apply my self to you I will transfrom my self into you I lose my self and Abysm my self in you for you are my God and I am your Creature you are my Soveraign and I your vassall you are my Redeemer and I your Bondslave 14. A totall Reference and Oblation of our selv's to Jesus THese are your qualities and these my endeavours and duties I accept of them and entirely yeild up my self And I make an Oblation to you of my Obedience of my servitude and of my Absolute dependency upon you and this I offer up to you for evermore I render up and totally submit my self to the motion of your Spirit and to the efficacious conduct of your Grace establish'd on Earth in Heaven by the new Mysterie of your Incarnation And I will have no other repose upon earth than in your labours no other delight than in your Cross no other life than in your death no other solace than in your sufferings as it is your Will that I should in Heaven and in Eternity have life in your life felicity in your felicity Paradise in your Paradise fruition in your fruition and subsistency in your Divinity ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON The Mysterie of the Incarnation TO ADORE the Supream Greatnesses of JESUS and to offer up our selv's unto him in the estate of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him by reason of the ineffable union of the Divinity with the Humanity HOLY Divin and Adorable Trinity in the Unity of your Essence in the Society of your Persons in the fecundity of your Emanations I prayse and adore you in the sublimity of your Greatnesses and I Abysm my self in the profundity of your Councills and in the extent of your Mercies 1. God Created two Natures capable of himself upon one he exercises his Justice upon the other his Mercy YOU have created two Natures capable of your self That of the Angell and that of Man You will exercise upon one of them your Justice and upon the other your mercy I Adore you in this your will and I give you thanks for this your Councill which you held from all Eternity in the excess of your miserations Councill most sublime and most profound Councill most holy and most sacred to unite one day and for evermore human nature to your Divin Essence 2. The Mystery of the Incarnation is the head-work of Gods Love and Power And what is proper to the Person of thâ— Father in the Mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation O Eternall Father who do produce in your self an only Son equall to your self and do produce him out of your self by a second and new Nativity choosing him to unite in his person your nature and ours I prayse and bless you as God and as Father an ds God and Father of this only Son Jesus Christ our Lord. You beget him eternally and you bestow him as another your self in this unspeakable generation and since the Moment chosen by your wisdom you give him incessantly to this humanity derived from the Virgin Happy Moment which serv'd for the Beginning of this great work the head-work of your love and power O God and all-powerfull Father be you Eternally blessed in this moment in this work in this love Love by which you powre out of your self this Celestiaâ—l dew this divin substance this pretious gift which the World and the blessed Virgin receiv's and in her our nature Work wherein is accomplish'd the work of your works the mysterie of your mysteries the mysterie of the Incarnation Moment in which our nature receiv'd and that for an evermore the Person of your only Son for her peculiar Person and this by a tie so sacred so divin so inward and conjoyn'd to your Divinity 3. What is proper to the Person of the Son in these Mysteries O Only Son of God! who do give your Essence to the Holy Ghost and your Person to our Humanity by an ineffable and secret Power of your Love I prayse you contemplate you and adore you in your self and in these two different donations you eternally produce the Holy Ghost and give him the same essence which you have receiv'd of the Father you create and form a new man by a new effort of your grace and power and you give your self to him uniting his nature to your own Person nor do you ever cease in this union and divin donation you thus worthily and divinly exercise your love you conspire in unitie with the Father in these two great donations the one Eternall the other Temporall and you fill up with the one times fullness and with the other the fullness of Eternitie blessed be you in time and in Eternitie When you discoursed of your self to your most inward and familiar friends that is to your Apostles in the last hour of your life you then nam'd your self Life and so you are the Life and Originall of Life and of Love in the thrice sacred Trinity which Death cannot bereave you of but in the the excess of your love you would yet become a new Life and a new beginning of Life and Love in your humanity Blessed be you in this will and in this love Love depressing and exalting Love annihilating and deifying Love crucifying and glorifying for this Love elevates the humanity and depresseth the divinity this Love annihilates in a manner your nature and deifies ours this Love puts you on the Cross and placeth us â—n Glory and finally this Love transforms us into you not only by communication of qualities but even by communication of substance O Son of God! I love you and I adore you in this love in this annihilation in this powerfull transformation 4. What is proper to the Person of the Holy Ghost in these Mysteries FRom you I come to the Holy Ghost who proceeds from you as you proceed from the Father for in this way of Life and Love I trace the order of the divin Processions and sources of Life and after the Son I address my self to you O Fountain of Life O holy Spirit Spirit of Truth of Life and of Love and I adore you in your self for you are God in the unity which you have with the Father and the Son I adore you in your Emanation for you proceed from them and you are their Spirit their Tye their Love and I again adore you in the admirable operation which you exercise in the time ordain'd by the eternall wisdom for it is the highest and holyest Operation which can be terminated out of your self Operation which environs the worthiest person that ever shall be next to the divin Persons that is the Person of the Virgin Operation which depresses and exalts her depresses her even into the center of her nothing drawing from her these sacred words Behold our Lords hand-mayd and exalts her to the greatest dignity which shall ever be communicated either to her or to any other making her Mother of God
and obtain for me a happy death and departure out of this World in the Faith Favour and Affection of Jesus To whom be all honour prayse and glory for Evermore Amen ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON EARTH Iesus Maria Ioseph In honour and homage to the Glorious Trinity in Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost O JESU Son of the living God and Saviour of the World O Mary Mother of Jesus and Mediatrix of Mankind O Joseph Bridegroom of Mary and esteemed Father of Jesus O sacred Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph I honour you reverence you admire you in your excellent eminent sublime Greatnesses in which you seem to be an express Image of the Incomprehensible Trinity and I adhere to you in union of the perfect homages which you rendred to the Father Son and holy Ghost by your high Estate and holy operations The deep Mystery of the divin Trinity is Invisible to our eyes Ineffable to our Tongues Incomprehensible to our Spirits And behold the poor Bethleem stable affoards us a human Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph uppon Earth which views adores and Imitates the Trinity of the Empireall Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost This is Increated that is both created and Increated in the Person of the God-Man Jesus This is divin and Eternall That is Deifi'd and temporall The one is Adorable the other honorable The one is admirable in its greatness The other amiable in its sweetness In the one is a unity of Essence in a Trinity of Persons In the other is a union of Love of Grace and of Spirit in a Trinity of Essence and of Persons In the Divin Trinity the Father begets his Son in Eternity In the other by a reverted order the Son gives Being in Time both to the Father and to the Mother In the first the Father and the Son and the Father by the Son produces the holy Ghost in unity of origin In the second Jesus and Mary and Jesus by Mary gives the Life and Being of Grace to Joseph in the unitie of spirit So that Mary hath an admirable resemblance to the Eternall Father the Son of Mary hath an express unity with himself and S. Joseph represents the Holy Ghost For the Father in Heaven is the only Parent without a Mother and Mary upon Earth is the only Parent without a Father And as nothing greater can be attributed to God than his being the Father of a God so nothing more sublime can befall a pure creature than to be the Mother of the same God whereof God is Father The Holy Ghost is the sacred knot and Tye of the divin Persons And Joseph hath a union with Mary as his Spouse and with Jesus as his Father The Holy Ghost form'd Jesus in the Virginall Cloyster of Maryes Womb And Joseph fed him educated him and preserv'd for us far more fortunately than the ancient Joseph of Egypt â— this Bread of the Elect this blessed pledg of our future happiness this Eternall Bliss of Men and Angells Wherfore O Jesu We acknowledg honour and adore you in your Eternall heights and greatnesses we prayse bless and love you in your temporall humiliations sweetnesses we contemplate you in Heaven with the Eye of Faith betwen the Father and the holy Ghost We admire you upon Earth between Mary and Joseph And I invite and conjure all Creatures to prayse bless and adore your divin Majesty in both these estates O Mary We also look upon you as upon Gods sacred Mother and in this supream dignity