MOst happy Spirits which incessantly stand before the Throne of God and who as the elder brethren of his house haue care of his inheritance looke downe vpon vs with a mercifull eye vpon vs I say who are your younger brethren out of the respect and regard you bâ—â—re to him who is the head both of th' one and th' other nature that is both of Angels and men And whom you serue in helping vs and please in assisting vs. 2. You purchased your blessednesse good cheape with one onely act of your will and consent you were confirmed in grace and receiued that glory which you shall for euer enioy without all feare to loose it But we contrariwise after many good deedes and many torments suffered and endured are alwayes exposed to danger of shipwracke which many like to vs haue made neare to the hauen After many battailes wee are still in danger to bee ouercome but you after one victorie tryumph assuredly Many dayes passe before wee can ariue there whether you are come in an instant Haue then compassion vpon the imperfection of our beeing yee whose beeing is so perfect pitty our feeblenesse and weaknesse yee that are strong our ignorance yee that are so wise our malice yee to whome goodnesse and Charitie is continuall in the highest degree 3. You take and borrow nothing from naturall abiects as helpes to comprehend created verities For from the first instant of your creation you haue euer had imprinted in your vnderstanding the expresse image of euery naturall thing and beholding your selues you come to know all thinges that are without you And that by an action of simple intelligence running as it were without the helpe of any discourse from the principles to the conclusions and from the Antecedents to the consequents 4. Wee contrariwise can conceiue nothing with our vnderstandings which hath not first passed through the siffe of our sences And our sences depend of the obiects which oft deceiue them and make our iudgements erronious if they be not corrected in their deceitfull operations by reason and grace 5. Moreouer our discourses depend of our propositions and they of the termes of simple apprehension And the apprehension is made out of the imagination and sensitiue faculties And in all this Flux and reflux of thoughtes and Ideas O yee thrice and foure times happy intelligences who is able to expresse how many times we perticipate our selues into errour Taking then notice of the great aduantage you haue ouer vs and not only you but the wicked Deuils who haue lost nothing else but their grace and glory retaining still their nature in which they are equall to you fortifie and strengthen vs against the gyants of which the Scripture maketh mention Leuiathan Belzebub Baalmorith Asmode Astaroth and other princes of that armie of darknesse 6. We craue but the crums that fall from your table and the poore scrappes and remainders of your banquet Our petition to you is very reasonable which is no more then that yee the good Angels bee pleased to doe so much for our saluation as the wicked Deuils doe for our ruine and destruction That yee be as ready to succour vs as they are to annoy vs to heale and preserue vs as they are to hurt vs as diligent in conducting vs to God as they are in withdrawing vs from him and to doe vs all the mischiefe to which their knowledge and power can extend Title 11. To the holy Patriarckes 1. HOly soules who during your abode heere in this vale of teares were the salt of the earth light of the world how great haue your vertues beene how great your perfection had you liued vnder the Gospell as you liued vnder the Law of nature and Moses we are in the fulnesse of time to which you so much aspired and for which you so often suspired obtaine for vs the grace to acknowledge correspond to so great a benefit and that wee may liue as holily after the incarnation of the Son of God as you did before his comming and that wee may now doe as much for his glory as you would haue done if yee had liued in this happy time 2. By that ioy not to be vttered by any tongue wherewith you were then replenished when the most holy soule of our and your Redeemer descended to those places vnder earth in which you were detained expecting the Ladder of Iacob and the Key of Dauid to come forth I beseech you to obtaine of your deliuerer for all poore sinners such as I am that wee may get out of the darke dungeon of ignorance and the filthie quagmire of our bad and lewd customes And that as the gates of Hell could not preuaile against the King of glory so sinne may froÌ„ henceforth no more preuaile against such as beleeue in him in whome you placed your hope and with whom vpon the day of his tryumphant Ascention you ascended to glory crowned with immortall Lawrels carrying in your handes and sweetly tasting the fruites of your liuely Faith longanimity hope and inflamed Charitie 3. Yee hold the ranke of Patriarckes amongst those which beleeue in the name of the Son of God bee yee then vnto vs good Fathers for the loue of him vpon whom dependeth all Father-hood both in Heauen and Earth and obtaine for vs the spirit of the children of God a contrary spirit to that of mercinarie feare to the end that wee may one day come to be partakers of that inheritance of which ye now are peaceable possessors Title 12. To the holy Prophets 1. PRotonotaries of Heauen Registers of truth and mirrours of the Diuinitie your holy soules haue bene the organs and your mouthes the harmonious instruments of him who is the fountaine of wisdome oracle of all truth Obtaine for vs that we may see by Faith what you did fore-see by the spirit of Prophecie and possesse that by charitie which you hoped for 2. The light of Prophesie is a personall and free guift bestowed vpon you for the instruction of Israell and consolation of Christians Herein we content our selues onely to admire you but in another thing we desire to imitate you And that is in that interiour Attention you had to the presence of God the better to vnderstand his voyce and hauing vnderstood it to follow and put in execution his inspirations O when shall I see that desired houre in which I may say with one of you I will heare what our Lord saith in mee 3. His wordes are words of peace his voyce a voyce of benediction Why then O you holy censurers of our manners doe I so often lend him a deafe eare Awake by your prayers my spirit pacifie my affections illuminate my darknesse addresse mine intentions to the center of euery iust desire which is the accomplishment of his diuine Will onely to bee loued and desired Title 13. To Saint Iohn Baptist 1. PRaecursor of the Sonne of God voyce of the word and paranymph of the heauenly
