know there is but one only Sunne more simple thou art then answered she againe to beleeue that we haue more Gods then one though so many Hosts as thou seest euery where deriue themselues from his diuinity and at this the Iew confounded left the place The B. Virgin not only adored this B. Sacrament on earth but now in heauen actually Continues her Adoration which we may confirme by a storye taken out of Vincentius his Mirrour Historial the. 17. booke confirmed by diuers other Authors of worthy credit There was sayes he a Curat of euil life addicted to his pleasures and one who studied more to flay and kil his flock then to feed them It happened in his parish at the same tyme there-fel sicke a riche Gentleman of prime quality and a poore widow of a vertuous life the Vicar choosing rather to visit the Gētleman as one from whom there was some what to be hoped for left the widow without help abandoned and after he had dispatch't with him slightly hearing his Confession and administring the other Sacramēts yet he remained lingering there so long impertiēntly flattering the Gentleman with hope of life though he euen saw death in his Countenance only in hope of some temporal benefitt vntil the widow mindful of her eternal good sent for him being almost in her last Agonie but he sticking fast there in hope of gaine could not be drawne from thence which his Vicar perceiuing moued with compassion alasse Sir sayd he suffer not this poore woman to dye thus destitute of help but at least send me thither if you wil not goe your selfe Goe if you wil sayd he for my part I wil not leaue this Gentleman where there is hope of some what to be gott to visit a begger where there is nothing but misery hereupon the Vicar went with the B. Sacrament for her Viaticum to visit this infirme creature poor indeed of worldly riches but riche in heauenly without which al is pouerty and he was no soener arriued at the doore where the poore soule lay only vpon a litle straw but he beheld the glorious Queene of heauen accompanied with innumerable troopes of Angels and Virgins assisted at her happy departure at the sight of which the Vicar suspēded in his thoughts a while whether he should enter or no at last reflecting from his owne vnworthines on the dignity of him who was in the Sacrament which he brought with him he confidently entred in when the B. Virgin and al her Glorious trayne with humble reuerence adored it and presently vanished away When the good Vicar in extreme consolation approched to the Couch where the poore widow lay and hauing heard her Confession and communicated her the happy soule presently loosened from its mortal bones tooke flight immediatly to heauen In the meane while things succeeded cleane cōtrary at the riche mans house whither the Vicar was no sooner returned but he beheld the Gentlemans bed al incircled in with ougly black spirits with horrible noyse skreekings and roarings affrighting of his soule whilest he cried out in horrible dismay helpe helpe my freinds these wicked spirits are haling me and with their gripes they euen presse me to the hart alasse I am a lost and miserable man and at last whilst the Curat and the rest were labouring in vaine to comfort him his aking soule weary of those momentary and painful gripes issuing out of its body was receiued by those Feinds and carried where was nothing but eternal torments Imagine but what impressions the whilest the concurrancy of these two Visions made in the heart of the good Vicar and how deuoutly afterwards he reuerenced the B. Sacrament hauing seene with what deuotion the B. Virgin did it and al her heauenly traine At least the professed seruants of this B. Virgin ought to make their profitt of this Example and learne from thence to reuerence the B. Sacrament and also to haue the often receiuing of it in highe esteeme not withstanding the friuolous opinions of some who hold it an irreuerence the often frequenting of it not considering that it is stiled our dayly bread that S. Luke and S. Denis the Areopagite affirmes it to haue been the Custome of the Primitiue Christiās to receiue it dayly with incredible Consolation For their better instruction let them heare Saint Ambrose exhorting to the frequent receiuing it The seruants of Alm. God sayes he receiue this bread dayly since dayly thou hast need of it for thy Comfort refreshment and purging thee from thy sinnes And the Angelical Doctour S. Thomas sayes That whosoeuer experienceth an increase of grace and deuotion by their often receiuing it both may and ought to frequent it still and that although it be Commendable sometimes for humility to abstaine from it Yet it is more Commendable out of loue to receiue it often As witnesseth that example of S. Bonauenture who in his yonger yeares at his first entrance into the Order of the Frier-Minors out of the profoundnes of his humility would oftentimes forbeare to cōmunicate vntil hearing Masse one day it pleased Alm. God to send him a particle of the Blessed Host by the hands of Angels to communicate withal by this singular fauour both rewarding his humility and encouraging him to more frequent receiuing it And heere we wil cease all further Discourse of these Conditions requisit in the seruants of the Blessed Virgin and treate of the due reuerence which wee owe to her and first we wil declare the Excellence thereof Heere endeth the first Part. The second Part. Of the Excellency of those Reuerences We are to exhibit in honour of the Queene of Heauen CHAPITRE I. AMONGST al the most noble and excellent seruices appertaining to the diuine honour that Adoration which the Diuines cal Latria and which is only appropriat to God in regard of the infinities of his Maiesty holdes the first ranke and place This adoration according to S. Iohn Damascene consists in an interiour Act by which the Creature testifies his submission vnto his Creatour by some exteriour signe either of vncouering the head bowing the knee inclining the body or the like With this supreme sort of Adoration the three Kings adored the Infant Iesus in his Mothers armes And entring the house sayes S. Mathew they found the Infant with Mary his mother falling on the ground they adored him words which excellētly wel declare the greatnes of this adoration by which the Kings and Monarks of the earth humbly bow the head and knee vnto the King and Monarke of the heauens Now to speake of the adoration proper to the B. Virgin the next degree to that of God himselfe the Diuines distinguish it by the name of Hyperdulia from the rest by which al creatures both in heauen and earth count it as honour to adore the sacred Queene of heauen According to the opinion of some Diuines God had no sooner created the Angels but he let them vnderstand how his B. Sonne
the hand of your holy Angel to your sublime Altar in the fight of your diuine Maiestie c. And as they are assistant to vs during our liues so at our deaths are they much more powerfully defending vs from al the assaults of the Infernal Enemy as testifies B. Aloysius Gonzaga of the Societie of Iesus in that his deuout meditation of our Angel Guardian where hee sayes that our Angel Custos at the time of our death is most diligent in assisting vs against the Enemy preseruing vs cheifly from those two sinnes which are most incident to men in that article of time Infidelity and despaire to the end that making heer a happy end they may repaire with them to heauen vnto their euerlasting habitation And in prosecuting his discourse he sayes that as soone as the soule once is free from the captiuity of the body its Angel presently conducts it to the Tribunal of Alm. God animating and encouraging it on the way to put its cheifest confidence in the merits of the sacred bloud of our Sauiour Christ and if it chance the better to be purified from its sinnes to be adiudged vnto the purging flames he visits it often there comforts it brings it the suffrage and succour of those prayers and merits which are offred for it in the other world and encourages in middest of its suffrances with the hope it can not be long in suffering and in fine when the time is expired he conducts it out and al bright and purified leades it vnto heauen and in the twinkling of an eye presents it vnto Alm God to receaue from him the Crowne of eternal