I salute reverence and honour you with the singular homage of Hyperdulia which is due to your Excellencies and Greatnesses O Joseph I likewise honour you as the reputed Father of Jesus and Bridegroom of Mary and in regard of these two Eminent qualities I subject my self to the power which is given you over my soul by consequence of the Jurisdiction you had over Jesus my Saviour I offer my self to you O Great Saint Joseph Father and Husband without Paragon to be by you presented to Mary I give my self to you O glorious Mary Virgin and Mother without Paralell to be by you addressed to Jesus I consecrat my self to you O Great-little-God-man Jesus as your servant and bondslave to become associated in this qualitie with the domestiques of your sacred Family O Jesu my King reign in my Soul and exercise the absolute power you have over my spirit O Mary my Soveraign Queen after my King Jesus possess my heart and my will to consign them over to your Son O Joseph My chief Prorector after Jesus and Mary take my Body and senses into your safe custody to be consecrated to Jesus O Jesu annihilate and absorp my soul in your affection O Mary Inflame my heart with the love of Jesus O Joseph Bless all my labours and endeavours and present them to Jesus and Mary Let the whol world be replenish'd O Jesu with your mercies be assisted O Mary with your favours be secured O Joseph under the shadow of your Protection For You O JESU are the Fountain issuing forth of the Terrestriall Paradise Mary's Virginall Womb is the Origin of all our happiness you O Mary are the Prime Bason of this Fountain and the pure Glebe from whence it proceeded And you O Joseph are the River who disperse abroad these waters of Life by your efficacious intercessions O Jesu you are the fruit of life O Mary you are the Paradise that bore it and the Tree that brought it forth And you O Joseph are the Cherubin appointed by God to guard it O Jesu You are the sacred Propitiatory of the world O Mary You are the Mysticall Ark of our Reconciliation And you O Joseph are the High Priest who alone are permitted to enter into this Holy of Holies to be the faithfull Coadjutor of Gods great Counsell in the world and the Feoffee in trust of his treasures and secrets In honour therefore of these three ineffable Tâ—es and unions between these admirable subjects which are the greatest under Gods command and Jurisdiction I most humbly beg of you O Jesu Mary and Joseph 1. A chast and filiall Fear of God that nothing either in life or death may separate me from his grace and friendship 2. A faithfull fervent and perseverant Love of God and my neighbour with a generous zeal of the divin honour and my own salvation 3. A good and happy end of my life consummated in the act and exercise of these sacred affections O JESU Be an Advocate for me your Bondslave to your Eternall Father O Mary intercede for me your servant to your Son O Joseph pray for me your child to Jesus and Mary O Jesu shew your wounds suffer'd for my sake O Mary discover your Breasts which suckled Gods Son O Joseph represent your hands which nourish'd the Word Incarnate O Jesu replenish my Soul with the abundance of your celestiall blessings by the effusion of efficacious grace upon it which may intimately
FOr the spitefull Pharisees hearing the Apostles speaking all sorts of languages sought to undervalue the miracle by vilifying them as Drunkards but St Peter standing up in his own and his brethrens defence solidly refutes their malicious imputation to the great joy admiration and confirmation of all the Auditors and confusion of his enemies Hail Mary 7. At the sodain multiplication of the faithfull FOr St. Peters efficacious Oration was no sooner ended but three thousand Souls were presently converted to the Faith of Christ and forthwith baptizd in his name and five thousand more within few dayes after Hail Mary 8. At the fructification of Christs Passion FOr the blessed Virgin-Mother saw not only the present fruits of her Sons death and sufferings spread abroad in the Apostles and the new converted Christians but she also foresaw the future multitude of martyrs who should couragiously dy for his love besides the vast number of confessors virgins and religious Persons who should cheerfully take up their Crosses and faithfully follow him Hail Mary 9. At the great encrease of the divin honour and worship FOr Pagans Gentills Idolaters and people of all professions renouncing their ancient errors came flocking in amain to be instructed in the Faith of Christ and to follow the Evangelicall doctrin Hail Mary 10. At the accomplishment of the number of the Elect. FOr the blessed Virgin joyfully foresaw that all such souls as should depart this life in the true Faith of of her Son Jesus inform'd with charity were to be added to the number of the Saints and to be admitted to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Glorious Creator How great is your Mercy how infinit your liberalitie How excessive your affection to undeserving and ungratefull Mankind After your only Son was so ill treated amongst us would you also send down the Holy Ghost unto us It plainly appears that we have a potent Advocate in Heaven Jesus Christ the just to plead our cause and a Powerfull Mother upon Earth Mary the Mother of Jesus to impetrate for us this extraordinary favour It is therefore the Mothers merit and the Sons Mercy and the Eternal Fathers liberalitie and the Holy Ghosts goodness that this holy Spirit descends from Heaven upon us A Spirit of life and love a Spirit of solace and sweetness a Spirit of grace and happiness a Spirit which comes in form of fiery tongues to clear our understandings with his light to inflame our wills with his heat and to govern our tongues and affections with his gracious direction A light which dazels not a fire which consumes not a tongue which threatens not accuses not condemns not O sacred and divin Spirit you are the Father of the afflicted the Distributer of graces the enlightner of hearts the comforter of Souls and alas how opposite are my actions to your properties perfections inspirations You descend to instill into me the spirit of sweetness meekness patience and I converse with such as are under my charge and with others who are perchance far better before you than my self with a spirit of choller and peevishness with a spirit of rigour and harshness with a spirit of revenge and bitterness Ah uncharitable wretch that I am shall I contristate my neighbour instead of comforting him shall I exact from others instead of conferring benefits upon them shall I under-value my brethrens actions censure their intentions obscure their reputations instead of putting a charitable construction upon all things whatsoever Change this my crooked and crabbed disposition O powerfull Spirit thâ— plentifull bestower of all perfect gifts by the efficacy of your sacred influence upon my soul purge me I beseech you from my present imperfections pardon me for my past impieties and prevent me from future fallings by implanting your spirit of true peace and charity in my interiour which may keep my heart evermore burning in the love of you and my neighbour till I come to be totally absorpt in you together with the coequall Son and Father in your blessed Eternitie Amen The fourth glorious Mysterie she dy's THe assumption of the blessed Virgin up to Heaven Allegorically understood by Maryes chosing the best part Luke 10. The Virgins sacred Corps too rich a prize For Earth is born by Angels 'bove the Skyes Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mothers heart was replenish'd with exceeding great joy 1. At the news of the near approaching dissolution of her soul and body FOr as the holy Doctors deliver unto us after the dispersion of the Apostles into the Worlds severall quarters to preach the Gospell the blessed Virgin retir'd her felf into a privat dwelling near adjoyning to Mount Sion that she might pass the remaining day 's of her Pilgrimage upon earth in the devout contemplation of her divin Sons actions and the frequent visitation of the holy places of his Baptism Fasting Passion Buriall Resurrection Ascention when behold at the time appointed by the eternall providence a heavenly Messenger probably the Arch-Angell Gabriel reverently saluting her in her Sons name informs her of her near approaching departure out of this life Hail Mary 2. At the securitie of heâ— Glorious and speedy Resurrection FOr as Albertus and all the Doctors agree she could not possibly doubt of her present and immediate Translation to Eternall happiness Hail Mary 3. At her dying without any dread terrour or trouble FOr how could She fear death who was so fervent in Charity as that she desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ How could She be terrifi'd at Deaths approach who was absolutely free from all sin and impiety Or how could She be troubled at the apprehension of Gods severe Judgments who was secure of her salvation 4. At the presence of the Apostles at her departure FOr it is a generally receiv'd Tradition of the Fathers That all the Apostles were by divin instinct sodainly gather'd together from the worlds severall climats to honour her with their personall presence at this time of her earthly dissolution Hail Mary 5. At the sweet separation of her Soul aâ—… Body FOr say's S. Hierom as She was free from the corruption of the flesh so she was exempt from the calamities of Death And S. John Damascen The pain 's which she suffer'd not in childing and dying She payd at the time of Christs Passion Hail Mary 6. At the Ioyfull Re-union of her Soul and Body in her Resuscitation and Assumption into Heaven FOr according to S. Augustin There was no reason corruption should seize on her after death whose integrity was preserv'd in her life c. but 't was fit she should be always living who was the Parent of all life and that she should be always with him who for nine months space was with her in her womb c. Hail Mary 7. At Christ's meeting her accompanyed with the Heavenly
