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
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
stoniest hart is mollified by continuall perswasions or true perseuerance As no beast without a taile was offered vnto the Lord so wee cannot offer vp our selues vnto God without perseuerance F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 10. de actibus moribus humanis cap. 61. It is said that a Pecocke hauing lost her tayle is ashamed to shewe her selfe to ame bodie so without perseuerance no man shall dare to appeare before God in iudgement ibidem Pietie IF you do anoynt Cedar and Iuniper with with oyle they neither feele rottennesse nor are subiect to wormes so a soule endued with piety from aboue is not subiect to the corruption of this worlde Plin. lib. 16. cap. 40. As the pretious pearles called Vnious although they are bred in the sea yet haue more affinity with heauē whose face they resemble so a godly and generous spirit doth more depend of heauen whence hee taketh his original then of the earth vpon which he liueth Plin. lib. 9 cap. 35. As the Painter Apelles had wont to complaine when any day passed him in which he had not drawne a line so a godlie Christian should grieue if any day passeth in which hee hath not profited in pietie As Iron and steele doe exceede other mettals in hardnes but are excelled of the Adamant so the loue towardes our children is powrefull but our piety to God doth far exceed it Goodnes AS Scarabees and Vultures are offended at oyntmentes and as the Scythian sware that hee had rather heare the neighing of an horse then a Musitian sweetlie singing so the best thinges doe not please all men Plut. As the Phoenix is neuer but one alone which is scarcely credited of anie man so there is the greatest scarcity of the best thinges As there is but one Phoenix bred in fiue hundred yeares so the increase of famous and excellent men is very rare Seneca As wormes engender sooner in softe and tender wood then in that which is more harde and knottie and as moathes do breede sooner in the fine wooll then in course flockes so ambition sooner assaulteth an excellent and rare man in all kinde of vetrue then another who is not so vertuous As Pindarus writeth that King Therons coursers were such as would neuer be weary of going so should we be neuer weary of well doing Humility AS the valleys are more aboundant and bring forth more fruit then the mountaines do by reason that being more lowe they receiue more commodiouslie all the dewe and fatnesse which falleth and descendeth from the hie hils euen so it behooueth that we bee lowe and humble in our owne eies if wee will that God replenish vs with his graces the which can find no place in vs if wee presume any whit of our vertues As the Heart doth kil all sensible venemous beasts so humility doth kil all intellectual venemous serpents Climacus de discretione gradu 26. As a Barrell except it bee close hooped and haue no leakes cannot holde wine so the hart except it be defended with humility and chastity and haue notany leakes for vices it cannot bee the receptable of God Sanctus Isayus abbas oratione 12. de vino As wine doth become naught except it bee kept in Vaultes and Cellars so all the labors of youth are vaine except they be preserued with humility Ibidem As wee cannot drinke out of an earthlie fountaine except wee bende downe our selues so wee cannot drinke of the liuely fountaine Christ except wee humblie bende down our selues for it is written God resisteth the proude Caesarius hom 30. As spices smell sweetest when they are pouned so when the good thinges that man hath in him are as it were pouned by humility they are more acceptable vnto God Peroaldus in summa virtutum As ignorance bringeth forth presumption and presumption ruine so knowledge bringeth forth humilitie and humilitie grace it encreaseth light perseuerance in goodnes blisfull ioy in hope a desire to be perfect a taste of wisedome constancy in fayth loue in patience ioyfulnesse of spirit vprightnesse of minde zeale of Iustice and a thirsting desire of vertue Laurentius Iustinianus De inststutione regimine praelatorum A bough of a tree the fuller of Apples it is the heauier it is the more loden with fruit it is the more lowly it hangeth so the wiser a man is the more humble he is and the more he is loden with the fruits of wisdom the more submisse lowly he is but a proude man like a barren branch mounteth alofte not seeking the profit of his soule but vanity Hector Pintus in cap. 2. Ezech. As a