services due to thy greatnesse as I will for ever ow my salvation to thy infinite power and bounty The Gospel upon Friday the third week in Lent S. Iohn 4. Of the Samaritan woman at Iacobs Well neer Sichar HE cometh therefore into a Citie of Samaria which is called Sichar beside the Maner that Iacob gave to Ioseph his sonne And there was there the fountain of Iacob Iesus therefore wearied of his journey sate so upon the fountain It was about the sixth hour There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water Iesus saith to her Give me to drinke for his Disciples were gone into the City to buy meats therefore that Samaritan woman saith to him How doest thou being a Iew aske of me to drink which am a Samaritan woman for the Iews do not communicate with the Samaritanes Iesus answered and said to her If thou didst know the gift of God and who he is that saith unto thee Give me to drinke thou perhaps wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water The woman saith to him Sir neither hast thou wherein to draw and the Well is deep Whence hast thou the living water Art thou greater then our father Iacob who gave us the Well and himself drank of it and his children and his cattell Iesus answered and said to her Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again but he that shall drink of the water that I will give him shall not thirst for ever but the water that I will give him shall become unto him a fountain of water springing up unto life everlasting The woman saith to him Lord give me this water that I may not thirst nor come hither to draw Iesus saith to her Go call thy husband and come hither The woman answered and said I have no husband Iesus saith to her Thou hast said well that I have no husband for thou hast had five husbands and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband This thou hast said truely The woman saith to him Lord I perceive that thou art a Prophet Our Fathers adored in this mountain and you say that Ierusalem is the place where men must adore Iesus saith to her Woman believe me that the hour shall come when you shall neither in this mountaine nor in Ierusalem adore the Father You adore that you know not We adore that we know for salvation is of the Iews but the hour cometh and now is when the true adorers shall adore the Father in spirit and veritie For the Father also seeketh such to adore him God is a spirit and they â—hat adore him must adore in spirit and verity The woman saith to him I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ therefore when he cometh he will shew us all things Iesus saith to her I am he that speak with thee And incontinent his Disciples came and they marvelled that he talked with a woman No man for all that said What seekest thou or why talkest thou with her The woman therefore left her water pot and she went into the Citie and saith to those men Come and see a man that hath told me all things whatsoever I have done Is not he Christ They went forth therefore out of the Citie and came to him In the mean time the Disciples desired him saying Rabbi eat But he said to them I have meat to eat which you know not The Disciples therefore said one to another hath any man brought him for to eat Iesus saith to them My meat is to do the will of him that sent me to perfect his work Do not you say that yet there are foure moneths harvest cometh Behold I say to you lift up your eyes and see the Countries that they are white already to harvest And he that reapeth receiveth hire and gathereth fruit unto life everlasting that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejace together For in this is the saying true that it is one man that soweth and it is another that reapeth I have sent you to reap that which you laboured not others have laboured and you have entred into their labours And of that Citie many believed in him of the Samaritanes for the word of the woman giving testimony that he told me all things whatsoever I have done Therefore when the Samaritanes were come to him they desired him that he would tarry there And he tarried there two dayes And many moe beleeved for his own word and they said to the woman That now not for thy saying do we besieve for our selves have heard and do know that this is the Saviour of the world indeed Moralities 1. THe God of all power is weary the main sea desires a drop of salt water the King of Angels becomes a suppliant for a little part of all that which is his own This Gospel shews us clearly the love of God toward humane nature and the infinit zeal which he hath to the salvation of souls Is it not a thing which should load us with confusion to see that he who is filled with all felicities hath onely one thirst which is that we should thirst after him and that we should make chief account of that living water which he carrieth within his breast which indeed properly is grace the onely way to glory 2. Behold the difference between Iacobs Well and the Well of Iesus between contentments of the world and the pleasures of God The Well of Iacob is common to men and beasts to shew unto us that a man which glorifieth himself of his sensual delights makes a Trophee of his own basenes and a triumph of his fault It is just as if Nebuchodoneser forsaking his crown and throne to transform himself into a beast should brag that he had gotten a hansom stable and very good hay But the