disposition A holy retreate I. POINT CONSIDER by the B. Apostles example that the third disposition to receiue the holy Ghost ought to be a sacred solitude or retreate from wordly affaires vaine feares fruitlesse sollicitudes which disorder and take vp the house of our hart which should be wholy kept for the intertaynement of so great a guest The world was alwayes his and our worst enemye and hates him It were not to receiue him worthily to suffer his enemye to prepossesse the place The designe of his heauenly hart is to speake to ours alone and to make vs tast how sweete our God is And farre vnfitt it were to mixe those pure delightes with the bitter-sweetes the world affords Affection Le ts then my soule striue to silence those as importune as vnprofitable noyses and rumours of the world which hinder vs to heare what Heauen speakes to our hartes The world indeede is still whispering in the cares of our hart and tells vs of I know not what delightes but ah they are not like to the Law of our Lord that deare Law of loue which the holy Ghost sweetly breathes into our soules They are not they are not like it They doe but promise feyned pleasure peace and pay certaine paines and affliction Auant therfore deluding world disband fond feares and sollicitudes and leaue the whole hart for the God of loue The 4. disposition Our owne earnest endeuour II. POINT CONSIDER for the 4. disposition that this solitude is not to be spent in an idle and sleepie expectation without any concurrence of ours but contrarily by how much the more we are remoued from the world in our thoughtes by so much more are they to be conuersant in heauen for though the holy Ghost be a free gift and could not be merited by all the endeuours of men but proceedes from the vncompelled and free goodnesse of the father and the Sonne who the Sonne by his sacred word promised by his painefull Passion merited and by his holy prayers preuayled for his coming yet we see by the example of the Apostles and Primitiue Christians that we are to make vse of our owne endeuours before we haue the happinesse to receiue him indeede as dispositions to prepare our hartes against the receipt of so great a Gueste Affection Noe my soule the God who made vs without our helpe will not saue vs without our owne concourse or cooperation He will saue vs in qualitie of such as he made vs by his gift and grace to witt reasonable and free Creatures He hath taught vs to aske to seeke to knocke nor shall we otherwise receiue or find the gate open Nay he euen reproches vs that being so longe so continually with vs our coldnesse yet asketh nothing Nor would he euer saith sweete S. Augustine so earnestly exorte vs to aske if he would not giue Let slouthfull man blush then since God is more readie to giue then we to receiue He 's more readie to grant mercye then we to be deliuered from miserie THE III. MEDITATION The 5. disposition Prayer I. POINT CONSIDER for the 5. disposition the primitiue and Apostolicall way to receiue the holy Ghost as it is deliuered in the first of the Actes All of them saith S. Luke were perseuering in prayer We find the Apostles to whom the promesse was newly made praying for the performance of it We find the Primitiue Christians and our Blessed Lady her selfe at prayer Nay euen our Aduocate while he was yet with vs told vs that he would pray to his heauenly father for vs in this behalfe good reason then that we his poore clyents should ioyne in petition with him and earnestly pray that that holy Spirit may be sent to vs. Affection Let vs then my soule incessantly both day and night aspire and breath after this holy Spirit saying with blessed S. Aug. Come ô thou holy communication of the Father and the Sonne and prepare thyne owne habitation Come and visite the darke retreaites of our distracted hartes Come ô thou clenser of sinnes and curer of wounds Come ô thou strength of the weake and support of such as are readie to fall Come ô thou teacher of the humble and destroyer of the proude Come purifie this self-self-loue by thy sacred fire enlighten this self-iudgement by thy cleare light and breake downe this selfe will of myne by thyne vnresistable power The 6. disposition Vnanimous perseuerance in prayer II. POINT CONSIDER that the Apostles and Primitiue Christians Prayer was accompayned with vnanimitie and perseueuerance It was not slightly and distractedly run ouer in a short tyme but they absolutly made it their busines being shutt vp togeither euen from the Ascension till Pentecoste or the coming of the holy Ghost vnanimously and instantly begging and expecting that Best gift Affection Thus my soule let vs and all that loue the eternall loue of the Father and the Sonne pray vnanimously not with diuided hartes and perseuerantly all togeither not as though we were litle concerned or that we had not all one designe since we ought all to haue but one hart And ioyne in prayer with that deare Mediatour and Aduocate of ours to his father and our father at whose right hand he is still pleading for vs his poore brethren according to flesh that he would dispatch downe that holy Spirit of theirs into our hartes to th end we may all be but one by loue and vnion with the father and Sonne and the same Spirit as they are but all one in essence and substance and that our hartes may continue the pure and chaste Temples of the holy Trinitie for euer Christian hartes thus vnited are able to make a holy force against Heauen and draw from thence the Spirit of vnion AN ENTERTAYNEMENT FOR WHITSONTIDE OR MEDITATIONS OF THE HOLY GHOST THE I. MEDITATION That of our selues without the ayde of the holy Ghost we can doe nothing I. POINT CONSIDER that Man of himselfe as of himselfe is not able to think one good thought but all our sufficiencie is from God and what God the Father by his power is able to performe what the sonne by his wisdome to inuent is not executed and applied vnto vs but by the goodnes and loue of God the holY Ghost whence s. Paule None can say Lord Iesus that is as he ought profitablY to saluation but in the holy Ghost Affection See mY soule in these diuine truths thine owne sufficiencie that is thy pouertie and meere nothing We are not able to worke one good worke nor saie one good word nor euen conceaue one good thought but all euen all our sufficiencie is from that great Giuer of all good giftes So that we may well pronounce with the holy Church without thy power ô diuine Spirit there is nothing at all sound in Man If then all our strength be from him let all our addresses be to him If we indeede acknowledge our owne impotencie let vs betake our selues to his omnipotencie If
