THE MIRROR of Created Perfection.  
OR The Life of the most Blessed VIRGIN MARY Mother of God.  
Written by the R. Fa. J. F. of the Society of JESUS.  
Permissu Superiorum. 1632.   

TO THE VIRTUOUS AND RELIGIOUS SISTER, AGNES ROSENDALE NOW CALLED Sister Agnes of S. Albert, native of Brabant, & Religious in the Monastery of English Carmolites at Antwerp.  
GOD'S gracious goodness in calling you not only to a Religious life in general, but to this particular Order, so eminently flourishing in Christ's Church, & very House likewise where now you live, conserving itself in the primitive fervour, and exact observance of your holy Mother S. Teresa her Rule, to edify by your holy example, and help also by your temporal means poor Exiles, and Strangers; seemeth equally to argue Gods fatherly care of them, and special love to yourself: clayming withal thankful respects from their English friends, and from myself in particular, as having had the favour afforded me, of holding your Heavenly spouse in my hands, whilst by your Profession, you espoused yourself so joyfully, and devoutly unto him, as to me and others then present, the joy of your Nuptials, seemed to have been, in heaven, and in earth, celebrated together.  
And indeed the divine Author of your vocation seemed then to have much pleased himself, in beholding his Graces so effectual in you, as it may well be doubted, whether you embraced them more feruorously at first, or put them in execution more heroically afterwards, when deaf to contrary persuasions of your worldly friends, and dexterously freed from that domestical, and unjust Captivity, whereby they had for some months together, forcibly restrained you, getting alone to the Monastery, and well assured, that the door thereof would not, but with some better allowance of your powerful friends, be opened to receive you (as the Reverend Mother & Religious of themselves exceedingly desired) with an heroical resolution, scarcely to be exemplified, you pulled of your secular rich , put yourself into a small Wheel, serving (as the manner is) to take in and out things needful for the enclosed, left at that time by a rare chance unlocked, and so turned yourself into the place you desired, by such a strange means, as it no less amazed the Reverend Mother, and Sisters to see a person of your known quality, kneeling almost naked before them, with flowing tears begging their holy habit, than it joyed yourself to have gotten in so among them.  
For surely to me, and others since, this entry of yours seemed almost miraculous, the straightness of the Wheel, divided into four parts, and your tall stature considered; the devise at least, & your manner of executing it, was (I doubt not) divinely suggested and not without a mystery performed, as the Religious man preaching the day after your profession, in a great Auditory of your own friends, and other principal persons, well noted, when as he told them, that Christ in his spiritual espousal of you, was pleased to observe in a sort, what he had formerly commanded to the jewish Captains, and soldiers, in marrying their beautiful captives, Deut. 21. by not admitting you, captived by love unto him, amongst his other pure spouses, there lovely and beloved by him, but stripped first of secular garments, and made ready to have a holier Habit put upon you, exteriorly course, but interiorly gracing you, in the eyes and hart of your divine Lover, with the hidden beauties of holy souls chief delighted: wherein, I dare say, you are not mean, amongst such as are excellent, so far, as an immaculate purity of mind and body, with an ingenuous candour of Nature, innocency of Life, admirable Humility, and a continual ardour of divine love, often interrupting, and hindering whole nights together, the needful repose of your senses, may argue deep foundations laid of high buildings likely hereafter, by the heavenly Architect, to be raised in you, and his Blessed Mother, a continual Leader and Helper of such pure souls into the brideroome, and inmost bedchamber of her son, there to be embraced graciously by him.  
Wherefore I have purposely here collected her Life, a clear Mirror & Rule of all perfection, as S. Ambrose calleth it, & dedicated it, as a sincere testimony of my Religious respect, unto you, and that holy family; that English gentlewomen also, happening by this occasion to read this history of your exemplar Vocation to Religion, and feruourous prosecution thereof (rather touched by me indeed, then fully related) may learn thereby, how to leave worldly friends, and temptations behind them, to enjoy abroad, such sweet retyrements, & straight embrace of their Heavenly Spouse, as their own Homes cannot now afford them.  
Neither have they to this purpose, your Example alone, but the like also in many other eminent Gentlewomen of our nation, who have trampled secular Braveries, neglected Worldly contentments and preferments, left their Country, and forsaken the delicacyes of their Parents houses, to enter into several Monasteryes abroad, as into so many Bride-chambers of their heavenly spouse, temporally first to serve, and eternally afterwards to enjoy him; who lighteneth his burden laid on them so by abundant graces, and sweeteneth his yoke by heavenly consolations, as they feel not almost the apprehended austerities of a Religious life; but contrarily find such a peaceful sweetness of conscience, in the practice of them, as S. Bernard's saying is truly verified in them, who speaking of secular judgements made concerning the painfulness of Religious discipline, Cruces vident, consolationes non agnoscunt; they look upon our crosses, but know not our comforts: this being (saith S. Gregory) the difference, inter delicias cordis & corporis between the delights of the soul and the body, that these latter are vehemently apprehended, but by being experienced quickly come to be loathed: whereas contrarily the other, are dully apprehended, but delighfully tasted, tantoqueve a comedente ampliùs esuriuntur, quantò & ab esuriente ampliùs comeduntur, and by being more greedily eaten, they come to be more hungerly longed after: so as the Prophet biddeth us first to taste, and then to see, how sweet God is, to his children and servants.  
I may well rank yourself among the happy enjoyers of such heavenly delights, since your living in that place hath been as a continual sitting at a full Table of them; & austerities there apprehended indeed to be fare greater, then young tender gentlewomen in experience find them, have (as I have been certainly informed) been no more felt by you, then bitter pills wrapped in sugar, come to be tasted by such as suddenly swallow them.  
Shall I say (& perchance truly) Gods gracious favours to have been the greater towards you, for leaving in a sort your Country and friends, as your companions have actually done theirs, by living so amongst strangers in it, as if you were quite out of it? If it be so, you are worthily to esteem (as to my knowledge you do) your pregnant Vocation to that House, a singular grace of God; and your Admission therein, a particular favour, commonly denied by the Religious of our nation, who are known in all places to refuse strangers, albeit very worthy persons, amongst them, as I for my part thereby conceive the odour of their holy Example to be very sweet, and pleasing to God, it being able so to attract strangers, divinely also guided, unto them.  
Your devoted poor Friend, and Servant in Christ JESUS. I. F.   

The Authors Preface, to the B. Virgin.  
O Most pure, & gracious Mother of my heavenly Redeemer; whilst in these Papers, I have sought to express thy Greatness, I have seemed to myself, as one sailing, with a small Cockboat, in a vast Ocean, or labouring with single sands, to raise a high mountain: He indeed, knowing the least who thinketh himself able to comprehend thee, Perfect in thy nature, Sacred in thy Office, Complete in thy Graces, and now Wonderful in thy glorious Perfections; imitating thy Son's Virtues most, as being more, than all other Saints, stored with his Goodness, ablest to see our necessities, readyest to ask remedies for them, and powerfullest from him, who will deny thee nothing, to obtain them.  
I offer here, the slender fruits of my poor Prayers, to thyself, the gracious subject of them; aiming at no other end in them, than some increase of Devotion towards thee, in such, as shall read them. Which I ask also for myself, as a far greater blessing, than I can merit any ways by them.   

The Authors Petition.  

VAst Sea of Glory, who art blessed  
With an Eternal Calm, raise in my breast  
Tempests of Sorrow, storms of sighs,  
Let waves of tears break through mine eyes,  
That they may quench, ere life is done,  
The dreadful wrath of thy dear Son.    

THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.  

