when sunk down to the bottom so it is with sin the cure is desperate when the disease is deeply rooted 3. The frequent use of the Holy EVCHARIST is no less necessary to all faithfull and devout Christians where they are visited by God himself honoured with his Reall Presence fed with his sacred flesh made the Temple of the Holy Ghost the Cabinet of the Word Incarnat the Tabernacle of the Immense Trinity the Throne the Heaven the Palace the Paradise of the whol divinity O what priviledges what profits what prerogatives to have their sins pardoned temptations quelled passions conquered enemies repulsed new strength granted all sorts of graces communicated To have the spirit cleared the memory awaked the will inflamed the understanding illuminated the heart confirmed the appetite regulated the reason instructed the sensuality repressed the whol man divinized To receive the antipasts of Paradise the pledges of eternall bliss and beatitude who would not endeavour to be frequently partaker of such heights such honours such happinesses 4. Another important practice of devout Christians is to hear Mass as often as they may for it is a Sacrifice whereby the merits of our Redeemers Passion are applyed to us A Sacrifice in which and by which thanks are rendred to the Divin Majesty for all the benefits received from his bounty A Sacrifice of infinit worth and efficacie inflowing multitudes of graces favours and blessings upon the devout assistants which this time and place permit me not to particularize 5. Furthermore to hear Gods Word preached and announced if that happiness may be obtained is also a point of great piety profit and merit nor is there indeed any more express sign of a Christians belonging to Christs flock and fold than the frequent and affectionate hearing of his divin Word according to his own saying He that is of God hears his Word and my sheep hear my voyce Surely they who lend a willing ear to their prime Pastours voyce preached to them by his Missioners and Officers testifie thereby that they are his loving and obedient Sheep the imitators of his Blessed Mother who kept all his words carefully in her heart and children designed for his heavenly inheritance 6. The last piece of devotion which I shall now mention belonging to pious Christians and especially to the religious children of Jesus and Mary is to addict themselves to the reading of the spirituall Conflict and Conquest and other good holy and spirituall books for these are the dumb masters which teach us the lessons of true wisdom and heavenly Philosophy These are the fire-steels of Gods love and fear the matches of devotion the interpreters of sacred mysteries the pilots of our pilgrimage the Registers of Gods wondrous works the Court-Rolls where we may turn to the authentique effects of his severe justice and of his sweet mercy Behold these are the true badges of perfect brethren sisters these are the undeniable seals of devout Confraternities these are the essentiall properties of our Queen-Mothers children and servants Study them seriously O devout Rosarists and endeavour punctually to observe and keep them First admiring praysing thanking the divin Majesty for providing you so powerfull so worthy so perfect a Mother Patroness and Advocate Secondly striving to make your selves worthy children of so great and glorious a Mother worthy members of so pious and profitable a Confraternity Thirdly Remember the promises made at your first admission and honour her accordingly love her admire her and propagate her prayses to the whol World Fourthly above all aym at the imitation of her Life and Vertues which is the most perfect and to her most pleasing way of homage and service Fifthly frequent the Sacraments of Confession and Communion hear Mass dayly and devoutly be present at holy exhortations and give your self to spirituall lecture Sixtly let no day pass without a speciall recommendation of your self your fellow-brethren and sisters of the ROSARY and the Vniversall Church not forgetting our distressed Nation her ancient Dowry to your Mother of Powers care and protection Finally make your most humble and hearty addresses unto your Mother of Power in all your pressing necessities and doubt not but you shall receive singular benefits and blessings by your being of this sacred Confraternity during the course of your life and singular comfort and confidence at the hour of your death that is you shall live well and dye well which is the happiness we all aim at and which is my hearty and daily prayer for my self and for you all my devout brethren and sisters of this most sacred and most renowned Arch-Confraternity of the ROSARY THE FIRST BOOK OF THE SACRED ROSARY Which is the Doctrinall part thereof Containing briefly these Particulars 1. THat every faithfull Christian ought to have a particular devotion towards Gods holy Mother the sacred Virgin Mary 2. That the Practice of the sacred Rosary is a devotion very pleasing to the Divin Majesty profitable to our selves and gratefull to the blessed Virgin 3. That this sort of devotion is proper for such Catholiques as live in hereticall Countries 4. What the Rosary is 5. The Rosary is twofold the great and little Rosary 6. Why this manner of prayer is call'd the Rosary 7. That the Rosary comprehends the two sorts of prayer vocall and mentall 8. Three advices concerning this manner of praying and meditating 9. A difficultie concerning this conjunction of vocall and mentall prayer proposed and cleared 10. Of the advantage which this Confraternity of the Rosary hath above all others in point of Communication of merits 11. Of Indulgences in generall 12. Three necessary advertisements for the gaining of Indulgences 13. Of the Indulgences conferr'd upon the Confraterâ—ity of the Rosary 14. The generall rules and Statutes of the Confraternity of the Rosary 15. The form of receiving brothers and sisters into this sâ—ered Confraternity with the blessing of their Bedes Roses and Candles And a form of the generall absolution to be imparted to them at the hour of death 16. Of the pious use of Processions 17. An Elevation for the Procession of the Rosary with the Litanies of our Blessed Lady of the Rosary and the Litanies of our Blessed Lady of Loretto for a happy death 18. Severall other prayers to be recited after the Litanies as occasion shall require §. 1. That every faithfull Christian ought to have a particular devotion towards Gods holy Mother the sacred Virgin Mary THIS is a Subject so generally handled a Doctrin so universally received a verity so largely proved by all the learned holy and pious Writers of the Catholique Church that the onely reading of the Title seem a sufficient motive to mind all faithfull Christians of this duty and devotion without seeking for further Arguments to convince an undeniable Tenet which is supported by such almost infinit multitudes of solid arguments that the bare recitall thereof would swell this discourse which aimes at a compendious brevity into many
the Blessed Virgin 548 5. The Practises and Exercises of this Devotion of the Bondage being seven in number 550 Elevations to God and Adorations to the thrice Holy Trinity In honour of the Share he was pleased to give unto the sacred Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation Effecting it in her and by her And to honour the most holy Virgin in that her high dignity of being Gods Mother and to offer our selv's to her in the state of Dependency and servitude which is due to her upon this title and to correspond by our Interiour Devotion to the speciall Power which she hath over us by consequence of this divin and admirable Maternity 560 1. Adoration of the Sacred Trinity 560 2. Greatness of the Mystery of the Incarnation 561 3. Which is so eminent a work 561 4. And the chief work ad extra of the Divinity 562 5. And it is divided between the Sacred Trinity and the Virgin 563 6. The Person of the Virgin next the Divin Persons is most worthy and greater than all human and angelicall Persons together 565 7. The Virgin constitutes an Order Empire and Vnivers apart 566 8. She is a singular work of Gods Power the Holyest that ever shall be created The Divin Paternity is the Samplar of this Divin Maternity The Eternall Father and the Son are tyed by the Person of the Holy Ghost and the Eternall Father and the Virgin are tyed by the Person of the Son 568 9. The Eternall Word who is in Society with the Father and Holy Ghost before all time doth in time enter league and Society with the Virgin 573 10. Oblation and Donation to the Son and the Mother in quality of Bondslaves 574 11. Enlargement and Explication of this Donation with the particulars thereof 575 12. This Oblation tends to the honour of the Virgins Elevation and Depressions in the Mystery of the Incarnation 577 13. In the Virgin all is great and particularly Her Maternity Her Soveraignty Her Sanctity 579 14. It is a small matter that we make our selv's the Virgins Bondslaves and therefore we desire her to employ her Power to make us truly so 583 A concluding Prayer to the sacred Virgin Mother upon the same subject 585 The third Appendix JOSEPH or Devotions to Saint Joseph the Glorious Husband of the Virgin MARY and reputed Father of CHRIST JESUS with Elevations unto him 588 Twelve Excellencies Priviledges and Prerogatives of S. JOSEPH related out of Josephus a Jesu Maria and Joannes a Carthagena who largely prove the same and many more by force of reasons and authority of the Fathers 589 A short Rosary in the honour of S. Joseph containing the principall Mysteries of his life distinguish'd into Five Tens or Decades whereof the first is of his Election 596 The second of his Place Office and dignity 599 The third of his Flight into Egypt 60â— The fourth of his return form Egypt and of his Death 60â— The fifth of his Glory 605 Elevations to S. Joseph to 〈◊〉 God in him and him in God in his â—…nity of being the reputed Faâ—… 〈…〉 Word Incarnate and the Bridegroom of the Blessed Virgin Mary 608 Elevations to the sacred Trinity upon Earth JESUS MARIA JOSEPH In honour and homage to the Glorious Trinity in Heaven The Father Son and Holy Ghost 612 The Fourth Appendix Stations or a Catalogue of the Plenary Indulgences of the Stations of Rome 620 First of the Stations in Advent Lent and other Moveable Feasts 621 Secondly of the Stations fix'd to the days of the year 625 with the Practicall manner of performing the said Stations 632 FINIS The Principall Errors of the Press are thus easily corrected with a Pen. PAge 3. line 13. his read this p. 25. l. 7. exculded r. excluded p. 35. l. 29. favourite r. favourits p. 37. l. 1. dow r. down p. 52. l. 30. must r. most p. 54. l. 14. Patoness r. Patroness p. 96. l. 7.27 r. 17. p. 96. l. 8. 1559. r. 1569. p. 96. l. 24. 1559. r. 1569. p. 101. l. 16. out to r. out of p. 118. l. 6. iminenâ— r. imminent p. 125. l. 28. gloriosi r. gloriosè p. 132. l. 2. remisnem r. remissionem p. 195. l. 4. aad r. and. pâ— 197. l. 14. and umiracle r. and miracle p. 211. l. 14. unknow r. unknown p. 237. l. 1. amd r. and. p. 255. l. 9. to will r. to his will p. 264. l. 2. Dialated r. Dilated p. 288. l. 30. wherewith r. where with p. 369. l. 24. shed r. shee l p. 372. l. 19. Caiaphas r. Caiphas p. 379. l. 23. shed r. shee l p. 390. l. 26. oodness r. goodness p. 437. l. 12. of of r. of p. 460. l. 30. evelasting r. everlasting p. 516. l. 13. an ds r. and as p. 598. l. 1. of Incarnation r. of the Incarnation p. 623. l. 30. soul of r. soul out of
professes himself unfortunate for presuming to adventure upon so impossible an employment as is the explication of your perfections the deep sense whereof so seized all the faculties of his Soul with fear and astonishment that his heart became as it were dry'd up in its dreadfull apprehension S. Bernard Serm. 4. de Assump though he was brought up if we may say it in your blessed bosom and suckled at your sacred breasts yet ingenuously protests that nothing more amazes terrifies and troubles him than to treat of your greatnesses and glories because they are unspeakable unexplicable incomprehensible Wherefore with these holy Saints we may well confess our incapacities to celebrate your prayses O great and glorious Mother of God! and so casting our selv's on the ground before the Throne of your Greatnesses we admiringly with faithfull Moyses gaze upon the bush afar off burning in the flames of the Divinity without being diminish'd and reduc'd into ashes we extasiedly reverence in the very bottom of our hearts and Souls and with a chast and awfull silence Gods Royall Sanctuary replenish'd with all sorts of celestiall prodigies We proclaym aloud with S. Gregory Neocesariensis Serm. 2. de Annunc that the sense of this only word Gods Mother exceeds all other Encomiums which Men and Angells can confer upon you We willingly profess with S. Bernardinus Tom. 3. Serm. 1. de Nom. Virg. that since our ignorance permits us not to speak properly we must forcedly have recourse to proportions And as when we discourse of the Divinity whose simple nature cannot be conceav'd by our shallow imaginations we invest him with all the perfections which can be collected from his various creatures adding that he yet infinitly excells whatsoever we have said of him So when we speak of you most sacred Mother of God! and have rallied together all the dispersed rarities ornaments and excellencies wherewith this spacious and specious world can furnish our tongues Pens and fancies we justly conclude that you not only possess them all but incomparably out-passe them We further assert being supported by S. John Damascens orat 1. de Nativit B. M. and S. Ildephonsu's lib. de Virgin parturitione B. V. authority that who so desires to shadow forth that sublime degree of honour and dignity to which you O Glorious Virgin are elevated by becoming Gods Mother in his temporall generation within your bowells can propose to himself no less or lower Idea than the divin words eternall generation in his Fathers bosome For as Gods Son is eternally emanated from the Fathers fruitfull understanding receaving an entire communication of himself without any alteration or division of his substance so he is temporally born of you his blessed Mother without the least blemish corruption or violation of your Virginall integrity Finally if we may be permitted to soar yet higher upon the wings of our contemplation presuming on the Angelilicall Doctors assistance 1. p. q. 25. ar 6. ad 4. we clearly perceive through the curtain of this inaccessible Splendor That you O highest and holyest of all creatures by receiving the honour of being Gods Mother are united to a Terme of Infinite perfection whereby you are in a certain manner elevated to a divin order and by a most necessary undeniable consequence you appear in some sort to enter into the possession of an Infinit perfection O Maternity O Dignity O sublimity what eyes but those of your divin Son humaniz'd can support the piercing lustre of this pure and perfect object Having thus follow'd you O singularly blessed Virgin Mother with our borrow'd Speculations to the Non plus ultra of all created height and perfection and yet finding our affections desirous to feed themselv's somewhat longer in this fair and delicious field of your prayses We crave your leave to descend to such Figurative and Enigmaticall expressions as your faithfully devoted Doctors have found out to Paraphrase upon your unparalleld Excellencies We therefore exclaim with the Blessed Archbishop Proclus in his admirable Oration had upon our Saviours Birth-day in the Councill of Ephesus You O Mother of God! are the pure