beatitud prepared from al eternitie for those who heer sighe after it in this vale of teares O happy and a thousand tymes happy is that soule which hauing been faithful to its Creator and pliant to his hand to be ledd whither soeuer his least motion carried it in following his good Angel for guide leauing the world ful of the vertue of his example arriues at last vnto that Kingdome of eternal felicity where with God and his Saints it shal for euer raigne But now touching the practise of this particular deuotion to our Angel Guardian first being assured that we are committed to his Regencie and that so noble and excellent a creature as al the eloquence of the world rather diminishes then add to its cōmendations vouchsafes to keep vs perpetuall company and defends vs from al euil with his careful watchings his comfortable aduise we are on our parts to endeauour a requital First by comporting our selues with al deuotion and due respect vnto his presence and next honouring him with al competent honour Let vs then consider if we stood perpetually in the sight of some earthly Prince or Monarke how careful we should be so to compose our outward behauiour as might render vs most grateful in his sight with how much more care and diligence ought we in the presence of our Angel Guardian to comport our selues Heare what S. Bernard sayes in explication of these words For he hath giuen his Angels charge ouer thee to guard thee in al thy wayes c. O mortal man sayes he what reuerence what deuotion and confidence art thou to conceiue in thy breast from these comfortable words of the Royal Prophet reuerence in standing in presence of thy Angel deuotion for his loue of thee confidence for his care Be therefore vigilant neuer to exceed the bonds of thy respect while these holy spirits are alwayes in thy sight by the appointment of Alm. God himselfe attending them thy preseruation in al thy wayes and wheresoeuer thou art either in priuat or publique be alwayes careful neuer to commit that indecency before him which before me thou wouldest not doe Thus S. Bernard in his deuout and pious manner Secondly we are to honour them with these reuerences we haue formerly treated of which may be best performed when into priuat we haue retir'd our selues especially before we retire our selues to rest with a profound inclination we are to say Angele Dei qni Custos es mei c. beseeching him to keep vs in our sleepe from the assalts of the Enemy that euer watches to harme and mischiefe vs so when we awake we are to commend our selues vnto them that day following whatsoeuer busines we are to vndertake that it may sort a wished conclusion and we should do wel often to commend vnto them in some vocal manner a deuout conception of our hart in our occurrant necessityes beseeching them to assist vs in the mannage of this or that particular affaire This deuout custome had one Alexander Luzaqua an Italian Gentleman of a most holy and vertuous life that as often as he saluted any man he mentally intended that reuerence vnto his Angel Guardian whom he saluted and an excellent consideration it was to thinke a celestial spirit more worthy the salutation then an earthly worme Let vs imitate this deuotion and in saluting any say thus in our minds I offer this reuerence to the Angel Guardian that attends vpon him or he whom I salute And most happy it wil be for vs if we do so for by this meanes we shal indeare our selues in the loue and care of those B. spirits who can do more for our real aduancement and good then al the world besides Jn What manner We are to proceed in the exercise of these Adorations Worthily to honour the Mother of Alm. God CHAP. XIII VVE being composed of two parts the superiour inferiour of body and soule by the singular prouidence and goodnes of Alm. God that we might honour him with both both heer and in the world to come a great part of our corporal honour Consists in these fore sayd Adorations which not only the Saints haue practised but euen our B. Sauiour himself we oftē reade how he bowed of whom his knees vnto his eternal father and prostrated on the ground as namely the night preceding his Passion when according to the Euangelist S. Luke He kneeled and fel prostrated on his face And. SS Matthew Marke he prostrated on the ground by which words we may gather how our Sauiour reuerenced his eternal Father in spiritu veritate in spirit and verity with each part both of body and soule Let the deuout Christian then desirous to render honour to the B. Virgin accompany his interiour deuotion of the soule with the exterior of the body first when thou art retired in secret for so when thou wouldst Pray enter into thy chamber sayes the holy Scripture thou art to begin with this Consideration how excellent she is whom thou art to reuerence and the excellency of the reuerence thou exhibit'st to her which the whole Court of heauen take for highest honour to be imployed in And touching the exllency of her thou art to consider her large portion of glorie aboue al the other Saints and represent her to the eies of thy
our brother Go to my brothers sayes he to Mary Magdalen Oh infinit sweetnes of loue Go to my brothers and tel them I ascend to my father your father to my God and yours The Blessed Virgin is then our Mother Iesus Christ the increated Word our brother and the Eternal father our father Conforme to this S. Bernard on these words Ecce mater tua behold thy Mother argues thus If Mary be thy mother O man sayes he then Iesus Christ is thy brother his father thine his Kingdom thou hast right to and Consequently the grace of Mary is thy riches since the mother Vsually layes vp for the Children so thy necessities goe vnto her hart for the mother for these wants of her Children is moued at hart O take her then for thine Thus S. Bernard that eloquent Doctour And certainly our condition is most great and highly aduantag'd aboue al others to haue the Mother of God Empresse of the Vniuerse for Mother and her only sonne the King of glory glory of Kings and our true God for brother An honour the Angels could neuer glorie in For when or where sayes S. Paul did God euer say to them as he sayd to man speaking to our Sauiour Christ Thou art my sonne to day I haue begotten thee These spirits as happy as they are haue neuer an Angel of them al inuested with their Angelical nature they can say is God whilst wee inuested with our humane haue the God of Angels himselfe wee cannot only say is man but euen our brother too nor do wee find it was euer sayd to any of thē as it was to man Behold thy Mother in the person of S. Iohn who according to the Doctours personated and stood at the foote of the Crosse for al mankind whilst the Sauiour of vs al deliuer'd him the pretious treasure of his Mother in trust Let vs conclude then that her loue is generally towards al but in a more particular manner towards those who assume her for their Mother and by most affectionat wayes seeke out her safeguard and protection Moreouer wee must conclude this glorious Queen hath shewed more affection to men then euer shee did to Angels In imitation of the eternal Father whom in her actions shee of al others most nearly imitats and for proofe that his loue is more to vs then them but consider with what pretious guifts he hath honoured vs for so the greatnes of the presents giuen by the louer to its beloued manifestly declares the greatnes of its affection to it and what guifts are those the eternal Father hath bestowed on the sonnes of the earth Let the Angels harke and the Archangels lend an eare and al the heauenly Hierarchies remaine astonish't at so wondrous a liberalitie Behold the infinit present the infinit guift with God hath giuē presented the world withal neuer to be enough vallued neuer to be aequalled God hath so loued the World as for it he hath giuen his only sonne out of his excessiue loue to free it from the miserie in which it was and what on the Angels hath he bestowed the whilst nothing but their eternal beatitud merited as the Diuines hold by one sole act of their Wil another thing it is and of other valuation which he hath bestowed on men to giue his owne Sonne to saue them then his giuing the Angels their eternal beatitud so sayes S. Bonauenture To giue his only Sonne for the impieties of men was a