Of our Blessed Ladies high, and holy Pedigree.  
CHAP. I.  
THOSE texts of the new Testament, wherein the Mother of God is mentioned, are not unfitly, by a grave Author, compared to deep grounds in music, so cunningly laid, as no discant of humane praises, can nearly express them.  
Her lineal descent from David registered by two of the Evangelists, and her being Cousin to S. Elizabeth (as the Angel called her) do sufficiently assure us, that her high and holy Pedigree was of patriarchical, Prophetical, Priestly, and Princely progenitors jointly composed.  
These four sorts of Persons therein contained, were as four roots, out of which, this flourishing branch of jesse his tree, happily issued.  
They were like to the four Rivers flowing in Paradise, from whose clear streams, meeting together, this inundation, and full of sea of heavenly graces (as we may rightly call this sacred Virgin) was derived.  
They were as four Wheels, on which this royal Chariot of Majesty, and Love, was brought unto us, prepared for the King of Heaven's triumphant entrance into this world, to conquer Sin, Death, and Hell for us.  
She was (as S. John Damascene from an Apostolical tradition assureth us) conceived of barren and aged Parents, that Grace might prevail above Nature, & Lust have no place in her holy Conception. S. joachim and S. Anne (saith this holy Father) were great Almes-givers', and very devout persons, both to deserve at God's hands, the blessing of such a child; and that sanctity likewise (as S. Ambrose writeth of S. John Baptist) might descend, as it were, hereditarily on her, in whom the Author of sanctity was to be contained.  
An Angel is said to have fortould her birth, by whom, the ruins caused in heaven by the fall of Angels were to be repaired.  
Her Patents, having in pious uses, given away, the greatest part of their worldly substance, & living as they did in a remote Province of Palestine, and that poor Village of Nazareth, prepared, as it were, the way to our heavenly Redeemers poor Nativity, and humble life, lead afterward among us.   

Of our B. Ladies immaculate Conception. [Chap. 2.  
AS Almighty God had elected this sacred Virgin, to the highest office, and greatest union with himself, which a pure creature could be assumed unto: so did he no doubt, singularly prepare her thereunto, by conferring on her proportionable graces.  
For as from our Saviour's high title, of being called the Son of God, S. Paul collecteth his infimite excellency above the Angels, only called Gods Ministers, and servants: so may we in like manner from this B. Virgins sovereign title of being the mother of God, well gather her graces to have been fare greater, than her divine Father, Son, & Spouse had at any time before bestowed upon the greatest of their servants.  
And, as she concurred in an especial manner, to redeem the world by communicating flesh, and blood, to the heavenly Redeemer thereof, the high prices of our redemption: So did she (no doubt) singularly partake the fruits thereof, & holiest manner of being by him redeemed. That whereas other souls, in their first creation & union with bodies, contract the hateful foulness of original sin; she by her sons sweet blessing, was from that fowl infection graciously preserved: so as Nature, & Grace began together in her, and happily conspired to make her complete, in natural, and supernatural perfection.  
As a bright star of the sea, according to the mysterious signification of her name; a heavenly splend our in her first rising did wonderfully adorn her.  
〈…〉, out of which the flowing spring of all graces was to rise; no filth of sin did ever defile her.  
As a lively, and most lovely tabernacle of the highest, she was no sooner raised, but the seaven-headded lamp of the Holy Ghost did flame in her: and as a mysterious Ark placed in the beautiful Temple of her body, her innocent soul, was with Cherubims' wings, acts to wit of heavenly knowledge & love, graced and protected.  
Syria's King had no power to cast any of his deadly darts, into this ever holy, and divinely guarded Jerusalem.  
This lovely spouse of heavenly Assuerus, was from the rigorous penalty of his laws, made not for her, but for ordinary subjects, graciously exempted.  
The natural, and immediate union which this sacred Virgin was to have afterwards with her divine son, prevay led far more with graces to enrich her, than her remote derivation from Adam, sinfully to infect her.  
Eve's oldness, had no place in this new woman's conception, ordained to be the gracious helper of the son of God, in our heavenly regeneration, and in graces therefore to be likened unto him.  
And surely, that particular enmity, which Almighty God promised to place between her and Satan, in the hearing of our first parents, importeth her, to have been dear united to the gracious Author of that promise, & never by any kind of sin enthralled to him, over whom by her Son, she so gloriously triumphed: Pious ears, and hearts abhorring to hear spoken, that this sacred mother of their heavenly Redeemer inherited sin (as other children do) for her birthright in this world, and became thereby her enemy's slave, a child of wrath, hateful to her divine spouse, and guilty for a time of eternal damnation. No certainly it could not be, but that he, who by abundant graces preserved her (as all Catholics believe) from venially offending him, by a like, and indeed far less privilege of his love, freed her also, from all mortal, and sinful contagion.   

Of our B. Lady's Nativity. [Chap. 3.  
THis dawning of our Eternal Day, (as the Church calleth the sacred Virgin) being cleared in her first rising, and brightly mantled with that sun's beams, which to illuminate the whole world, rose afterwards in her, S. Anne's womb, became as a quiet Oratory, for her to pray in, and render humble thankes to her divine Lord, for his gracious favours newly then conferred on her, with such an infused kind of knowledge, as S. john Baptist had, when in his mother's womb, at his Redeemers presence, he joyfully exulted.  
Her first graces actual and habitual, were such (no doubt) as well became so divine and liberal a Son, to bestow, for her first welcome into the world, upon so deserving a Mother, as he foresaw, she would be unto him.  
The Eternal Father likewise, began even then, as his humble handmaid, graciously to respect her: and the subsisting spirit of Love and Bounty as his designed spouse, by wonderful graces, to endear her unto him.  
Angels, as their Lords future Mother, highly honoured this gracious Infant, and Gabriel a chief Prince amongst them, was then appointed, and most gladly accepted to be a Guardian unto her, by whose happy birth, and holy life, all mankind was to be graced and blessed.  
Her Infancy, was (as we may well call it) a holy Exercise of Charity towards God, brought into the earth with her, dutiful Love to her Blessed parents, and glad Patience in sustaining all infirmities common to children; resembling then in her innocent, and holy demeanours, the like carriages of her divine Son, in his childhood afterwards: so as she had no way ward fancies, or childish passions, ordinarily proceeding from the use of reason, and actual graces, wanting in other children: but Innocency graced her, from her first entrance amongst men, Purity consecrated her to her divine spouse, Sanctity enriched her, Humility prepared her to receive from him frequent and wonderful favours, Modesty did set out her rare bewtyes, & made them more graceful to such as beheld her.   

Of our B. Lady's Presentation, and life in the Temple. [Chap. 4.  
THE mother of God, was in her tender years, to her own great comfort, and the merit of her holy Parents, planted (say th● S. john Damascene) as a fruitful Olive in the house of God, to become fattened there, & to flourish with all graces.  
As another Hester, she was translated, into heavenly Assucrus Palace, to be adorned there, sweetened, and made ready for his future embracements; where not Egeus the Eunuch, but Gabriel a chief Angel with his glorious companions, tenderly regarded her by the appointment of their Lord, and familarized themselves with her.  
Her life there (as S. Ambrose describeth it) was such, as she became therein, a mirror to others of virtuous perfection. To her superiors (saith he) she was humbly obedient, courteous to her inferiors, and mildly sweet to her equals; not eating oftener, or more at any time, then natural necessity enforced her unto; praying much, sleeping little, and never so, but that her hart was waking in a manner the while; often interrupting, with holy thoughts, the repose of her senses.  
Her bodily beauty, was like a flower, sweetened with internal graces, and blown forth to the fullness of corporal perfection, never faded much in earth, and in heaven now gloriously repaired.  
Her holy Parents having enjoyed themselves, and yielded to the world, the blessing of such a child, happily departed this life (as great Authors have conjectured) during her abode in the Temple, because there is not in the Evangelicall History any mention at all of them; as certainly there would have been, had they been living at, and after our Saviour's Incarnation.   