Treasury the perfect Ornament the prime honour of Virginity you are the spirituall Paradise of the second Adam the delicate Cabinet of that divin Marriage which was made between the two Natures the great Hall wherein was celebrated the worlds generall Reconciliation you are the Nuptiall bed of the Eternall Word the bright Clowd carrying him who hath the Cherubins for his chariot the Fleece of Wool fill'd with the sweet dew of Heaven whereof was made that admirable robe of our Royall Shepheard in which he vouchsafed to seek after his lost sheep you are the Maid and the Mother the humble Virgin and the high Heaven both together you are the sacred Bridg wherby God himself descended to the Earth you are that piece of cloath of which was compos'd the glorious garment of Hypostaticall union where the worker was the Holy Ghost the Hand the Vertu of the most high the wool the old spoiles of Adam the woof your own immaculate Flesh and the shittle Gods incomprehensible goodness which freely gave us the ineffable person of the Word Incarnate We continue our glad exclamations with the glorious Martyr Methodius orat in hypopante you O most Amiable and Admirable Mother of God! are the Container of the Incomprehensible the Root of the worlds first best and most beautifall Flower the Mother of him who made all things the Nurse of him who provides nourishment for the whol universe the Bosom of him who infolds all being within his Breast the unspotted Robe of him who is cloth'd with light as with a garment you O sacred Virgin are the Sallie-port through which God penetrated into the world you are the Pavilion of the Holy Ghost and you are the Furnace into which the Almighty hath particularly darted as it were the most fervent Sun-beams of his dearest love and affection We cheerfully salute you O incomparable Virgin-Mother with S. Andrew of Jerusalem Serm. de Annunciat All hail holy Temple of the Holy of Holyes triumphant Throne of incorruptible life blessed Chariot of the bright-shining Sun All Hayl fruitfull Earth alone proper and only prepar'd to bring forth the Bread-corn by which we are all sustain'd and nourished happy leaven which hath given relish to Adam's whol Race and season'd the Past whereof the true life-giving and soul-saving Bread was compos'd Ark of honour in which God himself was pleas'd to repose and where very glory it self became sanctifi'd Golden Pitcher containing him who provides sweet Manna from heaven and produces Honey from the rock to satisfy the appetites of his hungry people Spirituall Mirror of sacred Contemplation by whom the Prophets inspired from Heaven prefigur'd Gods descent to the earth you O most lovely Lady Mother are the incomprehensible secret of the divin Economy The admirable house of Gods humiliation through whose doore he descended to dwell amongst us The living
Book wherein the Fathers Eternall Word was written by the Pen of the Holy Ghost The authenticall Instrument of that happy agreement made between God and Man The Imperiall chariot loaden with millions of spoils led by you in triumph and by you presented to the divin Majesty The Mountain of Sion where our Soveraign Lord takes his pleasure and recreation The Pillar of Light not now conducting a captive people through the desert by a perishable glimmering but illuminating the true Israelites and leading them to their promis'd land of Conquest you O the most accomplish'd of all Creatures are pleasing and comely as Jerusalem and the aromaticall odours issuing from your garments outvie all the delights of Mount Libanus you are the sacred Pix of celestiall parfumes whose sweet exhalations shall never be exhausted you are the holy Oyl the unextinguishable Lamp the unfading Flower the divinly woven Purple the Royall vestment the Imperiall Diadem the Throne of the Divinity the Gate of Paradise the Queen of the Vnivers the Cabinet of Life the Fountain ever-flowing with Celestiall Illustrations More words are wanting to us O Mother worthy of all prayses for the further expression of our Conceptions and our Conceptions are too weak and languishing to second the ardours of our Affections and yet our Affections encourage us to keep on in this Carriere of your Commendations and to salute You afresh with Your faithfull servant S. Epiphanius Orat. de Deipara All Hail the honour of vertues the divin Lanthorn encompassing that Christall Lamp whose light out-shines the Sun in in its midday splendour The mysticall Ark of glory The undraynable source of sweetness The spirituall Sea whence the worlds richest Pearl was extracted The radiant sphear inclosing Him within your sacred folds whom the Heavens cannot contain within their vast circumference The Celestiall Throne of God more glistring than that of the glorious Cherubins The pure Temple Tabernacle and Seat of the Divinity And with Sophronius Serm. de Assump You O Mother of God! are the well-fenc'd Orchard the fruitfull Border the fair and delicious Garden of sweet Flowers enbalming the earth and ayr with their odoriferous fragrancie yet shut up and s cur'd from any enemys entrance and irruption you are the holy Fountain seal'd with the signet of the most sacred Trinity from whence the happy waters of life inflow upon the whol Univers you are the happy City of God whereof such glorious things are every where song and spoken And here O great and glorious Virgin Mother amidst our admirations of your miraculous priviledges prerogatives and perfections We cannot choose with S. Peter Chrysologus Serm. de Annunciat but Compassionate such poor spirited Christians who pretending to any true knowledg of your Sons greatness find no motives to contemplate your glories O their Ignorance Stupidity Infidelity For what thought can frame a right conception concerning any one Mystery of his sacred Incarnation and yet separate you dear Mother from him your divin Son The Heavens says he are terrifi'd the Angells tremble all creatures stand astonished whol Nature is amazed at the birth of this great-little-man-God into the world whilst you O blessed Virgin-Mother remain undaunted and not onely lodge him in your bosom receive him into your embraces refresh him with your breast-milk but moreover with an unparalleld Confidence you make him pay for his entertainment asking no less a reward for his nine months lodging than the grant of a generall and universall Peace to the world Glory for the heavenly Inhabitants Grace for Earthly Criminalls Life for the dead a strict league between the CHURCH Militant and Triumphant and a perpetuall Alliance of his divin Person with our human nature But now being at an absolute loss and not knowing what more can be added to these Epithetes of your Excellencies greatnesses and glories we again beg your lâ—cence O most Blessed Virgin-Mother to breath out what remains in meer raptures and astonishments Crying out to you with the great Patriarch of Antioch S. Ignatius epist ad Joan. O celestiall Prodigy O sacred spectacle With S. Chrysostom Sermon de B. V. O Miracle O Miracle of Miracles With S. Augustin Serm. 11. de Temp. O Miracles O Prodigies The Laws of Nature are changed God becomes Man you O sacred Virgin remaining a maid are made a Mother you are a Mother but without corruption you are a Virgin but you have a child you continue entire and yet you become fruitfull O Miracles O Prodigies With S. John Damascen orat 1. de Nat. B. V. O Abysmus of Miracles you O Virgin-Mother are as much elevated above the Seraphins as your Son is humbled below the Angells With S. Epiphanius orat de Sancta Deipara O extraordinary Prodigie in Heaven A woman infolding God in her bosom O new created Throne of Cherubins containing the Son of a woman who is the Father of his Mother O pretious nuptiall bed prepar'd in your sacred womb for the Celestiall Bridegroom who is together your own Son and the truly and only Son of God With S. Anselme lib. de excellentia Virginis Inviting all faithfull Christians to behold contemplate admire the height of honour to which the Eternall Fathers affection hath raised you O Royall Virgin-Mother He had but one only Son every way equall to himself and of his own substance and he condescended to have him in common with you O his incomprehensible dignation O your incomparable dignity And finally with your S. Bernard Hom. 4. super Missus est solum datum est nosse cui solum datum est experiri your own Greatnesses O glorious Virgin are only known to your own self who only had the happiness to experience them which perchance may be the proper meaning of that profound sentence The vertu of the most high shall overshaddow you whereby the celestiall Paranimph would seem to intimate That as you had the honour to be directly expos'd to the beams of that divin Sun which by an unheard of Intimacy and friendship foster'd you under the immediate shadow of his own splendor So you had also the riches of your own rare excellencies prerogatives and perfections reveal'd unto you But besides your self O Blessed Mother who were thus prodigiously admitted to be an Instrumentall Partner with the most Sacred Trinity in this secret Mystery 'T is in vain to conceive there can be found out any other capable to unfold or comprehend them Wherefore we humbly let fall our weak hand and wearied wings and convincedly confess your miraculous greatnesses O incomprehensible Mother of God! to be unexplicable incomprehensible inaccessible to all created imagination the glory whereof must necessarily be referr'd by us and all your devout honorers and admirers to the Eternall Father who hath created such a Daughter to the Son who hath chosen such a Mother to the Holy Ghost who hath thus enriched adorned and beautifi'd his Spouse his Temple his Tabernacle to the most sacred Trinity who best understands the
Virgin Mothers honour and the devout Propagator of her Psalter according to the institute and practise of his pious Father He dyed in the year 583. Item S. Bonitus Bishop of Auvergne in France commonly called the sacred Virgins Chaplain for that he was seen to celebrate the holy Mass by her command and in her presence in the Church of S. Michael where there remains even till this day an evident mark of this miraculous apparition imprinted upon the main Pillar of the said Temple against which the Saint leaned where also is reserved the admirable vestment of a colour Matter Contexture Softness and Lightness altogether celestiall and prodigious wherewith the Queen of Heaven adorned her holy Chaplain In the year 704. 22. The Feast of the Espousalls of the sacred Virgin Mary to S. Joseph instituted in France by Petrus Auratus a Dominican who compos'd the Office of this solemnity in the year 1546. 23. S. Ildefonse Archbishop of Toledo in Spain who for his singular integrity of life and for having happily undertaken the defense of the sacred Virgins Virginity against the Helvidian heresie which oppos'd it deserv'd to be styl'd one of her Doctors and Chaplains and to receive a most admirable white vestment from her own holy hands upon the Festivall day of her Expectation which he instituted in her honour in the year 660. 24. Upon this day is celebrated a Commemoration of the Patronage and Affection of the Sacred Virgin MARY towards the whol Order of Saint BENNET Which she hath been graciously pleas'd to testify from time to time by most rare and signall examples and which they gratefully acknowledging renew the Oblation Dedication and Recommendation of themselv's and their Order to her pious and powerfull protection FEBRUARY 2. THe Purification of the sacred Virgin MARY call'd by the Greek Church Hipapante Domini or the meeting of our Lord and his holy Mother with the Prophet Simeon Anna and others in the Temple of Jerusalem upon the fortieth day after his happy birth into the World where HE was presented to his Eternall Father and SHE was purified according to the Law of Moyses Levit. 12.6 22. S. Peter Damian a noble man of Ravenna afterwards Monk Abbot and Cardinall Bishop of Ostia was a most zealous Promotor of the sacred Virgins honour the Authour of the Primer commonly call'd Our Ladyes Office the Beginner of that pious custom of allotting Monday to pray for the souls departed Friday to commemorate our Redeemers Passion Saturday to the sacred Virgins prayse which custome the universall Church soon after approved received and continues to this day He dyed in the year 1072. MARCH 9. St. Francisca a Noble Roma◠widow was frequently and familiarly visited by the sacred Virgin and amongst many other signall favours was by her cover'd with a golden veile in recompence of her fervent devotion She dyed full of Sanctity and miracles in the year 1440. 12. S. Gregory the Great Pope Doctor of the Church Apostle of England c. His fervent devotion towards the Queen of Heaven appears by that famous Procession wherein he carrying her sacred Image obtain'd a cessation of the raging pestilence c. vide infra page 144. No one says he can behold the greatness of Gods Mother but by beholding her Sons excellency 21. S. Bennet the great Abbot and glorious Patriarch of Monks in the Western Church was from his tender years a most faithfull honorer of the sacred Virgin-Mother by whose speciall assistance says blessed Alanus de Rupe he became the Author and founder of so divin a Monasticall institution Nor is the propagation of the Marian Psalter proceeds the same Author the least of S. Bennets prayses which sort of piety She was graciously pleas'd to approve by heaping many signall favours not only upon her Bennet as she was heard to name him but upon his whol Order in which she seems as it were to have fix'd her seat shewing herself upon all occasions to be its true Mother and Protectrice He dyed in the year 542. 22. Blessed Pope Gregory the ninth the sacred Virgin-Mothers most faithfull and affectionate servant order'd and commanded That the solemn Anthem Salve Regina should be publickly sung in the Church after the Canonicall hours As also That the Bells toling at certain set houres of the day should admonish all Christians wheresoever and howsoever employed of their duty and devotion towards the Queen of heaven by saluting her with the Ave Maria. He dyed in the year 1241. 25. The Annunciation of the most Blessed Virgin Mother of God A Feast of great Solemnity and antiquity in the Church as appears by the Orations and Homilies of the Primitive Fathers had upon this day in memory of that happy Embassy brought down from heaven to holy MARY by the Archangell Gabriel in which she was denounced and declared Mother of the Word Eternall and Incarnate Luk. 1.31 27. S. Rupert Bishop of Salisburg a glorious Doctor Champion and Chaplain of the sacred Virgin-Mother from whom he received the intelligence of holy Scriptures to whose honour he built and founded severall famous Churches to whose Name he dedicated the yet flourishing Imperiall Abbey and whose prayses he propagated throughout Germany and the adjoyning Kingdoms He dyed in the year 623. APRIL 20. St. Fulbert Bishop of Charters a speciall devote of the sacred Virgin To whose honour he erected the famous Cathedrall of Charters In whose praise he composed many pious Hymnes and Prose and who first ordained that Commemoration Sancta Maria succurre miseris juva pusillanimes c. to be dayly used in the Laudes and Even song He also first introduced the celebration of the Blessed Virgins Nativity into France And when in his las◠Agony he lay gasping for breath and parch'd up with thirst the blessed Virgin-Mother was pleas'd O her wondrous Compassion towards her faithfull servants to appear to him to refresh him and to suckle him with her sacred Breast-milk whereof a drop falling upon his garment is reverently kept amongst the sacred Treasures of the Church of Charters even till this day as a perpetuall monument of this her signal favour and affection He dyed in the year 1028. 21. S. Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury another holy Doctor and Chaplain of the sacred Virgin-Mother a most zealous defender of her Immaculate Conception and the first Introducer of that annuall Feast of the Conception of our Lady into the Church He dyed in the year 1106. 29. S. Robert the first Abbot of Cistertium whom the Queen of Heaven espoused to herself whil'st he yet remained shut up in his Mothers womb in these words My will is that the child which thou O Erengardes bearest in thy entralls be betroathed unto me by this golden Ring Which she afterwards confirm'd 〈◊〉 the born Infant who after a long led holy life was translated to a happy immortality in the year 1098. MAY. 13. AT Rome The Dedication of the Church of Sancta Maria ad Martyres
