposterous since by denying his first Affection to the Holy Ghost he wou'd refuse him the first of all possible Devotions which he deservedly challenges as his Right it being an undoubted Truth that we cannot render a greater Honour than by Love and by offering our Heart in Homage Wherefore as none can divide their Love and Devotion to the three Persons in the Uncreated Trinity to give it elsewhere no more can they do so in order to the Created Trinity But must Love Jesus Mary and Joseph after the Uncreated Trinity before any other object tho' never so Perfect and therefore to Love Jesus and Mary and in the next place to Love any Saint or Angel wou'd be to break the order of Love and become injurious to this Created Trinity robbing it of that Honour God has given it and 't wou'd be to displace Saint Joseph who ought to have the third Rank in the sanctuary of our Affections which wou'd clearly appear no less a Defect of Judgment than of Devotion Wherefore our greatest Devotion after that to Jesus and Mary ought to be to Saint Joseph without any fear or apprehension that any Saint or Angel will thereby be disoblig'd they all giving him the precedency knowing very well what Honour and Devotion is due to the Spouse of Mary the Mother of God and to the reputed Father of Jesus the Son of God and to the third Person of the admirable Created Trinity of Jesus Mary and Joseph CHAP. IV. What was the reason why it was so long before Saint Joseph the best belov'd of God and most amiable of all the
Measures wherewith he inspires both Art and Nature to Operate Especially in framing his chief Master-piece his Holy Church For to what End did he ordain so many Ceremonies in the Old Jewish Law Why was he so careful of all the Ornaments of Salomons Temple as even to Ordain that the very Snuffers and other Instruments of less Moment shou'd be of Gold It was because the beholding all these Ordinations and Ceremonies serv'd to his Elect People as an Aprentiship to understand and learn both the Excellency and Sublime Practices of the New Law that JESUS CHRIST was to Establish these serv'd as Foundations whereupon that was to be built and to dispose us to that Perfection as was requir'd and obtain'd by those Sacraments instituted in the Law of Love which the Divine Wisdom was to Establish in his Church 'T was therefore for this End that he brought up his Elect People in the Exercise of such a Multitude of Ceremonies in the Old Law that he might hereby dispose and bring them by little and little to that solid Devotion and Attention requir'd in the New We also see that the Written Law God gave to Moyses Perfected the Law of Nature and the Law of Grace Perfects both the Law of Nature and the Written Law and God made use of all these to bring us to that Perfection which the Vertue and Prerogatives of his Grace prepar'd us to obtain the better to entertain him with such Fervour and Devotion as he requir'd when he shou'd favor us with his Divine Presence Thus we see that God both by himself and his Creatures prepares disposes brings about and perfects all his designs by degrees And we see the reason why God for the space of near seventeen hundred Years has dispos'd and order'd that particular Honours and Devotions shou'd be perform'd by his Servants to particular Saints for particular benefits receiv'd by their Intercession for he bestow's upon each Saint some particular Grace or Priviledge to move the Faithful to a particular Devotion to that particular Saint giveing to one Saint the power of cureing one Disease to another the power of curing a different Distemper to one Saint power to help us in one Necessity to another Saint power to help us in a different Exigency to one Saint he gives the priviledge to obtain one Vertue for us to another to obtain some other different Vertue and why did God do all this but to move his Servants to a particular Devotion to the Saints in general And to move and dispose us also to a Devotion to each Saint in particular when we wanted their help in such a necessity as God had given that Saint a particular power to help us in And why has God reserv'd to this last Age the declaration of the Merits and Power of Saint Joseph but that the Devotion wherewith he had Inspir'd us to give to each Saint in in Particular might serve us like so many dispositions and steps to raise us to such a Devotion to Saint Joseph as he merits above all other Saints next to Jesus and Mary he having all that Power united in himself which God had distributed amongst all other Saints whereby he was able to cure all Corporal and Spiritual Diseases both of Soul and Body and to help his Clients in all their Necessities whatsoever his Dignity and Merits challenging this extraordinary priviledge above all other Saints except Jesus and Mary to the end therefore that all the particular Devotions exhibited for so many Ages to many different Saints might be united and offer'd to him and that all might have Recourse to him in all their Necessities God has discover'd to us that all the power he had before Communicated and Distributed to several Saints is united and given to Saint Joseph he having all Power given