Of our B. Ladies espousals to S. joseph. [Chap. 5.  
THis sacred pure Virgin living amongst a carnal people, fare more respecting the blessing of children by marriage, then virginal integrity, and perfection, was about the 15. year of her age by the will of them, who were Rulers of the Temple, espoused to a man of her own Tribe, fitly chosen, first by God, and afterwards by them, as a husband for her; ripe in years, chaste in the profession of his life, & fare excelling (saith S. Bernard) as well in the future dignity of his office, as in heavenly sanctity, that holy Patriarch, and best beloved son of jacob, whose Name also he mysteriously enjoyed; a true heir of David's virtues, whose Son the Angel called him, and a man according to Gods own hart, much more than he; worthy as a mortal man could be, to divide the name of a Father with God himself, & to have, as a good and faithful Steward such heavenly treasures, as were the Incarnate Word, and his gracious Mother, recommended unto him.  
Her being so espoused, was (saith S. Hierome) for the legitimation of our Saviour's birth to the jews, and help of his education needfully required: and that also his being borne of a spotless Virgin, might be concealed from the devil. Which reason alleged by great Jgnatius, who lived to know her and our Redeemer himself, seemeth to infer, that neither in the miraculous Conception of her child, or at any time after, infernal spirits dared to approach her, Angelically guarded, and like an Army ranged for a battle, terrible unto them.  
Holy joseph was before marriage (as may be most probably guessed) made acquainted with her virginal vow, & being himself a Virgin purely and piously disposed, most willingly yielded thereunto, and resolved gladly to accompany her in the observance thereof.  
They lived to gather at her poor house in Nazareth S. joachims' Sheepcote (as S. John Damascene calleth it) first graced with the B. Virgins happy birth, and afterwards more highly dignifyed, by the divine Words Incarnation, and life lead there from his return out of Egypt, till after his Baptism: so that, as a sacred monument of Christianity, and a sure testimony of of our Saviour's poverty, it was first by the Apostles themselves, converted into a Chapel, and since, not only preserved in the miserable ruins of Palestine, but from place to place, likewise for the greater veneration thereof, by Angels translated. Devour people come from several Countries thronging unto it; Princes have with their votary gifts & Donaries enriched it; miracles have wonderfully graced it; and where now it remaineth, it is as a most precious jewel, cabbined in a curious Covering of white marble, and hath besides a fair Church built over it, wherein it standeth as a most holy Sanctum Sanctorun, breathing sanctity into the pious visitours thereof, and delighting (I doubt not) heavenly Creatures to behod it.   

Of our B. Lady's salutation by the Angel. [Chap. 6.  
THe sacred Virgin, and her holy Spouse, had not lived long together, but the fullness of time was come, (as S. Paul calleth the happy instant of our Saviour's Incarnation) when the divine persons, sent a chief Prince of their Court, as a Paranymph, to salute this pure Maiden from themselves, and obtain her consent, to be divinely fecundated by the holy Ghost, and have the Eternal Word Incarnate within her.  
Who, knowing the wonderful Excellency of her to whom he was sent, saluted her with the highest Titles, which could be given to an unglorified Creature, saying, Hail full of grace etc. and he had further perchance dilated himself in her praises, had she not by her humble fear, sweetly interrupted him.  
Calling her Mary, familiarly afterwards (which at first for reverence he did not) he made her to know him, with whom, she had often, and familiarly conversed before (as great Authors have supposed, and is gathered from the Evangelists words) affirming her to have been troubled not as his sight, but at his speech, and high Titles, therein given unto her.  
Fear not (said he) thou hast found grace with God; such a Grace indeed, as Hester found in Assuerus eyes, and hart together, when as a lovely spouse, and Queen he meant to exalt her: Telling her further, that she should conceive in her womb, and bring forth a Son promised by God (as the rest of his words do import:) foretold by his Prophets, Jsay especially, whose very words he used unto her; divine in himself, glorious likewise, & eternal in his kingdom.  
How (said she) shall this be done, because I know not man? Which question had been idly made (as sundry ancient & great Fathers have observed) had she not been debarred, by her virginal vow, from knowing her husband.  
When the Angel had cleared her difficulty, & told her, the divine & pure manner of her son's conception; with great humility and devotion, she threw herself, as it were, into the opened arms of her omnipotent gracious Spouse to be purely embraced, and fecundated, with admiration and love yielding herself unto him: Behold (said she) the handmaid of our Lord, be it unto me, as you have said.  
O Happy Turtles voice (saith S. Bernard) sweetly uttered here in earth, yet working wonders in heaven, by causing forthwith God's eternal son, to descend from his Father's bosom, into her sacred womb, and therein to assume humane Nature personally upon him.   

Of the Eternal Word in her Blessed womb. [Chap. 7.  
IN this miraculous Conception of God, and Man, our heavenly Redeemer, not the Essence, but the manner only of humane generation was many ways altered, and of the Virgins pure blood a humane body was suddenly, and perfectly framed, but not united with a gracious, and glorified soul, then created also, before they were by the divine Word personally assumed, that she maternally concurring in her sacred womb to unite them, might be the true mother of him that was perfect God, and perfect man, in one Person united.  
This Celestial Babe, beholding himself at that happy instant, by created graces, and a divine greatness, above all creatures infinitely exalted, adored likewise by all the Quires of Angels, and orday ned to redeem mortals, amongst all the designed children of glory, then presented before him; he first, and most especially beheld his holy Mother, in nature nearest, in dignity chiefest, & in love dearest unto him, actually then prepared in an humble ardour of heavenly love to receive, what graces he would give her, whose gifts no doubt, equalled his measureless love towards her, and abundantly requited the hearty welcome she gave him.  
And that her love towards him naturally, as to her son, and supernaturally as to her God, might then and afterwards become haply increased; he is conceived by great Authors, to have at that instant infused into her soul, a clearer sight of his personal Majesty and greatness, than Moses, or any other Saint before her, enjoyed, lying in her womb as a lovely Bride in his marriage bed sweetly reposed; as a tree of life newly planted in this heavenly Paradise; as a fragrant fair flower out of her flourishing branches graciously budded; as a precious Margarite in a clear mother-pearle safely enclosed; finally as an amorous lover sweetly lulled in the Virgin-lappe of her, his chief beloved, corporally growing in her nature, and liberally communicating his spiritual gifts, and graces unto her.   

Of our B. Lady's visit of S. Elizabeth. [Chap. 8.  
THis mayden-gracious-Mother was no sooner wakened out of her sweet trance of love, & divine fecundity, but Humility prepared, and fervent Charity incited her to undertake a painful journey of 3. days travel, over the craggy mountains of jewry, to visit her aged Cousin S. Elizabeth in Hebron, and to sanctify S. John her sons Precursor, by the breath of her salutation; of which not the words, but effects are by the Evangelist declared, to have been heavenly light, and abundant graces, divinely infused into the child first, and mother afterwards; which he with exultation, and she with outcries of joy and love, prophetically uttered, conjoining in her blessings this sacred mother, and her divine son; as in nature then and love she beheld them graciously united: Blessed (said she) art thou amongst women, & blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  
Blessed indeed in herself, as having the height of all created blessings bestowed upon her; and blessed in her son, the flowing fountain of them. He, as the fruit of life growing in her womb was blessed, and she was blessed as the tree that bore him: & surely such a heavenly fruit, as the Incarnate Son of God was, could not but have a tree of rare goodness to produce him, since the goodness of trees are by their fruits to be chief discerned. This divine grain of corn falling from heaven into the earth according to his own words in the Gospel had no doubt, a fat, and fertile soil to fall into; this precious margarit of Heaven, had a clear mother-pearle to breed it; this bright son of justice finally had a fair dawning to rise in by his most resplendent beams, before other Saints mantled and adorned. Whence is it (said this Saint, admiring the B. Virgin's Humility, and grateful for her charity in coming to a person so much in dignity and graces inferior unto her) that the mother of my Lord, is come unto me?  
S. Elizabeth was a great Saint, canonised and commended highly with her husband by God himself; yet being humble & actually illuminated to know the dignity and wonderful graces of her Cousin, she saw her own sparkles by the others huge flames incomparably exceeded; her small light by the others sunny brightness eclipsed; and the mother of a Creature, by the blessed Parent of her Creator and Redeemer himself, incomparably excelled.  
Then gladly, & thankfully she acknowledged the holy effects in her child, and herself; of her salutation, praising her belief yielded to the Angel's speeches, & prophetically assuring her, that all should be fulfilled, which he had told her, concerning the greatness of her son, redemption of the world by him, and glory of his kingdom.   