37. T 〈…〉 Bonâ—uenture in the BonaueÌ„t life of Saint Francis And finally to the life of Saint Barnarâ— Life of S. Bernard wherein there is receiued a most wonderfull Miracle wrought by Saint Barnard him selfe who in confirmacion of this verie point of prayer to Saints which he preached against the heretickes of his time that spake against it Blessed certaine bread which the people offred with the Signe of the Crosse and said In this you shall knowe that those thinges are true which we haue Preached If all your sicke hauing tasted of this Bread shall be restored to their former health And when the Bishop there had said If they reâ—â—iue it with a good faith they shal be healed Saint Barnard added I doe not say so but assuredly whosoeuer they be thaâ— taste it shall be healed to the end they may knowe that we are true Messengers sent from God Whervpon a huge multitude of sicke folkes hauing tasted that Bread recouered that this worde was diuulged ouer all the Prouince To conclude in all the places likewise before alleaged those venerable and renowned Authors haue related so many Miracles in this poynt of prayers to Saintes as if any Protestant would take the paines either to read them or to heare them recited they would be more then sufficient to conuince him For he that should deride or contemne the iudgements of those famous Saints were verye prophane And how can he think himselfe a good Christian that will giue no credit or beliefe to the chiefe Pastors and Doctors of the Church of Christ whome shall we belieue if we belieue not them Were not this to take away all faith and together therewith all Morall beliefe out of the worde And this shall suffice me Curteous Reader to haue collected for the most part out of other Catholicke Authors for thy satisfaction in this point of praier to Saints drawne by good consequence out of the Text it selfe of holy scripture which the Protestants on the other side haue neither heretofore nor euer will be able to aunswer hereafter and much lesse to produce any solide Argument out of Scripture for the proofe of the contrarie without the which notwithstanding though we alleaged no proofe at all it were more then absurde to condemne any generall custome or practise of Church or Common wealth as hath bene noted in the beginning Wherefore gentle freind now at the length to conclude this whole discourse if thou rest satisfied therwith I shall think my labour well bestowed but neither will I think it lost if I may gaine so much of thee as not fearing to venture thy Soule with the auncient Fathers vppon a truth so testified not onely by the worde of God in Scripture but also with the very hand of God in Signes and Miracles aswell at this present time as in all former ages thou wilt bee content to make some tryall of the power abilitie of the Saints to help thee by recommending thy selfe seriously to their intercession for thee desiring them to beseech Almightie God that thou maist obtaine sufficient light to discerne his euery sauing truth and effectuall grace to imbrace it And in perticuler to recommend thy poore Soule to the prayers of the Mother of God our Blessed Ladye who as Saint Barnard saith is the neck vnder Christ our head whereby all Grace descendeth vnto euery member of his mystcall Bodie For I doubt not thou shalt finde that true comfort and Reall satisfaction in the excercises thereof with such a touch of Gods finger as well better perswade thy hart then any other Pen can maister thy vnderstanding vntill it please his diuine Maiestie to subiect it fully to the rule of faith and to place it firmly on the Rocke which is the piller and foundation of truth And so remitting thee to the Prayers them selues of this Booke I desire to be pertaker of their good effects c. rest Thine in Iesus Christ C. A. THE Interiour occupation of the SOVLE Treating of the important businesse of our saluation with God his saints by way of Prayer Title 1. Adoration 1. I Adore thee O great GOD with all the creatures which are in Heauen and on earth prostrated cast downe euen to the center of my nothing before the Tâ—rone of thy soueraigne Maiestie 2. My affection is farre too litle to acknowledge thy high Deitie and therefore I present vnto thee the hearts of Angels and men the naturall property of the elements the growth of plants the sense of beasts the motion of whatsoeuer is in nature and the very being of all thinges Adoring with the dependance which they haue of thy diuinitie that which thou art in them and honouring that which they are in thee 3. If I had the affection of all those men women which haue presented vnto thee sacrifices of diuine worship and soueraigne adoration as well in the law of nature as in the written Euangelicall law I should melt in thy presence but seing that all things subsist before thee I beseech thee that thou wilt accept my most humble and profound adoration as comprising them all and being comprised in them 4. Aboue all I offer present the interiour actions of the humanitie of Iesus Christ thy sonne euen from the first instant of the creation thereof to the very last period of his life and those also which he continually exerciseth in heauen 5. I present also vnto thee the internall acts of that most happie Virgin his mother of the Cherubins Seraphins and of all those holy spirits which opposed themselues against the reuolt of the Apostate Angels and whatsoeuer else hath proceeded at any time from those soules which haue bene most pleasing vnto thee froÌ„ the beginning of the world Beseeching thee to number me amongst them to ioyne my holocaust with theirs and to receiue it as a sweet smelling sacrifice 6. The most part of corporall creatures doe not acknowledge the being they haue receiued from thee nor the Obligation which they haue to thee for the same many abuse that being which thou hast bestowed vpon them as Infidels heretiques reprobates and all the accursed diuels I offer thee them O my God and prostrate them as much as is in my power at the feete of thy Maiestie adoring thee as often as they offend and blaspheme thee and I doe homage vnto thee with the actions and the very naturall being with the which they sinne and which they abuse 7. Great is the honour that hitherto hath beene â—oone to the great personages of the earth and is still continued euery day Incense hath bin offred vp to Idols Idolatrie is coÌ„mitted to corporall beautie O the God of my soule I lay holde of all those thoughts wordes prophane actions passions and as farre as my minde can stretch I seperate from them all deformitie to make a present and sacrifice of that being they haue of which thou art the Author 8. I aske thee also
the adorned streets through which thou diddest passe with triumph as much vpon the mount Caluarie as vpoÌ„ the mount Thabor as much dying as liuing as much buried as risen again as much in Lymbus as in Heauen Onely grant that I may be thine and that I neuer depart froÌ„ thee whether I be in consolation or desolation poore or rich in plentie or in want all shall be one to me so I may be wholly and only thine Title 54. When we feele our selues drie at Prayer I wil continue with perseuerance before thee not giue ouer O my God I will honour thee with my body seeing I cannot doe it with my soule It is good foe me that thou hast humbled me Now I begin to knowe and feele what I I am Now I touch with my hands my owne misery well perceiue that I am able to do nothing with out thee This is as it were a returning to the nothing from which I took my origen out of which I was drawn by thy omnipotency Blessing praise thankes be to thee my God for euer I merrit not so much as once to enter into thy thought or that thou shoudst once think of me And should be to happy it that I might serue thee but in the condition of a stone or thing without sense and life Receiue the homage don by my miserabie condition to thy blessed selfe who art independant of any hast all contentment in thy self Title 55. When one is despised O My God I haue lost nothing so long as I loose not thee haue I any thing that appertaineth vnto me whether it be goods honours bodie or soule Can any thing fall out in the worlde without thy prouidence Is any thing done sinne only excepted which is not done by thy will If then thou be pleased that I be dispised why should any opposition be made who is he so insolent