seuere and impartiall iudge not as an indulgent Redeemer 6. Lastly returne with these disciples to Hierusalem and imitating their vnion in spirit expect the comming of the Holy Ghost If thou desire to know Gods holy will retire thy selfe as they did and in this inward attention vnto the voice of thy Sauiour perseuere praying to know his diuine will and no doubt but he will impart it vnto thee Luke 12. which when thou knowest put it in practise otherwise the imputatioÌ„ of knowing the will of thy maister and not performing it will lye heauy vpon thee The comming of the holy Ghost CHAP. XIII YOV haue seene in the precedent mystery what diligent preparation these holy followers of Christ made The third glorious Mistery to the end they might be more fit vessels to receaue the holy Ghost And besides the former points of their peace and vnity amongst themselues and retyring from the conuersation of the world it is moreouer specified in holy Scripture that the better to make this retirement of theirs Act. 1. They went vp into an vpper chamber Of which words I would haue thee a pious interpreter and to imagine this vpper roome to be the superiour part of the foure to wit thy reason in which thou must dwell whensoeuer thou desirest to know the will of God neuer staying below in the sensuall part which in such a busines serueth for nothing but to blind thine vnderstanding Let thy sense be commanded by reason and it will presently teach thee that God is to be serued before the world and the Creatour before the Creature 1. Consider at the comming of the holy Ghost There was made â— sound from heauen Act 2. as of a vehement wind comming by which noyse The povver of the holy Ghost thou mayest consider the power of the holy Ghost which as it oftentimes st rreth vp in vs great conflicts betweene our owne peruerse nature and Gods Grace that offereth to enter into it so also it maketh vs most valiant and constant in the seruice of Almighty God and the maintayning of his glory the sound pre-figuring vnto vs the difficulties which outwardly may arise by the constant profession of his holy name 2. Most fitly is the comming of the holy Ghost expressed by fier the signe of loue and charity the holy spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne by a feruorous act of loue Neuer resist this holy spirit which will breath diuine loue into thy soule separating thine affections from earthly things 3. No sooner had these fiery tongues lighted vpon the heades of these holy disciples but with the gift of tongues which was then infused into them they doe speake of the great workes of God Imitate the feruour of these and let neuer the grace of God be void in th e 1. Cor. 15. but put in practise those giftes which God hath giuen thee by vsing them sincerely in his seruice 4. Consider how vncapable of spirituall things those are who measure all things by the conceit of the world this gift of tongus is interpreted in the Apostles to proceed from madnes or from some excesse committed Let not the fond interpretation of the world hinder thee from the seruice of God for if the Crosse of Christ were as the Apostle saith to the Gentils a foolishnes and euen to the very Iewes a scandâ—ll 1 Cor. 1. neuer be detected if the world laugh at thy proceedings which it vnderstandeth not Matt. 10. for the disciple must not place himselfe aboue his Maister 5. The cooperation of these holy disciples with the grace of God was such as they were all replenished with the holy Ghost working miracles in the face of Hierusalem Act. 5. and their very shadowes were potent to heale infirmities At the gate of the Temple S. Pâ—ter giueth an almes of health to a lame creature from his Natiuity Act. 3. Act. 2. He conuerteth three thousand at his first Sermon See of what great vertue the holy spirit is without which neither in thy selfe nor in others thou canst make conuersions 6. Beholding with thy selfe attentiuely how this spirit is attained vnto how necessary it is to haue it and how easily it is lost make resolutions in thy soule fit for one who hath this spirit knowing it giueth life vnto thine actioÌ„s and abhorre sinne that expelleth it The Assumption of our B. Lady CHAP. XIIII The fourth glorious Mystery Cant. 8. BEHOLD this glorious Virgin ascending Flowing in delightes leaning vpon her beloued with all contemplate vpon our B. Sauiours tender affection towards his dearest Mother requiting as it were her loue who in his infancy was borne in her blessed armes and leaned vpon her now he assisting her in this glorious triumph beares her vp towards the place of her Eternal Happines 1. Thou mayst here consider the happy passage of this B. Virgin out of this life feare not by considering this death to fall back vnto sorrowfull mysteries since death is heere glorious how the Apostles dispersed through the whole world were miraculously brought togeather to be at this glorious departure of the mother of God Togeather with the Apostles were also there present S. Denis Dionys ad Timeth Damas de dormit Deip. S. Timothy Disciple vnto S. Paul and S. Hierotheus Ponder the excessiue ioy of these Saintes behoulding the troupes of Angels attending the instant of her happy soules departure ready to accompany it into heauen No griefe could heere enter since all things gaue arguments of ioy and those teares that