Of our B. Lady's Canticle, and stay with her Cousin S. Elizabeth. [Chap. 9  
SAint Elizabeth is said to have been newly replenished with the Holy Ghost, before she spoke to the mother of God; so were Zachary her holy husband, and Simeon, before they broke out into their prophetical Canticles. But before the B. Virgin entered into hers, no new inspiration is mentioned; to let us thereby know, that she did no more therein, than a little open the enriching Treasures of divine Love, and knowledge, humbly by her before hidden, and ever concealed, but when in gratitude to the liberal Author of them, she was sweetly enforced to discover them. And as her Cousin had magnifyed her, so did she for them magnify her Lord: and as S. john exulted in the womb, so her spirit likewise exulted in God her Saviour: an humble Prophetess afterwards (saith S. Basil) of her own future greatness, and a devout Preacher in the rest of her high Canticle of her Creator praises, and mercies, especially in sending his son graciously to redeem us. Behold (saith she) from henceforth all Generations shall call me blessed, because he that is mighty hath done great things to me &c. giving us to understand, that holy souls even to the world's end, should admire Gods gracious goodness towards her, and bless not only him the Giver, but her also the Receiver, of such wonderful blessings.  
Then sweetly delighted to utter Gods merciful love to men, and dreadful severity in tumbling down the proud Angels from their high seats for offending him, she concludeth her sacred Canticle, with a fervent and grateful acknowledgement of that high Blessing of Blessings, which by her, he intended to his people.  
She is said, to have stayed, about three months with her Cousin, that this holy family, might lastingly enjoy the comfort of her presence, whose first approach had been the cause of such blessings unto them; & that the little Champion (as S. Ambrose calleth S. john) might be the more fully anointed, and in the lap and arms of this maiden, and gracious Mother of his divine Redeemer, have new graces breathed into him. For by the Ecclesiastical order, of celebrating the feast of our Lady's Visitation the day after S. John's Octave, we are given to understand, that she stayed with her Cousin, until the child's circumcision.  
Holy Zachary likewise, no stranger in his own house, nor unworthy to have these secrets of heaven imparted unto him, may well be supposed, to have heard, in his own miraculous silence, the prophetical outcries of his wife, and mysterious Canticle of his Cousin, pondering them devoutly in his hart, until with his tongue in the circumcision of his child his speech was restored, and himself newly inspired to add his own Canticle unto them.   

Of our Saviour's Incarnation manifested to S. joseph. [Chap. 10.  
AS the Mother of God, had eminent graces, and favours heaped from heaven continually upon her; so had she two excellent virtues, Humility to wit, & Taciturnity to hide them, which after her return to Nazareth she holily exercised. For in a short time the happy growth of her divine Babe, appeared in her womb, and her sacred breasts, as pearly-bottels, tipped with rubies, and filled from heaven, to nurse God himself, in humane nature, plainly discovered that to S. joseph, her loving and beloved Spouse, which she desired not to have hidden from him.  
Her known sanctity, & vowed purity of life, caused him not to suspect on the one side, any adulterous sacrilege to have been committed by her, more & more still appearing gracious unto him; yet seeing on the other side evident signs of her being with child, ignorant (saith S. Hierome) of this high mystery, and holily resolved not to live perplexedly with her, or to expose her to infamy, and death ordained by the jewish law for adulterous women, with a grief (no doubt) proportionable to his great love towards her, and unspeakable delight, which he took in her sweet society and presence, he resolved secretly, to leave her: and she the while, though dear respecting him, resolved not to satisfy him in his doubt, by revealing, without a divine warrant, such heavenly secrets reserved indeed by a heavenly messenger to be related unto him.  
Joseph son of David (said the Angel unto him in his sleep) fear not to take Mary to thy wife, for that which is borne of her, is of the holy Ghost: she shall bring forth a Son, & thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins; overioying him (no doubt) by so happy a tidings, & comforting him far more, than his intended departure from so dear, and gracious a spouse, had formerly afflicted him; for than he foresaw, and with due thankfulness acknowledged such wonderful favours, and divine blessings, as by being husband to such a wife, and foster-Father to such a child, as was the Incarnate Son of God himself, and Redeemer of the world, would be heaped upon him; making many fervent resolutions, with an awful love, & glad diligence from thenceforth to serve them; and uttering them in a joyful and loving manner to his Blessed spouse as humbly and thankfully accepting them. Such calms after storms, Almighty God is wont, for their trial, and merit, to bestow on his servants, & children dearest unto him.   

Of our B. Ladies Expecting, & longing for the birth of her Child. [Chap. 11.  
THe Indian Oysters use to shut up within their shells, Pearls which they have bred, so fast, as without violence they open not themselues, to yield up such treasures: But it was not so, in this sacred mother-pearle of Heaven, for as she had in her Virginal womb, for the world's redemption, divinely conceived her son; so was she for this high end, desirous to produce him. Whom she well knew to lie, as a rich treasure mined within her body, which should no sooner be brought to light, but other holy people, the sheephards' for example, the 3. Kings, old Simeon, Anna, and many with them, would together with herself, come to be enriched holily, and haply by it.  
Or like a burning coal buried under hot embers, he was enclosed in her womb, which bared and laid open, would sparkle, & send forth flames, with which the whole world was afterwards to be fired, lightened, and purged, according to his own words in the Gospel; I came to send fire into the world, and what will I, but that it should be kindled? Or like a rich jewel he lay cabbined until his birth in her, with whose gracious lustre, when it came to be exposed, men and Angels, were to be exceedingly and equally delighted: or finally like some delicious wholesome fruit, he lay shelled, and untasted, until he came by holy souls, to be relished, and fed upon.  
For her own comfort also, this sacred Mother desired her son's birth, with unspeakable longing, to see him, embrace him, and perform all motherly duties unto him, which whilst he lay in her pure womb she could not. All that she could do there for him, was to adore him in his humility, yield the Enclosure of her body freely unto him, embracing him as he lay within it, eating chief to sustain him, esteeming herself happy in bearing him, and willing with her hart blood, if she could, to have yielded nutriment unto him. Who was not dull the whilst, or careless in requiting her affectionate entertainment; but as the sun is wont more & more to mantle, & clear the Eastern part of heaven, before his rising therein: so did this divine fountain of heavenly charity, illuminate, inflame, and adorn with his brightest beams, the soul of this sacred Virgin, before his rising from her, in our earthly Horizon.   

Of our B. Lady's journey to Bethleem. [Chap. 12.  
Caesars' Edict hastened odedient joseph and his humble spouse towards Bethleem, there to be enroled, than a ruinous poor Village, and fare different from what it had been, when great Solomon, as his father's birthplace, with high walls, turrets, and stately palaces guarded graced and enriched it, yet never dignifyed the same so much, as did these poor strangers, by entering into it, and bringing with them Israel's heavenly King, and great Captain, to be borne there, as long before Micheas had prophesied; so as it joyed in an unspeakable manner this holy couple, to know that they were now arrived, at the designed place of their Sons and Saviour's nativity.  
Weary of their foot-iourney friendless, & as poor persons rejected at the Inn stored with richer guests, humbly & patiently they betook themselves to a poor stable, or Cave there (as S. Hierome calleth it) to beasts & beggars equally exposed; fitly chosen by the Son of God, notwithstanding, as mysteriously representing the world's estate darkened by infidelity, & with horrible sins abominably defiled, at his entrance into it. Expressing withal, the obscurity, and uncleanness of souls, before he come by heavenly graces, to be borne within them, when of foul stables, they become clean tabernacles for the divine persons to remain in.  
The poverty likewise of the place, and want of all things therein, aptly yield exemplar documents to holy souls, of contemning for his sake, palaces, pomps & worldly commodities, which this heavenly King for our merit and example, as in his birth, so throughout his whole life, utterly wanted.   

Of our B. Lady's Childbirth. [Chap. 13.  
SAint Bonaventure, in a holy contemplation of this sacred mystery, conceiveth the B. Virgin being come to Bethleem, and entered into the stable, to have been excessively replenished with joy that the long desired hour of her Divine Son's Nativity so nearly approached: and whilst prostrate on her knees in prayer, she delighted her soul with holy apprehensions thereof, and longing to behold him, he miraculously ascended out of her unopened pure womb, into her blessed arms, ready to embrace him.  
This high privilege (saith S. Bernard) of being a mother, yet remaining still a Virgin, having been for her singularly reserved, whose child was God & Man personally united, able in his power, & willing in his love to preserve his Mother from all pain, impurity, and corruption: in so much as learned Suarez conceiveth the pure Nest, in which this divine Phoenix and heaveuly Bird of love was hatched, and ripened for his birth, to remain entirely yet preserved, as it was at his going out from it, that Angels intellectually, and Saints corporally also may transparently in all eternity, and delightefully behold it.  
Instead of midwife, & women to help her, Angels in their king's birth, gladly became his Adorers, and her Attendants; so that a poor stable, by the happy birth of this divine Babe therein, was suddenly converted into an empyrial heaven; a hard crib in which she laid him, became this humble King's bed of State to repose in; poor clouts in place of purple robes served to invest him; and the paps of a poor maiden, filled from heaven then, as her womb had been before, served to give him suck, who fed the birds of the air at that instant, and attired the flowers of the field in their fair and various beauties; never greater, then in being so lessened; never more glorious then in being so obscured; never more exalted, then in being so humbled; never more lovely, then in humane beauty assumed; never more powerful, then in our infirmities sustained. Mercy moved him to undertake the painful task of of our Redemption, Wisdom guided him, Fortitude heartened him, and Charity moved him ardently to embrace whatsoever he saw needful, or expedient to be done, or suffered therein for us.   