greater matter then to the merits of Angels to giue eternal life Let vs grant then and freely acknowledge the loue of God his holy Mother more splēdidly shinning on men then Angels since more admirable haue been the effects produced of it towards them then these and more obliging to repay them reciprocally againe But this is not al nor doth our gratious Mistris stay heere to repay affection with affection but by the transport of her loue shee passes to honour her seruants sometimes with her visits sometimes to comfort them with her owne deare presence her Blessed sonns An example of which amongst an infinitie of others wee haue in the new reformed Mirrour of Examples and it is this There was a yong Virgin some 14. yeares of age so deuoted to the Mother of God as shee employed in her seruice almost al her dayes and nights in which her pious exercises shee continued for almost seauen yeares space euer beseeching her deere mistres patronesse so to fauour her as shee might behold her B. Sonn iust as shee had brought him into the world vntil at last one night and 't is beleued to haue been Christmas night retiring her selfe into an Oratorie shee had in her fathers house there with prayers and teares iterating her petition behold sodainly there appeared vnto her the Queene of heauen accōpanied with Myriads of Angels who gratiously reaching her from her owne armes to hers her heauenly Infant sayd Behold heer my dear daughter what you haue so much desired take him embrace him and at your pleasure solace you with him at this the deuout Virgin tooke him in her armes and embracing and kissing him vsed al the tendernesses à deuout loue could expresse an affection in when in the heate of her kisses embraces the diuine Infant darting a look at her had been ableto haue pierc'd a farr harder hart thē hers asked her if shee loued him that I do said shee and confirmed it with a thousand new blandishmēts but how much do you loue mee more then my body and how much more more then my very hart yet how much more then that alasse said shee it is impossible to tel you that let it speak for mee and so with a profound sigh shee cōcluded the dialogue and with that her life her hart bursting in the midst vnable to containe so much of loue was in it when we may piously imagine the B. Virgin tooke her white soule in her armes deliuering it into the hands of Angels they with sweete and melodious harmonie conducted it to heauen At sound of which celestial musick those of the house accurring forceing open the Oratory doore found the dead corps extended on the ground and exhaling so much sweetnes as it seemed al the most pretious perfumes of the world had gon to the embalming it Amongst the rest two Fathers of S. Dominicks Order were present who as they dissected her to find out he cause of so sudaine strange a death perceiued her hart inscribed with these wordes in golden letters O my Iesus I loue thee more then my selfe for hauing Created redeemed and adopted mee by thy holy grace Whereby wee may perceaue how great was the loue shee bore to the sacred Mother and her Sonne and how greatly they are aduantag'd by it who loue them with such tendernes of affection I am inuited by this so excellent an Example to the recital of one other no lesse excellent taken out of the first part of our
his great fauours towards her and so she begins her Canticle My soule doth magnifie our Lord and my spirit exults in God my Sauiour And to the model of this excellent vertue of hers are al her deuout seruants to conforme their actiōs and expresse the portraiture of it in their soules when how grateful wil thy appeare in the eyes of this glorious Queene when they present themselues before her in this riche equipage Certainly there is none hath any vnderstanding or discourse in him that wil not humble himselfe vnto the ground and thinke him the most abiect of al other things who shal but consider how profoundly humble the B. Virgin was euen in that exalted state of hers of being Mother of God more holy then the Angels and more pure then the very sun-beames themselues And who considering his owne vilenes and extraction only from a litle earth his being subiect to such a world of faults and imperfections his becoming through sinne enimie to God and companion of the diuel wil not in imitation of the B. Virgin cast themselues into the bottome of humility from the topp of pride and presumption whereon they stand A great and neere Imitator of this humility of hers was her great seruant S. Francis who was ambitious of nothīg so much on earth as to be accounted the most abiect of al his brethren and for his owne part he esteemed himselfe no better then a collation of al the abhominable vices in the world and one of the most greeuous sinners as euer was which in one so great a Saint and in whom so many vertues were assembled was the more rare and worthy the greater wonder and imitation And although this in general might suffice to affect vs to this excellent vertue yet I wil sett you downe in particular a Method for the attayning it giuen by B. Tecelam a Religious of the third Order to a certaine freind of his who demanding of him by what meanes the vertue of Humility was to be acquired he answered Contemne thy selfe and al thou hast in the world esteeme euery one more perfect then thy selfe and haue a slight opinion of none make great esteeme of thy faults and litle of thy vertues perfections count litle al the good thou dost to others and the harme thou dost for great and thou shalt be in a faire way to Humility To this we may add S. Bonauentures advice for the attayning this holy vertue Abase thy selfe as lowly as thou canst sayes he Imagine al men thy betters and thy selfe hardly worthy to be their slaue and so thou shalt arriue to a tranquillity of mind and neuer be molested with offence or moved to impatience By which excellent documents we may learn to find out true humility and the wayes that lead vnto a Iourney so profitable for our soules which our B. Sauionr perswads vs to vndertake saying Learne of me to be meeke and humble of hart And those seruants of the B. Virgin who are so indeed especially women-kind are to shew it in their exterior comportments as they goe abrode in publique shewing neither pride nor vanity in their lookes nor apparel and compasing both according to the exact rules of vertue and decency For what an vnworthy thing were it in them to appeare in the B. Virgins sight lesse vertuously adorn'd or decently behaued things which she in her selfe so much abhorr'd as S. Epiphanius testifies of her together with diuers others that her owne habit was euer plaine and simple without al affectation of riches or novelty and which is an euident signe of her owne purity neuer subiect to any spott or stayne but stil the more whit as it wer for her wearing it This humility in their habits then let women learne of her euen for the loue of our B. Saiuiour Christ who died naked on the ignominious Crosse for vs and let not such vanity vnworthy of a Christian appeare in their habits and exterior garbe Surius in the life of S. Elizabeth daughter of Andreas King of Hungary and wife of the Lantgraue of Turing recounts a storie that comes wel to purpose here She says he one day attired in her Maiestick robes in al her pompe and brauery entred the Church where beholding iust at the entrance a Crucifix she sodainly made a stand and in great bitternes and compunction of hart began in this manner to enter into comparison of her self with it Shal my Lord and Sauiour remaine al naked nayled to this hard Crosse shal I miserable sinner as I am go at pleasure vested in these costly robes curiously embrodered with gold and precious stone Shal my sweet Redeemer haue these diuine hands of his fastned to the Crosse with cruel nayles shal I weare on mine al the delicacies that can be gott O my Iesus shal I see thee the only Spouse of my hart haue thy head transpearc't with those sharp thornes shal I with such magnificence weare a crowne on mine Alas and can I behold him abandoned by al his freinds and inhumanely left for a prey to the outragious vsage of his enemies and sett vp as a marke for them to shoote their horrible blasphemies at whilst I my self go with so great a trayne wayted vpon and honoured at euery turne