him next to Jesus and Mary I shou'd not thus freely have declar'd my Thoughts upon so sublime a Subject had I not before-hand made my Apology since after all none but God and his Saints do certainly know the true reason why Saint Joseph receiv'd not more Early Honours in the Catholick Church Now therefore I shall go on to perform that which I also Promis'd and will be a far easier task which is to make known to you who were those particular Clients of Saint Joseph that in these latter Years God has Inspir'd to endeavour after a most particular manner the promoting his Honour CHAP. V. Of the ten particular Clients of Saint Joseph who by their Pious Examples have invited and mov'd us to a particular Devotion to him next to Jesus and Mary THE Clients of Saint Joseph daily increase and are already become so numerous that there are few or none that desire not to be inrol'd amongst ' em All the Clients of Jesus and Mary have also Consecrated their Affections to him in acknowledgement of his Amability and of the Love which his reputed Son Jesus and his Virgin Spouse Mary have for him their Mouths and Pens express the desires and wishes of their Hearts saying Long Live Jesus Mary and Joseph these are now become their Aspirations adding Joseph to the common Aspiration of Devout Souls Long Live Jesus and Mary and their frequent prohouncing of these words is a signal mark of the Victory he has gain'd over their Chast Affections It has been heretofore a singular Devotion of some Persons who were particularly Devoted to the Vertue of Purity to add Alexius to those two Venerable Names of Jesus and Mary but since this Lovely Sun Saint Joseph has peirc'd the Cloud under which he so many Years lay hid all change their notes and cry out Jesus Mary and Joseph instead of Jesus Mary Alexius giving Saint Joseph his own yet without lessoning their Devotion to Alexius whom after Saint Joseph they honor also with frequent Aspirations Live Alexius O let Alexius Live But they knowing the Merits of Saint Joseph to be of a different and higher rank upon account of the alliance he had with the Vertues of his Holy Spouse and with the Mistery of the Incarnation which render'd him as I have sayd one of the Created Trinity where he takes his place gives him a preference above all other Saints tho after him every one may take Alexius or what other Saint they are particularly Devoted unto for the Object of their particular Affection The first and chief of those who were tenderly affected to Saint Joseph was Jesus the Son of God For tho' our Blessed Lady was first by the date of time that Lov'd her Spouse since her Love began before JESUS CHRIST her Son was Born yet 't is not to be doubted but that the Saviour of the World incomparably more Lov'd and Cherish'd him than our Lady did And therefore tho' her Love was precedent as I sayd in regard of time Yet the Love which Jesus as Son of God had for him before time was above our imagination and beyond the power of Angels to express he lov'd
him in his last Agony leaning on his Pillow taking him by the Hand and receiving his last Breath from his Lips and at his last Groan clos'd his Eyes shut his Mouth and form'd his Visage with his own most Divine Hand to give him a graceful Aspect at his last farewell Are not all these extraordinary marks of Jesus his particular Love to Saint Joseph The second we find inroul'd amongst the fervorous Lovers of Saint Joseph is Mary the Mother of Jesus she Lov'd him in quality of her Spouse never any Virgin Lady was so Faithfully Loving so Chastly Observant so Religiously engaging in her Conversation with her espous'd Husband as Mary was to her Joseph He was Most passionately lov'd and esteem'd by her as the Protector of her Consecrated Virginity and also the conserver of her Honour Whose Conversation was a security to her unblemish'd Reputation against any reproach that cou'd be made concerning her Virgin Child-Birth For had he forsaken her during the nine Months after her Conception her Purity wou'd unavoidably have been suspected Moreover she bore an affectionate service to him as to her Husband and Head and as to one of the greatest Merit amongst all Man kind next to her Son Jesus This Love of the Virgin Mary to her Spouse caus'd her to descend to the meanest and lowest Services whereby she cou'd any ways express her Love and Esteem of him it caus'd her to attend and wait upon him to prepare his Meat and to perform all other humble Offices he stood in need of she knew very well the place she possest upon Earth and that also which was design'd for her in Heaven As being the Queen Mother of God as being Queen both of Men and Angels and that in this regard Saint Joseph was her Inferior yet the Love she had for him made her lay aside these considerations and render him all sorts of honour and respect imaginable for as Saint Briget says in her Revelations * Lib. 7. Revela S. Brigit cap. 25. lib. 6. cap. 59. she call'd him her Lord never spoke to him but with a wonderful and most submissive respect and there was no tenderness of affection that a loveing Soul can express to one she highly esteems and passionately loves which she did not