flesh be weake let 's haue recourse to the Spirit Let loue leade vs to this God of Loue and expose our coldenes to the fire which he visibly brings downe from heauen this day saying Veni c. What the H. Ghost is II. POINT CONSIDER what the holy Ghost is He is no other thing then the Spirit that is the spiration and breathing of the Father and the Sonne for as mans hart by his mouth breatheth or produceth a breath so God the Father by his sonne produceth the holy Spirit Or els as the soule by the vnderstanding of an amiable thing doth produce or breath out loue Loue which is no other thing then the spirit or breath of the affection so doth the father by the Sonne breath out the holy Ghost who is no other thing then a chast and holy loue produced and breathed out by the father and the Sonne whose mutuall loue it is Affection O diuinely sweete-breath Heauenly deare Gale Coeternall tye of two eternall persons Sacred commerce holy communication of the omnipotent father and his only begotten deare sonne O essentiall ineffable inflamed loue who euer burnest and art neuer extinguished graciously slide into and burne this frosen hart of mine Thou hast freely preuented me and reuiued me while I lay in a dead slumber and neither sought thee nor thought on thee Doe not I beseech thee forsake me whilst I am inuokinge thee I desire with the whole strife of my hart to desire thee The loue of my soule couets to loue thee Nor can I without thee Grant that by thee I may souue-raingly loue the father and the sonne and thee Three diuine persons â—n the veritie of one Deitie whose mutuall loue thou art O god the holy Ghost giue what thou commandest and command what thou wilt THE II. MEDITATION What kind of Spirit the H. Ghost is I. POINT CONSIDER that though the holy Ghost be a Spirit Spiration or breathing yet is it not like that of Man which is a Spirit which passeth and returneth not nor like to the Angells which are Missionarie and seruing Spirits nor like to that which our Sauiour Iesus-Christ deliuered vp when he said into thy hands I commend my Spirit To witt his soule In fine it is no created Spirit but an immense increated diuine Spirit intrinsecall to God yea God himself the third person of the B. Trinitie the same God with the Father and the Sonne proceeding from them by an eternall spiration and therefore coequall consubstantiall coeternall with them and equally to be adored and glorified together with them as Lord and life-giuer Affection Let me loue thee ô thou deare eternall immutable and euer permanent Spirit and loue of the father and the sonne let me loue thee And as thou proceedest from that one only more then most blessed eternall will of the father and the Sonne and becomest naturally and substantially one only God with them before time so grant that my will in tyme by the participation of thy heate and thy grace may so louingly adheare to that diuine will and be lincked together in so perfect a bond of true friendshipp that there be but one will betwixt heauen and earth God and Man That that may be as truly meant and accomplished as frequently pronounced Thy will that is that sourse of life of libertie of eternall loue be donne in earth as it is in heauen that by such conformitie resignation and adheasion we may all become but one Spirit with thee That the H. Ghost is a heauenly gift II. POINT CONSIDER further what the holy Ghost is and you shall finde that he is a gift but a gift sent vs from heauen a gift which containes in it the whole collection of all good things a gift prepared from all eternitie to be bestowed vpon men better then which there neither hath or shall or can be any giuen or imagined euen by the wisedome of heauen it selfe for it is euen that best gift that perfect thing which descended from the father of lightes with whom there is alwaies a permanent plentie Affection 4 O most noble most admirable and more then most excellent gift ô in comparable immense and inestimable liberalitie ô incomparable dignitie of mans soule Man was farre from dreaming of it Angels could neuer haue imagined it God himselfe could giue no more then God in a gift Ah my soule the verie heauens can giue no more then we possesse They are diuine truthes we speake the great S. Paule assures it Know you not that your members are the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you And againe The spirit of God dwelleth in you Well may we glorie in this obsolute assurance of so incomparable a gift and guest But forget not my soule what followes But if anie violate the Temple of God God will distroy him THE III. MEDITATION The Holy Ghost is a permanent gift I. POINT CONSIDER of what a permanent plentie and blisse poore man is possessed by the bountie of this heauenly git which is accomplished with all perfections It is a gift it cannot then be recalled it is our owne nothing being more ours then what is our owne by free gift It s a free gift it was not bought or borrowed but freely bestowed Loue then was the cause of it loue which is an efficacious wishing well or wishing good to the beloued Affection Ah my soule this heauenly gift is no lesse absolutely permanent then superlatiuely excellent and no lesse sure as to externall force then a huge possession The theeuish world cannot robbe it The power of darkenes cannot wrest it out of our hands The God that gaue it takes it not awaye Non deserit nisi deseratur He forsakes not vnlesse he be first forsaken Selfe trecherie at home alone can hazard it selfe disloyaltie can loose it hatred for loue by consent to mortall sinne can driue this Loue this gift this God out of dores II. POINT CONSIDER from whom we had this good gift and we shall find it came from all the three persons of the holy Trinitie I saith the Father will powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh I will aske my Father saith the sonne and he will send you another comforter I will send him to you saith he againe And the holy Ghost saith Sainte Augustine is so giuen as God's gift that he is also his owne gift he is both the gift and the giuer All the three persons in the B. Trinitie were imployed in mans creation and all are imployed too about his sanctification We will come to him to wit the father sonne and holy Ghost and we will take vp our Residence with him Affection Blesse ô my soule that Father of lightes that good giuer of all good gifts who sent his holy breath or spirit downe vpon vs. Blesse that Lambe of God who by his death merited that blessing for vs. Blesse in fine that holy Spirit who was himselfe both the giuer and the gift and graciously came
of thy holy Spirit Ah my soule what doe the heauens seeme to make of vs what rate putt they vpon vs while we vnderualue our selues The holy Trinitie may seeme to be whâ—llâ— imployed to saue vs while we are b … 〈…〉 … ll our selues away for moments of â—â—â—nsitorie pleasures for vanities for lyes Our thoughtes are languishing after the hope of I know not what delightes which the world promiseth while our dearest delight ought to be to receiue in hand more then we are able to conceiue Ah my soule what dearer delight could euer mans hart wish for then to be deliciously oppressed with heauenly plentie II. POINT CONSIDER the vnspeakable honour conferred vpon man by the presence of the holy Ghost He receiues saith S. Basil a Propheticall Apostolicall and Angelicall dignitie being before but earth and ashes abiection and rottennes Yea saith he by vertue of this presence euerie holy soule becomes a God Ego dixi Dij estis I haue said you are Gods and all sonns of the highest For who adheares to God which is is done by loue in the Holy Ghost is one Spirit with him Affection Good Iesu what is man that thou dost so magnifie him or what is the sonne of man that thou dost so place thy hart vpon him What did Gods mercy discouer in our miserie my poore soule that he should honour it with a dignitie due the Prophetes Apostles Angells yea euen rayse it to a certaine vnion with himselfe For this it was that Iesus-Christ while he was yet in this world prayd so ardently to his heauenly Father I pray saith he that they his Apostles c. all may be one as thou ô heauenly Father in me and I in thee that they also in vs may be one by participation by charitie by grace by glorie O vnspeakablely deare vnion ô more then most Blessed Communion betwixt God and man THE VII