which Pope Boniface the fourth cleansing the ancient Temple Pantheon consecrated to all the Gods dedicated to the honour of the ever blessed Virgin-Mother and all the holy Martyrs in the year 609. 16. S. Brandanus an Abbot in Scotland a most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin to whom he consecrating the labours sustain'd in his seven years navigation and laying upon the Altar dedicated to her honour a book containing the whol course of his journey was summon'd by a voyce from Heaven to exchange this life for immortality and having finish'd the celebration of a solemn Mass upon the same Altar he most happily expired after the year 570. 19. S. Dunstanus Archbishop of Canterbury a great Favourite of the sacred virgin whom she piously cherish'd even in his Mothers womb prodigiously cured in his tender age and frequently visited during the time of his Pontificall dignity He dyed in the year 988. 27. S. Bede a venerable Priest and most affectionate servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother whose Psalter according to the Institution of his glorious Father S. Bennet he most zealously preached promulgated and planted not only in his own native Countrey England where in the publick places of Prayer he caus'd the materiall Psalters to be hung up to invite all Passengers and Pilgrims to this sort of devotion and which in Veneration of his name are there ever since call'd Bedes even to this day but also says Alanus in France and the neighbouring Kingdoms He dyed full of years sanctity and learning after the 731. year of Christ 29. The Feast of the Miracles wrought by the Mother of Power Celebrated in memory of the many signall and prodigious wonders she hath been graciously pleas'd to work in severall Monasteries of S. Bennets order JUNE 18. THE Feast or Commemoration of the Psalter of the sacred Virgin Mary instituted by the admirable Father and Patriarch of Monks S. Bennet to be observ'd in his holy Order and afterwards propagated by his Disciples throughout the whol world whereof Blessed Alanus de Rupe the great Secretary of the glorious Virgin-Mother and another Restorer after S. Dominick of this Marian Psalter hath these words Apolog. part 1. cap. 8. and part 2. cap. 2. 4. S. Bennet the famous Patriarch of Monasticall Institution introduced the use of the Marian Psalter which he himself had long before practised amongst his Religious Children and this not so much by any precept as by the very use thereof pass'd to posterity as a most pious and religious custome JULY 2. THE Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in memory of her visiting S. Elizabeth after she had conceiv'd the Son of God at whose presence S. John the Baptist leap'd in the womb of his Mother Elizabeth Luk. 1.41 which Feast was instituted by Pope Urban the sixth in the year 1385. and promulgated by his successor Boniface the ninth in the year 1389. to implore the Blessed Virgins assistance against the Schisme which then miserably divided the Church S. Otho Bishop of Bamberg and Apostle of Pomerania a most affectionate servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother whose speciall assistance he always implor'd and obtain'd especially in the Conversion of Nations and to whose honour he erected that famous Cathedrall of Weier He left this life in the year 1139. 14. S. Henry the first Emperour surnamed the Lame otherwise called the second for that he had a predecessor of the same name who out of modestie and humility refused the denomination of Emperour a most devout Client of the sacred Virgin Mother to whose honour he founded that fair Cathedrall of Spire as also that of Basil and severall others and in whose imitation he kept perpetuall virginity together with his wife S. Cunegundis whereby he became so highly pleasing to the Virgin Queen of Heaven that he was frequently admitted to her familiarity He was instrumentall to the Conversion of S. Stephen King of Hungary and the whol Hungarian nation and full of sanctity and all sorts of vertues he yeilded his Soul into the hands of his heavenly Bridegroom in the year 1024. 17. S. Leo the fourth Pope a singular honorer of the sacred Virgin-Mother and promotour of her prayses throughout the whol world He instituted the Octaves of her Assumption and departed this life in the year 855. 19. Blessed Hermannus Contractus so named from the Contraction and weakness of almost all his members a most devâ—ut Monk of Augia which is an Iland in Germany not far distant from Constantia and a most zealous servant of the sacred Virgin-Mother by whose powerfull prayers he obtained such inward gifts of learning and wisdom as abundantly recompenc'd the outward defects of nature He wrote much in her prayses and amongst the rest those most famous Anthems Salve Reginae and Alma Redemptoris Mater He dyed about the year 1052. till which time he produced his Chronicle of the worlds six Ages 29. Blessed Vrbanus the second Pope a most holy and learned Man and a most zealous promoter of the sacred Virgins honour whose office composed by S. Peter Damian he confirm'd and commended to the world in the Councill of Clermont in the year 1096. AUGUST 5. THE Dedication of the Church of our Blessed Lady ad Nives or at the Snow which miraculously covering a part of the Exquilin mountain neer Rome at this time when the greatest heats use to parch the City gave occasion to the building of a famous Church to the sacred Virgin-Mothers honour thereby to perpetuate the memory of so signall a miracle in this same place thus by her self designed in the year 367. 15. The Assumption of the most sacred Mother of God celebrated time out of mind with greatest solemnity both by the Greek and Latin Church in memory of her being assumpted or taken up into heaven both body and soul after her dissolution S. Arnulphus Bishop of Soissons in France whose soul amidst the festivall joys of his dear Mothers Assumption was by her visited and call'd out of his body to a blessed eternity in the year 1087. 20. S. Bernard first Abbot of Claravall the singularly beloved Minion Favourite Child and Chaplain of Gods holy Mother whom she as a stupendious argument of her delicate affection frequently fed with her virginall breast-milk familiarly resaluted with Salve Bernarde and lovingly visited cured and comforted in the time of his sickness infirmity He amongst all the Fathers is most profuse in the sacred Virgins prayses in whose honour he composed many most pious and pithy Treatises amongst which is the Ave Maris Stella us'd in the vespers of all the Blessed Virgins Festivities He dyed full of admirable sanctity and learning in the year 1153. 22. S. Bernardus Tolomaeus Founder of the Order of S. Mary of Mount Olivet who being prodigiously cured of a grievous sickness and blindness by the Blessed Virgins intercession vow'd himself to her perpetuall service and forthwith ascending into the Pulpit he divulg'd this divin miracle and decipher'd the
large volumes We shall therefore both in this and the following points content our selves to declare the Truth not dispute it to presuppose it not prove it to set down Maxims not Problems and our endeavours shall be to excite the faithfull Rosarists to this sort of Piety by applying some of the holy Fathers pithy sentences and expressions not to amuse their fancies by producing curiosities and falling upon the subtilties of controversies Wherefore abstracting here from the sacred Virgin-Mothers own Worth Dignity Prerogatives Perfections Excellencies which are briefly touched in the precedent Oration and which are abundantly capable to ravish the whol World with her love and admiration and move them to her honour and service we shall insist only upon some of the most signall benefits which redound to our selves by our devotion towards her reducing them to these five generall heads The first is That she loves her devoted children and servants Though the sacred Virgin is call'd in the Churches Dialect Mater pulchrae dilectionis The mother of love and charity and consequently cannot but have a generall â—ffâ—ction for all mankind yet surely she hath a particular kindness and tendernesâ— for such as addict themselves to her speciall honour and dedicate themselves to her service according to that other passage which holy Church also applyes to her Ego diligentes me diligo I love them who love me Hence our devout St. Bernard upon those words of the Gospell Ecce Mater tua Behold thy Mother which were delivered from the Cross by our dying Saviour and directed to his dear Minion Saint John and to all mankind in his person hath these pithy expressions If Mary is thy Mother O Christian then Jesus is thy Brother then Chrâ—sts Father is thy Father then his Heaven is thy Inheritance then Mary's grace is thy treasure for Mothers usually lay up treasures for their Children then she is sensible of all thy sufferings sollicitous to supply thy wants carefull to provide for thy necessities for a Mother is tender over her Children Therefore O Christian make choyce of Mary for thy Mother For it is impossible says elsewhere the same devout Doctor that she should abandon them who place their confidence in her Patronage and Protection since she is the Mother of Mercy and compassion Who would not then become a loving Child and obedient servant of so pious and tender a Mother who would not strive to gain the favour and affection of so faithfull a friend and so powerfull a Patroness The second is That she is liberall and bountifull in bestowing benefits and favours upon her children and servants Worldly affection if it be true and perfect hath such power over the heart of Man as to cause him to confer freely upon his beloved object whatsoever he most dearly prizes and esteems And can it be conceiv'd that the Saints charity and particularly Hers which far excels that of all Men Saints and Angells together being more perfect should be less liberall The glorious Virgin say our Doctors is the Treasuress of the celestiall Riches the Dispensatrix of Gods gifts she carryes the keys of the divin Coffers All power is given to you great Empress of both Worlds says her mellifluous Doctor so that you have leave to do what you please in Heaven and Earth And she is surely no niggard in dispensing them as being equally bountifull and powerfull equally good and great equally courteous and charitable Why dread you O ye devout children and servants of MARY says the same Doctor to approach your Mother and Mistris There is nothing in her of rigidness and austerity She 's full of meekness charity courtesie towards all them that sue unto her I well know sayes the antient Father Theophilactus that you O most glorious Queen-Mother are the great Protectrice of mankind And who is he O mercifull Princess that having plac'd his confidence in you hath remain'd confounded Who is that he or she amongst the children of Adam who having besought your succour and assistance hath been rejected and abandon'd Let 's therefore make to her our humble addresses in all our necessities since she is so Powerfull to assist us so Mercifull to admit us so Ready to relieve us The third is that she comforts her children and servants in all their afflictions persecutions desolations This follows from the former For if as a most tender Mother she loves cherishes her children servants and show'rs down so many goods graces and favours upon them she surely compassionat's them in ther pressing necessities For it is then chiefly that true friendship shews it self true charity expands it self true liberality diffuses it self Certainly says a pious Author were all the devout servants and children of Mary summon'd out of their graves to give in their severall answers to this Interrogation How oft have you heartily invok'd your holy Mistris and Mother in your necessities and been deny'd her speedy succour and assistance They would unanimously exclaim with her holy St. Bernard Taceat ille c. Let that impious tongue be silent O most compassionat Virgin Mother which dares falsly avouch that you have fail'd to help and comfort him whensoever he faithfully call'd upon you in his distressed condition Therefore St. German the Patriark of Constantinople thus addresses his discourse unto her no one is sav'd O most sacred Virgin but by your assistance no one if free from miserie O must pure Virgin but by your means no one receives Gods gifts and graces O most mercifull Virgin but by your mediation No one obtains the pardon of his offences O Virgin worthy of all praise and honour but by your prayers and intercession Who says he after your Divin Son takes so much care of poor Mankind as your self Who so zealously defends and strengthens weak man in his troubles and temptations Who so readily succours him in his afflictions and persecutions Who so charitably excuses his crimes pleads his cause procures his pardon and delivers him from the severe punishment which his sins have justly deserved Let therefore each afflicted Soul proceeds this holy Patriark make to you O Compassionat Mother his humble addresses let him who perceives his frail vessell to be in danger of drowning amidst the impetuous winds and waves of this wicked and tempestuous World cast his eyes up to you bright Star of the Sea and let him rest confident that you will speedily and securely conduct him to his desired haven The fourth is That she is their faithfull Advocate in Heaven The cause is half gaind that is undertaken by a powerfull Advocate And who can possibly be imagin'd more Powerfull than the Queen-Mother pleading at her own Sons Tribunall There she sustains her childrens processes embraces their protection procures their pardon diverts the sentence of their deserved damnation and omits nothing which may conduce to the appeasing of their soveraign Judg and the saving of their Souls O faithfull Patoness of afflicted sinners How fitly doth holy