O miserable most miserable as I am is this the loue I beare to my Sauiour Christ are these my acknowledgment and gratitud for al his benefits And in saying this a sodaine palenes ouercast her face and a greeuous fainting cast her in a trance when returning out of it she firmely purposed neuer to admit of superfluity againe in any thing she wore de facto euer after she went so mortified in her apparrel as most commonly she had vnder it a rugged hayre cloth and as often as the Dukes occasions absented him from her she would be so coursly attired as no poore woman but went better clad And certainly it is a deplorable thing euer with teares of bloud to see what excesse of apparel voluptuousnes raignes amongst women now a dayes so as they seeme to place al their their felicity as it were in a newfangled fashion or attire I would they knew or considered how displeasing it is to Alm God or how many soules their vaine curiosities and foolish pride haue precipitated and cast downe to Hel and what lamētable harmes haue had their origin from thence for they are not only the cause of their owne sinnes but also of others participation with them whilst in regarding them the bayte hath been but layd by the Enemy to draw thousands vnto hel Which perhapps we should hardly Credit did not the holy Ghost it selfe affirme it Turne away thy face sayes he from a woman Curiosity adorned for many haue been taken by the beauty of women and become reprobate a horrible thing to imagination And how many Religious men haue we seene drawne by the attraction of beauty first to insinuat themselues into their familiarityes
but a recession from al impurity which is sinne and an accession to God the soueraigne purity in this consists the true sanctity of the soule for the more we weed it of imperfections the more place is left for perfections to spring vp in it and so S. Dionyse defyning sanctity sayes that it is a perfect purity abstracting from al sinne and cleansed from al impurity whence we may wel conclude that purity is no other thing then an exemption from al imperfection Let the pious Reader then imagine the purity of the B. Virgins mind who of al the Children of Adam was not only exēpted from al actual sinne but also from original and that because of the conueniency as S. Anselme would haue it that she who was the Mother of God should next to him haue al imaginable purity which could not be if she had not been preserued from original sinne Besides God hauing predestinated her to a degree of honour the highest that any creature could be capable of it followed consequently he should endow her with a purity aboue al other creatures and so al the faculties of his power wisdome and goodnes we may imagine were at once imploied in enritching her with such guifts and supernatural preparations as rendred her of al creatures the most eminent in such manner as those who had but the eies of spirit open to penetrat into the beautie and perfection of her glorious soule would infallibly more admire Gods workmanshipp and see more admirable effects of it in her then in the fabrick and creation of the Vniuersal Neuer any thing came immediatly out of the hand of God but it was pure perfect and compleat he created the Angels from the purest of the Heauens perfect and pure he created man likewise soe of the most pure-parts of the Earth and Eue from the purest flesh and bone of Adam whilst he was yet in the state of Innocency was created pure and the reason is because the nigher to the principal of puritie a thing is euer the more pure it is This being so what can be more resplendent saies S. Ambrose then she in whom purity it selfe close to abide what finally more vnblemisht then she whom the Sōne of God chose to inuest himselfe withal And if God hath fauoured other creatures with that highe prerogatiue to be borne in grace and exempt from sinne who can doubt but she in a special manner was borne so and exempted aboue the rest For what incongruency els were it to haue the mother inferior to her Children the Queene to her subiects and. Seing then the Angels and both Adam and Eue more created in grace and in the state of innocency why should we deny the Queene of Angels and the repairer of Adam and Eues offences the life prerogatiue Yet let vs passe farther and affirme the B. Virgin excelling in purity by infinit degrees not only al men and women in the world but also al Angels Archangels and the highest Seraphins in heauen For this S. Hilarion affirmes of her addressing himself vnto her in this deuout manner O souerainely happy Virgin aboue al women and surmounting euen the Angels themselues in purity Her sanctity then being so great we may wel conclude of her that there was neuer in her any blemish of sinne nor the least shadow of imperfection Let vs consider her then being so immaculate as she was as an Idea framed by God of al Chastity as a liuely paterne of perfection in women model of supreme purity and finally schoole of al Vertues Virgin both in mind and body humble of heart graue in discouery prudent in action neuer stirring abrode til inuited by necessity sober and mortified wearing alwayes in her Contenance a holy bashfullnes her gate wel ordered and composed simple in Clothing moderat in her voice neuer laughing but weeping often sparing of speech alwayes wel imployed hauing stil in hand some profitable booke assiduous in prayer during which she seemed stil in extasy more abhorring sinne then al the men of the world together as one who better then them al together knew how hateful and detestable it was to Alm. God she was of a spirit perpetually attentiue to the exercise of vertue and holy life holding in a generous dis-esteeme al the honours dignityes and riches of the world as knowing how contemptible they were al in compare with those of heauen whose soueraigne Queene and Empresse she was to bee how was it possible then she should euer fal into any sinne being of so excellent a soule and it being replenished with so many diuine graces perfections and From whence sayes Dionyse the Carthusian thusian we may imagine these beames proceeded which shooting from her countenance rendred her so resplendent and venerable to al that regarded her al which were nothing yet in compare with the inward rayes that illustrated her mind which gaue light vnto the Angels of light themselues her regard was such according to S. Ambrose S. Bonauenture as her bare sight was sufficient to reclaime euen those that were furthest gon in sinne but that which was most admirable in her and which most rauishes in astonishment both men and Angels was her being at once both Mother Virgin virgin in purity Mother in fecundity A prodigie of al others the most stupendious and a prerogatiue only appropriat to this rare Phenix of perfection for to whom els were attributed euer these supreme titles of honour Virgin before child-birth Virgin in child-birth and Virgin after it Yet t is an Article of saith and al doubt thereof interdicted by the holy Church for the Consummation of which we wil here relate a Miracle happening to B. Giles one of the first Companions of S. Francis and it was this A Religious Diuine of the Order of S. Dominick being once vehemently tempted by the Diuel sworne Enemy to the B. Virgin to cal in doubt her vndubitable Virginity and not sufficing by his owne forces to shake it off was resolu'd to vse the helpe of some other and hearing the fame of B. Giles for sanctity resolu'd it should be he Being on his way towards the Conuent where the holy man resided who by diuine reuelation vnderstood the cause of his iourney behold he was ready to meete him and embrace him with al the freindly expressions of a Religious charity and e're euer the other opened his mouth to communicat with him of his temptation he sayd vnto him Brother and freind assure your selfe shee was a virgin before child-birth when raking the ground with a litle wane he had one Lilly presently sprung vp then conuerting himselfe to him againe so assure your self said he she was a virgin in child-birth a second Lilly sprung vp in confirmation therof finally the third time addressing himselfe to him he said assure your selfe lastly said he that she was a virgin after child-birth too and this by the springing vp of a third Lilly being confirmed also the Diuine