so bolde a Theife that dare entermeddle with things appertaining to thee contrary to thy will maist not thou doe with that which is thine according to thy pleasure when I am honoured should I reioyce there at for my selfe Is it a thing appertayning to me or to thee It is inough for me O great God that I be thine whether I be an Ant or an Elephant an Egle or a Gnat dirt or golde Title 56. Eleuations of spirit which may be done vpon euery occasion 1. MY God my all IESVS the delight of Heauen earth when shall I be all thine as thou art wholy mine 2. Father of mercy make me such an one as thy Sonne hath deserued and thy holy spirit desireth I should be 3. God of my life when shall I die to my selfe that I may liue to thee 4. Take me my God whether I wil or no seeing I am not so wise as to giue my selfe vnto thee as to haue the will to giue my selfe vnto thee 5. If it should fall out my beloued that I should desire any thing but thee which I desired not for thee I renounce it euen froÌ„ now as if it were then and protest that I haue nothing to loose or gaine besides thee 6. O God God of my soule permit me not to bee at all or procure by thy grace that I may be to serue thee as I am and haue my being from thee 7. I will haue â—o eye but to look vpon thee no eare but to heare thee no tongue but to speake of thee no heart but to think vpon thee no hands but to worke for thee no feet but to walke seek after thee no body but for to offer vp vnto thee no life but to make a sacrifice therof to thy honour and glory 8. God which art Loue giue me Charitie 9. God which wert made Man graunt me Humilitie 10. God which art a pure Spirit bestow vpon me Puritie 11. Omnipotent power strenghthen my weaknesse 12. Eternall wisdome illuminate my darknesse 13. Incomparable mercy pardon my haughtinesse 14 Incomparable beautie to late I haue loued thee 15. Infinite goodnes too late haue I knowne thee 16. Hee that loueth not thee what doth he loue 17 He that admireth not thee what doth he admire I will loue my self not because I am mine but because I am thine I will haue care of my selfe not for any oâ—her reason but because thou so willest and commaundest I esteeme my selfe more happy in thy happines thâ—n I count my selfe wretched for my owne miserie And the contentment I take that thou art that which thou art farre exceedeth the discontentment I feele by being that which I am Be thou then my God for euer that which thou art make me other then I am That is wheras I am my selfe miserable I shall be in thee blessed and happy To thee in thee by thee for thee O my God be all things Amen
and infinite Author of all thinges Secondly for a petition made vnto those whom we acknowledge to be indued with that excellencie which is only fouÌ„d in the friends of God that are in heauen and lastly for a request made vnto any other with that respect which we acknowledge to bee due vnto those that haue the meanes to helpe vs. In the first second sense this word is vsed when we are said to pray or to make our prayer vnto another in the last sense when wee pray our friends or our betters to doe this or yâ— for vs For although we pray them yet wee are not properly said to pray or to make our prayer vnto them By Prayer to Saincts therefore we vnderstand a request made vnto them not with that worship which is due vnto God as the Author of all things but with that honour and reuerence with is due to the Saints of God aboue all other Creatures And in this sense the Protestants theÌ„selues will graunt That if it be lawfull to make any request vnto them it ought to be done with that reuerence which is conuenient by consequence that in this sense it is not only lawfull to pray them if it be lawfull at all but also to pray vnto them Lastly to the end that no exception be taken against the proofes that follow as not sufficiently deliuered according to my promise out of Scripture thou must consider that two maÌ„ner of wayes a thing may be proued out of Scripture First by the expresse wordes thereof in which manner we proue many thinges against the Protestants As for example That man is iustified by workes and not Iam. 2. 24 Iohn 20 22. 23. Math. 26â— 27. by Faith alone That Priests receiue the Holy Ghost to forgiue sinnes That the Blessed Sacrament is the body blood of Christ 1 Cor. 11â— 14. and the like But in this maÌ„ner the Protestants cannot directly proue any one point of their Religion against vs. Therfore no reason that in all points they should exact this kinde of proofe at our hands Secondly a thing may bee prooued by Scripture as following by necessary consequence out of scripture which kind of proofe and no other the Protestants though failing therein no lesse then in the former pretend to be the very ground of their Faith in those points wherein they differ from vs And after this manner I intend to make it euident that prayer to Saints may bee lawfully vsed according to the Scriptures THE FIRST ARGVMENT Therefore may be taken out of those Scriptures which recommend vnto vs the Authority of the Church For in them wee learne That our Sauiour himselfe hath sent his holy spirit to Iohn 16. 13. teach her all truth and to remaine with her for euer In Io. 14. 16 which respect she is not onely termed by Saint Paul The Piller Tim. 3. 17 and foundation of truth but also our Sauiour himselfe saith expresly of her That hee who will Math. 18â— 17. not heare herâ— or which is all one hee that will not beleeue her ought to bee esteemed noâ— better then aâ— Eathnick From whence therefore I conclude Augustin Lib. cont Crescon cap. 33. and affirme with Saint Augustine That wee doe nothing but according to Scripture in doing that which the whole Church approoueth whome the Scriptures Augustin Epist 118 cap. 2. themselues commend vnto vs. To which purpose also hee spared not to write That to dispute whether any thing bee lawfull which the whole Church frequenteth throughout the world is most insolent madnesse In fine there are many pointes of Faith with though they be not expresly written the Protestants belieue practise with vs and among other thinges which I haue noted before The lawfull neglect of the Iewes Sabaoth no where abrogated and the necessary obseruation of Sunday no where commaunded in holy writ which therefore can no otherwise be proued out of Scripture but onely by the authoritie of the Church which the Scripture commaundeth to be beleeued This beeing supposed to make it appeare that the Church of Christ and the Pastors therof not onely allowed this Doctrine of prayer to Saints but also practised the same I alledge the Epistle of the Bishops of Europe to Leo the Emperour in the fourth age after Christ which Epistle is ioyned to the Councell of Chalcedon where they say thus Wee put the most holy Proterius in the rancke and Quyre of the holy Martyrs and wee demaund by his intercession That God would be pleased to bee mercifull and propitious vnto vs. And in the Councell it selfe which is one of the foure CouÌ„cels that the Protestants pretend to reuerence with Saint Gregory no lesse then the foure Gospels the Fathers assembled speake thus Flauianus liueth ChalcedoÌ„ Acts 11. after death as beeing a Maister let him pray for vs. Likewise in the sixt generall Councell the Fathers say God alone the Creator being Adored let the Christian Synod 6. â—ap 7 man call vpon his Saints that they would bee pleased to make intercession for him vnto his diuine Maiestie Whereunto I will onely adde another like authoritie of the seauenth