to geue him his spirite after he were departed from him to whom Helias made this aunswere if thou see me when I shal be taken away from thee it shal be done that thou requirest me otherwise not euē so nowe they shal haue Christes spirite with them that shal see and associate him with their spirite and such whom the loue they beare to Christe shal make feele his absence and continually to desire and sighe in heart for his diuine presence MEDITATE also the great ioye wherewith as S. Luke the'uangelist telleth they returned backe againe to Ierusalem receauing greater contentation through the ioye which he was gone to whom they so derely loued then sorowe through the solitarines wherewith they founde them selues inuironed for suche is the nature of true loue as it contenteth it selfe muche better with the weldoing of those it loueth then with her owne priuate and peculier profite And thus oughtest thou to 〈◊〉 what toucheth the honour and seruice of Christe before thine owne particuler commoditie These be the meditations whiche thou maiest make on mornings eche day in the weeke wherin for the better perfourming of the same with more sauour in thy soul it were good that thou perfectly knewe the historie or read it in the last Chapters of the 〈◊〉 lists it shal also behooue thee to 〈◊〉 in vre and practise the precepts that folow in the next chapter and when thou 〈◊〉 thus exercised in these meditations one houre or a halfe litle more or lesse geue God thankes with al thine heart in the best maner thou canst for al the thinges it hath pleased him to doo and suffer by thee and craue withal that he wil vouchsafe to make thee partaker of the fruites of his passion and redemption as also to impart his other graces to thee which thou shalt finde thy selfe to stand most nede of praye likewise for his holy Church and suche as thou art bounde to remember or that haue commended them selues to thy deuotions for the souls also that are in purgatory for al such other necessities as occasions may most require thus maiest thou herewith finish this thineexercise CERTAINE particuler aduertisementes touching the 〈◊〉 conteined in 〈◊〉 former Chapter ¶ Cap. 8. TO TH END thou maiest with more fruit and spiritual aduauncement make the meditatios mentioned in the former Chapter it behoueth thee to obserue therin these few aduiies folowing FIRST concerning those points of the passiō wheron thou art to meditate thou must vnderstand that they are in suche wise to be meditated as though they happed euen in that instant before thin eyes in the selfe same place where thou art or within thy soule or otherwise imagining thou wert in the very places where suche thinges 〈◊〉 if haply this waies thou feelest better deuotion SECONDLY thou must force thy self to drawe some doctrine and spiritual fruit out of the thinges thou meditatest as for example to note in euery ouer and aboue that is already sayde these foure pointes what he is that suffred what thing he suffered in what maner and for whē he suffred OVT OF the first thou maiest gather an immeasurable loue thou owest to so louing a Lorde who being God almightie and of infinite Majestie hath vouchsafed to suffer so great tormentes and iniuries for thee so vile and abhominable a bodslaue sithens if another man were he neuer so abiect had suffered the like or much lesse for thee thou wouldest loue him with al thy heart and paine thy selfe to be grateful towards him OVT OF the second point thou maiest picke forth matter of great compassion weighing thy Sauiour thus fraight with excessiue griefes alone persecuted blasphemed on euery side and from toppe to toe al wholly wounded that but if thou sawe a brute beast suffer the like thy heart would melt againe with pitie and compassion OVT OF the third point thou maieh gather meruailous examples to imitate him in Learne firste to be humble and lowly pondering that bottomlesse humilitie wherewith he humbled him selfe euen vnto death Learn to be patient considering that 〈◊〉 patience wherwith he endured suche tormentes and villanous spites without making any resistance or lamentation Learne to loue pouertie seing him so extreme poore hanging naked vpon the Crosse and buried afterwardes in another mans sepulchre as also al his life time haning nothing of his owne nor where to rest his head Learne to loue thine enemies seing with howe great charitie he praied for those that crucified him Learne to be constant and perseuerant in suche good workes as thou takest in hand and not to geue them ouer for any toiles or crosse encounters considering the firme constancie of Christ wherwith 〈◊〉 so many toiles contradictions and tormentes he perseuered vntil death and therwith finished the worke of our redemption Finally out of this point if thou canst consider it at leisure thou maiest learne innumerable vertues