MEDITATION To what end the holy Ghost comes I. POINT CONSIDER that the holy Ghost comes vnto vs to purge illuminate and perfect our soules and to reforme them to the image and likenes of God to which they were made thereby to make them partakers of himselfe He being the diuine sanctitie in this life and disposing them to a more neere and noble likenes thereof in the life to come to which euery cause striues to produce effects like to it selfe it followes then that the holy Ghost endeauours to make the soule which it doth inhabit which is the soueraigne perfection and dignity of a reasonable creature feruent spirituall holy and diuine Affection Why doe we then my soule remayne in our wonted languishments why doe we still liue in league with our accustumed imperfections making reflection what they are and how often we haue had the light to know them and resolution to amend them our luke-warmenesse in Gods seruice our impuritie of harte our ingratitude to God for his innumerable giftes and graces c. Why doe we why doe we alas resiste the designes of the holy Ghost His aymes are to purge our hartes and we remayne in our impurities To illuminate vs and we affect darknesse more then light we feare to know his will least we might be oblidged to doe it To burne our hartes and we persiste in our coldnesse To render vs spirituall holy diuine and we continue indeuoute carnall and earthly Alas my soule is not all this too too true II. POINT CONSIDER that the holy Ghost comes to be the Soule of our Soule and to furnish vs with all things necessarie to the perfection of our spirituall life euen as the soule of our bodie giues force to the great diuersitie of the functions and actions of the senses and faculties of the said soule as farre as is necessarie to our naturall life for what want wee which this Spirit brings not If light and knowledge of truth He is truth it-selfe If strength He is power itselfe If heate He is a consuming fire Are we sicke he is the Phisitian and the Phisicke Is the cause of our eternall reconcilement to be pleaded before the dreadfull Tribunall of Gods Maiestie He is our Aduocate Are we oppressed with temptations and tribulations he is our comforter our Deus omnia our God who is to vs all things Affection It is not it is not from this body of ours that the same body hath life motion action and vigour but from the soule without which it remaynes an vnprofitable bulke of corruption Nor is it from the soule that the soule liues remembers vnderstands wills but from God who is the life of the soule Nor doth it euer liue vnderstand or will any thing profitably but by his grace diffused into our hartes by the holy Ghost Come then oh come then thou holy Spirit and be our light our truth our fortitude our fire our salue our Phisitian and cure Proue our second Aduocate to the heauenly Father togeither with that deare Lord of ours who both merited thy sending and graciously sent thee Proue our comforter in our tribulations temptations c. Proue finally our God and our all THE VIII MEDITATION Of the aduantages or fruites of the Holy Ghosts Coming I. POINT CONSIDER what huge aduantages we receiue by the coming of the holy Ghost adn we shall finde that thereby we are taken into the participation of all the blessings and riches in some measure which our Blessed Sauiour possessed in plentitude and fulnesse The Spirit of wisdome and vnderstanding the Spirit of Counsell and fortitude the Spirit of science and pietie and the Spirit of the feare of our Lord. These are the seauen lightes or seauen Lampes by which the faithfull are enlightned wisedome is a light by which we know Superiour things Vnderstanding a light by which we discerne interior things Science a light wherby we know inferiour things Counsell a light by which dangers are discouered Fortitude is giuen to repulse and master them as Pietie to mollifie the hardnesse and Feare to subdue the pride of our hartes Affection Blessed be the Father of our Lord Iesus-Christ who mercifully sent his Sonne to saue vs sinners Blessed be his only begotten Sonne who spent his most pretious blood and life vpon the worke of Mans Redemption And blessed be the holy Ghost whose infinite loue plentifully bestowed those good giftes vpon vs which were purchased for vs by Christs merits whereby we haue light and strength to walke and without which like sensuall men not knowing what belongeth to Spirit we had wandred in darknesse without either the true knowledge of God or ourselues had quaked with feare through want of Fortitude where there was nothing indeede to be feared and for want of Councell had not feared him whom we ought to feare who can throw the bodie and soule into Hell fire II. POINT CONSIDER the excessiue loue of God to Man in the distribution of these gifts The verie same which were giuen in their full extent to that flower of the field which
loue and is not the soule wonte to be more where it loues then where it liues Affection Ah my soule how longe shall we be heauie harted loue vanitie and seeke a lye Shall we continue still in a languishing to death rather then breath after life and for life Shall we lodge our hartes in earth while our treasure is in heauen Shall flesh and bloud force the soule from its owne nature and bent and make it liue more where it liues then where it loues O Iesu my Treasure my Loue my Life let it not be so but draw our drowsinesse after thee and we will run in the odour of thy sweete oyntements Giue vs winges deare Lord and we will flye a pace vp after thee and wholie rest and repose in thee How our Sauiour went from the Apostles II. POINT CONSIDER that as our B. Sauiours life in earth was wholy spent in testifying his loue to mankind and in heaping his fauours vpon the same so doth his last moment vpon earth leaue markes of the same goodnesse For the Euangelist represents this good father of ours with his hands lifted vp to heauen for vs and imparting a blessing to vs. To witt the Preist for euer according to the Order of Melchisedech hauing ended all the bloudie Sacryfices in one would not departe from his people till he left a blessing vpon them Affection Depart not my soule from this heauenly contemplation till thou receiuest a blessing from thy good Fathers hand Stay with the Apostles at his sacred feete till he blesse thee with them Vse a holy and humbly confident importunitie when thou apprehendest that Christ is about to withdraw himselfe and leaue thee saying with the good Patriarke Iacob I will not I will not deare Lord let thee goe till thou dost blesse me with a blessing of pardon for my sinns of peace of loue of vnion c. THE VII MEDITATION How the Apostles behaued themselues after their Masters departure I. POINT CONSIDER that when the Apostles had beheld their Master mount vp in the greatnesse of his owne power into the heauens they stoode as thinges quite deade to this world without action or motion saue onely that admiration ioy hope loue which boyled vp in their mournefull-ioyfull hartes fixed their eyes immoueably vpon the cloudes where their deare Master made his passage till two Angells were sent to call them away from that contemplation to act in Hierusalem according to their diuine Masters order and example Affection Learne hence my soule to follow thy Iesus where soeuer he goes be it to his death his Resurrection or his Ascension and where as in body we cannot le ts with the Apostles fasten our eyes and hartes vpon heauen and neuer forsake him saying euer and a none with