generall Councell speaking as followeth Let vs doe all thinges with Synod 7. â—ct 6 feare demaunding the intercession of the incontaminate Mother of God as also of the Angels and of all the Saints Thus these generall Councels in the person of the whole Catholike Church Let vs hear now some other expresse testimonies of the auncient Fathers in the first ages after Christ St. Bazill in his Oration vpon the Bazill orat in 40 Martyrs 40 Martyrs Hee that is pressed with any difficultie let him fly vnto them Hee againe that reioyceth let him call vpon them the one that he may be deliuered from euill the other that he may perseuer in good St. Cyrill when wee Cyril catechesi â— Mistagoâ—gica offer this sacrifice wee make mention of them that haue slept before vs especially of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Martyrs That God by their orisons would receiue our prayers St. Ambrose wee must pray vnto Angels who Ambr. 1 de viduiâ— are giuen vs for our guard wee must pray vnto Martyrs whose patronage wee seeme to challenge by the pawne of their Bodyes they are our Gouernours they are the Ouerseers of our liues and actions Wee are not ashamed to make them the intercessors of our infirmitie because themselues haue knowne th' infirmitie of their Bodyes euen in their victories Thus these holy Fathers Of the practise of this Doctrine and of the perticuler prayers made by the Fathers themselues in all ages to the Saints of Heauen that shall suffice which I haue cyted already out of their speeches to our B. Lady both because to shew this exactly were sufficient to make a large volume as also because no Protestant that is not altogether ignorant or extreamly impudent can deny it In fine therfore the Doctrin of the Fathers in
it imported them to bee carefull of themselues how much more after their victorious Crownes and Tryumphs Moyses being but one obtayned pardon of God for sixe hundred thousand Armed men And shall hee bee of lesse force beeing now with Christ in Heauen Paul the Apostle saith That 270. soules in the Ship with him were giuen vnto him And after his resolution when hee began to bee with Christ must he shut vp his mouth and not be able to speake so much as one halfe worde for those who through the world haue beleeued his Gospell Shall Vigillantius this liuing Dog bee better then hee that dead Lyon For to this purpose I might wel vse the words of the Preacher If I beleeued Saint Paul to bee dead in spirit the Saints are not said to be dead but to wit according to the body sleeping or reposing Thus Saint Hierome Secondly therefore to proceed The willingnesse and abilitie of the Saints in Heauen to heare and assist vs is proued out of those Scriptures which teach vs that the Saints in heauen and the Saints on earth are all Brethren of the same family and Domesticals of God hauing all receiued the adoption Ephes 19. Gal 4 Ephe 4 Gal. 4. Heb. 1 23. of the Sonnes of God and beeing all fellow members of the same Body and Cittizens of the same Citty which is the heauenly Hierusalem our Mother the Church of the first borne including the societie of many thousand Angells Which being supposed wee may argue in this manner In euery Mysticall body or societie the principall and more perfite members haue power and abilitie more or lesse to helpe and assist the rest that are more imperfit according to their particuler necessities For this is the end of all Communitie and therefore so true that no citty or kingdome or ciuill Body can stand without it But the Saints in Heauen are the principall partes of this Mysticall body Therefore it must needes follow that they haue some kinde of meanes to heare and to helpe vs in perticuler when wee call vpon them For otherwise they could neither make one Family nor one citty nor one Body with vs which is directly against the Scriptures here before alleadged Againe in euery Societie those members that are out of daunger and in prosperitie are bound in duty to succour those that are in any great danger or necessitie especially when it greatly concerneth the good of the whole Body But such are the Saints of heauen and such is the case between vs and them especially when we finde our selues assaulted with some grieuous affliction or vehement Temptation in perticuler Therefore according to their power when such occasions happen they are bound as may be said in duty to releeue vs. Hee saith St. Iohn that shall haue the Substance of this world and shall see his Brother haue neede and shall shut his Bowels from him how doth the Charitie of God abide in him Wherefore the Saints of God hauing the substance of the other world and possessing the Treasures of all Graces wee must either fowly condemne them for want of Charity or else wee must needs graunt that they open their Bowels to releeue the necessities of their distressed brethren And truely Almightie God seeing the want of this power in his Saints to help vs if it were so as the Protestants would haue it and the Saints againe seeing our miseries or if they doe not it is because they will not how may it be thought that either God himselfe can shut the Bowels of his Charitie from them when they aske the one or they from vs when we call vpon them to be releeued in the other Wherfore to conclude this second reason for the proofe of their Power to helpe vs consider gentle Reader whether it can stand either with the vnitie of this mysticall body that the Saints in Heauen should not haue it or with their Obligation not to demaund it or with their felicitie not to inioy it or with Gods goodnesse not to graunt it Thirdly and lastly then this willingnes and power of theirs is yet further proued by their speciall Patronage and protection of vs for the one doth euidently include the other and no man can imagine how they can be truely said to guide and defend vs who like the Idols of the Gentiles are neither able to heare vs nor to helpe vs. Wherefore their Pastorall care and protection ouer vs is shewed first by reason grounded vpon Scripture and secondly by the Scripture it selfe And the first reason thereof may be framed in this manner In euery well ordered Body or Common wealth the members which are the most potent prudent and perfit are appointed to gouerne and protect the rest But the Saints of heauen make one body with vs as hath bene proued by the expresse word of God Therefore as being the most sufficient Members thereof they must be Ordained by God to gouerne and direct vs. According whereuâ—to St. Câ—prian coÌ„cludâ—â—h most excellently of the holy Innocents That being made priuie to the secrets Cyprian of God with most familiar approaches they beseech his clemencie to blesse our labours And Lib de Stella Magis Innoc c. that beeing translated from the Cradle to Heauen they are made Senatours and Iudges of the supernall Cappitoll obtaâ—ning pardon for many And although they assist Almightie God not onely in his Diuine mercyes but also in his punishments yet they serue themselues more of the mildnesse then of the furie of the Lambe whome they followe wheresoeuer hee goeth Thus St. Cyprian Whereunto may bee added another reason For hee that will contemplate a little shall easily finde that Almightie God seldome or neuer doth any thing by himselfe alone which may be brought to passe by meanes of those his Creatures that are apt to be made the instruments of his Diuine power Not that hee hath any neede of them but because it belongeth to his glory their perfection as much as may be to be serued of them Which is not onely seene in the visible preseruation of this world all thinges depending therein of more inferiour causes but also confessed in the inuisible mouers and Gouernours thereof his holy Angels Who are therefore in generall acknowledged by Saint Paul to be administring Spirits and are perticularly Heb. 2. 14 testified among other Num. 20 16. thinges to haue had the conduction of the Isralites out of Exod. 23 20. Aegypt and in the person of God to haue giuen the Law it Act. 7. 30 35. 53. selfe vnto them Wherefore the Saints of heauen being so much more fit to gouerne and protect vs then the Angels by how much they are nearer vnto vs both by Grace and Nature and through their owne experience of our fragilitie haue better learned to take compassion of our infirmitie It cannot stand with the sweetnesse of Gods prouldence to exclude them from the Patronage and protection of vs. For the which