thousands and thousands of times testifie to Saint Joseph wherefore to convince you how she lov'd him hearken to the affectionate Character she her self gives of him to Saint Briget as 't is set down in her Revelations after the following manner My Spouse was reserv'd in Speech never uttering the least unprofitable murmuring or complaining Word never was he mov'd to Anger or shew'd the least Impatience he was contented in Poverty diligent and vigilant in Labour most obedient and condescending to all my Inclinations Very Meek and Affable even to those that most rudely treated him he couragiously defended the absent that suffer'd Detraction and was a faithful Witness and Divulger of God's wonderful Works he was resign'd to live upon Earth tho his longing and earnest desire was after Heaven expecting and confiding in God's Promises and frequently repeating God grant I may see them Accomplish'd he avoided Publick Assemblies took no content at all in Creatures but all his thoughts and desires were that he might perfectly accomplish God's Divine Will Saint Teresa of Jesus deserves the third place amongst those who after a particular manner have express'd their Love and Esteem to Saint Joseph Who merits the title of Saint Joseph's chiefest Devote and may well therefore be plac'd amongst his lovers She made choice of him for her particular Advocate frequently recommending her self to him as to one she honour'd above all other Saints she stil'd him her Father and Master and had such a confidence in him as was admirable and thereby deserv'd such a reward for it as she her self attests in the sixth chapter of her Life which was that she never ask'd any thing of him either for Body or for Soul that he denied her which caus'd her to say that God by his other Saints help'd and succour'd us in some particular cases of necessity but help'd us in all necessities by Saint Joseph as by his Plenipotentiary To let us understand that as he was subject to him in all things upon Earth as to a father who Commanded him So he was the same in Heaven granting him whatsoever he ask'd This was Saint Teresa's opinion concerning her great Patron to whom she was so particularly Devoted that she endevour'd to invite all to take him for their particular Patron and Protectour But especially those who desire to give themselves to Prayer and to become knowing in that most holy and profitable Exercise and therefore was wont to say let him who cannot find a Master to teach him the Art of Praying take this great Saint for his Master and he shall not fail to prove a great Proficient and a most skilful Scholar Infine she did what she cou'd to instill into all sorts of Persons a particular Devotion to Saint Joseph who as he was Master of her Heart so she had a desire he shou'd be so of the Hearts of all others and therefore endeavour'd to engage their Hearts with her own in an ardent Love of him and Devotion to him which desire of hers together with the experiments she had had of the good obtain'd by the Merits and Prayers of this Saint caus'd her engageingly to promise the same success to all that shou'd recommend themselves to him Attesting that she never knew any Person that had a true Devotion for him or render'd him any particular Service that obtain'd not a great progress and advancement in Vertue You see here the cause of my ranking her in the first place of those of this last Age that set up the Standard of Devotion to Saint Joseph by divulging his Merits and by a due acknowledgement of his Favours whereby in these our times in which we have more need than ever of Heavenly assistance she brought in that profitable Devotion to this great Saint The fourth Person noted for his particular Devotion to Saint Joseph is that holy Minim blessed Gaspar Bond who after Jesus and Mary had none so near his Heart as Saint Joseph All his Life long he had a most singular Devotion to him and at his Death his chief recours was to none so much as to this Holy and Amiable Patriarch and express'd his Devotion by a particular honour shew'd to his Name after the Name Jesus and Maria which made such an impression in him that he cou'd think or speak of nothing else he took a particular gust in the pronouncing of them and thought the doing so gave a good success and prosper'd all his undertakings and this was the short but pithy Incomium that he gave them * Haec tria nomina Bona sunt omnia Et mundi lumina Et coeli limina This Trinity of Names This lower World Inflames Contains the goods of Love
