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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19433	The interiour occupation of the soule Treating of the important businesse of our saluation with God, and his saints, by way of prayer. Composed in French for the exercise of that court, by the R. Father, Pater Cotton of the Societie of Iesus, and translated into English by C.A. for the benefit of all our nation. Whereunto is prefixed a preface by the translator, in defence of the prayers of this booke, to the saints in heauen.; Interioure occupation d'une âme devote. English	Coton, Pierre, 1564-1626.; Anderton, Christopher, attributed name.; Apsley, Charles, attributed name.; C. A., fl. 1619.	1618 (1618)	STC 5860; ESTC S108849	75,781	318

most humble pardon for all the honour which since I came first to the vse of reason I haue giuen to creaturs without referring it actually or habitually to thee who art the fountaine of all greatnesse and excellencie it selfe of which excellencie honour is but a testimonie and marke 9. To conclude I acknowledge and adore thee O soueraigne Deitie Father Sonne holy Ghost as often as I breath or as there are minutes in an houre starres in the Skye leaues vpon the trees sands in the sea thoughts in the hearts of men and Angels 10. Dispose of the world as it shall please thee doe with me and with all creatures as seemes best to thy Maiestie raise vp plucke downe chastice cherish be thou such to Angels men in Heauen in earth in time and in aeternitie as stands best with thy liking In all and by all and alwaies I will adore thy prouidence I will conforme my selfe to thy will as the onely paradice of my soule And I will make good to all against all this most certaine truth that thou canst not do but that which I will for I will whatsoeuer thou dost Title 2. Thankesgiuing 1. I Thanke thee O my GOD that thou art as thou art the greatest good that can befall mee 2. I thanke thee O mightie Father that knowing thy selfe thou ingendrest a word which is thy Sonne and another thy selfe 3. I present most humbly thanksgiuing O incomparable Father that thou louest thy Sonne and thy Sonne loueth thee with such a loue and so admirably perfect that it carryeth with it the common essence nature and substance of you both 4. I thanke thee O my God for the extraordinary graces which thou hast bestowed vpō the soule of our Sauiour Iesus Christ thy Son and I thanke thee my sweete Iesus for those which thou hast imparted to thy worthy Mother and I thanke thee O mercifull holy Ghost for those which the Angels the Patriarches the Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and all the Court of Heauen haue receiued from thee not onely during their abode heere in earth but also since their happie abode in Heauen 5. And in particuler I giue thee thankes for the grace and glory thou hast bestowed vpon mine Angell guardian and vpon the Saint my patron of whom by thy especiall prouidence I haue my name 6. What thanksgiuing shall I render vnto thee for the goods of my soule and body which I haue receiued from thee I doe giue thee thankes for them in him for whome and by whom thou hast bestowed them vpon me who is Iesus Christ thy Sonne And I giue thee thanks that in his name and by his merites I haue receiued them not willing to haue any thing but by him and for him I present vnto thee the same thanksgiuing which the soule of my Lord thy Sonne did offer vnto thee at that instant when it knew it selfe created of nothing and personally vnited to the word 7. I giue thee thankes for thy guifts not because they are mine but because they are thine not because they are agreeable to my will but because they are conformable to thine being most ready and willing to be depriued of them when it shall please thee to take them to thee againe beseeching thee that thou wilt so doe when thou shalt iudge it more for thy glory 8. Thou hast bestowed graces vpon mee which through thy grace I know and acknowledge and thou hast bestowed vpon me others of which through mine owne blindnesse I am ignorant Thou hast bestowed and wouldst yet bestow more if it were not long of my selfe Thou wilt bestow also others which I shall not acknowledge and which through my frailtie and accustomed ingratitude I shall abuse For all which my God God of infinite goodnesse mercy I giue thee thanks with all the force that it hath pleased thee to bestow vpon mee not knowing nor being able to doe it as I should I doe it in Iesus Christ thy Sonne with the same affection acknowledgement and thanksgiuing which his holy humanitie hath giuen and doth giue incessantly to thy Diuinitie for whatsoeuer fauours or graces it receiued of thee 9. I am also to giue thee thankes for those graces and fauours which I neuer receiued and which out of thy infinite goodnesse and prouidence thou hast forborne to bestow vpon me as knowing that I would haue abused them and thereby haue become more accomptable to thy most exact and most perfect iustice 10. Ouer and