most high Profoundest Councill therfore worthy the Fathers Majesty the Sons Wisdom and the Holy Ghosts love and affection 6. The Person of the Virgin next the divin Persons is the most worthy and greater than all human and Angelicall Persons together IN contemplation of this Councill and this work Permit me Lord to address unto you my devout Vows and Elevations concerning this quality which you establish in Heaven and on Earth by the sacred Mystery of your Incarnation Quality of Mother to the most high And give me leave to trace your divin and admirable ways in the managing of this work with my humble thoughts and devotions You herein O Great Creatour do associate the sacred Virgin unto your own self you Elevate her up to work with your self and even to work the work of your works And as you associate a Human nature to one of your Divin Persons you will also associate a Human Person to one of your Divin works Contemplating therfore this work O sacred Trinity and there finding this Virgin in Society with your self I look on her love her and reverence her as a Person the most high the most holy and the most worthy of your love and greatness that ever shall have a Being yea I contemplate and respect her as the only She who surpasses in Height in Holiness in Dignity even all Human and Angelicall Spirits together and unitedly considered 7. The Virgin constitutes an Order Empire and Vniverse apart MOreover you O sacred Trinity made her singly for your self you have made her as a World and a Paradise apart World of Greatnesses and Paradise of delights for the New-Man who was to come into the world you have made her as a new Heaven and a new Earth Earth which only bears the Man-God And Heaven which contains none but himself alone which turnes not but about him alone which moves not but for him alone You have made her in the Universe as another Universe And in your Empire as another Empire For the sacred Virgin is her self a Universe which hath its different center and motions The sacred Virgin is her self an Empire which hath its distinct Laws and Estate The sacred Virgin amongst all the subjects of Gods Divin Majesty is so great so particular so eminent a subject that it alone maks a new Order amongst the orders of his power and wisdom Order surpassang all the Orders of Grace and of Glory Order altogether singular making and carrying a new Empire over Gods works Order which is conjoyn'd to the order and state of Hypostaticall union Order which hath a direct Reference to the divin Persons For as the Angells are dispos'd into Hierarchies properly relating to the Divin Essence according to its distinct perfections and attributes of love of Power of light c. So also the sacred Virgin in her Order and in her Hierarchie which she solely fills with her Greatness beholds and honours the state and the proprieties of the Divin Persons Thus the God of Heaven who hath unity of Essence and plurality of Persons hath divided the Celestiall Court into two different Quires In one of which all the Angells which in number are almost Infinit and which are ranged in their severall Orders and Hierarchies behold according to their Estate the distinct Perfections of the Divin Essence In the other the Virgin alone in her Order by an Excellency peculiar to her self alone beholds according to her new Estate the divin Persons as depending on their Personall Proprieties And this sole Quire of the sacred Virgin renders more homage both to the divin Essence and to the divin Persons than the Nine Quires of all the Angells together 8. The Virgin is a singular work of Gods Power the holiest that ever shall be created The divin Paternity is the Samplar of this divin Maternity The Eternal Father and the Son are tyed by the Person of the Holy Ghost and the Eternall Father and the Virgin are tyed by the Person of the Son O God O All-powerfull Father who can express how this Virgin is to you pretious and acceptable You frame her and sanctify her to be the Mother of your only Son whom you will Incarnate in the world and you form her in the orders of Nature of Grace and of Glory as a singular work of your Power and Bountie and the head-work of your hands You fashion her as the greatest the worthiest the eminentest subject of your Domination and soveraignty in the whol round and Circumference of all your Creatures For in the Order and Existency of all created Entities God commands not nor ever will command any thing greater than this greatest Virgin God hath not yet made nor will hereafter make any thing more Holy than this Holyest Virgin O how highly is she then to be Reverenc'd in this Eminency and singularity of Grace of Sanctity of Power Yet O Eternall Father I again Reverence her in the Origin of this Grace which is the design you have to make her a Mother to him to whom your self is a Father For after you had conducted her to the accomplish'd point of a singular Grace you being at your chosen time to enter a neer Alliance with her separate her from all things created you seat her close to your Divinity and you unite your self to her as to a Person whom you will have the most intimately and neerly conjoyn'd to your own peculiar Person of all that ever shall have a Being And she is thus joyn'd to you to co-operate with you in this Great work to render you the fruit of so close an alliance to give you a son born of her substance and having your Essence and to produce by you and with you Him who being your only Son is also her Son by a new Nativity O Ineffable Greatness O Admirable sublimity The Eternall Father who contemplating his own Essence produceth his Son contemplating his own Paternity Source of all Paternity yea source even of the Divinity honours it Imitates it and expresseth it in the holy Virgin and forms and produces in her this admirable Estate of Divin Maternity which Adores the Father in his Personall Propriety and which gives him to the Father and to the world who is the life of the Father and the health of the world 'T is in this happy great and gloria our Estate O sacred Virgin that the Eternall Father appropriates you to himself and himself to you Renders himself all yours and renders you all his own unites himself to you and you to himself And communicating to you his Spirit and his love makes you fruitfull with a divin fertility and being resolv'd to have of you One self-same Son with you makes you by this his Alliance to be Productrice to the world and to himself of Him who by this Birth according to the Angells saying is his Son and your Son together Your Son as issued from your own proper substance His Son as emanated from his own
The glorious St. BENNET and his Disciples with immortal fruit and profit practis'd and promulgated the Blessed Virgins Psalter The pious St. DOMINICK reuiu'd it's decaij'd use and is the Institutor of the Blessed Virgins Rosary as it is now in practise A. Voet fe Jesus Maria Joseph OR THE DEVOUT PILGRIM OF THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN HIS Holy Exercises Affections and Elevations Upon the sacred Mysteries of JESVS MARIA JOSEPH Published for the benefit of the pious Rosarists by A. C. and T. V. Religious Monks of the holy Order of S. BENNET Printed at Amsterdam Anno D. 1657. sacred Majesty this small Book which we have compiled for the comfort of your devout children as a publick and permanent Testimonie and Profession of our being entirely vow'd and addicted to your sons and your honour and service And we are thereto induced by much more forcible reasons than such as are wont to move men to make an Oblation of their works to the worthy's of this world For first you O Glorious Virgin are the greatest Princess of the whol universs and can therefore repay our endeavours with more reall rewards than the richest earthly Monarch can confer upon his Clients Moreover you are meek mild and mercifull and therefore will not disdaign the meanest offerings of your devoted and well meaning Vassalls Furthermore The particular and personall Favours we have already receiv'd by your powerfull patronage prayers and protection Favours which can be by no one deny'd without a spice of infidelity nor disguised without doing you an apparent injury nor suppress'd without our express ingratitude give us a certain kind of hopefull confidence that according to your wonted goodness and clemency you will not now reject us coming before you with these presents such as they are in our hands who have so piously heretofore help'd and relieved us in our most urgent and pressing necessities And finally This Book it self O Soveraign Queen-Mother stands in need of your speciall favour to render it fruitfull to its Readers For whosoever will make right use thereof must have simple and Dove-like eyes ayming only at Heaven single and disinteressed Hearts pretending nothing but Piety humble and obedient spirits captivated to Faith's mysteries docible diligent and devout souls willing to learn how they may rayse their thoughts to celestiall affections whilst their tongues run over their common prayers and supplications briefly earnest and ardent desires to imitate your Sons and your vertues and to express in their lives manners and conversations what they resent and resolve in their meditations All which necessary capacities you O singularly perfect and powerfull Virgin can principally obtain for them and which we beseech you O most compassionate Mother to procure for us and for all the devout children of your sacred Rosary that so our daily Prayers may not be without fervent affections nor our affections without efficacious works nor our works without the sweet fruits of Eternall life We pretend not here O most worthy Mother of the Word Eternall and Incarnate to make a Panegyrick of your prayses which were a design far above our forces and we willingly acknowledge that our wings are too weak to rayse us up to this Sphere of wonders that