â—enth Chapter Recounts a very Remarkable Example of a Gentleman of Venice so Devoted to Saint Joseph who Daily upon his Knees he was wont to recite before his Image several Devotions in his Honour This Person lying dangerously Sick without thinking as he shou'd have done of a Penitent Confession his cares being rather taken up about the Health of his Body than that of his Soul Being in this condition Saint Joseph mindfull of his past Devotions to him shews himself a true Friend and Father to his Soul by Appearing to him and warning him to make a good and speedy Confession and to prepare himself for Death which was neerer him than he imagin'd he follow'd his Councel put himself in a good State Receiv'd the last Sacraments and assisted by Saint Joseph in his last Agony made a most happy End and Receiv'd hereby a Reward for his constant Devotions to this Saint Another Example of later Date I receiv'd from the Testimony of Persons most worthy of Credit A Father of the SOCIETY being desir'd earnestly by some Friends to say a Mass and another of the same SOCIETY not Priest to Offer nine Communions in Honour of Saint Joseph that by his powerful Intercession a neer Kins-Man of theirs might be drawn from a Wicked Licentious Life in which he had been so Miserably plung'd for the space of five Years that by no means or Prayers they cou'd use they â—ou'd prevail with him to Live even like a Man of Honour before Men as became his Quality much less like a Christian before God as his Sacred Character and Habit also he â—ore requir'd At the self same time these Prayers were Offer'd for this Person he fell grieviously Sick as his Relation had desir'd he might in case no other means wou'd reform him and so it fell out according to his wish the Distemper increas'd to such an Extremity that â—he Receiv'd the last Sacraments and then Miraculously Recover'd with a Resolution hereafter to imploy his time and all his endeavours in a Work of great Importance to God's Glory Which he Faithfully perform'd to the great Edification and Comfort of all that knew him who were witness of this great change wrought by Saint Joseph This Conversion happen'd at Paris Another no less strange Conversion than this happen'd at Lyons where a Young Man of very good Condition who had pass'd his Youth in the Fear of God and infine was resolv'd to quit the World and intirely give himself to God's Service for the greater security of his Salvation But this design not pleasing his Parents they endeavour'd to devert him from it but very unhappily for he now seeing himself Frustrated of his design of executing his good Desires his former servour cooling by little and little he fell from a Remisness in his Devotions to an intire neglect of them at last he quite loos'd the Rains of his Passions and gave himself up to all shameful Liberties Then he betakes himself to the War where he exercises all the Licentiousness of a Souldiers Life So that there was no Mischief or Excess in which he was not the Ringleader In the mean time his Father and Mother Conscious of their great Fault haveing a Sense of Piety and of God's Honour and Glory fell into unconsolable Regrets and Afflictions of Mind acknowledging their Errour and never giving over by Letters and Good Counsels both by them selves and Friends to perswade him to quit his Irregularities but all in vain his Heart being harden'd and become obstinate At length as their last Refuge they have recourse to Saint Joseph daily beseeching him to reclaim and bring back this Prodigal Child by taking him under his Protection The third day they had earnestly Offer'd these daily Devotions the Young Man return'd home cast himself at his Parents Feet beg'd their Pardon for his follies began a new Life and corresponded to his former Vocation by entring into Religion in which God Rewarded him with Perseverance all which Favours he obtain'd by Saint Joseph's Intercession We have in our Church in Lyons a Votive Picture of a Woman extreamly afflicted for the Debaucheries of her Husband no endeavours for Reclaiming him prevailing she had Recourse to Saint Joseph making a Vow to him for the obtaining her Husbands Conversion which she had no sooner perform'd but her Husbands Thoughts were quite chang'd and he was never after Disloyal to his Consort A Person of Worth and Confident Friend of mine writ to me a little while ago knowing I had a Piece of Work in Hand in honour of Saint Joseph assuring me that Saint Joseph had Deliver'd her from a most miserable slavery and thraldom of Mind which happen'd to her after the following manner She having fail'd in a matter of great Importance even against a Vow made to God cou'd not bring her self to a plain and clear Confession of her Fault finding this great difficulty and repugnance she fully resolv'd to overcome so dangerous a Bashfulness and for this end that she might obtain Grace of God to put her Soul in a good State for nine Days together she sayd the Hymn and Prayer of Saint Joseph Printed at the end of this Book Page 20. and upon the ninth Day she felt a strange Remorse for her Offence found a sufficient Courage to declare all and to make a good Confession which she perform'd with a very great Sorrow and a firm purpose of Amendment and ever after resolv'd to carry about her an Image of Saint Joseph even in the Night to preserve her from bad Dreams whereby she acknowledges to have Receiv'd very singular help and Assistance CHAP. XII The Miraculous Assistance which Saint Joseph giv's in Curing Corporal Diseases especially the Plague THE Examples I here set down I have chosen out of many more they being what I was either an Eye Witness of or was very well acquainted with the Persons upon whom they were wrought in this our City of Lyons where I now live or else are such as have irrefragable Authority to