aboue all this as I stand greatly oblieged vnto thee for thy fauours and graces themselues So it is true that I am much more obliged for that loue charitie out of which thou hast bestowed them vpon me For the which because it is infinite I giue thee infinite thankes in him who is the efficient instrumental meretorious and finall cause of all thankefulnesse Iesus Christ thy Sonne for whom and by whom thou hast done all praise loue and glory bee vnto thee in him and by him world without end Amen Title 3. Petition 1 IF I were mine owne O my God I would demaund many thinges according to my owne sence and will but seeing it hath pleased thy merciful Charitie that I should not be mine owne but thine what can I desire for my selfe which is not for thee and according to thee Doe th●● for me as for thy selfe and dispose of me as of a thing that is thine 2. O Lord I am thine by creation by conseruation by redemption and by especiall vocation by condition of nature and election of my owne will why then dost thou permit that a stronger take from thee thine inheritance that I or any other should enter into possession of that of which the peaceable proprietie appertaines to thee why dost thou endure that any other will then thine should be accomplished in me of whome thou art onely and wholy possest 3. Hee that doth that which is more doth easily that which is lesse thou giuest thy selfe to me take me then vnto thee To create me it cost thee only thy word but to regenerate me it cost thee thy life To forme me an act only of thy will was sufficient but to reforme me th' effusion of thy bloud was iudged necessary Both the one and the other being effected by thee nothing remaineth but that thou doe and say what thou wilt so as thou dispose of mee according as thou hast deserued 4. So often as I aske of thee any thing doe the contrary if the contrary shall bee more agreable to thy will and to thy greater glory For such is the intention of my Petition 5. My wils are no wills my petition refusals my desires so many detestations when thou wilt otherwise then I desire 6. If I knew in euery thing what is thy will O God the center of my soule I would make knowne both in Heauen and earth that I haue no other intention then to accomplish thy holy will 7. Can one

But seeing O soueraigne truth thou canst not iudge of thinges or take them otherwise then they are and that if I doe seeke my selfe thou canst not but know that I doe so I am content if it be so But with this condition O my God and not otherwise that thou looke vpon me from henceforth as a thing y● is thine and that thou impute the loue of my s●lf● as an affection bestowed vpon a thing that is wholly thine As the sonne whatsoeuer he gets hee gets to the b●nefit of his father so long as hee is vnder the power of his father and as a bond slaue whatsoeuer he gets is to his maisters profit 12. From henceforth all the solicitude I shall haue either for apparell or meate or drinke or any such like thinges all my affections reflections goings forth returnings backe that I shall haue either in my selfe of my selfe or about my selfe all my ioy all my feare all my sorrowes all my pleasures all whatsoeuer appertaining to my vanitie past and the inordinate care y● I haue had of my selfe all this my God shall from henceforth be wholly addicted to thy seruice vnto the preseruation of a thing which is thine neither more nor lesse then if all this were done by me to any poore creature in an Hospitall or any other towards whome all this exercise of diligence and charity should be pleasing to thee Allow this O my God receiue this O my Father accept of this O my gracious Lord by the merits of him whose workes wordes and thoughts neuer strayed from thy will He hath liued for me he dyed for me euen so I will dye to my selfe and liue to him and so my life shall be hidden in his and shall appeare before thee as if it were his and all the care I shall haue shall not bee of a thing that is mine but it shal be O the onely beloued of my soule as of a thing that is thine And what other meanes O God of my soule can be found t● cut off the heade and kill this most horrible Hydra of selfe-loue considering the great malice thereof Title 5. To the soule of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 1. MOst holy and most happy soule Empresse of Heauen and earth I beseech thee by thy incomparable grace which thou receiuedst whē at the instant of thy creation thou wa 〈…〉 ●ited to thy diuinitie and supported by the person of the word that thou wilt be pleased to obtaine for mee those vertues of which thou hast left vs both a Commandement and an example aboue all others Chartitie humilitie and puritie 2. By the blessednesse thou didst enioy euen then beholding the Essence of the Sonne of God to whome thou are personally vnited deliuer mee from the loue of my selfe and the great miserie of my imperfections 3. Thy holy Mother was impeccable by grace thou wast so by nature as well for that thy diuine Will