our dim eyes want strength to support the radiant splendor of this divin Sun that we should lose our selv's in this large Ocean of your Mervails and finally that by our over-near approaching to so great a Majesty we should infallibly be opprest by your Glory But should we undertake so impossible a task and adventure upon so rash an enterprise have we not summ'd up all the advantages of your glory by styling you Gods worthy Mother Surely to be Mother of the Soveraign Deity is a Supream Dignity since 't is the basis ground-work and foundation of all imaginable height holiness and happiness that can befall a creature but yet 't is incomparably more perfection to deserve this dignity than to possess it so that had you O most holy Virgin Mother deserv'd it without having it you had remain'd much greater than by having it without deserving it For your merit was not so strictly ty'd to your Maternity nor your Dignity to your desert as that they might not have separatedly subsisted since the Divin Majesty might have made choyce of some other less perfect Woman than your self for his Mother as also he could have conferr'd on you this plenitude of Grace wherby you acquired your worth without obliging himself to make you hâ—s Mother whence it most evidently follows that deserving to become Gods Mother though you had not been so is to you a greater honour and dignity than it had been to another to be so without having deserv'd it And though the greatest Gratification which God can bestow upon a simple creature is to make it his Mother yet this singly considered is only an Act of pure Gratification whereas your Sanctity O Sacred Virgin had it not been joyn'd to your Maternity would nevertheless have rais'd you to that prime place you now possess in your Creators favour and rendred you worthy of that inexplicable glory you shall there enjoy in heaven above all other Creatures for all future Eternity Wherefore if to style you Gods Mother is to say you can be no higher in dignity without being God himself surely to entitle you Gods worthy Mother is to say you are by your merit above all that is not the Divin Majesty since 't is to avouch That the desert of your Person agrees with the greatness of your Prerogative and that the greatness of your merit corresponds to the glory of your Maternity which is so eminent a Dignity that the Almighty by his absolute power can exalt no purely created beâ—ng to any higher pitch of perfection A Dignity which is the origin the measure and the abridgment of all your other numberless excellencies priviledges and greatnesses A Dignity to which they all yeild homage as subjects to the Soveraign on which they all depend as light on the Sun from which they are all deriv'd as rivulets from the Fountain A Dignity which except only Gods Soveraign Divinity and our Redeemers Sacred Humanity is the highest subject the holyest object the noblest entertainment of Mens and Angells contemplation Finally A Dignity which we may ravishtly admire but can never hope to explicate And what mervail is it O Mother of God! if we Alas Weak-spirited and short-sighted wretches falter in our expressions since the most fluent learned eloquent tongues and pens trembled to treat of this your divin and incomprehensible Title The great Bishop S. Gregory of Neo-Cesaria Serm. de Annunciatione that famous worker of Miracles and wonders can find no words to unfold the Infinit excellencies which are included in these three Syllables Gods Mother here his wit his language his learning fail him when he is to fall upon this unexplicable subject The worthy and wise Prelat of Constance Saint Epiphanius Serm. de Deipara
Son our Lord. I Believe in the second Person of the sacred Trinity the Son whom the Father begot from all Eternity communicating to him all his own Essence Greatness Perfection who continuing God became Man for the Salvation of Sinners was nam'd Christ Jesus and is the Soveraign Lord and King of all Souls O divin word which descended from Heaven to Earth to deliver me from sin and Satan be you my Lord by Election as you are by Creation and Redemption I freely give and bequeath my self to you for your perpetuall Bondslave Live O Jesu and reign in my Soul as you do in the whol extent of this large Universe Who was conceiv'd by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary I Believe that Gods Son that he might become Man did vouchsafe to unite to his divin Person a Rationall soul and a human body which the Holy Ghost miraculously form'd in the chast bowels of the blessed Virgin Mary and of her proper and pure blood so that he was truly conceiv'd in her and truly born by her without any prejudice to her Virginity O Jesu the lover of Purity who chose the chastest woman of the World for your Mother by the Immaculate Purity of your Conception and Nativitie give me the gift and grace of purity of Life and Conversation Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucify'd dead and buryed I Believe that the Son of God Incarnate endured very severe Torments in his humanity for the Worlds Redemption that he was adjudg'd to dy by the Prefident Pilate and that after his death he was buryed and laid in a Sepulchre O Jesu the Redeemer of my Soul your death is the only hope of my Life be you graciously pleas'd to apply to me one single drop of your sacred Bloud and I shall rest secure in this Life and be happy for all Eternitie He descended into Hell the third day he arose again from the Dead I Believe that in the death of my blessed Saviour his Soul was really seperated for a time from his Body to descend into that part of Hell which was call'd Limbus Patrum where all such souls as from the Worlds first beginning departed this life in a good estate were till then detaind I believe that he deliver'd them from that Dungeon and that upon the third day his Soul return'd to his buryed Body became reunited unto it and rays'd it up to Life and Immortality O most glorious Soul of Christ my Saviour which thus mercifully visited the Patriarchs lying in the sad Prison of Limbus vouchsafe to give me also a gracious vâ—sit that whil'st I live I may duly and devoutly love and honour you and when my Soul shall be call'd out of this imprisoning Body it may be rays'd up to Contemplate admire and prayse your greatness goodness and glorie for all Eternitie He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Allmightie I Believe that Jesus my Redeemer being by his own power resuscitated from death to life ascended up to Heaven by his own strength where he sits at the right hand of God his Father to whom he is every way equall as the chief of all the Blessed full of glory and felicity O Jesu my Redeemer how worthy are you thus to triumph to reign to be exalted above all creatures But O forget not in the state of your greatness the condition of your miserable Creature bought with the price of your precious Bloud O King of glory grant that all my thoughts words actions and desires may aym at nothing but your only honour From thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I Believe that Christ Jesus when he shall please to put a Period to time and all sublunary things will descend visibly from Heaven in his glorious Humanity to judg all Manking both the good and the bad and publickly to reward to punish every one according to their works Ah! just Judg of all consciences what shall I then do or what shall I answer when you shall question me concerning my whol lives transactions I believe in the Holy Ghost I Believe in the third person of the sacred Trinitie the Holy Ghost who joyntly proceeds both from the Father and from the Son and is to them equall in Greatness in Majestie in all things whatsoever O sacred Spirit the God of Infinit Love and Charity breath upon my flinty heart mollify it into meekness towards my Neighbour and melt it into the sweet affections of your pure and perfect Love I believe the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints I Believe the Catholick Church to be the only Church of Christ that it is holy universall apostolical and infallible in things appertaining to Faith and that in this Church there are found many pious Souls pleasing to the divin Majesty which mutually help each other by their prayers and good works O my Lord and my God! I render you most humble and hearty thanks for having made me a child and member of this holy Church in which I have so great hopes and so many helps to save my soul give me your grace good Jesu that I may improve this signall favour and persever in this saving Faith that from it I may pass to the clear vision of your prepared glory The Forgiveness of Sins I Believe that God is both able and willing to forgive me my Sins and that he hath left power in his Church to remit them be they never so heynous and enormous and this especially by the Priests absolution in the Sacrament of Penance O God of Infinit goodness and mercy let all Creatures Eternally prayse and magnifie your sacred Name for having given such power to men and such comfort to poor sinners The Resurrection of the Flesh I Believe that the very body in which my Soul now lives and breaths and all human bodyes though after death they are redâ—c'd into dust in their graves shall at the end of the World and at the great day of generall Judgment be rays'd to lâ—fe by Gods omnipotent command and his Angells ministry to be then rejoyn'd to their same souls and to live for evermore O Dread Soveraign in whose hands are life and death and to whose beck all things are obedient Ingrave deeply in my heart and soul the hope of a happy Resurrection that the horrour of this temporall dissolution and death of my body may not over-terrify and dismay me And life everlasting Amen I Believe that the good shall live in Heavenly glory for all Eternitie and that the wicked shall live eternally in infernall torments O good God! grant that I may so live in your grace during this my short Pilgrimage that I my live with you in glorie in your Eternall Paradise Amen §. 3. Of the Pater Noster or our Lords Prayer The second part of the Rosary THe Pater Noster is the Prayer which our Lord Jesus taught his disciples informing them from his own sacred mouth