â—rove their Truth None can doubt of what Saint Teâ—sa her self recounts of the Miratulous Cures he wrought upon her â—n her Youth and in those very â—ong and lasting Distempers She â—ad after she was Religious Who for eight Months together lost the use of all her Limbs suffer'd frequent Faintings Soundings Palpitations of the Breast all which were her ordinary Distempers that held her for three Years together from all which she was Deliver'd by the Intercession of Saint Joseph to whom she was extreamly Devoted and whose Feast she kept every Year with very great Solemnity she being upon it suddenly free'd from those long Distempers that had kept her for so long a time in her Bed and able to rise and walk about the House as if she had never been Sick Sister Jane of the Angels being brought to Deaths Dore by a Mortal Plurisie there being according to the Physitians Opinion no hopes of her Recovery receiv'd it by Saint
all concluded that her Head was to be open'd by being Trapan'd and unless this Remedy were us'd she wou'd soon be depriv'd either of Life or at least of her Senses At the Patients request who extreamly apprehended this Violent Operation it 's execution was defer'd and in the mean time the Superiour of the Monastery by God's Inspiration took a resosution to apply another Remedy which had it's effect She order'd that a Communion for nine Days together shou'd be Offer'd for the Recovery of this Religious in honour of Saint Joseph thereby to obtain his Intercession the Distemper notwithstanding continu'd very Violent and caus'd great and sharpe pain to the Patient during eight Days and the ninth Day being begun without an appearance of Health some of the Religious propos'd that the Sick Person shou'd make a Vow to Saint Antoline who was wont by her Intercession to Cure such kind of Distempers Another Religious hearing this and being unwilling that any but Saint Joseph shou'd have the honour of this Cure addresses her self to him with a great deal of Fervour begging of him that he wou'd take to himself the honour of this Cure whose honour was now at stake she being first recommended to him and that he wou'd not permit another to deprive him of it especially since he had full power to effect it and last of all she conjures him by those Eminent Prerogatives of his being the reputed Father of JESUS and Spouse of Mary to assist rhe Sick Person Promising him if he did so that in thanksgiving she wou'd perform nine Mortifications and say nine times his Prayer in his honour but whilst she Offer'd these Devotions in behalf of her Sick Sister at the expiring of the ninth Day she was suddenly Cur'd and so perfectly well that she cou'd not contain her self from running about the House and crying out a Miracle a Miracle I am quite recover'd I am perfectly well again and so she was indeed for she not only receiv'd health of Body but of Soul also enjoying ever after a continual Peace and Repose of mind a Love of Devotion and regular Observances whereas before it was a Mortification to her to be at the Quire and Plainsong was insupportable to her whereas now she is the most Punctual and Zealous observer of this Duty and takes a most particular Satisfaction therein and in exactly following the Community in all other Regular Observances Having receiv'd so great Light from Saint Joseph as to see and value Perfection and whatever tends to it even before her Corporal Health or any other Satisfaction whatsoever and therefore Honours him as her cheif Patron since together with the Health of her Body he bestow'd upon her such Interiour Blessings and Benefits to her Soul In the same Monastery about eight Years ago a Religious newly Profess'd was taken with so violent an Headach that she cou'd take no rest at all and Prayer even became impossible to her to perform hereupon her Superiour orders her to Communicate nine Tuesdays following in honour of Saint Joseph to obtain his Intercession for her Delivery from this Violent Distemper upon the fourth Tuesday which that Year happen'd to be the Feast of Saint Joseph in time of the Sermon which was made in their Church in honour of Saint Joseph in which his Prayses were set fourth her Torments were so redubl'd that she was scarce able to hold up her Head and scarce knew even where she was or what she did But this pain as great as it was was not able to make her neglect her Duty and Devotion of hearing out the Sermon nor hinder'd her afterwards from â—aying in the Church to Pray with â—he rest of the Religious tho' she â—on'd say or think of nothing else â—et these two Words O Saint Joseph â—hich from time to time she reâ—eated with incredible joy of Heart â—ejoycing that he was such a Saint which joy was attended with that â—f her being deliver'd from her Headach and that so intirely that â—ever since she has felt the least â—ain in her Head The Superiour of the Congregation of the Word Incarnate being â—fflicted for ten Years together with â—ore Eyes so that she cou'd not Read and a continual Defluxion fell upon 'em that so darken'd her Sight that the Occulists thought she wou'd never perfectly recover it who no sooner had made a Vow to Saint Joseph to say his Office for a Year together â—ut she was immediately deliver'd from this dimness of Sight How successfull Saint Joseph is also in Curing his Clients defending 'em even from the greatest of all Distempers the Plague we may gather from his defending the City of Avinion from being utterly Destroy'd by the Plague about ten Years since upon account of a Soâ—emne Vow made to him of for ever Celebrating his Feast and this Example caus'd several at Lyons to have Recourse to him by their Prayers and receive Succour from him also in time of the Plague of whom I shall relate two or three of the most remarkable Examples Mr. Augery an Advocate in the Parlament of Dauphiné being at Lyons and understanding July the 15. 