did gouerne thy humane as also because by thy vnderstanding thou didst possesse and by thy will created thou hadst fruition of the Diuine essence I dare not aske impeccabilitie but onely the grace neuer to sinne and if the power to sinne be left me yet that the effect of that power be taken from me 4. Soule seate of wisdome which containest in thee the treasures of thy Fathers science thou hast been indued with knowledge diuine blessed and insused ouer and aboue the knowledge experimentall and acquisite which was euery day encreased in thee Obtaine for me by these so rare priuiledges and prerogatiues that I may haue knowledge both of diuine and humaine thinges so as I may neuer stray from the right path of faith and charitie 5. Soule the splendor of the glory of the Father and the Image of his goodnesse be my guide and conductor in the midst of the perils and temptations of the dangerous life of this world Dissipate the cloudes of my passions driue away the night of my ignorance making me euer and in all things to acknowledge his will to whō thou art personally vnited 6. Ouer and aboue the grace of vnion hipostaticall and blessed thou ba●st also the grace of Capitall vnion as being the head of men and Angels Make me then to draw aboundantly out of this plentifull well and to pertake to the greater glory of thy Father of those influences which flow vpon thy misticall body the Church militant and Triumphant 7. Who is able to expresse the thanksgiuing when of nothing and out of that bottomlesse depth of not being any thing common to all creatures thou perceiuedst thy selfe to bee transported to a personall vnion with God who is able to recount that holocaust and sacrifice that thou madest of thy selfe for the accomplishing of that excellent worke of our redemption with what excesse of Charitie diddest thou consecrate thy selfe to God the Father with what an eye of compassion didst thou behold humaine Nature of which thou wast a noble sprig and branch In remembrance of all those thy internall eminent actions for the loue of thy Hypostasie by the merites of thy abode in this world and by all whatsoeuer appertaineth to thy incarnation I beseech thee to thanke him for me to whome thou art vnited to giue and sacrifice me to his glory to present vnto him my actions vowes intentions and thoughts to make my miserable abode in this world pleasing vnto him to make vnto him an holocaust of my life and a sacrifice of my death 8. Thou wast no sooner vnited to that body framed in the womb of the Virgin drawne and taken out of the most pure substance of thy virgin Mo●●er but that thou wast receiued and supported by the word O so 〈…〉 Queene of men Princesse of Angels obtaine for me by this grace the grace that I may be deliuered from the cogitation of the body and infection of the flesh from which thou wast preserued being by an extraordinary manner without Adam ioyned to the flesh which descended from Adam 9. Ignorance frailtie and malice are the furniture of this corrupt Masse from which wee are drown'd and of that first fault from which thou wast the deliuerer and the deliuered I beseech thee to guard me from the falls to which I am subiect by my naturall corruption and that by the merits of thy incomparable integritie puritie and holinesse 10. Thy heart was alwayes attentiue to God of whome thou neuer didst loose the sight obtain that I may liue in his presence in him euer and euer before him 11. In vertue of the deiformitie of thy soule my sweete Iesus I begg of thee the guift of conformitie and vniformitie with thee 12. By reason of thy Hypostaticall vnion thy actions were of infinite merit and the onely act of thy incarnation sufficient to redeeme a thousand worlds What shall I not then obtaine of God thy Father if thou shalt please once to present vnto him that which thou hast offered and shed for mee which is thy precious bloud and thy

and with all the force of my soule that for the loue of your heauenly Spouse I liue no more but to him I take no life but from him I bring forth no fruite but his And that finally I may come to die for him 14. O good Iesus O meeke Lambe O Chast Spouse and rich Crowne of Virgin-soules let mee obtaine this mercy by the loue thou hast borne to them who haue loued none but thee that I be permitted here in this world to loue thee with my heart and to serue thee with other fidelitie then hitherto I haue done 15. Purifie the filth of my conscience restore to my soule her first puritie so as if I cannot follow thee so neere as thy more beloued in the street of the heauenly Ierusalem and in the most pure and cleane pathes paued all with f●●e golde of which thy Apostle Disciple and Virgin Euangelist maketh mention yet at least I may carry in my hand the Lampe of good workes and one day bee admitted to thy marriage banquet and there be placed if not at the higher end of the holy table yet among those who sit at the lower end thereof Title 26. A Communication bad with God vpon the Life Death and