THE FIRST Article maye be amplified, by meditating the pitiful estate which the world was in, when God vouchsafed to bestow this his so bountiful a be­nefite vpon it; how many sinnes did euery where beare sway; how many errours, howe great blindnes, howe many dangers, howe slender a desire, ne yet any imagination to receaue so great a benefite; and yet, such was the loue of God towardes the world, as without any good desert of our part, yea, with an infinite number of most enormous crimes; the dai being come, which his maiestie had before al daies ordeined, Gal. 4. a. Leo Papa Ser. 2. de Natiuit. D [...]m. he remembred them that had forgotten him, and with moste rare clemencie vouchsafed to visite [Page 13] them that deserued most seuerely to be chastised; and to redresse the end­lesse euils and miseries that reigned round about the world; albeit so bee­tle blinde were men, as they knewe them not, nor any whit perceued thē. And for the doing of this matter, he disdained not to ioyne him-selfe to the miserie of humane nature, ma­king him-selfe man for vs, and thral to thousands of annoyes, for our salua­tion. O inestimable Charitie? O infi­nite liberalitie? Lorde, thou liberally departest with more to the world, thē it either durst craue or wish for at thi handes. What diddest thou espie in vs, O Lorde, to constrain thee in such lowly wise to visite vs? what wer our merits towardes thee? what seruices had we performed to thy diuine ma­iestie? thy mere goodnes it is, that only prouoketh thee therto; that thy mere clemencie causeth thee to des­cend from heauē to earth, and to take [Page] humane fleshe in the blessed virgins wombe for our wel-fare, which made thee earst to descend down Exod. 3. a Deut. 33. b. Mar. 12. b Luc. 20. f. Act. 7. d Ber Ser. in verba. 12. Apoc. signū magnum apparuit. into the bushe, taking pitie of thy peoples af­fliction, and to procure their deliue­rance, as then thou saidest to Moises; whereby thou figuredst this thy se­cond discent of clothing thy selfe with the mantel of our humanitie. Al the Angels praise and thank thee for this thine ineffable mercy; seing man can-not condignely thanke thee therefore, nor yet acknowledge it sufficientlye.

IN THE seconde point thou shalt haue a plentiful subiect to dilate vpō, considering on thone side the quali­tie of the Ambassadour which God sent downe for the dealing in this af­faire; his high estate, being one of the Luc. 1. b. Ber. non longè à princ. hom. 1. super Missu [...] est▪ principal Angels of heauen; the beautie and brightnes of body, wher­in he appered to the most sacred vir­gin; the humilitie & reuerence, wher­with he saluted her; the gratious spee­ches, [Page 14] replenished with al consolation, which he vsed towards her; the great skil and wonderful wisdom he shew­ed in reporting his Commission to her, declaring by degrees the diuine misterie of the Incarnation. In this maner maiest thou likewise discourse vpon al the other circumstances.

On th'other side, weigh wel the ex­cellencie and souerain dignitie of her, whom this ambassage was sent to; her modest countenance in harkening; her graue prudence, in pondring the wordes that were spoken to her; that wel-beseeming bashfulnes which made her blush, in hearing her owne praises; the feruent zeal she caried to virginitie, which made her make an­swere, meaning to be assured thereof; the liuely faith, wher-with she firmly beleeued al that was on Gods behalfe announced her, for the which she was of her cousin S. Elizabeth Luc. 1. [...] singulerly cōmēded; & lastly, the profoūd humi [Page] with she resigned and gaue vp her self as our Lord his obedient seruant, he hauing chosen her for his beloued mother. If thou discusse diligently al these particularities, as al other the like circumstances of this diuine mi­sterie, thou shalt finde thy selfe rapt into such an admiration, as shal make thee crie out with the Roial Psalmist Ps. 138 Dauid: Great and wonderful is thy wisdome O Lord, it is so high, as I cannot comprehend it. It surpasseth my retche and vnder­standing; sithens of what side soeuer thou turnest thee in this Ambassage, thou shalt finde great, and right mi­raculous meruailes. Great is the mes­sage; great the Lord that sent it; gret is the personage, to whō it was sent; great the Ambassadour that brought it; great is the affaire that is intreted of; great and meruailous the maner of proceeding in it. Our Lorde be lauded euery wher, Dan. 6. g that doth so gret matters both in heauen and earth.

[Page 15] IF THOV desire to staye vpon the third point, thou shalt neuer want matter, meditating the thinges that tooke effect presentlye after the Queene of heauen had geuen her cō ­sent, Luc. 1. d. saying: Fiat mihi secundùm verbum tuum. Be it done vnto me according to thy worde. Sith in that verye instant the most sacred body of Iesus was by ver­tue of the holy ghost formed of the most pure bloud of the blessed vir­gin Mary; and in the selfe same in­stant was his glorious soule created and infused in his body; and in the [...]ame instant was his most holy hu­manity vnited with the eternal word of God in one self-same person. And thence-forth was the blessed virgin mother of God, Queene of Angels and men, ful of grace, replenished with al the gi [...]tes and prerogatiues meete for so incomparable a dignitie. O Fiat most puissant and effectual? with an-other Gen. 1. [...]. Fiat God did earst [Page] make the heauens, earth, and al the creatures of the world; yet were ther farre greater & more important mat­ters made with this Fiat▪ seing that by means of this Fiat, the same God made him-self mā, and mā was made God; with al the other right wōderful workes that proceed out of this chāge & most miraculous metamorphosis.

O mightie Lady, thou hast not said without cause in thy Luc. 1. c. Canticle, That he which is mightie hath done great things vn­to thee; and what greter matters might there be, then to haue made thee his mother, thou enioying stil thy pure and immaculate virginitie? what gre­ter matter, thē to haue made thee his temple, Vide Li­taniam B. Maria in fine huius [...]bri. and the sacred tabernacle of the holy Ghost? what greater matter, then he whō the cope of heauen can not conteine, to haue vouchsafed to shut him-self vp in thy sacred wōbe, it being made thereby a celestial Pa­radise, wherein the Angels delite to adore their Maker. Verilye the Al­mightie hath done great matters to [Page 16] thee, wherby thy spirite may rightly reioyce, and without intermissiō magnify him, who hath so highly magni­fied thee. And we al may rightly for the same cause cōgratulate with thee, and praise and reuerence thee perpe­tually, endeuouring our selues al we may, to be thy true & faithful seruāts.

[Page] MINDING to pause in the consideration of the firste Article, meditate the chari­tie which caused the most sacred mo­ther to enterprise so long and labor­some a iourney, onely to visite, and to doo some seruice to that holye olde woman Saint Elizabeth, woting wel, that by her presence she might be greatly comforted and holpen.

This Amb. in Luc. lib. 1. &. 2. de virginibus. may serue thee for a lesson to endeuour thy selfe, according to her example, to exercise the workes of charitie and mercie with a willing and readie heart. Ponder likewise her most profound humilitie, wherewith albeit she receaued so high a dignitie, as to be made the mother of God, yet did she not for al that refuse to humble and depresse her-selfe, in go­ing to doo that office, which the me­ner sort is wont to performe vnto their betters. O moste holy and most humble mother, howe farre art thou [Page 18] estraunged from al arrogant hawti­nes; howe farre abhorring from the pestilent presumption of men and women of this world, which being but vile and abiect in the sight of God, wil exalt them-selues, and co­uete to be visited, courted, and serued of al others, not knowing that, moste soueraine Lady which thou knewest so wel, to witt, Eccle. 3. [...] Phil. 2. a. that to finde fauour in the face of God, and to be respec­ted of his diuine Maiestie, looke how much any one is greater, and more woorthy renowne, & so much ought he the more to humble and submitt him-selfe to others.

Thou mayest extende thy selfe in the consideratiō of the second point, meditating, howe great efficacie the presence & speech of the most sacred virgin is of, and how happy those are to be deemed, whō gratiously she fa­uoreth, seing S. Elizabeth (immediat-after [Page] she was visited and saluted of her) receaued, both she, and the childe she bore in her entrals, so great a ioye and meruailous illumination of spi­rite; Sithēs the misterie of the Incar­nation of the sonne of God (at that time vtterly vnknowen to the whole world) was reuealed vnto her. And by the wordes which she vttered thē vnto our Lady, plaine testimonie did she geue, what other graces and fa­uours she had receaued, the which ought mightily to moue thee to en­force thy selfe al thou maiest to be a deuout and zealous seruant of this great Lady, by honoring her conti­nually in thine heart; whereby thou shalt merite to be spiritually visited and fauoured of her; in such wise, as thou maiest haue an assured hope, neuer at any time to be destitute of God his diuine giftes and graces.

TOVCHING the contemplation of the third Article, thou shalt haue [Page 19] a large scope to walke in, imagining howe this most sacred soule of the Luc. 1. d. holy mother was affected in hearing what her cousin S. Elizabeth said vn­to her; how gratious, how glittering, howe gladd she was, and replenished with al consolation; howe she blus­shed, to heare her owne praises spokē of; how lowly she humbled her-self, attributing al the vertues she was ad­orned with, to the bountiful goodnes of our Lord that gaue her thē; with how inflamed an affection she than­ked God, for this his so singuler a be­nefite done both to her, and to al the whole race of mankinde. In sōme, as not able anye longer to represse her inward exultations, she discouered her-selfe at last, and gaue the feruent flames of diuine fire leaue to burst out, which burned secretlye within her holy heart, reuealing to the world what tresures God had endowed her with, and this by the diuine Canticle [Page] ful of misteries, which she then pro­nounced, Luc. 1. e. magnifying thereby that Lord, who had so greatly magnified her, and confessing plainly, that her lowlines and humilitie was occasion of this her so high a dignitie.

O sacred virgin both great and li­tle; great in thy holines, great in the graces and fauours which thou haste receaued from God; great, in the gre­test dignitie that was euer imparted to any pure creature. Litle in thine owne eyes; litle, in respect of thy pro­found humilitie; litle, in regarde of thine innocencie and simplicitie of an infant, which is a very necessarye and mat. 18. a &. 19 b. Mar. 9. e Luc. 9. f 1. Cor. 14. d. requisite vertue to enter into the kingdome of heauen with▪ Right woorthely saide one, Ber. ho. 1 super Mis­sus est. that with thy virginitie thou pleasedst God; but with thine humilitie thou made thy self his mother. Alas! why can-not I learne of thee, and of the blessed fruit of thy wombe, to be humble in [Page 20] hart; seing that, as thou affirmest, and thy sonn hath confirmed, Luc. 14. c &. 18. c the hum­ble are those onely that shal-be by him exalted.

[Page] TOVCHING the first point, thou maiest amplifie thy meditation, by weighing the circumstaunces that happed in the voiage which our Lady vndertooke; wherby is plainly shewed, what pains and trouble she endured therein, al­beit, what-soeuer it was, she passed it ouer with exceeding patience. First, the sharpnes of the season did great­ly augment her annoyes, sith this ior­ney was performed in the verye hart of winter, when as we see it is verye painful trauailing. Secondly, her po­uertie, which forced her to suffer ma­nye discommodities, especially, being great with childe, and so tender and delicate as she was. Thirdly, the lack of lodging, which could not be pro­uided her in al the whole Citie of Bethleem, albeit (wel may we beleue) that good Ioseph tooke great paines in seeking it very diligentlye; and howe seing them-selues thus refused, [Page 22] it coulde not be, but that they felt great shame and confusion. O what a soueraine solace and singuler cōfort should this be for poore folkes that are in this world distressed, despised, and forsakē, if they considered, how the most woorthy, noble, and moste holy creatures, which ought to haue been more honored & reuerēced then al the whole world again (to witt, the Queene of heuen, and her most bles­sed Infant) were the most distressed, annoyed, and pained of al others.

THOV maiest pause in the second point, beholding with thy spiritual eyes, in what state the moste blessed virgin found her-selfe the day of her most sacred deliueraunce; and here shalt thou see in her so vertuous a disposition, so holye a deuotion, so graue a modestie, so singuler a beau­tie, so great an eleuation of spirite in God, as no mans tonge can possiblye declare it.

[Page] Thou shalt finde, howe in counter­change of griefes Gen. 3. c. which other wo­men feele in child-birth, she felt a strange and ineffable solace, a singuler ioy and diuine consolation; and being there-with wholly rapt and eleuate, the celestial bridegrome issued mira­culously out of her wombe, as out of a most pretious Aug. ini­tio tract. 1. [...]n Ioh. to. 9 bride-chāber, with­out any alteration or detriment at al to her most perfect virginitie. O vir­gin-mother, and mother-virgin; A priuiledge neuer graunted to any o­ther creature! O diuine excellencie, and dignitie due to thee alone, to be the mother of God, and mother of thine owne Father and Psa. 18. a Aug. in principio cap. 5. li. 2 de Symb. ad Catech. Tom. 9. Creator! Who can possibly conceue what thy heart felt, when with thy bodily eyes thou beheldest the Prince of heauen lying naked in earth; and him shiue­ring for colde, who doth clothe and warme al other creatures? O with what reuerēce diddest thou prostrate [Page 23] thy selfe, to adore that infinite Ma­iestie, masked vnder the vaile of so great distresse and miserie! Oh, with what compassion diddest thou asso­ciate with thy teares those, which thy deere yonge sonne shed, feeling his so great annoiances! Oh, with what cor­dial loue endeuouredst thou to lul and lapp him vp in such poore swad­dling cloutes as thou haddest, geuing him thy sacred brestes to suck vpon, which were at that time miraculous­lye replenished with milke! Matters sufficient to melt anye flintie heart that would with leisure ponder and discusse them.

THE MEDITATION. of the thirde point wil furnish thee of fitt matter to moue compassion, if thou consider, howe this moste mightie monarche, this King Coll. 2. b 1. Tim. 6. c. Apoc. 17. d. &. 19. c of al kinges, he whom neither the heauens nor earth can holde and comprehende, hath in such wise debased, humbled, and [Page] throwen him-selfe downe in a harde manger vpon a litle haye; he, whom the Angels doo adore, and in whose presence the powers of heauen doo quake againe, lieth quaking him-self for colde betwixt two brute beastes. O diuine darling, what meaneth this geere? what humilitie and basenes is this, O Soueraine Ps. 23. b Ad Tit. 2 d King of glorye? what hast thou to doo with the crib, thou that hast thy throne aboue the 2. Re. 6. a. 1. Par. 13. b Cherubins? how art thou made thus dombe, O Ioh. 1. a eternal worde of the Fa­ther? whye weepest and wailest in such sort, thou, that art the ioye of al the holy Angels? verily, thou haste masked thy diuine nature with our humane nature, to be the King and Sauiour of Israel, and of the vniuer­sal world. The desire which thou hast to redeeme vs, moueth thee to doo these strange matters; the loue which made thee wel- [...]are descend frō heuē for our wal-fare, causeth thee nowe [Page 24] to be borne, and to Ber. ser. 3 in Natius. Domini. cloake thy puis­sance with such penurie and extreme want of al thinges, that we shoulde thereby learne to meeke and humble our selues, and to detest al pride, al pamperinges and delicacies of the fleshe, louing the lowlines, the pe­nance, and the pouertie, which thou diddest chuse and teach vs, and woul­dest for this cause haue thy natiuitie announced Luc. 2. b to poore Sheppardes, of whom thou wast visited and adored, the which their visitation and adora­tion we ought attentiuely to ponder, and diligently to imitate.