1638. that Theodor Augery his Son seven Year of Age was seiz'd on by the Plague a hard swelling appearing under his right Arm accompanied with a violent Feaver which were evident sign 's of the Plague which the Day following very much increast together with the Bubo or Swelling he made a Vow to God that if Saint Joseph by his Intercession wou'd procure his Sons Recovery and preserve his Family from the Plague he wou'd for nine Days together hear Mass at his Church in his Honour and offer Tapers and wax Candels at his Altar with a Votive Picture as a lasting memory of this Favour In the mean time the Sick Youth being visited by the Plague Surgeons who gave him over for Dead was taken out of the House and carri'd to Saint Laurence the Pest-House for fear of Infecting others where he found himself perfectly well nor were any more of his Family Infected which were nine in number whereupon he perform'd his Vow and hung up a Picture at Saint Joseph's Altar in which he and his Wife and Children were all Painted on their Knees giving thanks to God for this Favour obtain'd by the Intercession of Saint Joseph with the Story written at the bottom of the Picture and sign'd by himself Father Melchior of Faug a Religious of the SOCIETY of JESUS being a Month ago expos'd to serve those who were in the Quarantin or Pest-House having catch'd the Plague and lying in extremity of Death all despatring of his Recovery after having been three Days in his Agony a Friend of his of the same Order made a Vow and invited the Sick Man to do the like in case he recover'd which was to Offer Nine Masses in the Church of Saint Joseph in thanksgiving for his Recovery At the self same hower that the Vow was made he Recover'd his Speech and found
call'd The Mission of Saint Joseph and in the Year 1626. two hundred Families were Baptis'd and their Example mov'd six Neighbouring Townships to unite themselves to the True Faith that they might also become partakers of those Spiritual and Temporal Blessings which Saint Joseph Visibly obtain'd for these happy Converts Saint Joseph also favours Marryage and unites the Hearts of Married Persons procuring them a True and Constant Conjugal Assection â—s appears in the Example of a very Rich Marchant of Lyons who had great Inclinations to Marry with a Young Woman of quality but she rejected all Propositions in that kind whereupon he addresses himself to Saint Joseph Vow 's the giveing an Alms of a hundred Crowns in his Honour if he wou'd move her to hearken to his proposal of Marriage The Vow was no sooner made but he gains her Consent and the Marriage is made up and they liv'd a most happy Couple in a Constant Peace and Union of Affections which is one of the greatest Blessings in this Sacrament He assists Chast Persons also and preserves them from all attempts that the Enemy makes to Destroy in them the admirable Vertue of Chastity as appears in an Example of a Pious Virgin who being attack'd in this Point her Confessour advises her to have recourse to Saint Joseph and causes her to wear about her a Paper that had touch'd the Miraculous Oyntment at Loudun whereby she presently found Help and Comfort As another also did who recommended her self to the same Saint promising to wear his Image for nine Days together I had this Relation from the Person her self who receiv'd this benifit by Saint Joseph's Intercession Saint Joseph also hears and helps Persons with Child as appears by a Votive Picture in the Church of Saint Joseph at Lyons on the side of his Altar her Child being Dead for some Days within her she cou'd not be deliver'd thereof Yet she no sooner beg'd his Assistance but she was Deliver'd of it half putrifi'd with safety also of her Life which all dispair'd of The like favour happen'd to a Woman at Trevoux who by a very hard Labour for three Days together was brought to the last extreamity and danger of Death in these streights she thought of Recommending her self to Saint Joseph and Purpos'd to Confess and Communicate in his Honour and to swallow a Paper that had touch'd the Miraculous Oyntment of Loudun which she had no sooner done but she was happily Deliver'd He favours also Married Prisons giving them Children one of the cheif Blessings of Marriage as a Votive Picture in Saint Joseph's Church testifies of one who wanted this Blessing who had no sooner beg'd his Intercession but within a Year she obtain'd it But to save the setting down many other