Of our B. Ladies entertaining the shepherds in Bethleem. [Chap. 14.  
THe Angels of heaven having joyfully themselves adored their king, hastened into the fields of Bethleem, to make the poor shepherd's, there watching their flocks, sharers of joys with them. Fear not (said the chiefest of them, appearing singly, and gloriously unto them) for I come to, tell you a joy which shall be to all people, because a Saviour is borne unto you this day in Bethleem; and forthwith to second these happy tidings, the whole Host of heaven, was seen trooping in the air, & heard to sing, in a mysterious canticle, the fruits of our Saviour's coming in earth and in heaven: Glory in the highest to God, and peace to men etc.  
And they were no sooner mounted up to heaven, but the shepherd's hasted to Bethleem, where at the crib of Christ, they joyfully uttered what the Angels had told them. And our B. Lady, is said mysteriously by the Evangelist to have conserved, and conferred all these things in her hart, aswell to illuminate & delight her soul, by a high, and amorous contemplation of them, as she did all the passages of her son's life afterwards: as also to be able, for the good of others, and instruction perchance of this Evangelist himself, afterwards to relate them: who professing (as he doth) in the beginning of his Gospel, to have collected the sacred verities thereof from such, as had been ministers from the beginning, & witnesses of them; we may well thence infer him to have received from this sacred Virgin's mouth, all such particulars of our Saviour's Incarnation, and infancy, as she alone could testify unto him, having been the chief, and happy actor in them, called therefore by sundry holy Fathers, the Mistress of the Evangelists: and S. Cyrill before his Thesaurus upon S. john, wondereth not, that like an Eagle he soared above his fellows, having had from his Lord's Cross, this sacred Ark and rich treasury of heavenly knowledge recommended unto him, who having lived with her divine son, as his most inward, and wise secretary 30. years together, was all that time sitting, as it were, at a continual banquet, gustfully feeding, & delighting her soul, with the heavenly viands of his mysterious speeches, and actions, conserved still in her hart, & devoutly considered.   

Of our Blessed Ladies nursing, and serving her divine Son. [Chap. 15.  
AS it is certain that our Saviour was complete in the graces, and glory of his soul, from the first instant of his humane conception, wanting only that experimental knowledge, which was by degrees (as in us) to be gained by the use of his senses: so are we to conceive this divine Babe, to have been wholly free from all waywardness, uncleanness, violency of passions, fancies, and other childish imperfections, intuitively still beholding those very objects, which experimentally he learned.  
And whereas other children, by frequent aspects, come to know the faces of their Mothers, and begin a natural love towards them, for continual favours received; this divine child did not only exteriously know his Mother, but interiorly also behold the humble thoughts & inflamed affections of her soul towards him, her pure intentions, and hearty gladness in doing motherly offices unto him; and according to the wonderful merit of them with heaped graces presently requited them.  
For surely they apprehend meanly the divineness of this child & Theandricall sublimity of his actions, who conceive his hug, kisses, and other like expressions of filial jove towards his B. Mother, to have been no more, then fruitless and naked signs of childish affections: whereas indeed they were continual breathe of new graces into her soul, ever humble and prepared to receive them.  
Natural & supernatural love sweetly conspired (no doubt) to endear them to each other; He, as his natural mother, and most excellent Creature, humanly and divinly affected her; and she, as her God, and Son respectfully adored, and delightefully served him. Which harmony of mutual love, between them, never of her part sinfully interrupted, happily still increased; so as heavenly Creatures themselves, were delighted to behold him recreated, and her enriched, by their mutual affections.   

Of our B. Lady's sorrow in her son's Circumcision. [Chap. 16.  
THe son of God was upon the 8. day after his birth, in the pure parts of his body, painfully circumcised, that he might, as in the end, so in the beginning of his life shed painfully his blood for us. For we are not to conceive, that he who was above all laws, and the Author of them, suffered this wound, because the Law commanded him, but rather he made this law, that to fulfil the same, he might take an occasion, to be so wounded for us.  
This bloody ceremony, & sacramental remedy of original sin in Male children, (arguing therefore Christ's wonderful humility in undergoing it) was usually performed in each parish by some Levite, appointed by his office to do it, and the house where the child was borne, was the ordinary place of performing it; so as the Blessed Virgin may be conceived, compassionately to have seen this first and painful wound, made in the tender body of her son, as she did afterwards behold his last woundinge, agonyes, and torments, having been indeed not casually, but divinely ordained, to share in sufferings with him.  
Lust, the beastly and over-common vice of men, was so hateful to this heavenly Author of purity, and Son of an immaculate Virgin, as in the very entrance of his life, he seemed to proclaim war against it, by causing the pure parts of his own body, to smart, and bleed, that from such a fountain of grace opened in himself, his devout children, from raging heats and impurities in theirs, might become afterwards cooled, and cleansed.  
Neither was this wound only painfully made, but (as we read of Sichem and his people) the stiffness, and smarting pain thereof continued many days after: so as we may well call this wound, a painful taste which our heavenly Redeemer was pleased to take, of his bitter, and deadly chalice; and a sharp exercise of patience withal, in his loving Mother, dressing this wound whilst it continued, and often bathing it, with flowing tears of tender compassion, as she did afterwards, his deeper, and deadlier wounds, suffering still in her soul his bodily torments.   

Of our B. Ladies imposing on her Son, the Name JESUS. [Chap. 17.  
WIth the sacramental sign of Circumcision, children than were wont to be enroled in the number of God's people; and because this name JESUS, imported the salvation of mankind, he would not without shedding his blood, whereby he was to redeem us, have it imposed.  
This Name, holy and high above all Names (as S. Paul telleth us) was misteriously imposed upon two Iosua's, or Jesus'es, types of our Saviour in reducing God's people from their first and second captivity; but commonly afterwards given to children, that the mysteriousness thereof, might not become noted in him who was to perform the high office of saving mankind, chief by it imported.  
This name (JESUS) revealed by the Angel to the B. Virgin first, and to S. joseph afterwards, with the comfortable meaning thereof, was as Oil poured out, to mollify the grief of his wound felt in her hart, and still to increase the gracious flame of her ardent love towards him. It was like sweet Music in her ears, honey in her mouth, and a continual jubilee in her hart, to name it herself, or hear others name it. Her sons humane & divine greatness having been mentioned by the Angel unto her, for this end chief that she might conceive the mysteriousnes of it.  
All virtues exercised by him in the work of our Redemprion, his actions, his sufferings, and fruits of them, in earth, and in heaven, were continually to her by that holy name (JESUS) compendiously, and sweetly imported: so as we may well affirm her, to have begun that Veneration to this holy Name here in Earth, which is now to the same in heaven also yielded.   

Of the Sages finding the Child with the B. Virgin his Mother. [Chap. 18.  
THis humbled king of majesty, and greatness, was pleased to have his poor birth graced by the coming of Gentle Princes, from the utmost ends of the Earth, by the conduction of a mysterious and miraculous Star, in Bethleem to adore him, not debased in their high thoughts, by his poverty, but appearing therein, as a king of heavenly majesty and greatness; purposely so humbled, and disguised in humane nature, afterwards to redeem them more lovely and gracious, whilst with adorations, prostrations, and gifts they testified their faith in him.  
And as the Child's greatness, so his B. Mother's Excellency was discovered, no doubt, divinely unto them. Wherefore to intimate their joys, by beholding her also increased, the Evangelist my steriously telleth us, that, they found the child with Mary his Mother: viewing him as the bright Sun of heaven newly appearing in our earthly Horizon, and her as that clear dawning which he had chosen to rise in. His gracious beams adorned her, and she with her natural beauty had sweetly attired him; so as her lively and lovely form, was in his humane face delightfully resembled.  
Who in the silence of her son, became (as we may conceive) his interpreter unto them, and an humble relatour of such mysterious verities, as in love, & duty, they desired to know of him, concerning the miraculous manner of his Nativity & Conception, and what the Angel had told her, of his own future glory, with the eternal greatness of his kingdom: how likewise he had been promised to the Patriarcks, Abraham, Jsaac, Jacob, & David her prophetical Princely Father; foretold by the Prophets, and expected by faithful holy souls throughout all generations, according to the words of her divine Canticle for merly uttered.  
She knew them to have made a long journey, and not likely to stay long with her Son, esspecially after the Angel had warned them for their return. Humility therefore, moved by charity, ever in holy souls (and most eminently in her, then and afterwards) conjoined, yielded to disclose such heavenly secrets of her divine Son unto them, as might confirm their faith, & increase in absence, their present love towards him. So as we may well think, the day, and night which they spent in Bethleem, to have been a happy time, for their comfort, and instruction.   