[Page 26] AS FOR the first article, thou maiest intertaine thy selfe therein, meditating, howe rightly the virgin-mother doth imi­tate her blessed sonne; especiallye, in such thinges as concerne humilitie (a vertue so highlye commended and practised of them twaine) sith the sonne vouchsafed to be Luc. 2. [...] Ber. Ser. 3. de Circūsi. circumci­sed, albeit he were not bound therto, nor had any neede at al of Circumci­sion (which appertained to sinners Gen. 17. b Leuit. 12. Rom. 4. b alone;) and the mother, she vouch­safed to fulfil the precept of Purifi­cation (which oblieged only the vn­cleane women) albeit she were whol­lye pure, and deuoide of al Ber. init. Ser. 3. de Purif. vnclen­nes. O most sacred mother, why wilt thou obey this ordinance, which nei­ther toucheth thee, nor maketh anye mention of thee? for like as for thy sanctitie thou differest from al thy sexe, and surpassest al women in [Page] thy most wonderful vertues; euen so is the conception of thy blessed child far differēt frō that of al other womē, and without comparison exceedeth al other conceptions: Sith others are wrought by humane societie, and thine is accomplished by the opera­tion of the holye Mat. 1. d Luc. 1. d. ghost. What is it therefore, whereof thou wilt purifie thy selfe, O blessed Ladye? Seing the holy Ghost witnesseth of thee in this wise: Cant. 4. b Thou art al faire, my Louer, neither is there any blemish at al in thee; forsomuch as thy most sacred child-birth, so farr was it frō defiling thee, or distaining th [...] most pure virginitie, as it ador­ned, exalted, & renowned thee. What other thing maketh thee then fulfil this lawe (whereout thou art exemp­ted) but the selfe-same reason that made thy deere sonne to suffer cir­cumcision; that is to saye, the desire thou haddest to be by this meanes a glittering mirrour of most obedient [Page 27] humilitie. As he therfore vouchsafed to be taken for one of the common sort of children, so hast not thou dis­dained to be thought like to other women. This thine humilitie and charitie, with that of thy sacred sons, be hallowed and imitated of vs al for euer.

IN THE second Article thou shalt haue great cause of consolation, if thou fixe thine imagination of the inestimable offering which the most gratious mother brought to the tem­ple, there to present vnto her Lorde. Contemplate attentiuely, the mode­stie, grauitie, and comely reuerence, wher-with the blessed virgin entred into the temple, carying in her armes that most pretious fruit of her vir­ginal wombe. O what an inestima­ble ioye was it, to see the sonne thus borne, and to behold the blessed mo­ther that bare him! whose presence reioyced the Angels, and enriched the [Page] whole Temple in such wise, as the glory therof was then farre greater, then when king 3. Re. 5. 6 7. & sequ. [...]ap. Salomon caused it to be builded.

Consider also what the good olde father Simeon felt, at such time, as (being instructed of the holy Ghost) he sawe and knewe that to be come to passe, which he so long time had wished for, and so oft had craued at Gods handes with continual teares and praiers. Beholde with howe great zeale he beclippeth him in his armes, with howe great reuerence he ado­reth him, with howe sweete embra­cinges he closeth him against his brest, neuer being contented with kissing, and beholding him. Al the which his amiable intertainmentes this most sweete babe liked very wel of, as a louer of al those that loue him, and did with his gratious lookes [Page 28] perce and melt the poore olde mans heart, who behelde him al rapt in ad­miration, as he most apparantlye te­stified by the teares he shedd for ioye, and by the feruour of the words he vttered in his moste excellent Canticle Luc. 2. d of Nunc dimittis seruum tuum Domine. &c. whereby he plainely de­clared, what singuler consolation and contentment his soule receaued by hauing seene with his corporal eyes the Sauiour of the worlde. Ah, how happye were they that merited with their mat. 13. b corporal eyes to beholde so gratious a spectacle; yea, and hap­pye are they, who with the eyes of a liuely Ioh. 20. b. fayth doo deuoutly beholde the same; sith they in like maner shal-be partakers of the same ioyes and consolations.

THOV MAYEST IN the thirde point interteine thy selfe with [Page] great profite and consolation of thy soule, weighing the feruour of Anna the Reuerent matrone, who through her auster fastes, and the perpetual praiers which she made with great deuotion in the temple, as S. Luke th' euangelist Luc. 2. f. reporteth, merited to be an assistant at this so glorious a spectacle, and to receaue souerain cō ­fort through the sight of such a sonn and a mother; of whom, al the miste­ries were reueled vnto her, which she confessed and published to al those deuout persons that were in the tem­ple, and gaue eare vnto her. Whence thou maiest learne, that but if thou keepe the Church with religious de­uotion, addict thy selfe to often prai­er, and with rigorous abstinence dōpt the disordinate desires and concupis­cence of the fleshe, as chast S. Anna did, thou shalt then be made partaker of the sight and diuine solace, of the fauours and other graces that were at [Page 29] that time so bountifully bestowed vpon her.

Meditate besides the ineffable con­solation, wher-with the sacred virgin was surceased, vnderstanding the meruailous matters that were then spoken of her dearly beloued sonne, who by the speeches of S. Simeon and S. Anna was apparantly reuealed and knowen what he was, to al those that were then present in the Tem­ple. Contemplate with-al, the moste deuout Ber. ser. [...] in Purif. de mod [...] process. procession which al that holy assemblie made, going vp to the Aultar to offer vp to Almightie God this the most pretious, the most wor­thie, and most acceptable present to his diuine Maiestie that was presen­ted him til that day, from the begin­ning of the world. Ponder also, with what deuotion, charitie, and reuerēce, with what a cheerful and willing heart the most happy mother offred vp her wel-beloued Infant to the ce­lestial [Page] Father; who had of his infinite fauour geuen him for her sonne; and did by that meanes make her his owne mother, who was her owne and natural Father. O great Ladye, what did thy heart feele at the time, and at al times after, when thou vn­bethoughtest thee of this Misterie! howe zealous thankes diddest thou breath forth to God, for the gifte he had bestowed vpon thee, and vppon al man-kinde! with what affection, and with what inflamed desire did­dest thou present this moste sacred oblation to God! which thou knew­est wel, was onely sufficient to recon­cile man to God his maker, and to cause him to recouer againe the bles­singes, which he had earst so lewdlye lost. And howe did thy sonne in like maner conforme him-selfe to thy pi­etie and deuout intent, he at that time offering him-self with a frank heart to his eternal Father as Nu▪ 28. a a mo­rowe [Page 30] sacrifice, whiles the euening sa­crifice came, which he was afterwards to offer vppon the Aultar of the Roode. O my soule, if thou wouldest attentiuely consider al this, offering thee wholly to this Lorde, who was offered for thee, what giftes, and what spiritual riches should be imparted vnto thee?

[Page 32] MEANING to pause in the first point, consider howe our blessed Ladye is the Amb. li. 2 de Virgin. Hier. initio ser. 1. de Assump. tom. 4. liuely paterne of al vertue and per­fection, which shineth forth in euery one of her actions; and thus was she a fulfiller of the lawe, not only when she was thereto oblieged, but also, when she might iustly haue excused her-selfe; and therefore, albeit men Exo. 23. d &. 34. c alone were bounde to go to the Temple of Ierusalem, to celebrate the Pascal solennitie, yet did she for her deuotion sake go thither too, as also her affianced husbande Ioseph, and her sweete sonne Iesus; geuing vs an example herein, of the care, where-with we ought to obserue the solennities of the Churche, and of the deuotion and reuerence, wher­with we ought to mat. 21. a Ioh. 2. c Ierem. 7. [...]. go and remaine in our Lordes Temple. O howe sa­cred were those solennities, where suche persons were present, who [Page] adored the celestial Father in spirite and truth, as he 2. Cor. 3▪ d cōmaundeth those which adore him, to doo. O howe odoriferous was the Temple at that time, wherein was so great abundāce of the most sweet Apoc. 8 incense of their prayers! O howe much more did the glory of our Lorde fil at that time al that holy house, thē when king 3. Reg. 5. & sequ. Sa­lomon made his praiers therein! O sacred virgin, who can possibly com­prehend what thy praiers wer which thou madest in that temple, howe feruent, howe deuout, howe effectual, howe they pearced the heauens, and mounted vp to the throne of Gods diuine Maiestie; howe grateful were to his goodnes the most zelous than­kes thou gauest him, for hauing vouchsafed to make thee the mother of such a sonne; of whom depended the welfare and redresse of the whole world! O, I would it were his holye wil, that some one sparke of so fer­uent [Page 33] praiers and thankes-geuinges might fal into the frosen coldnes of our deuotions.

IN THE second point thou maiest dilate, meditating, howe the solemni­tie being now ended, the virgin-mo­ther returned backe to her owne house, with great desire to see her deere sonne, whom she thought to haue been returned before with Io­seph, not hauing seene him her-selfe al that day; and finding afterwardes that the desired of her soule was wā ­ting, here maiest thou deeme, in what a case she was, what Luc. 2. [...] dagger of woe did wounde her heart, what pitiful teares she shed, what sighes and dole­ful sobbes she fetcht, to ease by that meanes the internal anguish which she felt in her afflicted hart; how ma­nye feares did fright her; how many imaginations did amase her; not wo­ting on which side to turne her; and for that it was alreadie night, she re­solued [Page] to stay vntil the morning, re­maining in that anxietie and heuines which thou maiest wel imagine. O most innocent virgin, howe long and Ier. 13 c Thren. 1. a. dark a night was that to thee, wher­in thou weptst with woe, and thy teares neuer left trickling downe thy cheekes, and nothing was able to af­forde thee any comfort, sith the true comforter being absent, al the crea­tures coulde not yeelde consolation. Thy greatest ease al this long night wer thy prayers, thy sighes and tears, the thinking of thy beloued sonne, thy talking to him, as though he had beene present, the beholding of his beautie, his sanctitie, his vertues and perfections; the vnbethinking thee of his gratious wordes, and of the works which thou haddest seene him doo; albeit al these thinges, as they did on th'one side yeeld thee contentment, so on th'other side did they increase thy woe, when thou consideredst [Page 34] that he was absent, and knewest not when thou shouldest merite to en­ioye his presence againe. Finally, this day and night thou feddest thee with thy teares in steade of bread, when thou enquiredst of thy selfe, Psal. 41. &. 111. [...] where was thy God? Herein maiest thou wel suppose, that the blessed Virgin did passe ouer the time without sleep or rest vntil the thirde day.

IN THE THIRDE point thou mayest pause also, considering, howe presentlye after the dauning daye once appered, the moste sacred Vir­gin went with great diligence to seeke the treasure she had lost, where thou maiest meditate, with what zeale and feruour she asked those that she mett with, if they knewe anye thing of him whom her soule did loue; and howe great griefe and sorowe she felt, when they coulde [Page] tel her no tidinges of him. She could neither finde him amongst his kins­folkes nor acquaintance, where she went seeking of him very diligently. Sithens IESVS is not to be founde Iob. 28. b where the daliances and delightes of the fleshe and bloud doo reigne; yea, there is he wont to be lost, and therfore did she returne to the Tem­ple of Ierusalem, where she had earst left him; and therin did she find him standing in the middest of the Doc­tours, geuing eare to thē, and questio­ning of them to Luc. 29 Mat. 7 d Mar. 1. b Luc. 4 c Ioh. 7. b their great admira­tion. O most happy mother, who can possibly declare the ineffable ioye thou receauedst at such time as thou sawest thy desired sonne, whom with so great sorow thou soughtest for! thē did thy heart reioyce which was be­fore oppressed with dole; thē did thy troubled and ecclipsed mind through his absence, growe calme and cleere a­gaine through his presence; then al [Page 35] anguish, feares, and suspitions depar­ting, was the peace and tranquilitie restored, the which thou wantedst, then were the teares of sorowe chan­ged into teares of solace; thē mightest Luc. 15. a thou wel cal vpō the quires of An­gels to congratulate with thee, for hauing founde the pretious iewel, which with such sorow thou sough­test. Consider then how the obedient son seing his deere mother, doth most gratiously come vnto her, and with what passing loue she receaueth him, how she embraceth, howe she enter­taineth, howe she holdeth him, and will not let him go, with what pietie she complaineth of him, for that he had so manye daies depriued her of his desired presence. Be mery therfore O Aug. ser. 2. de As­sump. qui est. 35. de Sanctis. tom. 10. Ber. Ser. [...] de Assūpt. Queene of heuen, and forget thy former sorowes, sith nowe thou hast found, and possessest him, whom thy soule desired, and according to the greatnes of dolours past, art now sur­ceased with present consolation.

[Page] AS TOVCHING the firste point, thou maiest pause therein, meditating, how our Redeemer fore-knowing the hour of his most holy Passion to draw nigh, (wherto he through his most feruent charitie, Isai. 53. b freely offred vp him-selfe) got him to the garden of Geth-se­mani, where he was Ioh. 8. a eftsons wont to pray, that Iudas the Traitour, and the other which he brought with him, might knowe where to finde, and to apprehend him. Howbeit, before thei came, our Lorde had praied a longe time, and commaunded, that his Dis­ciples shoulde doo in like maner. wherein he ment, to geue both to thē and vs an example, that against al the perils, temptations, and tribulations that may befal vs in this life, and that in any matter of importance what­soeuer it be that we haue to doo, that we first arme and fortifie our selues with the armour of holy prayer; by [Page 38] meanes wherof we shal-be illumina­ted to knowe what we ought to doo, and comforted to endure patientlye the afflictions which we are to suffer.

Meditate also, how our Sauiour fin­ding him-self sore afflicted inwardly through the consideratiō of so many sorts of griefes and torments as were prepared for him, he shewed the most vehement affliction and heauines which he felt by those woful wordes he vttered to his mat. 26 a Cyril. Alex lib. 9. Thes. cap. 3 & Leo ser. 3. de Pass. Disciples; My soule is heauie, euen til death. The which ought to perce to the verye depth of our heartes, seing we haue been the cause, that he shoulde suffer such sorowe, who is the ioy of Angels. And howe can it be, O Lorde, but my heart, be it neuer so harde, shal-be heuie, and melt againe, contemplating thy heart so extremely anguished and distres­sed! What solace can my soule re­ceaue, seing thee, who art the Sonne [Page] that illuminatest and reioicest it thus oppressed with dole and sorowe? If thou which art the ioye of Angelical quiers, art thus grieued [...], what thing can suffice to reioyce and comfort man, but to think, that thine infinite charitie which bringeth thee to thy death, doth make thee heauy euen to death, to th'ende, that as thy death is cause of our life, so in like maner thy heauines might be cause of our con­solation, and deliuer vs from that mortal heauines, wherein we shoulde perpetually haue remained, if thou haddest not vouchsafed to haue bene made sorowful and heauy for our sakes. This thy heauines, O King of glorie, shal continue euē til thy death, for that euen to death shal thy tra­uaile endure, wher-with like a moste louing mother thou deliuerest vs; but when we shal by thy death be borne a-newe, then shalt thou not thinke any more of heauines, by rea­son [Page 39] of the ioy of our newe birth, and this Heb. 12. maye some-what mitigate his sorowe, who contemplateth this so­rowful passage.

AS FOR the seconde point, thou maiest staye therein, considering the circumstaunces that happed in this our Lordes praier, and the wordes he vttered.

First the text saith, howe he with­drewe him-self from his Disciples to pray; and this withdrawing or sepa­ration doth S. Luke declare by this worde, auulsus est; which signifieth plainely, with howe great difficultie he withdrewe him-selfe from them through the loue he bare them, and that to pray: which must be done in solitarines, Mat. 6. a Act. 10. b 4. Reg. 4 Ber. ser. 86. in Cant. silence, and attention: and he withdrew him-selfe from thē but a Luc 22 Mat. 26. d. Mar. 14 Luc. 22. d Tert [...]i de orat. stones cast, so that he might easily see and heare them being cal­led, yea, he came eftsons to visite thē to wake them, and to warne them of [Page] that they had to doo, instructing al Pastors and Curates, how they ought to behaue them-selues towards their flockes, by these his particularities. Learne also of the profounde humi­litie, wher-with he threwe him-selfe on ground to pray, what humilitie is necessary for thee when thou praiest; sith thou presentest thy selfe before the face of the self-same infinite Ma­iestie, before whom the Potentates of heauen doo tremble againe. In like maner thou maiest out of the wordes which he vsed in his petition, learne the forme which thou oughtest to obserue in thy prayers, not crauing such temporal thinges as thou desi­rest, absolutelye; but remitting al things to his diuine wil, wherto thou oughtest to conforme thy wil. Here maiest thou contemplate also, howe with the silence and obscuritie of the night, and with the words which our Lorde pronounced in his petition, [Page 40] this inwarde heauines he felt in his heart, increased and grewe greater, finding nothing that might possibly afforde him comfort. Ah! my moste sweete Sauiour, the onely comfort of the comfortlesse and afflicted, how is it, that I see thee this night without any comfort or ease at al, neither is there any of al thy deere frendes to comfort thee, for whose sakes thou art fallen into such heuines and anxi­etie. O that I had heard those pitiful sighes and grones, which eftsons issu­ed out of thine annoyed heart, to th'ende, that nowe I am not able any wayes to comfort thee, I might yet at least taste some part of thy heauines and afflictiō, wherwith I might waile the occasion that I haue geuen thee to be heauie, and that my tears might serue for breade Ps. 41. a. & 79. a to susteine me in this my miserable pilgrimage.

