Dauid and Saule and others also and yet there is but one true Christ so an Angell is called a spirit and our soule is called a spirit and the winde is called a spirit and there is an vncleane spirit and yet there is peculiarly but one holy Spirit Cyrillus Ierosolymit catechesi 16. The holy Ghost is compared to fire to a Doue to a cloude and to a winde To fire because he doth enlighten our vnderstanding and exalteth it from the earth to heauen To a Doue because hee maketh vs simple gentle peaceable and friendes to all To a Cloud because he doth refresh and coole vs and defend vs from the heat of the flesh and doth asswage and moderate the madnes and fury of our passions And to a vehement and strong winde because he moueth and inclineth our will to all good Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1 ducis peccatorum Heauen EVen as King Assuerus in his imperiall city of Susan shewed to his Princes all his maiesty cost royal magnificence so the great King of Kinges in his imperiall and roiall city of heauen doth shew to his elect the vnmesurablenesse of his riches wisdome liberality and goodnes and the glory and excellency of his maiesty Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducis peccatorum As no man entred into the pallace of king Assuerus cloathed in sackecloth so it is lawfull for no man to enter into the pallace of God with a seruile garment but he must be cloathed with a wedding garment that is adorned and beautified with true loue and charity idem in eod lib. As a captaine when he goeth forth to fight or when he begirdeth any defenced castle deuiseth many kinde of stratagems for the obtaining of it rayseth fortresses maketh bulwarks and vseth many inuentions to assault and batter it that at the length he may conquer it so by all means wee must labour and endeuour that wee may get vnto our selues that most excellent place and cheefest good for it is written The kingdom of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Lodouicus Granatensis in lib. de deuotione As the Patriarch Iacob thought his 7. yeares seruice short in respect of the great loue hee bare to Rachell so wee should thinke all the tribulations of this world short in respect of the great loue we shuld beare to Heauen which is more beautifull then any Rachell Idem in suis Meditationibus As a traueller goes farre from his country and family yet is desirous to returne thither againe euen so wee as banished from this world should long for our returne to heauen our true borne countrey Stella de contemptu mundi As the pretious pearles called Vnions albeit they bee bred in the sea yet haue more affinitie with heauen the semblance of which they do represent so a godly a generous mind doth more depend of heauen whence he fetcheth his original then of the earth in which he liueth As a house excelleth a fewe ashes as a cittie excelleth a house a prouince a cittie the Romane empire a prouince and all the earth the Romane Empire and the whole circumference the point of a circle so farre incomparably Heauen extendeth and excelleth the comparison and proportion of al other things Cyrillus Ierosolymitanus catechesi 6. As there is extreame darkenesse in hell so there is glorious light in heauē Basilius lib. hexa As a spherical figure is most capable to contayne thinges so heauen being of the same figure is most capable of all ioies and blessednes As there are tenne commaundements in Moses Tables so according to moderne Astrologers there are tenne spheres in heauen Luna Mercurius Venus Sol Mars Iupiter Saturnus Caelum stellatum Caelum cristallinū siue aqueum and Primum mobile Angels EVen as the elder brethren do carry their younger brethren when they bee but little ones in their armes and doe keepe them with great care and prouidence after the same maner the Angels which are as our elder brethren do tende and keepe vs who are as their younger brethren little ones and do beare vs in their hands Lodo. Granatens lib. de deuotione As Angels are pure spirits so also pure worship and spiritual seruice is required of them ibidem As caelum crystallinū siue aqueum is not seene of vs so Angels in their owne nature are not visible vnto vs. F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano libro 1. de caelo Elementis Cap. 5. As the fire is of a more subtile substance then any other element so Angels are of a more immateriall substance then any other creature ibidem As the fire is moued of Sol and Mars as sayth Rabbi Moyses so Angels are moued of God who alwayes attende his will ibidem As the fire cannot be touched by reason of the heate so Angels cannot be touched by reason of their immaterialitie◠ibidem As the fire is a powreful element for deuastation so are angels in executing the wrath of God As a Phisitian leaueth his patient when he is past cure so the angels leaue vs when we fall into desperation Origenes hom 2 in Hieremiam As there are powers vnder earthly kings for ordering