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
inculated the fruits of this divin Prayer into the hearts of his devout Auditors and which we surely may hope also to receive if we dayly fervently and perseverantly pour it forth in the divin presence by the due performance of our Psalter and Rosary The third part of the Rosary is the Angelical Salutation dictated by the divin wisdom to the Archangell Gabriel to St. Elizabeth and to the Church A Salutation which the Apostles Primitive Fathers so highly reverenc'd that they prescribed it to be recited in their Lyturgies A Salutation which says St. Peter Damian briefly contains Christs Incarnation Mans Redemption the Worlds Renovation And surely by this admirable connexion of our Lords Prayer and the Angelical Salutation in the Rosary we are admonish'd that as in the fall of human nature both Sexes were guilty and our common miserie proceeded from Adams and Eves joynt prevarication so in the reparation and redemption of Mankind there is the concurrencie of a Man Chrâ—st our Lord and also though in an inferiour degree of a Woman the Virgin-Mother and therefore joyning together both these Prayers we render most humble thanks for this inestimable benefit Thanks to our blessed Redeemer for having vouchsaf'd to become man for us And thanks to his holy Mother for having furnish'd him with this humanity in which he redeem'd us But if you desire most devout Rosarists to have a more particular sight of the signall Fruits and Effects of this Angelical Salutation listen attentively to this compendious Narrration First of the joyes wherewith it replenishes the blessed Virgin mary Secondly of the terrours wherewith it strikes the Devill Thirdly of the profits it brings to mankind First this Salutation I say replenishes the sacred Virgin with a new accidentall Joy sweetness and complacencie as often as it is devoutly and reverently recited For by saying Hail or Ave that is sine vae without woe we offer her the Joy of her great Purity immunitie and exemption from all the woe and miserie whereunto all women except her self the singularly preserv'd Virgin-Mother were subject by the fall of our first Parents For as Ave is a literall conversion of Eva so our Mother Mary receiv's in this Salutation a triple Benediction 1. of becoming fruitfull without corruption 2. big with child without burdensomness 3. and a Mother without feeling the pains of child-bearing opposite to our Mother Eves triple Malediction of corruption in conceiving cumbersomness after conception and pains in childing By saying Mary we renew in her the Joy of her great Dâ—gnitie design'd by this glorious Name and Title First as it signifies the Star of the Sea to which says St. Bernard she is most fitly compar'd because as a Star sends forth its beam without any self-blemish so Mary brings forth a child without any self-violation The Beam doth nothing diminish the Stars claritie nor Mary's child her integrity c. Secondly as Mary signifies illuminated for she receiv'd from God as a full Moon from the Sun a plenitude of the light of Grace here below and enjoyes a plenitude of the light of Glory there above Thirdly as Mary signifies an Illuminatrix to which St. Bernard alluding Maryes presence says he illuminates the whol World and even Heaven it self shines now more clearly being irradiated with the beams of her virginall lamp Fourthly as Mary in the Syriack language signifies a fair Lady and what Creature says St. Bernard was comparable to her in the beauty of mind and body who bore and brought forth the beauty of Men and Angells when therefore we say Haâ—l Mary we say rejoyce Sacred Worthy Noble Virgin bright Star illuminated of God enlightner of Men fair Lady of the whol Universe By saying Full of Grace we renew a double joy in her First we affirm that Grace which man lost by Sin to be restored by her Sanctâ—ty and Secondly we pronounce that Grace which other Saints possess partially to be in her unitedly fully universally You O Mary says the admiring St. Hierom are indeed full of Grace for the Grace which was given to others by parcell was powred into you in a full plenitude By saying our Lord is with thee we renew in her the joy of her divin Conception than which nothing imaginable can be to her more gratefull pleasing and acceptable for hereby we not only pronounce God the Son to be with you O Mary says St. Bernard whom you cloath with your flesh but God the Holy Ghost by whom you conceive and God the Father who eternally begets whom you temporally bear Yes O Mary The Father is with you who powerfully makes his Son yours the Son is with you who is admirably born of you the Holy Ghost is with you who graciously with the Father and Son sanctifies you c. By saying Blessed art thou amongst Women We renew in her the Joy of her supernall Benediction As if we should say Rejoyce O Mother Mary who deserved'st to have our mother Eves curse chang'd into a blessing for thy self and all others and to become the glory honour and crown of all Women consecrating the Virginall estate before thy Marriage the Conjugall estate in thy wedlock and the estate of Widowhood after thy husbands death and thy Sons Passion By saying Blessed is the fruit of thy Womb We renew in her the Joy of the divin prayse As if we should say with S. Bernard Thou art surely Blessed O sacred Virgin but we bless him above all who hath so highly blessed thee Not because thou art Blessed therefore is the fruit of thy womb blessed but thou art therfore Blessed because he hath prevented thee with his blessings in whom all Nations are blessed and of whose fulness thou also with others though far above all others hast receiv'd what thou hast c. Behold O children of Mary who have your hearts inflam'd with her sacred affection what excesses of joyes you present offer and renew in your dear Mother when you devoutly salute her with this Angelicall Canticle and Jubilation All which we shall confirm by one only authentick Revelation which her self was graciously pleas'd to impart to one of her dear darlings a famous Saint of our Order S. Mechtild studying which way she might render some gratefull service to her glorious Mother the Virgin Mary beheld her in a vision with the Angelicall Salutation before her in great and golden characters and heard these words proceeding from her sacred Mouth Know daughter that no human devotion can ever reach higher than this Salutation nor can any one more sweetly gratifie me than by reverently pronouncing this Ave Hail wherewith the Eternall father at the first greeted me confirming me by his omnipotencie ab omni va culpae from all woe and miserie of sin and impiety The eternall son likewise illustrating me with his wisdom ordain'd me to be forthwith the bright Star wherewith Heaven and earth are enlightned as by this my name Mary is declared The holy Ghost
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
patience there being no Pope since Sixtus the fourth who hath not freely opened the Churches Storehouse and added new priviledges prerogatives and benefits unto his predecessors liberalitie in so much as I find above forty authentick Bulls and Instruments issued forth of that highest spirituall Court for the approbâ—tion confirmation and ornament of this renowned Arch-Confraternity of the Rosary Fourthly I may add to this large inventory of spirituall profits That to be of this Confraternity is a probable sign of being predestinated to eternall feliâ—ity For if with the holy you shall be holy sayes the Psalmist and with the Elect elected what better sign of holiness what surer token of election can one have in this life than to be associated with so many good Souls aspiring zealously and unanimously to piety to perfection to salvation Fiftly the last profit to let pass many others is a confidence a comfort and a kind of security in the article of Death Death is commonly accompanied with three corrosives Bitterness because of the Cessation of all pleasures the pâ—ivation of all worldly riches the separation of body and Soul two ancient friends and companions Danger because of the dire conflicts and dismall temptations of the then most busy devill Dread and terrour because of the doubtfull and severe judgment immediatly ensuing Now the devout and diligent members of this sacred Confraternity are exempt from the most part of these alarm's For death seems not to them so bitter because long before expected prevented pâ—ovided for The enemies assaults and temptations are not to them so dreadfull and dangerous because the dayly use of their spirituall weapons renders them expert in these combats able to foil their adversaries and experienc'd to defend themselves The apprehension of Gods Judgments is not to them so terrible because they continually think of them and accordingly order their Life and actions discharge their consciences of sin practise works of piety and endeavour to acquire the sacred Virgins favour in hope to have her then their friend and advocate which is surely the best way to dy with safety and security The just man dy's says Saint Bernard as well as the wicked yet the just man dy's with this advantage and assurance that the ending of his life here is the entrance into a better Life hereafter and therefore he living dy's to the world that dying he may begin to live to God O Life truly holy O Death truly happy where the conscience is pure and the Soul unspotted These are some part of the spirituall profits which proceed from this renowned Society of the ROSARY It now remains that I briefly tell you how you may become capable to participate of these priviledges and prerogatives and what duty and devotion befits the faithfull servants of the sacred Virgin Mary and the true members of this most holy Society For it is not enough to have registred your names in the Rosary Catalogue to enter with the rest into her Chappell to be externally associated to this Confraternity but in the first place 1. You must resolve upon an honest honourable holy life A reformation of your manners a renouncing of all vice and vanity a pursute of all vertu piety perfection Yea you must strive to surpass in devotion and sanctity all such other worldlings as have not that honour and happyness you have to be of the blessed Virgins familie for you O devout Rosarists have dedicated your selves more particularly to God service you make a more speciall profession to honour his holy Mother than they who walk in the wide track of the World and if you surpass them not in perfection how deserve you the title of her particular servants If you make not appear in your lives and actions more Modestie Humilitie Patience Piety Devotion and all sorts of vertues than others how are you worthy to be her speciall friends and favourite Finally if you pretend to be truly her children and domesticks she expects from you cleaness of heart purity of conscience sanctity of life and conversation 2. And in order to obtain this mundicity purity and sacntity you must have a high esteem and make frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance as being the main Pillar of a spirituall life the soveraign Medicin to recover our Souls decayed health the first and fundamentall step to all perfection Yes every Christian who hath any Zeal for his own salvation much more we who make a profession of somewhat more than ordinary devotion must presently upon his lapse into mortall sin dispose his Soul to Contrition his mouth to Confession his hands to Satisfaction his body to Penance which is the true Dâ—ttany curing these bitings the wholsom Mithridat expelling these poysons the clear Fountain cleansing us from these filths and impurities O how important is the observation of this point to all pretenders to piety and perfection and how prejudiciall the neglect of it For first a Soul faln into one mortall sin hath set the dore open to let in a second and that makes way for many followers Such is the weight of sin says St. Gregory that it bears dow the Soul under it and sways the inclination to commit more and more on Abyssus calling on another Secondly a Soul in mortall sin looses all her good works all merit all hope of Heaven all title to eternall happyness no alms avail her no prayers profit her no austerities help her no good actions can open to her the gates of Paradise without the key of an intire confession or a true Contrition Thirdly sin as it gains time gets strength becoms insensibly master of the Soul shutts up the dores against the divin mercy and at length leaves her in despair of pardon and makes her give over all hopes of favour and petitioning for grace Ah! what comfort what confidence what means of salvation is left to a miserable Soul that wilfully persevers in her impiety The longer she stays in it the deeper she sinks into it the lesse she deserves favour the more highly she provokes Heavens anger and revenge Fourthly and which is yet worse a Soul wounded with mortall sin and uncured by Confession or Contrition is continually worried with a worm of remorse and if she be grown so insensible as not to feel now its gnawings she shall surely resent its dismall bitings at the approaching hour of death and much more piercingly after her departure when this worm that devours her shall never dy where the fire that burns her shall never be extinguished Behold the inevitable ruins the irreparable losses the unexplicable miseries which are by them incurred who after their fall delay to do Penance Let it be therefore your chief care O devout Rosarists to arise speedily to present your selves presently to the Tribunall of confession to announce your frailty renounce your impiety that so you may obtain grace to walk afterwards more warily For as a spot or stain is sooner rubbed off at first than