fountain of Jesus holds in it the water of graces a wholesome water pure and Christalline which brings us to the society of Angels The water of Iacob though it be but a water for beasts yet it is hard to obtain There are many which run mad after riches honours and contentments of this world and can never come to possesse them They live in a mill and gain nothing out of it but the noise and dust They turn round about upon the wheel of disquiet and never rest But if a good fortune some times cast them a bone there are a hundred dogs which strive to catch it All their life is nothing but expectation and their end onely despair Whereas the Well of Iefus is open to all the world he seeketh he asketh he calleth he giveth gratis he requireth nothing of us but our selves and would have us for no other reason but onely to make us happy The Well of Iacob begetteth thirst but doth not quench it Do not you consider that the Samaritan woman left her pot there and did not drink After so many fantomes and illusions which do amuse worldlings they must part
it is very hard to avoid the curiosity of a woman who seeking his presence was thereby certain to find the full point of her felicity A very small beam of illumination reflecting upon her carried her out of her Countrey and a little spark of light brought her to find out the clear streams of truth We must not be tired with seeking God and when we have found him his presence should not diminish but increase our desire to keep him still We are to make entrance into our happinesse by taking fast hold of the first means offered for our salvation and we must not refuse or lose a good fortune which knocks at our door 2. Great is the power of a woman when she applies her self to virtue behold at one instant how one of that sex assails God and the devil prevailing with the one by submission and conquering the other by command And he which gave the wide Sea arms to contain all the world findes his own chains of a prayer which himself did inspirâ—â— She draws unto her by a pious violence the God of all strength such was the fervency of her prayer such was the wisdome of heâ— answers and such the faith of her words As he passed away without speaking she hath the boldnesse to call him to her whiles he iâ— silent she prayes when he excuseth himself she adores him when he refuseth her suit she draws him to her To be short she iâ— stronger then the Patriarch Iacob for wheâ—â— he did wrestle with the Angel he returned lame from the conflict but this woman after she had been so powerfull with God returns strait to her house there to see her victories and possesse her conquests 3. Mark with what weapons she overcame the greatest of all conquerours Chatity drew her from home to seek health for her daughter because like a good mother she loved her not with a luxurious love but in her affliction feeling all her dolours by their passionate reflection upon her heart Her faith was planted upon so firm a rock that amongst all the appearances of dispair her hope remained constant Humility did effect that the name of Dog was given her for a title of glory she making profit of injuries and converting into honour the greatest contempt of her person Her words were low and humble but her faith was wondrous high since in a moment she chased away the devil saved her daughter and changed the word Dog into the name of a Sheep of Christs flock as Sedulius writes Perseverance was the last of her virtues in the Combat but it was the first which gained her Crown If you will imitate her in these four virtues Love Faith Humility and Perseverance they are the principal materialls of which the body of your perfection must be compounded Aspiration O Jesus Christ Son of David I remember well that thy forefather did by his harp chase away a devil from Saul And wilt not thou who art the Father of all blessed harmonies drive away from me so many little spirits of Affections Appetites and Passions which trouble and discompose my heart This poor soul which is the breath of thy mouth and daughter of thine infinite bounties is like the Sun under a cloud possessed with many wicked spirits but it hath none worse then that of self-love Look upon me O Lord with thine eyes of mercy and send me nor away with silence since thou art the Word Rather call me Dog so that I may be suffered to gather up the crums which fall from thy table Whatsoever proceeds from thy mouth is sacred and must be taken by me as a relick If thou say I shall obtain my desire I say I will have no other then what thou inspirest and I can be contented with nothing but what shall be thy blessed will and pleasure The Gospell upon Friday the first week in Lent St. Iohn 15. Of the Probatick Pond AFter these things there was a festival day of the Iews and Iesus went up to Ierusalem and there is at Ierusalem upon Probatica a Pond which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida having five porches In these lay a great multitude of sick persons of blind lame withered expecting the stirring of the water And an Angel of our Lord descended at a certain time into the pond and the water was stirred And he that had gonâ— down first into the pond after the stirring of the water was made whose of whatsoever infirmity he was holden And there was a certain man there that had been eight and thirty years in his infirmity Him when Iesus had seen lying