fell from the Apostles when the B. Virgin made her last pathetical speach vnto them were teares of comfort and consolation 2. As S. Denis writeth the B. Virgin ending this mortall life and beginning an immortall Epâ—st ad T mâ—th S. Thomas was absent and comming to Hierusalem three dayes after her departure all which time S. Denis saith that himselfe with the rest heard most melodious harmony of Angels and vnderstanding she was buryed in Gethsemani requested he might behold her dead whome he was vnfortunate in not seeing to dye 3. And to satisfy the deuotioÌ„ of S. Thomas they opened the monument ib d. which breathed forth most sweet sauours Consider the antiquity of this holy tradition and finding the body taken away they al firmely beleeued it was also by the hands of Angels carryed into heauen and reunited to her glorious soule this priuiledge being but coÌ„formable to the rest with which she was indued in her life 4. As in this so in other verities reuereÌ„ce the authority of Traditions in the Catholike Church which hath deuoted it selfe euen from the Apostles time vnto this glorious mystery of the Assumption of the mother of God 5. Consider the true resignation of this holy company assembled at the blessed departure of the mother of God al of them bearing that respect vnto her liuing as they now doubted not to find her in heauen a most carefull
to see nothing els but causes and arguments of teares and bitter compassion 1. First sweet Iesus being in anguish of mind Luke 22. knowing that the hower of his betraying grew neere he went into the Garden of Gethsemani to pray teaching vs in all our affliction to make recourse vnto Almighty God by prayer that being the only way to attaine vnto the perfect peace of mind 2. And his sweat became droppes of bloud The Iewes had not his first bloud that was shed but Diuine loue that wounded him had the honour to draw the first bloud from him if thou spend thy bloud let it be for Gods cause and then thy wounds are honourable 3. Here our sweet Sauiour was in an agony the bloud retired to his blessed hart as to the last hold to haue assisted it but his infinite loue which commaunded ouer this hart sendeth backe all succour and refuseth ayd whence proceedeth this bloudy sweat Endeauour to aspire vnto this greatnes of spirit as to refuse all consolations much lesse to seeke after them when it shall please God to giue thee the priuiledge to suffer for him 4. Notwithstanding not my will but thine be done This infinite cloud of sorrow was not able to oppresse Christ Iesus or to remoue him from his resolution to dye for mankind for we may wel perceaue by the perfect resignation of his will to his heauenly Father that he desired nothing more then the performance of his will The only tranquility in this vvorld the cure of all our afflictions is the resigning of our selues vp into the handes of Almighty God 5. Matt. 17. He awaketh his disciples biddeth them pray least they enter into temptation S. Peter and the other two disciples Iames Iohn had seene part of his glory in mount Thabor and yet here they sleep No triall is like to that of affliction sleep not when Christ desireth to suffer in thee but be watchfull and attent to receaue Gods inspirations 6. The â—pirit is ready but the fle h is weake The true description of our B. Sauiour in his agony which was nothing but a conflict betweene the superiour and inferiour part of his soule which with this act of resignation were appeased Let not the superiour part of thy soule be led by the inferiour sense guiding reason but in all thine actions shew thy selfe a reasonable creature suppressing alâ— sensuall desires His whipping CHAP. VII CONSIDER how the B. Virgin missing her Iesus The secoÌ„d sorovvfull Mistery sought him with pensiue hart and at the last findeth him not in the TeÌ„ple disputing but in Pilates house bloudily whipped not arguing the case or alleadging his inocency but most meekly and patiently receauing the cruelest blowes those bloudy executioners could lay on who striued one with another who should exceed either in number or greatnes of stripes 2. Looke vpon this spectacle with his B. Mother and weeping with her aske with the deepest sorrow thou canst pardon of theÌ„ both as cause through thy sinnes of this their so extreme affliction 3. Behold their cruel manner of tying swet Iesus his hands to a piller which reached no higher theÌ„ his knees As appeareth by the piller yet extant in Rome to the end there might no part of him be defended from their blowes Blessed Iesus would let no part of him also be exeÌ„pted from suffering for thee Endeauour to suffer somewhat at least for him that suffered so much for thee 4. Amongest all the wounds these hard-harted Iewes gaue him As appeareth in the holy Syndon at Turin two especially procured him most paine ouer each hippe one for there the force of the whippes met and many wounds were there vnited 5. Behold the hands of him that is omnipotent tyed fast to a piller the innocent whipped the creature abusing the Creatour and man God the Holy of Holies reuiled and euery thing done by contraries to the end thou mightest proceed in order permitting thy Reason to comaund ouer thy Sense 6. In seeing al these insolences enormities committed against thy Sauiour looke still into the causes why he would suffer so much