Examples of Saint Joseph's powerful Assistance the Testimony of Saint Teresa and of many others of his Clyents whom I have heard avouch the same Truth is that he refuses nothing that is ask'd him but provides a remedy in all necessities which is a sufficient motive to make us all have Recourse to him with all confident assurance of our obtaining our Petitions CHAP. XIV To exhort all to have Recours to Saint Joseph and Confide in his Powerful Protection WE ought Piously to beleive that the Mother of God has a knowledge from her Son of what is good for our Salvation wherefore if we do but Consult her and desire her to advise us what is best for us to do to secure our Saltation we cannot doubt but she will tell us Be Devout to Saint Joseph love my Dear Spouse Saint Joseph To prove this Assertion I will relate what Father Balthasar Alvares a great Clyent of hers and Confessour to the great Devote Saint Teresa affirm's Who being one Day Sick at Valedolid of a Violent burning Fevaer one of the Religious that help'd him shew'd him an Image of our Blessed Lady and Saint Joseph and put him in mind of Recommending himself to the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin You have Reason says he for the Mother of God has expressly Commanded me to do so And as afterwards he own'd 't was in the Holy Chappel of Laurette where she gave him this Command She gave the same advice also to Saint Teresa who was Father Balthazar 's Penitent which caus'd her to have so great a Devotion to Saint Joseph and such a Confidence in him that she stil'd him her Father and those that follow our Blessed Ladies advice in this particular may expect such a particular mark of her kindness and encouragement upon this account as she shew'd S. Teresa It happend that at Avila upon the Feast of the Assumption whilst Saint Teresa was carrying on the Foundation of that Monastery under the Name of Saint Joseph that one Day whilst she was at her Prayer she saw our Blessed Lady upon one side and Saint Joseph on the other shewing her extraordinary expressions of kindness and amongst others that which gave her an incredible Consolation was a familiar treatment our Blessed Lady us'd towards her takeing her by the Hand and giving her thank 's for her Affection to her doar Spouse and for her particular Devotion towards him After these thanks she ptomis'd her all sorts of Assistance in her Pious design and in confirmation of her Affection she made her a Present of a Collar or Chain of Gold with a Cross hung at it set with Precious Stons so resplendent as she never beheld the like This made Saint Teresa use her utmost endeavours to induce and perswade all to a Devotion to her Glotious Patron And without doubt were we so happy as to Converse with the Saints now in Heaven they wou'd joyn with her in perswading us to so Pious and Profitable a Work by their own Example For we Read in Saint Gertrud's Life that upon the Vigil of the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady she perceiv'd all the Saints in Heaven bow their Heads in honour of Saint Joseph whilst his Name was Recited in the Quire they looking upon one another with signs of Joy and Congratulation to see Saint Joseph Honour'd upon Earth as they Honour him in Heaven Since therefore the Queen of Saints and Angels and all the Saints and Angels themselves take such a Satisfaction in seeing Saint Joseph Honour'd can we think it proceeds from any other reason than because they see this Honour done Saint Joseph highly pleasing to God and most profitable to Man Wherefore let us upon this account renew our Pious Resolutions of rendring him all Honour and of Honouring him abore all next to Jesus and Mary Let us resolve to honour him all the Days of our Lives especially upon his Feast Days since ther 's none more Belov'd nor none more Worthy of our Love than he next to Jesus and Mary Who obliges his Lovers by all sorts of Favours Wins their Devotions by Miracles especially in matters of Life and Death both in Body and Soul as well for this Life as the
Body decently Enterr'd in the Valley of Josaphat by our Saviour and his mournful Spouse and after our Saviour's Resurrection rais'd to Life Which also Ascended with him to Heaven where he plac'd him in the Seat next to that he had ordain'd for thâ— Blessed Virgin his Mother II. Prelude BEG Grace of God so to Livâ— as to enjoy the Assistance of JESUS MARIA JOSEPH at our Death and their Company also in Heaven I. Point Saint Joseph according to Cedrinus dy'd a little before the Baptisme of JESUS at seventy Years of Age Assisted by JESUS and MARY Consider with what Joy and Resignation he suffer'd the Incommodities of Sickness and the Pang's of his approaching Death knowing they wou'd put an end to all his Labours and Miseries in this World and open to him the Gate of Happiness in the next Imagine what Comfort he Receiv'd from those Pious and Fervent Acts our Saviour suggested to him Consider what thanks our Saviour and Blessed Lady gave him for all the Care and Pains he had taken of them Congratulating with him for the great Reward he was ready to receive for them all Consider also what thanks Saint Joseph Return'd