[Page] IN THE thirde point thou maiest consider many thinges; firste, by the diligence, where-with mat. 26 d Mar. 14. d. our Lorde went from his praiers to visite his Disciples, and returned from them backe again to his prayers, thou mai­est note the charitie and fatherlye care he had of them, whom he visited thus oft; Secondly, consider the gree­uous anguish and inwarde paine he suffered, which permitted him not to rest in any place: Thirdly, weigh the perseuerance and often praier which he taught vs, and is most necessarye so to be, to be fruitful and effectual. Fourthly, consider the griefe it is like he felt, (fore-thinking the tormentes which he was to endure) seing that by the imagination only thereof, he swett in so straunge and miraculous a maner. O my Lorde, if the bare ap­prehension of thy future tormentes doo so sore afflict and make thee sweat so strangely, what shal the im­pression [Page 41] of the self-same tormentes doo! right euidently doth thy readye and willing heart shewe it self, wher­with thou wilt redeeme vs with the inestimable price of thy pretious bloud, sithens thou beginnest so plē ­tifully to shedd it before those ma­nifold wounds and strokes, wherwith it shal hereafter be whollye drawen out of thy body. O my soule, learne to set by thy self, and doo not sel thy selfe so vilely, as for the filthy plesure of sinne; seing here, howe greatly thou art set by of thy Redemer, who with so great a price hath bought thee, and hath begonne to paye the same, so long time before the daye. Occupie thy self a while in contem­plating the meruailous vision of this garden, which is farre surpassing that that Moyses saw in the Ex [...]. 3. c mountaine; and shake off the shoes of thy carnal concupiscēces, approching to behold this beautiful face al bathed in blud­die [Page] streames of sweat, wherin al the Angels take singuler delite to looke. Gather me those doleful drops that fal on ground, by the vertue whereof thy paines shal-be asswaged, and thy woundes recured; sith the celestial Phisition hath thus vouchsafed to sweat them for thy wel-fare.

Lastly meditate, how our Lord be­ing in this pitiful extremitie, an Luc. 22. c Angel came downe from heauen to cō ­fort him. O Prince of Angels, howe hast thou thus exceedingly abased thy selfe for vs, that thou standest in neede to be comforted by one of thine owne Ps. 103. a Heb. 1. b Epiph. lib. 3 in Arria. tom. 2. seruauntes? Al the An­gelical quires yeelde adoration and thankes vnto thee, who wot muche better then we doo, howe greatly we are bounde to thee, for hauing vouchsafed thus to humble and abase thy selfe for vs thy moste vile crea­tures. O sacred virgin, if thou haddest [Page 42] with thy corporal eyes viewed this ruful spectacle (as it is likelye thou diddest see it with thy spiritual eyes) wel haddest thou stoode neede of an-other Angel to haue come and comforted thee. For wel may we deeme, that thy woes should not haue wanted, nor any anguishe and afflic­tion to haue tormented thee. And al­beit thou diddest not then bedewe the grounde with thy blouddie sweat, as did thy sweete sonne; yet haply diddest thou bedewe it with teares trickling from thine eyes, and filledst the ayre with lamentable sighes, and heauen with feruent prai­ers. Howbeit, al this was litle in com­parison of that which remayned be­hind, both for thee to see, and for him to suffer.

This vigilant Ioh. 10. b Zach. 13. c Mar. 14. [...] Shepparde being nowe lastlye of al returned to his sleapie sheepe, thou maiest medi­tate, howe he remained with them, [Page] expecting the furious arriual of those Psa. 21. b mad dogges that came to seek him, by whom he was cruellye assailed, bound, and caried to the houses of Ioh. 18. c Mat. 26. f Mar. 14. f Luc. 22. f Anna and Caiphas.

VPON the firste point thou maiest amplifie, by conside­ring the shiftes that Pilate sought to excuse him-self from con­demning him to death, who is the au­thour of life; for first he Luc. 13. a. &. c. Ioh. 18. g Luc. 23. a protested, [Page] that he found no cause in him whye he ought to dye; secondlye, he sent him to Herode, that he might pro­nounce iudgement of him; thirdly, he Mat. 27 b Mar. 15. a compared him with Barrabas the thiefe, perswading him selfe, that the Iewes hauing choise to saue one of their two liues, would rather take in­nocent Iesus, then the seditious thiefe and murtherer; fourthly, this being not sufficient, he determined for a last remedie to make him be Luc. 23. c Ioh. 19. a. whipt, weening that by this punishment he should mittigate their felonious madnes. Where note that al these meanes, wherby Pilate sought to deliuer him, (woting wel his innocencie) were oc­casion, that our Redeemer was more tormented and afflicted; for by this meanes he Luc. 23. b added to the death of the Crosse, which they required, and was afterwardes graunted them, the pain and Luc. 23. b shame he suffred going and cō ­ming from Herode, and being ac­compted [Page 45] worse then Barrabas, and afterwardes most cruelly whipt and crowned with thornes, in such wise, as not onely they which are his open enemies, cause him to suffer, but he also, who desired to deliuer him, en­creased his annoyes. And thou, moste louing Lorde, lettest euery thing re­dounde to thy greater griefe, to the ende, that to those that loue thee, eue­rye thing may redound to their gre­ter benefite. Blessed be thine infinite charitie for euermore, which maketh thee respect more our profite then thine owne peculier torment. Consi­der also, Ioh. 19. [...] how many mischiefes a vain loue and feare of the worlde is cause of, where-with this miserable Luc. 23. a &. c. Ioh. 18. d Pilate let him-selfe be ouercome; sith that (confessing him-selfe, that he founde no Luc. 23. a &. c. Ioh. 18. d fault in our Sauiour, and know­ing that he was accused of mere Luc. 23. b. ma­lice) yet for al this did he condemne him iniustly to this torment, and af­afterwardes [Page] to death, making more accompt of his owne interest, then of iustice and of truth.

IN THE second point thou maiest entertaine thy selfe, meditating with great compassion the crueltie, where­with those vile and wicked ministers stripp the most innocent Lorde of his clothes, and binde him with hard cordes fast vnto a piller. Consider that his mildnes, more then of a Lambe, wher-with he suffereth him selfe to be stript and tied, without making anye resistance, for ought that they could doo to him. Beholde with the eyes of thy mind that most sacred body, more beautiful then Niceph. cap. 14. li. 1 hist. Eccle. al mens, howe it stood al naked, ful of shame, with necke, armes, and feete fast bound vnto the piller, in maner of a slaue, waiting for that greeuous punishment, which he was forthwith to receaue; and weigh that his redie and prompt wil, wher-with he haply [Page 46] saide inwardly that verse of the pro­phet Ps. 37. [...]. Dauid: I am redie to be whipt, and my griefe is alwaies in my sight. O most sweete Redeemer, me thinkes I see thee fast bound to that hard piller; howbeit, these cordes, be they neuer so stronge, would litle auaile to holde thee, if thou wert not more straitlye bound therto with the bandes of thy most burning charitie, the which tied thee much faster, with the desire which thou haddest to warme and mollifie our heartes harder a great deale, and more frosen then the piller of marble, whereto thou art thus bound. They stripp thee like a slaue, that being starke naked, they maye more cruelly scourge thee, and thou willingly consentest thereto, that by this meanes thou maiest vesture with thy graces, and set at libertie those, who had earst with their vices made them-selues the slaues of Satan.

[Page] IN THE third point thou maiest pause very conueniently, sith therein thou shalt finde more ample matter to melt thy heart with, considering that cruel rage, wherewith those wic­ked executioners beginn to beat this most sacred virginal bodye, causing that white flesh to turne to a sanguin hewe, and howe with the violence of their blowes they flea his tender skin in such pitiful wise, as his most pre­tious bloud gushed out al ouer his body; the which was so barbarouslye torne and wounded, that he might wel pronounce that which was writ­tē Psa. 37. a [...]. 1. a of him: There is no soundnes in my flesh. Beholde nowe, O my soule, beholde attentiuely this most ruful spectacle, and take compassion of such a Lord, who hath vouchsafed to suffer suche paines for thee; beholde that Reue­rend visage made pale and heauie, le­ning against that hard piller, wherto he presseth him-selfe close through [Page 47] the most vehement pains he suffreth, which made him to breathe verye short, and to sounde out most lamen­table sighes. Beholde, howe he stan­deth fast tied and bounde vnto the piller, shedding his bloud on earth, his eyes lifted vp to heauen, offering those most grieuous tormentes to his celestial Father, which he endured most willingly for our trespasses. Cō ­sider how al this punishment and af­fliction which he suffered, sufficed not to disquiet, or make him lament at al; yea, the tormentours waxing wery through the infinite number of blowes which they had laide on him, yet was not he for al that weried with suffring; and his body being al torne and rent, yet was his soule and courage alwaies sounde, and readie to abide greater tormentes through his insuperable charitie. Ioh. 1. d Apoc. [...]. b O immaculate Lambe, howe doo I see thee al for­lorne, besprinkled and died with thy [Page] most pretious bloud; and thou not onely standest without wailing, like other Lambes, Isa. 53. b. Act. 8. f. before them that shere thee, but also before them that strike and whipp thy virginal body, thou neither speakest, nor complai­nest thee at al. O most sacred Virgin, if thou hadst seene the pitiful plight wherin thy most sweete sonne stood bound, naked, couered with blud and blowes, howe would thy heart haue been couered and wounded with mortal woe; seing him, not onely be­reft of that robe, which with thine owne handes thou haddest wouen for him, but also without a great part of the skinne and bloud, which he had taken in thy virginal wombe! O how much more iustlye mightest thou haue lamented then Iacob did, and vpon greater cause haue saide that which he Ge. [...]7. g. &. 44. g saide: Enuie, that most cruel beast hath deuoured my sonn, she it is that hath thus wounded and ill intreated him. Behold, [Page 48] O my soule, howe meruailous is the mercie and charitie of thy Lorde, that hath mat. 27 b endured al these thinges, to shadowe thee with his Ps. 90. a. shoulders, and with his woundes Isai. 53. a to heale thy woes, vouchsafing to take the correc­tion and chastisment due to thee vp­pon him; that thou mightest present this satisfaction to the eternal Father, crauing humblye, that it maye please him, for these so great and cruel bea­tinges of his beloued sonne, to diuert from thee the whipp of his wrath, which thou through thine of­fences hast most iustly merited.

[Page 50] IN THE firste point thou maiest pause, meditating how with the same barba­rousnes and crueltie, wher-with these wicked ministers had bounde our most merciful Lorde, they nowe vn­lose him, and vse no kind of plaisters and pitie towardes him, who is to­wardes al men the most pitiful. Be­holde howe he standeth fraight ful of griefs, and frō top to Isai. 1. a Psal. 37. a▪ toe al torn with scourges, with the printes of the cords deep rooted in his tender flesh, which caused his no smal annoy; sith he was fastned with such force, as (ac­cording as diuers doo contemplate) the cordes were al couered with his very flesh; & with this grief went he vp and downe seeking his garments, which they had throwen here and there on the grounde; and thus humblye gathering them vpp, put them on him with very great paine, [Page] no one vouchsafing to helpe him, or to afford him any comfort, but most redie were they, al of them, to tormēt and afflict him.

Ah my Lorde, where be nowe the thousand thousandes, that Daniel in spirite saw, Dan 7. c. Apoc. 5. c doo thee dutiful seruice; and tenne hundred thousand thou­sandes which assisted at thy throne, and yeelded thee due adoratiō? Here is no one of those high Angels of he­uen to be seene, that might adore and serue thee; but contrari-wise, so many contemptible men of earth, which commaund thee, and treade thee vn­der their feete; and thou art wel con­tented here-with, sith mat. 20 d Mar. 10. f. thou art not come into the world to be serued, but rather to serue others, and therfore doth euery one a­bandon thee, and no one afforde thee helpe, like as thou alone, without o­thers helpe, hast perfected our Re­demption.

In the second point thou hast iust [Page 51] cause to stay, pondring that new de­uise, which these deuilish executio­ners contriue to mocke, and withal to torment our blessed Sauiour.

What greater spite and ignominie might there be inuented, then to sett him thus out with mat▪ 27 d Mar. 15. b. Ioh. 19. a those counterfait ensignes of a king which they put vpon him? meaning thereby to signi­fie that he was ambitious, and vsur­ped the Title and Regal dignitie, which was not due vnto him? and what greter torment then that which they gaue him, in crowning him with such a crowne? the pricking thornes whereof did perce his head verye deeply, & mat. 27 d Mar. 15. b smiting of him with the reede, which in liew of a Regal Scep­ter they had put into his handes; in such wise, as his eyes and face were al couered with the bloud which they caused to issue out of him; and yet doest thou see, howe he abideth al this with an inexpugnable patience; [Page] sith with his tormentes and annoian­ces, he vouchsafed to satisfie for our disordinate delightes and dissolutiōs; and with his scornes and mockeries to pay for our pride and ambition.

O King of heauen, O supernal Maiestie, Psa. 99 b Heb. 1. b adored and reuerenced of Angels, and mocked and scorned of men! I knowe not wel, what I should most meruaile at; whether at the blindnes and most cruel moode of them that knowe thee not, and thus doo beat thee, or at the pietie and pa­tience, wher-with thou abidest them, making farre greater accompt of our wel-fare and satisfactiō, then of thine owne contempt and most bitter so­rowes. Great, no doubt, is their impi­etie, which did thus torment thee; great also is the malice of our offen­ces, which did occasionate the same; but farre greater is thy bountie and clemencie, which is infinite, where­with thou wert redie to suffer more [Page 52] dolours and afflictions then al they could lay vpon thee. O my soul, con­template deuoutly this most woor­thie spectacle, and imprint it in thy heart, seing thou hast been the occa­sion of al these tormentes and repro­ches, which thy Lorde hath suffered: Let that his most ignominious robe, warme and heat thy coldnes; let that horrible crowne penetrate thy bow­els; those sharpe and pricking thornes let perce thy head; let that be to thee an occasiō of cōtinual loue, which was to him an occasiō of excessiue griefe.