and most worthy examples which shine forth in euery passage of his passion OVT OF the sourth thou majest gather a great and general charitie towards al men and to despise none seeme he neuer so vile and contemptible considering that our Lord hath spilt his moste pretious bloud for him and for al men in the world neither is there any so wicked and lewd a wretche for whom alone if neede had bene he would not haue suffered al the tormentes he suffered Learne thou therefore seing this his infinite charitie towardes al men to loue al men and to make accompt of al men Learne besides to detest sinne aboue al thinges remembring thee howe that was the onely occasion of our Lordes most cruel death and passion THIRDLY thou must vnderstand concerning the foresaid meditations that if at any time it so happed that in suche pointes as be set downe to vpon thou haply foundest in the firste or seconde of them good deuotion the in maiest thou stay so long as thy deuotion shal last not 〈◊〉 to passe ouer to the other pointes remaining behinde in that meditation for if thou chaunce to leue some vntouched that time thou maiest another day supplye this want In like maner meane I if thorough any vrgent affairs thou shouldest some-time omit thine exercise or appointed houre that then thou force thy selfe to supplye that want with a newe houre and if not on the same yet on some other day FOVRTHLY thou must procure by al meanes possible to cherishe and interteine thy deuotion and godlye purposes with other good giftes whatsoeuer thou mightst haply haue receaued in the time of praier And this shalt thou doo by indeuouring thee to go as retired and gathered in the day time as thou maiest calling eftsons to minde what thou earst did meditate and receaue especially whē thou hearest the clock strike or other wise as thou maiest Now if on thother side it so chaūced thou were disquieted with diuers forraine thoughtes as it eftsons happeth and thereby shouldest
to doo the same were it neuer so painful to her that thou shouldest hereby learn of them to be humble and obedient in al seasons and occasions whatsoeuer Secondly contemplate in what extreme pouertie the king of al kinges vouchsafed to be borne and bound vp in poore swadling-clouts and laide in a cribbe and manger of brute beastes Weigh withal that loue and lowlye reuerence his blessed mother adored him with as Ioseph also and the Angels did who with exceeding gladnes and sweete heuēly harmonie denounced this his birth to the poore shepherdes Meruailous examples maiest thou finde in al this discourse of humilitie pouertie austeritie mortification patience and aboue al of infinite charitie which caused this heauenly yonge babe beginne to suffer such annoyes in his so tender age Indeuour thou likewise to imitate the poore Shepherdes in their pouertie simplicitie and watchfulnes if thou desire to be visited by the Angels and made partaker of these diuine misteries as they were IN THE fourth tenne Aue Maries meditate the fourth ioyful misterie which is of the presentation howe fortie dayes being now expired that our blessed Lady the virgin had cōtinued in Bethleem in so great penurie and manifolde distresses she then departed to Ierusalem there to present her sonne in the temple Weigh here likewise the ioye that Simeon adored him with and embraced him in his armes as also the other thinges he then foretolde and prophecied of him Whereout note this lesson to be diligent in presenting thee eftsons in the temple and to behaue thy self there with reuerence and attention that by so doing thou learn to know and loue Christ better by such thinges as are there intreated and publikely spoken of him Consider also that sweete canticle of Nunc dimittis Lorde thou lettest now thy seruant depart in peace c. which sheweth plainly the feruent and zealous spirite of that olde father S. Simeon and the great consolation he then receaued and thinke how such as be of his partes and qualities to wit just and vertuous and that desire the sauegarde of their soules such shal merite to be made partakers of the like fauours and celestial graces IN THE fifte tenne Aue Maries memeditate the fifte ioyful misterie which is of the ioye our blessed Ladye had when hauing lost her sonne she found him againe amongst the doctours in the Temple Meditate here the sorowe and painful diligēce wherwith both the most sacred virgin and her holy husbande Iosephe wandred vp and downe seeking him amongst his kinred and acquaintāce and after seing they could by no meanes finde him there howe they trauailed backe againe to Ierusalem not resting til they found him in the Temple amongst the Doctours Thinke nowe what ineffable ioye that virginal heart was seased with hauing thus founde out her treasure with what entier affection she receaued him to her and howe carefullye