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
compassionate Father that which we desire though we deserve it not who hast given us a being when we were not Amen XI A Prayer to withdraw our minds from the superfluous cares and solicitudes of this World O Lord our true Lover our faithfull Teacher our bountifull Nourisher Take from us all vain superfluous and noxious cares and solicitudes and since you have been gratiously pleas'd to promise us that your self will make a sufficient provision for us grant that we may confidently rely in all things upon your sacred providence Let us therefore six our hearts and affections upon heavenly objects let us seek onely your Kingdom and be only solicitous for the advancement of your honour and glory let us run on chearfully couragiously perseverantly in the way of your precepts during our earthly pilgrimage that so we may be finally translated to your heavenly Paradise Amen XII Prayers to be said in time of the Plague The ANTHEM REmember your Covenant O mercifull Creator and say to the smiting Angel Now hold thy hand that the Earth may not become desolate and every living soul destroyed Verse Lord let your anger cease from your People Answer And from your City Let us pray HEar we beseech you O compassionate Lord God! the prayers of your People and as we confess our selvs to be justly afflicted for our offences so be you pleased in mercy to free us for the glory of your own sacred name O God! who well knows that our human frailty cannot subsist amidst so many and great dangers without the support of your divin favour and assistance Give us we beseech you health of minde and body and grant that we may overcome by your help and mercy what we deservedly suffer for our own sins and impieties Lord lend a gratious ear to the petitions of your poor servants grant them the desired effect of their faithfull supplications and avert from us the fury of the raging Pestilence whereby the hearts of all mortal men may humbly and gratefully acknowledge that such scourges proceed from your just anger and indignation and cease through your boundless mercy and goodness A Prayer to the sacred Virgin-Mother called the Miraculous Prayer against the Plague THe Star of Heaven whose snowy breast Did suckle our sweet Lord supprest The Plague of Death whose origen Was from the very first of men May that clear Star at present daign Those Constellations to restrain Whose wars deprive men of their breath By the destructive wound of Death Repeat thrice these ensuing Verses Bright Star o' th' Sea ' gainst Plague your help afford Nought is deny'd you by your Son our Lord Who honours you Blest Maid us Jesu save Which for us at your hands she daigns to crave Let us pray O God of mercy God of compassion God of Pardon who taking pity upon your afflicted people gave command to the striking Angel that he should with-hold his hand from further punishing them we most humbly beseech you for the love of that glorious Star whose sacred Breasts you most sweetly suck'd to expiate our sins that you will vouchsafe us your gratious help whereby we may be preserv'd from all Plague deliver'd from an unprovided death and secured from all destructive accidents and incursions through you O Jesu Christ King of Glory who live and reign with the Father and Holy Ghost world without end Amen Paul the fifth granted a Plenary Indulgence to all such as being in the state of grace shall devoutly recite this Salutation and Prayer Hail Glorious Virgin Star more bright Than is the Sun in its full light Mother of him who all shall doom More sweet than Honey from the comb Each just man celebrates your praise Each Saint to you due honour pays And Christ your Son above the Sky Crowns you for all Eternity Let us pray GIve me O gracious Lord God! what best pleaseth your Divin Majestie for I put my will and all that concerns me into your sacred hands dispose of me as you please and direct me in all to accomplish your divin will Amen THE SECOND BOOK OF THE Sacred Rosary Which is the Practical part thereof An Oration Of the Antiquitie Excellencie and Utilitie Of the Bedes Psalter and Confraternitie of the Rosary By way of a Preface to this second Book ALthough this Argument may seem sufficiently handled in the Oration which is prefix'd to the beginning of this work yet since Nunquam materia deficit laudis ubi nunquam sufficit copia Laudatoris There can never want subject of prayse say's St. Leo in a subject which can never be sufficiently praysed we will here somewhat more largely prove what was there only pointed at and deduce this most excellent manner of Prayer and most eminent Fraternity of the Rosary from their first Originall Fountains for the encrease of your comfort and devotion O Zealous children of Mary to whom we dedicate these our pious labours and endeavours This way of honouring the divin Majesty and the sacred Virgin-Mother by a certain number of our Lords Prayers and Angelical Salutations hath been variously practised by the ancient Fathers and described under severall names and notions whereof some call'd it the blessed Virgins Epithalamium her Canticle her Crown her Rosie Garland her sacred Quinquagena Others relating to the number of the salutations therein contained call'd it the Virgins Psalter in imitation of the Psalter of David consisting of the same number of Psalms or alluding to that Musical Instrument which the Hebrews nam'd Nahalum the Greeks Organum and we a Psalterium compos'd of an hundred and fifty Pipes the just number of these our salutations whereupon the Psalms of David were usually sung to the divin prayse and honour Others finaly call'd it by the now commonly receiv'd denomination of the Rosary that most properly For as a Rosary signifies literally a place beset with Odoriferous Roses So this our Rosary betokens mysticaly the sweet fragrancie which replenishes their hearts and souls who thus devoutly prayse the divin Majesty and honour the Virgin Mary Having explicated its Name let 's pass on to its Antiquity which undoubtedly as to its substance is of equall standing with the sacred Gospell Since the Lords Prayer and the Angelicall Salutation the materiall parts of our Rosary are the very Evangelicall words and sentences And as to its use is also of equall antiquitie with our primitive Christianity since according to the generall Maxim of our School-Divines When in Ecclesiasticall matters by the Church Universally embrac'd no certainty can be found of their first beginning they must be believed to have proceeded from the Apostles Which mov'd the learned Aquensis to write thus to Maximilian the Emperour This pious custom of saluting the sacred Virgin cannot be said to be any Novell invention but may be convinc'd to be as ancient as the Church it self For when at the beginning the Priests and Ecclesiasticall persons being full of Zeal and Fervour recited dayly all
the verses of the Davidicall Psalter comprehending thrice fifty Psalms so employing the greatest part of their time in the divin praises The devout Laity though much inferiour to them in point of learning and knowledg yet desirous to equall them in Gods love and service emulating this laudable custom but some of them being unable to read others uncapable to understand these sacred Psalms invented and dayly recited a certain Psalter according to the mysticall number of the Davidical Psalms of the Lords Prayer and Angelicall salutation an hundred and fifty times repeated piously conceiving as well they might that all the sacred mysteries of those many Psalm's were compendiously contain'd in this singular Prayer and Salutation since they declar'd him to be now come and present whom those Psalms had foretold and promis'd Which devotion of the Primitive Christians will not seem any wonder to such as duely consider their great fervour and piety in other spirituall exercises as may be instanced in that the whol generality of the lay-people receiv'd then dayly the sacred Eucharist Surely a most convenient way to lay that first foundation of a new Church upon solid devotion and sanctity which was to sustain afterwards so weightie a superstructure But when in the following ages the number of Christians encreasing and the fervour of piety decaying this kind of Psalter became burthensome to the multitude of Christians who were now more attentive to their domestick and temporall negotiations than zealous of the divin service it was abridg'd into an hundred and fifty Angelical salutations keeping still the same mystical number but changing its denomination into that of the blessed Virgins Psalter and interlacing each Decade with the recitall of our Lords Prayer in imitation of the Clergie so performing their Church Psalmodie This was that Psalter so much prays'd and practis'd by the Egyptian Hermits and Anchorits to which they had recourse as to their present solace in all their pressing sadnesses and afflictions their powerfull Remedie against all thier troubles and temptations their secure Sanctuary in all their spirituall conflicts and combats This manner of Prayer was also frequented and practis'd not onely as to its substance which are the Lords Prayer and Angelical salutation but also as to its forenam'd Quantity and Qual'ty by the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Church Witness St. Hierom of whom it is related in the Ecclesiastical histories That he plac'd an undoubted hope in the suffrages of this Psalter against all temptations troubles and afflictions whatsoever and especially against the Adversaries of the Christian Faith nor would he ever settle himself say's Fossaeus lib. 1. de Psalterio to any serious reading writing or dictating till he had first implor'd the divin assistance by the recitall of this Psalter Neither must we omit say's Alanus de Rupe to make mention of that most worthy Patriark of Monks St. Bennet who chose this Psalter for his familiar and perpetuall companion and so deserv'd to become the famous founder of Monastical Institution Which propagation of the Marian Psalter say's Bucelinus in his Menologium March 21. is none of the least of St. Bennets prayses the Queen of Heaven her self highly approving and commending the same endowing her Bennet for so she was heard to name him with many signall favours benefits and blessings and chosing the Monasteries of his sacred Order as it were for her earthly seat and mansion even to this day And in the Benedictin Annals anno 538. we find registred that though St. Bennet from his very infancy and in the beginning of his conversion when he laid the first plat-form of monastical Perfection was singularly devoted to the Empress of Heaven and a great Promotor of her Honour Name and Kingdom Yet chiefly about this time to wit the 59th year of his age he promulgated in the head City and to the whol World that sweet easy and efficacious exercise of the blessed Virgins Psalter which himself with his Disciples had so piously and profitably practis'd within the private Cloysters of Sublake and Mount Cassin and which St. Dâ—minick the glorious Institutor of a new Marian Family and Reformer of the old when by length of time this sort of devotion became neglected after 700. years space revived and re-established This Psalter I say this very Psalter did our great Patriarch St. Bennet deliver to the World and recommend with immortall fruit and merit to his Disciples who were to be sent into the earths severall Climats to establish monastical discipline which they undoubtedly perform'd with so much the more happy success by how much they preach'd and promoted the sacred Virgins honour together with the sincere faith of her Son Christ Jesus Hence it is that the whol Quire of his succeeding Monks imitating the example of so glorious a Father became ever since most zealous practitioners and promoters of the same piety and devotion and to the end it might be perpetuated to all their posterity they prudently set apart one day of the year in which they make a particular Commemoration of the sacred Psalter thus instituted by their Patriarch St. Bennet to wit the 18. of June where their Martyrologe say's thus Upon the same day the Feast or Commemoration of the blessed Virgin-Mothers Psalter instituted to the honour of the glorious Empress of Heaven aad Earth by our admirable Father and Patriarch St. Bennet to be practis'd in his whol Order and propagated throughout the whol World by his most holy Children and Disciples And how zealously his said children perform'd this their Fathers precept of promulgating in all places the sacred Virgins Psalter might be largely demonstrated and exemplified in all the succeeding ages For of St. Maurus whom our holy Father yet living sent into France and who dyed in the year 583. it is thus expresly written He promoted the honour of the admirable Virgin-Mother with all possible diligence and with incomparable fruit and merit and propagated far and near the use of her sacred Psalter according to the institute of his most blessed Father St. Bennet And of St. Eligius the glorious Builder Founder and Abbot of Solemmacum the Bishop of Nâ—yon the Apostle of many Provinces a man famous not only for his prodigious sanctity but also for his skill in Smithery who dyed in the year 665. he was a singular Honourer of the Sacred Virgin-Mother whose Psalter he carryed for his Pontificall Ensign and made for himself an Episcopall Chair adorn'd with an hundred and fifty golden-nails or bosses distinguish'd with other fifteen of a greater size and bulk upon which he dayly perform'd his devotions of the Psalter And in the ensuing Age the same sort of Piety was spread abroad not only over our English Nation but into the far and near adjoyning Kingdom 's by the preaching of our venerable Bede who dyed in the year 738. of whom it is written that he brought his Countrey men into so great a veneration of the Marian Psalter