for their constant Affection towards him begging as the last Favour their powerful help and Intercession for a happy passage to Eternity And then consider with what a Peaceful Resignation and with what a Joyful and Smiling Countenance he render'd his Soul to God his Creator by the Hands of JESUS his Redeemer Consider our Saviour Closing his Eyes and Composing his Sweet Countenance with his Sacred Hands Behold his Blessed Mother recommending his Soul to the Eternal Father of JESUS O most happy Death The certain Reward of a most Pious Life O Happy Joseph Dying in the Merciful Armes of JESUS and MARY Obtain for me by your Pious Intercession that I may so serve them during my whole Life that I may enjoy your and their Comfortable Assistance at my Death II. Point Consider a great Company of Angels sent by God to Conduct his Soul to Limbo Consider the Joyful tydings he brought thither of their Speedy Deliverance he having for thirty Years continually Converst with and Serv'd the Messias Consider also what care our Saviour and our Blessed Lady took in Burying his Precious Body according to Saint Hierom in the Valley of Josaphat between Mount Olivet and Mount Sion in the self same place where the Virginal Body of his Spouse was afterwards for some Days to Repose Thrice Happy Soul thus Dear to God and his Angels O most Precious Relicks Thus taken care of by the Son of God and Queen of Angels Oh how estimable in God's sight is whatsoever belongs to his Saints and Servants O Holy Joseph obtain by your Intercession that in Body and Soul I may so serve the Amiable JESUS here that they may be Lov'd and Esteem'd by him hereafter III. Point Consider that after our Saviours Resurrection he took Saint Joseph and several others his special Servants out of Limbo Rais'd his Body to Life after his own and carried him to Visit and Comfort his Blessed Mother O what Joy What Comfort And with what Reason Consider our Saviour afterwards carrying him with him in Triumph at his Ascension into Heaven placing him there next to the Seat prepar'd for his Blessed Mother giving him power to obtain all Favours for his Clients together with a tender Heart of a Father and a tender Affection of a Spouse towards them Consider also the Part he had in the Mystery of the Incarnation his bearing the Dignity of Spouse to the Mother and Foster-Father to the Son of God Consider that the Labours Pains and Dangers he underwent in their thirty Years Service requir'd such a speedy Reward in Heaven The Truth of which was Verified by the Glory that appear'd about the Head of Saint Bernardine when in a Sermon he declar'd this Truth Where he receives the Reward of Virgins for his Fidelity to the Vow of Virginity the Reward of Doctours for Reducing so many Idolaters in Aegypt to the Worship of the True God Of Martyrs and Confessours in the Labours and Dangers he Suffer'd for JESUS And therefore he deserves the Crown of Virgins Doctours Confessours and Martyrs and to be Honour'd by all above all next to JESUS and MARY The Colloquie O Powerful Joseph Foster-Father to JESUS and Spouse to MARY who hast the Heart of a Father and Affection of a Spouse for thy true Clients and hast also the Power of JESUS and MARY joyn'd with thy own for their Assistance in all their Necessities Obtain for me such a Filial Confidence in thee and such a tender Affection for thee as JESUS and MARY had that I may obtain their and thy Powerful Assistance in all the exigencies of this Life and the happy enjoyment of their and thy Company in the Life to come Amen FINIS THE TABLE OF THE DEVOTIONS TO Saint Joseph Spouse to the B. V. Mary Mother of Jesus THE Office of Saint Joseph Pag. 3. The Litany of Saint Joseph P. 15. The Hymn in Honour of Saint Joseph Pag. 20. A Votive Oblation to Saint Joseph to choose him for our Patron Pag. 25. The Beads of Saint Joseph Pag. 28. Seven Prayers or Devotions Containing the seven Dolours and Joyes of Saint Joseph Pag. 30. The I. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Ibid. The II. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 32. The III. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 33. The IV. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 34. The V. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 35. The VI. Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 36. The VII Dolour and Joy of Saint Joseph Pag. 37. Eight Meditations for the Octave of Saint Joseph Pag. 41. I. Med. Of the Sanctification Birth and Name of S. Joseph Ibid. II. Med. Of the Humble Vocation and Sanctity of S. Joseph P. 48. III. Med. Of the Marriage of Saint Joseph Pag. 56. IV. Med. Of Saint Joseph's Journey with the Blessed Virgin to Visit S. Elizabeth P. 66. V. Med. Of the Virtues Saint Joseph exercis'd at the Birth Circumcision and Presentation of the Son of God Pag. 76. VI. Med. Of the Virtues Saint Joseph exercis'd in the Flight of JESUS into Aegypt his Return from thence and at his Loss of him in Jerusalem Pag. 87. VII Med. Of Saint Joseph's eighteen Years Conversation with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth Pag. 96. VIII Of Saint Joseph's last Sickness Death and Glory in Heaven Pag. 109.