Passion of our Sauiour 1. PErmit mee my GOD Father and Sauiour of my soule that prostrate before the Throne of thy Maiesty I put thee in mind and represent vnto thee the wonders which thou hast wrought for my loue and as much for all others as for me and no lesse for mee then for all I will speake vnto you in the simplicitie of my heart taking my assurance from your mercyes and placing my confidence altogether in immēsitie of your goodnesse without hauing any regard at this time to my owne exceeding great vnworthines which otherwaies would shut vp my mouth and not permit me to appeare before the eyes of your Maiesty 2. I was as thou truely callest me thy hartlesse Doue thy lost Sunamite thy strayed sheep when to make demonstration of the excesse of thy beneuolence thou resoluedst to make thy selfe like to mee to th' end that I might become like to thee Out of this motion thou descended'st from Heauen to Earth that so thou might'st lift mee vp from Earth to Heauen thou humbledst thy selfe to extoll me thou becommest passible to make mee impassible mortall that I might bee made immortall and thou becam'st Man after a sorte to deifie mee and make me God 3. Thou diddest take I say my humaine substance to communicate vnto me thy diuine thou tookest for spouse my humanitie to giue me for a dowrie thy diuinitie as if thou hadst saide O thou extaticall louer of my saluation when thou shalt see me conceaued be bolde to say that it is for no other end but to make thee conceiue in thy soule the spirit of God my Father whē thou shalt see mee carried in the wombe of my Mother that it is to make thee to bee transported with an holy desire whē borne and brought into the world by a Virgin that it is to make thee bring foorth by workes the fruites worthy of aeternall life 4. I will take my repose in the wombe of my holy Mother that thou maist come one day to take thy repose in my armes I will be content to bee shut vp in that darke prison to bring thee out of darknes into light I will make my selfe little to make thee great feeble and weake to make thee strong poore to make thee rich an imperfect childe to make thee a perfect man I will be naked to cloth thee trembling in thy Maunger for colde that thou maist bee warme tyed vp in swadling-bands to set thee as libertie laide vpon the hay and straw to place thee aboue the heanens between the Oxe and the Asse to procure thee the company of the Angels in a ●table and amidst the dung to make thee know that I will not disdaine to be borne amidst the filth of thy imperfections so as they be displeasing vnto thee 5. Thou wouldest that the Shepheards of Idumaea and the Kinges of the East should take notice of thee to shew that thou didst thinke long when thou wert new borne to make a present to God the Father of the first fruites both of Iew and Gentile Thou wast circumcised the Eight day to giue mee betimes the earnest penny of my redemption and to bestow vpon me the first fruites of thy labour some life 6. Thou wast carryed vpon the fourteenth day to the Temple thy holy Mother was there purif 〈…〉 and thou thy selfe presented to God thy Father and after Redeemed for fiue peeces of Coyne To what other end was all this but by the mediation of thy worthy Mother to present me to thy heauenly Father to obtaine for me internall purification and by the meanes of thy fiue wounds the onely price of my redemption to redeeme me from my vaine conuersation 7. The flight into Aegypt was to incourage me not to flie but to stand before the face of God whom I had prouoked to wrath and when thou wert found in the Temple it was to teach me that thou wilt be found in the midst of my heart and erect there a diuine Academie If so bee I make it a holy Temple dedicated to thy Maiestie and not a prophane house open to all vanitie which it shall not be hard for me to doe after the three dayes of contrition confession and satisfaction by meanes whereof thou hast promised to holde me in the ranke and qualitie of a Mother a Brother and a Sister 8. Thou wast subiect to Ioseph as a tutor and to his spouse thy Mother to put me vnder the tuition and protection of God thy Father Thou wast obedient to them to make easie to me the law of obedience and which is admirable thou wert vnknowne in the world for the space of 18. yeares to teach me humility and to make me knowne in ages to come with titles of honour due to diuine adoption 9. When thou wast pleased to manifest thy selfe vnto the world was it for any other end but to giue me knowledge of my felicitie and of the meanes by which I might attaine vnto it And when thou diddest change water into wine at the Marriage of Cana was it not to instruct me that thou wouldst change the water of my imperfections into the wine of perfection flowing from the precious vine of thy grace especially being ayded herein by the intercession of thy most honorable Mother And further to instruct me that it should not be hard or difficult for thee to change the materiall wine into thine owne bloud whensoeuer thou sholdst be pleased to make thy selfe as admirable and amiable in the nouriture of my soule as thou art in the refection and conseruation of my body 10. Didst thou not leaue vnto me a rare example of humilitie the strong foundation of the stately building of all vertues at the Riuer of Iordan when after the manner of