and knew that he had now a long time he saith to him Wilt thou be made whole The sick man answered him Lord I have no man when the water is troubled to put me into the pond for whiles I come another goeth down before me Iesus saith to him Arise take up thy bed and walk And forthwith he was made whole and he took up his bed and walked And it was the Sabbath that day The Iews therefore said to him that was healed it is the Sabbath thou mayest not take up thy bed He answered them he that made me whole he said to me take up thy bed and walk They asked him therefore What is that man that said to thee take up thy bed and walk But he that was made whole knew not who it was For Iesus shrunk aside from the multitude standing in the place Afterward Iesus findeth him in the temple and said to him Behold thou art made whole sin no more lest some worse thing chance to thee That man went his way and told the Iews that it was Iesus that made him whole Moralities 1. ALl the world is but one great Hospitall wherein so many persons languish expecting the moving of the water the time of their good fortune The Angels of earth vvhich govern our fortunes goe not so fast as our desires But Iesus vvho is the great Angell of councell is alwaies ready to cure our maladies to support our weaknesse and make perfect our virtues We need only to follow his motions and inspirations to meet with everlasting rest It is a lamentable thing that some can patiently expect the barren favours of men twenty or thirty years together and yet will not continue three dayes in prayer to seek the inestimamable graces of God 2. The first step we must make toward our salvation is to desire it That man is worthy to be eternally sick who fears nothing else but the losse of his bodily health Men generally do all what they can possibly to cure their corporal infirmities they abide a thousand vexations which are but too certain to recover a health which is most uncertain And as for the passions of the mind some love the Feavers of their own love their worldly ambition above their own life They suck the head of a venemous aspick are killed by the tongue of a viper They will not part with that
which kills them and if you take from them the worm which makes them itch or the executioner who doth indeed torment them they believe you take away the chiefest of their felicity Happy is that soul which holds nothing so dear in this world but will forsake it willingly to find God and will spare nothing to gain Paradise 3. There is nothing more common nor so rare as man The world is full of vitious and unprofitable men But to find one very compleat in all good things is to find a direct Phenix There are more businesses without men then men without businesses For how many charitable employments might many lazy and idle persons find out So many poor mens affairs continue at a stand so many miserable creatures languish so many desolate persons long to find some man who with little trouble to himself would take some small care of their affairs and make up a little piece of their fortunes Jesus is the man of God desired of all ages to him we must apply our selves since he is both life and truth By him we may come to all happiness by him we may live in the fountains streams of life in him we may contemplate the chiefest of all truths Aspirations WHat patience have I in committing sins and how impatient am I in my sufferings for them I am ever most readie to execute vice unwilling to abide the punishment O good God there are many years in which I have retained an inclination to this disorder to that sin My soul is bound as it were with Iron chains in this unhappy bed wil there be no Angel to move the water for me But art not thou the Lord and Prince of Angels Then I most humbly beseech thee O blessed Saviour do thou command and by thy only word my affairs wil go well and receive a happy dispatch my body will become sound my soul innocent my heart at rest and my life an eternal Glory The Gospell upon Saturday the first week in Lent and the Sunday following out of St. Matthew 17. Of the Transfiguration of our Lord. ANd after six dayes Iesus taketh unto him Peter and Iames and Iohn his brother and bringeth them into a high mountain apart and he was transfigured before them And his face did shine as the Sun and his garments became white as Snow And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him And Peter answering said to Iesus Lord it is good for us to be here if thou wilt let us make here three tabernacles one for Thee one for Moses and one for Elias And as he was yet speaking behold a bright cloud overshadowed them And loe a voice out of the Cloud saying This is my well-beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him And the Disciples hearing it fell upon their face and were sore afraid And Iesus came and touched them and he said to them Arise and fear not And they lifting up their eyes saw no body but onely Iesus And as they descended from the mount Iesus commanded them saying Tell the vision to no body till the Son of man be risen from the dead Moralities 1. THe words of the Prophet Osee are accomplished the nets and toils planted upon mount Tabor not to catch birds but hearts The mountain which before was a den for Tigers and Panthers according to the Story is now beautified by our Saviour and becomes a place full of sweetness and ravishments