in following you more carefull in keeping you more sincere constant perseverant in serving and obeying you Be you my guid O most glorious Virgin-Mother in this my inquest after your dear Son Following your footsteps to the sacred Temple I shall find him by your favour whom I have lost by my own fault And having once found him O let me never more loose him by my disloyaltie that living here and dying in his sweet embraces I may live with him hereafter and enjoy him eternally in his blessed Kingdom Amen Then end this first part of the Rosary with the Profession of your Faith and the sign of the Cross saying I Believe in God c. with the Prayer To the sacred and undivided Trinity c. as it is set down in the end of the 5. § The second Part of the Rosary containing the Five Dolorous Mysteries Begin this Part of the Rosary with the Prayer sign of the Cross and Creed as in the first Part. The First Dolorous Mystery He Prays THe Agony of Christ whilst he was at his Prayers in the Garden Matth. 26. Christ in the Garden pray's his anguish'd Brest Is in his face through sweats of blood exprest As in the Precedent Joyfull Mysteries we have shew'd that those five principall and common heads comprehended under their signall notions severall particular Joys of the sacred Virgin-Mother so each one of these five generall Dolorous Mysteries like a long chain made up of many links includes a multitude of particularly aggravating circumstances in our dear Redeemers Passion and his holy Mothers compassion which Concatenation of sorrows we shall endeavour as before in the Cohesion of Joys to reduce briefly to Ten Heads or points of Contemplation correspondent to the respective Decades of this second part of the Rosary Our Father c. Our Blessed Saviour was exceedingly sad and sorrowfull 1. At the apprehension of the loss of his corporall life FOr if Death is of all things most horrible to human nature it was surely according to the said human nature much more horrible to him than to any other because his life was of greater dignity than that of all others by reason of its conjunction to the Divinity Hail Mary 2. At the foresight of his sufferings FOr his understanding clearly comprehending the quality and quantity of his approaching pains and torments And his souls eyes efficaciously seeing all the causes of fear and sadness and furthermore he permitting say's S. John Damascen each one of his senses and Powers to act according to its own naturall propertie it must needs follow that as his knowledge was most perfect his sufferings were most excessive Hail Mary 3. At the consideration of Sins heynousness FOr he came to suffer for all the offences of Mankind in generall and for each ones sin past present and to come in particular O the anguish of his soul at the sight of their multitude and malice Hail Mary 4. At the Iewes Ingratitude FOr besides his particular Benefits showr'd down from time to time upon that perverse people he had now borrow'd his humanity from their Blood conversed many years amongst them preached his Gospell unto them wrought infinit Miracles before them And that they after all this should so inhumanly unnaturally ungratefully condemn kill and crucify him was surely a corrosive more bitter to his afflicted heart than death it self Hail Mary 5. At the little profit which Christians would reap from his Passion FOr though the least drop of his precious Blood was abundantly sufficient to redeem not only all men but many worlds yet he well knew how few would make themselves partakers of the fruits thereof And this foreseen sloth negligence and wilfull ingratitude of Christians if we will credit S. Bernard Bonaventure and Hugo more afflicted our dear Redeemer than all the corporall calamities he endur'd on the Cross for them Hail Mary 6. At the Treason of Judas FOr that a Servant should betray his Master a Disciple his Lord an Apostle his Saviour And this by a fraudulent Kiss the sign of peace friendship and affection are circumstances says S. Ambrose much aggravating our Redeemers sorrow Hail Mary 7. At the Scandall scattering and flight of his dearest Disciples friends and followers O the Affliction of his tender heart To see Them whom he lov'd so sincerely Them whom he had serv'd so diligently Them whom he had so lately comforted and confirmed by his long Sermon and so earnestly commended to his Fathers care and custody Them whom he had from time to time fed so efficaciously with his sacred Doctrin and feasted so deliciously with this Blessed Body and Blood in the very last nights Banquet to fly now fearfully from him to be scandaliz'd at him and to seem to doubt of his Divinity And above all to see Peters Ingratitude Infidelity Pusillanimity did surely pierce his Soul with inexplicable sorrow Hail Mary 8. At his taking binding and bringing out of the Garden of Mount Olivet IMagin O my Soul What injuries thy Innocent Saviour here suffer'd by a band of barbarous Souldiers set on by the spitefull Jews ledd on by the Sacrilegious Judas egg'd on by their own malice and fury See how violently they rush upon him binding his armes baring his head beating his body pulling his beard tearing his hair and every way abusing him insulting over him deriding him blaspheming him Hail Mary 9. At his presentation to Annas and Caiphas and the suborning of false witnesses against him O What an affliction To be tryed by such unjust and partiall Judges and to be made guilty by such envious and sinister proceedings Hail Mary 10. At his Blows Buffets and other opprobrious usage all night long FOr when the wearied Ring-leaders and wicked Priests had deliver'd him over to be baited by the rabble of the enraged people O how inhumanly did they handle the meek humble and patient JESUS His face says S. Bonaventure which fills Heaven with Joy is here defiled with loathsom spittle smiten with sacrilegious hands cover'd with mock-hoods c. and nothing was omitted which malice could invent to torment him Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O holy Jesu the absolute Pattern of heroick Resignation grant that in all the accidents which by the dispensation of your divin providence shall befall me during this my earthly Pilgrimage I may cheerfully cordially affectionately say with you and to you Not my will O my heavenly Father but yours be done O let me have no wishes but that your will may be accomplish'd no desires but that your commands may be obey'd no designes but that you may be faithfully serv'd lov'd prays'd by all creatures Give me O Jesu the gift and spirit of Prayer which is the chief exercise of Religion that in Imitation of your example I may henceforth more seriously addict my self unto it especially in the time of my
Father How then do I see you panting fainting falling down through feebleness Are not you the supporting strength of this spacious Universe did not your power extend the Firmament encircling therewithall the celestiall Orb 's and fix the Earth upon the point of its own upholding center How then do I now behold you lying prostrate under the oppressing weight of this one single burthen O my Saviour you promise to lend men your helping hand and send them the assistance of your Angells to keep them from all harms in their fallings and your self falls here under your heavy Cross without admitting any succour from your own divin Person from your Angells or from Men in this your extream necessity O my soul how heynous are thy sins which ly so heavily upon thy Saviours shoulders And O my proud perverse spirit which refusest to submit thy stubborn neck to the sweet weight and light burthen of God and his Church Didst thou ever seriously contemplate thy Redeemer Christ Iesus groaning for thee under the burthen of his Cross How then dost thou still continue thy disobedience ingratitude impietie Or didst thou ever take into thy serious consideration thine own perchance nearly approaching passage out of this World to an eternity How then dost thou not apprehend what a heavy weight will oppress thy wicked heart at that dreadfull hour and how thou wilt be beaten down under the burthen of thy sins And alas who will then assist thee when thy angry Creator shall thunder his just judgments upon thy head which like formidable waves wil overflow and drown thy frail vesell What succour canst thou expect when a sad dispair seizing upon thee thou shalt vainly desire to ly cover'd in some cranny of the Rocks or to hide thy head in some hole of the Mountains or to be deep buryed in some Dungeon within the Earths bowels Who will then lend thee a charitable hand in this thy extream calamity or what can comfort a conscience thus cauteriz'd crucify'd oppress'd with so many crimes crying out against themselves for vengance O my soul Let 's not remit our conversion to that dismall hour but let 's now efficaciously do what we shall then fruitlesly desire to have done Leâ—… in the first place discharge our conscience of its deadly crimes whilst time and opportunity afford us leave and leasure Then let 's away with all these fardles of ill-gotten Goods cancell all unlawfull usurarie extortionous contracts cut off all our sinfull customs concupiscences sensualities and finally shake off the two long carryed and over-heavily charging yoake of the World the Flesh and the Devill This done let 's cheerfully receive the Cross of Penance and mortification from the sacred hands of suffering Jesus He carries it before us to encourage us to follow him his is weighty to make ours light and easie he fall under his that we may stand fast under ours and we shall neither want strength nor comfort in this our heroick enterprise of vertu and piety if we frequently cast our faithfull eyes upon our valiant Captain marching before us towards Mount Calvarie with his royall Standard on his shoulders The fifth Dolorous Mysterie Is kill'd Christ our Saviour is crucify'd and dy's on the cross John 19. Luke 23. Mark 15. Matth. 