c. The Souls Palsey is an Enervation of Spirit and utter decay of its strength by sluggishness sloth and pusillanimity Think how far you are gone in this Disease how weak you are in bearing Adversity how faint-hearted in undertaking any thing of difficulty for God how inconstant in keeping your good Purposes Lastly how slack and remiss and even languishing you are in all matters of Devotion You may with truth say with the Prophet My strength is withered as a potsheard and my tongue cleaved to my jaws Jer. 16.19 Is 12.2 Consider 2. God is properly the fortitude and strength of our Soul according to that O Lord my force and my strength And Our Lord is my strength and my praise But he doth work this effect chiefly in the Eucharist affording to the Soul abundant forces to get out of this dead Palsey to overcome all fears and difficulties and to undertake and go through with what Enterprise soever for Gods sake Hence it is called The Bread of the Strong Ones the Meat of Great Ones the Bread that confirmeth or strengtheneth the Heart of Man a Type or Figure whereof was that Loaf of Bread that was brought to Elias 3 Reg. 19.8 in whose strength he walked 40 daies and 40 nights unto the Mount of God Wish therefore with a longing desire for that happy hour wherein you are to receive this Divine Food Consider 3. That you may be rightly disposed to obtain the Cure of your Palsey you must imitate the Faith of this sick man Go therefore with great confidence and put your self into the Arms of the Holy Saints your Patrons but especially of the B. Virgin that they may conduct and present you to our Lord Say with the Psalmist In thee O Lord Ps 30.2 Ps 17.35 Ibid. v. 30. Ps 30.4 have I hoped c. Thou hast put mine arms as a Bow of Brass And in my God I shall go over the wall c. Because thou art my strength and my refuge Of him that was born Blind Jo. 9.1 c. Part 1. Ps 24.18 COnsider 1. Jesus passing by saw a blind man from his Nativity He beheld him with the Eyes of Mercy and presently thought of remedy Beseech him to look also upon you with the like affection See my humiliation and my labour and forgive all my sins We are all blind from our Mothers Womb born in sin and involved in the darkness of Ignorance through the fault of our first Parent but they are blind after a special manner from their Nativity who vainly boast of their Noble Birth and Parentage not seeing that Virtue alone as one saith is the only true Nobility Juven Sat. Think whether these things have place in you Consider 2. The Diâ—ciples having asked Who hath sinned this Man or his Parents that he should be born blind Christ answered Neither this Man hath sinned nor his Parents but that the Works of God may be manifested in him Whence you may understand that Sicknesses and Calamities are not always caused by Sin but are often sent us by God for his greater Glory and exercise of our Virtue as it proved in Holy Job Toby and others I must work the works of him that sent me Christ saith while it is day that is while the day of this mortal life lasteth Much more it behoveth you to do the like works while your day is before you go unto the dark Land Job 10.21 that is covered with the Mist of Death Gen. 3.19 Consider 3. Christ spit on the ground and made Clay of the Spittle and spread the Clay upon his Eyes He applyed a contrary Remedy to shew his Power If you desire to be delivered from the Spiritual Blindness of your Soul lay the Clay or Dirt of your first Creation upon the Eyes of your Heart Remember Man that dust thou art and into dust thou shalt return Of him that was born Blind Jo. 9.11 c. Part 2. COnsider 1. The Gratitude of this man in publishing to all the benefit which he received That Man which is called Jesus made clay c. 2. His Constancy in professing Christ as a Prophet even before the Pharisees with danger of Life and Fortunes 3. His Patience in bearing Contumelies as that of the Pharisees Thou wast wholly born in sins Ibid. v. 34. and doest thou teach us Such are the affections of a Soul illuminated by God Think how you may imitate 2 Tim. 3.12 Consider 2. He was presently cast forth of the Synagogue by the Pharisees for speaking so well of Christ that you might learn to suffer willingly for a good cause For all that will live godly in Christ Jesus saith the Apostle shall suffer Persecution Christ neglected not him that was made an Out-cast for his sake but rewarded him with the gift of perfect faith seeking after him and freely manifesting his Divinity unto him which he presently falling down Jo. sup v. 38. adored Often stir up in your self the like Acts of Faith and falling prostrate adore your Lord. Prov. 3.7 Consider 3. The words of Christ reproving the Pharisees pride who notwithstanding were wise and quick-sighted in their own opinion For judgment came I into this world that they that see not may see and they that see may become blind that is that