Jesus appears transfigured in the high robes of his glory The cloud made him a pavilion of gold the Sun made his face shine like it self The heavenly Father doth acknowledge his Son as the true Prince of glory Moses and Elias both appear in brightness the one bearing the Tables of the Law and the other carried in a burning Chariot as Origen saith which made the Apostles know him For the Hebrews had certain figures of the most famous men of their Nation in books They both as Saint Luke saith were seen in glory and Majesty which fell upon them by reflection of the beames which came from the body of Jesus who is the true fountain of brightness The Apostles lose theÌ„selves in the deliciousness of this great spectacle and by â—eeing more then they ever did desired to lose their eyes O that the world is most contemptible to him that knows how to value God as he ought So many fine powders so many pendents and favours of Glasse so many Towers and Columns of durt plastered over with gold are followed by a million of Idolaters To conclude so many worldly â—ewels are like the empty imaginations of a sick spirit not enlightened by the beams of truth Let us rely upon the word saith Saint Augustine which remains for ever while men passe like the water of a fountain which hides it self in the Spring shews it self in the stream and loseth it self at last in the Sea But God is alwayes himself there needs no Tabernacle made by the hands of man to remain with him for in Paradise he is both the God and the Temple 2. Tabor is yet but a small patern we must get all the piece we must go to the Palace of Angels and brightnesse where the Tabernacles are not made by the hands of men There we shall see the face of the living God clearly and at full There the beauties shall have no vails to hide them from us Our being shall have no end Our knowledges will not be subject to errour nor our loves and affections to displeasure O what a joy will it be to enjoy all and desire nothing to be a Magistrate without a successour to be a King with out an enemy to be rich without covetousnesse to negotiate without money and to be everliving without fear of death 3. But who can get up to this mountain except he of whom the Prophet speaks who hath innocent hands and a clean heart who hath not received his soul of God in vain to bury it in worldly pelf To follow Jesus we must transform our selves into him by hearing and following his doctrin since God the Father proposeth him for the teacher of mankind and commands us to hearken unto him We must follow his examples since those are the originalls of all virtues The best trade we can practise in this world is that of transfiguration and we may do it by reducing our form to the form of our Lord and walking upon earth like men in heaveÌ„ Then will the Sun make us have shining faces when purity shall accompany all our actions and intentions Our clothes shall be as white as snow when we shall once become innocent in our conversations we shal then be ravished like the Apostles and after we have been at mount Tabor we shall be blind to the rest of the world and see nothing but Jesus It is moreover to be noted that our Saviouâ— did at that time entertain himself with discourse of his great future
said Take away these things hence and make not the house of my Father a house of Merchandise And his Disciples remembred that it is written The zeal of thy house hath eaten me The Iews therefore answered and said to him What sign dost thou shew us that thou doest these things Iesus answered and said to them Dissolve this Temple in three dayes I will raise it The Iews therefore said in fourty and six years was this Temple built and wilt thou raise it in three dayes But he spake of the Temple of his body Therefore when he was risen again from the dead his Disciples remembred that he said this they believed the Scripture and the word that Iesus did say And when he was at Ierusalem in the Pasche upon the festivall day many believed in his name seeing his signs which he did But Iesus did not commit himself unto them for that he knew all because it was not needfull for him that any should give testimony of man for he knew what was in man Moralities 1. PIety is a silver chain hanged up aloft which ties heaven and earth spirituall and temporall God and man together Devotion is a virtue derived to us from the Father of all light who gives us thereby means to hold a traffick or commerce with Angels All which is here below sinks by its proper weight leans downward toward naturall corruption Our spirit though it be immortall would follow the weight of our bodies if it were not indued with the knowledge of God which works the same effect in it as the Adamant doth with iron for it pierceth and gives it life together with a secret and powerfull spirit from which all great actions take their beginning You shall never do any great act if the honour of God and the reverence of sacred things shall not accompany all your pretences For if you ground your piety upon any temporall respects you resemble that people which believes the highest mountains do support the skies 2. There are no sinnes which God doth punish more rigorously nor speedily then those which are committed against devotion and piety He doth not here take up the scourge against naughty Iudges usurers and unchaste persons because the Church is to find a remedy