and thou shalt find thy selfe to be the cause who art not yet content with these his torments but doest endeauour daily to increase them as much as lyeth in thee by thy greiuous offences For one of thy vngratefull sinnes committed against his goodnes afflicteth him more then all these bloudy stripes and millions oâ— wounds His crowning with thornes CHAP. VIII GO forth with the daughterâ— of Hierusalem The third sorovvfull Mistery and behold thy King crowned not with a diademe of honour and power but with a sharp wreath of thornes in derision and contempt 1. First consider the malicious intent of the Iewes to appareâ— him like a ridiculous King applying this vnto sweet Iesus for saying he was their King they crowne him therfore with thorns place in his hand a reed for his scepter and apparell him with an old purple ragge 2. Behold the cruelty of the setting on of this crowne of mockery they presse it and beate it vpon those sacred browes to the end the sharpe pointed thornes should euery one pierce a veyne that no part of that diuine head should want torment and that no part of this cruell diademe should be left vnused those thorns which were few that lighted not vpon the sacred head of Iesus were sent by diuine loue as darts to penetrate thy stony hart 3. No doubt his Blessed face was all imbrued with the aboundance of bloud continually falling from his wounded head yet had it not hitherto suffered any thing only the traiterous kisse of his fallen disciple excepted and therfore he permitteth a wicked Iew to box and buffet the same in the beholding where of Angels place their happines The same was also spit vpon and made the most deformed place of all 4. Thus whipped crowned apparelled and in al respects infinitely infused he is brought forth to the Iewes to know whether yet they were satiffied in his punishment Behold the man And heere before thou depart spend some teares in beholding this Man that is shewed thee Thinke with thy selfe what an infinite loue must this Man beare thee that would be brought into this misery meerly for thee Behold the man this is he that left Heauen the seat at the right hand of his Father would be borne poorly circumcised seuerely in agony sweat bloudily whipped cruelly crowned scornfully and all to gaine thy loue This was he Behold the man if thou canst for weeping 5. Imagine thy selfe to heare those incredulous Iewes crying out vnto Pilate with open mouth Free not this man not this but Barabbas Do not only imagine thy selfe to heare see this as a looker on but thou mayest well thinke thou didst beare a part of this hellish musick As often as vvâ— follovv vnlavvfull pleasures vve preferre Barabbas before Iesus in so often times preferring soule sensuall delights
yea euen his death For hauing sayd It is consummated bowing downe his head he gaue vp the Ghost 2. Consider also with S. Chrysostome these words to haue bin sayd in regard of the power of those who had crucified him which was now consummated and ended Rom. 6. Mors ei vltra non dominabitur death shall no more insult ouer him He is freed from his laborious pilgrimage and brought againe vnto that glory which he most willingly left for our redemption The greatest sacrifice of all is now offered and consummated in which sacrifice the Priest was both God and man the Altar was the Crosse the Lambe the sacrifice the fire of this sacrifice was Charity and the fruite of it the Redemption of the world 3. Since we haue seene the exact fulfilling of the prophesies before Christ and that by this very word It is consummated all that was foretold was verified why are we so incredulous of those things which are to come and are foretold by Christ himselfe and his Prophets We haue heard of the generall punishment by water Gen. 7. and in the time of Nöe it was executed 2. Petr. We heare daily of the worlds consuming by fire at the later day and yet we liue as if we beleeued it not and with such greedines imbrace those things which if we liue to those times shal be taken out of our armes by consuming fire 4. As thou hast meditated before with holy S. Chrysostome that by this word It is consummated was vnderstood the consummation of that wearisome and dolorous pilgrimage of Christ So here consider that although it were most panifull yet it lasted but thirty three yeares a moment in regard of Eternity in which he shall possesse perpetuall ioyes The Iewes triumphed for an houre as it were ouer Iesus Iudas had an houre of content in his auarice Pilate enioyed for an houre the friendship of Augustus but how many yeares haue these already bin punished for that houres false contentment and yet their torments shal neuer end Let vs thinke them most happy who from their youth take vp the Crosse of Christ and seeke thus meritoriously to be afflicted as long they can in this life since the passions of this time so short transitory Rom. 8. are not condigne to the glory to come that shal be reuealed in vs. 5. By this word It is consummated is vnderstood the victory which Christ made ouer hell the infernall spirites when by his victorious death he tooke mankind out of the Diuels power arming vs with his grace against all assaults Since Christ our glorious Redeemer hath so vanquished our ennemy and as it were taken his sting from him why do we so often yeild our selues vnto one who is so