Fathers help to hold them by the hand and direct their unskilfull footsteps We most devout Auditors are these little weaklings in the wilderness of this world unable of our selves to walk forward or work any thing Let us therefore have recourse to hâ—m from whom is all our force and sufficiencie humbly imploring his presence and assistance by saying Pater noster Our Father 2. If any were to pass over a Field full of Snakes Serpents Dâ—agons and all sorts of venemous creatures had they not need of some holy Guide who were free from being hurt by them Of some valiant Champion who were able to destroy them of some Powerfull Person who were capable to carry them on his shoulders above the reach of the stings and poysons of these ravenous Beasts We live alas in a land full of Infernall Dragons Christ only is this holy valiant and strong Champion who can deliver us from their dangerous morsures le ts therefore incessantly invoke his assistance saying Qui es Who art 3. If any were to pass through some dismall and darksom place had they not need of Heavens light to help them forward We sejourn here in darkness and in the shadow of death Christ is the Clarity of Heaven the shining Sun of Justice the bright Star of Jacob. Le ts therefore often lift up to him our eyes and hearts saying In Coelis In Heaven 4. If any were to make a journey during which whosoever should be caught in a deadly crime must presently be adjudg'd to death had he not need to be himself holy or to be in the company of holy persons we have such a journey to make and the soul that sins mortally dyes presently as to grace and Eternally without Gods great mercy To the end therefore that our selves may be sanctified and that we may be assisted by the Saints and by the Saint of Saints le ts often say Sanctificetur Hallowed 5. If any were to pass through an unknow Countrey to an unknown City had they not need to learn the language or rely upon some faithfull Interpreter Our Pilgrimage is through a strange land to enquire after a far future Citie where the Angells language is used and there are two Schools wherein this celestiall language is learned The Lords Prayer and the Angelicall Salutation Let 's therefore betake our selves seriously to our sacred Rosary and there humbly invoke that name which designs Gods Word by which all things were made saying Nomen tuum Thy Name 6. If any were to pass through the Territories of some cruell Tyrant who made bondslaves of all such as he could catch within his clutches had they not need to cast about for some means of succour in case of their surprisall The World is this Tyrant and Christ is our only succour to whom we must instantly and frequently sue and sigh saying Adveniat Regnum tuum Thy Kingdom come 7. If any were to pass through an enemies Dominion had they not need of a safe conduct or letters Patents The accomplishment of the divin Will says Saint Augustin is our chief liberty Le ts therfore amidst all our dangers produce these Patents pronouncing often Fiat voluntas tua Thy will be done 8. If any were to pass a Field overflow'd with water had they not need of a Ship to support them from sinking This World says S. Basil is a deluge of wickedness and this life is a flood of miseries wherefore lets fly to heaven for refuge saying frequently Sicut in coelo As it is in heaven 9. If the road be rough and rugged with Rocks Hills and Mountains unpassable by reason of boggs and quick-sands unsafe through Earthquaques c. had not the Pilgrims need to seek out some secure path whereby to escape such evident dangers Our souls are such Pilgrims in our bodyes encompass'd with calamities shaken with fears and apprehensions terrifi'd with visible and invisible enemies Let 's therefore walk in the way of our Lords Prayer which will surely lead us to Paradise and say often In terra In earth 10. If any live in a barren land oppress'd with famin and poverty must they not make some daily provision for victualls or els be sure to perish with hunger We live in a dismall desert in a place of horror and vast solitude says the Prophet Moyses Deut. 32.10 in a land of death famin and miserie and Prayer says S. Basil brings in the bread of life for our spirituall sustenance Let 's therefore betake us to our Psalter and pray frequently Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie Give us this day our daily bread 11. If any were engag'd in great sums to a severe prince who would infallibly punish them with death if they punctually payd not their debts yet promising freely to pardon all such as should humbly petition him were it it not a madness to refuse the asking of so great a mercy we are debtors to the Dâ—vin Justice and since we are uncapable to pay we are liable to Eternall Death unless we will pray humbly fervently perseverantly Dimitte nobis debita nostra Forgive us our trespasses 12. If any were presently to suffer a cruell death for their enormous crimes unless they would condescend to pardon some smaller offences of their neighbors were they not miserable unhappy obstinate wretches to deny it This Pardon is given and our own obtain'd by saying cordially Sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris As we forgive them that trespass against us 13. If they who are grievously troubled with Diabolical Carnal Worldly temptations might be freed by the carryage of one little Stone about them were they not strangely stupid to neglect so small a matter for the obtaining so great a benefit our Lords Prayer is this precious Stone which say's St. Augustin preserves from all harms and illusions who then would not have it alwaies in his heart and mouth saying evermore Et ne nos inducas in tentationem and lead us not into temptation If finally any were to sayl over a boysterous sea beset on this side with Syrens Whales Gryphons all sorts of devouring Monsters on that side full of Rocks Sands Gulphs all sorts of death bringing danger And a King and Queen standing on the shore should proffer to give them two Gemms indu'd with power to prevent all these perills might they not be said willingly to perish who willfully refused them This is our case my Christian Auditors who are to sayl over the Sea of this life beset on every side with Devils Sins and all sorts of dangers and behold Christ our King and Redeemer offers us his efficacious Prayer and Mary our Queen Mother her Angelical Salutation to secure us from shipwrack O let us gratefully accept them and frequently repeat in our Psalter Sed libera nos a malo But deliver us from evill Amen This is the Summary of St. Dominicks sermon whereby he parabolically in imitation of our blessed Saviour and efficaciously
evermore 4. Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Efficacious Purpose and Resolution of self-deniall I Desire no longer O Eternall Father to follow my irregular appetites and to march under the Banner of my own will and opinion which are the fountains of all my defects disloyalties transgressions No Lord For your love I utterly renounce them with all possible horrour and hatred All my will and wish is that your sacred will may be accomplish'd in me upon Earth in Heaven in all things whatsoever purely perfectly eternally for all your Ordinances are full of Justice and Equity I adore them all I embrace them all I submit to them all Thrice happy those souls which are truly conformable to you which incessantly contemplate you which unweariedly follow you which faithfully serve you and perpetually prayse you 5. Give us this day our daily Bread Petition for a supply of our Necessities IT is the property of Children oppressed with hunger to address themselv's to their Parents with tears and cry's to move them to compassion Behold here your poor Child O loving and liberall Lord God! extreamely labouring with spirituall thirst and hunger exceedingly wearied in the worlds service you are my Father my Feeder my daily Bread And it is you only who are capable to satisfy my hunger quench my thirst comfort me in this my calamitous condition All Creatures are but small Crums falling from your Royall table O how sweet and savory is the Bread of teares and the Water of contrition to a truly Penitent Contrite Converted Soul Your sugred words O Lord and your celestiall inspirations are her most delicious sawce and the participation of your most precious Body and Blood her daily Bread O my God Let not the affection to temporall objects deprive me of spirituall comforts nor let any earthly solicitudes and greediness after worldly goods choak up the memory and gust of those better goods you have promis'd and prepar'd for me in Heaven But let my daily Exercise be to sanctify your holy Name Let the interiour feeling of your Kingdom of Love in my soul be my only pleasure palace and Paradise and let the accomplishment of your sacred Will be my daily Bread and sustenance during the space of this my Pilgrimage But alas 6. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us Reflection upon our Impieties and Supplication for pardon WHen I consider O Father of Infinit Clemency not only my life past but even my present condition not only all my enormous and innumerable offences but even my daily and hourly imperfections negligences iniquities to wit 1. My Time still lost either in doing Evill or in doing nothing or in doing things impertinent 2. My lingring and voluntary complacencies in thought against Charity Chastity Humility 3. My continued Resistency contristation hinderance of your holy spirit in my self or others 4. My Irreverence Indevotion Tepiditie in my prayers recollections spirituall Exercises 5. My Excesses of Tongue Eyes Ears and all my senses as well in respect of your divin Majestie as my neighbour and my self When I say I seriously reflect upon these and the rest of my manifold transgressions I find my self so deeply indebted that I should undoubtedly turn Bankrupt did not your fatherly goodness and my deer Redeemers boundless mercy and merits give me hope comfort and encouragement For O my God! In what large sum do I stand ingaged to your sacred Justice 1. I owe thanks for so many signall Benefits 2. I owe Contrition for so many committed Crimes 3. I owe love for love my life for your Sons death my whol self for your self given and regiven so frequently unto me And yet insensible wretch that I am I pay none of these just debts but daily increase my obligations by my daily Ingratitude VVhat other course then can I now take but humbly to cry out Dimitte mihi Pardon your prodigall Child O compassionate Father for the love of your dear Son Christ Jesus He is my surety and he hath satisfied for my debts even according to the severe rigour of your divin Justice whose least drop of blood is abundantly sufficient to expiate the whol worlds impieties If therefore my own guilt shuts up my mouth and your Mercy gate yet his sacred blood will be my Key to open both the one and the other Pardon me then O my pious Father for your Crucified Jesu's sake as I for the love of him do most freely heartily and sincerely pardon all them who have injur'd wrong'd and offended me in any thing whatsoever 7. And lead us not into temptation Recourse to the divin Protection I Am day and night O most Powerfull Father and Protector assaulted with an infinit number of Enemyes which incessantly seek my utter ruin and destruction The flesh charmes me the world enchants me the Devill cheats me and every thing becomes an object of Temptation unto me Ah! How shall poor I conquer such powerfull champions I find no other means than to make my addresses to you My all-powerfull Father and humbly to shelter my self under the wings of your paternall Protection For Alas such is my frailty that I shall surely fall without the support of your Grace being faln I shall be unable to rise without the help of your strength being raysed up I cannot hope to persevere without the continuall influence of your assistance Shield me then under your sacred wings Protect me as the Apple of your eye command your Angell of light to preserve me from the darkness of Sin from the dangers of my Adversaries from the dismall sleep of sudden and unprovided death from all that is any way displeasing to your divin will and liking 8. But deliver us from evill Aspirations to perfection fruition union WHen O Father of Glory shall I be freed from sin from Sathans from my self from all that hinders the coming of your Kingdom O Kingdom of Peace Kingdom of love Kingdom of all desirable felicity There it is O Father that I shall sanctify your Name that I shall perform your will purely perfectly eternally There I shall no longer beg of you my daily Bread but remain abundantly satiated with the sight of your blessed face and the fruition of your beatifying glory There my Debts will be all payd my sins pardoned my soul glorified There will be neither Temptation nor Tribulation neither occasion of sin nor punishment of sin but all tranquillity all conformity all perfection There lives thy loving Father O my Soul There is thy home and Countrey there lyes thy portion and patrimony O Jerusalem my dear Countrey my delicious Kingdom my desired Inheritance when shall I possesse thee O sweet Father when shall I sincerely love you O my poor Soul when shall I see thee free from stains and blemishes full of purity and perfection Let 's yield let 's yield to our good Father Let 's promptly submit to all his precepts and Ordinances Let 's serve