was one day to become man and this man should be their God Whereupon the B. Spirits with regard vnto the time honoured him as such and consequently as Suares sayes in following Saint Thomas his opinion they odored his Mother as her who was to inuest him in mortal flesh And 't is an approued veritie of al the Doctours and the cheife of them al S. Paul that the Sonne of God being come into the world al the Angels came to adore him So sayes he when he sent his first borne sonne into the world he sayd Let al the Angels of God adore him And S. Bonauenture and other deuout writers saye that when the Infant Iesus was borne in the Stable al the Angels in their seueral Quiers came to adore him and that perhaps visibly in humane shapes the more to honour his Humanity After which they did their seueral reuerences to his B. Mother the one and the other singing diuine and melodious Canticles of prayse Now if the B. Spirits with such profound reuerēce adored the B. Virgin while she was yet resident in the world what excessiue honours may we imagine do they render her now in heauen where next to God she holds the second place invested with incomparable glorie at the right hand of her B. Sonne For my part I am of opinion that their most ordinary exercise is to honour the Sonne Mother with incessant adoration and so we read how S. Iohn rauished in extasye beheld the Angels incircling the Throne of God and falling on their faces before it adoring the B. Trinity and the sacred Virgin daughter of the Eternal Father Mother of the Sonne and spouse of the holie Ghost by which doth clearly appeare the excellency of this adoration both Latria and Hyperdulia exhibited by al the Court of heauen vnto their King and Queen If then these glorious spirits honour with so soueraigne and magnificent a kind of Adoration the Mother of Alm. God with greater reason ought we to honour her by how much greater her fauours and graces haue been to vs then to them Let vs then honour her with al possible reuerence to shew our selues grateful vnto her for her benefits Of which we reade a rare and excellent Example in Scala caeli and it is this A certaine holy Monke in England being much deuoted to the Queene of heauen and amongst other his deuotions vsing often to salute her with profound reuerence and bow downe as often as he hard her name pronounced this holy name through extremity of age becoming so feeble as he scarce could moue himselfe or so much as stirre him in his bed the Abbot assigned him one to attend on him in his chamber but he not being able to be alwayes present to his occasions it happened that once in his absence he desirous to remoue himselfe and hauing twice or thrice attempted it in vaine at last hauing recourse vnto his prayers beseeching the B. Virgins assistance behold she sodainly appeared to him waited on by a faire traine of Virgins two of which by appointment set him in that posture which he desired when the B. Virgin after she had most sweetly comforted him as a pledge of her deare acceptance of his deuotion added vnto his terme of life twenty yeares and restored him to his perfect health againe A strange fauour which cōferr'd not so much vnto the corporal vigour of the man as it did to his spiritual in deuoutly seruing her But in the laudable exercise hereof we are not so much to regard the otward comportment of the body as the inward disposition of the mind in framing a deuout conceipt of the B. Virgin imagining her present as often as we exhibit to her any corporal reuerence and beholding vs the while with a deare regard whereby this one deuotion will become more familiar to vs and our remembrance of her more deare and cordial so as we shal take pleasure to speake with her and of her on al occasions and more confidently preferr our petitions to her in our necessities And this affection whosoeuer shal conceiue of her in his mind is in a most happy estate may wel presume of his saluation and to be one of the number of the elect whence he cannot but experience an incredible ioy of minde since according to a certaine graue Authour If thou feele in thy hart sayes he a singular affection and deuotion to the glorious Virgin it is a signe of thy Praedestination to eternal life and thou mayst wel be glad and reioyce at it These holie motions and pious affects of loue reuerence were found in that deuout woman of whom it is recorded in Scala celi That being of noble birth though fortune were wanting to her nobility and hauing two daughters whom shee carefully had educated in deuotion to the B. Virgin and the seruice of Alm. God It chanced at last that their pouerty was soe great as they had nothing to sustaine their life nor defend them from the extremity of pouerty at which the mother exceedingly afflicted had recourse one day vnto the Church where before an Image of the B. Virgin deuoutly kneeling down she with a voice often interrupted with her sobs and sighes in this manner deuoutly supplicated her O most holy Virgin the refuge of such miserable creatures as my selfe behold my two daughters here which it hath pleased Alm. God to bestow on me being brought vnto extreme necessity whom now I resigne ouer vnto your care and motherly Prouidence since mine no longer can auayle them accept them then and prouide for them as you see best since al humane protection fayleth mee Hauing finished her supplication and being ready to depart the Church behold a yong man of rauishing feature wee may wel imagine some Angel sent from heauen presented her with a hundred poundes saying This money Lady I haue long owed to your deceased husband pardon my so long delaying the payment of it So he departed and she vnto her home where with the money she made prouision what was necessary for the adorning her daughters according to their quality which made the world euer inclined to imagine and speake the worst report them to haue by lesse chast wayes arriued at that plēty which it saw they had the noble mother no sooner had notice hereof but with teares in her eyes calling her daughters to her she sayd vnto them My daughters go to the B. Virgin vnder whose patronage you are and commend your fame and reputation vnto her who now is more concerned in it then I to fetch you faire clearly off againe they did so with al the attestations as deuotion could suggest they beseeched their diuine Mistresse to releiue them in their fame as she had in their pouerty neither was it in vaine for in short time after they became so vertuously reported of as the Prince of the countrey moued by the common fame that went of them constituted them Abbesses of two seuerall
obey so faithfully the voice of his commands And this is the first reason that should incite vs to render them seruice and reuerence The second yet is more forcible and that is our many obligations to them for their many good Offices don vs perpetually which although it be at the appointment of Alm. God and they in their performance are but his Ministers yet they being deriued vnto vs by them from the soueraigne fountaine from whence al our good proceeds we are to receiue them from them most gratefully with a thankful acknowledgement I wil not inlarge this Chapter to summe them vp but remit the Reader to the holy Scripture where they shal find them recorded both very particularly and frequently Now let vs come to the exercise of this deuotion To render them then that honour which is due to the aboundance and sublimity of Glory which they haue in being of so neere accesse to God the fountaine of it al and participating by it of his diuine nature we are to do wel for to retire our selues and there recollecting vs in the interiour of our soule excluding al earthly cogitations to be the whilst the more in heauen we are to imagine their Orders and array their beauty sublimity riches splendour and in fine their glory and admirable perfection and thus discourse within our selues this Quire then the rest is more sublime this more specious this fuller of merit and luster with a thousand other considerations on a subiect of such great worth and amplitud Then we are to salute them troup after troup with a comportment ful of reuerence and respect making the longer stay where our deuotions shal detaine vs longest either amongst the Seraphins Cherubins