didst bring to the world the most happy newes that euer was or shall be by the loue of him who sent thee to the honour of him who was by thee Named and Announced and for the regard to her to whome thou broughtest the'mbassage obtaine for me the grace that I may be obedient to the Father pleasing to the Sonne and singularly deuoted to the Mother 2. O if I so willingly conceiued and so readily consented to the voyce of my God as did the blessed Virgin to thine I should march apace to perfection I beseech thee by the ioy that the spirit felt when the Diuine word effected thy word putting on the ragges of our mortalitie that thou wilt be pleased to obtaine for mee this fauour of God that I neuer resist his inspirations that I be attentiue to his voyce that for lacke of execution I make not sad the holy Ghost Obtaine I say for me this grace thou speciall embassador of the Diuinitie 3. Embassadour of God Legate of Paradice Nuncies of the coelestiall Empire if any thing bee cause of our ruines for repayring of which the Son of God espoused himselfe to a nature inferiour to thine it was frailtie and ignorance This appertaineth to the soule that to the body From both th' one and th' other thou art free being a spirit and full of knowledge I dare then adiure thee by that which thou art to remedy that which I am and to obtaine of him who did according to thy word more for me then thou shalt euer be able to doe that I may know from henceforth his holy will in all thinges and that in the execution I may be strong and puissant Thy most holy Name signifieth diuine force and valour obtaine for me this force against our common aduersaties and against the most daungerous enemie that I knowe which is the loue of my selfe 4. I salute thee and thanke thee with all my hart messenger of happy newes and I beâ—eech thee to encrease my obligacion by encreasing the seruice which by me thou maist render then when thou shalt obtaine for me the grace not to be as thou art but together with thee a fit Instrument and Organe to set forth the glory of God Title 9. To the Angell Guerdian 1. GOuernour of my life guide of my pilgrimage Torchbearer of my vnderstanding maister of my soule what thankesgiuing shall I render vnto thee for the infinite obliâ—ations â—a poore sinner haue vnto thee whome thou hast serued and assisted though vnworthy and vngratefull from the instant of my birth preseruing mee from so many euils of sinne as I might haue incurred from so many dangers as my body hath passed and had fallen into haddest thou not fauoured mee If I should thanke thee as often as I breath I could not satisfie my obligation neither will I nor can I doe it but in him by whom and for whose loue thou hast beene so faithfull to mee Aske then thy recompence of him for so many benefits and permit not that I dye vngratefull towards thee least I dye miserable in the fight of God 2. Vnfatigable friend the infamous odour of my sinnes might haue caused thee to haue withdrawne thy selfe from me as stinke chaseth away Doues and smoke Bees And yet notwithstanding thou hast had patience to stay neere to this dunghill with charitie greater then tongue can vtter and with longanimitie altogether Angelicall Thankes be giuen vnto thee by all the courts of Heauen and by all those creatures which haue interest in my saluation all whom thou hast together with mee obliged vnto thee If euer I come as by thy mediation I hope I shall to the hauen of beatitude I will render vnto thee O my louing and beloued Patroâ— the principall and arrerages of so many so speciall and so particular obligations in the presence of him whom thou incessantly lookest in the face How often had I fallen into riuers into flames into dungeons into the hands of my visible and inuisible enemies How often had Sathan styfled mee whilest I was drinking eating sleeping walking especially at those times when he perceiued mee to be out of the grace of God if thou O my guide and singuler benefactor hadst not broken his strength and dissipated his designes 3. So many times thou hast saued my life as thou hast preserued me from deadly sinne so many times thou hast rendered vnto me my life as thou hast raysed me out of deadly sinne A life a thousand times more precious then that of the body and consequently a benefit as much greater as aeternitie exceedeth time grace nature the glorious state of the Saintes the miserable condition of the damned Thankes therefore be vnto thee as many times as there are moments in time oâ— imaginable minutes in aeternitie 4. What shall I say of thy going from God to vs and returning from vs to God exciting the one appeasing the other carrying vp our prayers and bringing downe his presents what of so many inspirations secret motions benigne influences so many interiour and exteriour endes so many Angelicall inuentions deuises stratagems of Charitie as thou hast vsed to retire mee from vice and the inclinations of a corrupt nature to draw me to the loue of him whom loue made to dye for me There is no meanes how in this vally of teares and in the midst of this Aegyptian darknesse I may know the thousand part of these oblgations and how shall I then bee able to acknowledge them Finish then O sage Pilot this my perilous Nauigation end this chiefe work which hitherto hath put thee to so great paine For if thou shalt haue fully accomplished this I shall haue meanes to recompence that which is past to repaire that which is lost and to make euen my debts Looke well then into it as is thy custome O my guide it concernes thee exceeding much seeing thereupon depends the glory of God and the saluation of a soule coÌ„mitted to thy charge 5. And if it be possible that thou shouldst not be interessed in my saluation I am content that thou neglect both th' one and th' other Hee which was made man for mee that liued heere for me that dyed for me that hath giuen me his body for meat and his bloud for drinke hee that hath honoured mee with the title of sonne and brother hee that calleth and nameth himselfe my spouse hee who bowing downe the Heauens of his greatnesse vouchsafed to serue mee hee that would dye againe if it were needfull and for me endure againe all that hee hath suffered hee I say perswades yea nothing else Do then that which thou shalt iudge to be according to his will Sweet friend and charitable tutor I will put no other rule no no other then thou thy selfe dost put which is the very great glory of him to whom wee all appertaine by condition obligation and election to whome be all praise honour and glory world without end Title 10. To the Angels 1.