with the adjoyned Antheme and Prayer to the sacred Virgin and to Saint Joseph 2. Recite them for all such as arâ— thus associated as they all recite the same for him 3. Recite them for his own and their happy death and for the obtaining of Grace necessary for that purpose ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! despise not our Prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son recommend us to your Son represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ hear us O Christ graciously hear us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us Pray for us Holy Mary Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins Mother of Christ Mother of Divin Grace mother most pure Mother most chast Mother undefiled Mother untouched Mother most aminable Mother most admirable Mother of our Creator Mother of our Redeemer Virgin most Prudent Virgin most Venerable Virgin most Renowned Virgin most Powerfull Virgin most Mercifull Virgin most Faithfull Mirrour of Justice Seat of Wisdom Cause of our Joy Spiritual Vessel Honourable Vessel Vessel of singular Devotion Mystical Rose Tower of David Pray for us Tower of Ivory House of Gold Ark of the Covenant Gate of Heaven Morning Star Health of the Weak Refuge of Sinners Comfort of the Afflicted Help of Christians Queen of Angels Queen of Patriarchs Queen of Prophets Queen of Apostles Queen of Martyrs Queen of Confessors Queen of Virgins Queen of all Saints Queen of the most sacred Rosary Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Spare us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Hear us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Have mercy on us ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! Despise not our prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son Recommend us to your Son Represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Vers Pray for us O holy Mother of God Resp That we may become worthy of Christs promises Let us pray REmember O most compassionate Virgin Mary Mother of Power Mercy and Consolation That it was never yet heard or known that any one was by you rejected who in his grievous pressures and afflictions had recoâ—rse to your powerfull Prayers Patronage and Protection Imboldned with this confidence we your distressed Children of the holy Rosary with eyes full of tears and hearts full of sorrow make now to you O sacred Virgin Mother our most humble addresses in these our present and pressing necessities Despise not our words we beseech you O Blessed Mother of the Word Eternal and Incarnate Reject not the Petitions of your poor servants O you pious Comforter of all afflicted Souls but graciously vouchsafe to hear us to help us to protect us and to obtain for us the accomplishment of all our just and humble desires That we may have fresh occasion to admire your transcendent Mercy Charity and Compassion and to magnify and praise with eternal gratitude and thanksgiving the infinit goodness of your Divin Son our sweet Saviour Christ Jesus The Verse and Prayer of Saint Joseph Vers The just man shall flourish as a Palm-tree Resp He shall be multiplyed as the Cedar of Libanus Let us pray ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the merits of Saint Joseph thy sacred Mothers Bridegroom that what we are unworthy to obtain may be granted us by his intercession who livest and reignest world without end Amen §. 18. Several other Prayers Wherof one or more may be sometimes added after the Litanies of our Blessed Lady according to each ones Devotion Occasion or Necessity I. A Filial Recommendation of our selv's to the sacred Virgin-Mothers protection O Sacred and Sovereign Lady-Mother next after God the onely hope of my soul Into that singular faith commendation and custody wherby your tenderly loving Son Christ Jesus my Saviour recommended you from the Cross to his dearly beloved Disciple Saint John I do this day and all the days of my life commend and commit my body my soul my senses my honour all my hope and comfort all my anguishes miseries and afflictions all my thoughts words and actions my whol life and the final end thereof Most humbly beseeching you that I may by your powerfull intercession be preserved from all sin from all scandal from whatsoever may any way displease yours or your Son 's pure eyes provoke your anger or hazard the loss of your favour and from a sudden and unprovided death Obtain for me I beseech you O my glorious Lady-Mother that I may be truly penitent for all my past offences that I may manfully resist all present occasions of sin that I may walk more warily and innocently for the future Let me feel your prompt and powerfull assistance during the whol course of this my lives pilgrimage and in the dreadfull day of my judgement be you pleas'd O sacred Mother to become my pious Advocatrix at the Tribunal of your Son Christ Jesus To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for evermore Amen II. A Prayer for a happy death O My dear Lord Jesu I most humbly beseech you by those most bitter pains and pangs which you suffer'd for me in your cruel passion and particularly in the hour wherein your Divin Soul pass'd forth of your Blessed Body take pity upon my poor and sinfull soul in its last agony and in its passage to Eternity And you O compassionate Virgin-Mother Mary remember how you sadly stood by your dear Son dying on the Cross and by that your excessive grief and your Sons sacred death assist my soul in its last conflict with death and conduct it to a happy Eternity And you O glorious Saints John Joseph Nicodemus Lazarus Mary Magdalen Mary of James Mary of Salome and Martha who stood by my dear Redeemer Christ Jesus expiring on the Cross assist me also in the hour of my souls departure and accompany it to a happy Eternity Amen III. A General Prayer for our selvs our Friends and the whol Church DIssolve we beseech you O Lord by your bounty the bonds of our sins and by the intercession of the sacred Virgin and all your blessed Saints preserve us our Friends our Brethren and our Benefactors in your grace and sanctity Purge O Lord from all impiety and enrich with solid virtues and perfections all such as have any relation to us by consanguinity affinity or familiarity grant us health of
short Pilgrimage I may dwell with him for ever in his eternall Paradise The Second joyfull Mysterie She visits The visitation which the blessed Virgin made to her cousin St. Elizabeth Luke 1. She visits St. Eliza. to rejoyce With her for what was told by th'Angells voyce Our Father c. The blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the consideration of Gods wonderfull works Which were now made known unto her by his heavenly Messenger for pondring all his words after his departure from her she admiringly compares her own meaness with Gods Immensity She ravishtly extolls his mercy his goodness his compassion towards poor mankind She gratefully acknowledges her own unworthiness to have such wonders wrought in and by her Hail Mary 2. At the Inhabitation of God within her O the joy of her heart O the jubily of her soul to contain him in her womb whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot comprehend Hail Mary 3. At her perfect Sanctification For she knew her self to be consummated in the fullness of Grace adorn'd with the gifts of the Holy Ghost confirm'd in all vertues absolutely impeccable and secure of her finall perseverance Hail Mary 4. At her singular Illustration For by the Inhabitation of the Eternall word within her she became enlightned both in soul and body In Soul so as to know secrets to understand sciences to foresee things to come as appears by her Propheticall Magnificat In body insomuch as her externall beauty and comliness attested Gods inward presence and we may piously believe with St. Bernard that no one no not her husband St. Joseph could fixedly behold the beames of her shining countenance and so the Gloss understands that passage of St. Matthews Gospell Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth Hail Mary 5. At her journey into the Mountains of Judea For reflecting upon the Angells last Speech Behold thy Kinswoman Elizabeth hath also conceiv'd a Son in her old age She speedily cheerfully and joyfully undertakes this long journey of thirty four miles says Ludolphus and on foot in order to visit her congratulate her assist her Hail Mary 6. At the carriage of Christ in her womb For though the way was long and mountainous though she a tender Virgin and with child yet neither was the journey irksome nor her burden cumbersom nor her travail wearysom because she carried him who supported encourag'd and enabled her Hail Mary 7. At the blessing of Elizabeth Who at her approach runs ravishtly into her embraces and affectionately exclaims Blessed art thou amongst all women and blessed is the fruit which thou bear'st in thy womb Blessed is the Tree together with the fruit the Stemm with the Flower the Mother with the Son Hail Mary 8. At her conjoyn'd Virginity and Maternity For she joyfully perceiv'd that Propheticall saying compleated in her own Person Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son and she as joyfully knew her self to be the Mother of God according to St. Elizabeths expression How deserve I this honour that the Mother of my Lord should vouchsafe to visit me Hail Mary 9. At the overflowing of her Grace into others For at her voyce and visitation St. John St. Elizabeth and St. Zacharieâ— were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Hail Mary 10. At the many miracles accompanying and following this Visitation 1. In Elizabeth replenish'd with Gods holy Spirit 2. In St. John clean's from originall Sin sanctify'd in the womb confirm'd in grace 3. In Zacharies illumination c. Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These prayers Angelical with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O what a confluence of joyes were found at this blessed meeting of these two Mothers of two great Princes whereof one was the greatest that was born of women and the other was his Lord and these made Mothers by two miracles Surely never but in Heaven was a greater extasie of Iubilation The word Incarnate rejoycingly begins to bestow his blessings on the World before he is born into it Elizabeth rejoycingly admires Gods goodness and mercy and his Mothers charity and humility St. John rejoycingly dances in the womb after the harmonious musick of their mutuall Salutations whil'st the holy Virgin her self sweetly in tones her Creators prayses who is the true Author and Origin of all these wonders singing with heart and mouth My ravish't Soul extolls his name Who rules the Worlds admired frame My Spirit with exalted voyce In God my Saviour shall rejoyce Who hath his glorious beams displayd Upon a poor and humble Maid Me all succeeding Ages shall The blessed Virgin-Mother call O the ardent charity of my Saviour Christ and of his sacred Mother He is no sooner conceiv'd in her womb but be carryes her and she him into the mountains of Judea to give the life of grace to the young Baptist O Jesu the powerfull Sanctifier of all souls vouchsafe to give mine also a gracious visite and to inflame it with the fire of your love that I may henceforth more readily correspond to your holy motions more carefully lay hold upon all occasions conducing to vertu piety perfection and more charitably assist my necessitous neighbour And you O most lovely most loving and most beloved Virgin bestow a visit on this poor house and heart of mine Here I live in a vale of teares temptations miseries I sojourn amongst continuall dangers I dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and my being in this world is like that of a child in his Mothers belly expecting with fear and hope to be born into the bright-light of a Blessed Eternity O let your comfortable visitation and your Sons grace-bringing presence disperse my inward darkness qualify my fearfullness fortify my hope and confidence and give me a sweet Antipast of my future happiness Come then O most charitable and most compassionate Virgin My good Mother my gracious mediatrix my only Hope next to your holy Son Jesus Come and cast an Eye of Pity upon your poor servant Let your harmonious voyce resound in my souls eares and obtain for me a tast of your Sons goodness that I may henceforth relish nothing but himself and according to your most perfect example rejoyce in nothing but God my Saviour The third joyfull Mystery He is Born The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Luc. 2. THe Son of God born of a sacred Mayd Between two beasts is in a manger laid Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the first sight of the new-born Iesus O The Jubily of her ravish'd heart To see him safely brought into the world whom she carefully carryed nine months in her womb To swathe and suckle him who is the Son of the most high To kiss him who was comely above all the children of men To embrace him whose beauty the Sun and Moon admire and whose countenance the Angells desire to contemplate Hail Mary 2. At her preserv'd Virginity FOr she now found her self compleatly a
Instructer of the Apostles and therefore is described by S. John in his Revelations with a Crown of twelve Starrs upon her head Hail Mary 10. At her being crown'd with the verdant and perpetually florishing Aureola of Innocency Purity FOr as she was of such extraordinary Purity that under God-man a greater cannot be conceiv'd says Saint Anselm And of such unimitable Innocency that from the first instant of her Conception to the last moment of her life She preserv'd it absolutely entire without the least spot or blemish so She enjoyes a Crown of extraordinary Clarity far above all others the same God-man only excepted Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O King of Glory How great is your bounty and how excessive is your liberality You confer upon men whol Torrents of pleasurs and full Oceans of delights for their Cups of cold water given for your sake You bestow on thē magnificent Crowns and blessed Kingdoms for their morsells of bread bestow'd upon their necessitous brethren And shall we question whether your own dear Mother whose pure Blood gave your Body its Being in whose chast entralls you so long lodged upon whose Breast-milk you so sweetly fed is now highly rewarded by you in heaven She cloath'd you O word Eternall and Incarnate with the robes of her Humanity and can we doubt but that you have vested her with the light of your Heavenly glory and crown'd her with the glittering Jewells of Wisdom Power Dominion and whatsoever may beseem the Soveraign Empress of Men and Angells O Virgin O Mother How great is your Glory How singular your Honor How Eminent your Dignity Since you are the Mother of Grace which is God himself you are seated on the right hand of God himself in his Glory Since you have the advantagious quality above all creatures of being Gods Mother you surely have an advantagious Crown above all Creatures which constitutes you Queen of Heaven For to what Woman besides your happyest self Or to which of the Angells howsoever high holy and perfect did euer God say you are my Mother you begot me bore me brought me forth O Mother of God! O Title of Titles O words few in number but full of numberless Mysteries and miracles O Quality containing all the Abyssall perfections which can possibly fall within the compass of Mens and Angells Imagination thinking upon a pure creature Mother of God! Be you praysed honoured and admired next to your Son Jesus by all Creatures in Heaven and Earth for evermore You have sufficiently shew'd me O sacred Mother by your divin example the ready way to reall glory and happiness Which is To prefer Gods honour love and service before all things els whatsoever But alas How Poorly have I hitherto practis'd your instructions and how ill have I imitated your examples Your continuall Exercise was to magnifie the Divin Majesty with heart and mouth and therefore you have deserv'd to be blessed prays'd and proclaim'd happie by all succeeding generations because the Almighty wrought great things in you placing you upon the worlds Theater as the Prime work of his hands and the most accomplish'd pattern of all created perfections But I on the contrary have made small account of God and his service and how then can I expect to