c. Congratulating with them their great splendours and prerogatiues and afterwards prostrating our selues before the throne of God we are to praise and render him humble thankes for creating creatures so perfect and excellent for his seruice and the honour of his Court. The like manner of proceeding we may vse in honouring the Saints as Patriarcks Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours Virgins and the like especially those which we are most deuoted vnto addressing vs to them by the foresayd acts of congratulation and adoring them and taking delight to maintaine discourse with them in our harts communicating with them our affaires and necessities and instantly commending our selues to their prayers seeing according as the Doctours affirme they behold in God and know al our necessities our most secret wishes and the affections of our harts and al the reuerences and actions we doe in honouring them Besides I thinke it fitt and would counsel it to the zealous Catholicke who desires to go on in honouring these B. spirits to prescribe to himselfe a certaine number in reuerencing them as that of Nine in honour of the nine Quires of them c. But because the holy Church makes reuerent mention of three of them in particular S. Michael S. Gabriel and S. Raphael I would consel to begin with them As first with S. Michael who is Prince of al the rest seeing as Laurentius Iustinianus sayes although we are to honour al the souldiers of heauen yet their General deserues more peculiar reuerence for the greatnes highnes of his qualityes and prerogatiues his inuincible force the singular loue which his soueraigne Emperour beares him and finally for his fidelity to his seruice and admirable valour of which he gaue so rare proofes in that great battaile he fought against the Infernal enemy and al his followes And certainly with good cause doth the holy Church so reuerence him acknowledging him for her protectour and one that receaues into his patronage al departed soules that die in grace and the fauour of God almighty Next S. Gabriel as he that had that happy embassage committed to his charge of Annunciating to the B. Virgin the Incarnation of the sonne of God Thirdly S. Raphael the guide defender of Pilgrims in this life as he did by the yong Tobias in al his pilgrimage If thou be then desirous to performe these deuotions and hast retired they selfe to performe them the better putting thy self in their prefence as it were who really behold at al times what we doe thou art twelue tymes to bow downe and do reuerence honouring by the first Adoration S. Michael General of the host of heauen by the second S. Gabriel who brought the Embassage of our saluation by the third S. Raphael and by the rest in their seueral Orders the nine Quires of Angels c. For the better performance thereof I wil heer set downe a most easy method for al sorts of people of this deuotion The practising of honouring and reuerencing the Angels saying as followeth I HONOVR and reuerence you O Glorious Saint Michael cheife of al the Angels I honour and reuerence you Blessed S. Gabriel for deliuering that so grateful Embassage to the B. Virgin I honour and reuerence you affable S. Raphael for rendring to the yong Tobias so cleere a testimony of Alm. Gods ineffable goodnes to man I honour and reuerence you most ardent Seraphins who burne continually in the flames of the loue of God I honour and reuerence you most holy Cherubins who in cleer knowledge and plenitud of the science of God surpasse al other Angels I honour and reuerence you most happy Thrones seing in you the eternal Maiestie doth repose and by you our foules are disposed to peace and tranquillity I honour and reuerence you most noble Dominations who by the great authority bestowed on you by Alm. God rule al other spirits of inferiour ranke I honour and reuerence you most powerful Vertues who are deputed by the soueraigne King of heauen to the regency and gouernement of al the souldiers in heauen I honour and reuerence you mostvaliant Powers who by your might represse the insolency of the powres of hel and oppose your selues to al the machinations designes they haue vpon vs continually I honour and reuerence you invincible Archangels to whom is giuen the protection and care of people Kingdomes and to reueale vnto them for their good most sublime mysteries I honour and reuerence you likewise most humble Angels who disdaine not to cōuerse with men and vndertake their patronage and protection But if any be so defectiue of memory as not to be able to retayne by hart what is before sett downe It wil suffice only to saye I honour and reuerence you O glorious S. Michael I honour and reuerence you O glorious S. Gabriel and so of al the rest only adding the simple names of Seraphin Cherubin Thrones Dominations Vertues Powers Principalityes c. So likewise they may more to facilitat the memory begin with the lower Quires and so by degrees ascend to those more highe And if there be any yet so wanting memory that they cannot remember this it may suffice they make nine reuerences with intention to honour each Quire of Angels by it
without pronouncing any word at al but only imagining with themselues now I honour the first Quire now the second and now the third c. Now it rests that we assigne one day of the weeke for the exercise of this Deuotion and what more proper thē that the Church hath appointed to honour the B. Angels on to witt the Tewsday Let that then be it and on that day let vs most particularly honour them those that al Preists saying Masse of the Angels for them those of the laity deuoutly hearing it c. And because Psalmody is exceeding grateful to them if it be accompanied with due attention of spirit those who are imployed in that laudable exercise are to endeauour to comport themselues with al due reuerence and deuotion imagining themselues in presence of the Angels while they are performing it I wil sing Psalmes in the presence of Angels I wil adore in his holy Temple and praise his holy name And to this accords wel that which we reade of S. Bernard in the hystory of the illustrious men of the Cistercians how he sawe the B. Angels while Te deum was sung to goe from one Quire to another encouraging the Religious to sing it with feruour and deuotion Another tyme he sawe them busily writing downe what the Religious pronounced those in golden better which were pronounced with force of spirit and from the hart those in siluer which were vttered with attention but not such feruour as the former were those in inke which proceeded from them with a litle admixture of distraction and those finally in puddle-water which were pronounced without al sense of deuotion Moued then by this example and knowing that the B. Angels are assistant at our deuotions let vs performe them with such a spirit not only worthy of the Oratory that we are in but also of the Company that is there Happy and thrice happy are they who shal so honour them since they shal be rewarded for it not only by the Angels intercessions in heauen continually for them but also by their assidual assistance of them heer from al dangers both of bodily and ghostly enemies til at last receiuing vs at the honour of our deaths they take vs out of this transitory and miserable life and tranfferr vs to a happy and eternal on Of the honour and reuerence we ovve vnto our Angel Guardian CHAP. XII AND who sees not how reasonable it is in lieu of so many benefits we receiue from them to honour and reuerence the B. Angels for it and in particular our Angel Guardian who hath the care protection of vs committed to his charge For certaine it is auerred by al learned men that excepting our B. Sauiour each man hath his peculiar Angel attending stil on him whence we may perceiue how great is the goodnes and charity of Alm. God towards man who we being such contemptible creatures as we are hath not only been contented to create the Elements for our seruice mixt bodies for our vse and finally al corporal creatures els but also hath encharged the holy Angels with our protection and defence creatures so excellent so sublime in glory wisdome and power to be our instructours in vertue and our guides to truth But if goodnes be to be admired in bestowing them vpon vs no lesse admirable is his power