then ponder his love to mankind in generall and to your self in particular c. The second Rule which concerns the action of your will is That you pass speedily from speculative discourses to devout affections and self-reflections as for example had you been in the Bethleem stable aforesaid how diligently would you have employ'd your self in the service of little Jesus and his loving Mother How willingly would you have pick'd up sticks made a fire ayr'd his swaths and fetch'd or carryed whatsoever might have been usefull for their solace and succour c. Such like reflections will rayse enflam'd desires and firm resolutions in your soul of better loving and serving both the Son and Mother for the future and of suffering for his sake who suffered so much for yours c. And in some such manner you may conclude each mysterie by some particular resolution drawn from the subject of the meditation either of correcting such an imperfection or of exercising such a vertu and assure your self that if you presently apply your self to the practise of such well made resolutions humbly imploring the divin assistance therein by the blessed Virgins Intercession you shall find it a most speedy and efficacious means to the amendment of your life the extirpation of vice the implanting of vertu and finally much conducing to your generall advancement in all sorts of spirituall Perfections 3 You may also represent to your self the sacred Virgin Sometimes as sitting or kneeling in her silent and solitary retreat and attentively listning to the Angell Gabriels Salutation and Embassy Other times as infolding gently her sweet Infant Jesus in her sacred arms imbracing him tenderly in her bosom suckling him lovingly at her breasts watching him carefully with her eyes cherishing him affectionatly with her kisses contemplating him devoutly with her heart Other times as painfully wayting on him from place to place in the time of his Passion sorrowfully standing by him at the foot of his Cross cheerfully rejoycing with him at his Resurrection Other times as gloriously reigning in Heaven mercifully vouchsafing to hearken to our prayers and piously presenting them to her Son Or otherwise according to the severall mysteries and sutably to each ones gust and devotion 4. You are also here to be exhorted to propose to your self the cause whether common or particular which moves you now to the recitall of the Rosary as for example I intend now to prayse my Lord God for the benefit of my Creation Redemption Vocation c. Or In the honour of my Saviours sacred Nativity bitter Passion glorious Resurrection admirable Ascention c. Or In the honour of the blessed Virgins Annunciation Visitation Assumption Coronation c. Or I intend to render thanks to my Creator for such a particular favour as for mine own or my friends Conversion delivery from danger c. Or any other privat or publick benefit Or I intend to implore the divin assistance for the overcoming of such a Temptation extirpating such a vice obtaining such a vertu Or For a good success in such an affair Or that I may make a happy progress in my Studies c. Consider therefore briefly at the beginning of your prayers what it is that you chiefly intend and if it be any temporall or worldly benefit which you desire to obtain be sure you demand it not absolutely but only conditionally as thus If it please the divin Majesty and that it is for my good and his glory I humbly beg a happy end of such a Law-sute success in such a journey prosperity in such an undertaking c. 5. Then taking your Bedes in hand or having this your Book open before you begin your Rosary with the sign of the Cross saying In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen 6. Then adding this Preparatorie Prayer of the Church Aperi Domine os meum ctc. O Lord Open my mouth to bless your holy name purge my heart from all vain wicked and wandring thoughts enlighten my understanding and inflame my affections that reciting this Rosary with due reverence attention and devotion I may be graciously heard by your divin Majesty through the merits of your Son our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus 7. Then making a Profession of your Faith with heart and mouth say I believe in God the Farher Almightie Creator of Heaven and Earth c. 8. After your Creed recite thrice your Hail Mary upon the three grains which are commonly plac'd at the head of your Rosary saluting the blessed Virgin in honour of her three singular Prerogatives Of being 1. The Daughter of the Eternall Father 2. The Mother of the Eternall Son 3. The Spouse of the Holy Ghost 9. Then Reflecting upon the first mysterie say our Father and ten Hail Maries and so pass on to the second and the rest of the Decades according to the order hereafter described and in the end of every Decade you are to say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World without end Amen Then recite these verses devoutly These Prayers Angelical with bended knee We offer holy Virgin up to thee Steer us a prosperous course while here we tarry And in deaths Pangs assist us blessed Mary Remember Virgin that no age hath known Any by thee deserted that has flown To thy Protection or implor'd thy Ayd By which encouragement most sacred Mayd Mother of Virgins I to thee repayre And for thy help address my humble prayer Mother of God! desert me not but hear And listen to me with a gracious eare 10. And having compleated the Recitall of your Rosary conclude with the repeated Creed and sign of the Cross so ending where you began which is both the ancient and a most laudable custom After all add this Prayer of the Church to obtain the remission of all the negligences committed in your Prayers Sacrosanctae Individuae Trinitaeti c. To the sacred and undivided Trinitie to the blessed Humanitie of our crucify'd Lord Jesus to the fruitfull integrity of the most glorious Virgin Mary and to all the Saints universally be ascribed all prayse honour and glory from all creatures for evermore and to us be granted by Gods Mercy the Remission of all our Sins And likewise ever blessed be the Bowels of the Virgin Mary which bore the Eternall Fathers Son and blessed be the Breasts which suckled Christ our Lord Amen §. 6. Of the fifteen Mysteries in generall The fourth part of the Rosarie THe devout Rosarist is here to be remembred of what was briefly related in the first book § 7. that whilst his mouth is employ'd in the due pronunciation of the aforesaid prayers his mind is to be embusied in the serious contemplation of certain divin mysteries which are fitly reduced to the number of Fifteen answering to the fifteen Decades or Tens of the sacred Rosary
to be recited in the each Decade That so the pious Rosarist may entertain his devotion by mentally ruminating upon one or more or all of them as his leisure shall permit and his zeal suggest unto him Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin Exceedingly rejoyc'd 1. At her Eternall Preelection THat she amongst all the women of the world was made choyce off from all Eternity to be the sacred Daughter of God the Father the worthy Mother of God the Son the glorious Spouse Temple and Tabernacle of God the Holy Ghost Hail Mary c. 2. At her singular Benediction THat she should be that Blessed one above all creatures indu'd with all the gifts graces vertues and perfections answerable to so high an Election Hail Mary 3. At the Reparation of Mankind THat she should be ordain'd for the Cooperatrix of the worlds Redemption the Mediatrix of Mankind the Advocatrix of sinners the Lady Queen and Empress of Heaven and Earth Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Salutation THat she should be thus particularly visited and thus honorably saluted by so noble an Oratour and so high an Ambassador as was the Archangell Gabriel sent purposely unto her from the sacred Trinity upon business of such great weight and concernment Hail Mary 5. At the Angelicall Consolation FOR when she was troubled not at his Apparition because she was well acquainted with Angelicall visits and accustomed to these like visions but at the contents of his message which trouble was only a certain fear apprehension admiration the Angell presently and familiarly calls her by her Name and comforts her saying Fear nothing O Mary I come not to deceive you but to declare divin Mysteries unto you you have found Grace with God and what need that Soul fear says S. Gregory which is in Gods Grace favour and friendship Hail Mary 6. At the Angelicall Revelation FOr he inform'd her that she was to conceive in her womb without sin without seed without Man and bring forth a child without sorrow without pain without violation of her virginall integrity and call his Name not impose it JESUS which signifies a Saviour He shall be Great above the common sort of sons and the Son of the most High not as the Saints by Grace and Adoption but by nature and essence And our Lord God shall give him the Seat of his Father David not his materiall Throne and temporall Kingdom but a spirituall and eternall Jurisdiction over all the Faithfull And he shall reign in the house of Jacob in the Church Militant and Triumphant for evermore Hail Mary 7. At the Angelicall Instruction FOr when she had reverently reply'd How can this be since I know not man but have vow'd my virginity to God my Maker he carefully and punctually instructs her in the manner and circumstances The Holy Ghost shall descend upon thee and the vertu of the most High shall overshadow thee and therefore fear not thy Chastity but know thou shalt hereby receive an addition to thy former purity Hail Mary 8. At her being with Child FOr she had no sooner signifi'd her obedient consent by uttering those humble words Behold the Handmaid of our Lord he it unto me according to thy speech whereby she prayd that God would be pleasd to fulfill what his Angell had declar'd unto her but she immediatly became with child of the Word Incarnate Hail Mary 9. At her Conception by the Holy Ghost O The joy of her Heart when she was ascertaind of her Conception of Christ in her womb not according to the common and naturall order but by the Holy Ghosts supernaturall power and operation And that she waâ— to be his Mother without a husband as God was his Father without a wife Hail Mary 10. At her Marriage with S. Joseph WHich was done undoubtedly in obedience to the divin â—…ctamen for her comfort crâ—dit assistance and many other important reasons without the least â—…tion of carnall Concupiscence in either of the marryed couple Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee We offer holy Virgin up to thee Steer us a prosperous course while here we tarry And in Deaths Pangs assist us Blessed Mary Remember Virgin that no Age hath known Any by thee deserted that has flown To thy Protection or implor'd thy Ayd By which encouragement most sacred Mayd Mother of Virgins I to thee repaire And for thy help address my humble pray'r Mother of God! desert me not but hear And listen to me with a gracious ear Affections Elevations Petitions O Eternall Father who were mercifully pleas'd to send down your heavenly messenger to treat with Her who before all time was design'd to be the worthy Mother of your Co-eternall Son my sweet Saviour Christ Jesus concerning the weighty Mystery of Mans Redemption by his Incarnation Dispose my Soul I beseech you to receive the Influences of your grace that so I may not hinder the effects of those mercies which in the Councills of your Eternall Providence you design'd for me Give me O my Creator a promptitude to obey your precepts Give me Purity Prudence Modesty and all other vertues and perfections which so highly pleas'd you in the Blessed Virgin O that my whol Employments might be henceforth so unmixt with worldly affections so free from vain Interests so retired from secular disturbances so conformable to sacred Maries most perefect examples that I might converse with Angells conceive Jesus in my soul nourish him in my interiour with my innocent affections and bring him forth by my actions of Piety towards the divin Majesty and of charity towards my neighbour O Jesu the only Son of the Eternall Father who by the Holy Ghosts wonderfull operation were graciously pleasd to descend into the womb of an humble Virgin and there to cloath your self with our Humanity Let your powerful Grace descend into my poor soul and adorn it with such vertues and perfections as are to your self most pleasing and acceptable O the profound Humiliation of Gods Son and the perfect Humility of Gods Mother He being the dread Soveraign of Heaven and earth annihilates himself to take a servants form She being declard Gods Mother takes upon her a Handmaid's title O King of Humility Grant me this Royall vertu which is the root and Ground-work of all others by the intercession of your most humble and holy Mother O glorious Empress of both worlds I rejoyce at your titles of honour and greatness and especially that you were the only one chosen out amongst all women to be Gods worthy Mother By this Supreme Mystery of your divin Sons Incarnation obtain for me I beseech you that I may also conceive and carry your sweet Son Jesus alwaies in my heart and soul and continually produce the fruits of good works answerable to my christian obligation and profession that so he dwelling with me and within me continually during this my