27. With nayles extended on the Cross he dy's Who 's God and Man for Man a sacrifice Our Father Our Blessed Saviour was put to excessive pain and torture 1. At the pulling off of his Garments FOr when by the help of a certain poor fellow call'd Simon he had train'd his heavy Cross to Golgotha His Executioners tear off his cloathes together with his skin and flesh to which they were in severall parts in a manner fast glued with the Blood flowing out of his wounds Hail Mary 2. At his there standing again naked in the sight of all the Spectators TO be hang'd up naked was the greatest disgrace they could put upon the most despicable person and don only to the worst sort of Malefactors Hail Mary 3. At the boysterous stretching out of his body on the Cross WHich they rack'd with such vioâ—ence by the help of ropes ty'd to his wrists and ankles that according to the Royall Prophets prediction all his dislocated Bones might have been numbred Hail Mary 4. At the Piercing of his hands and feet with nayls O Christ my Rock out of these sacred holes I may suck hony draw forth oyl and fully tast the sweetness of your affection Hail Mary 5. At the Erection of the Cross with Iesus upon it TO publish his Crucifixion and shew him to all the greedily expecting people What faithfull Christian will not be now rays'd to hopes of obtaining pardon When he considers his Redeemers arms thus extended to embrace him and his hands thus open'd to bestow benefits upon him Hail Mary 6. At the superscription of the Title of Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iews WHich was written in a threefold language that no one might be ignorant of the cause of this his cruell usage but that all might conclude He was justly crucifi'd who had unjustly usurp'd a Kings title Hail Mary 7. At their continued calumnies whilst he hung on the Cross O Princes and People How implacable was your hatred how great your malice how insatiable your fury which could not forbear your abuses in his last Agony But he endur'd your peevishness and kept his own patience and though he descended not now from the Cross he soon after arose from the Sepulcher Hail Mary 8. At the sight of his compassionate Mother standing by his Cross O Sorrowfull Mother you see the Innocent Son of your chast womb wounded and cannot cure him weltring in blood and cannot wipe it off inclining and hanging down his weak and wearied head and cannot uphold it c. What tongue can express the compassion of your tender heart at the sight of these your Sons afflictions Or the grief of his tender heart at the sight of his thus afflicted Mother Hail Mary 9. At his Thirst upon the Cross GReat surely was the naturall thirst of his Body which was almost exhausted and drained dry of all his blood and moysture But far greater was his Souls spirituall thirst for the salvation of Mankind What do you thirst after O dear Redeemer says S. Augustin wine of the grape or water of the River your thirst is my salvation your drink my Redemption Be thou also thirsty O my dry Soul and drink thy fill of that blessed Fountain which thirsts thus after thee Hail Mary 10. At his giving up the Ghost and expiration on the Cross JESUS bowing down his head breath'd out his soul and deliver'd up his spirit freely voluntarily unconstrainedly into the hands of his eternall Father And so compleated and consummated the penall and afflictive part of the great Mystery of mans Redemption Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations
down his holy Spirit upon his Apostles and the rest of his chosen children to instruct them in his will to encourage them in their duties to confirm them in their Faith to assist them in their preaching to strengthen them in their persecutions O Iesu send also your holy Spirit to cure cleanse and comfort my sick sinfull and sad soul adorn each corner of my interiour with your divin love and grace that you sacred Spirit may find there a sweet and gratefull habitation rule reign and remain in my heart O Iesu King of Glory for evermore Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother whose soul was dilated with such unspeakable joy and sweetness in the glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascention of your divin Son JESUS appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary Conclude this holy Crown with that Apostles Creed saying I believe in God c. Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus our blessed Redeemer in honour of the Thirty-three year 's of his holy Life 1. O Good Jesu the word of the Father convert me 2. O Good Jesu the lamb of God! puryfie me 3. O Good Jesu my Master teach me 4. O Good Jesu the Prince of Peace govern me 5. O Good Jesu the sure hope of penitent Sinners behold me 6. O Good Jesu my Refuge defend me 7. O Good Jesu my Instructor direct me 8. O Good Jesu my Patience comfort me 9. O good Jesu the chief Comforter of sad Souls refresh me 10. O good Jesu my Redeemer save me 11. O good Jesu my Lord and my God! possess me 12. O good Jesu the life the way and the truth enliven me 13. O good Jesu my firm Foundation strengthen me 14. O good Jesu the light of the world illuminate me 15. O good Jesu my Justice justifie me 16. O good Jesu my Mediator sanctifie me 17. O good Jesu the Physitian of my soul heal me 18. O good Jesu my Judg absolve me 19. O good Jesu the Son of Justice shine upon me 20. O good Jesu my King deliver me 21. O good Jesu Son of David pitty me 22. O good Jesu my sanctification cleanse me 23. O good Jesu the living bread descending from Heaven satiate me 24. O good Jesu the wine bringing forth Virgins inebriate me 25. O good Jesu my Father bless me 26. O good Iesu the only joy of my heart visit me 27. O good Iesu my Helper assist me 28. O good Iesu my Protector protect me 29. O good Iesu my Love transform me 30. O good Iesu my Propitiation hide me in your wounds 31. O good Iesu the faithfull Shepheard feed me 32. O good Iesu the eternal Life receive me into the number of your Elect. 33. O good Iesu my Glory gloryfie me An Advertisement to them of the sacred Confraternity of the holy name of IESUS AFter the recitall of the Rosary of Jesus or Crown of our Lord and these Thirty-three Petitions in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy life you may make use of some of the following Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord and to the holy Trinity according as your opportunity and devotion shall dictate unto you and not as any part belonging to the said Rosary of Iesus which contains nothing more than what is before prescribed and expressed for though they may be practis'd with very great spiritual profit by all faithful Christians as containing a most eminent sublime and heroick manner of offring up our selv's to the divin Majesty yet the frequent use thereof is especially proper to the members of this sacred Confraternity who above all others ought to adore Gods greatness admire his goodness extoll his mercies and dedicate themselv's to his perpetuall service by the continuall remembrance of the mysteries of his Life and Incarnation which is the end of their devout Confraternity and the drift of these divin Elevations ELEVATIONS TO JESVS CHRIST our Lord In honour of his severall Estates and of the singular Mysterries of his Life TO ADORE The supream greatness of JESUS And to offer our selv's to him in way of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable Union of the Divinitie with our Humanity 1. The Eternall Greatness of the word Incarnate O IESU my Lord King of Angels Redeemer of Men Soveraign of the Universe only Son of God only Son of the Virgin Born from all Eternity in the Eternall Fathers bosom and in times fullness born of the Virgin Mary true God true Man I adore you in your eternall and your temporall Greatness in your divin and human Fullness in your created and uncreated Highness You are the second Person of the sacred Trinity but equall to the First and origin of the Third you are the Splendor and Glory of the eternall Father you are his power and his wisdom you are his lively Image and perfect resemblance you are his only Son and his eternall word you are God of God Light of Light 2. The Equality and Consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself YOU are in these Greatnesses by Birth Such a Birth which Equalls the Power and Paternity of him who is your Father and which is one and the same thing with the Divinity A wonder not in the world but in Eternity not in the created but uncreated Being and the Prime wonder of Eternity For you are the first Production of the Eternall Father and source of the last And by this wonderfull Birth you are Infinit as he is All-powerfull is he is God as he is Beginning and Originall of a Divin Person as he is Nor is there any other difference but that in one self-same Divinity in one equall Eternity in one semblable Majesty He is Father and you are Son you are Son but without inequality without posteriority you are Son yet of even antiquity of equall authority with him and Eternall God as he is You are Son but without diversity of Essence or of Power or of Wisdom having the unity of Essence with the diversity of Subsistency in which you are one only God with him you are adored as he is and you are the Creator Conserver and Commander of the whol world as he is 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us THese Greatnesses dazle our souls we cannot look upon them from out our Earths obscurity They are to be adored not beheld and we must vail our faces in the presence of this divin object as did the Angells by Isay's relation in the sight of your Throne But you are willing to exercise you mercy's upon us you will cast a cover upon your self and render your self visible to our weak spirits and to our mortall aspects you will stoop down to us and become accessible and by a Councill which even ravishes us with wonder you will come neer us and make your self as one of us For O