Deliuer mee then out of the prison of sinne breake in peeces the chaynes of my bad customes that they may fall from mee before the face of my God Title 16. To Saint Paul 1. VEssell of Election Apostle of the holy Ghost Interpretor of the Diuinitie Doctor of the Gentiles it is to thee that I haue my recourse and in whom I haue particuler confidence Considering the Charitie that made thee desire to be an Anathema for thy bretheren thy Humilitie which made thee name thy selfe a Childe vntimely borne acknowledging that thou haddest persecuted the Church thy inflamed Loue towards Iesus Christ which made thee liue more in him then in thy selfe 2. Thou calledst them thrice yea foure times accursed which loue not our Lord Iesus Christ deliuer vs then from this malediction and make vs such by thy prayers as in thy writings thou desirest we should be 3. Thou wouldst whilst thou wast heere vpon earth if it had beene in thy power haue set the whole world on fire in the loue of God 4. Thou now art able to doe what thou wilt enflame then my heart with the fire of Charitie so as I may truely say with thee I liue but I liue not in my selfe for Iesus Christ is my life 5. O when will the time come that my life may be hidden with God in Iesus Christ when will the hower come that I shall liue to him who dyed for me 6. When shall I put off the olde Adaem to put on the new formed and reformed according to God 7. When is it that thy iudgement shall make little or no estimation of the world when shall I neglect the figure of this world which passeth 8. When shall I aspire to that permanent Cittie to the free Ierusalem to the habitation of the Saints 9. Thou great Maister and Chatechist of our soules didst make so little reckoning of Faith if it were not accompanied with Charitie that albeit by it thou haddest transported mountaines distributed all thy goods to the poore spake with the tongues of Angels and of all Nations hadst had perfect intelligence of all the wonders of nature and of all the mysteries of Faith yea though thou haddest exposed thy body to flames all this had serued to no purpose but to make as it were a sound and noyse in the world but before God had beene thou saidst of no valew at all Obtaine then for me this faith quickened by Charitie frō which the iust draw the spring of life and by which as Saint Iames saith Abraham and all the Saints were iustified 10. Thou wilt that wee owe nothing to each other but mutuall loue assuring vs that Charitie is the bond of perfection loue vs then and in louing vs procure that we may loue each other 11. Thou didst carry incessantly the mortification of Iesus Christ in thy body procure that I may haue an internall sense feeling of his wounds that I may willingly be nayled with him to the Crosse 12. Thou prayedst thrice to be deliured from a troublesome tentation and it was answered vnto thee that the grace of God should suffice thee for that vertue is perfected in infirmitie Thrice yea foure times I make supplication to thee not to be deliuered from my temptations but that thou wilt obtaine for me grace and force to ouercome them to the glory of him who hath placed vs here in this world as in a field of warre in the sight of Angels and men to crowne such as shall fight valiantly Thou art hee who didst sight a good combat runne a good race happily end thy course kept thy faith and promise made and for whome the crowne was reserued in the handes of the iust Iudge obtaine for vs this great grace and these tryumphant Lawrels which shall neuer wither 13. More then two hundred soules by thy intercession were not drowned in shipwracke neere to the I le of Malta obtaine by thy prayers that wee may escape the shipwracke of sinne and safely ariue at the happy port of blessednesse 14. Thou desiredst with an inflamed desire to be deliuered from thy mortall body to bee the more neerly vnited to Iesus Christ assist mee that my desire bee alwayes transported to thinges Coelestiall and Eternall 15. Thou diddest afflict and tame thy body and not withstanding thou hadst no reprehension of conscience yet didst not thinke thy selfe in assurance Keepe me from vaine presumption and obtaine for me a filiall feare 16. We thinke our selues often to haue charitie toward God and towards our neighbour when we haue it not if we had the former who could seperate vs from the fidelitie we haue sworne to him could tribulation affliction hunger nakednesse danger persecution the sword No no wee should be assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor any creature should be able to seperate vs from the charitie founded in Iesus Christ 17. And if we had the latter our charitie would be sweete being without emulation without ambition without precipitation It would not be puffed vp by pride it would not bee stirred by choller it would neuer reioyce in anothers infirmitie but contrariwise reioyce in his perfections thinke well of him endure with patience what hee should doe vnto vs conceiue good hope of him Charitie neuer faileth shee is euer like to her selfe as well whether it be towards the learned or the ignorant towards the poore or the rich towards friend or foe towards him that is of a different humour from ours and him who is conformable to vs in our humours 18. When shall it be O great Champion of God Pillar of the Church wonder of the world that I shall haue these qualities Till then I will not cease to knocke at thy gates and I will not giue truce to my lippes or repose to my heart vntill I be heard in this suite Graunt it then grant it O holy Apostle amiable in Heauen imitable vpon earth redoubtable to the Spirits of Hell 19. By all the ropes with which thou wast tyed by all the prisons which thou sanctifiedst by the shipwrackes stonings whippings false accusations treasons and persecutions in which and by which thou didst honour the Sonne of God I beseech thee that my life may be to him a sacrifice and my death an holocaust Title 17. To St. Iohn the Euangelist 1. AS St. Peter was the most louing Apostle so thou wast the most beloued a quality which is singuler for which thou wert to be enuied with an holy aemulation and for the attaining whereunto three remarkable vertues should be necessary which all three shined admirable in thee Charitie Humilitie Puritie what will it cost the◠to obtain them for me 2. One neuer loueth God truly but he is beloued of him and one is not beloued of God but forthwith hee loueth God obtaine then for me O Secretarie of God that I may loue if not so much as I ought yet so much as