obtain the blessing of him others or hope he should effect great things in me by me for me Yet if he and all others call me not blessed in the last great Judgment day I must remain accursed for all Eternity And if he work not great things in me what can all other things avail me in order to my happiness Ha! How long then shall my affection be fastned to falshoods follies vanities How long shall my soul be enslav'd to these sordid passions and to the base customs of my corrupted nature which are repugnant to Reason contrary to my Creators Law opposite to his profer'd grace destructive of my expected glory O my Lord and my God! I will no longer forget you I will even now begin to praise you with heart and mouth in all before all above all your only love honour and service shall be the first in my esteem the first in my affections the first in my actions For alas what els have I to esteem desire love in Heaven and Earth but you the God of my heart my soveraign good my All for time and Eternity And thou my poor Soul Take courage Eternity draws on Thy glorious Mother with millions of blessed Saints and Angells more beautifull than so many Suns in the mid-day of their brightness invites thee to be with her satiated with her Sons amiable countenance and absorp'd in the boundless Sea of his beatifying delights Thy beloved Lord himself expects thee with a Crown of evelasting rewards in his right hand and with these sweetly alluring words in his sacred mouth Come my Love my Dove my Fair one come thou shalt be crown'd for having serv'd me faithfully lov'd me fervently suffer'd for me freely and accomplish'd my will fully Live henceforth with me eternally in Satiety and security THE FIRST APPENDIX JESVS Or the Confraternity of the most sacred Name of JESUS With Elevations sutable thereunto IN so much as there is a certain pious Fraternity of the most holy Name of Jesus which had its first rise and origin from that of the sacred Rosary Et ex illa tanquam ex Matre filia prognata sit being as it were the Daughter of that Mother and to which it is so firmly fastned and so neerly allied as that generally in Catholique Countreys all they who are children of the Blessed Mothers Rosary are also thus Members of the Son's Society It will not be amiss after this large Declaration of the Rosary to annect a brief description of this Confraternity that so nothing may be wanting which may conduce to the devotion of faithfull Christians and enrich them with spirituall Benefits This pious Confraternity of the sacred Name of Jesus was begun in Italy by Didacus a Victoria a Doctor of Divinity and devout Preacher of S. Dominicks order in the year 1564. and soon after promulgated throughout Spain by Joannes Micon who was another learned Doctor and zealous Preacher of the same Order the Disciple of that Blessed and famous man Ludovicus Bertrandus The Reason and End of the Institution thereof was to extirpate that execrable and then Customary vice of Swearing by Gods holy Name and blaspheming the divin Majesty The Rules of this Confraternity are these 1. They who desire to be of it are either to have their Names enrolled into a Book provided for that purpose as it is said of the Rosary or to be admitted into this Confraternity by such as have power from the Superiors of Saint Dominick's Order by some other legall lawfull and formall way 2. Upon the day of our Redeemers Circumcision which
is the principall and indeed the only proper Feast of this Confraternity they are to Confess Communicate and be present at the solemnity then celebrated by their fellow members of this Confraternity in the place appointed by the Chief Director thereof 3. Upon the second Sunday of each month they are to Confess Communicate and assist at the solemn Mass and Procession of the Confraternity 4. They are with all possible care and diligence to avoid swearing not only in themselv's but also in all others admonishing checking and correcting as far as the Rules of Charity and Discretion will permit all such as shall inconsideratly and rashly Swear and Blasphem in their presence and hearing 5. They are to assist at the Anniversary of their departed Brethren celebrated upon the first vacant day after the Feast of the Circumcision The Plenary Indulgences omitting the many particular granted to this Fraternity In the year 1564. Idibus Aprilis Pope Pius the fourth the first Approver and Confirmer of this Confraternity endow'd it with most large Favours Priviledges and Indulgences and amongst the rest he granted to all the Members thereof who shall Confess Communicate and Assist at the divin service either in whol or in part upon the Feast of the Circumcision such Plenary Indulgences of all their sins as the Apostolicall Seat usually bestows in the year of Jubily upon all them who visit the Churches in and without Rome In the year 1580. 5th of September Pope Gregory the thirteenth grants a Plenary Indulgence to all the Members thereof who shall accompany the Procession which as also the Mass of this Confraternity he appoints to be had upon each second Sunday of the Month not otherwise hindred having confessed communicated and pray'd for the generally intended ends of the Church in the granting of all Indulgences to wit For the Peace of Christian Princes for the extirpation of Heresies for the exaltation of the Catholique Church c. In the year 1598. 2. of Februarie Pope Clement the 8th grants a plenary Indulgence to all the Members thereof Confessing and Communicating upon each day of the Festivities of the fifteen Mysteries of this Rosary of the Name of Jesus In the year 1606. 21. of October Paul the fifth grants a Plenary Indulgence at the entrance into this Confraternity to all such as shall then being truly penitent confess and Communicate and also to all such as shall devoutly call upon the sacred name of Jesus either by mouth or in heart at the Article of death And in the year 1612. 28. of September he renews and confirmes the former Grant of Gregory the 13. And lastly in the year 1626. Pope Vrban the 8. Grants also a Plenary Indulgence at the entrance into this Confraternity to all such as shall then Confess and Communicate c. and to all such as shall devoutly call upon the holy Name of Jesus at the Article of death The Manner of Reciting this Rosary of the holy Name of JESUS invented by Joannes Micon to implore Christs Mercy for our selv's and for all sinners is this Taking your Ordinary Bedes of the Rosary begin with the sign of the Cross either in Latin or in English In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen Then after the recitall of one Pater-noster Ave Maria and Creed begin thus V. Intend unto my ayd O. God R. Lord make hast to help me V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost R. As it was in the Beginning is now and ever shall be world without end Amen The first part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words fifty Times O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us Meditating during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Life of Our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. The Mysteries of the first Quinquagena or Fiftieth 1. Christs Incarnation 2. The Nativity of Christ in Bethleem 3. The Circumcision of Christ 4. The finding of Christ in the Temple disputing amongst the Doctors 5. The Baptizing of Christ in the River Jordan O Jesu Christ the Son of David have mercy upon us The second Part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words also fifty times O Jesu of Nazareth King of the Jew 's have mercy upon us Meditating in like manner during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Death Passion of our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father c. as aforesaid The Mysteries of the second Quinquagena or fiftieth 1. The washing of the disciples feet 2. The Prayer in the Garden 3. The Apprehension of Christ in the Garden 4. The carrying of the Cross 5. The Descent into Hell O Jesu of Nazareth King of the Jewes have mercy upon us The third Part of this Rosary consists in the Repetition of these words also fifty times O Jesu Christ Son of the living God have mercy upon us Meditating likewise during the recitall of each Decade upon one of the Five Mysteries of the Glory of our Blessed Redeemer Christ Jesus and ending each Decade with Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. as formerly The Mysteries of the third Quinquagena or Fiftieth 1. The Resurrection 2. The Ascension 3. The sending of the Holy Ghost to his Church 4. The Crowning of the Virgin Mary and the Saints 5. The coming to Judgment O Jesu Christ Son of the Living God have mercy upon us A brief Declaration of the Crown of our Lord. THe devotion call'd the Crown of our Lord Or the Rosary of the age of Christ or the Crown of Camaldula was invented by one blessed Michael by birth a Florentin by profession a Monk of Camaldula a man of admirable piety and sanctity who chang'd this life for a happy immortality in the year 1522 since which time this manner of prayer hath been far and near propagated throughout the whol World with the Churches generall applause and approbation and to the great profit and comfort of all faithfull Christians The Tenor of the Brief of Pope Leo the 10th as far forth as it concerns the confirmation and declares the form of reciting this sacred Crown is as here follow 's Bishop Leo the servant of Gods servants to all aâ—d singular the faithfull people of Christ to whom these his letters shall come sends greeting and the Apostolical Benediction We have lately had notice from persons worthy of belief that a certain antient Hermit of the sacred Wilderness of Camaldula having already finish'd fifteen years of his earthly Pilgrimage in great austerity as a Recluse shut up within the narrow limits of one only Cell Hath conceiv'd by divin inspiration as may be piously believ'd from whence every right
down his holy Spirit upon his Apostles and the rest of his chosen children to instruct them in his will to encourage them in their duties to confirm them in their Faith to assist them in their preaching to strengthen them in their persecutions O Iesu send also your holy Spirit to cure cleanse and comfort my sick sinfull and sad soul adorn each corner of my interiour with your divin love and grace that you sacred Spirit may find there a sweet and gratefull habitation rule reign and remain in my heart O Iesu King of Glory for evermore Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother whose soul was dilated with such unspeakable joy and sweetness in the glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascention of your divin Son JESUS appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary Conclude this holy Crown with that Apostles Creed saying I believe in God c. Thirty-three Elevations and Petitions to Jesus our blessed Redeemer in honour of the Thirty-three year 's of his holy Life 1. O Good Jesu the word of the Father convert me 2. O Good Jesu the lamb of God! puryfie me 3. O Good Jesu my Master teach me 4. O Good Jesu the Prince of Peace govern me 5. O Good Jesu the sure hope of penitent Sinners behold me 6. O Good Jesu my Refuge defend me 7. O Good Jesu my Instructor direct me 8. O Good Jesu my Patience comfort me 9. O good Jesu the chief Comforter of sad Souls refresh me 10. O good Jesu my Redeemer save me 11. O good Jesu my Lord and my God! possess me 12. O good Jesu the life the way and the truth enliven me 13. O good Jesu my firm Foundation strengthen me 14. O good Jesu the light of the world illuminate me 15. O good Jesu my Justice justifie me 16. O good Jesu my Mediator sanctifie me 17. O good Jesu the Physitian of my soul heal me 18. O good Jesu my Judg absolve me 19. O good Jesu the Son of Justice shine upon me 20. O good Jesu my King deliver me 21. O good Jesu Son of David pitty me 22. O good Jesu my sanctification cleanse me 23. O good Jesu the living bread descending from Heaven satiate me 24. O good Jesu the wine bringing forth Virgins inebriate me 25. O good Jesu my Father bless me 26. O good Iesu the only joy of my heart visit me 27. O good Iesu my Helper assist me 28. O good Iesu my Protector protect me 29. O good Iesu my Love transform me 30. O good Iesu my Propitiation hide me in your wounds 31. O good Iesu the faithfull Shepheard feed me 32. O good Iesu the eternal Life receive me into the number of your Elect. 33. O good Iesu my Glory gloryfie me An Advertisement to them of the sacred Confraternity of the holy name of IESUS AFter the recitall of the Rosary of Jesus or Crown of our Lord and these Thirty-three Petitions in honour of the Thirty-three years of his holy life you may make use of some of the following Elevations to Jesus Christ our Lord and to the holy Trinity according as your opportunity and devotion shall dictate unto you and not as any part belonging to the said Rosary of Iesus which contains nothing more than what is before prescribed and expressed for though they may be practis'd with very great spiritual profit by all faithful Christians as containing a most eminent sublime and heroick manner of offring up our selv's to the divin Majesty yet the frequent use thereof is especially proper to the members of this sacred Confraternity who above all others ought to adore Gods greatness admire his goodness extoll his mercies and dedicate themselv's to his perpetuall service by the continuall remembrance of the mysteries of his Life and Incarnation which is the end of their devout Confraternity and the drift of these divin Elevations ELEVATIONS TO JESVS CHRIST our Lord In honour of his severall Estates and of the singular Mysterries of his Life TO ADORE The supream greatness of JESUS And to offer our selv's to him in way of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him in consequence of the ineffable Union of the Divinitie with our Humanity 1. The Eternall Greatness of the word Incarnate O IESU my Lord King of Angels Redeemer of Men Soveraign of the Universe only Son of God only Son of the Virgin Born from all Eternity in the Eternall Fathers bosom and in times fullness born of the Virgin Mary true God true Man I adore you in your eternall and your temporall Greatness in your divin and human Fullness in your created and uncreated Highness You are the second Person of the sacred Trinity but equall to the First and origin of the Third you are the Splendor and Glory of the eternall Father you are his power and his wisdom you are his lively Image and perfect resemblance you are his only Son and his eternall word you are God of God Light of Light 2. The Equality and Consubstantiality of the Divin Persons in a perfect distinction is a wonder in God himself YOU are in these Greatnesses by Birth Such a Birth which Equalls the Power and Paternity of him who is your Father and which is one and the same thing with the Divinity A wonder not in the world but in Eternity not in the created but uncreated Being and the Prime wonder of Eternity For you are the first Production of the Eternall Father and source of the last And by this wonderfull Birth you are Infinit as he is All-powerfull is he is God as he is Beginning and Originall of a Divin Person as he is Nor is there any other difference but that in one self-same Divinity in one equall Eternity in one semblable Majesty He is Father and you are Son you are Son but without inequality without posteriority you are Son yet of even antiquity of equall authority with him and Eternall God as he is You are Son but without diversity of Essence or of Power or of Wisdom having the unity of Essence with the diversity of Subsistency in which you are one only God with him you are adored as he is and you are the Creator Conserver and Commander of the whol world as he is 3. God low's himself to us and makes himself one of us THese Greatnesses dazle our souls we cannot look upon them from out our Earths obscurity They are to be adored not beheld and we must vail our faces in the presence of this divin object as did the Angells by Isay's relation in the sight of your Throne But you are willing to exercise you mercy's upon us you will cast a cover upon your self and render your self visible to our weak spirits and to our mortall aspects you will stoop down to us and become accessible and by a Councill which even ravishes us with wonder you will come neer us and make your self as one of us For O