weake hauing him on our side whose very name putteth him to flight Since so many by thy assistance of Christ Iesus our Captaine haue giuen this enemy so many ouerthrowes why should we feare why should we doubt but to be able to do the like hauing the like helpes 6. Conuince thine vnderstanding with this former argument Lib. 8. Confes c. 11. as S. Augustin did placing before himselfe many Saintes who had giuen this ouerthrow to the enemy and among the rest he set before him diuers tender Virgins and sayd vnto himselfe Why canst not thou do what these and these haue done These and these could not haue dōe these things without the help of their Lord and God Heere say vnto thine enemy It is consummated thou shalt haue no more power in me since all thy power proceedeth from my selfe no man receauing wounds but from his owne hands THE SEAVENTH VVORD Pater in manus tuas cōmendo spiritum meum Father into thy hands I commend my spirit CHAP. VII THAT our redeemer Iesus endured all these afflictiōs most voluntarily A meditation for Saturday not by constraint or violently forced is most euident since he needed not haue suffered vnles he would therefore if euer action were free this was it the which in no part was forced and the more free it was the more it bindeth vs to loue him to deale also more freely with him that dealt thus freely with vs. And that these sufferings proceeded out or a naturall propension he had to suffer for vs appeareth out of his manner of suffering for he endured most for vs in the end of his passion In finem dilexit nos Ioan. 13. he loued vs to the end there receauing more paines for vs then euer The condition of al naturall motion is to be greater in the end then in the beginning which proueth well to our purpose for the Euangelist here recordeth Luc. 23. that Iesus cryed out with a loud voice which before he was not wont to do Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and saying this he gaue vp the Ghost 1. Consider the literall sense of these words he saith Father and with great right because he was his obedient Sonne euen vnto death Into thy hands that is vnto thine vnderstanding knowing al things and vnto thy will able to do all thngs I do commend as it were giuing vnto thee as a depositum or pledge that it may be restored me when due time shall come My spirit that is my corporall life which I recommend vnto thee My Father that thou wilt shortly restore it to my body which now it leaueth 2. Consider why our Sauiour shewed this care of his body recommending vnto his heauenly Father his spirit that it might not long leaue the body destitute Our Sauiour was not sollicitous for his soule for he knew that was already most blessed and needed none to defend it he only had care of that which had need of care teaching vs to prouide and be sollicitous for that part of vs which requireth our care to wit our soule by often recōmending it into the hands of him who created it and without whose helping grace it would degenerate stray from that end vnto which it was created As for our bodies the least care is to be had since do we what we can they will fall into dust The end of pampering our bodies and the more we pamper them the greater banquets we make for wormes and perhaps fuell for hell-fire 3. Let vs contemplate vpon the wonderfull accidents which happened immediatly after these words were pronounced Matt. 27. And behold the Veyle of the Temple was rent in two peces from the toppe euen to the bottome by which was signified the opening of heauen vnto mankind the Veyle that tooke from vs the beholding of the Holy of Holies being rent in two and man made capable of the blessed vision of God It was rent from the toppe to the bottome to shew that this holy vision of God was granted to all from the highest to the lowest but as our Sauiour saith There are many māsions in the house of my Father Iohn 14. which signifieth the
the same the which although it worke vpon the best subiect that may be yet doth it require a chang If we were comfirmed in grace it is certaine the thoughts of heauen and of those high Beauties would be euer profitable vnto vs but being as we are lutea vasa vessels of earth which are easily broken we must walke betweene loue and feare Ioy and Sorrow S. Paul himselfe maketh this cleere 1. Cor. 12. Least saith he the greatnes of my reuelations might extoll me there was giuen me an angell of Sathan to buffet me 1. Consider therfore first the place where these vnfortunate soules lye despayring who vnmindful of the world to come and eternity Luke 16. receperunt bona in vita sua enioyed their pleasures in this world and in the middest of all their prosperity when they least thought of it Venit mors super illos Psal 54. et descenderunt in infernum viuentes death came vpon them and they descended quicke into hell Frame to thy selfe an exceeding vast place capable to receaue infinite millions of soules which is rightly tearmed A land of misery and darâ—knesse Ioh. 10. where the shadow of death is no order but euerlasting horrour inhabitetâ— where nothing is heard but weeping and gnashing of teeth Matt. 8. mingled with lamentable voyces of despayre and intollerable blasphemies against their iust Iudge who deseruedly condemned them for their demerites to that place of eternall punishment 2. Reflect vpon the torments inflicted