and seeing that thou hast bestowed such vertue vpon the plants the stones the hearbes seeing the Sunne by the aspect and influence of the Beames doth worke such wonders in nature euen to the making and forming of mettalls in the very bowels of the earth seeing also the Adamant draweth vnto it the yron Amber the straw the Starre the steele by reason of a kinde of simpathie and naturall impression which thou the author of nature hast giuen vnto them Is it conuenient that thy most holy body and incomparable treasure honour my body with his presence that thy most precious bloud be in me and that thy diuine humanitie should really touch mine and not lift vp my soule to thy diuinitie Permit not this monster in Grace and this prodigious wonder in nature 13. Bestow vpon me the charitie which thou didst so straitly recommend vnto thy Apostles and graunt vnto me the guift of prayer and teares as well to accompany thee in thy prayers as that I may be able to resist my temptations according to thy instruction 14. By the feare which ceazed upon the inferiour part of thy soule and by the streames of bloud which did wonderfully run downe caused by thy sorrowe and vehement apprehension I beseech thee my benigne Redeemer to assist me at the houre of my death and to doe me the fauour that albeit my life hath beene so vnprofitable vnto thee yet at last I may honour and serue thee by my death which I desire may bee no other then that which thou shalt Iudge to be for thy greater glory 15. Grant that by the stroke of thy worde I may lay a long thy enemies and mine That I may be tyed and manacled in ropes and chaynes of thy loue That with thee and no otherwise I may appeare before the Tribunall of God thy Father That the Spirit of sweetnesse and meeknesse which thou didst holde towards that accursed fellow which did blindfold thee may accompany me in all occasions That I may be clothed with a white robe of Innocencie and with the purple garment of charitie that by the merrit of thy whipping my body may be a sanctified vessell instrument of thy glory That in vertue of the Crowne of Thornes which pierced thine head I neuer consent to any euil thoughts but especially to such as tend to any pride 16. When will the houre be when one seeing me may say not in derision as it was said of thee but in sinceritie and truth Beholde the man of God bring this to passe my sweet Iesus by the merrits of thy most profound humilitie 17. Then I shall be content with quietnes of minde hear the sentence and iudgement which the wicked shall giue of me and little regard what the world esteemeth of me at this time which passeth though it should be a definitiue sentence of death as vniust and detestable as was that which was pronounced against thee 18. I shall carrie the Crosse with thee such a Crosse I say as it shall please thy diuine prouidence to lay vpon my shoulder I shall edifie by my example the predestinate soules the true daughters of the heauenly Sion 19. But when shall I haue spoiled my selfe of selfe loue whē shall I be as it were naked in respect of thinges of this world to be nayled with thee to the Crosse It shall be then when the nayles of thy feet shal nayle my affections the nayles of thy hands my actions the Speare that pierced thy side shall pierce all my intentions 20 Wash me ô my God God liuing and dying for my loue wash me in the bloud which flowed from thy sacred person so as from hence-foorth I may appeare before thee as a newe washed sheep comne out of the pond as a Lamb without spot readie to be sacrificed 21. Pardon and forgiue all those which wish or doe me euill help all those which are in deadly sinne and neere to their end that they dye not in that pittifull estate as thou didst help the good Theefe in his extreamitie Commend me with the beloued disciple to the protection of thy vnspotted Mother acomplish in me the thirst of thy desires Consume whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee consummate all thy mercies towards me Abandō me not leaue me neuer alone Receaue my soule into thy hands as God thy father receaued thine at thy giuing vp thy Ghost Deliuer from Purgatorie the soules which are in paine as thou deliueredst the holy Fathers out of Lymbus where they were detayned Giue vs such a resurrection to life by grace as that we neuer more die by sinn And seeing that our hart ought to be where our treasure is seeing that thou the Lord of the world art placed at the right hand of thy Father lift vs vp to thee and transport our affections aboue the heauens Finally impart vnto vs some part of those graces bestowed vpon thy Apostles Disciples vpon the day of Penthecost that from