IN THE thirde point it is right meete thou interteine thy selfe, be­holding and adoring this thy moste merciful Lord so lately crowned with that most cruel Diademe, and the o­ther roial ensigns, which his pitilesse aduersaries haue geuē him, wherwith Pilate made him be brought forth be fore al the people, that by seing this his so ruful a figure, their furious [Page] might be som-what pacified; and for this cause did he shew him vnto thē, saying: Ioh. 19. a. Aug. tract. 196. in Ioh. Ecce homo; as if he had saide: Behold the man, whom you vniustly persecute, and whose death you so greatly desire; Behold him, whom ye say, would haue made him-selfe your King, how gretly to your liking doo you nowe see him crowned and atti­red? Behold him chastised, in such wise, that hardly can he be taken for a man, so farre is he from being repu­ted a king. And seing neither these wordes which they heare, nor that la­mentable figure which they behold, is sufficient to make their adamanti­cal heartes relent, beholde thou him, O Christian, and let thine relent, yea, rent and burst in twaine for sorowe, considering, howe for thee it is, that he is thus scorned, and vilanously in­treated. For thy pride and hautines, is he crowned with these pricking thornes; for thy superfluous and dis­honest [Page 53] decking, is he thus vestured with this ridiculous robe; for thy fo­lies and most vaine vanities, doth he beare this sceptre of reede in hande; for thy beastlines and abhominations, is that most beautiful face defiled and beraide with filthie spittle; Isai. 50. [...] Lact. lib. 4. Inst. de ve­ra sap▪ cap. 18. for thy dissolutions and wanton toyes, are those handes, and that necke fast tied with harde cordes to the piller. See, O thou miserable and wicked man, see what God a most righteous and merciful man hath suffred for thy iu­stification; procure thou therfore to be grateful to such a benefactour, and not to renewe his griefes with thy newe sinnes. And to th'ende, that for the doing of this, thou maiest haue a more aboundant grace graūted thee, present this pitiful figure to his eter­nal Father, beseeching him, that he will looke vpon Psa. 83. [...] ▪ his Christs face, as it was thē disfigured. whē Pilate shew­ed him to the people; and serue thy [Page] turne with the selfe-same wordes he then spake, saying: Beholde the man, O celestial father, which thou so long hast Eze. 22. g sought for, to oppose him-selfe against thy wrath, and to be a Media­tour betwixt thee Rom. 5. a. Heb. 7. d &▪ 12. f. 1. Ioh. 2. a Heb. 1. a and sinners. Be­holde him, who is the brightnes of thy glory, and the figure of thy sub­stance, how gretly he is obscured and difformed, to restore by this meanes the beautie, which my soule through so great a number of sinnes had lost. Beholde the man, who with his di­uine bloud hath sufficiently satisfied thy iustice. Looke therefore, O most merciful Father, looke vpon the la­mentable face of this man, who is both God, and thy Sonne, and for the honour of that, which he, being most innocent hath paide for me, par­don the manifolde sinnes, which I haue committed against thy Maie­stie.

Finally, thou maiest in this point [Page 54] consider the incomparable sorowe, which his most sacred mother felt, if (as it is thought) she were there pre­sent, and sawe with her bodilye eyes this most woful Spectacle; which (al­beit wer not sufficient to moue those Iewish pitilesse heartes to compassi­on) yet sufficed it to rent the most sorowful Virgins bowels in twaine, and to perce through her most heauy and dolorous heart. O moste sacred mother, looke wel, whether this man that Pilate sheweth, be thy sweete sonne or no; sith hardly canst thou know him with this attire and hew, so farre different from that thou wast wont to see him in. Thy belo­ued sonne is white and Can. 5. c. ruddie, the fairest that was euer seene amongst the Ps. 44. a sonnes of men, the brightnes of the eternal light, and Mirrour with­out mole, as the Sap. 1. d sacred writt doth cal him; but nowe, seing him al ba­thed [Page] him al bathed in blood, defiled with spittle, al wanne and pale with woes, howe canst thou possibly know him? Thy sonne, O Lady, is king of hea­uen, before whom al the powers cele­stial doo quake, and the Dominati­ons doo adore him; what hath that crowne of most cruel thornes to doo with him, that scepter of reede, and that robe of irrision, wher-with those caitiues doo thus scorne him? yet ne­uerthelesse, albeit by his outward ap­parāce thou canst hardly know him, yet maiest thou right easily doo it by his inuincible patience, by his pro­found humilitie, by his infinite cha­ritie, wher-with he condescended, to be thus crowned like a counterfaite king, and mocked here in earth, that we may merite to be crowned with glory, and to reigne with him in heauen.

[Page] AS TOVCHING the firste point, thou maiest consider the rage and diabolical ob­stinacie of those wicked Iewes, who seing our Redeemer thus weakned and afflicted, & in so pitiful a plight, as had beene sufficient to make al o­ther heartes to relent, although they had bene harder then the verye sto­nes; yet were they no whitt at al ap­peased, nor any deale moued to com­passion; yea, they cried out with a ter­rible fury, Luc. 23▪ c Ioh. 19. c Mar. 15. d Mat. 27. c Crucifie him, Crucifie him: Thē might that haue been wel saide by them which Iacob had prophecied, sa [...]ing: Ge. 49. a Wo woorth their so obstinate furye, and their indignation so harde and cruel. Where note, howe great a mischiefe it is, for a man to let him-selfe be blinded and possessed with the De­uil; for after he is once come to this point, then doth he participate of the same properties and conditions that the Diuel him-selfe is of, and by that [Page 57] meanes is his enuie, his furie, and al his other vices rather hellish thē hu­mane. Note also to the same purpose, the blindnes and iniustice of misera­ble Pilate, who hauing so many times confessed, that he founde Luc. 23▪ a no cause wherefore to condemne our Lorde, yea, that he was iust; knowing also, that vpon a spite the Iewes had accu­sed him, and deliuered him into his handes, yet did he for al this, being vanquished with their importunitie, and a worldly feare, condemne the innocent to suffer death, and weeneth (wretche that he is) mat. 27▪ [...] howe by the wasshing of his hands, his conscience should be cleered. They are like to Pilate, who for feare of the worlde, and of losing their commodities, doo defile their consciences, and weene to wash them-selues with certain wor­kes and outward apparances; where­with albeit they maye other-whiles cast a mist before mens eyes, yet are [Page] they once sure, they can-not deceaue the eyes of God, who 1. Re. 16 b Psal. 6 b 1. Par. 28. b looketh chief­ly at the heart and meaning of eche one. Doo thou therefore (good bro­ther) considering this point, take heed of falling into such like errors, and thinke, howe it sufsiceth not to beginne wel, as Pilate did, but it be­houeth thee to be constant, and to perseuer vntil the ende, mat. 10. c if thou wilt be saued.

Lastly, thou maiest in this Article consider the gret patience and humi­litie, wher-with the innocent Lambe accepteth so iniust a sentēce of death, pronoūced against him, by the which he merited, that the iust sentence of eternal death set down against vs for our sinnes, should be reuoked; and that the sentence of absolution and pardon pronounced by the vicar of Iesus Christe, when we rightly confesse our selues vnto him, might be vala­ble and effectual.

[Page 58] IN THE second point thou hast great occasion to be sory, meditating the crueltie, where-with the wicked Iewes (presentlye after sentence was pronounced against him, which they so earnestly desired and craued) doo then take our Redeemer, and handle him much more spitefully then they did tofore, Pilate nowe hauing geuen him to them, to execute freely their furious rage vpon him. And if here­tofore they handled him so cruelly, hauing him but as a prisoner, alas, what maye we suppose they did to him being now condemned, and ge­uen wholly ouer into their most sa­crilegious handes. Contemplate, with what inhumanitie they stripp off his robes of Mar. 15 b Mat. 27. d. Ioh. 19. a. mockerie, where-with they had earst scorned him, and put his own clothes on again, that he might by that meanes be knowen of euery one; heping grief vpō griefe, & igno­minie vpon ignominie. Behold howe [Page] lay that most heauie Crosse on his weak shoulders, which they had with great diligence prepared in such wise for him; ponder wel, how greatly his paine was increased by that so vn­merciful a weight, being so sore weakned with his former tormentes, and the bloud which he had lost alreadie. Consider howe they make his condi­tion worse then that of the twoo theeues, whom they carye with him to suffer the like death; sith neither of them carieth his Crosse, as they make our most mild Sauiour to doo. This is the sceptre, (O my King) which these Infidels, and rebellious seruants of thine geue thee in signe of the so­ueraintie Isai. 9. b &. 22. f. Tertul lib on Iudaeos. which thou hast ouer thē; the which answereth very wel to the crowne, wherwith they haue alredie crowned thee; and thine inestimable charitie dissembleth and embraceth al with the great desire thou hast to conduct them by this way to thy ce­lestial [Page 59] kingdome. This is the staffe whereon thou leanest, and goest ther­with like an-other Ge. 23. [...]. Iacob, to passe the floud of Iordan, to witt, of death; to returne anon after thy resurrectiō, associated with those infinite legi­ons of soules, which thou deliueredst out of Limbo, and cariedst vp to he­uen with thee. With this staffe, and 1. Re. 17. [...] with the fiue stones, which thou tookest in the mount Caluarie, that is to say, thy fiue most sacred woundes, thou foughtest like an-other Dauid against that proude giant Lucifer, & subduedst him, deliuering by this meanes thy people from the hellish hoste, which did on euery side enui­rone them. This is the wood which thou bearest on thy backe like an-o­ther Ge. 22. b. Isaac, to offer thy selfe thervp­pon for vs in this most acceptable sa­crifice to thine eternal Father, being burned with the [...]ire of thy moste feruent charitie. Consider besides, [Page] how the Redeemer going thus loden with the grieuous weight of the Crosse, fel to the ground through the vnmerciful weight that he bare; and howe they smiting him then a-fresh most tirannously, make him rise vp and go an ende; where thou maiest meditate, how not only the weight of the Roode did grieue & tormēt him, but also both thine and the whole world their manifold and enormous offēces, which he then bare vpō him, going for thē in this wise to be crucified. So did the Prophet Isai. 53 b Esay affirme, saying: Howe the eternal Father had laide vpon him al our iniquities, that he should stis­fie for al, like as he had offred him-selfe for al. O my most sweete Redeemer, howe grieuous a burden did the 1. Pe. 2. d multi­tude of mine abhominations occasi­onate thee, which thou berest on thy backe, and paine thee much more then the Crosse it selfe doth. O, how [Page 60] great reason is it, that I weepe and waile with thee, for the paine which I haue caused thee to endure; and with-al, yeeld thee thankes, that thou like a good Sheppard hast vouchsa­fed to carye vpon thy sacred shoul­ders this [...] c. 15. a Ma [...]. 18. b. miserable strayed sheepe, which thou diddest come to seeke in the wildernes of this world. Al the quiers of Angels, which thou leftest behinde thee in heauen, adore and blesse thee, who knowe much better then we doo, howe greatlye the cle­mencie meriteth to be thanked, which moued thee to come, carye, and cure so vile a sheepe, as is that of humane nature, which thou did­dest beare vpon thy backe, in cary­ing of thy Crosse.

IN THE THIRDE point thou mayest also interteyne thy selfe, contemplating, in what a pitiful plight our Lorde and Sauiour [Page] was in, when the Crosse was taken from him, and geuen to mat. 29 d Mar. 15. b. Luc. 23. d Cyreneus, because he was not able to go so fast as those wicked helhoundes woulde haue had him. Howe greatly he was pained and afflicted, sweting through the wearines of the viage he had made, howe wounded and annoyed through the heauines of the Crosse, shedding his bloud a-new, which in­termedled with sweat, did bedew the ground he went vpon; howe fraight with the shame and vilanies they did vnto him, howe brused with the blowes and strokes which they gaue him to make him go on ende. O my God, what a countenaunce is this, y­nough to burst his heart with com­passion, who had neuer so litle of hu­mane pietie. O my soul, if thou coul­dest throughly consider this passage, howe great cause shouldest thou find to take compassiō & grief, at so many griefs, so many and outragious spites, [Page 61] as thou seest him suffer for thy sins, 1. Pe. 2. d who neuer sinned, nor euer was ani falshod foūd in his mouth; and howe greatly ough­test thou besides to waile the hard­nes of thy heart, which is not rent in twain with the remembrance of such a ruful countenance. O, if thou didst loue this Lord with such loue as thou art bound to doo, he louing thee so dearlye, with howe great feruour wouldest thou desire to gather vpp those pretious droppes of bloud and sweat, which did fal on the grounde, wher-with thou mightest washe out thy staines, and beautifie thy beastlye blemishes. Ah! what a spite shouldest thou beare that Cyreneus, who eased in some wise the paine of this Cele­stial Monarche, carying Luc. 23. d his Crosse hefore him as a Royal Standard; and that which he bore then perforce, Amb. li. 10. in Luc. ca. 99. post Hieron in Mat. and maugre his wil, Orig. hom. 35. thou shouldest beare on thy backe with a willing and cheerful courage, Theoph. & Euthy cap. 67. in mat Mat. 27. d. Mat. 16. d Mar. 8. d Luc. 9. c vbi quoti­die addi­tur. woting howe [Page] the same Lord hath saide: That if any wil folowe him, he must take vp his Crosse and folowe him. And seing thou hast not deserued to cary that Crosse, which Simon Cyreneus did, carye at least thine owne, like as thou art cōmaun­ded, that is to say, the toils and tribu­lations, which in this life shal befal thee. Carye also the Crosse of com­passion, vnbethinking thee of that which thy Lord vouchsafed to suffer for thee; sith in this sort, thy seruice which now thou doest, shal be much more grateful to him, thē that which Cyreneus earst performed.

Meditate also in this Article the pitiful plaintes of those deuout wo­men that Luc. 22. d. folowed him, who al of them wept ful bitterlye, seing the crueltie, wher-with the most pa­tient Lambe was handled; but aboue al, take compassion of those teares, which the most mournful mother shed, who, like as she loued her sonne [Page 62] more then did al the other women, so did she weepe more bitterly then the other, lament more then the o­ther, and feele more greeuous cor­seys then the other. O sacred virgin, who can possiblye conceaue the ex­cesse of thy most vehement griefes, when thou sawest him whom thy soule loued so tenderly, lodened with that importable weight, weakned with so many woes, pained with so many woundes, contemned with so many iniuries, felowed with theeues, and adiudged to the death of the Roode, which they caused him with such reproche and paine to carye. Euen such was thy soule then, as was the figure which thou beheldest with thy weeping eyes; neither did the thornes of sorowe perce thine entrals lesse, then those of woodd pearce his most Reuerend head. [Page] This onely anguish, O my Soueraine Ladye, had beene sufficient to haue made thee dye, as it sufficed to make thee sowne, were it not thy life had been supernaturally pre [...]erued, to see the other tormentes which remained, for him in body, and for thee in soul, to suffer. O how much more willing­ly then Cyreneus did, wouldest thou haue performed his office, in carying of the Crosse; sith the strength which thy tēdernes and sorows denied thee, loue did make supply of, and the de­sire thou haddest to beare some part of the afflictions, which, without al pitie they gaue vnto the afflicted, and grieued thee no lesse then they did him-selfe. Lastlye consider the wordes, which our Redeemer Daugh­ters of Ie­rusalem, weepe not for me, but weepe for your owne faults, and for those of your chil­dren. spake, Luc. 23. d turning him to the wemē that wept, which ought to make thee careful, and desirous to bring forth some good fruit; sith otherwise, if thou be­est a drye tree and barreine, thinke [Page 63] what punishment thou shalt deserue, if he be thus tormented for thy sins, which was a greene tree, so pretious and so fruitful.

IF THOV wilt dilate the me­ditation of the first point, consider, in what case our [Page 65] most louing Lorde was, hauing fini­shed this his last and most dolorous procession, howe great the wearines was, which he felt, hauing made so long and laboursome a iourney on foote, and lodened a great peece of the way with the heauie burdē of the Crosse. How gret his weaknes, which made him almost to sowne, hauing shed so great a quantitie of blo [...]dd out of the manifold woundes he had receaued. Howe great the affliction was, that oppressed his most sacred soule, vnbethinking him of the ex­treme torments which he looked for, besides those that he had alredye en­dured; and for the mitigation of so many paines and griefes, the bedd which they had prepared for him, was that harde and narrowe Crosse, wheron they minded to crucifie him; and the drinke which they presented to cōfort him withal, was that wine mingled with gal, to th'ende that no [Page] of his senses or members might goe scot-free without their peculier tor­ment. O sweet Iesus, thou which art a most pleasaunt hony-combe descen­ded from heauen to Mat. 22 d. & f. Mar. 15. b. Luc. 23 c Ioh. 19. [...] Psal. 98. c Cyril. Alex li. 12▪ in Ioh. ca. 29. li. 1. histor. Eccl. sweeten the sournes of men, and to ease their an­noyes and griefes, findest no one a­mongst them that wil take compas­siō of thee, nor geue thee any momēt of rest, yea, cōtriue new means how to afflict thee, and to heape Ps. 68. d. sorow vpō sorow. O ingrateful world, how yl a counterchange is this thou geuest to thy maker and benefactor, which for hony affordest him gal; and for so­lace, sorowe; and hatred for the loue wher-with he created thee, and came to redeeme thee; and this thine in­gratitude and most blame-woorthye blindnes is cause of thy so barbarous crueltie, as meaning to crucifie him; thou wilt stripp him out of his clo­thes, that he may go naked to suffer deth, who came naked into the world to geue thee life. Consider then, with [Page 66] what inhumanitie those cruel hang­men plucke off his clothes, and with­al plucke off his tender skinne, and part of the fleshe which did cleaue thereto. Behold, how the most beau­tiful of al men standeth naked, and fraight ful of shame, amongst so gret a multitude of people, bleeding a­newe al ouer, through the rauing of his former woundes; and ponder the intolerable griefe of his most heauie mother, when she sawe him bereft of the Ioh. 19. d. robe which with her own han­des she had wouē for him, & without part of the skinn and flesh which she had geuē him in her entrals; and clo­thed only with dolours, heauines, and confusion, with which kind of attire his soul was also couered. Learne here to loue pouertie, seing he loued it 2. Cor. 8. b Ber. Ser. 1. de Vig. Natiuit. so greatly, Amb. ca. 13 instit. virg. who was geuē to vs for a tea­cher; & was borne poore, liued poore, and poore and naked departed this ingrateful world.