that feruent Sainte Augustine caelum penetrabo mente my harte shall peirce the heauens and in thought I will be alwayes with thee deare Iesus For ah how sweete it is to be continually sucking delightes from those sacred and sugered breasts of thy consolation II. POINT CONSIDER that there the Apostles stayed Prisoners as it were to loue and delight till two Angells were sent to call them away from that sweete contemplation to act in Hierusalem according to their diuine Masters order and example But noe sooner were they called by those heauenly Messengers but they obeyed came downe from the mountaine turned their contemplations and admirations into adorations and actions returning into Hierusalem with great ioy to prayse blesse preache and magnifie his name in the Temple and euery where and to expect the coming of the holy Ghost according to his gracious promesse Affection It is doubtlesse a deare and laudable delight my soule to flye vp by the winges of holy contemplation to peirce the cloudes with him to strike into that Land of plentie and peace whither he is gone and to repose in him for euer Haue you found the honie of heauenly contemplation feare not to taste and take it downe yet so much onely as sufficeth least perhapps being filled you vomit it vp But doth a voyce from heauen a Superiours commande charitie to a neighbour Gods worke call you from it ah fayle not delay not to follow neuer forgetting that the God of consolation ought to be preferred before Gods consolations his good pleasure and his worke before the delightes and pleasvres he bestowes vpon vs. PREPARATIONS TO RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST THE FIRST MEDITATION The first disposition The consideration of our owne miserie I. POINT CONSIDER as the first disposition to the receiuing of the holy Ghost our owne nakednesse miserie and nothing for if we conceiue indeede as indeede it is most true that we are nothing we haue nothing we can doe nothing but onely by the assistance and grace of God which is powred forth in our hartes by the holy Ghost which is giuen vs how is it possible that we should not make an earnest application to that good giuer of all best gifts that now that the comfort of Christs visible presence is taken from vs he would bestow vpon vs that other comforting Spirit Affection Looke downe ô thou Almightie giuer of all good giftes and behold the slaue that was redeemed by the wounds which thy Christ my Aduocate layes open before thee to plead for my pouertie Looke vpon thy Christ and take pittie on this languishing christian of thyne for whom he dyed O almighty father looke vpon this poore child of thine who lyes sicke of a palsie and is cruelly tortured send downe speedily that comforting Spirit which thou art about to send least he otherwise perish for whose safetie thy deare sonne spared not his pretious bloud The 2. disposition Humilitie II. POINT CONSIDER and le ts vse as a seconde disposition rysing out of the truth of the former as absolute a desire as we can possibly conceiue not to be knowen nor esteemed by any or at least lets desire to be knowne as we knowe our selues and as God knowes vs that is to be poore miserable sinners not as we deludingly appeare This as being a reall effect of true humilitie is the best harbinger to prepare a place for this heauenly Guest for in whom saith the holy Scripture will the Spirit of God rest but in a hart that is mylde and humble c. Affection Studie to be a louer of truth my soule not of vanitie and lyes which haue alwayes proued emptie shadowes and haue left nothing in our hands Be sincere and iust and striue to keepe iustice betwixt thy selfe and thyne owne harte betwixt what thou appearest to be and what indeede thou art and desire not that esteeme and honour by others ignorance be payd to thy corruption and sinfulnesse Haue frequently in hart and mouth to thee alone ô Lord be honour and glorie to me nothing but shame and confusion Because in thy sight I am a miserable sinner and vnworthy of all respect But thou ô Lord haue mercy THE II. MEDITATION The 3.
and vnwilling as it were to be happie Let 's not limit the holy Ghost who giues abundantly and vpbraides not His graces are too pretious to be refused or played with When we haue done the best we can we may put this downe for a certaine truth We are but vnprofitable seruantes we haue done but what we ought How Charitie perisheth and the holy Ghost is driuen out of our hartes II. POINT CONSIDER that being once gott into free trading in veniall sinnes we beginne to be more familiar with and lesse apprehensiue of mortall to witt we so long play with waspes because their stinges are not mortall that with our Mother Eue we lye open to serpents Wisdome waxeth obscure counsell is cast aside feare growes foole-hardie fortitude failes vs and faith begins to slumber But the Diuell sleepes not A pleasant obiect is cast in our waye nor is it anie more then veniall sinne We fixe our eyes vpon the beautie of the forbidden fruite and faine would we taste of it Such dalliance begetts complacence complacence ingagement ingagement procures consent and by consent mortall sinne has gotten footing in our harts Charitie perisheth and the holy Ghost is forced out of his Temple Affection O bewitching snares accursed chaines which infallibly leade to slauery and destruction Ah my soule if we begin once to giue ourselues ouer to the dandlings and caresses of the harlot-words like another Dalila were we euen Samsons it will straight bereaue vs of our strength and sight and dispossessing vs of the holy Ghost leaue vs slaues to the diuell Ah what a pittifull exchange is here Be astonished ô heauens vpon this and ô gates thereof be you desolate exceedingly The very Angells of heauen were they capable of teares would weepe to see the holy Ghost with all his gifts and graces disloyally turned out of our sinfull soules But to preuent this desolation of desolations le ts vse a timely care Being alreadie ensnared le ts by a holy violence cutt breake teare them in peeces for alas the best of them are worth nothing they leade but to death But are we yet free Flye fly then the leaste apparent occasions of euill ô thou beloued of God Flight alone in this behalfe is a sure victorie MEDITATIONS OF THE B. TRINITIE THE I. MEDITATION That by faith alone we can safely approche to God in this ineffable Mysterie I. POINT CONSIDER that though all nations be they otherwise neuer so barbarous haue alwayes vnanimously conspired togeither to the professing of some Deitie yea euen many Gods which they foolishly feyned to themselues And though all the thinges vniuersally which we see seeme to leade vs to the knowledge of some inuisible diuinitie wherby they were all made and conserued yet should we be alwayes wauering and without assurance should we committ our selues to reasons weake search not taking Faith to be our guide Faith which is saith S. Augustine the way to Beatitude Faith without which saith S. Paul it is impossible to please God whence he concludes that it is necessarie to saluation Affection O my soule how happily are we preuented by a heauenly light which the wise of the world wanting they vanished in their owne knowledge and while they could not reach to the true God they spent their witts in deuising false ones Wheras we Christians are safely conduducted by the guidance of faith by faith I say that conuincing argument of thinges not appearing that illustration of the mynde by the prime light which