hence foorth we may become the Temple of thy glorye thy heretage the chosen people with which thou takest pleasure to make thy abode Prayers and considerations as it were in passing according to the occurrences that fall out euery day Title 28. When a man is tempted 1. I Protest my GOD that I giue no consent in any sort to this temptation and that my will desireth the cōtrary of that which is proposed with as great affection proceeding from reason as I feele inclinations arising from sensualitie 2 I thanke thee O my gracious Creator that sence or feeling and consent or yeelding are two different thinges For if euery feeling were a yeilding ioyned with offence of thy diuine Maiestie I were vtterly vndone Temptation hath the one in his holde but none shall haue possession of the other but thy diuine Maiesty The world the flesh and the Deuill haue a power to make me feele but my consent or yeelding shall be euer in thy power 3. My God leaue me not alone deliuer me frō my selfe 4. I cannot liue without thee make mee then I pray thee liue to thee Title 29. When any thing falleth out that pleaseth vs. 1. IT is thou my sweet Iesu who art the author of all reasonable contentment from thee proceedeth all pure consolation I desire it not then but from thee in thee by thee and for thee Dispose thou otherwaies when thou shalt be pleased to depriue mee of it and I shall accommodate mee thereunto with all resignation and indifferencie Title 30. When any thing displeaseth vs. 1. I Accept of this displeasure as a present sent vnto me from my beloued Iesus Christ accoūting my selfe too happy y● I may be worthy to participate to carry and to kisse his Crosse 2. The beloued of my soule shall be placed in my bosome as a bundle of Mirrhe 3. Looke with how great affection I desire to be deliuered of this affliction with no lesse I aske and aske againe the continuance thereof if O my God it

hee hath made them ●o fit and which many of them haue so well deserued not only by their charitie towards vs but also by their good gouernment of vs while yet they liued heere amongst vs. For further proofe whereof it is not hard to alledge many good passages and pregnant places of holy Scripture For so our Sauiour promised That the faithfull seruant should bee Math. 24 47. appointed ouer all the goods of his Master According whereunto hee also tolde his Disciples That hee disposed vnto them as Luc. 22. 29. his Father disposed vnto him a Kingdome And therefore likewise the same power which the Father promised to the Sonne where hee saide That he would giue him the Gentiles for his inheritance Psal 2 5 9. that he should rule them in a Rod of Iron and like a Potters vessell they shall be Broken The same power againe the Sonne doth promise vnto him who shall keepe his workes vnto the end saying I will giue Apoc 2 27. him Power ouer Nations and hee shall rule them with a Rod of Iron and like the Vessell of a Potter they shall bee Broken For which cause also they are saide To holde in their hands two edged Psal 149 7 8 9. Swordes to punish the Nations and Correct the people to binde their Kinges in Fetters and their Noble-men in Ma●nicles of Iron And that it is the glory of Gods Saints to execute the Iudgement which hee prescribeth And finally to the same purpose our Sauiour affirmeth That hee Apoc. 3 12. who ouercame should bee made a Piller in the Temple of God And that hee should sit in his Apoc. 3 24. owne Throne with him as I saith hee haue ouercome and sit with my Father in his Throne So that as the Father gouerneth the world by his Sonne so againe the Sonne gouerneth the Church by the Ministerie of his Saints In which respect they are said to be placed with him in the same Throne of Gouernment or in the same Tribunall of Authoritie wherein wee must also beleeue that they shall sit to Iudge both men and Angels at the Day of Donne Which testimonies of Scripture albeit cleere in themselues yet to exclude those voluntary and selfe pleasing expositions which the Protestants are wont to frame vpon them it will not be amisse to confirme by some few authorities of the Auncient Fathers For vnto the testimony of Saint Cyprian who acknowledgeth S. Cypriā Orat. in 40. Mart. them as you haue heard to bee the Senators and ●●dges of the Supernall C 〈…〉 ti c. May bee added these that followe Saint Bazill therfore calleth the Martyrs the Common keepers of Mankinde and excellent Companions of our cares Saint Nazianzen prayeth vnto Saint Nazianz● Orat. in Cyprianū Cyprian to looke from aboue to direct his wordes and his life To feede or rather to gouerne with him the holy Sheepfolde committed to his charge St. Hillarie S. Hillarie serm 124 saith That the Custodie of the Saints is neuer wanting to those that desire to stand As the Angels gouerne so also they that Ambr. lib 8. in Luc. haue deserued the life of Angels saith S. Ambrose And you heard before how hee calleth the Saints our Gouernours and the ouerseers of our liues and actions Saint Maximus proueth