apply my self to you I will transfrom my self into you I lose my self and Abysm my self in you for you are my God and I am your Creature you are my Soveraign and I your vassall you are my Redeemer and I your Bondslave 14. A totall Reference and Oblation of our selv's to Jesus THese are your qualities and these my endeavours and duties I accept of them and entirely yeild up my self And I make an Oblation to you of my Obedience of my servitude and of my Absolute dependency upon you and this I offer up to you for evermore I render up and totally submit my self to the motion of your Spirit and to the efficacious conduct of your Grace establish'd on Earth in Heaven by the new Mysterie of your Incarnation And I will have no other repose upon earth than in your labours no other delight than in your Cross no other life than in your death no other solace than in your sufferings as it is your Will that I should in Heaven and in Eternity have life in your life felicity in your felicity Paradise in your Paradise fruition in your fruition and subsistency in your Divinity ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON The Mysterie of the Incarnation TO ADORE the Supream Greatnesses of JESUS and to offer up our selv's unto him in the estate of humble servitude and absolute dependency which is due to him by reason of the ineffable union of the Divinity with the Humanity HOLY Divin and Adorable Trinity in the Unity of your Essence in the Society of your Persons in the fecundity of your Emanations I prayse and adore you in the sublimity of your Greatnesses and I Abysm my self in the profundity of your Councills and in the extent of your Mercies 1. God Created two Natures capable of himself upon one he exercises his Justice upon the other his Mercy YOU have created two Natures capable of your self That of the Angell and that of Man You will exercise upon one of them your Justice and upon the other your mercy I Adore you in this your will and I give you thanks for this your Councill which you held from all Eternity in the excess of your miserations Councill most sublime and most profound Councill most holy and most sacred to unite one day and for evermore human nature to your Divin Essence 2. The Mystery of the Incarnation is the head-work of Gods Love and Power And what is proper to the Person of thâ— Father in the Mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation O Eternall Father who do produce in your self an only Son equall to your self and do produce him out of your self by a second and new Nativity choosing him to unite in his person your nature and ours I prayse and bless you as God and as Father an ds God and Father of this only Son Jesus Christ our Lord. You beget him eternally and you bestow him as another your self in this unspeakable generation and since the Moment chosen by your wisdom you give him incessantly to this humanity derived from the Virgin Happy Moment which serv'd for the Beginning of this great work the head-work of your love and power O God and all-powerfull Father be you Eternally blessed in this moment in this work in this love Love by which you powre out of your self this Celestiaâ—l dew this divin substance this pretious gift which the World and the blessed Virgin receiv's and in her our nature Work wherein is accomplish'd the work of your works the mysterie of your mysteries the mysterie of the Incarnation Moment in which our nature receiv'd and that for an evermore the Person of your only Son for her peculiar Person and this by a tie so sacred so divin so inward and conjoyn'd to your Divinity 3. What is proper to the Person of the Son in these Mysteries O Only Son of God! who do give your Essence to the Holy Ghost and your Person to our Humanity by an ineffable and secret Power of your Love I prayse you contemplate you and adore you in your self and in these two different donations you eternally produce the Holy Ghost and give him the same essence which you have receiv'd of the Father you create and form a new man by a new effort of your grace and power and you give your self to him uniting his nature to your own Person nor do you ever cease in this union and divin donation you thus worthily and divinly exercise your love you conspire in unitie with the Father in these two great donations the one Eternall the other Temporall and you fill up with the one times fullness and with the other the fullness of Eternitie blessed be you in time and in Eternitie When you discoursed of your self to your most inward and familiar friends that is to your Apostles in the last hour of your life you then nam'd your self Life and so you are the Life and Originall of Life and of Love in the thrice sacred Trinity which Death cannot bereave you of but in the the excess of your love you would yet become a new Life and a new beginning of Life and Love in your humanity Blessed be you in this will and in this love Love depressing and exalting Love annihilating and deifying Love crucifying and glorifying for this Love elevates the humanity and depresseth the divinity this Love annihilates in a manner your nature and deifies ours this Love puts you on the Cross and placeth us â—n Glory and finally this Love transforms us into you not only by communication of qualities but even by communication of substance O Son of God! I love you and I adore you in this love in this annihilation in this powerfull transformation 4. What is proper to the Person of the Holy Ghost in these Mysteries FRom you I come to the Holy Ghost who proceeds from you as you proceed from the Father for in this way of Life and Love I trace the order of the divin Processions and sources of Life and after the Son I address my self to you O Fountain of Life O holy Spirit Spirit of Truth of Life and of Love and I adore you in your self for you are God in the unity which you have with the Father and the Son I adore you in your Emanation for you proceed from them and you are their Spirit their Tye their Love and I again adore you in the admirable operation which you exercise in the time ordain'd by the eternall wisdom for it is the highest and holyest Operation which can be terminated out of your self Operation which environs the worthiest person that ever shall be next to the divin Persons that is the Person of the Virgin Operation which depresses and exalts her depresses her even into the center of her nothing drawing from her these sacred words Behold our Lords hand-mayd and exalts her to the greatest dignity which shall ever be communicated either to her or to any other making her Mother of God
Operation which prepares and unites our nature with the Divinity and the Person of the Virgin with the Person of the Word Operation which accomplisheth the Incarnation of the word and the deification of human nature which remaining human in the very estate of this divin union receiv's uncreated and infinite Grace in a being which is created finite and like to ours 5. Contemplations upon the humanity of Jesus ANd you O sacred Humanity which by this Operation of the Holy Ghost are divinly deriv'd from the Virgin and personally united to the eternall Word I contemplate and adore you in that mervailous estate whereunto you enter Estate of Existency in the divin Being Estate of subsistency in the Person of the Word Estate of Filiation not adoptive but proper and naturall and I lose my self in the consideration of the inward and secret communications of the divin perfections which are singularly conferr'd upon a nature rhus resident thus living thus existent in the divinity 6. Contemplations upon the association of the blessed Virgin in the Mysterie of the Incarnation ANd since the most sacred Trinity chooseth you O holy Virgin and associates you to himself in this admirable operation I cannot forget you in this Mysterie nor ought I to seperate what God in this work hath conjoyn'dâ— Work in which he vouchsafes to you so great and honourable a part and so peculiar to you only amongst all Creatures I prayse then and reverence you with a singular Veneration correspondent to the excess of that excellency and dignity communicated unto you For you are Mother of God and you are the only in this order and quality and it is in you and in you only that this work of works is accomplish'd and this divin union between the Humanity and the Divinity is consummated In these thoughts there is enough to ravish a Soul to loose it in the diversity of these Objects and to swallow it up in their deep profundities I am confounded in the contemplation of them I caâ—… my self down I lift my self up I rejoyce I leap out of my self and I will have share in this new grace of this new mysterie of the Incarnation 7. An Oblation of humble Servitude to Jesus and to his deifi'd Humanity ANd expecting untill it shall please God to make me capable of some one of the holy inventions of his Spirit and of the operations of his grace and love by consequence of this mysterie I offer and submit my self I vow and dedicate my self to Jesus Christ our Lord in the state of perpetuall servitude to him and to his deify'd Humanity and to his humaniz'd Divinity and this with a resolution as firm constant and inviolable as by his grace is possible for me to make and as the durance and perpetuity of this stable mysterie permament for all Eternity doth deserve 8. A larger expression of this servitude WHerefore in honour of the unity of the Son with the Father and the Holy Ghost and of the union of the â—ame Son with human nature which he â—aâ—th united and joyn'd to his own Person I do unite and fasten my being to Jesus Christ and to his deify'd Humanity by the bond of perpetuall servitude I knit this knot on my part with all my power and beg of him to give me more power to tie my self to him with a closer and faster colligation in honour of those holy and sacred connexions which he will have with us in Earth and in Heaven in the life of grace and of glory 9. The Life of the Divinity in the Humanity I Reverence and adore the Life and annihilating of the Divinity in the Humanity the life the substance and the deification of this Humanity in the Divinity and all the actions humanly divin and divinly human which have proceeded from this new and mutual life of the Man-God living in two Essences whereof one is Eternall the other Temporall the one is Divin the other Humanâ— Life great high and profound of the Man-God and of the God Man Life rare and admirable but hidden in its own sublimity Life unknown even to Angels and to all created nature under the manifestation of glory Life hidden I say and unknown of the Divinity in this Humanity and of the Humanity in the Divinity In homage of this double Life and Essence I dedicate and consecrate to him my life and my actions of nature and of grace and this I consecrate to him in quality of the life and actions of one of his Bond-slaves for evermore 10. The denudation of Jesus's human subsistencie is the cause that his humanity and all its actions are appropriated to the Person of the Eternall word by which it subsists I Reverence the denudation and nakeding which the Humanity of Iesus hath of its own proper and ordinary subsistencie to be revested with another subsistency which we may call forreign and extraordinary to its own nature whence it is that its life and its estate its motiâ—…s and its actions are not now from it self nor its own to speak properly but they are all that's actions which sustains it thus denuded of its won peculiar subsistence In honour of this Privation of the Humanity of a thing so inward and so conjoyn'd to its own nature and of the new and absolute dependencie which it hath of a divin Person I renounce all power authority and liberty which I have to dispose of my self of my being of all the conditions circumstances and â—ppurtenances thereof and of all my actions to dismiss my self entirely into the hands of Jesus and of his sacred humanity to his honour and glory for the accomplishment of all his purposes and powers upon me 11. An Oblation of all that we are and can to this sacred Humanity I make unto you O Iesu and to your deify'd Humanity an entire absolute and irrevocable Oblation and Donation of all that I am by you in the Being and in the order of nature and grace of all that which depends thereupon of all the naturall and good actions which I shall ever perform referring my self totally that is all that which is in me and all that which I can refer to the homage and honour of your sacred humanity which I from henceforth look upon and lay hold on as the object whereunto after God I refer my soul my interiour and exteriour Life and generally all whatsoever is mine 12. JESUS is doubly in the state of a servant 1. by humbling his divin Person to a created nature 2. by dying on the Cross O Great and admirable Jesu notwithstanding your greatness I behold you in the state and form of a servant and I see that you have taken this form and this estate in two severall manners the one by taking our human nature in the Mysterie of the Incarnation and abjecting in it the infinite and supream being of your Divinity even to the nothing of our nature the other by taking the abject condition of our