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
Mother of God and Man and entirely a pure and unspotted Virgin O News exclaims S. Bernard never before heard of A Mother and yet a Virgin A Virgin and yet a Mother Hail Mary 3. At her bringing forth without pain O You Blessed and the only Blessed amongst women says the same Saint who alone were exempt from the generall curse of all women But what wonder if he put his Mother to no pain at his birth who was born to take away all pain from the whole world Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Iubilation FOr She saw the heavenly Court rejoycing at her Sons Nativity and heard the alternate Echo's of their Glory to God on high and Peace on Earth to People of good will Hail Mary 5. At the vision of the divin Essence FOr if She frequently enjoy'd this priviledge in her life-time as is the opinion of many learned Fathers She now surely enjoy'd it in a most eminent manner when she brought forth Gods Son into the world Hail Mary 6. At the many benefits bestowed on Mankind by her Son's Birth TO wit The Exaltation of human Nature The Redemption of the World The satisfaction for sin The victory over Satan The Promotion of Man to vertu Sanctity Perfection The certainty of Faith The Erection of Hope The Encrease of Charity The conferring of an Eternall Life and Kingdom Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of miracles wrought then for his manifestation to the World FOr 1. A great bright unusuall Star invites the Wise-men to Bethleem stable 2. Three Suns appear in Spain soon after joyning themselves into one Body signifying says S. Thomas that the Flesh the Soul and the Deity of the then born Infant were united in one person 3. A golden circle encompasses the Sun in the midst whereof stands a beautifull Virgin with a child in her bosom which the Sybill shews to Octavian the then Roman Emperor with many other wonders declaring to the whol world the divin Majesty and glory of her new-born Son Hail Mary 8. At the Adoration of the Wise-men WHo exteriourly summon'd by the appearing Star and interiourly instructed by the Holy Ghost came and fell down at his feet full of Faith Religion and Devotion and there brake forth into Acts of Adoration and extasies of Admiration Hail Mary 9. At their mysticall offrings WHich were Gold as to a great King Frankincense as to a true God Myrrh as to a mortall man who was to dy for the worlds Redemption Hail Mary 10. At the Vocation Conversion and Salvation of the Gentills WHereof she saw a happy beginning in these holy Kings Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth Is your Mercy your Compassion and your Charity to poor Mankind so excessive as that you should thus descend from your Throne of Majesty into a vale of misery for our salvation O Virgin-Mother the choyce Chamber Temple and Tabernacle of Gods Son the Queen of Heaven and Lady of the World Be you Eternally blessed who have been found worthy to bring forth the so long desired and expected of all Ages O Jesu My Lord and my Redeemer who were born of a poor Handmaid wrapp'd in poor Swathes hous'd in a poor Stable Bedded in a poor Cribb Give me true poverty of spirit and a perfect contempt of all worldly honours and greatnesses O sweet Saviour of the World who call'd the Kings to acknowledge and adore you in your Cradle and commanded them to return back by another way into their Countrey Call and compell my rebellious heart unto you by the powerfull light of your efficacious grace shining in my interiour and dispersing all darkness and indevotion in my soul that I may there find you feel you see you adore you and offer up to your divin Majesty the Myrrh of true compunction and mortification The Frankincense of fervent Prayer and devotion the Gold of ardent love and affection O grant that I may henceforth more faithfully follow your holy lights vocations and inspirations which will conduct me into the right way leading to my heavenly home out of which I have hitherto stray'd by my own wilfull malice negligence and sinfullness O my glorious new-born King Christ Jesu you were pleas'd to want a lodging upon Earth that you might lodge me in Heaven To be deprived of all worldly conveniences that you might heap on me your Celestiall comforts To embrace Poverty Humility self-contempt abnegation annihilation that you might inrich me with all the spirituall Treasures of vertu and perfection And shall I gape after temporall goods and glories seek for fleshly solaces and satisfactions place my affection upon poor and perishable trifles No my dear Redeemer I will henceforth endeavour to imitate your most perfest Example And O that I were sincerely willing to abandon all truly content to be abandon'd by all and really resolv'd to submit my self and all to your sacred will and disposition that so I might be absolutely conformable to you my All and All O holy Virgin O happy Mother how sweetly is my Soul ravish'd in the contemplation of that unspeakable joy and gladness which your dilated heart felt when you first embrac'd the long desired of all Nations in your tender folds I congratulate this your happiness O glorious Mother of my good Jesus and humbly creeping in amongst the holy crew of admiring Angells Kings and Shepheards I affectionately present you with these my meaner Canticles of conjubilation We were the poor banish'd miserable progeny of our unfortunat mother Eve we were the wretched Bond-slaves of sin and Satan we were the forlorn lost and stray'd sheep wilfully fled away from our faithfull Shepheard We were the Prodigall children carryed abroad by our own concupiscences from our loving Father and by your Sons means O Blessed and most fortunate Mother we are disingaged deliverd redeem'd from all these miseries woes and disasters O the happy change of our unhappy condition O Eternally Blessed Tree and Blessed Blossom Blessed Womb and Blessed Fruit Blessed Mary and Blessed Jesu The fourth joyfull Mystery offer'd THe Oblation and Presentation of Christ to his Eternall Father in the Temple And the Purification of his Blessed Mother Luc. 2. The Virgin 's purifi'd her dear Son warm's Old Simeons breast presented in his arms Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the carriage of her sweet Son Iesus FOr upon the fortith day after our blessed Saviours birth she cheerfully sets forth of Bethleem stable with her little Jesus in her armes and S. Joseph in her company towards Jerusalem to fulfill the Law of Moyses and to offer up her Son to his Eternall Father in the Temple And though she had just reason to dread King Herods cruelty yet she was more afraid to offend the divin Majesty The way says Ludolphus was five miles long yet she felt not the least
the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions WHy weep you O sacred Virgin Why do you grieve and mourn O glorious Mother of Jesus your Son lives triumphs reigns He that was lately accounted the out-cast of the people is now the most happy of all mankind He that was crucifi'd dead and buried appears now cloathed with Clarity Agilitie Subtility Impassibilitie Behold the Man look up O Blessed Mary upon your beloved Jesus the lively Image of the Eternall Father the beauty and brightness of Heaven and Earth the Crown and ornament of Men and Angells Lo He here presents himself unto you to wipe all tears from your eyes and disperse all sorrows from your heart Hear him speaking unto you in his wonted tone and tearms of respect All Hail my most honoured Mother Peace and joy be with you 'T is I my self who am the comfortable Messenger of this happy exchange of yours and my sorrows into gladness and Jubilation both that you may with me incessantly prayse and bless my Eternall Father and also that you may take the first and best share of joy who have the greatest interest in me and had the greatest part with me in my passion of any mortall creature See and admire the power of the Almightyes right hand in the person of your Son The disgrac'd is glorifi'd the defam'd is justifi'd the condemn'd is absolv'd the crucifi'd is resuscitated Rejoyce then dear Mother together with you joyfull Son for whom you need not now fear any further miseries persecutions Crosses since he is above the reach of mans malice and the Devils power having put on the robes of glory impassibility immortality The short Winter of suffering is turn'd into a perpetuall Summer of consolation The stormy showers of blood into a sweet dew of blessings All my wounds are perfectly cur'd and the scarrs only remain as Rubies of my honour and badges of my victory O the excesses of Joy which transported your extasi'd heart and soul O sacred Virgin-Mother at the sight of your now again living and gloriously triumphing Son Jesus And O my soul If thou desirest a share in these Joys and gloryes of Jesus and Mary thou must also resolve to bear a part in their sorrows and sufferings Thou art much mistaken in thinking to triumph without trying for the Victory or to be crown'd without conquering No my delicate Soldier Christ thy King and Captain suffer'd before he entred into his glory Queen Maries heart was pierced with sorrow before it was replenish'd with comforts All the Saints combated before they were crown'd And refusest thou all sufferings all sorrows all combates all that thy flesh and blood cannot relish O dear Jesu What will you do with me who dare not encounter with the least difficulties How will you deal with me who bear the name of a Christian soldier and am indeed no better than a base and cowardly sensualist If I love the glory of your Crown why dislike I the ignominie of your Cross If I desire the reward of a Conqueror why do I not adventure into the field of the combat O why should your painfull death and passion so much affright me since your glorious Resurrection confirms me in the Hope and Faith of a future felicity why should I more dread in reflecting upon the difficulties occurring in my Pilgrimage than rejoyce in fixing my thoughts upon the pleasures of Paradise which is the end of my Pilgrimage O why am I not content to suffer with Jesus and for Jesus were there no reward to be expected for all my sufferings It being a sufficient glory to a faithfull Christian to be conformable to Christ his Captain Behold therefore I humbly prostrate my self here at your sacred feet O my victorious Redeemer imploring your pardon for my past pusillanimity and purposing to behave my self hereafter more manfully Come all sorts of crosses and losses all sorrows and sicknesses all punishments and persecutions all derelictions and desclations I will no more be daunted or dismay'd but animated by your example and assisted by your grace O Christ my King my Captain my glorious Conqueror I will either pass through them couragiously or pass by them patiently or pass over them victoriously Yes my Lord Jesu I will receive henceforth all afflictions from the hands of your divin providence as pledges of your paternall affection and most willingly joyfully resignedly embrace them as the happily offered occasions for the encrease of my merit the exercise of my vertu the perfection of my soul the expiation of my sins the crowning me with glory The second Glorious Mystery Ascends THE Ascension of our Lord Jesus into Heaven Mark 16. His great work don and his Commisons given In Glorious triumph he ascends to Heaven Our Father c. THE Glorious Virgin-Mother exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the Ascension of her Son Iesus in hers and his Disciples presence FOr upon the fortieth day after our Redeemers Resurrection his sacred Mother with the Apostles the seventy two Disciples and many more of his faithfull friends and followers met together by the divin instinct upon Mount Sion and march'd from thence proâ—essionally to the Mount Olivet distant a mile from Jerusalem to be spectators of this admirable catastrophe of their dear Saviour Christs humanity and to receive his last blessing before he left the Earth to ascend into Heaven Hail Mary 2. At his great Power shew'd in his Ascension FOr he elevated himself by his own strength and vertu nor could he need any forreign help or assistance whose inhabiting Divinity and glorifi'd soul could move his impassible and agile body as himself pleased Hail Mary 3. At the joyfull meeting and acclamation of the Angelicall spirits WHich undoubtedly descended all to accompany his humanity to congratulate his victory to echo forth the triumphs of his prayses Hail Mary 4. At his soaring above all the Heavens TO wit above the spheres of the seven Planets above the Christallin orbe above the starrie Firmament even to the Empyreall seat of the Divinity according to that sentence of the Apostle He ascended up far above all the Heavens that he might fulfill all things Hail Mary 5. At his ascending above the Angelicall quires and all creatures whatsoever ACcording to that expression of the same Apostle God the Father placed him his son Jesus far above all principalities and Powers and Dominations and every thing that is nam'd not only in this world but in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet Hail Mary 6. At his being seated on the right hand of his Eternall Father ACcording to that of S. Mark He was assumpted into Heaven and sits on his Fathers right hand And of S. Paul His Father set him on his own right hand in the heavenly places Which is a Metaphoricall expression signifying equality and society of Majesty honour power felicity c. Hail Mary 7.