[Page] IN THE meditation of the second point thou maiest pause in like ma­ner, considering, howe aboue al the dolors and torments, which the most innocent Lambe endured, they pas­sed, which he felt, when his most sa­cred handes and feet were with huge nailes fastned hard vnto the Crosse. Consider the cruel blowes wherwith they nailed him; and how the blowes missing many times through the fiendish fury, where-with they were enraged (as we may godlily meditate) they fel many times vpon the palmes of his handes, and vpon his fingers & toes, with such a force, as those deli­cate partes were wholly crusshed in sunder, and wounded with intolera­ble torment. Behold like wise, how to make his members stretche out to the holes which they had alredy bo­red in the Crosse, they racke thē out so vehemently, as they plucke the bones out of the ioyntes with incō ­parable [Page 67] griefe; wherby was that ful­filled, which Dauid had prophecied, Psa. 21. b saying: They haue bored through my handes and my feete, and haue numbred al my bones. Behold then, how these sacred armes of our most louing Lorde are thus stretcht out vpō the Crosse, redy August. to embrace al those, that wil draw nighe vnto him; euen like to that his infi­nite charitie, where-with he suffred for al. Beholde these most puissant handes that earst created heauen and earth, and wherwith he had wrought so many miracles, howe they are now Zac. 13. [...] nailed fast to the Roode, and distil forth that pretious liquor of his most sacred bloud, sufficiēt to cure al their spiritual infirmities that wil gather therof; sith this is the wholsome and most approued mirrhe, which the Spouse Can. 5. a. saith in the Canticles, that her handes and fingers did distil. Cō ­sider also, how those huge nailes were not onely driuen through the moste [Page] holy Sonne his handes and feete; but also perced the entrals of his blessed mother being there present. O what a horrible sounde made those vehe­ment blowes of the hammers in her eares, which, no doubt, did more tor­ment and wounde her woful heart, then if in very deede her holy hands had been stroken through. And this was a cause of doubling our most merciful Lorde his tormentes, who wist it wel inough, and loued her so tenderly, and tooke great compassi­on of her paines; in such sort, as be­sides the torment which these out­ward nailes did occasionate in his bo­dye, he had other inwarde nailes which afflicted more vehemently his most sacred soule. O most patient Ie­sus, how art thou on euery side enui­roned with annoiances? Rightlye maiest thou say, Ps. 68. a. that the waters of tri­bulation are entred into the very botome of thy [Page 68] soule; and thine inuincible patience abideth al, which maketh thee be­come dombe, and to stande like a Lambe, Isai. 53. [...] before those that shere thee and torment thee. And if haply thou openest thy mouth, it is only to Luc. 23. [...] Beda ca. 94 in Luc. Leo Ser. 11. de Passio. Theoph. Anselm. ex­cuse & to pray for thē, for so much as thine infinite charitie is that which holdeth thee surer nailed and fast­ned to the Crosse, then doo those material and yron nayles, minding with this so great cost, to confect a soueraine medicine to our saluation.

CONCERNING the thirde point, thou hast a more ample matter to en­terteine thee, pondring how our Re­deemer being crucified, was exalted on high vpon the Crosse, that as he died for al men, so he might be seene of al men. This exaltatiō had Nu. 31. [...] Ioh. 3. b Moi­ses earst prefigured, whē he raised vp the Serpēt of brasse in the wildernes; sithens like as thē al they were healed [Page] of their corporal wounds which loo­ked vpon the Serpent; euen so they, which with a liuely faith behold this Lord exalted vpon the Roode, re­ceaue cure of their spiritual infirmi­ties, which are farre more dangerous. Pause therefore (O my soul) pause and shroude thy selfe vnder the shadowe of this Cant. 2. a tree of life, if thou wilt rightly repose thee, and cure thy fes­tred woundes. Behold the wholsome fruit that hangeth Deu. 28 g theron; which al­beit thou seest naked, contēned, blas­phemed, and reproued of this miscre­ant natiō, yet is he most sweete, most high, and of infinite Maiestie; God hiddē, who vouchsafeth thus to dissē ble and cloke his puissance, to make his mercy so much the better knowē. Gather then this pretious fruit, and trial shal teach thee the meruailous vertue thereof. Make thy nest like a simple doue, in the crannies and holes of this Can. 2. c Ier. 48. d. rocke, that is to say, in Ber. Ser. 61. in Can. his [Page 69] most sacred woundes, sith he geueth thee leue, yea, inuiteth thee so to doo. Weigh wel the throne which this day the eternal King hath chosen a­midst two theeues and trespassers, in the same mount where such accu­stomably were executed; meaning to signifie by this, that as for sinners and offenders he descended from heauen, and was borne in the world; so did he for sinners and theeues dye in that place betwixt theeues, paying by this meanes that he had not Ps. 68. a. stolne, and taking away the filth and Abac. 3. d▪ infamie of that stinking place, with the most sweete incense of the sacrifice which he offred. Learne moreouer in this point to doo according to the exam­ple which is shewed thee in the Exo. 25▪ d Heb. 8. b Act. 7▪ f mountain, crucifying thy flesh with her vices and concupiscences, as the Gala. 5. [...] Rom. 6. a Colos. 3. [...] Apostle doth admonish thee; sith it is not meete that thou seeke after delicacies & superfluous pamperings [Page] of the fleshe, seing thy Lord his flesh thus cruelly handled, as from the sole Isa. 1. a. Psa. 37. a of his foote vnto the crowne of his head there is no one free spot in him; And very indecent should it be, that vnder Bernard. a head crowned with thorns the other partes should not be nice and delicate. Contemplate lastly in this point the extreme dolors which the most ruful mother felt, at such time, as standing by the Crosse, she saw him heaued vp thereon, naked, racked, al wounded, hauing his hands and feete perced through, whereout those foure flouds of bloud did issue, being farre more pretious then the Gen. 2. b Eccl. 24. c foure flouds that issued out of ter­restral Paradise; when she behelde those gratious eyes wanne and pale, where-with he was wont to comfort al those that were heauie and afflic­ted; that beautiful face, wherein the 1. Pet. 1. c Angels desire to looke, difformed and withered; that diuine head ful of [Page 70] thorns, which had Mat. 8. [...] Luc. 9. g not where to rest it. O Queene of heauen, what dolor was euer like to thine, when with thy weeping eyes thou beheldest this woful figure! O, howe much more were thy anguishes sufficient to darkē thy most heauy heart, thē was the Luc. 23. f dark­nes which came then vpon the earth, sufficient to darkē it. To whom may I compare thee, or to whom may I li­ken thee, O most sacred virgin, thine affliction and tribulation, being so great as is the Ocean Sea! If the An­gel, when he first saluted thee, did cal thee, Luc. 1. [...] ful of grace, at this instant he may cal thee, ful of griefs and sorow, so great a part of the bitter cupp, which thy deare sonne dranke, be­ing fallen to thy share; to whom, I humbly beseech thee, to offer those greeuous dolors, which thou then enduredst, like as he offered al his bitter griefes, and the bloud he shed, [Page] to his eternal Father for the redemp­tion of the world. And thou, O cele­stial Father, behold, in al humilitie I begg it, beholde the Ps. 83. c face of thy Christe, and smel the sweetnes of the sacrifice which he offreth thee. Re­gard those out-stretched armes, that represent the bowe which thou pro­misedst to place in the cloudes Gen. 9. b Eccle. 43. b Haba. 3 b in signe of peace and frendshipp, which thou vouchsafedst to make with mankinde. Listen that sweete mu­sike he maketh with the wordes he speaketh on the Crosse, where his head is al to torne, and his members and sinewes stretched out like Da­uids harpe, whereon when he played, 1. Re. 16 d he made the fiend to flye; and seing al that he hath done and suffred, hath been to appease thee, and to ob­teine mercie for vs, accept the same, O Lord, and send vs from heauen thy holy benediction.

[Page 73] IN THE firste point thou maiest entertaine thy selfe, meditating, how al those holy Fathers, Patriarches, and prophets, with al the other Aug. li. 20 de Ciuit. ca. 15. Hier. in ca. 4. ad Ephe. righteous persons which had been dead from the be­ginning of the world, were al detai­ned in Limbo, expecting the happye comming of our Sauiour, who with the same charitie and humilitie, wher with he had hūbled him-selfe, in suf­fring Phil. 2. b death vpon the Crosse, vouch­safed also to humble him-self, in dis­cending downe to Limbo, and visi­ting that blessed congregatiō, which with such feruent zeale had long time desired to see this happy daye. I leaue thee now to thinke, what sur­passing ioy those sacred soules recea­ued, when they sawe this most sacred soule of Christ Aug. Ser. 137. de tempore. vnited to the Diui­nitie enter with such triumph and puissance into their prison, and with his brightnes to illuminate those mistie [Page] dongeons; and vnderstood besides what he had done and suffred in the world, and then, wherfore he was dis­cended thither to be onely to deliuer them out of their imprisonment, and to make them endlesse happie.

What tongue can woorthelye tel their consolations, their ioyes, their songes, praises, and benedictiōs, which they sounded forth in praise of their glorious benefactour? Neuerthelesse, albeit the ioye of these redeemed soules were so exceeding great, yet farre greter was that of their Redee­mer, beginning now to see the glori­ous fruit of his great paines, and the great good, which his grieuous passi­on had wrought. O, with how great reason might eche one then Ps. 117. d saye: This is the day that our Lorde hath made, let vs reioyce and be gladd therein: Where note, that albeit it may seem other-whiles, that our Lorde hath forgotten his e­lect, and that which he hath promi­sed them; yet doth he not so, but ex­pecteth [Page 74] the fittest time, wherein he knoweth how to fulfil the same, like as we see he hath here done to­wardes these good holy Fathers. We must not therefore wauer in our be­liefe, but abide and waite with pati­ence for his most holy comming. Si­thēs as the Prophet Abacuch admo­nisheth vs: Aba. 2. a Our Lorde, whom thou hast so greatly called on, wil come at length, and wil not lye; if he tary, expect him; for he that commeth, wil come, and wil not tarye long. Consi­der also in this point, howe our Saui­our hauing staide al Saterday with those holy Fathers, reioycing and cō ­forting thē, as wel thou maiest ima­gine, his most blessed soule did on Euang. vbi supra Act 10. f &. 13. [...] Rom. 4. d &. 8. f. 1. Cor. 15. a▪ 2. Tim. 2 Nic. ca. 37. li. 1. Sunday morning returne to reuiue his most sacred body, which laye in the sepulchre; wherinto he entring, made it become so beautiful and glittering as the Sunne; and that bo­dye which earst through the tor­mentes of his passiō was al wounded, [Page] al blacke, and al difformed Luc. 24. f Ioh. 20. [...] like a Lepre, presently after it was vnited to the most sacred soule, and by it re­uiued, became the most beautiful of al bodies; & the blacknes being now changed into brightnes, the woundes and deformitie conuerted into an in­comparable beautie, he reserued on­ly the Luc. 24. f Ioh. 20. [...] fiue most sacred woundes of his handes, feete, and side, in memorie of our redemption, the which doo wonderfully shine forth, and beauti­fie the same; and the fight therof cau­seth a singuler contentation to the blessed Saintes, and moueth his eter­nal Father to mercy in our behalfes, when for this intent it pleaseth him to shewe them. O, happy are those euer, that shal enioye such a sight! O what a Mirrour is this so cleare and beautiful, wherein we maye eftsons take viewe of our selues, to know our defects, and to reioyce our hartes, like as his disciples did reioyce eche time, [Page 75] mat. 28. b Luc. 24. e. f Ioh. 20. e that the same Mirrour did shewe it selfe vnto them; and at this day are they neuer satiated with beholding it in heauen.

IN THE second point thou may­est enterteine thy selfe, meditating and beholding with the eyes of thy soule, howe our Lorde and Redemer did presently after he was risen vp, visite his most holy Niceph. ca. 32. lib. 1. Sedul. in carm. Pas. ca. 20. de Resur. ver. 4. a fine. mother, whom thou maiest wel beleue, to haue been the first, albeit in the Gospel there is no mention made thereof; for, that being a cōmaundement of his, which the wise man reporteth, Eccl. 7. c. Tob. 4. a Honor thy Fa­ther, and forget not thy mothers sorowe, howe were it possible for the most obedi­ent sonne to forget his mother, who loued him so dearly, and had so bit­terly wailed, wept, and sorowed his passion and paineful death? Whye should not she be visited and com­forted before al others, which was more afflicted then al others? If, as [Page] the Euangelist Lu [...]. 24. e Niceph. cap. 34. & 35. lib. 1. reporteth, our Lorde did, after he was risen vp, appere to S. Peter that had earst denied him, why shal not we beleeue, that he ap­pered first to his blessed mother, that neuer did denye him? yea, continual­lye confessed him, and loued him a­boue al; and in whom alone the faith remained firme and incorrupted. Ad­mitt therefore it was so, as reason re­quireth it should be, force thy selfe to meditate a litle, what ioy this blessed Lady felt, when, being solitary in her chamber, weeping, waiting, and lon­ging to see the sonne of Mal. 4. a righteous­nes rise vp, to lighten and clear her darke and doleful heart, she sawe her self in a moment enuironed with the glittering beames of the beautiful light thereof. Howe great her glad­nes was, when she sawe that bodye which she had lately left in the se­pulchre dead, al wounded and defor­med, nowe liuing, whole, glittering, and glorious. How great contentatiō [Page 76] she receaued, when she sawe the soue­raine beautie and brightnes restored to that face ful of al graces, and those diuine eyes, wher-with he loo­ked vpon her so cleare and so louely. What pleasure her sence receaued, when with her eares she heard the most sweete voice, where-with he sa­luted her. Howe soueraine her exul­tation was, when she saw those most sacred armes embrace her so louing­lye, and how with those most sacred handes which she had so lately seene fastned to the Roode, he with such pietie wiped Isai. 22. [...] Apoc. 7. d &. 21. b off the trickling tears of her reuerend face; then might she saye, and that with great cause, that sentence of the Prophet Ps. 93. d Dauid; According to the multitude of griefes that my heart hath suffered, thy cons [...]lations haue reioyced my soule. Consider then in the best wise thou canst the sweete com­munication that passed betwixt the blessed mother and the Sonne, the [Page] the which, wel maye we beleue, did occasionate no lesse comfort to the mother, then did his sight, albeit she could vtter but fewe wordes, by rea­son she was wholly rapt in beholding that glorious vision which she had before her eyes, and in viewing eue­ry particuler fealtie of that body, and that amiable countenance, whose brightnes and beautie did so greatlye delite her nowe, as did the seing of it blacke and wounded heretofore tor­ment her, in the time of his painful passiō. In like maner, beholding those wounds, which in his death had per­ced her virginal heart with sorowe, nowe became so faire and so glitte­ring, she was therby replenished with so great a ioye, as she remained like one astonished, not being able to pronounce scarse any one word. Reioyce therfore, O Queene of heauen, sith thou hast so great causes to reioyce thee; Let thy spirite now Luc. 2. [...] be glad in [Page 77] God thy Sauiour, who hath fully sa­tisfied the lōging desires of thy soule? Nowe thou seest him risen vp again, whose death thou earst lamentedst. Can. 2. [...] Now is winter, and the stormes of his persecutions, ignominies, and tor­mentes cleane passed ouer; now liueth he, and death shal haue no more Rom. 6. [...] any dominion ouer him. Thou seest him nowe farre more exalted then he was before depressed; now is he a conque­rour of Death, of Hel, and of the Di­uel; nowe is neither he to suffer anye more, nor thou to haue any further feare. Reioyce therfore, O Lady, and let thy soule receaue solace through his triumph and Resurrection, as it was before made sorowful, euē almost to death, through his painful death and passion.

IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thy selfe, being a matter of great conso­lation, considering howe our Lorde, [Page] looke what office he had performed to his most blessed mother, and the same vouchsafed he to doo to Mat. 28 b Luc. 24. b Ioh. 21. a. b Act. 1. a Nic▪ ea. 34 &. 35. li. 1▪ his Disciples, and other deuout seruants; wher-with we may wel beleeue, that the louing Ladye replenished with charitie, was very wel contented, yea, desired him so to doo; sithens, like as when he was borne, she laide him in a manger, signifying thereby, that al­beit she alone did beare and bring him forth, yet would she not haue him for her-selfe alone, but for al; euē so would she not haue al the ioye of his glorious resurrection to her-selfe alone, but would in any wise, that o­thers were made partakers thereof. Meditate therfore, how he first appe­red to good mar. 16 b Mary Magdalen, accor­ding to the testimonie of the holy E­uangelists, who went with the other deuout womē to Ibid. 16. a Luc. 24. a annoint him with pretious oyntments (which they cari­ed with thē) in the sepulchre; where not finding of him (albeit her com­panions [Page 78] went away) yet would Ioh. 20. [...] not she depart, sith loue held her fast lin­ked to the place where she had earst left him, whom she so dearly loued, and remaining there weeping, she with a desire she had to finde him dead, merited to see him aliue and ri­sen vp, albeit in Gardners weede, Ibid. d in such sort, as she sawe him and knewe him not, our Lord aunswering herein to the disposition of her soule; for she loued and doubted, as he for the same reason appered Luc. 24. b in pilgrims shew to those two disciples that went to Emaus; where thou maiest note, how this Lord knoweth at one time▪ how both to comfort, instruct, and manifest the defects of his elect, and how such are best fauoured of him as most feruently doo loue him, like as we here see by good Mary Mag­dalē, to whō for her feruent loue sake was this prerogatiue geuen, that she might first see her deerlye beloued [Page] master, Ioh. 20. d and that she might be the messenger to announce the ioye of his Resurrection to those that litle thought therof, by reason of the hea­uines they were in, through the re­membrance of his death and doleful passion.

Thinke nowe, (good Christian) think attentiuely, what ioy that most denout gentlewoman did feele, whē she both sawe and knew her so dear­lye beloued master. Ah Lorde, howe that heart leaped againe for ioy, whē our Sauior called her Ioh. 20. d Mary, and she answered him forth-with with this louing word of master. O what a so­daine chaunge is this, how present an alteration? What did thy hart feele (O good Mary Magdalen) being thus in a moment deliuered from thy surpassing sorows, and surseased with such a wonderful consolation? What a boiling heat of hart was Ioh. 20. d Mat. 28. b that, that made her so impotent ouer her selfe, [Page 79] be about to embrace him, like one dronke in loue, wherby she quite for­got her-selfe of his most sacred Ma­iestie. O most happy teares, where­with she bedewed the ground of that garden; which made her so soone to reape so sweete a fruit; happy the perseuerance, which made her tarye stil in that place, wherby she was so singulerly reioyced and comforted of our Sauiour. O happy loue, Can. 8. b more strong thē death, which made her to finde the authour of life reuiued and risen vp, in the very place of death. Contemplate afterwardes, howe she hied her to tel these ioyful tidinges to the Apostles, Mal. 4. a whom, euery one of them, this Sonne of righteousnes minded to white, confect, and illumi­nate; for like as he was borne for al, and died for al, so did he rise vp again for al, and vouchsafed to cōmuni­cate the ioyes of his Resurrection to al; forgetting neither Luc. 24. c Nic. ca. 34 & 35. li. 1 Peter, who de­nied [Page] him, nor the other mat 28. c Mar. 16. c Apostles, who were nowe for woe and distrust departed from Ierusalem; Ioh. 20. f Nic. ca. 35. li. 1. neither Thomas, who cōtinued so long time in his obstinate incredulitie; wherby is shewed vs, howe much more this Lord is inclined and prone to com­fort and to fauour, then to afflict and punish; seing how in counterchange of those fewe dayes, wherin he per­mitted them through his death to be scandalized, troubled, and afflicted, he did afterwardes comfort and reioyce them farre more with his desired pre­sence, appering many times to them, during the Act. 1. a Nic. ca. 34 lib. 1. hist. Eccl. fortie daies; mening ther by to ascertaine thē the better of the veritie of his Resurrectiō: where out thou maiest learne to put thy trust in this most faithful Lorde. And albeit thou feele thy selfe other-whiles af­flicted and greeuously tempted, dis­paire not yet, for he wil haue care to comfort and visite thee in due time, and wil deliuer thee out of al thy [Page 80] temptatiōs and afflictions, according as it is Tob. 3. d written: After a storme he sen­deth a calme, and after sobbes and teares, he ge­ueth consolations.

IN THE firste point thou maiest meditate the excee­ding clemencie and lowlines of this our Lord; who being that he was, did neither disdaine, ne was asha­med to visite his poore seruants, and to stay with them in any time, place, or disposition whatsoeuer. Sith as the Gospel mar. 16 b telleth, he appered to them when they were at table, and perad­uenture did Luc. 24. f eate with them, therby to doo thee to witt, that thou maiest at al times, and in al places securely cal vpon him, and howe thou ough­test to enforce thy selfe to order al thine actions in such sort, as if euery houre thou diddest expect his holye [Page 82] visitation. Note moreouer, howe his checkes and scoolinges be of a Fa­ther that loueth vs right tenderly, and is greatly desirous of our profite. Like as thou seest here, howe after he had found fault with his Disciples incredulitie, he forthwith taught and instructed them of that they ought to doo in going rounde about the world, besides other mat. 18 d mar. 16. c. d Luc. 24. g Ioh. 20. [...] graces and fa­uours which he did impart vnto thē. At what time therefore thou feelest either inwardly his rebukes, or out­wardly his roddes, be not troubled thereat, nor anye deale discoura­ged, but beleeue assuredlye, that in thus exercising his whipp, he doth like a louing Father, who, as holye writt doth Heb. 12. b Apoc. 3. d Pro. 3 b Iob. 5, c. witnes, Chastiseth him whom he loueth, and scourgeth him whom he taketh for his childe. Contemplate then the sin­guler ioye wher-with the holy Apo­stles were surseased, in beholding their most louing Master; and [Page] and with what attention they gaue eare to his diuine wordes; and if the most holy mother wer thē present a­mongst them (as with godly deuotiō we may beleeue she was) howe much more she desired to behold and heare her sonne, then to taste any corporal foode: and if at other times when she was at table with him, she forgot to eate her meat, as we may wel beleeue she did, through the contentatiō she receaued by looking of him, howe much more did she so this last time, woting, how presently after he was to depart this world. O sacred virgin, who can possibly conceue, with how sundry cogitations thy heart was at that instant occupied! for on th'one side thou wast delighted with behol­ding his so amiable presence, on th'o­ther side thou languishedst, vnbe­thinking thee, how, not many houres after he should be taken from thee, and that thou shouldest remaine here [Page 83] in earth, he ascending vp to heauen, whose absence could not choose, but be greatly grieuous to thee; in such sort, as the self-same cause and obiect did make thee both glad and sorow­ful; howbeit, this did in th'end chief­lye comfort thee, that thou knewest such to be his wil and pleasure, wher­to continually thou diddest conform thy selfe.

IN THE meditation of the second point thou maiest intertaine thy self, being a matter of great deuotiō, con­sidering the wonderful Ascension of our Lorde, and beholding with the eyes of thy minde euery particulari­tie of the maner of his ascending; the which wil, no doubt, afford thee gret comfort and spiritual fruit. For if the 4. Re. 2. b Eccl. 48. b. Prophet Elias promised to geue his Disciple Heliseus the gift of his spi­rite which he required, if so be he saw him ascend in that fierie chariot, where-in he was transported into [Page] earthly Paradise; howe much more iustly mayest thou hope to obteyne a greater gifte, if thou contemplate and viewe with the eyes of thy minde deuoutly and with attention, howe, not the Prophete Elias, but the Lorde of al the prophetes ascen­deth; not in a chariot of fire, but by his owne vertue and power; not in­to terrestral Paradise, but into the Emperial heauen, where he Ps. 109 a Mat. 22. d. Mar. 16. b. Luc. 22. d Act▪ 7. g Aug. lib. de fide & Symb. ca. 7. sitteth on the right hande of his eternal Fa­ther; and if, as S. Paule Eph. 4. b Psal. 67. b. saith, Christe when he ascended into heauen, gaue many giftes to men, wel maiest thou beleeue he wil doo the same euen nowe towardes them that doo spiri­tuallye contemplate the same As­cension. Open therefore thine inter­nal eyes, and with great faith and at­tention beholde howe the most ho­lye Virgin with al that blessed com­panye that associated her, being arri­riued [Page 84] to the mount Oliuet, her most sweete sonne came also to the same place with the sacred spoiles of so many soules as he had earst deliue­red out of Limbo. Doo nowe con­template, with howe great sweetnes and affabilitie he talked to euerye one; with howe great benignitie he embraced euerye one; with howe great charitie he Luc. 24 [...] blessed and com­forted euerye one; and if he did thus to al, consider in what maner he be­haued him-selfe towardes that his most sacred Mother, who loued him more then al, merited more then al, and was more tenderlye moued then al with his departure. O howe much more sugred wordes maye we thinke he spake to her, howe much more singuler fauours he did her, and howe much more amia­bly he embraced her. The blessed [Page] mother desired to accompanie her most dear sonne, without whose pre­sence and company her life was loth­some and painful to her; how-beit, it was not graūted her, our Lord vouchsafing, that she for Vndecim annos a morte Christi Maria vixisse di­citur apud Niceph. ca. 3. li. 2. hist. Eccl. ex Euodio. some time should remaine here in the world, as a Kee­per and comforter of that litle flock, which the good Sheppard left com­fortlesse with his departure; neither thought he it meete, that in one day they should be made Orphans, be­ing depriued of such a Father and a mother; the which this Lady vnder­standing, quieted her-selfe, and like an humble and obedient hand-maid resigned her wil to his diuine wil, saying haply the same wordes in the Ascension, which she vttered in the incarnation; to Luc. 1. d wit, Beholde the hand maid of our Lord.

Hauing then in this wise talked with euery one, and taken his leaue of them al, behold, how by litle and [Page 85] litle he beginneth to eleuate him-self from earth, and to mount vpwardes into the aire with his hands lifted vp on high, wher-with he Luc. 24. g blessed thē, and with his eyes fixed on them, did amiably behold them. Here maiest thou meditate, what the most sacred virgin, with al that holye assembly felt, seing him mount vp thus trium­phantly; how their heartes did rent in twaine through loue, and howe they melted againe with teares, seing him goe further and further from them; and how they withal were incompa­rably reioyced, by beholding the tri­umphe and Maiestie, where-with he ascended, and hearing that heauenlye melodie, which the Angels and bles­sed Saintes did make, who al of them sounded forth most melodiously the praises of this triumphant Conque­rour; so that the hearing and seing of these thinges could not choose, but make them for ioye and tendernes of [Page] heart poure forth plentiful streames of teares. O glorious day, O Soue­raine-sweet solemnitie, O most re­nowned triumphe! thus is he hono­red Esther 6. c. whom the King of heauen wil honour; thus is he exalted, mat. 23. b Luc. 14. c &. 18. c who humbled him-selfe so profoundly; thus meriteth he to triumph, who hath obteined so glorious a victorie. Behold, O King of heauen, thy exal­tation, and the name aboue al names that was geuen thee for being thus humbled and made obedient to the death of the Crosse. Beholde, howe thou beginnest nowe to reape the a­boundant fruit that was promised thee, for hauing Isai. 53. d lost thy life for our sinnes. Beholde the noble triumphe thou hast attained, for hauing with such prowes ouercome so daunge­rous and difficult a daye. Gett thee therfore, O Lord, get thee now to thy Ps. 131. b 2. Par. 6. g. rest, seing thou hast taken so great [Page 86] paines, and carye with thee the arke of thy sanctification, that is to saye, thy most sacred humanitie, which is the most rich arke, whereout was ta­ken that pretious treasure of our redemption. Be Psa. 107. thou exalted aboue al the heauens, O my God, and thy glorie be ouer al the world; Al An­gels, and al men yeeld thee due adora­tion and reuerence, seing thou hast enriched and reioyced them al with this thy glorious and most miracu­lous Ascension.

IN THE THIRDE point thou maiest in like maner enterteyne thee, meditating, howe the most blessed Mother remained with that holye flocke in the mountaine, where she sawe her most glorious Sonne as­cende vp to heauen; who al of them accompanied him with their corpo­ral eyes whiles they might possi­blye discerne him, and did after he [Page] was once out of sight (being receued into a white Act. 1. b. cloude) associate him with their soules.

Contemplate a while here, how she with the other lookers on, being al of them deuoutly on their knees, fixed their eyes on heauen without anye looking a-side or shifting of places, being bereft, as it were of al their senses, and wholly rauished with this most glorious vision.

Meditate besides, the solemn pompe and reioysing, where-with this glori­ous triumpher king of heauen and of earth was receaued into heuen; think as-wel as thou canst, with what mu­sike, with what songes, with what praises, and with what reuerence eue­rie celestial order did receaue and ad­ore him; howe the Angels reioyced; how the Archangels wondred; how the Scraphins burned in loue; howe the inferior orders enquired of the superiour that which the Prophet [Page 87] Isa. 63. a. Esaias had so long time before fore­tolde: Who is this that commeth from Edom? to witt, the world; Who is this so beautiful and so attired in new garmentes, that ascendeth with so great puissance and triumph? with o­ther like words and questions, wher­of thou maiest meditate according to thy deuotion. Contemplate lastly, how this most humble Lorde being arriued to the Emperial heauen (who, as touching Ioh. 14. d his humanitie was lesse then this Father) bowed him-selfe downe, repeting, it may be, the same wordes which in his prayer of the last supper he had vsed in the world; that is to Ioh. 17. a say, My Father, I haue preached and announced thy name vpon earth, and haue perfected the worke which thou commaundedst me that I should doo; now therfore, doo thou cla­rifie me, O Father, with the clearnes of the glorie which I had with thee before the world was made And then maiest thou meditate, how his heauenly Father made him sitt in that high throne, on his right hand, where he nowe Rom. 8. f. Ephes. [...]. d Collos. 3. a 1. Pet. 3. d sitteth; that is to [Page] say, that he exalted him, & made him partaker of the greatest goodes and excellencies that either haue been, or euer shal-be graunted to any other; yea, that no creature can possiblye comprehend; which is to be vnder­stood, in as much as he was man; for as he is God; Ioh. 10. f he is equal with his Father, and hath the same glorye and Maiestie that his Father hath. The Prince of glorie being then re­ceaued in this maner, (who neuer for­getteth them that loue and put their trust in him) sent Act. 1. b two Angels down to earth to visite his most dear mother, with al the other companie, as also to informe them of his arri­ual into heauen, and to deliuer such other speeches as he spoke to them; by whose comming thou maiest wel weene, how great consolation they al receaued, what praises and what bles­singes [Page 88] they yeelded vnto their Lord, whom after they had with most pro­found humilitie adored, they retur­ned with great ioye to Luc. 24 g Ierusalem: Sithens albeit they were sorowful and heauie, as being left Orphanes in great solitarines through the absence of such a master and a Shepparde, yet for because they loued him better thē them-selues, Charitie (which see­keth 1. Cor▪ 13. b. not her owne thinges) made them to reioyce more at the prospe­ritie and glorye of their most lo­uing Lorde, then to sorowe the want of their owne consolations. This is that which thou mayest meditate touching the historie of this most glorious Ascension; and learne with­al to desire, seeke and sigh for cele­stial thinges, and to lothe al transito­rye trashe, endeuouring, that thy conuersation be in heauen, where [Page] Christe remaineth Collos. 3. [...] sitting on the right hand of his eternal Father.