she kept him from loosing him any more Forth of al this thou maiest learne firste to seeke this selfe same Lord with like paines and diligence when thy soule hath lost him and thinke not to finde him amongst kindred and acquaintance to wit amongst the folies and fond delights of fleshe and bloud but rather in renouncing and mortifying of the same and finally thou shalt find him in the temple in the middest of doctours that is to say harkening deuoutly to Gods worde and frequenting eftsons the blessed Sacramentes of Confession and of the Aultare Learne likewise after thou hast once founde him by meanes of these most holy exercises to keepe him with al careful custodie that thou loose him not an-other time This order must thou likewise keepe in saying the Aue Maries and Pater nosters of the other two fifties folowing THE dolourous misteries of the second fiftie be these THE FIRST is of our Lordes praier in the garden wherein meditate how the Redeemer of the world approching nere his death and feeling him-self assaild with greuous afflictions fel downe to his prayers saying these wordes My father if it be possible let this cupp passe from me howbeit not my wil but thy wil be done And thus praied he three feueral times til the Angel came and comforted him Whence thou maiest learne this lesson howe in al thine 〈◊〉 thou oughtest to make thy refuge to feruent prayer for thy remedie repeting the selfe same words our Sauiour spake and perseuering in thy prayer without fainting for no doubt but God at length wil heare thee when he shal deeme it most expedient and necessarye for thy welfare THE SECOND dolourous misterie is of the scourging of our lord Meditate here the barbarous crueltie wherwith he was straitly tied to the piller and there most cruelly scourged and wounded from toppe to toe he suffring al their vilanous outrages in milde maner like an innocent Lambe Whence learne thou not to beate him any more with thy sinnes and patiently to abide such chastisementes and afflictions as God shal laie vpon thee THE THIRD dolourous misterie is of the crowning of Christe wherin meditate the sharpe thornes he was crowned with his sacred head al to torne and perced the mockes and scoffs likewise they dissemblinglye adored him with smiting him afterwardes with the reede they had earst geuen him in his handes Learne hereby to detest thy pride and hawtines which caused this his cruel crowning and with greater both out ward and inward reuerence to adore him least haply thow be like to those that thus dissēblingly did scorn him THE FOVRTH dolorous misterie is how our Sauour being now adjudged to dye caried the crosse on his owne backe to the place of execution Where note the greeuous paine and shameful reproche wherwith he bore the same to be crucified theron as also the inspeakable griefes his mother and the other deuout women felt seing him thus feloniously martired and forget not the words he then spake vnto thē Hence gather out this doctrine that no remedie but as Christe him-selfe said thou must needes cary thy crosse to folow him that is to say thou must patientlye abide the paines and persecutions that in this life shal befal thee THE FIFTE dolourous misterie is of the crucifying of Christe wherin meditate those moste bitter tormentes he felt whiles they nailed him on the roode and afterwardes heaued him on high thereon the paines he likewise suffered in eche part of his body and al his senses remember also the wordes he spake thus hanging on the roode Gather here this lesson howe to be Christes seruaunt thou must crucifie thine owne flesh with al thy vices and concupiscences and comfort thy selfe in al thy woes and griefes beholding what Christe hath on the roode in this wise suffered for thy sake THE third Rosarie or fiftie is of the glorious misteries whereof THE FIRST is of Christes resurrection wherin meditate the
this grace is most plentiful and certaine when it is sought for by meanes of these moste holy Sacramentes besides the counsaile and comfort eche one maye receaue of his ghostly father to whom he shal humbly vnfolde in confessiō al his whole daunger and vexation In like maner if it should so fal out which God forbid as being ouercome by tentation thou fel into anye sinne see thou presently applye and vse this remedie of Confession not permitting thy self for neuer so smal a while to remaine in mortal sinne as S. Gregory saith The sinne which is not washed away with the water of penance draweth vs downe with the weight thereof and maketh vs fal into an-other It behoueth therfore with like diligence to procure a present saulue for this spiritual sore as we would doo for a corporal disease though lesse daungerous a great deale TEE LAST general and right soueraine remedie not onely to vanquishe tentations but not to be troubled with them is to