favour in the world which makes me in the Order of Grace not only existent by you but existent in you So that by this manner of Grace proper to this Mystery and springing from it in the honour and Imitation of your Eternall Procession I am not only yours not only by you but I am in you I live in you I make a part of you I am bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh let me be then also spirit of your Spirit let me live by your life let me participate of the Interiour of the Grace of the Estate of the Spirit of your Mysteries let me appropriate my self to you let me appropriate them to my self let me appropriate my self to your Greatnesses and to your debasings your Cross and your Glory your Life and your Death 9. The Perfection of a Christian requires that Jesus live in him and that he imprint in his Soul the Spirit and life of his estates and Mysteries 'T Is my desire and my hope but it surpasseth my power and therfore I expect it from the new Grace of the new Man For this Grace joyns me to him and placeth me in a condition not only to work but further to receive and bear his sacred and divin Operations yea and tends to a more strict and inward Communication For this new Grace issuing out of the Incarnation and resembling its own originall and Prototypon tends to this that I be in Jesus and that Jesus be in me as he is in his Father and his Father is in him Be then in me O Jesu live in me work in me form and figure in me your Estates and your Mysteries your actions and your sufferings And as the Father expresseth and impresseth in you his substance as in his divin Character so imprint in my soul and in my life your inward and outward Conversation and make me a lively character bearing the impression of your Spirit of your estates of your holy and wholsom operations You are the Image of God make me the perfect picture of your self make me like to your self conforming me to your Mysteries as you have been pleasd to make your self like me conforming your self to my miseries and let me carry the effects and lineaments of your Grace and of your Glory of your Power and of your life which you led upon earth Let your Birth make me be new-born born Let your Infancy put me in the state of Innocency Let your flight into Egypt make me fly the world and sin let your Servitude render me your slave let your bonds unfetter me and infranchise me from my sins from my passions and from my self Let your hidden and unknown life hide me from the world and from vanity let your solitude entertain me let your temptations strengthen me let your labours solace me let your griefs cure me let your Agonyes comfort me and let your death make me live and be new-born in Eternity 10. The Principall Mysteries of Jesus apply'd to our sanctification And his qualities and offices referr'd to our use LEt me thus enter Commerce and communication with you O my Life and my Love O my God and my All Let the course and the Moments the Periods and the Estates of your Life upon earth be thus apply'd and appropriated to me and let your Qualities and Offices thus work in me and imprint in me their comfortable efforts You are the uncreated Wisdom I will adhere to your Maxims and follow your conduct you are the Doctor of Justice I will enter into your School and Disciplin you are the Holy and Health-bringer of God in you will I have Grace and Salvation you are the live I will live in you you are the way I will walk by you you are the God of Heaven and of Earth I will be yours 11. By how many titles we belong to Jesus and Jesus to us I Know I am yours and that by many titles For I am yours by your Greatness your Powerfulness your Priviledges I am yours by your Dignities your Merits your Benefits I am yours by the gift of your Father who gives me unto you in giving the whol Earths circumference to you I am yours by your own gift whereby you give your self to your Father for me And you are mine for your Father gives you to the world in the excess of his love and you are your Fathers gift you are Gods gift in divers and sundry significations And 't is your own self which thus qualifies your self telling the Samaritan woman Didst thou know Gods gift and who he is that talks wtth thee This was your discourse of your self to this poor stranger whom you happily made a Domestique of your Faith and of your word and vouchsaf'd your self to Catechize so familiarly 12. Jesus is Gods Gift unto us and what this Gift demands of us with an Explication of Christian Grace WHerefore being taught by your sacred mouth that this quality of being Gods Gift is proper unto you I adore you I behold you I receive you in this quality As by this you are mine I will be yours Nor shall it suffice me to be yours by your self and by your Father I will be yours by my self also and by choise of my own Free-will I give my self then to you O Jesu my Lord I give to you my self with my whol power and according to the full extent of your own power and will over me I give my self to the Grace of your Mysterie of the Incarnation Grace which tyes me unto you in a new manner Grace which separates me from my self unites and incorporates me in you Grace which makes me yours in so noble so intimate and so powerfull a fashion and renders me yours as a parcell of your self Grace of life and of death both together Grace of annihilating and also of establishing In the strength and vertue of this Grace which hath its origin in you and in your new estate of God-Man I annihilate my self in my own self to be in you and I will carry within my Soul a death to all things that I may live in you And I will that my Being be reduced to be nothing els than a pure Capacity of you fill'd up with you 13. This Christian Grace is form'd upon the Mysterie of the Incarnation which is its Modell And requires of us a particular manner of Oblation and Donation to Jesus ACcording to the Power efficacy of this Grace which is peculiar to your Mysterie of the Incarnation and which is form'd upon it as upon its Copy I bequeath my self to you O Jesu my Lord I give you my Being my life and my love I give you my time and my Eternity I give you my Body and my Soul I give you my senses and powers I render my self slave to your Greatnesses to your Cross and to you love I put into your hands the last hour of my life which is the decider of my Eternity I offer my self to you I
name of JESUS 6. He nourish'd fed and maintain'd Him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affords food and sustenance to all living Creatures And cloathed him who furnished the Lillyes Roses and flowers of the Field with all their beautifull Robes and Ornaments 7. He was in some sort the saver of his Saviour by sheltring little Jesus from Herods rage and crueltie and stepping aside with him into Egypt whilst the Innocents bought the palm of Martyrdom with the price of their blood 8. He commanded him who commands all earthly Princes and Monarchs and had him obedient to the beck of his hand to the nod of his head to the twinkle of his eye and to the sound of his voyce before whom the Powers of Heaven fall down and tremble O the admirable power of S. Joseph O the adorable subjection of Jesus O the sublimâ—tie of Joseph to command Jesus O the Humility of Jesus to obey Joseph 9. He possessed and practis'd all vertues in their perfection especially Humility as being to passe the remainder of his days in her company who being the greatest was the most humble of all pure creatures And in his companie who being the Son of the most high made himself the least and lowest amongst the Sons of men Nor can S. Josephs vertues perfections and Greatnesses be comprehended and measur'd by any better means than by the greatnesses of Jesus and Mary to whom he was so strictly allied For he wâ—… Mary's true Husband and consequently the true and legall though not the carnall and naturall Father oâ— Jesus O what Communications oâ— affections what extasies of spirit what unions of hearts was there amongst these Three JESUS MARIA JOSEPH Now since God give grace proportionable to each one place vocation and office surely a S. Joseph's Office was exceeding great so was his grace vertu and perfection great excellent and heroique 10. He was as the Fathers pioufly and probably believe elevated to Heaven both in Body and Soul upon the day of his glorious Sons triumphanâ— Ascension and remains there inthron'd next to the Humanity of Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the Celestiall Kingdom as he was neerest and dearest unto them during the time oâ— their earthly Pilgrimage 11. He is the faithfull powerfull and charitable Protector and Advocate of his devout children and clients in the Court of Heaven as having so great credit with his Son King Jesus and his Spouse Queen Mary that his demands may seem in some sort to be commands and his Petitions being presented to the Throne of Mercy with a Fathers confidence and authority will not easily be rejected by Jesus in Heaven who was so obedient to Joseph upon Earth 12. He is the chief Patron of all Contemplatives and the Great Master Guide and Director of the Interiour hidden and Spirituall life S. Teresa happily experienc'd this verity and frequently expressed it saying They that cannot meet with a Master to instruct them in the manner of their Prayer Let them take the Glorious Saint Joseph for their Teacher and Tutor and they shall infallibly find the safe and secure way to solid Sanctity and perfection A SHORT ROSARY IN THE HONOR OF S. JOSEPH CONTAINING The principall Mysteries of his Life drawn out of the precedent Excellencies and distinguished into Five Tens or Decades Begin also this Rosary with the sign of the Cross and the Creed The first Decade Of his Election SAint JOSEPH was chosen in the Councill of Gods