That Max. Ser. de mart Tauricis wee haue great familiaritie with the Martyrs because they are with vs and stay with vs keeping vs while wee liue in our Bodies and receiuing vs when we depart Theodor. Lib. 8. ad● Graecos out of our Bodies Theodoret recordeth That they who are to goe farre from home beseech the Martyrs to be their companions in the way or rather to be the guides of their Iourney and they that are safely returned giue thankes and acknowledge the benefit receiued Now saith S. Leo The good Shepheard S. Peter doth exceute the Commaundement of Leo Ser. 3. de anniuer suae Assump his Lord confirming vs with his exhortations and not ceasing to pray for vs that no temptation ouercomme vs. By all which it is more then manifest that the Saints of heauē haue their part in y● gouernment of this world vnder God offring vp our praiers vnto him assisting the good and punishing the wicked as it pleaseth God to appoint them Wherefore to conclude this my Third Argument all truth may verye well be called the worde of God being eternally expressed and represented vnto him by the fertility of his diuine vnderstanding which can neither deceiue vs nor be deceiued And therefore whither it be reuealed vnto vs by his externall worde or intimated by the light of nature wherby he writeth the same in our hearts or made knowne vnto vs partly by the one and partly by the other it is alwayes a most certaine and a most secure direction for vs in all our actions It is so naturall for men in affliction to call vpon all those that are able to help them though meerly strangers vnto them the lawfulnes thereof is so euident euen by the light of reason that it would seeme a point of Madnes not to ask their releefe in case of necessitie though no Scripture at all could be produced wherein the same were expressely warranted Wherfore hauing aboundantly shewed out of the written worde that the Saints in respect of their wonderfull loue to vs and their vnspeakable feruour with Almightie God are not onely willing and able to helpe vs but also that they actually recommend our prayers vnto GOD and are obliged thereunto First as being fellowe members and Secondly as the principall superintendants supreme Senators and Iudges of that mysticall Bodie which is the Church of God vnder Christ our head The lawfulnes of prayer vnto them intreating their more gracious prayers and blessed assistance doth so euidently and so necessarily followe thereof that certainly if it be nor madnes I doe not say with some Puritanes to condemne it of Sacriledge or Idolatrie in the holy Fathers them-selues but so as to suspect it of superstition error or timeritie wherwith other Protestanes are wont to charge all those who addresse them-selues either to the inu●cation or intercession of them But the hurt is to them selues of whome we may well say as the Prophet said of euery wicked man in perticuler Noluit be●e●●ctionem ● elōgabitur ab co They would not benediction and therefore it shall be remooued farre from them For if they deserue not to be heard of God but doe rather offend him who beeing in some temporall miserie will be deliuered by him alone and obstinately refuse to begge the help or charitie of those vnto whome he hath giuen both will power and direction to relieue them what fauour can the Protestants expect at the hands of God in their necessities if knowing and considering as they ought that y● Saints of Heauen are appointed by his Diuine Maiestie to be so many Fathers and Masters Superiours vnto

immaculate and vnspotted life the spring of all merit 13. Because thou appertainest to God obtaine pardon for me of whatsoeuer I haue voluntarily done said or thought contrary to God How often didst thou reioyce in the greatnesse and glory of God our common creator and Father and that much more for it then for that thou thy selfe wert by his grace Bring to passe that all my ioy may be in him my onely desire to please him my only feare to offend him 14. All thy actions were of infinite merit I beg O sanctuarie of the Diuinitie the participation of onely one by speciall application to me 15. Thou the onely storehouse of Loue and fornace of perfect Charitie dost more loue humaine nature and much more desire our soules perfections then all Angels and men together We cannot also nay we ought not to haue after God any better Lord and friend then thou I leaue then to thee the care of my saluation and of that perfection which thy Father requires in mee I leaue to thee the profit of thine owne merites to thee that which thou thy selfe desirest to thee that for which thou hast done saide and endured so much to thee that which cannot subsist but by thee to conclude to thee that which is as oftentimes thine as it hath pleased thee to be ours Title 6. To the blessed Virgin Mary 1. BLessed of God amongst Women and the happiest of all pure creatures Mary the Mother of God I prostrate my selfe in the profoundnesse of my thoughts before thee honouring with all my affection the