raine floud is low in Summer and as it were creepeth on the grounde but in the Winter and Spring-time doth flowe and abound so also humility in prosperitie is verie small but in aduersitie is verie great and strong Bernardus Iustinianus in vita Laurentij Iustiniani As Christ was humble and meeke so must Christians be As Abell is commended for innocency Noah for righteousnesse Abraham for faith Isaac for matrimoniall loue and Iacob for simplicitie and painefull labour so Moses is commended for meekenesse the Scripture sayth of him in the twelfth of Nombers the thirde verse Moses was a very meeke man aboue al the men that were vpon the earth As salt seasoneth all meates so humility seasoneth all vertues As a wilde Bull tyed to a fig tree becommeth tame so a proude man keeping companie with an humble man becommeth more lowlie F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano libro 3. De vegetabilibus plantis cap. 29. As Serpents cannot abide the shadowe of an Ash tree so the Diuels cannot abide humility ibidem As the gumme of the Tree Bdellium cureth both inwarde and outwarde impostumes so humilitie healeth both the sins of the heart and the vices of the fleshe ibidem As Cinnamon groweth in watry places so humility groweth in those heartes that are watered with true wisedome Ibidem As Hysope boiled in wine with dry figs doth purge the lunges and the brest of all diseases growing of cold causes so humilitie mingled with the Wine of charitie and the sweete Figge of mansuetude doth purge and cure the inflāmations of wrath and the swellings of pride ibidem As the herbe Dill expelleth windinesse so humility banisheth pride ibidem Patience AS much raine weares out the roughest Marble and with continuaunce of strokes the hardest steele is pierced euen so the greatest patience by extremities may bee peruerted and the kindest heart made cruell by intollerable torturinge As hee that hath an adamantine bodie is not subiect to the woundes of darts so hee that is armed with patience taketh no harme by the woundes of reproches Chrysostomus homil 2. ad populum Antioch As Ioseph lefte his coate in the hande of the harlot but fled awaie with a better coate of Chastitie so also caste thy coate into the handes of the calumniatour and flie awaie with the better couering of righteousnesse least whilest thou chalengest the vesture of thy
the Torch turned downwarde is extinguished with the selfe same waxe which was the cause of his light so Nature turned to vnkindnesse is quenched by those meanes it should be kindled leauing no branch of loue where is found no roote of humanitie Newes AS Cookes wish for a plentiful breed of cattell and fishers of fishes so busie brained innouaters doe hunt after newes and innouation in states Plut. As we set vp meate from cats and dogs so we must take heed what we speake before newes-mongers and insinuating intelligencers idem As our bodies are more indangered in the Spring and in Autumne by reason of change so all noueltie doth offende and hurt the common wealth As change of meate drinke and aire doth offend albeit it be into like or into better so it is better still to retaine our old Princes and Magistrates then to gape for newe because all innouation is full of daunger and disturbance As Apion called Homer from the dead for none other cause but to knowe from what parentage he was descended so manie take great paines and bestowe much cost onely to heare newes and knowe nouelties Plin. lib. 30. cap. 2. Recreation AS we see byrdes for procreation and profit sake make themselues nestes afterwards being freed from their labours freely to fly abroad take their pleasure so our mindes being wearied with labour and busines do couet and delight to expatiate abroad being free from carke and care Cicero lib. 2. de Oratore As an engrauer that hath had his eies long fastened vppon his worke and wearied doth againe refresh them by withdrawing them from their former intensiuenesse so wee ought sometimes to recreate our mindes and with certaine delights to refresh them but let thy delights be such as may be wholesome and profitable vnto thee Seneca lib. 2. epist 59. As lande although sowen but euery other yeare doth recompence that intermission by fruitfulnesse so wit refreshed with a litle recreation doth returne to studie with that alacritie and vigour of spirit that it doth more in a shorter time thē before being dulled it would haue done in a longer Plinius lib. 18. cap. 16. As there are intercourses of sleepe and waking of night and