FOr the spitefull Pharisees hearing the Apostles speaking all sorts of languages sought to undervalue the miracle by vilifying them as Drunkards but St Peter standing up in his own and his brethrens defence solidly refutes their malicious imputation to the great joy admiration and confirmation of all the Auditors and confusion of his enemies Hail Mary 7. At the sodain multiplication of the faithfull FOr St. Peters efficacious Oration was no sooner ended but three thousand Souls were presently converted to the Faith of Christ and forthwith baptizd in his name and five thousand more within few dayes after Hail Mary 8. At the fructification of Christs Passion FOr the blessed Virgin-Mother saw not only the present fruits of her Sons death and sufferings spread abroad in the Apostles and the new converted Christians but she also foresaw the future multitude of martyrs who should couragiously dy for his love besides the vast number of confessors virgins and religious Persons who should cheerfully take up their Crosses and faithfully follow him Hail Mary 9. At the great encrease of the divin honour and worship FOr Pagans Gentills Idolaters and people of all professions renouncing their ancient errors came flocking in amain to be instructed in the Faith of Christ and to follow the Evangelicall doctrin Hail Mary 10. At the accomplishment of the number of the Elect. FOr the blessed Virgin joyfully foresaw that all such souls as should depart this life in the true Faith of of her Son Jesus inform'd with charity were to be added to the number of the Saints and to be admitted to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Glorious Creator How great is your Mercy how infinit your liberalitie How excessive your affection to undeserving and ungratefull Mankind After your only Son was so ill treated amongst us would you also send down the Holy Ghost unto us It plainly appears that we have a potent Advocate in Heaven Jesus Christ the just to plead our cause and a Powerfull Mother upon Earth Mary the Mother of Jesus to impetrate for us this extraordinary favour It is therefore the Mothers merit and the Sons Mercy and the Eternal Fathers liberalitie and the Holy Ghosts goodness that this holy Spirit descends from Heaven upon us A Spirit of life and love a Spirit of solace and sweetness a Spirit of grace and happiness a Spirit which comes in form of fiery tongues to clear our understandings with his light to inflame our wills with his heat and to govern our tongues and affections with his gracious direction A light which dazels not a fire which consumes not a tongue which threatens not accuses not condemns not O sacred and divin Spirit you are the Father of the afflicted the Distributer of graces the enlightner of hearts the comforter of Souls and alas how opposite are my actions to your properties perfections inspirations You descend to instill into me the spirit of sweetness meekness patience and I converse with such as are under my charge and with others who are perchance far better before you than my self with a spirit of choller and peevishness with a spirit of rigour and harshness with a spirit of revenge and bitterness Ah uncharitable wretch that I am shall I contristate my neighbour instead of comforting him shall I exact from others instead of conferring benefits upon them shall I under-value my brethrens actions censure their intentions obscure their reputations instead of putting a charitable construction upon all things whatsoever Change this my crooked and crabbed disposition O powerfull Spirit thâ— plentifull bestower of all perfect gifts by the efficacy of your sacred influence upon my soul purge me I beseech you from my present imperfections pardon me for my past impieties and prevent me from future fallings by implanting your spirit of true peace and charity in my interiour which may keep my heart evermore burning in the love of you and my neighbour till I come to be totally absorpt in you together with the coequall Son and Father in your blessed Eternitie Amen The fourth glorious Mysterie she dy's THe assumption of the blessed Virgin up to Heaven Allegorically understood by Maryes chosing the best part Luke 10. The Virgins sacred Corps too rich a prize For Earth is born by Angels 'bove the Skyes Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mothers heart was replenish'd with exceeding great joy 1. At the news of the near approaching dissolution of her soul and body FOr as the holy Doctors deliver unto us after the dispersion of the Apostles into the Worlds severall quarters to preach the Gospell the blessed Virgin retir'd her felf into a privat dwelling near adjoyning to Mount Sion that she might pass the remaining day 's of her Pilgrimage upon earth in the devout contemplation of her divin Sons actions and the frequent visitation of the holy places of his Baptism Fasting Passion Buriall Resurrection Ascention when behold at the time appointed by the eternall providence a heavenly Messenger probably the Arch-Angell Gabriel reverently saluting her in her Sons name informs her of her near approaching departure out of this life Hail Mary 2. At the securitie of heâ— Glorious and speedy Resurrection FOr as Albertus and all the Doctors agree she could not possibly doubt of her present and immediate Translation to Eternall happiness Hail Mary 3. At her dying without any dread terrour or trouble FOr how could She fear death who was so fervent in Charity as that she desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ How could She be terrifi'd at Deaths approach who was absolutely free from all sin and impiety Or how could She be troubled at the apprehension of Gods severe Judgments who was secure of her salvation 4. At the presence of the Apostles at her departure FOr it is a generally receiv'd Tradition of the Fathers That all the Apostles were by divin instinct sodainly gather'd together from the worlds severall climats to honour her with their personall presence at this time of her earthly dissolution Hail Mary 5. At the sweet separation of her Soul aâ—… Body FOr say's S. Hierom as She was free from the corruption of the flesh so she was exempt from the calamities of Death And S. John Damascen The pain 's which she suffer'd not in childing and dying She payd at the time of Christs Passion Hail Mary 6. At the Ioyfull Re-union of her Soul and Body in her Resuscitation and Assumption into Heaven FOr according to S. Augustin There was no reason corruption should seize on her after death whose integrity was preserv'd in her life c. but 't was fit she should be always living who was the Parent of all life and that she should be always with him who for nine months space was with her in her womb c. Hail Mary 7. At Christ's meeting her accompanyed with the Heavenly
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
sensuality constancy to resist all temptations and strength to conquer all my enemies Our Father 5. HE painfully went from place to place preaching the Gospell to the people O Jesu let my soul incessantly thirst after your honour and the salvation of my neighbour Our Father 6. HE honoured marriage with his presence and with his first miracle and afterwards for three years space he plentifully powr'd forth his miraculous benefits upon all sorts of Persons O Jesu overflow my heart with a generall affection and compassion towards all Christians and permit me not to grow weary in performing works of piety Our Father 7. HE often times spent whol nights in Prayer and suffered hunger thirst cold heat poverty and persecution for my sake O Jesu how much have you done and endur'd for me and how little have I done and endur'd for you and my self Our Father 8. HIs chief lesson was humility Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart O Jesu This is one of the vertues I chiefly stand in need off Ah! that my heart were truly simple supple innocent and humble how happy a Scholler should I be O my Redeemer in your holy School could I as cheerfully practise as I can easily resolve Our Father 9. HIs principall precept was Charity I give you a new commandment that you love one another O Iesu this is the other vertu I principally want and wish for Ah! that my whol interiour and exteriour my heart soul body and senses were nothing but pure Charity that so it might be impossible for me to speak think act or breath any thing but the perfect love of you and my neighbour Our Father 10 HE made his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in order to his Passion sitting upon an asse and he shed tears amidst the peoples applauses and acclamations O Iesu give me a true sight of my self and of the World that perfectly knowing my own vility and its vanity I may incessantly bewail my selfwretchedness weep for the Worlds wickedness and render to you only all honour and glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so faithfully diligently and devoutly accompany'd follow'd and serv'd your divin Son in his manly age appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull prayers and intercession Hail Mary The third part Of Christs bitter Death and Passion 1. OUr dear Redeemer after his last supper wash'd the feet of his Disciples and instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist O Iesu which shall I most admire your stupendious humility or your unheard-off charity Our Father 2. HE entred the Garden with his Disciples where after he had most fervently pray'd he fell into a vehement Agony in which bloud mix'd with sweat trickled down from his whol body O Iesu how great are my sins which are the cause of your so great sorrow place your Passion I bessech you between them and your judgment O let your sufferings cancel their heynousness and let your precious bloud wash away their erronious filthiness Our Father 3. HE was seiz'd on by a crew of armed Souldiers manacled with cords dragg'd away to Annas and Caiphas O Iesu dissolve the bands of my unruly passions perverse inclinations and impure affections and take me tie me shackle me and draw me unto you with the sweet cords of your sacred love and charity Our Father 4. IN the whol night of his passion he suffer'd all sorts of injuries vexations and torments O Jesu and shall I repine at small pains and persecutions shall I faint under the light burthen which your loving hand lay's upon my shoulders O meek lamb of God! pardon my past impatience and give me a perseverant Resignation to your will and pleasure Our Father 5. HE was contemptibly hurried away to Pilate and Herod and by them scorn'd as a silly Ideot O Jesu you are every way humbled depressed annihilated and I seek nothing but honour applause estimation Is this to imitate you my Lord and Master O change me correct me convert me by your power in your mercy by your example Our Father 6. HIs tender body was ty'd naked to a pillar and torn with whips and scourges O Iesu uncloath me of the old man with all his wicked works and revest me with the new created in justice and sanctity according to your own heart Our Father 7. HE was beaten with a cane buffeted with their fists spurned with their feet defil'd with their spittle crown'd with Thorns every way abused O Jesu the beauty of Men and Angels how are you worried for my wickedness O wound my soul with a deep sense of your sufferings that I may henceforth absolutely detest all sin trample upon all sensuality cancel all vanity serve you more innocently and adhere to you more fervently Our Father 8. HE was forc'd to carry his heavy Cross upon his weak and wounded shoulders from Jerusalem to Mount Calvarie O Jesu let me cheerfully take up the Cross of self-contempt self-abnegation self-denyall and follow you till death constantly couragiously perseverantly Our Father 9. HE was stripp'd naked and stretch'd on the Cross having his hands and feet barbarously nayl'd unto it and his side pierc'd with a Launce O Iesu strip me of all that displeases the eyes of your divin Majesty dilate my heart with celestiall affections and fasten my â—oul to your self with the sweet nayls of your sacred Love Our Father 10. HAving hung three hours on the Cross inclining his head he gave up the Ghost O Iesu you dy'd for me that I might live eternally O let me dy to all things that I may henceforth live to you only who are to me All in All. Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who so patiently constantly perseverantly stood by your divin Son dying on the Cross for me appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and Intercession Hail Mary The fourth Part. Of Christs glorious Triumph after Death 1. OUr dear Redeemer rising victoriously upon the third day from his Sepulchre replenish'd the hearts of his holy Mother Disciples and Friends with unspeakable joy and gladness O Iesu give me grace strength and courage to shake of the death of my inveterate vices and bad customs and to rise to newness of life and conversation O let me henceforth savour the things which are above and not these vain vile terrene and transitory trifles which can never satiate my soul created for you only Our Father 2. HE triumphantly ascended to Heaven on the forti'th day after his Resurrection amidst the jubily of Angells in the company of the Patriarks in the sight of his sacred Mother Disciples and Friends where he sits at his Fathers right hand blessed for evermore O Iesu that my soul might follow you the only object of her affections O that I could incessantly aspire to you long after you languish for you my only center and security the only comfort of my life and Crown of all my desires Our Father 3. HE sent