in creating them in such innumerable multituds that the very lowest Quire of them is sufficient to furnish with Angels guardiās not only al the men that are but al that haue been or shal be as long as the world shal last so according to the probable coniecture of the learned there being a matter now of some million million of soules in al the world not only euery one of them hath an Angel guardian but one so particularly vnto himself as he was neuer Guardian to any one before nor euer shal be to any after him God whensoeuer he creates a soule appointing a pecular Guardian that neuer in that office was imployed before And who can imagine then how many millions of millions there must be to serue for so many millions of men that haue been shal be vntil the general Iudgement day And this opinion is the more probable not only because of Gods omnipotēce which is more illustrated thereby but also of a certaine congruency on the Angels part who if they should not suffice in number to afford each one a Guardian it would follow that the number of men would exceed that of them which would argue a deficiencie in them and take from that proportion by which it is supposed that as the Archangels exceed the Angels ten to one c. so there should be ten times more of Angels then of men The necessity we stand in of their caelestial aide is great and vrgent first because our soules are spiritual and consequently spirits can best see their necessityes next because we our selues are weake and ignorant of the force and imagination of the Enemy to ensnare and ouercome vs were it not for them Who watching continually by vs obserue al their wayes and carefully meete them with preuention But heere some may obiect how can they be continually by vs when our Sauiour sayes they continually behold the face of Alm. God in whose vision consists their cheisest beatitud Angeli eorum semper vident faciem Patris mei qui in caelis est To this I answer with S. Gregory that it is true the Angels are stil in heauen euen when corporally they are employed els-where else we could not reconcile that other place of Scripture with this where it is sayed that God imployes them on his Embassages heer on earth so as while in contemplation of the heauenly essence they are stil in heauen we must grant them really the while to be on earth And to incite in vs a greater deuotion towards them I wil endeauour to summe vp the many good offices they dayly do vs which although infinit in themselues may yet be reduced to three heads The first is they deliuer vs from many euident dangers by their careful custody of vs which the holy Prophet testifies where he sayes He hath giuen his Angels charge of thee to looke to thee in al thy wayes and beare thee in their handes least thou shouldst dash thy foote against a stone And heer let each one Cal to minde how many-fold dangers they haue escaped Heer one the falling of a house vpon his head which if he had not sodainly changed his mind he had gone iust vnder it as it did fal and to whom can he attribute this change of mind but to his Angel Guardian Another being prepared to goe some voyage puts it off he knowes not why and after wards vnderstands that if hee had gone he had falne into the hands of Pirats or of theeues and this was the worke of his good Angel also with a hundred others the like Which the Patriarke Iacob acknowledged to come from his
sonn but would withal he should be truly the only and natural sonne of the B. Virgin also and this not as of two seueral persons but the person of the sonn of God was likewise the person of the sonn of the Virgin also and so the contrary By which we see that she was truely the Spouse of the holy Ghost who wrought in her womb the Conception of the sonn of God and by this she becomes euery way allyed vnto al the persons of the B. Trinity To conclude then this dignity and prerogatiue we say as we haue sayd before is the greatest in a creature as can possibly be imagined The declarotion of the fifth Starr THe fifth starr brightly shining and adorning this celestial Princesse is the Illustration of her spirit by the holy Ghosts ouer-shadowing her conformable to that which the Angel sayed in her salutation Spiritus sanctus superueniet in te virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi which diuine obumbration was then when the Sonne of God was incarnat in her wombe the disposition to so miraculous a conception and ouershadowing her with its diuine vertue the better to enable her to endure those celestial ardours which inflamed her breast the while and which doubtlesly but for it had wholy consumed her the flames of diuine loue were so vehement the while Neither according to S. Augustin and S. Iohn Damascen did the holy Ghost obumbrat her body only but her soule likewise which obumbration is no other then its light and grace which was conferr'd vpon to her most abundantly when the Sonne of God was Incarnat in her womb at which tyme her spirit was enlightened the darknes of ignorance wholy expeld from thence by which diuine light was clearly reuealed vnto her the profound mystery of the Incarnation and diuers other mystical secrets of heauen as also the vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures and the spirit of Prophecy was communicated to her thereby in a more ample manner then it euer was before to any other of the Prophets And it is the opinion of diuers Saints and learned men as namely of S. Antonin S. Bernard S. Cyprian Vrsin and Cassal c. that what tyme the Sonn of God was Incarnat in the B. Virgins womb she was often rauish't vp to the Third heauen where she beheld the cleere vision of Alm. God more face to face then eyther Moses or S. Paul And Rupertus on these words of the Canticles Oculi tui columbarum thy eyes are the eyes of Doues clearly sayes that shee was rauish't vp to the third heauen where shee beheld in a more excellent manner then S. Paul did those secrets which it is not lawful for me to know This if it were granted to any as most certaine it is it hath no doubt but it was to the B. Virgin who as farr excels al Saints and Angels as the Sunn in splendour and brightnes a litle Starr But what tongue can worthily expresse the sacred motions of her hart while the Sonn of God was Incarnat in her wōb the light and splendour which illustrated her mind and vnderstanding the fire and ardour which embrac't her wil the Ioy finally which her blessed soule possest when the Word eternal taking flesh from her ennobled her with the high title of his Mother What beames and rayes of light may we suppose reflected from her countenance while the Diuine spirit illustrated her soule in whose eyes were two continual fires burning with Diuine loue al who beheld her and yet in an admirable manner quenching al carnal loue the whilst And if Moses issuing forth from conuersation with an Angel had his face shining with such maiestick beames as struck an awful reuerence in the children of Israels harts what may we imagine of the B. virgin who was perpetually accompanyed with Angels who tooke it for honour euer to be seruing her In the meane while her vnderstanding was so cleerly illuminated as she had perfect knowledge of the Creator and al his creatures and how much loue she was to bestow on euery particular thing and so she burned in the loue of God as she loued him not only aboue al earthly things but aboue her very soule aboue her life both spiritual and temporal aboue al glory and finally aboue al desired felicity and beatitud in heauen So she enioyed such a tranquillity of mind and had al her apprehensiue and concupiscible powers so wholy at her Command that the inferiour part of her soule neuer rebeld against the superiour but was alwayes in subiection subordination to it Whence it was that she breathed forth in al places where she came so excellent and sweet an odour of sanctity which increased in her daily more and more the longer she went with our B. Sauiour in her wombe which sanctity of hers we cannot better praise nor speake of then by silent admiration notwithstanding euery one is to make some reflexion on it in his mind and seeke to draw forth from thence some spiritual profit by it The sixt Starr declared THE sixt starr of the B. Virgins Crowne which was one of the cheifest motiues the Omnipotent