shun and carefully eschewe the occasions whence they commonly doo proceede as be superfluous riches idlenes profane conuersations lewde companies tumult of people places and times where and when sinnes are committed and finally al such daungers and occasions whereby thou remembrest thee to haue earst fallen into sinne or at least into tentation A PREAMBLE concerning the Remedies against particuler tentations ¶ Cap. 18. ALBEIT the particuler sinnes as also the tentations which induce vs thereto be very many yet are they al reduced vnto seuen which are commonly called Capital as being the heads rootes and fountaines whence the others are deriued With these seuen sinnes be there three enemies that assault vs the Fleshe the World and the Deuil according as is gathered out of that saying of S. Iohn the'uangelist Euery thing that is in the world is concupiscence of the fleshe concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life The flesh doth tempt and induce vs to three sins Lasciuiousnes gluttony and slouth The world to couetousnes and carke of temporal things in it The deuil doth suggest and allure vs principally to pride wrath and enuye I shal therefore according to this order intreate of the wepons which we are to weelde against these three sworne enemies of ours and of the remedies we must vse to preserue vs from such sinnes as they induce vs to Of al other temptations those of the fleshe be the most difficult and daungerous as rising of a domestical and verye importunate aduersarye And therefore doth it herein behoue vs to vse greatest diligence and circumspection REMEDIES against lasciuiousnes ¶ Cap. 19. THE first remedie a man is to take against lasciuiousnes is with al diligence to flye occa sions suche as commonlye vse to inflame our flesh with disordinate concupiscence as is the conuersing with such persons as either are wont or at least wise might prouoke and kindle such fire and a fixed viewe and curious regard of others comelines sith as S. Isidore saith The firste dartes of lust are the eyes which Ieremie said had geuen his soule in praye And to make vs vnderstād this danger the better S. Gregory saith how it is not lawful for vs to fixe our eye on that which is not lawful for vs to desire seing that deth is wont comonly to enter into vs by the windowes of our eyes and other senses And therefore must thou take heede in like maner of vttering anye dishonest and ribald wordes which corrupt good maners as the Apostle saith as also of listning to them or of reading bookes wherin such lasciuious and 〈◊〉 wordes are written But muche more oughtest thou to shunne the touching of such persons as may occasionate a carnal alteration in thee and neuer to be in their company alone sithens this fire is wont with solitarines and oportunitie soonest to be kindled For this cause doth S. Ierome write these wordes to Neapotian If through thy office and function of priesthood neede vrge thee to visite any widowe or virgin see thou enter not alone into her chāher but take such a companion with thee as by his presince thy soule may be preserued Take heede also of the receauing any letters or tokens from such parties being absent as also of sending anye to them sith these thinges are but stickes to kindle and keepe in this wicked fire Finally this vice as S. Austine saith is much better vanquished by flying then by fighting and therefore behoueth it thou alwais flye the peril not to perish in it In this respect too beware of being idle at any time and of too muche pampering vp thy fleshe with disordinate diet in eating and drinking with to sumptuous effeminate attiring with sleeping in too softe and easie bedding Brieflye beware of al such like delicacies which are al of thē incēsiues prouokers of this brutish appetite For otherwise no doubt but experience shal testifie that a moste true saying of holy writt that Who so nourisheth his seruaunt too daintslye shal finde him afterwardes obstinate and rebellious It shal therefore be greatly profitable for suche as be yonge and of sanguin complexion to vse nowe and then some kinde of discipline hear-cloth fasting watching and other like corporal austerities wherewith the brodes of our fleshe are bridled and it made obedient and subiect to the spirite For if S. Paule did in this wise chastise his body as he witnesseth him-selfe he did much more ought he to doo the like who standeth in greter need of this medicine besides that eche of these chastisements shal make thy meede increase sith they are al of them the works of penance which others doo of mere free wil only to occasionate their greater merite and to please God their souerain Lorde withal SECONDLY thou must be meruailous heedy and circumspect to expel these wicked thoughtes presently after they begin once to solicite and trouble thy minde and to