vpon these Caytiffes and behold with what malice those infernall Spirits the instruments of Gods wrath impose those vnspeakable torments vpon men taking this as a part of reuenge against mankind for possessing their seates in heauen Behold those soules how diuersly they behaue themselues in these endles miseries some sighing others weeping some rauing and crying hideously by reason of their paines others blaspheming against God and cursing most bitterly the houre of their natiuity Behold others in all their paines out of very enuy and malice silent not being able to expresse the hatred they beare to God nor the miseries they endure Oh Christian soule who art yet liuing and in a state capable to shun these vnspeakeable pains of Hell how canst thou truly thinke of these thinges and yet commit sinne so freely by which thou art made subiect to all these torments 3. Amongst all these afflictions two exceed if they may not be tearmed all of them to exceed to wit the cogitatioÌ„ of what they haue lost and the worme of conscience which are the greatest torments they haue All Deuines conclude that the paine of the sense which these soules feele in the middest of these most cruel and neuer-dying flames is but dull in regard of the sharpnes of of the memory of what they haue lost those fallen Angels informing euery other soule for their increase of torment what they haue lost by loosing heauen Heere the vnderstanding of those ioyes procureth intollerable griefe for ioy in it selfe delighteth none but those who either possesse it or at the least are in hope to possesse it but these soules neither possesse it nor yet are in hope euer to do but are banished from the most blessed sight of God for all eternity being at the end of an hundred thousand thousands of yeares as farre of from the end of this endlesse punishment as now 4. Consider the griefe which proceedeth froÌ„ the guilt of Conscience which like a gnawing worme lyeth continually tormenting the hart of a damned creature Heere is a continuall warre and discussion of matters passed in this life of Graces recâ—aued from the mercifull hand of God Almighty of reiecting the same of the opportunity offered of leauing that sinfull course and imbracing a vertuous life of so many purposes made of amendement and the deferring therof Oh how will this worme of Conscience teare the hart of a sinner when he shall see himselfe condemned out of his owne mouth and were it possible for him to dye this thought would end him but these greifes are endles hauing a subiect to worke vpon that neuer endeth heere harts may wither but neuer dye bodyes burne but neuer consume 5. If thou hast seene in the Considerations of Heauen what a soule would vndergoe to be made partaker of those ioyes hauing once knowne them before imagine heere on the contrary what one of these vnfortunate soules would endure to be freed from this damnation if it might returne to this life againe what wonderfull alteration should we see in that soule former pleasures turned into teares of penance the former losse of time into an exact obseruation of howers and a most perfect imployment therof all banquetings would be turned into fastings rich apparell into hayrecloth what a strait guard would be placed ouer al the seÌ„ses not so much as the least thought of rebellion in theÌ„ escaping without some seuere punishmeÌ„t Thus would this soule do if it were to liue againe but this cannot be heard the irreuocable sentence is passed and the most iust Iudge will not recall it but for euer and euer world without end this soule is to be tormented and all such wishes aâ—e most vaine and serue for nothing but for greater torment since they can neuer be obtayned 6. Lastly returne vnto thy selfe O Christian soule and thinking seriously vpon these things as those which most of al import thee ameÌ„d thy life which led in the offence of God conducteth thee directly vnto these endles tormeÌ„ts If thou wouldest examine thine actions by eternity it would make thee no doubt a blessed Saint in heauen and free thee from the torments of hell Thinke with thy selfe which thought may be made in a moment when thou vndertakest any action doth this action this thought or this word I am ready to vtter deserue the loue or hatred of Almighty God if it deserue loue reioyce with thy selfe and go forward in it if hatred leaue it fly from it as from a serpent that would enthrall thee and bring thee to this eternity of torment O eternity eternity that men would oftener thinke vpon thee ANOTHER BRIEFE WAY HOW TO SAY THE BEADES Wherein is contained the whole life of our B. Lady Taken out of holy Scripture and the Doctours of the Church applying to euery Pater Noster one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost and to euery Aue Maria one of these ensuing considerations or briefe eleuations of the mind I. PATER NOSTER The gift of Wisdome 1. AVE Maria. In the beginning of the world she is promised to mankind A wâ—mâ—n shall bruise thy h ad 2. She is prefigured in many holy women as in Iudith Hester and others 3. She is foretould to her pareÌ„ts by the Angell Conceaued without Originall sinne 4. She is borne full of grace aboue all creatures 5. Her Natiuity reioyceth the whole world 6. After three yeares she is presented in the Temple 7. She goeth vp the â—5 stepps of the Temple