inables our soules to discerne spirituall thinges and leades vs to adore the Father the sonne and the holy Ghost three persons and one true God without all hesitation or doubt II. POINT CONSIDER that as faith is altogeither necessarie so is nothing more sure and comfortable as relying vpon the prime truth which cannot deceiue vs or be deceiued Let Faith saith S. Augustine marche before and noe difficultie will dare to oppose or present it selfe There is nothing more sure or better suted to all sortes of people For who can wante capacitie to giue credit to what truth it selfe reueales It speakes wisdome to the wise and yet the weakest capacities haue as much in substance as they It feedes the strong with solide foode and yet giues milke to children which nourisheth noe lesse Great witts haue as much as they can beare and the weaker sort is able to disgest all they receiue O admirable inuention of wisdome it selfe which can so wisely fitt it selfe to all abilities They are three saith S. Iohn which giue testimonie in heauen the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one To witt one substance one Deitie one God Affection O great and powerfull God! Man hath nothing to replie to this plane testimonie of faith but to fall downe and adore thee I doe therfor with the whole earth adore thee ó Father of infinite Maiestie and that diuine Word thy true and onely Sonne togeither with thy holy comforting Spirit With my whole hart and mouth I confesse blesse and prayse thee ô God the Father and thee ô God the onely begotten sonne and thee ô God the holy Ghost proceeding from them both I confesse thee to be one in essence substance power and Maiestie trine in persons ô one holy and vndeuided Trinitie Glorie be to the power of the Father glorie be to the wisdome of the sonne glorie be to the goodnesse of the holy Ghost Glorie be to the Father whence all thinges proceede Glorie to the Sonne by whom all thinges glorie be to the holy Ghost in whom all thinges Glorie to the Father who created vs glorie to the Sonne who redeemed vs Glorie to the holy Ghost who sanctified vs. THE II. MEDITATION What the B. Trinitie is I. POINT CONSIDER that hauing by a sirme faith made our safe approache hauing set downe for a certaine and vndoubted truth that there is an vnitie of Deitie in the Trinitie of persons and hauing with our whole hart adored it we may with an humble Christian confidence draw yet neerer by contemplation to discouer in some smale measure what and how it is To this effect looke with S. Athanasius vpon the sunne and noe sooner shall you haue discouered it but you meete with a naturall kind of Trinitie which leads vs to that other To witt we discouer the body of the Sunne the brightnesse and the heate of it All which make but one and the same Sunne though otherwise distinguished in themselues The body of it being the source of light represents the Father the brightnesse the Sonne who is light and the heate the holy Ghost who is a sacred fire being but all three one and the same God The sunneit selfe is noe older then the light and heate therof so that were the sunne eternall the light heate would be noe lesse eternall or coeternall Affection O thou Orient sunne shine out vpon our darknesse O thou Father of lights enlighten our benighted soules What I desire ô Lord
sprung from a sprigge of the stocke of Iesse Iesus-Christ the first begotten among manie bretheren the same according to each ones measure is bestowed vpon vs too the younger bretheren We are regenerated and borne againe by the same spirit saith S. Augustine by which Christ was borne By the same spirit according to faith is Christ formed in the hart of euerie one of the faithfull by which according to flesh he was framed in the Virgins wombe Affection O ineffable incomparable and neuer enough admired goodnesse of God! O vnspeakable and neuer enough considered dignitie of Man Man presented with the same gifts of wisdome vnderstanding c. of which the Sonne of God was possessed The Eldest brother and the younger bretheren assisted with the same helpes towards heauen The adoptiue children sharing in the same prerogatiues with the naturall Sonne hauing the same Spirit to quicken moue strengthen comfort and replenish them The same Spirit I saie to frame Christ in the harts of Christians which framed Christ Iesus in the sacred wombe of his Virgin Mother O my soule let vs neuer so farre forgett this dearenesse this dignitie this transport of loue as by a degenerous conuersation to stoope to things so farre belowe vs as are all the fugitiue toyes which the world is able to present vs. THE IX MEDITATION Of the aduantages againe of the Holy Ghosts Cominge I. POINT CONSIDER that though Mercie had abundantly prouided for mans instruction in all vertue by the incarnation and holy life of Christ c. Though wisdome had admirably inuented and goodnesse had graciously put downe the too too plentifull price of mans redemption the pretious blood of a God a most souueraigne salue to cure the most desperate leprosie yet had it all profited nothing had not the application been also made by the meanes of increated loue the holy Ghost in the Sacrifice Sacraments and suffrances of this life Affection Our cause my soule was alreadie gained by our B. Sauiours merits against the world the flesh and the diuell but the decree was not yet put in execution The purchace of our libertie was indeede made at the price of his pretious blood but we were not yet putt in possession of our right we were yet on our parts by the assistance of the holy Ghost to negotiate vpon the talents and riches left vs by the meanes of our cooperation in good workes and patient sufferance of tribulations to accomplish the things that want of the Passions of Christ as saith S. Paule All his labours and actions and passions are mine but I must also labour and suffer with him if I will raigne with him He loued me that deare louer of man and deliuered himselfe vp for me But I must also loue him which none can doe but by the assistance of the holy Ghost II. POINT CONSIDERATION Christ was borne to the world and yet it either knew him not or knowing him remained in its wonted malignitie coldenesse infidelitie He watched fasted prayed and yet few were moued therby He preached wrought cures and miracles and notwithstanding found but few followers saue some poore fisher-men and others ledd for the most part either by their owne interests or curiositie But when the holy Ghost once breathed and brought downe fire vpon them what admirable effects did they not produce Affection Come then ah come then thou holy Spirit and purge and consume the maligant humours which obstruct my hart inflame my condenesse ah helpe my infidelitie Renue and reuiue in my memorie those many long and painefull watchings and fastings and prayers preachings and passions of my sweete Sauiour that I may euer run with speede in the odours of those perfumes That I may testifie to all the world with the Apostles and primitiue Christians that it is in memorie and imitation of Iesus of Nazareth who was ignominiously crucified and by the vertue of his holy Spirit that I doe what ere I doe THE X. MEDITATION In what manner the Holy Ghost came I. POINT CONSIDER that the coming of the holy Ghost was preceded and accompaigned with a suddaine sound like to a great lowde and vehement blast of wind which came from heauen and filled the whole howse c. Thus it is that the hand of the highest is wont to worke a happie change on