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
favour in the world which makes me in the Order of Grace not only existent by you but existent in you So that by this manner of Grace proper to this Mystery and springing from it in the honour and Imitation of your Eternall Procession I am not only yours not only by you but I am in you I live in you I make a part of you I am bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh let me be then also spirit of your Spirit let me live by your life let me participate of the Interiour of the Grace of the Estate of the Spirit of your Mysteries let me appropriate my self to you let me appropriate them to my self let me appropriate my self to your Greatnesses and to your debasings your Cross and your Glory your Life and your Death 9. The Perfection of a Christian requires that Jesus live in him and that he imprint in his Soul the Spirit and life of his estates and Mysteries 'T Is my desire and my hope but it surpasseth my power and therfore I expect it from the new Grace of the new Man For this Grace joyns me to him and placeth me in a condition not only to work but further to receive and bear his sacred and divin Operations yea and tends to a more strict and inward Communication For this new Grace issuing out of the Incarnation and resembling its own originall and Prototypon tends to this that I be in Jesus and that Jesus be in me as he is in his Father and his Father is in him Be then in me O Jesu live in me work in me form and figure in me your Estates and your Mysteries your actions and your sufferings And as the Father expresseth and impresseth in you his substance as in his divin Character so imprint in my soul and in my life your inward and outward Conversation and make me a lively character bearing the impression of your Spirit of your estates of your holy and wholsom operations You are the Image of God make me the perfect picture of your self make me like to your self conforming me to your Mysteries as you have been pleasd to make your self like me conforming your self to my miseries and let me carry the effects and lineaments of your Grace and of your Glory of your Power and of your life which you led upon earth Let your Birth make me be new-born born Let your Infancy put me in the state of Innocency Let your flight into Egypt make me fly the world and sin let your Servitude render me your slave let your bonds unfetter me and infranchise me from my sins from my passions and from my self Let your hidden and unknown life hide me from the world and from vanity let your solitude entertain me let your temptations strengthen me let your labours solace me let your griefs cure me let your Agonyes comfort me and let your death make me live and be new-born in Eternity 10. The Principall Mysteries of Jesus apply'd to our sanctification And his qualities and offices referr'd to our use LEt me thus enter Commerce and communication with you O my Life and my Love O my God and my All Let the course and the Moments the Periods and the Estates of your Life upon earth be thus apply'd and appropriated to me and let your Qualities and Offices thus work in me and imprint in me their comfortable efforts You are the uncreated Wisdom I will adhere to your Maxims and follow your conduct you are the Doctor of Justice I will enter into your School and Disciplin you are the Holy and Health-bringer of God in you will I have Grace and Salvation you are the live I will live in you you are the way I will walk by you you are the God of Heaven and of Earth I will be yours 11. By how many titles we belong to Jesus and Jesus to us I Know I am yours and that by many titles For I am yours by your Greatness your Powerfulness your Priviledges I am yours by your Dignities your Merits your Benefits I am yours by the gift of your Father who gives me unto you in giving the whol Earths circumference to you I am yours by your own gift whereby you give your self to your Father for me And you are mine for your Father gives you to the world in the excess of his love and you are your Fathers gift you are Gods gift in divers and sundry significations And 't is your own self which thus qualifies your self telling the Samaritan woman Didst thou know Gods gift and who he is that talks wtth thee This was your discourse of your self to this poor stranger whom you happily made a Domestique of your Faith and of your word and vouchsaf'd your self to Catechize so familiarly 12. Jesus is Gods Gift unto us and what this Gift demands of us with an Explication of Christian Grace WHerefore being taught by your sacred mouth that this quality of being Gods Gift is proper unto you I adore you I behold you I receive you in this quality As by this you are mine I will be yours Nor shall it suffice me to be yours by your self and by your Father I will be yours by my self also and by choise of my own Free-will I give my self then to you O Jesu my Lord I give to you my self with my whol power and according to the full extent of your own power and will over me I give my self to the Grace of your Mysterie of the Incarnation Grace which tyes me unto you in a new manner Grace which separates me from my self unites and incorporates me in you Grace which makes me yours in so noble so intimate and so powerfull a fashion and renders me yours as a parcell of your self Grace of life and of death both together Grace of annihilating and also of establishing In the strength and vertue of this Grace which hath its origin in you and in your new estate of God-Man I annihilate my self in my own self to be in you and I will carry within my Soul a death to all things that I may live in you And I will that my Being be reduced to be nothing els than a pure Capacity of you fill'd up with you 13. This Christian Grace is form'd upon the Mysterie of the Incarnation which is its Modell And requires of us a particular manner of Oblation and Donation to Jesus ACcording to the Power efficacy of this Grace which is peculiar to your Mysterie of the Incarnation and which is form'd upon it as upon its Copy I bequeath my self to you O Jesu my Lord I give you my Being my life and my love I give you my time and my Eternity I give you my Body and my Soul I give you my senses and powers I render my self slave to your Greatnesses to your Cross and to you love I put into your hands the last hour of my life which is the decider of my Eternity I offer my self to you I
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
most high Profoundest Councill therfore worthy the Fathers Majesty the Sons Wisdom and the Holy Ghosts love and affection 6. The Person of the Virgin next the divin Persons is the most worthy and greater than all human and Angelicall Persons together IN contemplation of this Councill and this work Permit me Lord to address unto you my devout Vows and Elevations concerning this quality which you establish in Heaven and on Earth by the sacred Mystery of your Incarnation Quality of Mother to the most high And give me leave to trace your divin and admirable ways in the managing of this work with my humble thoughts and devotions You herein O Great Creatour do associate the sacred Virgin unto your own self you Elevate her up to work with your self and even to work the work of your works And as you associate a Human nature to one of your Divin Persons you will also associate a Human Person to one of your Divin works Contemplating therfore this work O sacred Trinity and there finding this Virgin in Society with your self I look on her love her and reverence her as a Person the most high the most holy and the most worthy of your love and greatness that ever shall have a Being yea I contemplate and respect her as the only She who surpasses in Height in Holiness in Dignity even all Human and Angelicall Spirits together and unitedly considered 7. The Virgin constitutes an Order Empire and Vniverse apart MOreover you O sacred Trinity made her singly for your self you have made her as a World and a Paradise apart World of Greatnesses and Paradise of delights for the New-Man who was to come into the world you have made her as a new Heaven and a new Earth Earth which only bears the Man-God And Heaven which contains none but himself alone which turnes not but about him alone which moves not but for him alone You have made her in the Universe as another Universe And in your Empire as another Empire For the sacred Virgin is her self a Universe which hath its different center and motions The sacred Virgin is her self an Empire which hath its distinct Laws and Estate The sacred Virgin amongst all the subjects of Gods Divin Majesty is so great so particular so eminent a subject that it alone maks a new Order amongst the orders of his power and wisdom Order surpassang all the Orders of Grace and of Glory Order altogether singular making and carrying a new Empire over Gods works Order which is conjoyn'd to the order and state of Hypostaticall union Order which hath a direct Reference to the divin Persons For as the Angells are dispos'd into Hierarchies properly relating to the Divin Essence according to its distinct perfections and attributes of love of Power of light c. So also the sacred Virgin in her Order and in her Hierarchie which she solely fills with her Greatness beholds and honours the state and the proprieties of the Divin Persons Thus the God of Heaven who hath unity of Essence and plurality of Persons hath divided the Celestiall Court into two different Quires In one of which all the Angells which in number are almost Infinit and which are ranged in their severall Orders and Hierarchies behold according to their Estate the distinct Perfections of the Divin Essence In the other the Virgin alone in her Order by an Excellency peculiar to her self alone beholds according to her new Estate the divin Persons as depending on their Personall Proprieties And this sole Quire of the sacred Virgin renders more homage both to the divin Essence and to the divin Persons than the Nine Quires of all the Angells together 8. The Virgin is a singular work of Gods Power the holiest that ever shall be created The divin Paternity is the Samplar of this divin Maternity The Eternal 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 O God O All-powerfull Father who can express how this Virgin is to you pretious and acceptable You frame her and sanctify her to be the Mother of your only Son whom you will Incarnate in the world and you form her in the orders of Nature of Grace and of Glory as a singular work of your Power and Bountie and the head-work of your hands You fashion her as the greatest the worthiest the eminentest subject of your Domination and soveraignty in the whol round and Circumference of all your Creatures For in the Order and Existency of all created Entities God commands not nor ever will command any thing greater than this greatest Virgin God hath not yet made nor will hereafter make any thing more Holy than this Holyest Virgin O how highly is she then to be Reverenc'd in this Eminency and singularity of Grace of Sanctity of Power Yet O Eternall Father I again Reverence her in the Origin of this Grace which is the design you have to make her a Mother to him to whom your self is a Father For after you had conducted her to the accomplish'd point of a singular Grace you being at your chosen time to enter a neer Alliance with her separate her from all things created you seat her close to your Divinity and you unite your self to her as to a Person whom you will have the most intimately and neerly conjoyn'd to your own peculiar Person of all that ever shall have a Being And she is thus joyn'd to you to co-operate with you in this Great work to render you the fruit of so close an alliance to give you a son born of her substance and having your Essence and to produce by you and with you Him who being your only Son is also her Son by a new Nativity O Ineffable Greatness O Admirable sublimity The Eternall Father who contemplating his own Essence produceth his Son contemplating his own Paternity Source of all Paternity yea source even of the Divinity honours it Imitates it and expresseth it in the holy Virgin and forms and produces in her this admirable Estate of Divin Maternity which Adores the Father in his Personall Propriety and which gives him to the Father and to the world who is the life of the Father and the health of the world 'T is in this happy great and gloria our Estate O sacred Virgin that the Eternall Father appropriates you to himself and himself to you Renders himself all yours and renders you all his own unites himself to you and you to himself And communicating to you his Spirit and his love makes you fruitfull with a divin fertility and being resolv'd to have of you One self-same Son with you makes you by this his Alliance to be Productrice to the world and to himself of Him who by this Birth according to the Angells saying is his Son and your Son together Your Son as issued from your own proper substance His Son as emanated from his own