Of our B. Lady's Purification. [Chap. 19  
THis facred Virgin albeit in the Conception and birth of her child rather purified then defiled, went notwithstanding as other women did, to be legally cleansed; carrying Christ into the Temple with her, there to be offered, and as other children ceremoniously redeemed. Who as the Lord of the jemple himself, meant thereby to make the glory of this second house, greater than that of the first, as had been foretold by his Prophets, by being more highly graced and exalted by the corporal presence of himself in it: and that likewise such holy persons, as Saint Simeon, & Saint Anne were, might happily enjoy the promised and blessed sight of him.  
Sincon is said to have entered the Temple (in spirit) divinely, to wit, inspired, and taught to know, amongst so many children, as were there continually presented, the bright Sun of heaven (albeit then in humave nature and poverty wholly obscured) ordained to be afterwards a light to the Gentiles, and the glory of his people, as he sung in his Canticle, whilst he enjoyed the sweet comfort of holding Christ in his arms for a moment, which the blessed Virgin and her Spouse, for many whole years together, happily enjoyed.  
And as if in ardent embrace, and kiss of this divine Babe, he desired to have gasped out his holy soul into his sacred mouth, breathing sanctity into him, he cried out to be dismissed, and let forth of this world, that he might not live perchance to see this beloved and gracious Lord of his hart, persecuted in his Infancy, toiled in his life, calumniated in his actions, contradicted in his doctrines, hared by those whom he heartily loved, and finally to be, before his Mother's eyes butchered and disgraced.  
So as he could not contain himself amidst his ravishing contentments, from sadly foretelling their joint griefs & sufferings; A sword of sorrow (said he blessing the Mother of God, and her spouse) shall pass through thy soul; metaphorically so expressing that killing-wound, or rather those many deadly wounds, which should be made in her soul by beholding, as she did afterwards, her son's agonies, and torments: and insinuating withal, that noble kind of Martyrdom which she was to suffer, without other wounds, than such as Love made, by uniting her so nearly, and dearly to her son, as to feel in her very soul, by a strange kind of compassion, his corporal torments.   

Of our Blessed Lady's flight with her Child into Egypt. [Chap. 20.  
THe Sages entrance into Jerusalem to seek a new King, troubled Herod, yet their private departure homewards another way, seemed to argue, that they had not found him; but when such holy Prophetical persons, (as S. Simeon, and S. Anne were known to have been) had so publicly proclaimed him, this bloody Tyrant sent out his murderous guards, to kill all male Children of two years old and under, in, and about the Confines of Bethleem.  
When the Angel had forewarned S. Joseph in the night, of this danger, Love quickly awakened him and his B. spouse, to provide for the safety of the child, by flying into Egypt, as the Angel had appointed them. Poverty eased their care of carrying much with them, & the darkness of the night, served fitly to hide them from dangers approaching. The strangeness of the Country which they were sent unto, did not trouble them; the length of the way did not terrify them; nor any other difficulty dismay them occurring in their journey, which they made through a sandy vast Desert so blessed than (saith Baronius) by our Saviour's presence as it became afterwards a holy, and solitary retirement of innumerable Saints, gladly leaving worldly noises, & contentments, quietly there, and holily to serve him.  
Their manner of carrying the child so long & painful a journey, may be supposed to have been no other, than beggars use, when trussed at their bosom, or backs, from place to place, they carry their children. Idols are said to have fall'n down (as Dagon before the Ark) and oracles to have ceased, when the incarnate Word and heavenly Author of Truth in that Country appeared.  
Their entertainment is by learned Suarez, conceived to have been no other, than such as beggars are wont to receive amongst strangers, until S. Joseph by the exercise of his poor trade, was towards their relief, able to gain something. The place of their abode is said to have been near Ramasses, a City built long before, by the Israelites hard labours, during their captivity: and in that place is yet shown a well, wherein the B. Virgin is said have washed her son's , watering a valley of Balmtrees, only growing in that part of the Country, as if from that sanctified fountain, the place had received a singular virtue.  
The chief, and unspeakable Comforts of these holy Parents in their exile, may be thought to have been, the graceful growth of their divine child, his wise speeches after he could speak, & loving behaviours towards them.   

Of our B. Lady's return, with her Child out of Egypt. [Chap. 21.  
TAke the child (said the Angel the second time) and his Mother, and return into the land of Israel, for they are dead that sought his life etc. omitting not to give the sacred virgin her highest title, to wit of being Mother to such a child, & insinuating withal by this manner of speaking (as learned Suarez, with other great Authors observeth) that this Blessed Saint was to respect her, not only as his wife, but as the Mother of his redeemer withal; who with a reverential & humble kind of glad love, yielded accordingly his ready services unto her.  
Herod (as Baronius gathereth from josephus, & other Authors) died the 7. year after his murder of the Infants, at which time our Saviour could not be carried back again in the arms of his Parents, as he had been brought thither, nor well undergo the travel of so long a journey, but that his charity was such towards us, as for our greater example, & merit, he would not in his very infancy from labours, and sufferings be spared.  
His Parents returned with him to Nazareth a poor Village, seated in the confines of Galilee, where till his Baptism he lived so meanly, as he was reputed no other then S. josephs' natural Son, succeeding him afterwards in his poor trade, and labouring to make a plough, who was able without labour to have created many worlds at that instant; praying with the Nazarites, & the whilst, as their God, prayed unto by them; gazing with his humane glorious soul on the divine persons, and intuitively beholding all created Objects. So as he gained no knowledge, but experimental from them, wherein with his years, he is by the holy Evangelist said to have increased, and seemed exteriously to men's eyes more and more gracious in his person, and behaviour, not by any new graces gained in his blessed soul, ever consummated in them, but in graceful manifestations, and expressions of sanctity, and knowledge, ignorance being no defect of humane nature, needful to be assumed by the son of God, to make & increase for our sins his intended satisfaction; but wholly indeed unbeseming him, who was to be the heavenly teacher of souls, and to deliver the highest verities, as a clear behoulder of them more than all the Prophets before him, and able to secure and warrant, after an especial manner, the infallible Authority of his speeches unto us.  
With million of holier thoughts, then ordinary Souls can conceive, did his holy Parents continually behold him, and draw from all his gracious behaviours and speeches (his B. Mother especially) as bees do gather sweet honey from flowers, new motives & increase of love towards him; and he the whilst, was delighted in no earthly object more, then to see the wonderful effects of graces in her soul, & to behold modelled as it were, his own virtues in her, as in Archimedes crystal Sphere, the vast Orbs of heaven, & their several motions were wonderfully expressed: her gifts and favours continually from him received, being no other indeed, then flow of his fountain, sparkles of his flame, & beams of his infinite brightness. Sin for example, was repugnant in him, to the majesty of his own person, and she by her near union with him, was from the same, or any inclination thereunto totally preserved. Acts of virtue were Theandricall in him, and by the doers person infinitely dignified: and in her they were ever heroical, and highly ennobled by her wonderful graces. Finally, as in his bodily beauty he was like to her; so did she in her soul resemble more & more his gracious perfections, that so in both sex's humane nature might become graced and exalted, as it had been before vilified by sin, and extremely debased.   