[Page] IN the first point thou may­est entertain thy self, meditating, howe the most sacred Virgin, with al the Apostolical Soci­etie remained secret in the great hal of Sion, expecting, in great peace, charitie, and vnion that celestial Cō ­forter, which our Lord had Ioh. 14. b 25. d. 19. a promi­sed them. Thinke what sighes, what sobbes, and what store of teares they shedd, and how feruent and continu­al praiers they made in this behalfe; and learne thou, that if so be thou co­uet to haue the same comforter come to thee, it behoueth thee necessarilye to haue the same disposition; that is to say, to be vnited with al in perfect peace and charitie, estranged from al strife and contention; sith this diuine spirite wil, that such as dwel in the house where Ps 67. a he is to come, be of this dispositiō; like as contrarywise, the wicked spirite, where-soeuer he soiourneth, doth what he can to mat. 13. d sow [Page 91] furious debates and enmities.

This L. wil also be greatly longed for, and inuited with often praier, ac­cording to that our Sauiour said once with a loude Ioh. 7. f voice: If any be athirst, let him come to me and drink Which he ment by the holy Ghost; which al they were to receaue that would beleeue in him. Note moreouer in this point, how the Apostles went not forth to preache before they had receaued the holy Ghost, like as their Luc. 24 g Act. 1. a Master had warned thē tofore; whence such as are to exercise the same office, may learn, how before they beginne, it behoueth them to with-draw them-selues, and to pray for the receauing of the same spirite, without the which, the worde they preache shal-be of smal efficacie and auaile.

Here maiest thou meditate in like maner, how feruent and deuout were those prayers which our Lady made in this place, who vnderstoode much [Page] better then the rest, the cause of this their retyring, and of how great im­portance and woorthines was the spi­rite which they required, by whose meanes the Gospel was to be prea­ched through the vniuersal world. O happie was that habitation where such worthie persons remained; more happy the exercises wherto they ad­dicted them-selues; but most happie the tresure and the consolation which they looked for. O Harbour far more excellent and delicate then is the ter­restral Paradise! howe iustly might that be applied to it which Iacob had earst Ge. 28. c said: Verily our Lorde is in this place, this is the house of God, this is the batche of heauen. Sith here there was nothing thought of but God, nothing spoken of but God, nothing desired and wis­shed for but onely God him-selfe.

AS TOVCHING the second point thou hast a plentiful subiect to warm [Page 92] thy soule with, entertaining thy selfe in meditating the comming of the holy Ghost. Thou maiest therefore thinke with godly zeale, according to thy deuotion, howe after that sacred Colledge had beene thus assembled together certaine dayes, geuing them selues diligentlye to the exercise a­foresaide, and seing howe the holye Ghost staied longer in his comming then they desired, they beganne to be heauie; for as it is Pro. 13. [...] written, The delaied hope afflicteth the soule; yea, and some did haply beginne to doubt. Our Ladye vnderstanding their affliction, like a true mother and comforter of the af­flicted, endeuoured al she might to comfort and harten them, persuading them to perseuer in their prayers with greater feruour and Iac. 1. [...] faith, as­suring them, how they should be soo­ner visited and comforted of the holy Ghost then they looked for, and to a­nimate [Page] them the better, fel her-selfe to her prayers with them.

Contemplate nowe, howe the piti­ful mother kneeling on the grounde, with her handes and eyes eleuate vp to heauen, wholly inflamed in diuine loue, pouring forth aboundant strea­mes of bitter teares, did with great instance and feruour craue, that the celestial Comforter whom they ex­pected would vouchsafe to come; and amongst other deuout speeches, wherof thou maiest meditate, she vt­tered, likely ynough, that sentence of the royal Prophet Ps. 103. d Dauid: Sende Lord thy holy spirite, and they shalbe created: to witt, new affectes, newe thoughtes, new wordes, newe force, in these thy seruants which desire and craue thee; Ibidem. And so shalt thou renew the face of the earth. O how great consolatiō did the prai­ers and speeches of this most blessed Lady geue to this holy Congregatiō; howe exceedingly did she comfort [Page 93] them, how did she inflame thē, howe did she animate and stirre them vp to doo the same. A most pleasant and deuout thing is it to meditate and viewe with our spiritual eyes this prayer which the most holy mother made in earth, but much more to cō ­template that which the most sacred Sonne, as man, made in heauen, like as he had promised to his Disciples, say­ing: Ioh. 14. [...] I wil pray my Father, that he wil geue you an-other Comforter. Whose prayer thou maiest wel thinke, how feruent, how gratious, how effectual and ac­ceptable it was to his eternal Father, especially, when he presented to him those most sacred woundes, which so lately he had receaued, and reserued to this ende. Thus so many deuout prayers, so many sighes, wishes, sobbs, and teares hauing been made before, on whitsonday, at the Act. 2. [...] Nic. li. 2. cap. 2. hist. Eccl. third The third houre is a­bout nine of the cloke in the mor­ning, ac­cording to our ac­compt. hour, which was the selfe-same daye and houre, wherin the old lawe had earst [Page] bene geuen in the mount Sinai, Exo. 20 a & 34. d Leuit. 19. a Deut. 4. a. 5. a. 10. a they receaued the holy Ghost in the mount Sion, who engraued the newe and Euangelical lawe, not in tables of stone as Exo. 31. d Deut. 9. b before, but in their 2. Cor. 3. a heartes of flesh; & those tonges of fire which wer seene ouer the Apostles, signify­ing the fire of diuine loue which he kindled in their heartes, and the elo­quence which he gaue to their ton­gues to preach with efficacie this E­uangelical lawe, like as they did ouer al the whole world. O happye were they which merited through the grace of God to be instructed of such a Master, and comforted of such a Comforter; sith that good part befel to them, which the prophet Dauid wished for, when he Psa. 93 b Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lorde, and to whom thou shalt teach thy lawe.

IN THE thirde point thou mayest like-wise enterteine thy selfe, if thou list, considering the great matters [Page 94] which the holye Ghost wrought in the Apostles, in such sort, as one might wel Psa. 76 b This is a change wrought by the right hand of God; seing in one in­stant, he made them, of feeble, strong; of ignorant, learned; of indeuout, fer­uent; ioyful of sadd; and of terrestral, celestial. Wel saith the Euangelist S. Luke, that at the comming of the ho­lye Act. 2. [...] Ghost, Ther was sodainly a sound made from heauen, as of a great winde, which filled al the whole house where they satt. It was no noyse or sounde of trompett which might moue any feare or horror, but a sound as of a sweet musike, and har­monious melodie, which comforted, encouraged, moued, ascertained, and gaue signe of the aboundant graces that were infused. And therfore is it saide, that it filled al the whole house, it filled their heartes which was the chiefe house wherein this heauenlye gest came to lodge; it filled al their senses & powers, their vnderstāding [Page] with wisdome, their wil with loue, their memorie with assurance, their eyes with modestie, their tonges with eloquence, their handes with libera­litie, their feete with diligence, and al their soules with al kinde of vertues. Thus behooued it that they should be filled, who were to fil others, and that they shoulde receaue al maner of giftes, who receaued them for the whole Churche. And therefore presentlye after they were filled, they beganne to spreade and sowe what they had receued, and to shew the strength which was ge­uen vnto them; sith they which were before shutt vp for feare, and durst scarse mutter the name of Iesus Christe, or make any mention at al of his most holy misteries, doo now co­ragiouslye come abroade in publike shew to preach, to reprehend, to Act. 4. b dis­pute, and to shew, that there is no o­ther name, wherin they might be sa­ued, [Page 95] but only that of Iesus, whō they them-selues had crucified, to whom they thus preched. And this did they with such feruour and efficacie, as S. Peter in the verye first Sermon Act. 2. f Nic. ca. 2▪ li. 2. hist. Eccl. he made conuerted almost three thou­sand of his audience. O diuine pow­er, O meruailous vertue, O celestial force! This is the newe wine, which, as our Sauiour Mat. 9. b Mar. 2. c said, should be put into these newe vessels which were prepared for this purpose.

O my soule, if thou wouldest dis­pose thy selfe to taste of this sweete wine, howe soure would al worldly thinges be to thee, which at this in­stant seeme so sauourie? If thou wert so happie, as that this holye winde might breath vpon thee, refresh thee, and guide thee, O, howe much more securely mightest thou saile and ar­riue to the desired port? This is that wind which the Spouse desired and craued in the Can. 4. d. Canticles, when she [Page] saide: Gett thee gone thou wind of North; and come thou wind of South; breath vpon my gar­den, and it shal become odoriferous and fruitful Thou maiest contemplate lastlye in this point the ineffable ioye which the blessed Lady receaued, who was more then al other replenished with the graces and giftes of the holye Ghost, seing and hearing the prospe­rous beginning and successe of the holye Church, and the aboundant fruit that begann to rise of the sacred bloud which her blessed Sonne had shedd; which did so much the more reioyce her, as her desires were more feruent, her charitie more inflamed, her grace more plentiful, with al the other giftes she had receaued.

[Page] IN THE firste point thou maiest entertaine thy selfe, meditating, Nic li. 2 ca. 21. et. 22 as some doo, howe after the Apostles were gone abrode into diuers places of the world to preach the holy Gospel, according as was mat. 28 c Mar. 16. c. Luc. 24. g commaunded them, our La­dye remained in Ierusalem, and went afterwardes to Nazareth, where her principal exercise was, to attend dili­gently to contemplation, and to pray for the holy Church; and other-whi­les through the great deuotion, and continual remembrance which she had of the things that her most sweet sonne had done and suffred, she went most deuoutly to visit those holy places, wherin he had wrought any par­ticuler Misterie, and shed there great aboundance of deuout teares. Thus passed she on her most holy life with a most zealous desire which she had to see him whom her soule loued. For if S. Paul Phil. 1. c desired to dye, to liue with Iesus Christe, how much more is it to [Page 98] be thoght, that she should desire this, who loued him much more feruent­lye. If the Royal Prophet Ps 119. a lamented greatly his so long abode in this ob­scure world, and Ps. 41. a saide: As the panting deare desireth the fountaines of water, euen so desireth my soule to come to thee, O Lord▪ how much more shoulde the Queene of heauen lament her abode in earth; where she thought her-self detained as in a long exile? & how much more should she desire her God, then anye deare the fountaine of water? O most sacred Virgin, who can possibly tel, with what inflamed desires, with what pitiful teares, with what conti­nual sighes thou crauedst & desiredst to see an end of thy pilgrimage, and to be deliuered from thy bodily pri­son? How oft didst thou haply with weeping eyes say to the Angels that came to comfort and visite thee, that, which the Spouse saide in the Canti­cles: Can. 5. b. [...] I adiure you, that if you meet my louer, you tel him frō me, that I languish in his loue. [Page] Howe oft did this loue and langui­shing desire wholly rauish thee, and transport thee out of thy selfe, not being able to eate, speake, sleepe, or attend to any other thing; sith thy soule was rather there where it loued, then where it liued. This being so, contemplate then the ineffable glad­nes which our blessed Lady felt, whē by reuelation she knewe the daye to approche, wherein she should haue that graunted her which she so gret­lye desired. If the holy Prophet Da­uid Ps. 121. a. reioyced so greatly, when it was tolde him, that he should go to our Lords house; what was the ioy, thin­kest thou, of this great Lady, whē she vnderstood, how she was presently to goe to our Lordes house; and that she should see our Lord, and dwel perpe­tually with our Lorde, and be more made of and fauoured of our Lorde, then al other creatures what-soeuer. O blessed day, O happie tidinges; so [Page 99] much more ioyful, as more desired. Wel might the most blessed mother Lu. 2. d say then with Simeon: Nowe thou lea­uest thy seruant, O Lorde, contented and com­forted, with the assurance, that mine eyes shal see thee who art my Sauiour.

IN THE second point thou may­est meditate, how our Lady, so much the neerer as she drewe to her happie departure, so much more fer­uent were her desires, so much more zealous her prayers, and al her powers so much more quickned. For like as her death proceeded not of a­nye natural infirmitie (according as we beleeue) by reason of the excel­lencie of her complexion, like to that of her most sacred sonnes, so could not the functions of her sen­ses and powers be in any wise impe­ched. Woting therfore, that her deth drew nigh, some doo contemplate, how before her departure, she Nic. li. 2. ca. 21. &, 22. hist. Eccl. desi­red to see the Apostles (whom she so [Page] greatly loued and were dispersed a­brode in diuers regions of the world) that they might accompanye her in this her last houre, geuing vs an exā ­ple hereby, howe we ought to desire and procure to haue some Iac. 5. c deuout and spiritual persons to accompanye and comfort vs in this houre of so great peril. Our Lord therfore moste bountiful, condescending to her de­sire, caused the Apostles Nic. vbi supra. & Mich. Sing post med. encomij in Dion. Are opagit. miracu­lously to meete together (such as yet were liuing In domo Iohannis Euangelis­ta, vt ait Nic. cap. 3. &. 21. li. 2. in the world) in the house where his most holye mother dwelt, who were present at her de­parture, as the great Dion. A­reop. 3. ca. ad Timot. vt re [...]ert Nic, initio ca. 22. li. 2. hist. Denis Areopa­gita affirmeth. Consider then, howe great was the Apostles consolation, finding thē-selues thus assēbled toge­ther, and seing their most holy mo­ther and Lady, whom they loued so dearly, and desired once to see; with what reuerence may we deeme did they salute her? with what reuerence [Page 100] did they kisse her garments as most pretious reliques? with what admira­tion did they consider her dignitie, which they knewe farre better then any other? with what co [...]tentation did they behold that reuerend visage, supposing that in seing her, Nt. c. 40 lib. 2. hist. they saw their most derely beloued Lorde and Master? How sweet was the com­munication that was vsed there, how feruent the diuine praises that were there celebrated; how sweet the tears of tendernes and ioy that were shed there. Thinke then with what confi­dence and contentment this blessed Lady assisted with so notable a com­pany, and assured of her conscience, expected death, which is to others so Arist. ca. 6. li. 3. E­thic. dreadful. Thou must not thinke therefore, that she was before her death in any agonie and paine, as o­thers are wont to be, but howe in mild maner and with a cheerful coū ­tenance that most holy soul departed [Page] out of her body more glittering and more faire then the clere moone. O most pure Virgin, how truely maye we say, that in euery thing the Luc. 10. g Ber. Ser. 3 de Assūpt. best part hath bene geuen thee. The best, in thine immaculate conception and Natiuitie, which was most pure and free from al sinne; the best in thy life, which was al holy, and a Mirrour of al perfection; the best in thy death, which made thee no whitt afraide, as it doth sinners, yea, was to thee a pas­sage to true life. The best part ther­fore hath bene geuen thee both in earth, and in heauen, whether thou wentest to reigne eternally.