Eternall Wisdom and Providence to be the worthy Bridegroom of Mary and the â—…puted Father of JESUS Our Father c. 1. He was the highest and holiest of the Patriarchs Hail Mary 2. He descended from the Royall Progenie of David Hail Mary 3. He was particuarly prefigur'd by Joseph the deliverer of Egypt Hail Mary 4. He was sanctifi'd in his Mothers â—omb Hail Mary 5. He was confirm'd in Grace and Vertu Hail Mary 6. He was a Just man by the testimony of the Holy Gospell Hail Mary 7. He was instructed from Heaven in the Mystery of Incarnation Hail Mary 8. He was indu'd with the plenty of all spirituall blessings Hail Mary 9. He was enriched with gifts and qualities both naturall and supernaturall sutable to the sacred charge for which he was design'd Hail Mary 10. He was the first after the Virgin-Mother who by Vow consecrated his Virginity to the Divin Majesty Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. As in the Great Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Second Decade Of his place office and dignity SAint Joseph was appointed the Head Governour and Steward of Gods Family upon Earth Our Father c. 1. He was espoused to the sacred Virgin Mary Hail Mary 2. He was the Guardian and witness of her Virginity and allotted by Divin Providence to be her Counsellor Comforter and Companion upon all occations Hail Mary 3. He was her faithfull Assistant in her journey to Bethleem Hail Mary 4. He found out the Stable for her harbour when the Innes refused to entertain her Hail Mary 5. He was present at our Redeemer's happy Birth into the world Hail Mary 6. He help'd the holy Virgin-Mother to swath him cloath him and cradle him in the Maâ—ger Hail Mary 7. He was the first who with the extasi'd Mother had the honour to adore the New-born Man-God Hail Mary 8. He concurr'd with the sacred Virgin to Christs Circumcision and together with her impos'd upon him the sweet Name of JESUS Hail Mary 9. He was reverenc'd by the Eastern Kings when they offer'd their Royall Presents to his reputed Son JESUS Hail Mary 10. He with his Virgin-Spouse presented JESUS to his Eternall Father in the Temple Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The third Decade Of his Flight into Egypt SAint JOSEPH took the yong Child and Mary his Mother and departed into Egypt so preserving Jesus from Herods cruelty who sought to oppress him in his Infancy Our Father c. 1. He readily resignedly and in the night season obey'd the Angells admonition Hail Mary 2. He cheerfully undertook a long tedious and troublesom journey into an unknown Countrey Hail Mary 3. He patiently endur'd with Jesus and Mary a seven years banishment Hail Mary 4. He provided food for him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affoards food to all living Creatures Hail Mary 5. He cloath'd him who cloathes the flowers of the field Hail Mary 6. He next to the sacred Virgin was the most ardent of all Jesus's lovers serving him in his Exile with more than Seraphicall affection Hail Mary 7. He lov'd the sacred Virgin with a naturall affection in respect of her eminent perfections with an acquired affection in respect of her reciprocall favours with a supernaturall affection in respect of her celestiall
sensuality constancy to resist all temptations and strength to conquer all my enemies Our Father 5. HE painfully went from place to place preaching the Gospell to the people O Jesu let my soul incessantly thirst after your honour and the salvation of my neighbour Our Father 6. HE honoured marriage with his presence and with his first miracle and afterwards for three years space he plentifully powr'd forth his miraculous benefits upon all sorts of Persons O Jesu overflow my heart with a generall affection and compassion towards all Christians and permit me not to grow weary in performing works of piety Our Father 7. HE often times spent whol nights in Prayer and suffered hunger thirst cold heat poverty and persecution for my sake O Jesu how much have you done and endur'd for me and how little have I done and endur'd for you and my self Our Father 8. HIs chief lesson was humility Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart O Jesu This is one of the vertues I chiefly stand in need off Ah! that my heart were truly simple supple innocent and humble how happy a Scholler should I be O my Redeemer in your holy School could I as cheerfully practise as I can easily resolve Our Father 9. HIs principall precept was Charity I give you a new commandment that you love one another O Iesu this is the other vertu I principally want and wish for Ah! that my whol interiour and exteriour my heart soul body and senses were nothing but pure Charity that so it might be impossible for me to speak think act or breath any thing but the perfect love of you and my neighbour Our Father 10 HE made his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in order to his Passion sitting upon an asse and he shed tears amidst the peoples applauses and acclamations O Iesu give me a true sight of my self and of the World that perfectly knowing my own vility and its vanity I may incessantly bewail my selfwretchedness weep for the Worlds wickedness and render to you only all honour and glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so faithfully diligently and devoutly accompany'd follow'd and serv'd your divin Son in his manly age appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull prayers and intercession Hail Mary The third part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion 1. OUr dear Redeemer after his last supper wash'd the feet of his Disciples and instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist O Iesu which shall I most admire your stupendious humility or your unheard-off charity Our Father 2. HE entred the Garden with his Disciples where after he had most fervently pray'd he fell into a vehement Agony in which bloud mix'd with sweat trickled down from his whol body O Iesu how great are my sins which are the cause of your so great sorrow place your Passion I bessech you between them and your judgment O let your sufferings cancel their heynousness and let your precious bloud wash away their erronious filthiness Our Father 3. HE was seiz'd on by a crew of armed Souldiers manacled with cords dragg'd away to Annas and Caiphas O Iesu dissolve the bands of my unruly passions perverse inclinations and impure affections and take me tie me shackle me and draw me unto you with the sweet cords of your sacred love and charity Our Father 4. IN the whol night of his passion he suffer'd all sorts of injuries vexations and torments O Jesu and shall I repine at small pains and persecutions shall I faint under the light burthen which your loving hand lay's upon my shoulders O meek lamb of God! pardon my past impatience and give me a perseverant Resignation to your will and pleasure Our Father 5. HE was contemptibly hurried away to Pilate and Herod and by them scorn'd as a silly Ideot O Jesu you are every way humbled depressed annihilated and I seek nothing but honour applause estimation Is this to imitate you my Lord and Master O change me correct me convert me by your power in your mercy by your example Our Father 6. HIs tender body was ty'd naked to a pillar and torn with whips and scourges O Iesu uncloath me of the old man with all his wicked works and revest me with the new created in justice and sanctity according to your own heart Our Father 7. HE was beaten with a cane buffeted with their fists spurned with their feet defil'd with their spittle crown'd with Thorns every way abused O Jesu the beauty of Men and Angels how are you worried for my wickedness O wound my soul with a deep sense of your sufferings that I may henceforth absolutely detest all sin trample upon all sensuality cancel all vanity serve you more innocently and adhere to you more fervently Our Father 8. HE was forc'd to carry his heavy Cross upon his weak and wounded shoulders from Jerusalem to Mount Calvarie O Jesu let me cheerfully take up the Cross of self-contempt self-abnegation self-denyall and follow you till death constantly couragiously perseverantly Our Father 9. HE was stripp'd naked and stretch'd on the Cross having his hands and feet barbarously nayl'd unto it and his side pierc'd with a Launce O Iesu strip me of all that displeases the eyes of your divin Majesty dilate my heart with celestiall affections and fasten my â—oul to your self with the sweet nayls of your sacred Love Our Father 10. HAving hung three hours on the Cross inclining his head he gave up the Ghost O Iesu you dy'd for me that I might live eternally O let me dy to all things that I may henceforth live to you only who are to me All in All. Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so patiently constantly perseverantly stood by your divin Son dying on the Cross for me appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary The fourth Part. Of Christs glorious Triumph after Death 1. OUr dear Redeemer rising victoriously upon the third day from his Sepulchre replenish'd the hearts of his holy Mother Disciples and Friends with unspeakable joy and gladness O Iesu give me grace strength and courage to shake of the death of my inveterate vices and bad customs and to rise to newness of life and conversation O let me henceforth savour the things which are above and not these vain vile terrene and transitory trifles which can never satiate my soul created for you only Our Father 2. HE triumphantly ascended to Heaven on the forti'th day after his Resurrection amidst the jubily of Angells in the company of the Patriarks in the sight of his sacred Mother Disciples and Friends where he sits at his Fathers right hand blessed for evermore O Iesu that my soul might follow you the only object of her affections O that I could incessantly aspire to you long after you languish for you my only center and security the only comfort of my life and Crown of all my desires Our Father 3. HE sent