of state matters so there are principalities vnder the heauenly king for executing of his will and setting forth his praise Epiphanius haeresi 4. As our frendes lament for vs when as by reason of sicknesse and weakenes wee can receaue no meate so the holy Angels doe mourne for their soules that are not fedde with celestiall and spirituall foode Macarius hom prima As smoke banisheth Bees and filthy sauours driue awaie doues so the corrupted stinch of sinne driueth awaie the Angell that is the keeper of our life Basilius in Psalm 33. As in martiall affayres some soldiers are appointed to administer and bestow honours and some to execute vengeance punishment so holy Angelles are sent to the good and preseruation of man but diuels are sent to punish the wicked and rebellious Chrisostom hom 3 de patientia Iob. As after death there is no repentance auaylable vnto man so after the fall of Angells there was no place of repentance left vnto them Damascenus lib. 2 de fide cap. 4. The worde of God AS the same Manna was wholesome foode vnto some and corruption and wormes vnto others so the same worde of God is saluation vnto some and destruction vnto others Orig. hom 3 in numeros Wine much comforteth those that bee sound and as the scripture saith it maketh merry the hart of man but if he drinke it that hath a feuer it bringeth daunger and destruction vnto him so the word of God bringeth life vnto some and death vnto others Idem homil 5. in Iudic. As a lanterne doth lighten our steps so the word of God doth illuminate our vnderstandinges Hilarius in Psal 118. A Tree by continuall moysture doth grow to a great height so a soule that is cōtinually watered with the diuine word commeth to the perfection of Vertue Chrisostomus hom de Anna et
is our hony the bitter death of Christ by reason of his righteousnes is the sweete life of man As Hammons face was couered when he was condemned to dye so the Sunnes face was couered when Christ was condemned to dye As Dauid rent his garment when hee heard of Ionathans death so the Temple rent his vaile when it hearde of Christes death As the king of Niniuy threw vp dust vpon his head when he and his subiects were appointed to dye so the graues opened threwe vp dust vpon their heades when Christ was appointed to dye As Iob cut his haire when hee heard of his Childrens death so the stones were cutte in peeces and cloue asunder when they heard of Christes death As there were fowre riuers in the terrestriall Paradice which watered the whole earth so in Christ who is our Paradice there are founde fowre fountaines The first fountaine is of mercie to wash awaie our sinnes with the water of remission The second is of wisedome to asswage our thirst with the water of discretion The third of grace to water the plants of good workes with the dewe of deuotion And the fourth fountaine is to season our affections with the waters of emulation Bernardus sermone primo de natiuitate Christi As the Sunne exceedeth all celestiall lightes in quantitie brightnes dignity and power so Christ excelleth all the Saintes in goodnes wisedome honour might F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 1. de caelo et elementâ—s cap. 91 Olimpus a mountaine of Macedonia is so hye that the cloudes are said to be vnder it for it is of such an altitude that neuer any wind toucheth the top of it neither any grosnes of ayre ascendeth to it which the Philosophers ascending that they might viewe the courses motions of the stars coulde not liue there vnlesse they caried with them spunges full of water that so by the attraction of water they might draw grosser ayre as it is reported in history so Christ hath so farre exceeded al the Saints in excellencie of life all the whirlewindes of passions and tribulations in the altitude of patience and all men in the height of wisedome so that the Philosphers coulde not reach vnto the height of his diuinity but by spunges that is by creatures full of the water of celestiall wisedome Ibidem As the hearbe Dracontea hath the similitude of a serpent but is without venim yea it is most contrary to serpentes and especially to vipers so Christ had the shape of sinfull flesh but he was altogither without sinne yea he is most opposit to it and especially to the deuill Idem lib. 3. de vegetabilibus et plantis cap. 85. As the flower is the Medium betweene the branche and the fruit so Christ is the mediator betweene man and God Ibid. As a Hen doth gather her chickeÌ„s vnder her winges doth defend them against the kite doth feed them with the meate she findeth so Christ doth gather his elect vnder the wings of his protectioÌ„ in one faith vnity of the church doth defend theÌ„ against the raging of the world doth feede theÌ„ not only with material bread but with the spirituall foode of his heauenly doctrine Idem lib 4. de natatilibus et volatilibus cap. 98. The Holy Ghost AS Iron cast into the fire doth participate of the nature of fire his