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
cast sinne out of the soule Chrisost hom 10. in Math. As horses are curbed with bridles least they should proue resty iades so the body is to be moderated with temperance least it proue an vnruly seruaunt to the soule Augustinus Cap 10. De salutaribus documentis As it is impossible for a Serpent to put off his olde skin except he glide thorow a narrowe place so is it impossible for vs to put off our oulde man with his corruptions except wee enter thorowe the streight gate of abstinence fasting and temperaunce Climacus de discretione gradu 26. As swine cannot wallow in hard dryed clay so Diuels cannot tumble and keepe reuell-route in abstemious and temperate soules ibidem As the earth if it be moderately watered doth aboundantly yeeld the seede it receiued but if glutted with showers it bringeth forth thornes and weedes so our hart if it bee moderately maintained it plentifully powreth forth graces receiued of the holy spirit but if it bee glutted with wine and belly cheere it bringeth forth thornie cogitations and corrupt weedes Ibidem cap. 48. As a lampe is without oyle so is abstinence fasting and temperance without charity Cesarius Arelat hom 32. As gluttony kindleth the concupiscence of luxury so temperance and abstinence mortifieth the lusts of the body Isaac presbyter de mundi contemptu As the stomacke beeing corrupted with the immoderate eating of sweet meates is purged by a bitter potion so they that haue liued riotouslie and luxuriouslie are neuer better cured then by a temperate and an austere kinde of life especially if there be giuen vnto them to drink the bitter wine of the Lords passion Guerricus abbas sermone primo de Epiphania As the Athenians did neuer consult of peace but in mourning apparell as Demades saide so moderate liuing doth neuer enter into our mindes except wee be driuen to it by sicknesse and diseases Plut. in Moral As in a calme the ship is made ready against a tempest so by slender fare and spare diet we are made more fit to auoide surfet at a large banquet Ibidem Men that are onely fat tall and strong are like vnto the Pillers of buildings as Aristotle said Ibidem As from ships whose pumpe is full the burden and loade is to be withdrawne so from surfet swolne churles that carry flesh budgets about them meate and drinke is to be withdrawn ibidem As Marriners in faire weather do spread their sailes but when they feare a tempest they drawe them in so the body when it is in sound health may feed more largely but fearing a disease it must be dealt withall more warely ibidem As the Planet Mercury is saide to rule ouer the water so temperance doth rule ouer the waters of concupiscence and the fluds of lust F. Ioannes a S. Geminiano lib. 1. de caelo et elementis cap. 77. As Mercury doth dispose the childe vnto wisdome that is borne vnder his predominancy so the moderation as well of meat as of venery doth dispose vnto the atchiuement of prudence ibidem As Mercury doth alwaies goe after the sunne so temperance maketh the flesh to yeeld obedience to reason ibidem As Mercury according to Ptolomy swaieth rule in Gemini and Virgo but not in Piscis so temperance hath dominion ouer Gemini that is ouer the senses of the bodie which are twofold as ouer the two eyes two eares c. and it raigneth in Virgo because it preserueth virginity but it faileth in Piscis that is in them that liue in the waters of delicacy Ibidem As Tinne according to Aristotle is compounded of good quicksiluer but of bad sulphur so temperance is compounded of the moderation and strength of regular reason and of the delight and will of the flesh Idem lib. 2. de Metallis et Lapid cap. 36. As Tinne cracketh all other metalles that it is mixed with so temperance and abstinence doth pull downe pride bruseth all the rebellions of the body Ibidem As that Amethist is good which is beautified with the mixture of two colours purple and violet so is that temperance profitable that is adorned with two vertues with charitie and humility Ibidem As there are fiue kinds of the Amethist as saith Isidore so there are fiue principall partes of temperance abstinence sobriety chastitie shamefastnes and modesty Ibid. As the Amethist is powerful against drūkennesse as saith Dioscorides so is temperance ibidem As the Amethist maketh men vigilant so doth temperance Ibidem As the Amethist is soft and easie to bee engrauen so doth temperance make a mā capable of euery good beautiful sculpture of all honest actions and vertuous demeanors Ibidem As Porcus among the Indians Masinissa among the Numidians Epaminondas amōg the Thebanes Lycurgus among the Lacedemoniās were renowmed for sober tēperate men so Socrates Plato Pericles were famous for tēperance among the Athenians Iulius Caesar among the Romans so that Cato was wont to say of him that he alone came sober to subuert the common wealth Abstinence AS a sicke man commeth to phisicke so euery one should come to feed on dainties that is not seeking for pleasures in them but releefe of necessity Lodon Granat lib. de deuotione Euē as a dead body is preserued by myrrhe which is bitter otherwise it would putrifie breede wormes so also our flesh is corrupted through delicacy effeminacy bringeth forth vices which otherwise by temperance and abstinence is kept in the duty of vertue Ibidem As that raine is the best that mildly showreth vpon the earth but a suddaine a violent raine hurteth the medowes and destroyeth the corne so that meate is the best for the body that is taken temperately and with abstinence but gluttony destroyeth and enfeebleth it Ibidem As ful furnished tables breed lothsōe surfets so mean repasts make healthful persōs As a fasting mans spetting is poison vnto a serpent euen so abstinence is the bane of all vices whatsoeuer As they that offer sacrifice doe not tast of it so certaine giue liberall entertainment to others themselues notwithstanding being very abstinent Plut. As wormes in childrens bellies are killed by sharpe and bitter medicines so sinne dwelling in our inwardest partes is slaine and exstinguished by abstinence fasting Basilius homil 1 de ieiunio As the stone which the Grecians call Amianton cannot bee polluted so an abstemious person can hardly be corrupted Ibidem As hunger and thirst doe make meate and drinke pleasant to the tast so abstinence and fasting do season sweeten all meates and foode whatsoeuer Ibidem As oyle maketh the iointes of a wrestler supple so abstinence and fasting doth ad strength vnto him that exerciseth himselfe in pietie Idem homil 2. de ieiunio As water allayeth heate so abstinence and fasting allayeth lust Ibidem As ingurgitation and gourmandising maketh the body heauie and vnweildy so abstinence and fasting makethe it light nimble Ibidem As they that keepe horses for the race do