mortall infirm and miserable life upon â—arth and depressing this humanity thus united to the Word in the state and mysterie of your mortall wayfaring unregarded and suffering life for this Humanity being in this sort elevated into the Throne and estate of a divin Person should not have been in any other condition than of Glory and Splendour Of Splendour I say befitting the Divinity to which it is inseparably united And yet O Love O Bounty you depress it for me even to an estate and form of an humble life and serving your own creatures and at last even to the opprobrious cruell and servill punishment of the Cross 13. An Oblation of our selv's to Jesus in honour of this his double estate of being a servant THerfore in honour of this double estate and form of servant unto which you have been pleas'd to reduce your Supream Greatness I offer and present my self unto you O Jesu I render my self for ever a Slave to you and to your Adorable Humanity I render my self Slave to your Love Slave to your Greatness and Slave to your depressions I embrace this condition and make it universally and totally subjecting all whatsoever is in me For my will is that all that which I am my will is that my life of nature and of grace and all my actions be yours and your sacred Humanities as things belonging to it in a new manner by this qualitie and condition of servitude towards it which I now here offer And I require that my life my estate and my Soul carry a Particular badge of this my belonging dependency and servitude to you and to your Humanity thus Deifi'd and thus depressed both together 14. The Continuance of this Oblation of Servitude AND could I but come to the knowledge of any estate and reference of my self towards you more dependent of you and any relation more humble and more strict than this of bondage and servitude I would forthwith embrace it therby to refer my self to you as a thing due both to the greatness of the estate to which your Humanity is elevated by the Hypostaticall union as also the excess of its love and of that voluntarie depression whereunto it humbled and annihilated it self for my salvation and for my glorie 15. A confirmation of this our Oblation of Servitude BUT alas what shall I do your greatnesses are permanent our duties of Fealtie are perpetuall and I come late to these lights and yet they also are unsteady and our minds do easily permit themselv's to be diverted from things so great so worthy and so just But I will confirm my self in these verities and in these Intentions I will repair the time past I will render my self yours even for all that time in which I might have known you and might have serv'd you I will bequeath unto you for ever all that I am and all that I can I will that all that which is in me reflect towards you and serve you only and perfectly I will have no other conduct motion or sense but by you and for you And I will that in vertu of this present cogitation intention and oblation each moment of my life and each action of the same appertain to you O Jesu and to your sacred Humanity as if I made a particular tender of them all unto you 16. An ardent desire of an inseparable union with Christ O Only Son of God! The Tye wherby you have fastn'd your self to us is indissoluble nor was Death which you suffred nor Hell which you entred nor Mens sins which you carryed able to break it I would also make with you an indissoluble knot O Jesu my Lord You can grant me this favour And that on my part I may dispose my self thereto I Adore you in the unity you have with the Father Unity which renders you inseparable from him I adore you in the Union which you have with us Union so strong that nothing can dissolve it Union so inward that it cannot be more intrinsecall and immediate since that it penetrates even to the bottom of human Being In the honour and in the efficacy of this union I offer up to you this my desire of being united to you for evermore And I make irrevocable as much as possibly I may this my Oblation Donation and servitude to you and to your humanity as being holy and sacred by reason of your Divinity it self which is substantially and personally resident therein 17. The Humanity of Jesus is the Temple of the Divinity O Holy Humanity you are the Temple of the Divinity and even so he calls you who chose you for himself and united you to himself and who hath the words of life for he said to the Jews Dissolve this Temple and I will in three days build it up again And those gross and materiall minds apply'd this discours to their Temple and to their stones But O Jesu according to your own Apostle you spake of another Temple of the Temple of your body A Temple principall singular and particular of the Divinity which was pleas'd to choose this Body this Humanity to triumph in it and by it and render it self visible in its greatnesses in the midd'st of the Earth 18. What great things are wrought in this Humanety THE Divinity therfore reposeth in you O sacred Humanity as in its Temple Temple living and animated Temple consecrated by the unction of the Divinity it self which is present subsistent and living in you to take up there its repose to be there acknowledg'd and ador'd and there to operate divin and adorable actions And it reposeth in this Humanity more holily more divinly and more admirably than even in the order and state of glory And it cooperats there things more high and more great than it doth in Heaven For we see that in it God is Man and Man is God God is born and dying God is living and suffering and Man-God is satisfying in the tearms of Justice to the Divin Justice A thing far surpassing all present and possible condition of Grace and Glory 19. This Humanity is holy by the Divinity it self which is a substantiall sanctity flowing from him into himself and thence into us I Also Reverence and Adore you O sacred Humanity as the most holy thing after God which God himself finds amongst the Treasures of his Wisdom and amongst the unexhaustible depths of his absolute power For notwithstanding that you resemble us in nature you are not like to us in Grace because the Grace and Sanctity which is proper to you is not such as is proper to Angells and men which though it were infinitly multiply'd could never arrive to the shadow of your sanctity but would be still infinitly distant But you are holy with a holiness incomparably higher with a holiness proper to your self with a holiness which is adorable with a holiness issuing from the divin Essence and Person as from its act and from its proper
Soveraign Lady Queen of Heaven and Earth that you thus vouchsafe to give a visit to your unworthy Bondslave Bestow on me your Blessing O my Lady and permit me not to go into darkness whom you have been graciously pleas'd to visit with the light of your glorious presence Then turning towards the by-standers The Queen of the World was here says he the Mother of the Eternall Monark was present She hath shew'd me the gladness of her countenance given me her holy blessing and is hence returned into heaven And soon after his departing Soul followed his sacred Mistress leaving a most lively and memorable example to excite posteritie to the like pietie and devotion 3. Whereupon this Devotion of the Bondage is grounded THis Devotion of Bondage is chiefly grounded upon that most heroique Act of Humilitie which the sacred Virgin produc'd at the time of our Saviours Incarnation when being declar'd Gods Mother by the Angelicall Messenger she answer'd Behold the Handmaid of ovr Lord Luk 1. 38. Wherby she depressing her self into the center of her own nothing chose undoubtedly the meanest degree of servitude and Bondage to the divin Majestie upon contemplation that his Infinit Greatness should so humble it self as to become Man in her womb for the worlds Redemption And surely if we will only put together the severall sentences of sacred Writ which expresly concern her we shall find that she made up the Chain of her Bondage with the links of twelve most excellent vertues 1. Virginall MODESTY She was troubled at the Angells words Luk 1.29 2. Mature PRUDENCE She cast in her mind what manner of Salutation this should be Luk 1.29 3. BASHFULL TIMEROUSNES Fear not MARY for thou hast found grace with God Luk 1.30 4. Immaculate CHASTITY How shall this be seeing I know not man Luk 1.34 5. Profound HUMILITIE Behold the Handmaid of our Lord. Luk 1.38 6. Perfect OBEDIENCE Be it don to me according to thy word Luk 1.38 7. Firm FAITH Blessed art thou who hast believed Luk 1.45 8. Gratefull THANKSGIVING My Soul doth Magnify our Lord. Luk 1.46 9. True POVERTY She wrapp'd the Infant in swadling cloaths and layd him in a manger Luk 2.7 10. Invincible PATIENCE Thy Father and I grieving have sought thee Luk 1.48 11. Charitable PIETIE Son they have no Wine John 2.3 12. Perseverant CONSTANCY Near to the Cross of Jesus stood his Mother John 19.25 In imitation therfore of these her holy vertues and especially of that high Act of Humility as is aforesaid by which she rendring her self Gods Bondslave was rais'd to be his Mother for no sooner had She finish'd that humble speech Behold the Handmaid of our Lord be it unto me according to thy saying but the Word was made Flesh and dwelt in her sacred bowells As also in consideration of the Soveraign Dominion which God hath given her in Heaven over the Angells The Queen stood at thy right hand Psal 44. on Earth over men Kings reign by me c. Prov. 18. And thou alone hast overcome all heresies in the whol world sings the Church And over Hell and the Devill She shall bruise thy head Gen. 3. And Lastly in remembrance that Christ Jesus our Redeemer was himself subject and obedient unto her Luc. 3.51 In Imitation Consideration and Memorie of these things I say this holy manner of honouring the most sacred Virgin was as you have briefly heard invented above six hundred years since by divin inspiration as we may piously believe and is much practis'd amongst the devouter sort of Christians throughout the world even at this day 4. The Rules of this Devotion of the Bondage 1. IN sign of the Invisible and spirituall Chain which links our sincere affection to the sacred Virgin and moves us to become her servants and Bondslaves we must wear some little materiall Chain or manacle of Iron about our middle neck or armes 2. We are to have the Chain we intend to wear bless'd by some Priest in this following manner The Blessing of the Chaines Vers ADjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui fecit coelum terram Vers Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum Resp Ex hoc nunc usque in saeculum Vers Domine exaudi orationem meamâ— Resp Et clamor meus ad te veniat Vers Dominus vobisâ—um Resp Et cum Spiritu tuo OREMUS OMnipotens sempiterne Deus qui vincula peccatorum nostrorum disrumpis ut libertate Filiorum gaudere valeamus qui ad vincula salutis hominem advocas dicens Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius ne acedier is vinculis ejus Haec vincula quae in signum perpetuae servitutis ad honorem Beatae Virginis servi ejus deferre intendunt Bene †dicere Sancti †ficare digneris Et concede eis sic devotè illa gerere ut vivendo candore castitatis illustrentur ac moriendo a vinculis peccatorum absoluti intercessione ejusdem sanctissimae Matris Mariae tecum cum illa in regno gloriae congaudere valeant sine fine Qui vivis regnas in saecula saeculorum Amen Then he sprinkles the chains with holy water saying †In nomine Patris Filii †Spiritus Sancti Amen 3. We may do well to make choyce of some day dedicated to the Virgins honour for the entring into this Bondage and putting on of this Chain to make our Profession more memorable and solemn Note that the most proper and principall Feasts of this Bondage are the Annunciation and the Assumption The first being the Origin thereof grounded upon those words of the sacred Virgin to the Angell Behold the Handmaid of our Lord And the second being her taking possession of that soveraign Dominion next after God whereupon the whol duty of this devout servitude depends In these days therfore we are more particularly and zealously to offer up our devotions in thanksgiving to the Divin Majâ—stie for the supream excellencies bestow'd upon the glorious Virgin and to renew the profession of our Bondage by the recitall of the Prayer and Oblation made at our first entrance into it as it shall be hereafter set down 4. We should also prepare our selv's before hand by some particular Devotion as Fasting Mortification Meditation Almes-deeds Confession Communion to render the Profession of our Bondage more efficacious and meritorious 5. Then at the time appointed we are to kneel down reverently before some Altar or Image of our Blessed Lady and make an Oblation of our selv's unto her in mannner following The Prayer and Oblation of our selv's in Bondage to the Blessed Virgin O Blessed Mary Mother of God Queen of Heaven and Empress of the whol universe Behold I N. N. a most unworthy wretch humbly prostrate before the Throne of your Mercy and Goodness heartily Congratulating your glory greatness and faithfully acknowledging your soveraign Power Dominion next after God over my self and all Creatures Do here make a voluntarie absolute and irrevocable
the end Amen Ave Maria c. 4. The fourth Exercise may be to practice some particular devotion upon such day's as are dedicated to the blessed Virgins memory and honour which are all the Saturday's besides the rest of her annuall Festivities These devotions may be to visit her Altar to recite her Litanies to make use of some of these or the like prescribed forms c. 5. The fifth Exercise may be the paying of some Annuall Tribute as St. Peter Damian tearms it to the blessed Virgin how little soever it be in token of the homage and servitude due to her Soveraign Empire This Tribute may be tendred at some Altar dedicated to her honour together with the recitall of this Prayer Receive O Soveraign Empress this small Tribute which I here most humbly present to your sacred Majesty in acknowledgment of that supream Dominion you have next after God over my heart and to testifie the desire I have to live and dye your Bond-slave Permit not O sacred Virgin that I ever pay unto Sathan the World or my sensuality any Tribute of Sin and procure for me a happy passage from this my earthly Pilgrimage to the Heavenly Paradise there to offer up to your Son and You an Eternall Tribute of prayse and benediction Amen 6. The sixth Exercise may be that of Penance and Mortification by discreetly taking a Disciplin or wearing some harsh thing upon the bare skin c at certain times of the year according to each ones strength of body and the counsell of his Ghostly Father reciting upon such day 's seaven times the Salve Regina in memory of the blessed Virgins seven sorrows and adding this Prayer taken out of St. Peter Damian O my most glorious Lady the Mirror of purity and pattern of all vertu I wretched Sinner do most humbly acknowledg that I have higly offended your Son and You by the foolish and besotted liberty of my body and soul and therefore having now no other Refuge left me I here prostrate my heart before you O my compassionate Mother bequeathing my self unto you in quality of a Bond-slave and submitting my whol self to your holy Empire and command Curb I beseech you this rebellious body of mine receive this contumacious and stubborn heart and let not your Mercy reject me a sinner since your Immaculate Virginity brought forth the Author of all Piety 7. The seaventh Exercise may be these sublim Elevations following which may be divided into severall parts and recited according to each ones opportunity and devotion ELEVATIONS TO GOD AND ADORATIONS To the thrice holy Trinity In honour of the share he was pleas'd to give unto the Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation effecting it in her and by her and to honour the most holy Virgin in that Dignity of being Gods Mother And to offer our selves to her in the state of Dependencie and servitude which is due unto her upon this title and to correspond by our inward devotion to the speciall Power which she hath over us by consequence of this her divin and admirable Maternitie 1. Adoration of the Sacred Trinity SAcred Trinity Adorable in your self and in your works I praise Admire and Adore you in the Unity of your Essence in the Equality of your Persons in the Profundity of your wisdom in the Extent of your Providence and in that your Work of Works which makes God Man and a Virgin Gods Mother 2. The Greatness of the Mystery of the Incarnation WORK Ineffable Admirable Incomprehensible Work only worthy the power and greatness of the Worker Work The chief of your works the Originall of your Mysteries the Sampler of your Greatnesses and the Sun of your Mervails Work which incloseth your Essence is terminated by one of your Persons and produces the most Eminent dignity which was ever brought forth into a Being out of the Divinity 3. Which is so Eminent a Work AND this Work so great so rare so Eminent was don in a Moment yet not for a Moment but for an Eternity This Work is done in time yet not for a time but for an ever and ever This Work is don in Nazareth yet not for Nazareth but for the whol universe This Work is don on Earth not in Heaven but 't is done both for Earth and