tickle thy flesh forcing thy selfe al thou maiest not to geue them any entrance but in lieu therof to occupie thy minde in some other good and godly cogitations And thus must we like-wise behaue our selues in ech other temptation and suggestion but specially in this of the flesh For looke by how much the more thou sufferest suche thoughts to enter in and perseuerest in them and by so muche the more wil they fortifie them-selues with greater difficultie be driuen out againe which would neuer hap if at the verye beginning thou diddest shake them off and oppose thy selfe manfully to bear off their first bruntes Wherevpon a holy father saide right wel that the thought of fornicatiō if we resist it in the beginning when the deuil doth first put it in our heartes is as brittle as a bul-rush and may right easily be broken but if we receaue it with delight and pleasure and linger any time therein then doth it become as hard as yron
and so ought to reioyce for hauing done so many good deedes in his life-time wher-by ful wel may he hope that a great glory shal-be geuen him in heuen and that by this meanes he maye securely without any feare or dreade depart this life With this temptatiō is he wont chiefly to assaile good religious men or other spiritual persons such as haue laudably gouerned them-selues throughout the whole course periode of this their worldlye pilgrimage Against the which diabolical deceipt and trecherie this shal-be a very profitable remedie to haue such authorities of holy scripture in readines as serue to beat down this vaine pleasing and disordinate confidence in our selues as is that saying of the wise man That no man liuing knoweth whether he be woorthy of loue or hatred that of Esay Al our righteousnes is a defiled cloth and that which our Sauiour him-selfe saide When you haue done al that is commaunded you saye ye we are vnprofitable seruauntes That also of the psalmist Thy iudgementes are a great and inscrutable depth and that sentence of the Apostle How incomprehensible are the iudgementes of God. By these and manye moe authorities shalt thou wel knowe how smally thou oughtest to please thy selfe or to growe secure by reason of such good workes as thou supposest to haue done sith they may haply be distained with many imperfections and by that meanes be litle grateful or acceptable to god In doing thus thou shalt remaine betweene feare and hope the most assured path to passe to heauen by fering by reason of thy manifold sinnes and imperfections and hoping through the infinite goodnes and mercye of God so that looke at what time the diuel goeth about to make thee proud and to presume of thy selfe see thou depresse and throwe thee downe with the memorie of suche causes as thou hast to make thee fear and when on th' other side he would driue thee to dispaire doo thou animate thy selfe with the remembrance of such thinges as iustly may moue thee to haue confidence in our Lord and moste merciful Sauiour THE FIFT temptation is of impatience through the pains griefes that sicknes bringeth especially if it be of longe continuance This vice must thou vanquishe by persuading thy selfe that whatsoeuer it be thou hast done or doest now presently suffer God doth with singuler loue for the wel-fare of thy soule sende it to thee that by meanes of such affliction and paines it maye be purged here and escape the other farre more greeuous tormentes which it shoulde other-wise endure in the world to come as also that by means of these paines and pinching griefes in this earthly pilgrimage thy merite might increase aboue and thy future glory growe farre greater in heauen Besides these temptations alreadie mentioned wel may we weene that the wicked spirites doo with diuers other molest the soule of man in this houre of transe and time of so great distresse It shal neuerthelesse suffice I hope to haue set downe the chiefe and most daungerous together with such remedies as are most fitt to be applied against them wherby what with them thine owne good prayers and those of thine assistantes who shal doo very wel to sprinkle holye water eftsons vpon thee as also by embracing the crucifix and calling vpon that moste sugred and sweete name of IESVS with faith and feruour forcing thee to wrap and wind thy selfe into his woundes wel mayest thou I say vsing al these means hope to be holpen by God and his blessed Saintes and Angels and so most happily to gaine a conquest of these and al other temptations that may assaile thee and at length arriue most fortunately to that port of eternal rest and quietnes A CONCLVSION and briefe rehearsal of al that hath beene saide in this litle Treatise and of the thinges that euery good Christian is bound to learne and haue by hart ¶ Cap. 29. IN THIS litle Treatise Christian Reder haue been hitherto as briefly as might wel