IN THE third point thou mayest pause, delighting thy selfe with the consideration, howe that most sacred soule departed out Maria obijt anno aetatis suae 59. a Chri­sto passo. 11 Nic. ca. 3 li. 2. of this life the most beautiful, the most gratious, the most holy of al pure and simple cre­atures, how replenished with merits, with giftes, with vertues, with excel­lencies, [Page 101] and spiritual riches, the grea­test that may be possibly imagined, proportionable to the incomparable dignitie which was bestowed vpon her. Amb. li. 2. de virgi­nib. Aug. 2. Serm. de Assumpt. Consider a while the maner how this most blessed soule accom­panied with quires of Angels was conducted vp to the Celestial Court; neither are we to doubt at al hereof; for if we read of S. Apud Sulpitiū Seuerum sub finē li. 1. de trans. B. Mart. Martin and ma­nye mo Hier. de Paulo. 1. Eremit. in ipsius vita. Saintes of both de Catharina con­stat ex Mataphrast. sex, who leauing this life, were accompanied with Angels, and honored with their heauenly songes, I see no reason why this fauor and honour should be de­nied the holy of holies, and more ho­ly and woorthy then al? Yea, we may not only affirme this to be most true, but beleeue with godly deuotiō, that not onely the Angels, but that which is more, the king of Angels in proper person vouchsafed to come and doo her this honour. Herevpon is it, that some doo contemplate, how the most [Page] holy mother being vpō the last hour of her blessed departure, her most sweet sonne descended from heauen, associated with the celestial powers, and entred Apud Io. Euang. cui commen­data fue­rat. Io. 19. c Vide Nic. ca. 21. lib. 2 & Hier. ser. 1. de Assumpt. [...]om. 4. into that blessed house where she laye; and beholding her with those his amiable eyes, spoke that with a most sweet voice to her, which the husband said to the spouse in the Can. 4. b. Canticles; Thou art al faire, my frende, and there is no blemish at al in thee; come from Liban, my Spouse, come from Liban, and crowned shalt thou be. That is to saye, Come receue the recompence of thy desertes, the treasure which thy most holy workes haue merited, the crown that is due to thy so excellent ver­tues; Cant. 2. c. Get vp, my Doue, it is nowe high time to issue out of this exile; no toiles, no teares, no sobbes or so­rowes any more. Come to enioye the pleasure of those woundes, which when they were geuen, did occasio­nate [Page 102] thy so great woes; come nowe and rest thee for the paine which thou hast taken. Come, nowe be me­rye, for that thou hast wailed and wept, and for that thou humbledst thy selfe so lowlye, come nowe to reigne perpetually. Aug. ser. 2. de Assūpt. to. 10. & Hier. epist. 1. de As­sumpt. ad Paulā & Eusto. to. 4. These and suche like wordes maiest thou according to thy deuotion meditate to haue bene spoken vnto her; sithens there is no Gospel nor other sacred writt, wher­out we maye gather the certaine Storye of her departure; and there­fore eche one maye lawfullye medi­tate that which shal cause him to haue best deuotion. Doo thou there­fore contemplate, what consolation, what ioye, what iubilation this most holy soule receaued with such woor­des, with such a sight, and with such a companye; with what consi­dence and securitie did she depart this life, the most Soueraine King of [Page] heauen, taking her in his most sacred armes, Ber. pau­lo post me­dium Ser. 1 de Assūpt. virg. kissing & cherishing her most louingly according as S. Bernard me­ditateth. O glorious Ladye, what tongue can possiblye declare the ioye thou feltest, seing thy selfe thus highly honoured, and thus em­braced betwixt those sacred armes of thy dere sonne. If the Spouse Can. 5. b saith, that her soule was melted when her louer spake vnto her, howe fared thy soul, I beseech thee, hauing heard thy best beloued his wordes, seene his a­miable countenance, and tasted of his courtesies. Howe much more was it melted with loue, Aug. initio ser. 2. de Assumpt. qui est. 35. de Sanctis. to. 10. and transformed into her louer, and replenished with such delightes. Behold now, O moste blessed mother, al thy desires fulfil­led, nowe hast thou obteined that which thou requiredst; now hast thou found that which thou soughtest for; now doest thou possesse that which thou desiredst. Sweet were the kisses [Page 103] thou gauest him, and the louing in­tertainment thou vsedst towardes him, when thou Mat. 1. c. borest him being a litle one in thine armes into Egipt; Ber. ser. c de Assump. Aug. Ser. 2. de Assūp. but farre sweeter were those which thou receauedst of him, when nowe being a great one he caried thee to heauen, to enioy the greatest goodes, the greatest riches, the greatest felici­tie that was euer graunted to any cre­ature. For if so be no 1. Cor. 2. c. Isai. 64. a eye hath seene, nor care heard, nor humane vnderstā ­ding can possibly conceaue the goods that God hath prepared for those that loue him. Who can possibly cō ­ceue or imagine those which he hath prepared for thee, which diddest not onely loue him more then al, but did­dest engender him of the most pure bloud in thy body? a priuiledge graūted to thee alone, and worthye thee alone.

[Page 105] VPON the firste point thou maiest pause, meditating in what maner that glorious Virgin-mother was raised vp, being a thing very iust and conuenient, that we affirm this of her; sithēs it is more then likely, that like as our blessed God would, that the soule of this La­dy should be free from sinn, so would he in like maner, that her most holye body should be free from al corrup­tion, and not permitt that fleshe to turne to asshes, whereof the word e­ternal had taken his flesh. For if our Lord would not that Iosue. 6 d Heb. 11. f Raab the har­lots house should be rased with the other houses of Ierico, because she had receaued and lodged for one on­lye day the spies of Iosue: how much more reason is it, that the house of the blessed Virgin Mary which had receaued our Lord him-selfe, yea, and lodged him therein nine monthes, should not be destroyed and turned [Page] into asshes. Let vs beleeue therefore, that as God gaue to the first Gen. 2. d. 1. Cor 11. c. Mat. 19. a. Adam a companion like vnto him, to th' end he might not be alone in terrestral Paradise: so was it conuenient, that such a like companion should be ge­uen to the second Adam, who being risen vp and glorious, might reigne with him risen vp and glorious in the celestial Paradise. And seing it is saide of other Saints, that being now risen vp they doo reigne in mat 27. f Hier. epist. 1. de Assūp to. 4. heauen; much more meet is it, that we both say and beleeue this of her, who in sanctitie surpasseth al Saintes, and in dignitie al pure creatures. The which being presupposed, cōsider, how with the very same solemnitie, with the same ioye, with the same honour and triumph, where-with that most hap­pie soule was assumpted into heauen, it descended downe to earth, & came to the sepulchre, where her virginal body lay, which, as it is said, was in the vale of Iosaphat, and by operatiō [Page 106] and diuine vertue, Hier. ib [...] vbi vallem Iosaphat inter montē Sion & montē Oli­uetū esse scribit. did not raise her selfe vp, as the sonne of God and hers did him-selfe; but was of her sonne raised vp. Ponder nowe the state of this virginal body being re-vnited to the glorious soul, how beautiful, how glittering, immortal, impassible, D. Th [...]. q. 82. 3. p. & q. 95 and adorned with the other glorious par­tes, which the elect being risē vp, shal be indued with. And if the mat. 13. f. Sap. 3. b Dan. 12. a Gospel telleth vs of the other iust persons, howe they shal shine like the Sonne in the kingdome of their Father, how ought this Lady, being risen vp, to shine, which is the most righteous of al righteous, the most holy of al ho­lies, the most gratious of al gratious? how shal that bodi glitter, which was the Ps. 14. a. Apoc. 21. a. Iacob in Liturg. tabernacle and habitation of the son of God? what shal the beautie of that body be, which was neuer defi­led nor subiect vnto sinne? If liuing in mortal flesh, it was so faire, Amb. li. 2 de virgin. Ber. Hom. 3 sup. Miss. that it sufficed to make God him-selfe take plesure therin, what shal th' excellēcie [Page] thereof be, being risen vp with al the most absolute gifts, graces, and excel­lencies that are added thervnto.

O with how great reason are al de­uout soules allured to beholde this glorious spectacle by those wordes that say thus: Cant 3. c Ber. Ser. in verba. 12. Apoc. Apparuit. Come out ye daughters of Sion, and see your Queene, whom the morning starres geue laude vnto: At whose beautie the Sonne and Moone doo meruaile againe. But what meruaile is it, if the Sonne and Moone doo meruaile at her beautie, if the Angels thē-selues doo meruaile thereat, as also at her o­ther riches and fauours, and as ama­sed at such matters, doo saye: Cant. 8. a Ber. initio ser. 4. de Ass. Who is this that ascendeth from the desert, replenished with such delicacies, and leaning vpon her louers shoulder? What is she this so glittering, so faire, so gratious, that mounteth vp thus Cant. 3. b. odoriferous, as the fragrant smel of her vertues doth delight and fil al the whole Court of heauen? How­beit, meruaile not, O ye Angels of [Page 107] to see in earth a creature so faire and glittering, being vestured with the Apo. 12. [...] Sonne, and hauing the Moone vn­der her feete. Meruail not to see such riches and excellencies in a house which the eternal wisdome hath thought good to Pro. 9. a. Amb. li 2. de virgin. frame for him-self; And this day hath he made an ende to geue it the last and entier perfec­tion, fulfilling that which the Isai. 16. b Exod. 15. c. Pro­phete Esaie he had Isai. 16. b Exod. 15. c. foretolde: I wil glorifie the mansion of my Maiestie.

IN THE second point thou maiest pause, assisting with thy spirite the most solemne triumph that was ce­lebrated in the celestial court, on that daye that the most sacred virgin be­ing risen vp, was both in body and soule assumpted into heauen.

We reade in holy writt of two so­lemne festiual dayes that wer kept at the Arke of the old Testament. 2. Re. 6. c. Exod. 15. [...] The first, when king Dauid caried it from Obeded on his house to the Citie, and [Page] to his palace; & this did he with such reioycing, both of his owne part, and of al the people, that it is a wonder­ful matter to consider the great solē ­nitie which the Scripture telleth to haue bene celebrate that daye, in so great a multitude of sacrifices as wer offred, such varietie of musical instruments as were plaied vpon, such store of Canticles, himnes, and diuine prai­ses, as were there sounded forth, yea, and king Dauid him-selfe did sing, play, and daunce (being araied with newe robes made for the same pur­pose) through the great feruour and deuotion which he felt inwardlye in him-selfe. Yet for al this was the festi­ual and solemne daye that his sonne 3. Re 8 a Salomon made farr greter, when he caried the same Arke into the famous Temple which he had erected for it. These two solemn festiual daies that were thus celebrate in the honour of that holy material Ark, doo foreshew in figure the farre more solemn festi­ual [Page 108] daies that were celebrate in the honor of the mistical Arke, that is to saye, of the most sacred virgin-mo­ther, which was a farre more woorthy and more pretious Arke then th'o­ther (albeit it were of souerain sanc­titie and woorthy great woorshipp) for that a farr more rich and pretious Christus omnes the­sauri sapi­entiae Dei. Colos 2. a treasure was kept in this Arke mi­stical, thē in that Duae ta­bulae lapi­deae. 3. Re. 8 a material. The first solēnitie was celebrate in her honor, whē in soul she was assumpted vp to heuen, wherof I haue alredy spokē in the former misterie: And the second it was solemnized, when being risen vp in body and soule, she was placed in that celestial throne that was pre­pared for her. And albeit the first so­lemnitie were of so surpassing ioye, as no humane eloquence can possibly expresse it, yet was the second, with­out al comparison farr greater. Howe may therefore any humane capacitie suffice to comprehende the solemne [Page] reception and intertainment, that was made vnto this glorious Queene of al the celestial Court, when with her most beautiful and glittering bodye she ascended into heauen in so great a Maiestie? What store of musical in­strumentes yeelded forth a most me­lodious harmonie? Amb. lib 2. de virg. what Canticles, Himnes, Psalmes, and praises were there sounded forth vnto her? howe gret the ioy and iubilatiō was, which al the blessed spirites shewed? howe soueraine the contentment and con­solation which al those auncient Fa­thers and other Saintes of both sexe felt? O how much more iustly might they say to this most blessed Ladye what they had saide tofore to the chast and valiant Iudith: Iud. 15. c. Thou art the glory of Ierusalem, thou art the ioy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people. Ibid. 13. c O daugh­ter, thou art blessed of our Soueraine Lord God, for by means of thee we haue obteined the fruit of life, blessed art thou therfore amongst al women. Now, if al the Saintes and An­gelical [Page 109] spirites did reioyce so greatly, and make so exceeding triumphe for the Assumption of their Queene; what maiest thou thinke was the ex­ultation of her most puissant Sonne, and th'onour and interteinment he vsed towardes her, vouchsafing to ac­company her, Ber. Ser. 1. de As­sumpt. and to lodge her him selfe, in counterchange of the lod­ging which he had receaued of her in her entrals and virginal wombe. O most woorthye mother, thou alone hast merited to receaue such fauours! Thou alone wast woorthy of suche interteinmentes! Thou alone couldest tel thy plesures and sugred tastes, thy delightes, and soueraine iubilation, and vpon new causes mightest thou recite and sing a-newe that diuine Canticle which thou pronouncedst earst before thy holy Cousin S. Eliza­beth, for that he hath done great thinges to thee which is mightie, whose holy name be blessed euerla­stingly.

[Page] REASON requireth, that thou pause in the last point, meditating, how the glorious Queene of Angels going with them, and with al the blessed Saintes thus accompanied, thus reue­renced, and thus honored, arriued to heauen, where she presented her-selfe before the high throne of the moste sacred Trinitie, who receaued her most louingly, and exalted her so much the more as she had humbled her-selfe more profoundly liuing in the world, like as our Sauiour had ma­nye times fore-tolde, mat. 23 b Luc. 14. c &. 18. c. saying: Who so humbleth him-selfe shal-be exalted. The ce­lestial Father receaued her as his most dere daughter, The sonne receued her as his most worthy mother; the holy Ghost receued her as his most holye spouse; and thē was she of al the thre diuine persons crowned with a most pretious crown, and placed in a most sumptuous throne on the right hand of her sonne. Then was that fulfilled [Page 110] which the royal Prophet had with diuine spirite Ps 44 fore-tolde: The Queene hath assisted at thy right hande in a garment of gold enuironed with varieti. By the which wordes he signified her souerain [...]ie, her dignitie, her beautie, the diuersi­tie of giftes, vertues, prerogatiues, ri­ches, and excellencies that wer graū ­ted vnto her; sith she neither wanted the faith of Patriarkes, nor the chari­tie of the Apostles, nor the constan­cie of Martirs, nor the wisdome of Doctors and Confessors, neither the chastitie of Virgins, nor the puritie of Angels; nor the knowledge of Cherubins, nor the most inflamed loue of Ceraphins, & besides, the ver­tues & graces that wer geuē to other by peece-meal and measure, were al geuen to her together, and heaped in al fulnes one vpō an-other. And like as her vertues and excellencies excee­ded far those of al the Saints & bles­ded spirites, so in like maner merited she to be exalted in heuē aboue thē al

[Page] This is the womā that S. Iohn saw in his Apo. 12. a Ber. Ser▪ in illa eadem verba. Reuelation clothed with the Sonn, and hauing a crown of twelue starres on her head, wherby are deno­ted the prerogatiues of plentiful gra­ces, where-with she was adorned, wherat we are rather to wonder, thē to go about to write them.

O most blessed Ladye, and most woorthy of al praise, who can tel what thy merites were, but he that considereth thy reward? who can cō ­ceaue what thy grace was, but he that contemplateth thy glorie? who can knowe what thy perfection was, but he that beholdeth thy Crowne? Re­ioyce therfore, O noble Lady, reioyce for hauing atchieued so Soueraine a felicitie as shal neuer in al eternitie be taken from thee; And remember them that remaine in this vale of tears; Seing also, that thy greatnes can not make thee forget thy profounde humilitie, encline thine Ber. 4 Ser. de As­sumpt. eyes of mercie [Page 110] towardes vs, and make intercessiō for vs. Ceasse not to continue thy of­fice of being our Aduocate, sith thou art now more mightie, and of greater credite and Ber. ser. 1 de Assūpt. authoritie then thou wast tofore. Procure, O Queene of heauen, procure, that by thy meanes we maye be pardoned our offences; and that the same most sacred Trini­tie which hath enterteined and crow­ned thee so liberally, vouchsafe to receaue vs like-wise to his fauour and mercie; To th'end, that when we shal depart out of this exile, we may me­rite to remaine in thy company, prai­sing, adoring, and enioying the saide most Soueraine and sacred Trinitie perpetuallye in the celestial King­dome. Amen.