the harts of men He powerfully thunders downe from heauen and forces his passage through our deafe eares by frequent feruent and redoubled inspirations Rise vp thou that sleepest and rise vp from the dead and Christ will enlighten thee And he cries so lowde that howeuer we neglect we cannot deney that we heard his call Affection Noe my Soule we cannot denie it Hee hath preuented our harts with strange blessings He hath often cried out with a lowd voice and replenished the whole howse of our harts with this sound I am thy saluation I am thy exceeding great reward Life is short and vncertaine Eternity endlesse God is iust and dreadfull and who is able to liue in eternall flames And these words haue often clouen to our very hart rootes and we haue found ourselues intrenched on euery side and we haue had nothing to oppose against them but certaine slow and sleepie delayes behold I will shortly sett vpon such and such a good worke or subdue such or such a vice which raignes in me and shortly it shall be done And yet what is notorious and we cannot deney with the Iewes we striue to suppresse and stifle the grace of the holy Ghost in our hartes And yet are we still detayned by verie toyes of toyes from concluding an absolute league of perfect friendshipp with the God of our hartes who laies so close a seige to them II. POINT CONSIDER that the holy Ghost had formerly appeared to the world in diuers formes As at Christs Baptisme in the forme of a Doue to teach the followers of Christ with what innocencie and candour and with what foecunditie of good workes they are to behaue themselues At his transfiguration as a bright clowde to intimate the shewres of heauenly grace which he plentifuly powres downe vpon vs and the fatherly protection he pleaseth to take of vs. But this daie he appeares in firie tongues signifying that he comes to establish legem igneam a firie law a law of loue and charitie which were it practised according at it is taught it were able to set all the world on fire Affection Though all thy approches motions inspirations and apparitions ô diuine Spirit be worthily euer most welcome to me yet nothing comes so home to my harts desire as these flames of fire which intimate a law of loue and in that conquering name ought to subdue all hartes For what doth mans hart loue indeede but loue What chaine of gold could euer so deliciously draw vs as the chaines of humanitie and charitie where beloued force proues absolute freedome Ardeam ex te totus ignis sancte O holy fire let me be wholy burnt by
too greedie whom the possession of a God cannot satisfie PRAYERS BEFORE AND after receiuing A prayer of S. Thomas of Aquin before receiuing the Blessed Sacrament ALMIGHTIE and eternall God behold I approche to the Sacrament of thy only begotten sonne our Lord Iesus-Christ I approche as one that 's sick to the Phisitian of life as one vncleane to the fountaine of mercie as one that 's blind to the light of eternall brightnes as one poore and needy to the Lord of heauē and of earth I beseech thee therefore by the aboundance of thy infinite bountie that thou wouldest vouchsafe to cure my infirmitie to wash my vncleanesse to enlighten my blindnesse to enrich my pouertie to clothe my nakednes that I may receaue thee the bread of Angells King of Kings Lord of Lords with as great reuerence and humilitie with as great contrition and deuotion with as great puritie and faith with such an intention purpose as is expedient for the health of my soule grant I beseech thee that I may not onely receiue the Sacrament of our Lords bodie and bloud but the effect also and vertue of the Sacrament O most mylde Lord graunt that I may so receiue the bodie of thy only begotten Sonne our Lord Iesus-Christ which he tooke of the Virgin Marie that I may be worthie to be incorporated in his misticall body and be numbered among the members therof O most louing father graunt that I may at length behold thy beloued Sonne face to face for euer whom I now purpose to receiue veyled vnder the forme of bread Who liues and raignes with thee in vnitie of the holy Ghost for euer and euer Amen A prayer of Thomas à Kempis before receiuing MY Lord God preuent thy seruant in the blessings of thy sweetnes that I may deserue to approach worthily and deuoutly to thy holy Sacrament stirre vp my hart vnto thee and deliuer me from all heauines and slouth visit me with thy comfort that I may taste in Spirit thy sweetnesse which plentifully lyes hid in this Sacrament as in its fountaine Giue light also to my eyes to behold so great a mysterie and strengthen me to beleeue it with vndoubted faith For it is thy worke and not mans power thy sacred institution not mans inuention For no man is of himselfe able to comprehend and vnderstand these things which surpasse the vnderstanding euen of Angells What therefore shall I vnworthie sinner earth and ashes be able to search and comprehend of so high and sacred a mysterie O Lord in sinceritie of hart with a good and firme faith and at thy commandement I come to thee with hope and reuerence and doe verily beleeue that thou art here present in the Sacrament God and Man Thy holy pleasure is that I receiue thee and by charitie vnite my self vnto thee Wherefore I doe recurre to thy Clemencie and doe craue speciall grace that I may wholy melt in thee and abound with loue and hereafter neuer admit anie other comfort For this most high and worthy Sacrament is the health of the soule and body the remedie of all spirituall sicknes by it my vices are cured my passions bridled temptations ouercome or weakned greater grace infused vertue begun increased faith confirmed hope strengthened and charitie inflamed and enlarged A prayer after receiuing by S. Thomas of Aquine I Giue thee thankes ô holy Lord father almightie eternall God that thou hast pleased to saciate me a sinfull creature and thy vnworthy seruant through noe merits of myne but onely by the free gift of thy mercy with the pretious body and bloud of thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus-Christ And withall I beseech thee that this holy Communion may not proue a guilt lyable to punishment but a powerfull mediation for my pardon Let it be an armour of Faith and a sheild of a good will to me Grant that it may free me from vice subdue concupiscence and lust increase Charitie Patience Humilitie Obedience and all other vertues may it proue a strong defence against the guiles of all visible and inuisible enemyes may it perfectly appease all my carnall and spirituall motions firmely vnite me to thee ô thou one onely and true God and put a happie periode to my pilgrimage And voutchsafe I beseech thee to leade me home to that ineffable banket where thou with thy Sonne and the holy Ghost art a true light to thy Saintes a compleate sacietie an euerlasting gladnes an absolute ioy and a perfect felicitie Amen A prayer after receiuing the Blessed Sacrament by S. Bonauenture PEARCE through the marrow and bowels of my soule ô sweete Sauiour Iesu with the most sweete and holsome wound of thy loue thy true cleere Apostolicall and most holy charity that my soule may continually languish and euen melt with the loue and ardent desire of thee alone Let it earnestly couet thee and fainte away with a longing desire after thy heauenly Mansions let it desire to be dissolued and to be with thee Graunt that my soule may hunger after thee the bread of Angells the food of holy soules our daylie supersubstantiall bread replenished with all sweetnes and