Of our B. Ladies finding her lost son in the Temple. [Chap. 22.  
IT was an yearly custom (as the Evangelist telleth us) of Christ, and his Parents to celebrate as other devout people did, their Easter in Jerusalem, the son of God being pleased so to dignfy the Temple by his presence therein, and grace those legal sacrifices, the types of his Passion.  
The mysterious observances of that Feast ended, S. Joseph and his B. Spouse returned homewards, conceiving their divine son, than 12. years old, to have gone with their kinsfolks, and neighbours out of the city before them. Whom when at night they found not, with wearied steps, & careful thoughts, they returned back again, presently to seek him, and after much labour and grief, they found him the third day, amidst the Doctors of the Temple, by his wise demands wonderfully astonishing them.  
His Mother, when she could come to speak conveniently with him, with an humble expostulation of joy and love, asked him: Son why hast thou done so unto us? as wifely knowing he was not absent, but by his own will from them, thy Father and I, sorrowing did seek thee: naming her Husband first, to express her humble love, & respect towards him; and how her own sorrow, by his afflictions had been increased, whilst S. joseph by silence showed his respect to them both, his aufull Reverence restraining love, from any such boldness, as the B. Virgin with a greater right, and never but with his leave & gracious allowance, used towards him.  
Know you not (answered our B. Saviour) that I am to be in the things of my Father? Giving them so to understand, that for the service of his heavenly Father he had so stayed behind them: to teach perchance those Doctors & guides of his people by occasion of his wise questions, some profitable verities, fit to be known and taught to others by them; & that as the jews then, so now, we might by such a glimpse, conceive his sunny brightness, & those enriching treasures, of divine wisdom & knowledge, which in his tenderest years, were hoarded up in him.  
We may also piously guess him, privately and alone in those 3. days of his absence to have visited the holy places of his future sufferings, and with an unspeakable ardour of love, and prompt obedience, to have made his primitive offerings severally in them, and vented, in lasting prayers and prostrations, the fervent long of his gracious soul, afterwards to undergo them.  
His Parents are said to have wondered at his words, and the B. Virgin, to have conserved and conferred them in her hart; that so we might come truly to know, that she did ever do so, letting none of her divine Sons mysterious words and actions to pass, but that by conserving them in her fresh memory, & pondering them devoutly in her hart, sheenriched and raised her illuminated soul continually by them.   

Of our B. Lady's life with her son until his Baptism. [Chap. 23.  
THe Evangelist concludeth our Saviour's whole life, from his being found in the Temple until his Baptism, in these words; He returned with his Parents, to Nazareth, and was obedient unto them; to wit, by a voluntary submission of himself, and a loving readiness to do what they would have him: who privy to his hidden majesty and greatness, with a loving boldness, so commanded him as their son, that as God the whilst, and their Redeemer, they humbly in their thoughts, and affections adored him.  
Wherefore we may well conceive the blessed order of that family, wherein three persons only lived, one of them divine, and the other two eminently holy, exercising Humility, and Charity towards each other; he in obeying, and they in commanding him, for the glory of his Father, and future instruction of his servants, subjected unto them.  
He with filial love respected his gracious Mother as the natural, and instrumental cause of his humane being, omitting at no time, the duty of a child towards her: and to S. joseph his reputed Father, he yielded a grateful behaviour for his many painful labours, and fatherly offices towards him, with heaped graces (no doubt) and divine favours, from time to time, liberally requiting them.  
Their living with him alone, as his secretaries and servants, for 30. years together (for S. joseph may be thought, not to have died long before our Saviour's Baptism) was as a long harvest of heavenly merits plentifully by them both (according to their abundant sowing) happily reaped. And as this sun of heavenly brightness, by doctrine, and examplar actions, did shine to others with whom he conversed after his Baptism, for 3. years together: so with the like, and a far greater clarity did he appear lovely, and imitably gracious in all his behaviours & speeches to these two only, knowing his greatness, for 30. years together, & conversing domestically with him, who were neither dull to conceive, nor hard to believe the mysterious verity of his speeches unto them. And if that be true which Solomon saith, that with the good, a man shall be good; how good then were these two who lived with goodness itself, and had their souls ever opened, and prepared to receive full streams flowing from the fountain thereof, continually into them?  
And if our Saviour proclaimed the eyes of his disciples happy in having seen him, whom so many Kings & Prophets had desired to see, and could not; and their ears likewise blessed in hearing his speeches: how happy, and blessed may we conceive his holy Parents to have been, who with eyes and ears of soul and body together, more lastingly, clearly, and devoutly beheld their divine Son, pondering his mysterious speeches, and in their hearts (as it is said of the B. Virgin twice by the Evangelist) deeply, and delightfully considering them?   

Of the B. Virgins charitable sorrow, for S. josephs' death. [Chap. 24.  
WHen this Blessed man died, cannot out of the Gospel be any ways gathered: Only it may most probably be guessed, that our Saviour sent him to a happy rest, before he began his own preaching & labours. The place of his death is likest to have been in Nazareth, where he lived, and the circumstances thereof are unknown further, then that as he was a just man, advanced to a dignity more than patriarchical, in being spouse to the Mother of God, and Foster-father to the incarnate Word himself, so was his end no doubt blessed, and his merits suitable unto it.  
And whereas we read of many Saints, so divinely favoured in their sickness and death, as they had their good Angels visibly & comfortably attending them; this Blessed man enjoyed a far greater privilege, when in his sickness and death, the son of God himself, and his gracious mother, with a most charitable diligence were ready to perform all serviceable offices unto him.  
The disease of which he died, seemeth to have been old age, and the usual infirmities thereof, increased perchance in him, by the hard labours of his life, as Pomegranuts use to break and fall to the ground, by the over-filling growth of their sweet kernels, to rise again in a new spring afterwards.  
And whereas holy Men are said to dye in our Lord; Blessed S. joseph, may be said to have died in him after a higher manner; to wit, reposed in the arms & imbacements (as we may conceive) of his heavenly Redeemer, his immaculate loving Spouse not failing the whilst to close his dying eyes, to kiss his cold cheeks & with flowing streams of tears, to take her leave of him by whom living she, & her divine Son had been so purely beloved and faithfully served.  
His gracious soul was no sooner breathed out, but Angels there present joyfully carried it to the holy troops of Patriarches, Prophets, and Saints disceased before him, as their heavenly Redeemers Foster-father, to be honoured, embraced, and joyfully welcomed by them, whilst his Spouse & her divine Son, caused his pure body, to be decently interred, & put into the earth; where perchance, it was from corruption graciously preserved, to be gloriously repaired in our Saviour's Resurrection, with other saints bodies then miraculously raised; since no Saint deserved more than he, to accompany his God, and Son, at his first entrance into his heavenly Kingdom.   

Of the Blessed Virgin, being in Cana with her son at a wedding. [Chap. 25.  
AFter S. Joseph his death, the B. Virgin lived alone with her divine son, flowing in heavenly delights, then without a partner, received continually from him, until his going to be baptised by S. John in the River of Jordan: whence after his Baptism, fasting in the desert, and calling of many disciples to follow him, he returned into Galilee, and was with his B. Mother at Cana invited to a wedding, mysteriously graced, & shown not to be sinful (as some ancient Heretics affirmed) by the sacred presence of two such guests, who pleased to be present at the same.  
Whose wedding this was, is not known, but that the Brides were poor, may be well gathered, from their want of wine before the Dinner was ended: which want of theirs, being known by the mother of compassion, she came to her son well knowing his divine power to effect, & her own graciousness to obtain what she meant to ask of him, saying, they have no wine, briefly intimating so their wants, and her own charitable desires of relieving them, to him, who without words did (she doubted not) know them before hand, & would in his bounty there presently redress them.  
His reply (woman what is that to thee, and me?) was not harsh (as Caluin wickedly affirmed) but mysterious; to let us thereby know, that not her will (albeit ever holy and pleasing unto him) but the decree of his eternal Father did in doing miracles chief direct him. And by telling her, (that his hour was not yet come) yet doing withal what she entreated him, he gave us sufficiently to understand, that her request made him to exercise, sooner than otherwise he would have done, his miraculous power, in performing that charity which she entreated so of him; and by going afterwards to the waiters, and bidding them do whatsoever her Son commanded them, she wisely and charitably prepared them (as Cardinal Tolet well noteth) not to hinder by their unwillingness, what she knew he intended, as having been divinely inspired to ask that miracle of him, and taught to know withal his manner of performing it, by causing, to wit, water to be drawn by the waiters, afterward into wine miraculously converted.  
And the fruits of this first miracle so obtained by her, are said to have been, the manifestation of her son's glory, & confirmation of his disciples.   