for Heaven This Work is don amongst men but 't is done for Angells for Men and for the God of Gods For it gives a Mother to God a King to Angels and to Men a Saviour 4. And the chief work ad extra of the Divinity 'T IS the Head-work of your hands O Divin Admirable and Adorable Trinity which imitates and expresses the Life the Communication the Society which we Adore in the divin Persons For you who Work all things for your self and in contemplating your self would in this Work imprint an Idea of your self would in the honour of your own life and communication which is divin and eternall make a life and communication divin and temporall would enter into society and communication with your creatures to Imitate and honour the communication and Society which is in your persons would in a fair Resemblance seem to match the force of your inward love and internall communication in this outward effusion of love and externall communication out of your own Essence And making choice of your lowest creature would enter into league into communication into unity with men by singularly imparting your self and peculiarly associating your self to one human nature and to one human Person To one human nature by the Incarnation of one of your Persons To one human Person by the Operation of your three Persons who in the greatest of their Works would in a manner enter Society with the Virgin 5. The mystery of the Incarnation is divided between the sacred Trinity and the Virgin O Infinit condescendency The Three divin Persons living and acting in perfect unity eternally happy and compleatly content in their own mutuall Society will extend this Society to a new person and being to operate jointly the Head-work of their Power and Bounty will associate the Virgin to themselv's in this their greatest operation in that for the full accomplishment of their own glory love and greatness being to conjoyn the Created Being with the Being Increated in one of their Persons and to give it a new nature they would share the Glory of this great work between the Virgin and themselves and making choyce of her amongst all Creatures they made her worthy and capable to give together with themselv's this new Nature and to be Mother of the word Incarnate thus elevating a human Person to such a pitch of Power and to so high a Prerogative and conferring on it so great a part in so great a Mystery Blessed be you O sacred Trinity in this your divin will and holy Councill which makes the Son of God Mans Son and which makes a Virgin Gods Mother Highest Councill therfore worthy the
proper vertu and Power O Father O Son O Mother How great and glorious things ought to be spoken and thought of you The two Divin and Eternall Persons the Father and Son are divinly link'd together and for their link in their Eternity they have a divin Person to wit the Holy Ghost equally proceeding from them both in whose unity they are both Eternally joyn'd together And these two sacred Persons the Father who is in Heaven and the Mother who is upon Earth are also holily link'd together and have in like sort for the Tye of their sacred union a divin Person to wit One self-same only Son who proceeds from them both and who between them both is this indissoluble band whereby they are for an Eternity conjoyn'd together O union which hath Jesus for its Tye Jesus I say who is the Center if the Created and Increated Being Jesus in whom is holily and happily terminated the union of two natures the one human the other divin which establisheth the mystery of the Incarnation and the uniting of two Persons the one likewise divin the other human which also establisheth the Divin Maternity wherein the sacred Virgin is united to the Father by the production of Jesus wherein she is link'd to him with so neer a union so powerfull a union and so fertill a union that it hath not its like in the large extent of all created things O let 's be the Fathers let 's be the Sons let 's be the Mothers And let 's honour the Father and the Son in this Mother who is so nearly joyn'd unto them both and who in her Estate hath so close an alliance with the Father that she conceives his Son and brings forth so worthy a fruit so powerfull an effect so lively an Image of the Divine Paternity 9. The Eternall Word who is in Society with the Father and Holy Ghost before all time doth in time enter League and Society with the Virgin AND you O Eternall Word who being her God will also become her Son What shall I say what shall I do in honour of the Son and of the Mother You are in unity and in Society with the Father who produceth you and with the Holy Ghost whom you produce and yet you will besides these two divin and co-eternall Persons enter into so inward and honorable a band union and Society with a third Person with a human Person with a temporall Person you will be the Virgins Son as you are the Son of God and you will have her for Mother as you have God for Father And by your Power and Goodness you make her the worthy Mother of God by your humility you render Obedience to her and become subject to her during your life upon Earth and trowning your own handy-works by your love and wisdom you in Heaven confer upon her such glory as corresponds to this her sacred dignity and authority Be you eternally bless'd and prays'd O great God I will for ever Reverence both the Son and the Mother I will Reverence the Mother by reason of the Son and the Son in the Mother I will Reverence all that which the Virgin is to her Son and to her God and all that which her Son God is to her And I will honour all the mutual connexions which are unknown and ineffable between the Son of God and the sacred Virgin as secrets of which the Earth must remain ignorant and which are reserv'd to the glory to the love and to the light of Heaven 10. Oblation and Donation to the Son and to the Mother in quality of Bond-slave IN the sight and at the thought of these so great so high so holy things I offer up and submit my self I vow and dedicate my self to Christ Jesus my Lord and my Saviour in the state of perpetuall Servitude and also to his holy Mother the sacred Virgin Mary To the Eternall honour both of Mother and of Son I will be henceforth in the quality and condition of slavery in regard of her who is in the state and quality of the Mother of my God therby to honour more humbly and more holily this her so high and so divin qualâ—ty and condition And I bequeath my self to her as a perpetuall Bond-slave in the honour of that Donation which the â—…ernall word made to her of himself in quality of a Son by the mysterie of the Incarnation which he accomplish'd in her and by her 11. Enlargment and Explication of this Donation with the particulars thereof Renounce all my own power and liberty of disposing of my self and my actions yeilding up this power to the sacred Virgin and dismissing my self entirely into her hands in homage to her greatness in honour of that perfect demission which she made of her self to her Son Jesus I give to her that power which God gives me over my self to be hers and no longer my own to be in her power and tuition and no more in my own In honour of the power which Gods Son gave her over himself and of the humble dependency and subjection he was pleas'd to yeild unto her delivering up himself to her custody direction and tutelage during the whol time of this Infancy and child-hood I bequeath to her my Being and my Living during the whol remainder of my Pilgrimage upon Earth with all the conditions circumstances and appurtenances which accompany the same I yeild up all to her greatness as much as I can and dedicate all to her honour and glory for the fulfilling of all her wills and powers over me In this ardour of spirit and to this intention I humbly address my self to you O sacred Virgin and I make here unto you an entire absolute and irrevocable Oblation of all that I am by Gods mercy in the Being and in the order of Nature and Grace of all that thereon depends and of all the actions I shall ever perform For my will is that whatsoever is mine be absolutely yours and that the power and the grace which is bestow'd on me be employ'd in referring my self wholy with all that is in me to your honour And I here make choyce of you O holy Virgin and I will henceforth look upon you as the only object whereunto next after your Son and under your Son I shall make the reference of my soul and of my life both interiour and exteriour and generally of all that any way belongs unto me 12. This Oblation tends to the honour of the Virgins Elevation and Depression in the Mysterie of the Incarnation WHilst I am in these contemplations of you O holy Virgin I find that even in the day of your Greatness you humble your self even to the very center of nothing rendring your self then our lords servant when you are declared his Mother Wherfore I honour in you these two motions and these two different qualities I honour this Humiliation and this Exaltation both together I honour both your Servitude and also
and of your being her Son and likewise in the honour of this that she is the only one amongst all Creatures who hath this admirable estate and this singular relation to you and I humbly beg of you that in this quality you will vouchsafe me a share in your eternall way 's and mercyes AMEN A concluding Prayer to the sacred Virgin-Mother upon the same subject O Holy Virgin Mother of God! Queen of Men and Angels Mervail of Heaven and Earth I reverence you in all â—he ways that I can according to God that I should according to your own Greatness and according as your divin Son Christ Jesus our Lord would have you reverenc'd upon Earth and in Heaven I make to you an Oblation of my soul and my life and will belong to you for evermore and I will render you some particular Homage and Dependencie in all future time and Eternity O Mother of grace and mercy I make choyce of you for the Mother of my soul in honour of that choyce which God himself made of you for the Mother of his Son O Queen of Men and Angels I accept and acknowledg you for my Soveraign Mother in honour of that Dependency which my Saviour and my God had on you as upon his Mother And in this Quality I bequeath unto you all power over my soul and over my life as much as according to God I can bequeath it O sacred Virgin Mother look upon me as upon your own thing and in your goodness use me as the Subject of your power and as the Object of your pity O Source of Life Fountain of Grace Refuge of Sinners I have recourse unto you hoping therby to be freed from sin furnish'd with Grace and preserv'd from eternall Death O take me into your tuition let me have a part in your priviledges and obtain for me by your greatnesses and by this right of my appertaining to you that which I deserve not to obtain by reason of my offences and let the last hour of my Life that hour which is to decide my Eternity be in your hands in honour of that happy Moment of the Incarnation wherein God became Man and you were made Gods Mother O Virgin and O Mother both together O sacred Temple of the soveraign Deity O Mervail of Heaven and of Earth O glorious Mother of my God! I am yours by the generall Title of your greatness but I will be also yours by the particular Title of my own choyce and by this act of my own Free-will Wherefore I give my self wholly to you and to your only Son Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour and I resolve to let pass no day without rendring to him and to you some particular homage and some speciall testification of this my dependency and servitude in which my desire is to dy and live for Evermore THE THIRD APPENDIX JOSEPH OR Devotions to S. Joseph the Glorious Husband of the Virgin Mary and reputed Father of Christ Jesus With Elevations unto him THE many Excellencies Priviledges and Prerogatives of Saint Joseph are largely deduced by severall Learned Writers Out of Whom these few following are selected wherupon to ground our Devotion to this great Saint and to lay a foundation for the ensuing affective Acts and Elevations 1. Saint Joseph was sanctifi'd in his Mothers womb Which favour seems in some sort due to him who was to have so neer a relation to the Word Incarnate the Source and Origin of all sanctity and who was design'd from all Eternity in the Conclave of the Adorable Trinity to be the President of Gods great Councill of State upon Earth the Angell Guardian of the Queen of Angells the reputed Father and the reall Fosterer Nurser Conductor and Governor of JESVS the worlds Messias and the Head of his holy Family Now since Gods Family consisted only of two Persons Jesus and Mary who were of more worth and dignity than all the rest of Heavenly and Earthly Creatures together it was convenient that He who was to govern them should also resemble them in Greatness Dignity and Sanctity and consequently that he should possess in some measure by an anticipated pardon of his Originall sin and by an advanced favour of sanctifying Grace that Puritie which the Son possessed by Nature and the Mother by Priviledge 2. He was the next after the sacred Virgin who made an express Vow and promise to God of Perpetuall virginity And this Resolution Intention and Promise both of Her and Him was reveal'd to each other respectively and renewed by them jointly before they were contracted together by formall Matrimony For how els could Blessed Mary who had oblig'd her self to virginall Integrity have consented either in Prudence or Justice to give the Power over her body to a person of whose Chastity she might be ignorant or doubtfull of his Constancie Surely the known Purity of her Chast Bridegroom gave her the confidence to treat and converse with him as securely as she did with the holy Seraphins 3. He no sooner perceiv'd his Blessed Spouse to be bigg with child but he cast about how he might handsomly retreat from her company not as harbouring the least doubt or distrust of her Innocency being more certain of her Invisible Chastity than of her visible appearing to be with child and knowing that it was more easy for a Virgin to conceive than for Mary to deceive him or distain her own honour But out of a deep and humble sense of his due respect towards her Son and her self as judging himself altogether unworthy to contemplate with his eyes and carry in his arms the Divin Word Incarnate and to converse intimately and familiarly with the glorious Mother of this God Man who was shorthly after to be born into the World 4. He govern'd Gods Family for above thirty years space As the Divin Providence hath establish'd three Orders in the World That of Nature that of Grace and that of Hypostaticall Vnion So he hath chosen and appointed three sorts of servants for the conduct and government of these Orders The Angells serve him in the order of Nature the Apostles in the order of Grace but he chose S. Joseph alone after the sacred Virgin to serve him in the third Order which is that of Jesus in the ineffable Mysterie of his Incarnation O the Excellency the Eminencie the Greatness of Saint Joseph O his honour and happyness to enjoy so long the Innocent embraces of Jesus in his Childhood The holy Entertainments of Jesus in his riper years The divin actions examples and instructions of Jesus in his perfect age And to live so long in company and conversation with the most holy and accomplish'd Princess that ever was 5. He together with his sacred Spouse circumcis'd Jesus in the Stable of Bethleem eight day 's after his Birth into the world and according to the divin Order and command which was signifi'd unto him by an Angelicall Messenger impos'd upon him that glorious