owne substance stil remayning so man by the working of the holy Ghost is transformed into God yet still remayning man beeing a partaker of the diuine purity noblenes as he was a partaker whoe said I doe not now liue but Christ liueth in me Ludov. Granat li. 1 duc peccat As oyle among all liquid substances is the fittest too preserue light and to cure woundes so the dinine vnction of the holy Ghost doth cure the woundes of our will and doth illuminate the darkenes of ourvnderstanding ibidem As he that is ouer come with much wine loseth the vse of his sences neither differeth much from a dead man by reason of the strength of the wine so when any one is full of the heauenly wine of the holy Ghost he dieth to the world and hath all his sences with all their desires shackled and fettred Ibidem As water sette ouer a fire when it doth wax hot as if it had forgot the owne proper nature swelleth aloft imitating the nature and lightnes of the fire so also the soule being inflamed with the heauenly fire of the holy Ghost is exalted aboue it selfe and caried vp to heauen whence that fire is sent Ibidem As the Sun shineth of his owne accord the day is enlightned a fountaine streameth and a showre falleth so the heauenly spirit infuseth it selfe Cyprian As the soule infused into the body is sufficient to make all the members liuing to moue and direct them vnto their seuerall offices and functions which are many diuers so the grace of the holy Ghost which is a forme supernaturall and diuine ' when it once hath entred into the soule is sufficient to moue and direct it to the acting and execuring of all the dutyes of a spirituall life Lod. Gran. in lib. de deuotione As it is not possible that the earth should fructifie onely by rayne except the wind doth blow vpon it so it is not possible that onely doctrine should correct a man except the holy Ghost woorke togither in his hart Chrysost hom 20. oper imperf As the figures of things are not seene in a blemished glasse so a man caÌ„not recelue illumination from the holy Ghost except hee cast away sinne and the lustes of the flesh Basilius de spiritu sancto As fire is not diminished albeit many candels be lighted at it as Science is not impayred although it maketh many men skillfull so the holy Ghost is neuer a whit impouerished although they be innumerable that participate of his graces Philo Iudaeus lib. de gigantibus As one the same showre descending vpon the worlde appeareth white vpon thornes red vpon roses purple vpon the hyacinth and of other colours falling vpoÌ„ diuers and sundry coloured things so the holy Ghost being one not any way diuisible doth diuide his grace to euery one as he pleaseth in one he is wisedome in an other sanctification in an other prophecy c. and yet the same Spirit Cyrillus Ierosolymit catechesi 16. As the body of flesh is none other thing but flesh so the gift of the holy Ghost is none other thing but the holy Ghost Aug. lib. 15. de trinitate cap 19. As the soule doth giue life to al the parts and members of mans body making the cye to see the care to heare so in the rest so the holy Ghost doth giue life to the meÌ„bers of Christes body which is his Church Idem lib. de gratia noui testamenti As heate commeth from fire so the holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father Paschasius de Spiritu sancto As Aaron is called Christ and
how bigly soeuer he braue it begā in earth and shall end where he began As the flower may be knowne by the smel so a man by his wordes As they that are tenants at will beare themselues very euen and vpright so they that vnderstande that the house of their bodie is lent them of Nature for a short time doe liue more temperately and die more willinglie Seneca As an euill tree cannot bring forth anie good fruit as rotten and wormeaten seede cannot ingender any thing but like it self and as from a poysoned and infected vessell wee cannot drawe one drop of good wine so since our lapse wee are not able of our selues to produce any good work but whatsoeuer springeth from vs sauoureth of corruption and pollution As waxe cannot indure before the fire so mans righteousnesse cannot stand perfect before God As Marchants alwayes prayse and esteeme their wares marchandise more then they are worth so man doth his vertues but when they are examined and prised by those which know them as by the spirit of god his prophets they are altogither iudged as old rags torn tied togither patched vp again as old images new gilded ouer which outwardly haue glistering shew but within are nothing but dust and durt or as counterfeit money which is of ill mettall howe goodly a print soeuer it haue Some dream when they are asleepe that they haue found great treasure and haue a great ioy in it but after their wakning they see that all is vanished like smoke wherevpon they vexe and grieue themselues so when man thinketh that hee is righteous this is a dreame which passeth through his