against all faults which happen in the life of man But if a man commit a sinne against Gods Altar the remedy grows desperate King Ozias felt a leprosie rise upon his face at the instant when he made the fume rise from the censor which he usurped from the high Priests Ely the chief Priest was buried in the ruins of his own house for the sacriledge of his children without any consideration of those long services with he had performed at the Tabernacle Keep your self from symonies from irreverence in Churches and from abusing Sacraments He can have no excuse which makes his Iudge a witnesse 3. Iesus was violently moved by the zeal which he bare to the house of his heavenly Father But many wicked rich men limit their zeal onely to their own families They build great Palaces upon the peoples bloud and they nothing care though all the world be in a storm so long as they and what belongs to them be well covered But there is a revenging God who doth insensibly drie up the roots of proud Nations and throws disgrace and infamy upon the faces of those who neglect the glories of Gods Altars to advance their own He who builds without God doth demolish and whosoever thinks to make any great encrease without him shall find nothing but sterility Aspirations O Most pure Spirit of Iesus which wast consummate by zeal toward the house of God wilt thou never burn my heart with those adored flames wherewith thou inspirest chaste hearts Why do we take so much care of our houses which are built upon quicksilver and roll up and down upon the inconstancies of humane fortunes while we have no love nor zeal towards Gods Church which is the Palace we should chuse here upon earth to be as the Image of heaven above I will adore thy Altars all my life with a profound humility But I wil first make an Altar of my own heart where I will offer sacrifice to which I doubt not but thou wilt put fire with thine own hand The Gospel upon Tuesday the fourth week in Lent S. Iohn 7. The Iews marvel at the learning of Iesus who was never taught ANd when the festivity was now half done Iesus went up into the Temple and taught And the Iews marvelled saying how doth this man know letters whereas he hath not learned Iesus answered them and said my doctrine is not mine but his that sent me If any man will do the will of him he shall understand of the doctrine whether it be of God or I speak of my self he that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory But he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him he is true and injustice in him there is not Did not Moses give you the Law and none of you doth the Law Why seek you to kill me The Multitude answered and said thou hast a Devil who seeketh to kill thee Iesus answered and said to them One work I have done and you do all marvell Therefore Moses gave you circumcision not that is of Moses but of the Fathers and in the Sabbath ye circumcise a man If a man receive circumcision in the Sabbath that the law of Moses be not broken are you angry at me because I have healed a man wholly in the Sabbath Iudge not according to the face but judge just judgement Certain therefore of Ierusalem said Is not this he whom thy seek to kill And behold he speaks openly and they say nothing to him Have the Princes known indeed that this is Christ But this man we know whence he is But when Christ cometh no man knoweth whence he is Iesus therefore cried in the Temple teaching and saying Both me you do know and whence I am you know and of my self I am not come But he is true that sent me whom you know not I know him because I am of him and he sent me They sought therefore to apprehend him and no man laid hands upon him because his hour was not yet come But of the multitude many believed in him Moralities 1. IT appears by this Gospel that Iesus was judged according to apparences not according to truth It is one of the greatest confusions which is deeply rooted in the life of man that every thing is full of painting and instead of taking it off with a spunge we foment it and make our illusions voluntary The Prophet Isay adviseth us to use our judgement as men do leaven to season bread Al the objects presented to our imaginations which we esteem are fading if we do not adde some heavenly vigour to help our judgement 2. To judge according to apparences is agreat want both of judgement and courage The first makes us
steps by thy conquests made visible thy way by thine own light thou hast watered it with thy precious blood paved it with thy wounds O what a goodly thing it is to walk with thee when thou openest thy sacred mouth as the opening of a temple to discover the beauties and mysteries of it O that it is most pleasing to understand that mouth which distils so much honey through lips of Roses But wherefore My good Lord art thou pleased to hide thy self from a soul which languishes after thee Take away the vail from mine eyes and suffer thy self to be seen in the vesture of thy heavenly beauties If I must bear the Crosse and passe by the throne of mount Calvary to come to Heaven I most humbly submit to thy divine pleasure that I may possesse all that thou art The Gospel upon Tuesday in Easter week S. Luke the 24. ANd whiles they spake these things Iesus stood in the midst of them and he saith to them Peace be to you It is I fear not But they being troubled and frighted imagined they saw a Spirit