God had to choose her for his Spouse Was her plenitud of diuine grace and of euery vertue else Of this there needs no other testimony then the Angels words vnto her Hayle ful of grace c. Which plenitud of grace in her sayes S. Augustin was a disposition no lesse then necessary for conceiuing the Sonne of God And although many Saints haue ben sayd to be ful of grace and of the holy Ghost as Zacharias and Elizabeth with S. Iohn Baptist their sonne the Apostles the seauen Deacons and many more Yet none of them al in that plenitud as she the word admitting a superlatiue one B. Sauiour as the fountaine of al grace deriving it vnto others from himselfe according to their seueral capacities now the B. Virgin being the most capacious of al no wonder she had more in her then al the rest But yet it was a greater plenitud the Angel meant by saluting her so and the greatest indeed that possibly could bee in any Creature aplenitud which as S. Bernard saies deriuing it felfe to others giues liberty to the captiue comfort to the afflicted to sinners pardon grace to the Iust to the Angels Ioy glory to the holy Trinity and to the Eternal Word the substance of her proper flesh Besides as S. Hierom sayes Grace was giuen vnto others by parcells only but to her fully and in its intire perfection in that the fulnes of al was included in her and consequently by this fulnes of grace she must be ful of al other vertues else which euer yet any Saint was endowed with al Nay the holy Fathers and in particular S. Cyril and S. Hierom say she was not only ful of grace but had al other vertues diuine guifts and endowments congregated in her alone which in scattered peeces were dispersed amongst al the other Saints There
the wisdome of Alm. God 9. O B. Virgin c. for your being so highly seated in an eminent Throne aboue al the Quires of Angels 10. O B. Virgin I hartily congratulat and reioyce with you for the great power and authority you haue ouer al the Vniuerse and for that both heauen earth the depts below obey your Commendements 11. O B. Virgin c. and with our selues for your being our reful affectionat Mother and like a faithful Aduocat procuring euery way our greater good and aduancement 12. O B. Virgin c. finally for that al the world honours and adores your name celebrats your prayses and prayses your graces merits perfections And this deuotion of taking complacence in the B. Virgins perfections and dignityes is souerainly grateful vnto her as was manifest to S. Brigit in her Reuelations vpon this occasion Her sonne being a braue and noble spirit dying in the holy warrs she anxious for his soule besought the B. Virgin to reueale vnto her in what estate it was when behold when she was in the greatest feruour of her deuotion the B. Virgin appeared vnto her and comforted her in this sort my deare daughter sayd she be no longer solicitous for your sonne for I haue taken care of his saluation in visiting him before his decease and rendring his hart inaccessible to al sorts of temptations and so as no doubt of faith could bow it from the rectitud it was in nay more I made the passage of death both sweet and easy for him to the end the feare and terrour of it might not transport him either to impatience or despaire So I cleared his chamber of those diuels assembled there to lay snares for his soule and intrapp it at its departure thence and at the instant of his soule and bodyes separation I took it in my ne aryues vnder the protectiō of which I caryed it safe away from its infernal enemyes And the reason of this tēdernes of hers she declared in another reuelation when one day the holy Saint making her prayers at the Sepulcher of Christ was rauisht in extasy into a sumptuous Pallace where she beheld our Sauiour Christ on an Imperial Throne and his B. Mother seated by his side with an infinity of Angels incircling them about Presently after she beheld her sonne present al trembling in great dismay before this Throne to receiue his Iudgement there his Angel Guardian on his right hand and the diuel on his left who with a horrible voyce thus cryed out most omnipotent Iudge I appeale to you for Iustice and right of the greatest iniury that was euer offered me your Mother against al equity hath rauisht that wicked soule out of my hands entring his chamber at the houre of his death and excluding me and my company hath debarred me of that priuiledge which you haue granted me to tempt euery soule at the article of tyme when it wil best be testified whether they belong to me or you then which greater iniustice can there be imagined To this the B. Virgin answered though thou art the father of lyes yet in this thou hast but declared the truth I haue don al this indeed and my reason for it was this This soule while it was couuersant in the world was so deuoted to me as it reioyced and tooke complacency in my dignity of being Mother of Alm. God and at my exaltation aboue al the quires of heauen the pleasure of which it would not haue exchanged for al the contentments and pleasures of the world Iudge then if I had not iust reason to do what I did O but replyed the diuel al this cannot excuse it from an Iniury to me your debarring me accesse to tempt him as also your receiuing his departing soule and conueying it hither which cheifly belongs to me when conuerting himself vnto the Iudge he sayed of you then I demand iustice who ought to be as equitable as you are powerful against this wicked soule heer who being arriued vnto the yeares of discretion in steed of taking the right hand way of your commandements went on the left in his transgressing them wherefore I demand but Iustice that he be condemned and heer he insisted in particularising his mortal and venial sins at this his good Angel interposed himselfe saying thou wicked feind al this is but true I grant what thou hast sayd but knowest thou not that his holy Mothers prayers incessantly offered vp vnto Alm. God for him haue cancelled these and obtayned for him a true contrition and sacramental absolution for them before he dyed besides her and his many other holy workes don in satisfaction of them how then canst thou haue the impudence to vrge them any more goe home and keepe company with damned soules looke not after him for he is a saued one At this the diuel vanished away And by this we may see the benefit of being deuoted to the B. Virgin of the prayers of others for them and of dying in a good estate prepared vnto it by true contrition and Confession An excellent way of adoring the B. Virgin in remembring the ioyes vvhich she had heere CHAP. XX. THE common opinion is that the B. Virgin had in this world seauen ioyful times in particular The first was at her Annunciation The second the Visitation of S. Elizabeth The third the glorious Natiuity of our Sauiour Christ The fourth the Adoration of the three Kings The fifth at the finding of her B. sonne in the Temple The sixth at our B. Sauiours apparition to her after his most glorious Resurrection The seuenth her happy decease and glorious Assumption into Heauen Now her deuout seruants may dayly administer her matter of fresh Ioy by calling these vnto remembrance and occasion to themselues a great increase of merit and glory The Angel Gabriels salutation to her of Aue c. was no other then an Inuitation to reioyce according to the interpretation of Origen so the holy Church sings her Antiphon Gaude virgo gloriosa c. and in other Regind caeli laetare c. and bids her reioice and be glad and in a third Gaude laetare Virgo Maria. Let vs then announce vnto her Ioy by commemorating those her seauen Ioyful mysteries in this following Method making at each one of them a low reuerence 1. Reioyce O B. Mary for that vpon the salutation of the heauenly messinger you concerued in your sacred wombe your sonne to the incredible consolation of your soule 2. Reioyce O B. Mary for that you burning with diuine loue and incited by the holy Ghost ouercome the toyle and labour of passing ouer the high mountaines of Iury and visited your cosen Elizabeth where you heard her vttering your celestial praises and magnifyed in spirit your Lord and Sauiour 3. Reioyce O B. Mary for that at the end of nine moneths you brought forth into the world the so long expected Messias bright as the sun of heauen while al the