eminent graces which it hath pleased the most high and puissant to place in thee as in the principall and chiefe workmanship of his handes after the humanitie of Iesus Christ thy Sonne whose desires concerning me I present vnto thee that by his merites and thy prayers they may bee as the abiect of his mercyes fully and perfectly accomplished in me 2. Pray then for mee mercifull Mother and in so dooing thou shalt pray also for thine owne Sonne see●ng that hee desires in mee that which I aske of thee a thousand times more then I my selfe 3. I am also neuer resolued to aske any thing of thee for my selfe but for him I will speake vnto thee in his name I will presse the● by his mer●t●s I will adiure thee by the languis●●●g desires of his soule and as it were coniure thee by the great and inestimable obligation that thou hast to him to deale so effectually with God the Father that all his desires may be accomplished in all creatures and especially in this poore soule of mine to which he hath giuen thee grace to desire that which he desireth If thou put not to thy hand O puissant Princesse all will passe into vapour and smoake of onely desires and I shall remaine a fable of the world and a scorne of hell 4. By these titles of incomparable honor with which thy head is crowned O Mother of thy Sonne O Daughter of the Father O Spouse of the holy Ghost bring to passe that I may one day with thee be heyre to the Father coheyre with the Sonne and partake of the inheritance reserued to the holy Ghost 5. Tower of Dauid Citty of refuge wilt thou refuse thy prayers to them to whome the fruite of the Virgins wombe hath not refused his bloud 6. Thou hast too great interest in thy Sonnes inheritance to neglect or disdaine to succour with the assistance of thy tongue those soules which thy Redeemer and ours did recouer with the losse of his life 7. He would that thou shouldst be his Mother but it was to the end that wee might also become his brethren What hindereth vs then from hauing the spirit of adoption towards his Father and our Father thy Sonne and our brother wee shall haue it when it shall please thee to bee our Mother by grace as thou art his by nature 8. Thou wast established Queen of Angels and of men euen from then when thou hadst a Sonne common to thee with God the Father and that thou couldst say vnto God thou art my Sonne O incomparable Mother ô maruaile of the world O the honour of humaine lineage wilt thou not in acknowledgment of these benefites and honours intended towards thee before thou couldst merit them wilt thou not procure in regard of the Almightie which hath done so great thinges for thee this little thing which I aske of thee which is nothing else but that I neuer offend him especially by deadly sinne and that in the whole course of my miserable life I may know and put in execution his diuine will 9. I am not wor●hy of his loue but hee is worthy to be loued of me I deserue not to serue him but he well deserueth to be serued of me It is not due to me to liue in him alone and to dye for him but I owe it him and so dost thou thy selfe Pay then O most rich Empresse my debts and thy debts Acquite them both for mee and thy selfe and in doing that which is but duty and iustice towards him thou shalt doe a worke of compassion and mercy towards a creature of his and thy poore seruant 10. As amongst all pure creatures none euer approached to equall thee in regard of the incomparable excellencie of him that was borne of thee So no creature whatsoeuer shall be euer able to equall thee in mercy Shall it not be then to imitate thy Sonne and satisfie thy selfe if thou affoord thy ayde to the miserable thy succour to such poore sinners as I am For whome thy Sonne hath spent all hee had euen to the effusion of his most precious bloud If it be true that the sinne of Adam was the occasion that the Diuine word tooke flesh and was borne of thee it must needs also bee that my misery hath serued for a cause or an occasion of thy greatnesse my disgrace of thy grace my malediction of thy benediction and that which I am of that which thou art why then by exchange shall not thy mercy if I may so say serue to my misery thy felicitie to my infelicitie thy greatnesse to my basenesse that which thou art to that which I am Bee not thou that thou art or procure that I may be other then I am I should here beg of thee to haue in recommendation the Church her necessities if i● were possible that a Mother had not care of her Sonnes spouse Title 7. To Saint Michaell 1. PRince of the heauenly camp and inflamed Seraphin by thy most happy victorie which thou obtaynedst against those Apostata Angels of which now the infernall legions are composed assist vs in our combats so much the more dangerous in that we haue not onely to fight against flesh and bloud but against the spirits of darknesse which come marching against vs like Gyants with all the aduantage that the nature of Angels hath aboue Title 8. To Saint Gabriell 1. PAranymph of Heauen that