And he saith to them Why are you troubled and cogitations arise in your hearts See my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me to have And when he had said this he shewed them his hands and feet But they yet not believing and marvelling for joy he said Have you here any thing to be eaten But they offered him a piece of fish broiled and a hony comb And when he had eaten before them taking the remains he gave to them And he said to them These are the words which I spake to you when I was yet with you that all things must needs be fulfilled which are writen in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms of me Then he opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures And he said to them That so it is written and so it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead the third day and penance to be preached in his Name and remission of sins unto all Nations Moralities 1. WE think sometimes that Jesus is far from us when he is in the midst of our heart he watches over us and stretches out his divine hands for our protection Let us live alwayes as if we were actually in his presence before his eyes and in his bosome An ancient Tradition doth observe that after our Lords Ascention the Apostles did never eat together but they left the first napkin for their good Master conceiving that according to his promise he was alwayes with them Let us accustome our selves to this exercise of Gods presence It is a happy necessity to make us do well to believe and apprehend that our Judge is alwayes present I frespect make him formidable love will teach us that he is the Father of all sweetness There can be no greater comfort in this world then to be present in heart and body with that which we love best 2. Jesus is taken by his Apostles for a Spirit because after the Resurrection he pierced the vvalls and appeared suddenly as Spirits do Saint Paul also saith in the second to the Corinthians that novv we do no more know Christ according to the flesh that is to say by the passions of a mortall body as Saint Epiphanius doth expound it We must make little use of our bodies to converse with our Jesus who hath taken upon him the rare qualities of a spirit We must raise our selves above our senses when we go to the Father of light and the Creatonâ— of sense He teaches us the life of Spirits and commerce of Angels and makes assayes of our immortality by a body now immortal Why are we so tyed to our sense and glued to the earth Must we suffer our selves to enter into a kingdome of death when we are told of the resurrâ—ction of him who is the Authour of all lives 3. Admire the condescending and bounties of our Lord to his dear Disciples He that was entred into the kingdome of spirits and immortall conversation suffers his feet and hands to be touched to prove in him the reality of a true body He eats in presence of his Apostles though he was not in more estate to digest meat then the Sun is to digest vapours He did no more nourish himself with our corruptible meats then the Stars do by the vapours of the earth And yet he took them to confirm our belief and to make us familiar with him It is the act of great and generous spirits to abase themselves and condescend to their inferiours So David being anointed King and inspired as a Prophet doth not shew his person terrible in the height of his great glory but still retained the mildnesse of a Shepherd So Iesus the true Son of David by his condscending to us hath consecrated a certain degree whereby we my ascend to heaveÌ„ Are not we ashamed that we have so little humility or respect to our inferiours but are alwayes so full of ourselves since our Lord sitting in his throne of Glory and Majesty doth yet abase himself to the actions of our mortall life Let it be seen by our hands whether we be resâ—scitated by doing good works and giving liberall alms Let it appear by our feet that they follow the paths of the most holy persons Let it be seen by our nourishment which should be most of honey that is of that celestiall sweetnesse which is extracted from prayer And if we seem to refuse fish let us at least remain in the elemeÌ„t of piety as fishes in water Aspirations THy love is most tender thy cares most generous O mild Saviour Amongst all the Torrents of thy Passion thou hast not tasted the water of forgetfulnesse Thou returnest to thy children as a Nightingle to her little nest Thou dost comfort them with thy visits and makest them familar with thy glorious life Thou eatest of a honey combe by just right having first tasted the bitter gall of that unmercifull crosse It is thus that our sorrows should be turned into sweets Thou must alwayes be most welcome to me in my troubles for I know well that thou onely canst pacifie and give them remedy I will govern my self toward thee as to the sire too much near familarity will burn us and the want of it will let us freez I will eat honey with thee in the blessed Sacrament I know that many there do chew but few receive thee worthily Make me O Lord I beseech thee capable of those which here on earth shall be the true Antepasts to our future glory The Gospel upon Low Sunday Saint Iohn the 20. THerefore when it was late that day the first of the Sabbaths and the doors where shut where the Disciples were gathered together for fear of the Iews Iesus came and stood in the middest and said to them Peace