Idiots and simple people may come to know the truth but the wise and proud men of the world be strucken blind at the greatness of his Splendour Therefore be not wise in thine own conceit least thou become blind and like a blind man run headlong into perdition Of the Blind Man of Hiericho Luc. 18.35 c. Ps 1 18.32 COnsider 1. It came to pass when he drew nigh to Hiericho a certain blind man sat by the way begging This is a lively figure of a sinner blind of both eyes to wit of Knowledge and Love For 1. He sitteth in darkness and taketh rest and satisfaction in his sordid condition being habituated in sin 2. By and not in the way wherein the Virtuous do chearfully run according to that I ran the way of thy Commandments 3. He sitteth begging some petty comfort and content from creatures Think what an unhappy state this is of these blind men who see not though you set before their eyes the Joys of Heaven or Torments of Hell but as S. Augustine saith August Soliloq c. 35. they walk through darkcess into darkness Consider 2. The fervour of this blind man when he heard that it was Christ that passed by 1. He cryeth out with a strong Faith professing his Power and imploring his Mercy Jesus Son of David have mercy upon me 2. He persisteth constant though others endeavour to hinder him 3. He encreaseth his fervour by their opposition But he cryed much more c. Learn Constancy in the service of God and mind not them that would draw you off Learn to persever in prayer with fervour and if idle and
and so thou shalt depart 3 Reg. 19.8 Consider 2. This strengthening bread is properly the Holy Eucharist which is therefore given us under the form of Bread and that of Wheat which is most comfortable of all other thereby to enable us to go on with alacrity to overcome the toil and labour of the journey and to resist our spiritual enemies that strive to hinder our passage A lively figure of this was that bread which the Angel gave to Elias in the strength whereof he walked fourty daies and fourty nights unto the Mount of God Horeb. Consider 3. This bread although of it self most comfortable and strengthening produceth not its effects but in a well ordered and clean stomack for if it be foul it overchargeth and weakneth it the more 1 Cor. 11.30 Therefore are there among you many weak and feeble saith the Apostle because they received Christs Body unworthily Wherefore duly prepare your soul and cleanse it of all disordinate affections and then this heavenly bread will enable you so as to run chearfully in the way of Gods Commandments according to that Ps 118.32 I ran the way of thy Commandments when thou didst dilate my heart Of three that offered themselves to follow Christ Mat. 8. Luc. 9. Part 1. Mat. 8.19 COnsider 1. While Christ was walking by the Sea of Tiberias with multitudes about him A certain Scribe came to him and said I will follow thee whither soever that thou shalt go This was a liberal Oblation of himself but not accepted of For the holy Fathers are of opinion S. Hieron S. Aug. apud Barrad to 2. that this man followed Christ only for gain as thinking by his Miracles and concourse of people that he gathered store of money Or perhaps also he would follow him out of vain ostentation and that he might come to work Miracles O how many are there in the world that say they follow Christ but in truth seek their own ends Mat. 5.3 Consider 2. Christs answer The Foxes have holes and the Fowls of the ayr Nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head As â—f he would say Why should you desire to follow me for worldly wealth who have no lodging of my own being less provided then the very beasts and fowls themselves O wonderful poverty of this Sovereign King But this Poverty is so rich and of that value as to be able to purchase the Kingdom of Heaven according to that Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Ps 87.16 Mat. 11.29 Abdias 4. Consider 3. The Disciples of Christ ought not to be either Foxes having their holes that is Coffers to hoard up treasures in or Birds building their Nests aloft and seeking high and eminent imployments and dignities for that he himself is poor and in labours from his youth Meek and humble of heart Ponder those words If thou shalt be exalted as an Eagle and if thou shalt set thy Nest among the Stars thence will I pluck thee down saith our Lord. Of three that offered themselves to follow Christ Mat. 8. Luc. 9. Part 2. Luc. 9.59 COnsider 1. Christ said to another follow me And he said Lord permit me first to go and to bury my Father This was a great mercy of Christ inviting him to be his Disciple and yet not accepted of but upon condition for he would first bury his Father who lay a dying or as others expound would have taken care of him till he died and after that betake himself to the service of God So many would serve God but after their own fashion that is after they have served