beginneth to growe longer and the Sunne of our soules to send foorth more hot beames then ordinarie of his grace the hearbes of good thoughts begin to come on plants of good desires to bud forth the garden of our spirit to flourish throghout with diuer◠flowers promising to vs an happy haruest of good holy works O starres of happy and fauourable aspect worke all these wonders vpon the dry and barraine ground of my soule to the end that by worke and worde I may glorifie him whome yee haue confessed and professed with danger of your liues 2. Men with loynes girded handes with burning Lampes great numbers of you haue excelled in confessing the Faith ther 's haue beene singuler for Learning others admirable for austeritie of life others for heroicall workes appertaining to Christian perfection Obtaine then by your prayers in remembrance and acknowledgement of these graces that I hold fidelitie make knowne both to Heauen and earth that which I am to my God in euery occasion of temptation Seeing that to confesse by deede is nothing else but to leade a life worthy the name of a Christian 3. Our sweet Redeemer being Wisdome it selfe Iustice it selfe Truth it selfe Holinesse it selfe is it not so then that men by their sottishnes and stupiditie following the trace of their appetites like beastes without reason deny his wisdome following iniquitie deny his Iustice giuing themselues to lying deny his Truth and wallowing in the mire of their filthy pleasures renounce his holinesse Permit not O yee gouernours of our soules that I become one of those vngratefull wretches infringers and forsakers of their Faith but that vpon all occasions I may be that which I am to God most humble most obedient and most faithfull as well in effect as in affection as well in execution as in obligation though I should thereby loose my life as many millions of times as I speake or breath Title 23. To the holy Anchorits Hermits and Religious 1. MOuntaines of eminent perfection Sina vpon which God familiarlie speaketh to men Thabor where the Worde incarnate manifested his glory most noble portion only chosen of the heritage of Iesus Christ you are they to whom according to the sayings of the Prophet the waters are open in the desart and the brookes in the wildernesse You are they which haue transplanted the Cedar the white Thorne the Mirrhe the Oliue in the wildernesse You are they who set a fier with a burning desire of heauenly thinges haue with a noble courage frankly and freely renounced the goods and pleasures of this world You are they who being retired into the desarts of secret solitarinesse and straight Monastaries haue giuen your selues to a most austere life and most earnest study of solid vertues You are they who inuironed with bodyes haue surmounted the condition of bodyes and amongst the beasts haue lead the life of Angels You are they who haue made the places before hideous and full of horror by your presence the sanctuarie of God and tabernacle of the holy Ghost O when shall I following your example crucifie in my flesh all vices concupiscences and pleasures when shall I with you and after you embrace an heauenly conuersation in this terrene habitation when shall I haue the earth vnder my affections as I haue it vnder my feete Bring to passe by your merits and prayers O most happy soules tryed a thousand and a thousand times bring to passe I say by all possible meanes and whatsoeuer power you haue in that aeternall Citty especially you yee holy founders reformers and obseruers of regular discipline which haue consecrated by obedience your soules by pouertie your goods and by the vow of Chastitie your bodyes Obtaine for me that in those three thinges I may honour the author of all thinges that I may renounce my owne selfe dye to my owne will and liue to the will of God 2. We that liue in the world are esteemed Saints when wee doe or suffer the thousand part of that you haue done and suffered O what difference will there be betweene you and vs vpon the day when wee shall come to receiue our hyer But yet we wish that you may encrease to thousands and millions for you are our brethren and it is great consolation to vs and a great remedie of our miseries that our cōmon God and Father is honoured in you seeing hee is so little honoured in vs and that we haue elder bretheren which make amends for our faultes Bring to passe also that as wee reioyce that you are what you are and make you sad by being what we our selues are our ioy from henceforth may bee accomplished and alike in all we becomming by your prayers that which you haue beene and by your charitable mediation that which you desire Title 24. To Saint Anthony 1. CHampion of God ouercommer of Deuils fearefull to Hell the honour and wonder of the desart I addresse particularly to thee my sighes and to thee I lift vp the voyce of my desires knowing how much thou hast done for God and how much thou art able to doe with God Bee thou then pleased to obtaine for mee three graces of him who bestowed them vpon thee with many moe the one is the guift of Prayer and an inward conuersation with God the other a perfect victorie of my temptations and the third an inflamed Loue of him which is the lone of Heauen and earth IESVS the Son of God Thou hast so excelled in the first that during the time thou wert before God in prayer yeares were to thee but monthes monthes but weekes weeks but dayes dayes but howers and howers but minutes The Sunne going downe left thee praying and rising againe hee found thee praying and whilst he cast forth his beames somtimes vpon thy backe and sometimes vpon thy face the holy Ghost was working interiourly and effected wonderfull thinges in the most fruitfull soyle of thy soule As for temptations Hell trembled at thee and the Deuill remained as vanquished and taken captiue in thy presence For thou wentst not out of the skirmish as we doe who ordinarily are either beaten or discouraged Thy victories were intire thy lawrell boughes answerable to the strong and couragious resistance thou madest to the enemies of God Wherfore not being able to lay any holde vpon thy soule they exercised their rage vpon thy body bellowing like Bulles roaring like Lyons hissing like Serpents And when they had all done they could not take the forte of thy interiour resolution nor so much as shake the Rocke of thy inexpugnable will As for the loue of God thou said'st often to thy Disciples that the Deuils are affeard of humilitie temporance taming of the body prayer and the exercise of other vertues But aboue all the rest they feare most an inflamed charitie towards the Sonne of God What shall hinder mee then henceforth from shining in those three graces shall the let or hinderance bee on thy part or on mine