spirits and vanisheth as soone as hee is awake and deliuered from the darkenes of ignorance wherin he was asleep buried The arke of the couenant was but a cubite and a halfe high the wheeles of the Cauldron were but a cubite and a halfe high nowe we knowe that a cubite and a halfe is an vnperfect measure so there is no man in this life perfectly perfect seeing that the very highest is as the Arke in Moses Tabernacle or as the wheeles in Salomons Temple but a cubite and a halfe high perfectly vnperfect when hee beginneth vnperfectly perfect when he endeth Euen as the silkworme keeps her bodie spare empty vseth to fast two or three daies togither that she may stretch out her selfe the better better and spin her threed the finer so man must endeuour to bring vnder his body and as I may say to dyet it for the nonce that hee may no longer weaue the spiders web but with the silke worme spin a new threed As the Viper perceiuing her olde skinne to be so stiffe that she cannot easily stretch out her selfe in it strips it quite off so wee which are by nature a generation of Vipers must strip off our old skinne and perceiuing we cannot well do our endeour and stir our selues in the armour of Saule we must with Dauid put it off and put on the armour of light As Fletchers to make their shaftes flie steadily peece them with Sugarchest or Holly or such like heauy wood so wee must adioine to that Aspe or Seruice tree or such other light matter which wee are all made of the sweete Sugarchest of the Holy Ghost that we may not bee vnsteady as arrowes of Aspe nor yet slothfull in seruice but feruent in spirit seruing the Lorde Saint Ambrose reporteth that the Bee being to flie home to her hiue and fearing least if she shoulde bee taken by the waie with the winde shee might perhaps bee blowne about in the ayre counterpeises her selfe with a little stone and so flyes straight home so we must build our selues vpon the chiefe corner stone be grounded vppon the rocke and established with grace that howsoeuer the raine fall or the flouds arise or the windes blowe or what times soeuer come yet we may stande fast in the faith of Christ As Eue deceiued Adam so the flesh deceiueth man Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducis peccatorum The Moon being in the wane is againe renued so is man after his death at the last resurrection The sunne appeareth againe after it setteth so doth man at the sound of the archangell The Sunne the Moone the stars the sea the earth trees herbes brute beastes and among these Bees Auntes and Shell fishes doe forefeele and foresee a tempest so shoulde man forefeele and foresee his owne daunger Plinius libro 8. cap. vlt. As things that are bred vpon the earth are for the vse and commodity of man so one man should be for another As a vessel is known by the sound whether it bee hole or broken so are men proued by their speach whether they be wise or foolish Good Men. AS the Laurel tree is not subiect to lightning nor hurt with that fiers violence so the iust man in the fire of tribulation is neyther hurt nor impaired but alwayes continueth fresh and greene Stella de contemptu mundi As in winter a fruitfull tree cannot bee knowne from one that is vnfruitfull so in this worlde a good man can scarselie bee discerned from an euill man Hermas seu Past. As cockell and darnell springeth vp among good corne so euill men growe vp with good men righteous people with vngodly folk Cyprianus cōtra Demetrianū As a bird soone getteth out of a snare so good men if they fal soone rise againe Origenes hom 5. in Psal 36. As the light of a candle is dimmed by the brightnes of the sun so al the works of good men are obscured by the perfection of Christ Origenes hom 9. in Ezechiel As wrestlers for a prize sustaine heate sweate dust and labour so good men for a crown must beare many things patiently Chrisost hom 1. de resurrectione As we say that that is a good body that can indure heat and cold hunger thirst so we say that hee is a good man that can generously and valiantly beare all the inuasions of sorrowe and greefe ibidem hom 5. de patientia Iob. As a rich subiect compared to a wealthy King seemeth poore so the best men compared to holy angels are foūd sinners Idem hom 4. in 1. Timoth. As the vnderstanding of a sinner is more and more darkened so the mind of a good man is more and more enlightened Idem hom 1 8. operis imperfecti In the vineyardes of Engaddi there is a Tree that when it is pricked ointment commeth out of it but if it be not pierced it smelleth not so fragrantly so it is with a good man Ambrosius in Psal beati immaculati serm 1. As a house built vppon a rocke standes firme against all tempestes so a righteous man building himselfe vppon the rocke Christ stands strong against al the stormes of Sathan the world and the flesh As a tree that is planted by the water side spreadeth out the roote vnto moystnesse neither can the heate harme it when it cōmeth