be shewed thee the rules and aduises wherby thou oughtest to guide thy selfe as-wel on working as holye dayes and howe thou maiest exercise thy selfe in prayer and frequent verye profitablye the Sacramentes of Confession and receauing And because this our mortal life can-not be passed ouer without the tentations and greeuous assaultes of suche our aduersaries as here in this world doo enuirone vs there are wepons and remedies geuen thee to vanquish them with and to preserue thee from sinn by means whereof thou maiest also atchieue such vertues as be needful for thee Againe forsomuch as this our temporal life is thral to many infirmities and in fine to dint of death the port we must per-force al of vs passe by for this cause haue I in this seconde impression annexed twoo Chapters more then there was before wherein is shewed thee in what sort thou must gouerne thy selfe in time of sicknes when it shal please God there-with to visite thee as also howe thou oughtest to behaue thee in transe and houre of death when our Lorde through his good prouidence shal thinke meet to bring thee thither This haue I thought and deemed sufficient for thee that if of the geuer of al goodnes thou hast receaued a good wil and desire to amende thy life and to liue like a true Christian thou maiest by perusing this pamphlet learne howe to attaine thine intent and to haue a firme trust and confidence to obteyne eternal life the onely ende whereto thou wast created IT RESTETH nowe that for conclusion and knitting vp of this litle woorke I admonishe thee beseeche thee and exhort thee as much as I can and possibly maye that if thou haste once laide hande to the plough and begon to exercise thy self in diuine seruice taking the rules and aduises which in this Treatise are prescribed thee for thy guide gouernment that in no wise thou looke backe againe nor let not thy selfe by any troubles and toiles which maye crosse thee in this life be ouercome and vanquished And if at any time it so chaunsed as wel it may doo estsons that by reason of letts and hinderances thou shouldest be for some time forced to intermitt thine ordinarye and wonted exercises be not any deale dismaide therewith but when this time of trouble is once ouershot renewe againe thy course and folowe it as if thou haddest neuer failed perseuering til the ende as is needful if thou minde to attaine the crowne and to winne euerlasting happines for in doing thus I dare on the behalfe of our Lord and Sauiour assure thee that this perseuerāce shal ease the paine that pincheth at firste and looke how much the more thou doest perseuer and so much more cōfort helpe consolation and heauenly light shalt thou receaue of his moste bountiful liberalitie See therefore thou content not thy selfe with once reading ouer of this litle Treatise but reade it eftsons ouer
those most sweet woundes wherto sinners may flee a great deale more securely to eschewe the perils and persecutions of this world then they could doo in olde time to their assigned cities And herein shal that wounde in our Sauiours side chieflye helpe thee figured by the windowe God cōmaunded Noe to make in the side of the Arke by the which al the beastes that shoulde scape the floud were to enter in eucn so now al such as finde them selues indaungered in the terrible sourges of this tempestuous world if so they couet to scape drowning let them haue recours to those moste sacred sores and wide woundes let them enter at this open windowe and therein shal they be most secure and finde them selues in true peace and tranquilitie MEDITATE afterwardes with how great deuotion the Redeemer of the world was taken downe off the roode and laide in his mourning mothers lap who with a right ruful coūtenance fastned her eyes vpon him Thinke here what streames of teares his beloued disciple S. Iohn the blessed Magdalene with the other godly women plentifully powred out vpon him Beholde and ponder wel with what zeale and feruencie both they and the two worthy men Ioseph and Nicodemus annointed wrapt him in his winding-sheet and afterwards bore and laide him in the sepulchre which was in the garden and endeuour thou to clense thy hart through lye from al corruption of sinne from al filthe of fond desires and thoughts that so thou maiest as in a new sepul chre lay vp therin this most pretious treasure And see thou faile not this day to beare the woful mother companie in her lonolines and sorowe wailing with her and taking compas sion of her griefes that thou afterwar des deserue to participate of the ioyes in the resurrection SVNDAY ON SVNDAY meditate the ioyes of our Sauiours ioyful resurrectiō wherin consider these three pointes Firste how our Redeemer hauing now perfected the worke of our redemption and ouercome our sinful death with his moste sacred death his blessed soul