secret diffidencies and distrusts I dare not say they are altogether against my wil thogh they displease me doubting somewhat lest thou thinkest not vpon my children nor vouchsafest to haue that care of them that I feele in my selfe O God of infinit goodnes pardon me my offence deale not with me and theÌ„ according to our demerits Title 46. Concerning our Domesticals 1. VVHat did I before I was by which I might deserue to haue this honourable conditioÌ„ that I haue might not I haue bene borne in Barbary of some slaue or haue bene borne here in these partes of as base condition as these that serue me why then doe I expecte so much seruice why am I so hard to please so imperious rough towards such as serue me Permit not this any more O my God but giue me abenigne haâ—t full of compassion and rather of a Father then Master towards those of my familie 2. Grant me the grace yâ— I may become their seruant seruing them in things appertaining to their soules as they serue me in things apertaining to my body 3. Our soules are made all of one substance and if there be any difference it is in the vse we make of them if they make better vse then I they are better then I so as peraduenture I am before thee as much their inferior as I am according to yâ— world their superior and better 4. I should blush for shame tremble for feare and be exceedingly confounded to see that such as serue me haue more care to please me more feare to offend me then I haue to please or displease the eyes of thy diuine Maiestie 5. My God my true Lord Master reforme this disorder and make that at least I may be such an one towards thee as they are or as I desire they should be to me I am too sensible of euery fault or defect or negligence committed in my seruice I obserue it too exactly I censure it too rigorously O my God King of Kinges and Lord of Lords proceede not with me as I proceed with â—heÌ„ weigh me not in that ballance and with those weights with with I wright them measure not vnto me according to that measure 6. True there is no comparison betweene thee and me or between the faults committed against me with the faultes I commit against thee and for which I am aâ—ountable to thee But no lesse true is it that there is no proportion betweene thy goodnes and my naughtines thy mercy and my miserie thy fortitude and my frugalitie thy prudence and my imprudencie thy diuinitie my humanitie 7. Wilt thou leaue to be that which thou art because I am not that which I should be Title 47. In going to Masse 1. I Accompany thee my sweete IESVS to the Mount Caluarie make me partaker of that Charitie which conducted thee thither 2. Make me haue that feeling which the Daughters of Sion had when they met thee with the Crosse vpon thy shoulders with the rope about thy necke with thy Crowne of thornes vpon thy head 3. Grant me that resignation of my will to thine which was in thy blessed Mother standing at the foote of the Crosse and by the merites of her sorrowes and constancie in them graunt vnto me the guist of constancie and perseuerance in thy loue and seruice Title 48. When one is Melanchollie or displeased at any thing MElancholly is the seate of Sachan he endeauoureth to make me that seat now succour mee O my God I protest that I coÌ„sent not to any thoght that now I haue I renounce all suspitions iudgements indignation waywardâ—es auersion vnquietnes and all such other passions which assault me and will trouble and tosse my spirit if thou coÌ„mand not the furie of the sea enraged if thou allay not the windes which cause this tempest in my soule Speake theÌ„ my assured Pilot and my heart shal feele a calme Say the word and it will straight bee faire weather Title 49. When we feele our selues in any passion PAssion is a coloured glasse which giueth its colour to our eyes and the obiects wee looke vpon thorow it Wherefore O my God I deny I resist I reiect and that with all the force I can all that which then I had the will and was resolued to doe And I put my heart my will and my consent into thy handes Title 50. After the happy successe of any affaire IT is thou my beloued which hadst the care to prosper with happy successe this affaire and to bring the same to so good an end I accept of it as from thy hand I giue â—hee thankes for it beseeching thee O my blessednesse neuer to permit that I be withdrawne from thee by any thing which I haue not but of thee I desire that which thou desirest and no more Title 51. Hauing receiued any grace IT is by thy meanes sweet Iesus by thy merites and by thy mediation that I haue receiued this grace thanke thou God the Father for me For in so doing thou shalt thanke him for thy selfe The grace which is done vnto me is done asmuch if not more vnto thee because it was granted vnto me as desired of thee merited by thee Title 52. When wee receiue any consolation in Prayer DEfend mee O my GOD from all vaine glory and selfe liking a man may thinke himselfe gracious in thy eyes with whome thou art offended And another that is neare and deare vnto thee may feare himselfe to be farre off and altogether out of thy fauour I will not therefore holde any certain iugdement of my selfe out of any deceitfull opinion I may haue of my selfe but my confidence shall be in thy mercyes and I will reioyce in thee my God and my Lord who art good with inuariable goodnes from whence shall proceede all true firmnesse and strength of my heart and all solid repose and quietnesse of my soule I renounce then all vaine motions whether of Ioy or sadnesse which take their Origen and spring from selfe-loue Title 53. In time of Desolation I Will carry this Crosse cheerfully and not drag draw it after me discontentedly there being no reason that vnder a head of thornes any member should be at case Many will haue the Crucifix but without the Crosse That is they would be saued but they would not be crucified others carry the Crosse but without the Crucifix that is are crucified but shall not be saued They presume and these dispaire I will desire both the one and the other and consecrate my selfe vnto them both Come then O the spouse of my soule though neuer so much dyed in thine own bloud come I say wheÌ„ thou pleasest and come with thy Crosse It is the bed vpon with thou and I must sleepe and vpon which we will die together It is my Paradice to be with thee whersoeuer thou art I loue thee as much amidst the Launces the Nayles the Thornes as amongst the Oliues the boughs