their own pleasures and had their swing in the world Luc. 14.26 Consider 2. Our Lords answer Let the dead bury the dead but go thou set forth the Kingdom of God He teacheth us to prefer God before our Parents or Kindred He forbids not the performance of our duty but would have natural affection give way to the Divine Service for he will have his Disciples to cast off all carnal affection wherefore in another place he saith If any man come to me and hateth not his Father and Mother c. he cannot be my Disciple 1 Tim. 5.6 Consider 3. Christ termeth them dead that live to the world in sin For there are two sorts of death one of the body the other of the soul the body dieth when the Soul departeth the Soul dieth when it is separated from God by sin Christ therefore saith let them that are dead to God bury and take care of them that are dead to the world But let your care rather be to preserve the life of your Soul lest some time or other you come to die by sin and be cast off from the Face of God more loathsome to him then any dead carkass She that is in deliciousness saith the Apostle living is dead Of three that offered themselves to follow Christ Mat. 8. Luc. 9. Part 3. Luc. 9.61 COnsider 1. A third came to Christ and offered himself to follow him but asked leave that he might first return home to dispose of his things and take leave of his Father and Friends I will follow thee Lord but permit me first to take my leave of them that are at home A reasonable request in appearance but not received for that all dangerous delays in the service of God ought to be carefully avoided Eccli 5.8 Slack not to be converted to our Lord and defer not from day to day Consider 2. Christs answer No man putting his hand to the Plough and looking back is apt for the Kingdom of God As much as to say the Ploughman that hath his hand upon the Plough and looketh the contrary way is not fit to plough so he that intends to be my Disciple and turneth back to regard worldly affairs is not fit to preach the Gospel The Ploughman must see what is before him so must the Disciple of Christ according to the Apostle Phil. 3.13 Who forgetting the things that are behind stretched forth himself to those that are before Eccli 27.12 Consider 3. We are admonished here of constancy and perseverance in what we undertake for God A fool is changed as the Moon but a holy man continueth in wisdom as the Sun never going back but still making progress Examine your self how constant you are in your good purposes whether you keep the first fervour of your Conversion or as much as you remember your self to have had at other times c. Be stedfast in the way of our Lord Eccli 5.12 and if you find your self to have grown cold do penance Apoc. 2.5 and do the first works Of the Vocation of the Rich young man Mat. 19. Mar. 10. Luc. 18. Part 1. Luc. 18.18 Mar. 10.17 COnsider 1. As our Lord passed through Jewry A certain Prince running forth and kneeling before him asked him
manner by afflictions and tribulations as so many Scourges to make them come to his Supper Admire the riches of the Divine Goodness and beg of him with the Church that he would also propitiously force your rebellious will towards himself Mat. 22.11 Consider 2. And the King went in to see the Guests and he saw there a man not attired in a wedding Garment This Wedding Garment is Charity and the Grace of God wherewith whosoever is not invested must not presume to sit at the Table of the H. Sacraments Consider how God offereth this Garment of Charity to every one Who will all men to be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 and to come to the knowledge of the truth And yet men out of wretchedness often refuse it But do you earnestly beg it of God and presume not to come without it especially to the Eucharist Consider 3. The Kings Indignation against him that had not on his Wedding Garment Mat. sup 13 Bind his hands and feet and cast him into the utter darkness c. The punishment of a sinner is manifold the first of perpetual imprisonment in Hell the second of horrid darkness as being deprived of the fight of God the third of obstinacy in malice whence his hands are tyed so that he cannot work any more and his feet shackled that he cannot make escape Beseech our Lord to deliver you from all these evils c. Of the ten Virgins Mat. 25.1 c. Part 1. COnsider 1. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to ten Virgins c. In the Militant Church there are both good and bad wise and foolish both expect the coming of Christ the Spouse to Celebrate his Nuptials with the Triumphant Church They are like to the foolish Virgins that have Lamps without Oyl who keep their Faith but without Charity which gives it life And what can be more foolish then to expect a Judge that seeth all things and not to prepare himself against his coming See whether you are not guilty of this folly Consider 2. The Bridegroom tarrying long they slumbered all and slept By this is signified the time of our life wherein even the good do often slumber through carelesness and negligence though not mortal The wicked are in a dead sleep by an absolute forgetfulness of God Take heed even of slumbering least thence you come to fall fast asleep or rather into a Lethargy Hearken to the Apostle rousing you up in those words Rise thou that sleepest Ephes 5.14 c. and Christ will illuminate thee 1 Thes 5.2 Consider 3. And at midnight there was a clamour made Behold the Bridegroom cometh c. Your Judge will come upon you on the sudden and when you least expect that you may learn to be always ready The day of our Lord shall so come saith the Apostle as a Thief in the night If your Temporal Life were in danger and you stood in fear of Thieves you would certainly keep your self awake And can you find in your heart to sleep being in hazard of Eternal Life Wherefore often ring that Peal in your ears Behold the Bridegroom cometh least otherwise he find you at unawares Watch ye therefore saith Christ because you know not the day nor the hour Of the ten Virgins Mat. 25.7 c. Part 2. Ps 58.7 COnsider 1. Then arose all those Virgins and they trimmed their Lamps c. At the news of death every one commonly bestirreth himself but they that have led ill lives find not the Oyl of Charity in their Vessels neither will there often be time then to go to the Priests and to buy it with works of Penance They will return at evening saith David and they shall suffer famine as dogs for then they shall be denied that Spiritual Food which they neglected in their life time Gal. 6.10 Therefore whiles we have time let us work good Is 35.10 Consider 2. They that were ready entred with him to the Marriage Ponder of what importance it is to be ready at that hour whereon dependeth Eternity They entred but with what joy and congratulating with one another Everlasting Joy shall be upon their head they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and mourning shall fly away Their Lamp there shall shine a hundred fold from the Rays of brightness that proceeds from the Bridegrooms Countenance and shall send forth flames of most sincere Charity without danger of being ever extinguished Who would not wish to enter in their company Mat. 7.21 Consider 3. Last of all come also the other Virgins saying Lord Lord open to us They knocked with bare words not with deeds therefore they were not let in For Not every one that saith to me Lord Lord c. but he that doth the will of my Father c. he shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Knock therefore with good works and that while you have time that you may be let in Terrible are those words I know you not Take heed therefore they may never come to be spoken to you Of Holy Communion Direct me in thy truth and teach me Ps 24.5 Consider Christ as the Teacher of Truth Mat. 22.16 COnsider 1. What is said to day in the Gospel Master we know that thou art a true speaker and teachest the way of God in truth c. We all live in great darkness in this life and we want a sure Leader that may teach us the way of God in truth for the wise men of the world do all erre Thy Prophets have seen false and foolish things to thee And the children of men are lyars in balances Thren 2.14 or in their judgments they deceive and are deceived themselves nor can any man safely rely upon them Christ alone of himself is infallibly true and therefore he saith I am the Way Jo. 14.6 Rom. 3.4 and the Verity and the Life And the Apostle God is true and every man a lyar 1 Reg. 9.6 Consider 2. What was said to Saul when he was out of his way Behold a Man of God is in this City a famous man all that he speaketh cometh to pass without doubt now therefore let us go thither if perhaps he may tell us of our way for which we are come Apply this to the Eucharist where the Man of God truly is yea God himself is truly the Man who will tell you of your way for which you came into the world Come therefore with a great confidence for whatsoever he speaketh doth certainly come to pass Ibid. Consider 3. For a due preparation you must bring with you as Saul did some gift to present this Man of God withall Loe we will go what shall we carry to the Man of God And being poor he gave what he had to wit the fourth part of a sickle of silver And you although you be poor yet you have a Soul stamped like a piece of Coyn with the Image of God