descended into Limbo to visite and enfraunchise those holy fathers who so many a yeare had with longing desire looked for him with whē he staide to their inestimable cōfort til the houre of his resurrectiō which was on Sundaye morning at what time his most happie soule reentring and reuniting it self to his blessed bo die he became most beautiful bright glittering impassible and immortal albeit berore he were disfigured with the blowes woundes and tormentes of his passion and being thus risen vp and by his own power issued out of his closed sepulchte the first thing be did afterwardes as we may with godly zeale beleeue was that he visited his most blessed mother Thinke then nowe what that blessed virgin felt seing her entierly beloued sonne stand before her aliue sounde and whole so glorious and triumphant as he then was whose death had so 〈◊〉 perced her soul with most vehement sorowes What inestimable ioye felt she in beholding his sweete and amiable countenaunce the beautiful brightnes of the wounds he had before receaued those gratious and louely eyes wherwith he looked vpō and in hearing those sugred sweet wordes wherewith he greeted her How great was the ioye and comfort of her soule when she vnbethought her of the exceeding glorye his former iniuries and infamies were turned to what surpassing beautie the deformitie of his woundes was changed to and finally howe great a calme and happie quietnes al the former stormie tempestes were now conuerted to Learne thou hereby not to faint or to be discouraged when thou art persecuted tempted and afflicted but with faith to expect our good Lord his houre who after a tempest sendeth faire wether after troubles quietnes and vseth according to the proportion of tribulations to visite afterwards with roy consolations THE SECOND point thou shalt meditate vpon this day is the singuler comfort those deuout Maries receaued when they sawe their beloued master whom euen now they sought to annoint as dead thus glorious and reuiued again And consider especiallye the tender heart of that most vertuous woman Mary Magdalene being wholly mested and dissolued into teares through the zealous loue she bare our Sauiour and thereby would not depart but stoode stil at the sepulchre til suche time as she merited to see and finde her Lorde and to receaue comfort of him whom she so gretly longed for Wherin thou must note and marke wel how next to his holy mother our Lord appered first to her that loued him most that perseuered moste and that sought him moste to th ende thou know learn therby that then the same Lorde wil appere and comfort thee when with like teares loue and diligence as she did thou shalt inquire seeke and sorow after him THOV maiest in like maner meditate the thirde point hauing spare time howe this moste desired master appered to his disciples who after his resurrection he eftsons visited comforted confirmed in their faith but chiefly ponder the sweete speeches he vled to those he went in companie with to Emaus who with great griefe were talking of his passion whom he did afterwardes exceedingly comfort and inflame shewed himself vnto the in the breking of the breade Wherby thou maiest gather that if thy conuersation talke be suche as 〈◊〉 was to wit of Christes passion thou shalt not lacke his presence and companie and shalt be illuminated to better know and loue him and this chiefly in the breaking that is in the sacred Sacrament of the aultar THOV MAIEST likewise at some other time meditate on this day his holy and miraculous ascension howe fortie daies being now past ouer 〈◊〉 his resurrection in which time he appered estsones his disciples reioycing comforting teaching thē what they ought to doo the fortie day he lastly appered to them being at table and founde fault with their incredulitie and afterwards hauing sufficiently informed them howe they ought to preache he and they with his mother went al together to the mount Oliuet whence that most worthy and glorious triumpher hauing nowe blessed and bid them al farewel mounted vp in al their sightes to heauen carying with him the riche spoiles of holy Saintes who with the troupes of Angels gaue laudes and praises to him singing with inspeakeable ioye and exultation and thus was he in this so solemne a triumphe and reioycing receaued into heauen where he sitteth on the right hande of his almightie father Consider here howe it pleased our sweete Lorde to ascende into heauen in the presence of those that truelye Ioued him to th ende they shoulde both with their eyes and spirite folowe him and desire to ascende with him knowing right wel in what a solitarines they were after to remaine for lacke of his presence which folowing and longing after him auaileth muche for the obteining his diuine grace Heliseus desired his master Helias as holy Scripture telleth