day of faire weather and fowle of warre and peace so labours are to be eased by disportes and recreations Plutarchus in Moralibus As we vnloose the strings of a harpe or a bowe that we may the better stretch and bende them againe so the minde is to be recreated with leasure that it may be made more fitte for labours Ibid. A wagoner doeth not alwaies holde streight his raines but doeth sometimes loose them so children are sometimes to be refreshed fauoured and cherished ibidem A bow that alwaies standes bended becomes the weaker so a wit that is alwaies toyled becomes duller As there is watching so there is sleepe As there is warre so is there peace As there is winter so is there summer As there be māy working daies so is there also many holy daies We vnbend the bowe that we may the better bende it we vnloose the harpe that wee may the sooner tune it the bodie is kept in health as well with fasting as eating so the minde is healed with ease as well as with labour Hippomanes ceased to run when he had gotten the goale Hercules to labour when he had obtained the victorie Mercurie to pipe when he had cast Argus in a slumber so euery action hath his ende and then we leaue to sweat when we haue found the sweete The Ant though she toyle in summer yet in winter she leaueth to trauaile the Bee though she delight to sucke the fayre flower yet is she at last cloyed with the honie the Spider that weaueth the finest thread ceaseth at the last when she hath finished her web so after earnest studie we are to recreate our wearied mindes Reprehension AS he is to blame that blameth Nilus for bringing forth the crocodile and the aspe neuer remembring what fruitfulnes it bringeth vnto Aegypt so is he to be reprehended that reprehendeth nature for bringing forth some fruitfull things neuer calling to mind the innumerable good things she produceth Plut. Fables tell vs that the hagges called Lamiae were cleare sighted abroade but when they came home they put their eies in a boxe and sawe nothinge so some are very cleare sighted to reprehend others and are stone blind to espy any thing in themselues Idem As they that haue no quiet at home haue all their pleasure to be abroad so a mind that vnto it selfe is guilty of villanie abhorring it selfe doth feede with the malicious reprehension of others Idem It is an easie matter to pull downe that another hath builded but it is a very hard matter either to reedifie the same againe or to build a better so it is an easie matter to finde fault with another mans oration but to speak after the same manner or better it is not so easie Idem When in Summer it thundereth more then it lightneth it portendeth great store of winde as Plinie saith so when one vehemently declareth against other mens vices himselfe showing no integrity of liuing it is a manifest signe of a minde more puffed vp with the wind of ambition then endued with true godlinesse Sorrow AS the ouen dampt vp hath the greatest heate fire supprest is most forcible the streames stopt either breake through or ouerflowe so sorrowes concealed as they are most passionate so they are most peremptorie As a wise pilot in a calme doth expect a tempest so in tranquilitie the minde is to be prepared for griefe and sorow Plutarchus As Phisitians in a vehement fluxe of phlegme doe not forthwith vse inwarde medicines but first outwardly apply outward things that may ripen the humour and then they cure it so in a newe greefe wee must be silent till it growing more milde it may admit comfort Idem We make those things sauourie by mixing sweete thinges with them which by nature are bitter so sadde and sorrowfull thinges by reason are to be allayed Idem As flies doe rather choose to sitte vpon rough places then vpon glasse or smooth places so some doe forget pleasant things and remember onely heauie and maestiue matters Idem As the rose the fairest of all flowers doth spring of thornes so of sorowfull and sharpe laboures most pleasant fruite is gathered As wine mixt with vineger hath not the same sweetnesse so sadnesse and heauines annexed to the holy spirit hath not the same pure and cleane praier Hermas seu Pastor As a boate is drowned by a tempest so the minde is deiected by sorow Chrisost Hom. 10 de poenitentia As they that sayle ouer the vast ocean sea cannot be without sicknesse so they that liue in this worlde cannot be without sorow Idem Hom. 67 ad pop Antioch As a moath doeth eate a garment so sorrow doth feede on the heart of man Idem epist. 8. ad Olympiam As the tenderest wood