mercy upon thee Apply these words to your self and take heed of what follows And his Lord being angry delivered him to the Tormentors until he had repaid all the debt Ponder well the final clause So also shall my Father do to you if you forgive not every one his Brother from your hearts Sins once forgiven return not but the succeeding Ingratitude is made the greater and worthy of double punishment by the greatness of the former benefit This forgiveness must not be verbal only but from the heart and without keeping any grudge 22. Sunday after Pentecost Of paying Tribute to Cesar Mat. 22.15 page 443. Consider 1. Master we know that thou art a true speaker and teachest the way of God in truth neither carest thou for any man for thou dost not respect the persons of men Here is delivered a perfect description of an upright man Think how you are in every particular whether you be a true speaker 1. As to your self by a right judgment and estimate of things 2. In relation to others by conformance of your words to Truth and Conscience whether you hold the way of God or not rather the Maximes and Principles of the World whether you care for man so as to fear or love him more then you do God and whether you respect the person of men so as to do or omit any thing for humane respects against your Conscience Ps 4.7 Consider 2. Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar A pertinent Question but proposed with a wicked intention to intrap him in his speeches But there is no Councel nor Wisdom against our Lord who takes them in their own Traps proposing to them a question about the Tribute Coyn saying whose is this Image and Superscription Look upon your self and ask this question Whose is this Image You cannot say it is Cesars or the Worlds it is Gods The light of thy Countenance O Lord is signed upon us But alas how deformed is it become you have made it the Image of the Terrene Man endeavour to reform your self till Christ be formed again in you Gal. 4.19 1 Cor. 15.49 and as you have born the Image of the Earthly so hereafter bear the Image of the Heavenly Rom. 7.13 Consider 3. Render therefore the things that are Cesars to Cesar and the things that are Gods to God God will have us give every one his due To whom tribute tribute to whom oustom custom to whom fear fear to whom honour honour Owe no man any thing but that you love one another Render your self therefore Body and Soul with all your Powers Senses and Faculties to God whose you are by Creation Redemption c. Render likewise what you owe to your Neighbour to wit Love and Charity who is made to the same Image Created by the same hand and redeemed with the same precious Blood with your self 23. Sunday after Pentecost Of the Princes Daughter and the Hemorroisse Mat. 9.18 page 451. see page 420 421 422. 24. Sunday after Pentecost or the last before Advent Of the Destruction of Jerusalem and of the Latter Judgment Mat. 24.15 Consider 1. When you shall see the Abomination of Desolation c. then they that are in Jewry let them fly to the Mountains c. In the first part of this Gospel Christ treateth of Jerusalems Destruction and Desolation in the second of the latter Judgment Death is the time of mans greatest Desolation and the next passage to his particular Judgment on which depends the General Christ therefore warns us to provide for it in time for when it is once come it will then be too late and we shall be so surprized that we shall not have leisure to dispose of our selves or our goods as we would He that is in the house top let him not come down to take any thing out of his house and he that is in the field let him not go back to take his coat Consider 2. Woe to them that are with-child and that give suck in those daies That last day is always at hand and perhaps this may be it Woe be to you if you labour till now in bare desires and have as yet brought forth no good works to light Pray that your flight be not in the winter Stir your self up to Fervour and have a care Death comes not upon you while you are cold and frozen in Gods service Nor on the Sabboth while you are in your jollines You must be disposed for every hour for no hour is secure from danger Consider 3. There shall be then great tribulation such as hath not been from the beginning of the world Such will Death truly be to tepid and improvident Christians that have put off till then what they should have done before the Body will then be tormented all over with a dreadful Agony but much more the Conscience for then it will have a clearer knowledge of Good and Evil and will find the burden of Sin more heavy and unsupportable then ever before If you be wise seek to avoid this Tribulation do now what you would have done then avoid now what you would wish then to have avoided Faults Escaped in Printing IN the Preface page 14. Margent Psa 118.17 read 71. page 34. line 30. of God read of God page 34. Marg. for the first Citation read Luc. 21.11 p. 35. l. 17. Judge r. Judge p. 44 45. all the Citations lower three lines then ought p. 65. l. 14. Title af r. of p. 66. l. 1. Prophet r. Prophet p. 73. Foxes have holes c. r. in the Marg. Mat. 11.4 p. 80. l. 24. robes r. robes p. 169. Marg. The third Station leave out Page 477. line 29. Virging r. Virgins What other Faults have been over-seen the Courteous Reader may be pleas'd to Correct and excuse