pleasure and all the delights found therin let my hart alwayes hunger after thee and feede on thee whom the Angells desire to behold and let the verie bowels of my soule be filled with thy delicious sweetnes let it alwayes thirst after thee the fountaine of life the fountaine of wisdome and knowledge the fountaine of eternall light the torrent of pleasure the plentifulnesse of the howse of God let it alwayes earnestly couet thee seeke thee and finde thee let it tend to thee come to thee think on thee speake of thee and worke all things to the prayse and glory of thy name with humility and discretion with loue and delight with facilitie and affection with perseuerance vnto the end and thou alone be alwayes my hope my whole confidence my riches my content my myrth my ioy my rest and tranquilitie my peace my deare delight my odour my sweetnes my foode and refection my refuge my helpe my wisdome my portion my possession my treasure wherin my mind and hart may be alwayes constantly strongly and immouably rooted Amen Aspirations or prayers before receiuing culled out of S. Augustine COME my deare Iesu come ô thou light of my eyes let me loue thee Come ô thou solace of my hart let me loue thee Come ô thou life of my soule let me loue thee O my deare delight my sweete consolation my God my life my loue my all O thou onely desire of my hart let me possesse thee alone O thou loue of my soule let me embrace thee ô deare celestiall spouse let me inioy thee O soueraigne sweetnesse and eternall beatitude of my soule let me lodge thee and locke thee vp in the center of my hart In that hart which thou hast made to thy selfe and for thy selfe and it will not it cannot rest saue in thee alone I loue thee ô
afflictions should neither be lessened nor taken away for the space of a longe life Yet what is the longest of liues compared to eternitie but a verie moment Affection It is not my soule for this present tyme for transitorie momentes that we liue and labour Our ayme is eternitie Nor are our sorrowes equall to the paines due to our sinnes nor beare they any proportion to the endlesse ioy we hope for and yet S. Paule assures vs that our tribulations which are for the present momentary and light worke a boue measure exceedingly an eternall waight of glorie in vs. Let vs then couragiously looke ouer the thinges we see or feele which are but temporall to consider what we see not but by ourpatience hope for an eternall waight of glorie THE SECONDE POINTE. I will see you againe and your harte shall reioyce and noe man shall take your ioy from you CONSIDER that though our good God may sometymes seeme to leaue vs yet he neuer forsakes vs but returnes againe to see vs to reioyce our hartes and double and trible our ioyes not those of the wicked which are alwayes attended and vshered out by sorrow but those of the true Disciples of Christ Gaudia Domini ioyes in Christ of Christ and for Christ and to giue vs assurance that it shall not be in the power of man to robbe vs of these Christian ioyes which are properly ours and none shall take your ioyes from you Affection Noe my soule our mercifull Lord forsakes vs not vnlesse we first forsake him he goes but comes againe to visite vs and by such his accesses he giues accession of ioyes to our hartes which he so fixes by his grace that they are not taken from vs nether in this world nor the next to witt they are not placed vpon transitorie thinges which passe but vpon Christ and are locked vp in our harts whither the tyrants sword cannot reach He may take our liues away but cannot our ioyes which liue in death and suruiue it Such were S. Paules ioyes with which he abounded in the midst of all his tribulations Such the Apostles who came reioycing from before the counsell Such S. Laurence whose ioyes burnt higher then the Tyrants tormenting flames Such finally are those of our Lord and Master who ioy being proposed to him sustayned the Crosse This my soule is our ioy which none can take from vs. THE FIRST MEDITATION FOR THE FOVRTH SVNDAY AFTER EASTER I goe to him who sent me Io. 16. THE FIRST POINTE. CONSIDER that if we were truly wained from the world from selfe loue and selfe consolation we should be so farre from hauing our harts filled with sorrow vpon the hearing of the words of Christ I goe to him who sent me that contrarily our harts would be replenished with ioy That deare Lord of ours had perfectly accomplished his heauenly Fathers will in the worke of mans saluation by puttinge downe that deare price of his redemption What then ought to be more delightfull to the redeemed slaue then to see his gracious Redeemour returne into the possession of his owne right to see him exalted to see him glorifyed Affection Returne then ô my dearest Redeemour into thy rest into thy heauenly Fathers bosome into that glorie thou hadst common with him by thyne eternall birth-right before the world was yet made for it is but iust that the innocent lambe which was slayne should receiue power and diuinitie and wisdome and strength honour glorie and benediction c. Be it euer farre from vs my soule to preferre the delightes of his presence and the ioyes we take while we are drawen on by the odour of his oyntments before the accomplishment of his blessed pleasure in what euer desolation and the aduancement of his glorie THE SECONDE POINTE. It is expedient for you that I goe Io. 16. CONSIDER that tho not so much the consolations of God as the God of all consolations and the pure loue of him for his owne infinite goodnesse sake ought to be the cheife Christian motiue in all our actions yet our mercifull God who best knew that man is all earthly earth and ledd by selfe interest sutes his motiues to what we are alwayes mixing the sweetes of consolations and our aduantage to moue vs to the loue we otherwise owe him And therfor to solace the Apostles sadnesse he sayth I tell you the truth it is expedient that is aduantagious or profitable for you that I goe for if I goe not the holy Ghost shall not come to you Affection Let vs putt downe my soule for a most sure maxime in point of our spirituall progresse that he is not Gods best seruant who seekes his will of God in the continuall inioyment of consolations in our prayers c. But he that desires that Gods will may be done in him by an absolute resignation in what drinesse and abandonmēts so euer Let vs learne thē to leaue God for God as here we haue occasion and vndoubtedly the holy Ghost will come and inhabite our disinteressed harts and blesse them with more solide and substantiall aduantages THE SECONDE MEDITATION FOR THE SAME SVNDAY But if I goe I will send him to you Io. 16. CONSIDER that wheras the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the sonne it was but conuenient that the sonne should first be seated at the right hand of his heauenly Father in the Throne of his glorie according to that the holy Ghost was not yet giuen because Iesus was not yet glorified before the holy Ghost was sent that he might be ioyntly sent from them both to poore man as that best guift descending from aboue consubstantiall coequall coeternall with themselues and well becoming their infinite Maiestie and the excessiue loue of our deare Sauiour by the merits of whose death that perfect present was purchaced Affection It is but iust my soule that our eldest brother be first repossessed of his owne glorie which was his from all eternitie before the younger and adoptiue children lay claime to their share which is but his deare purchace and free guift who for a sure pledge of it sends vs one equall to himselfe to confirme in vs the hopes therof Happie thrice happie we Christians to haue so powerfull a Mediatour in the Court of heauen to preuayle with his Almightie Father for the sending of the holy Ghost to comfort instruct and confirme vs in all truth taking vp his residence in the Temples of our hartes THE SECONDE POINTE. He the holy Ghost shall teach you all truth Io 16. CONSIDER that as the donation and mission of the holy Ghost were the effects and fruites of the passion ascension and noble tryumphe of Christ wherin he ledd captiuitie it selfe captiue and in all of them glorified his heauenly Father so is that holy spirit sent to glorifie the sonn by teaching clearing and confirminge in the harts of the Apostles all that their diuine master had taught them belowe and making these heauenly