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
and obtain for me a happy death and departure out of this World in the Faith Favour and Affection of Jesus To whom be all honour prayse and glory for Evermore Amen ELEVATIONS TO THE SACRED TRINITY UPON EARTH Iesus Maria Ioseph In honour and homage to the Glorious Trinity in Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost O JESU Son of the living God and Saviour of the World O Mary Mother of Jesus and Mediatrix of Mankind O Joseph Bridegroom of Mary and esteemed Father of Jesus O sacred Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph I honour you reverence you admire you in your excellent eminent sublime Greatnesses in which you seem to be an express Image of the Incomprehensible Trinity and I adhere to you in union of the perfect homages which you rendred to the Father Son and holy Ghost by your high Estate and holy operations The deep Mystery of the divin Trinity is Invisible to our eyes Ineffable to our Tongues Incomprehensible to our Spirits And behold the poor Bethleem stable affoards us a human Trinity Jesus Maria Joseph uppon Earth which views adores and Imitates the Trinity of the Empireall Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost This is Increated that is both created and Increated in the Person of the God-Man Jesus This is divin and Eternall That is Deifi'd and temporall The one is Adorable the other honorable The one is admirable in its greatness The other amiable in its sweetness In the one is a unity of Essence in a Trinity of Persons In the other is a union of Love of Grace and of Spirit in a Trinity of Essence and of Persons In the Divin Trinity the Father begets his Son in Eternity In the other by a reverted order the Son gives Being in Time both to the Father and to the Mother In the first the Father and the Son and the Father by the Son produces the holy Ghost in unity of origin In the second Jesus and Mary and Jesus by Mary gives the Life and Being of Grace to Joseph in the unitie of spirit So that Mary hath an admirable resemblance to the Eternall Father the Son of Mary hath an express unity with himself and S. Joseph represents the Holy Ghost For the Father in Heaven is the only Parent without a Mother and Mary upon Earth is the only Parent without a Father And as nothing greater can be attributed to God than his being the Father of a God so nothing more sublime can befall a pure creature than to be the Mother of the same God whereof God is Father The Holy Ghost is the sacred knot and Tye of the divin Persons And Joseph hath a union with Mary as his Spouse and with Jesus as his Father The Holy Ghost form'd Jesus in the Virginall Cloyster of Maryes Womb And Joseph fed him educated him and preserv'd for us far more fortunately than the ancient Joseph of Egypt â— this Bread of the Elect this blessed pledg of our future happiness this Eternall Bliss of Men and Angells Wherfore O Jesu We acknowledg honour and adore you in your Eternall heights and greatnesses we prayse bless and love you in your temporall humiliations sweetnesses we contemplate you in Heaven with the Eye of Faith betwen the Father and the holy Ghost We admire you upon Earth between Mary and Joseph And I invite and conjure all Creatures to prayse bless and adore your divin Majesty in both these estates O Mary We also look upon you as upon Gods sacred Mother and in this supream dignity I salute reverence and honour you with the singular homage of Hyperdulia which is due to your Excellencies and Greatnesses O Joseph I likewise honour you as the reputed Father of Jesus and Bridegroom of Mary and in regard of these two Eminent qualities I subject my self to the power which is given you over my soul by consequence of the Jurisdiction you had over Jesus my Saviour I offer my self to you O Great Saint Joseph Father and Husband without Paragon to be by you presented to Mary I give my self to you O glorious Mary Virgin and Mother without Paralell to be by you addressed to Jesus I consecrat my self to you O Great-little-God-man Jesus as your servant and bondslave to become associated in this qualitie with the domestiques of your sacred Family O Jesu my King reign in my Soul and exercise the absolute power you have over my spirit O Mary my Soveraign Queen after my King Jesus possess my heart and my will to consign them over to your Son O Joseph My chief Prorector after Jesus and Mary take my Body and senses into your safe custody to be consecrated to Jesus O Jesu annihilate and absorp my soul in your affection O Mary Inflame my heart with the love of Jesus O Joseph Bless all my labours and endeavours and present them to Jesus and Mary Let the whol world be replenish'd O Jesu with your mercies be assisted O Mary with your favours be secured O Joseph under the shadow of your Protection For You O JESU are the Fountain issuing forth of the Terrestriall Paradise Mary's Virginall Womb is the Origin of all our happiness you O Mary are the Prime Bason of this Fountain and the pure Glebe from whence it proceeded And you O Joseph are the River who disperse abroad these waters of Life by your efficacious intercessions O Jesu you are the fruit of life O Mary you are the Paradise that bore it and the Tree that brought it forth And you O Joseph are the Cherubin appointed by God to guard it O Jesu You are the sacred Propitiatory of the world O Mary You are the Mysticall Ark of our Reconciliation And you O Joseph are the High Priest who alone are permitted to enter into this Holy of Holies to be the faithfull Coadjutor of Gods great Counsell in the world and the Feoffee in trust of his treasures and secrets In honour therefore of these three ineffable Tâ—es and unions between these admirable subjects which are the greatest under Gods command and Jurisdiction I most humbly beg of you O Jesu Mary and Joseph 1. A chast and filiall Fear of God that nothing either in life or death may separate me from his grace and friendship 2. A faithfull fervent and perseverant Love of God and my neighbour with a generous zeal of the divin honour and my own salvation 3. A good and happy end of my life consummated in the act and exercise of these sacred affections O JESU Be an Advocate for me your Bondslave to your Eternall Father O Mary intercede for me your servant to your Son O Joseph pray for me your child to Jesus and Mary O Jesu shew your wounds suffer'd for my sake O Mary discover your Breasts which suckled Gods Son O Joseph represent your hands which nourish'd the Word Incarnate O Jesu replenish my Soul with the abundance of your celestiall blessings by the effusion of efficacious grace upon it which may intimately
LOVE O MERCY O MERVAIL You will unite your Greatness to our Baseness your Eternity to our Mortality your Divinity to our humanity becoming Son of Man Son of Mary for an Eternity as from all Eternity you are the Son of GOD the only Son of the Eternall Father 4. Gods Son gives his Eternall Essence and Subsistence to our nature I Adore you in this highest Councill and divin Will I Adore you in this new estate and deep Mystery I Adore you in the unity of your divin Person and in the diversity of your natures the one Divin and Eternall the other human and temporall I Adore you as receiving your Eternall Essence from the Eternall Father and as giving your Essence you subsistency to human nature united to your self for an Evermore Vnited I say to your self so intimatly and so powerfully so gloriously and so divinely O Adorable Estate O Unspeakable Mystery O happy Moment of the Incarnation which makes man God and God man Which gives to Heaven a King of Glory and to the Earth a Soveraign To Angells a Repayrer and to Men a Saviour 5. Jesus is born lives suffers dyes for us O JESU my Lord and my Saviour I Adore you as Gods Son I Adore you as Mans Son and Man God I Adore you in these two different Estates The one Eternall the other Temporall the one uncreated the other created the one divin the other human joyned together and joyned inseparably But I must yet Adore you as Man-God for man For 't is for us that you would be made Man 't is for us that you live and dy 't is for us that you do suffer 't is for us that you are born in a Stable and bedded on straw 't is for us that you lead an abject laborious suffering life 't is for us that you dy upon Mount Calvary and hang on the Cross 't is for us that you arise and ascend into Glory O Birth O Life O Death O Divin glorious heavenly Life O blessed hour of the Incarnation of the Expiration of the glorification of Gods Son O Estates of Jesus in his Fathers bosom and at his Mothers breasts hanging on the Cross and sitting on the right hand of God! O Abodes O Estates O Mysteries of Jesus in Judea in Egypt in Galilee in Bethleem in Nazareth in Jerusalem in the Crib on the Cross in the Grave on Earth in Hell in Heaven Who can recount your thoughts your griefs your delights in these places But Heaven will one day reveal them unto us and the Contemplation hereof shall be one of the employments of our Eternity till when the Earth must remain ignorant hereof must Reverence them and must be content with the Crums falling from your Saints Tables whom you plentifully nourish with this living and life-giving bread on Earth and in Heaven 6. Jesus Adores his Heights by his Lownesses and rayseth up his Lownesses by his Greatnesses 1. BY their Example and Imitation I Contemplate and Adore you O Jesu my Lord I Adore you in your Greatness and in your Abjectness in your Cross and in your Glory in your life and in your death 2. I Adore you as raysing up your Lowness by your Greatness your human life by your divin Life your disgraces by your glory and your suffring estate by your impassible immutable and eternall condition 3. I Adore you as Adoring your self your Greatness by your Littleness your Divinity by your Humanity your Birth in your Fathers bosom by your Birth of your Mother-Virgin in the Ox-stall your supreme Authority by your humility and your uncreated Essence by your Created Being 4. And after this Contemplation of you in your self I contemplate and Adore you as going forth of your self as extending and spreading your self and as filling Heaven and Earth with your Grace and your Glory with your gifts and your Mysteries and finally with your self O God! O Man O Man-God O Infinitly prodigall of your self 7. Jesus's excessive love in the effusion of his last drop of Blood for us thereby testifying the effusion of his Greatness and Goodness also upon us I Inlarge my self in the variety of these thoughts I am ravisht in these different Exercises which my Soul makes of your self and I lose my self in the Contemplation of these so high and great verities For in honour of that supream Communication which you receive from your Father in the Eternall generation and in honour of that Ineffable Communication of your Divinity with our Humanity in the Incarnation I look upon you I admire you I Adore you O my Lord as annihilating your self and as exhausting your self that you may bestow your self on men You as it were drayn your Divinity powring it out upon your humanity consuming it incessantly in the furnace of your love and at last sacrificing it in the Holocaust of your Cross you shed your Blood in suffering and you dy by the effusion thereof chosing that kind of death to demonstrate the effusion of your self And the Nayls and Executioners being unable to empty it all the ardour of your love which cannot be extinguish'd in death it self preserv's liquid in death's coldness that residue left in your heart and body to be drain'd out even to the last drop Such was your good pleasure to make an aboundant and super-aboundant Effusion both of your blood and also of your self together 8. Jesus is all ours and we are all his yea we are in him we live in him we are parts of him WHat shall I say what shall I do in the Contemplation of these things Let me forget my self for you forget Your self for me Let me leave and loose my self for you annihilate Your self for me Let me be yours for You are mine let me be all yours for you are all mine Let me be all yours for ever for you are all mine for ever Your Divinity as it were Incarnated is my substance and my subsistence your humanity as it were divinized is my health my life your Body is my diet and your Blood is my Bath your Death is my life your weakness is my strength your Cross is my quiet your suffering is my rejoycing Thus I am yours and you are mine And I am yours O my loving Saviour by your self and by a means so noble and so divin so dear and near unto you and by so many sorts of ways which give you unto me which consecrate me to you and which even draw and drain you all out for me But I discover yet a greater secret in your love and in your Mysteries and a greater favour in your way of dealing with me For you are not only mine and I yours but I am in you I perceive that whilst I Contemplate your self and your Father and see that you are in him that you live in him you frame within me a lively Image of your self and of your divin Emanation and by your Incarnation you establish a new manner of gracious