vnto vs. Be they Blessed and praysed magnified and glorified in the vnitie of one Deitie for euer And let our earthly Trinitie neuer forgett this mercy Let our memorie faithfully represent it to ourvnderstanding Let our vnderstanding continually ponder ruminate and deliuer it to the will And let the will imbrace in ioy and carefully locke vp this present of infinite loue with all the loue ioy and Iubilie of hart imaginable THE IV. MEDITATION What we receiue indeede when we are said to receiue the Holy Ghost I. POINT CONSIDER that by receiuing of the holy Ghost we receiue the substantiall or consubstantiall vnitie charitie and sanctitie of the father and the Sonne according to S. Augustine The most firme and indissoluble bond or tye of the holy Trinitie The sacred kisse of the father and the Sonne by their mutuall loue from all Eternitie whereby they loued the iust euen with the loue of their owne hart saith S. Richard de S. Victore which is the holy Ghost Affection Ah my soule how ineffably greate blessings are these which faith layes before vs and we consider it not or rarely and coldly reflect vpon them O did we frequently looke vpon it with a liuely faith how would our thoughtes be wayned from this base world How euer we are in it we are not made for it the heauens haue other thoughtes for vs. The true cause of our being here indeede is to adheare to God by loue and to become holy as our heauenly father is holy and to that purpose the holy Ghost the verie vnitie loue and sanctitie of the Father and the sonne comes downe to dwell in vs. Ah my soule Let vs neuer forgett this astonishing and oppressing graciousnesse II. POINT CONSIDER yet further that it is not the vnitie charitie and pietie of the father and the sonne which we receiue onely but truly and indeede we receiue the person of the holy Ghost wâ—â—h grace and charitie nor is he in vs by Essence Presence and power only as he is euerie where but in a more deare neere and intimate manner as in his Thâ—one oâ— Temple For doe you not know saith s. Paule that you are the Temple of God and the Holy Ghost doth dwell in you And againe Charitie is diffused into our hartes by the holy Ghost who is giuen vnto vs. Affection Yes saith s. Augustine that good God is present to his faithfull â—ot meerly by the grace of visitation but by the presence of his Maiestie It is not now the odour of the balsome that is spredd abroad but the verie substance of the sacred oyntment it selfe By which according to s. Iohn we shall be taught all thinges O great great and most admirable mysterie which is yet so familiar to vs Christians O most excellent and incomparable visite and gift of the proper person of the holy Ghost O God what a singular fauour is it to haue God the true God really and personally dwelling in our hartes O what hartes ought they to be which haue the happinesse to be the Mansion of such an inhabitant THE V. MEDITATION The excessiue loue of God shewen to man in sending the holy Ghost I. POINT CONSIDER with S. Augustine that God the father moued by meere mercie sent his sonne to redeeme his seruants he sent also the holy Ghost to adopt the same seruants into children He gaue his sonne for the price of their Ransome the holy Ghost for a pledge and assurance of his loue and reserues himselfe all whole for the inheritance of the adopted So much did he desire mans saluation that he imployed not only what was his but euen himself also to that effect Affection Doe we beleeue this ô my soule but doe we beleeue it indeede That such a sonne was sent for such seruants That seruants and such seruants were adopted into sonns into coheires into the participation of the diuine nature By the meere mercy of the Father by the bloud of the sonne by the loue of the holy Ghost Doe we beleeue it I say yes yes we beleeue it my soule We dare not we cannot deney it Credo Domine we beleeue it ô Lord yet helpe our incredulitie in this behalfe We beleeue it in words and in hart too but our actions our gratitude our loue speake it not confirme it not to the world For to whom should all the redeemed slaues actions belong but to his deare Redeemour Vpon whom should all his loue be sett but vpon one that so loues him And to whom should he reserue himselfe wholy but to the God of heauen who reserues himselfe wholy for him II. POINT CONSIDER what an excessiue goodnes and charitie it is that this immense and infinite Maiestie who walkes vpon the winges of the windes and sittes vpon the Cherubins who fills heauen and earth being assisted with millions of millions of Angells would yet daigne to take vp his seate in a poore corner of mans hart to grace that miserable worme of the earth with his presence diuinitie and sanctitie and therby with the participation of his diuine nature Ah! could we iustly weigh mans nothing and Gods Maiestie we should neuer be wearie with admiring and tasting the dignitie of this great worke Affection Ah Domine cognoscam te cognoscam me O Lord grant me light to know thee and to know my selfe that by such knowledge I may happily and gainefully loose my selfe in the admiration of thy excessiue graciousnesse For what am I indeede compared to thee but extremitie of miserie compared to infinite Maiestie but nothing nothing compared to him who is all in all But not so much as one little droppe to a boundlesse Ocean And yet this Maiestie is graciously pleased to take vp his Residence in this miserie This All will lodge in this nothing This Ocean will ouer-flowingly possesse and please himselfe in this droppe How happens this to me that not the Mother of my Lord but euen my Lord himselfe comes vnto me resides in me takes vp his deare delights in my poore harte Ah my soule let our dearest delightes be to possesse him to please him to magnifie him to glorifie him for euer THE VI. MEDITATION Gods excessiue loue to man I. POINT CONSIDER how great and ineffable the pietie of our Redeemer was towards vs as S. Augustine obserues who carried man vp to heauen and sent God into earth what a care hath our Maker to repaire his workmanshipp Behold a new medicine is againe sent downe from heauen Behold Maiestie daignes againe by his owne presence to visit the sicke Behold diuine things are againe mixed with humane the holy Ghost is become a succeeding Vicar to our Redeemer that what the one had begun the other by a peculiar vertue might consummate that what the sonne had redeemed the holy Ghost might sanctifie what he had purchaced he might conserue Affection Too too much are thy friends honored my dearest Lord. Their principalitie is exceedingly beyond all measure confirmed by the presence