Of our B. Ladies going to dwell at Capharnaum, with her Son. [Chap. 26.  
Our B. Saviour, intending when he began to preach, to transfer his dwelling from Nazareth to Capharnaum, is said to have taken his B. Mother with him, that mutually they might enjoy each others company, and withal that such persons as were converted unto him, might have her a lively mirror of virtuous and exemplar perfection, conversant with them.  
So that this heavenly Sun of justice, shining here on earth, had two Maries, bright stars indeed of the Sea (as their names import) illustrated by him in their several graces, and waiting lovingly on him; the one ever a clear mirror of unspotted perfection, the other a lively pattern at length of hearty Contrition: Graces were in the one, as a bright sunshine, never sinfully clouded; and in the other as a radiant sky from storms newly cleared. The one was as a full fountain of living waters never defiled; & the other as a deep well, freshly cleansed, and filled. The one never wanted a rich patrimony of heavenly graces, still by her wonderfully increased; & the other had hers, once wasted, graciously again, and with a great increase happily restored: and both were to him in their sweet societyes especially delighfull, contemplating his speeches, and noting his actions, to enrich their souls holily by them; she especially, who from his childhood had been accustomed to do so; considering his miraculous curing of diseased and miserable persons not only as acts of gracious love and mercy towards them, on whom they were wrought: but as mysterious representations likewise, of the like spiritual wonders, which then, & after he meant to work in souls, by his heavenly graces.  
Honour's likewise done, and thankes yielded unto him, for benefits received, delighted her humble soul; not only because they were deservedly given unto him, but for that wisely likewise she knew how liberally he meant afterwards to requite them. As contrarily, his disgraces much grieved her, not only as injuries done unto him, who no ways deserved them; but as they were great sins in such as did commit them, & means to increase their eternal damnation.   

Of the woman blessing the womb & paps of the B. Virgin. [Chap. 27.  
IT cannot be doubted, but that such as believed Christ to be the son of God, and their heavenly Redeemer, highly also respected his gracious mother, lovely in her person, and exemplarly holy in her conversation amongst them; inso much as a woman, ravished with the heavenly sweetness of our Saviour's words, and divinely raised in her thoughts to apprehend the blessedness of his Mother, uttered first that mysterious outcry, Blessed is the womb that bore thee & the paps which thou didst suck; and since enlarged by the Church in that sweet versicle sung by her: Blessed are the bowels of Mary the Virgin, which carried the son of the eternal Father; and Blessed be the paps which nursed Christ our Lord: fulfilling therein her own humble prophecy, that all generations should bless her.  
Neither did our B. Saviour in his reply to the woman, Yea but blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it, contradict the blessing of his mother; but (saith venerable Bede) was covertly pleased, to intimate a more high and imitable commendation of his Mother, for that she had not only corporally, but spiritually also conceived him; whereby she deserved not the woman's blessing alone, but to have his own praises added unto it.  
For as learned Interpreters note upon this mysterious passage of the Gospel, this sacred Virgin may after two manners be conceived to have been the Mother of God; first barely, to wit, according to his corporal Conception and Nativity, and so it was possible, for her to have been his mother, without any graces at all thereby obtained: and secondly as she was singularly chosen, and prepared with wonderful graces, to that high office, of giving a new nature, life, and being to her omnipotent Creator, for the glory of himself, and redemption of mortal Creatures; whereby she was raised to the highest dignity, and greatest union with himself, which a pure Creature could be assumend unto: Gods usual manner having ever been as he raised his servants to high dignities, to bestow on them suitable graces. And it were a most detestable wickedness to conceive, that he dealt otherwise with his own most sacred, and beloved Mother, who as in Nature was nearest, so in Love was no doubt, dearest unto him.  
It is true, indeed, that as his creature, she was tied in duty to do all motherly offices and services unto him, without any obligation on his part, in justice to requite them: But supposing the gracious, and free tie of his own liberal promises, not to let so much as a cup of cold water, given for his sake, pass unrewarded, together with the dutiful love and piety of children towards Parents, commanded by himself and accordingly, no doubt, observed, may we not reasonably conceive, & piously assure ourselves, that he was neither in the piety of a loving child nor bounty of a gracious Lord, wanting unto her, who not only gave him the integrity of human nature, but spent her whole life afterwards, in motherly offices, and services towards him, for which other children can make to their parents no equal requital.  
And supposing the son of God was able to raise his most deserving Mother to what measure of sanctity, and heavenly nobility he would, for the good of her, and glory of himself, to whom she so nearly appertained; why should any Christian, against the known goodness of such a Lord, and Son, doubt him actually to have done so?   

Of our B. Ladies expecting her Son, at the door of a house in Capharnaum. Math. 12. [Chap. 28.  
Our Saviour teaching & doing miracles within a house at Capharnaum, being told that his Mother, & Brethren (for so his Cousins are called in Scripture) stayed at the door to speak with him; either not willing to be interrupted in his holy discourses, or glad rather of the occasion, to teach his Auditory a profitable lesson, to wit, how they also might spiritually become his Mother and Brethren, he extended his hands towards his Apostles, ask, who is my mother, and who are my Brethren? And then answering himself said, with an earnest asseveration to the future comfort, and instruction of his servants, He that heareth my words and keepeth them, he is my brother, my sister, and my mother.  
Insinuating so, in the very order of his speech, by naming a Mother last, the especial nearness of a mother to a child, and so consequently her dearness to him, who not only in her body corporally, but spiritually also in her soul, had conceived, nursed, and brought him up, to a wonderful ripeness of heavenly perfection; and was like to become in others a fruitful Parent, and Nurse afterwards of him, being by her examplar life, as a sweet odour to draw others into the bedchamber of her son (saith S. Ambrose) to be espoused, & fecundated also divinely by him.  
Her motherly power saith an other devout Author, hath been the protection and helping of innumerables souls to grace and glory; her greatness their gain, her treasures their enrichings, by being able, and ever ready, to obtain favours & blessings for her son's children, by himself therefore upon his Cross recommended unto her.  
So that they belong not to him or her (as children or servants) who have vilified her in their thoughts, and debased her in speeches, so fare as to teach, that her divine Son, did in those former words blame her for interrupting him unseasonably in his doctrine, and plainly to renounce her for his mother: whereas the Evangelist only affirmeth her, to have stayed at the door expecting him. And it proceeded out of the respect rather of others towards her, that he was could of her being there, then that of herself, she sought to speak importunely unto him.  
And should she for just causes or not, have done so, had it not been against the very duty of a child towards a Parent (as she was known to be unto him,) common discretion also, & morality itself, for so small a fault scandalously and publicly to renounce her?  
O monsters of men and viperous brood of him whose head she crushed happily for us, that dared (as some modern heretics have done) to utter such horrid, and groundesse blasphemies against her! Whom according to the humble prophecy of herself, all generations, of holy souls, were to call, and account eternally Blessed, as well for those great things, which Almighty God, did unto herself, as for those many & unspeakable blessings likewise which by her he bestowed upon us.   

Of our Blessed Ladies suffering with her son. [Chap. 29.  
AS Eve (saith S. Austin) was made to help Adam, in man's natural propagation; so was the B. Virgin ordained, to help the son of God in our supernatural regeneration. Those two were our old, and these two our new Parents: they, threw us miserably down, from the happy estate of innocency to sin; and these, to more than lost graces happily raised us. Humane nature was in them by sin vilified and debased, in both sexes; but contrarily by these, wonderfully dignified and exalted.  
The son of God by his passion solely redeemed us, as Adam by his fault only condemned us: yet withal, as Eve our old Mother by eating the forbidden fruit, & causing her husband to do the same, occasioned our ruin; so Marry our new Mother, by beholding the fruit of her womb fastened to the tree of the Cross, happily concurred to our raising; & by sustaining deadly sorrow, with her divine Son in his death, recompensed, in a sort, the others fault, and satisfied for Eve's sinful sensualities, by her innocent sufferings.  
For albeit she shed nor her blood, nor had the fair Temple of her body, by wounds (as her Son was) lamentably defaced; yet suffered she a higher kind of Martyrdom, when love so united her unto him, as his agonyes became hers, by a tender compassion, his griefs her dolours, his torments her tortures, his corporal wound painful rendings of her very soul, and sharp thrusts of that piercing sword of sorrow, which good old Simeon had foretold her. So that she could not have lived to the end of them, had she not been supernaturally assisted, to offer jointly with him to his Eternal Father, that redemptory Sacrifice.  
jacobus Acosta in his book de Christo revelato, affirmeth the Royal Psalmist to have sung the 19 Psalm in the person of this B. Virgin, standing under the Cross of her son: Let our Lord hear thee in this day of thy tribulation; the name of jacobs' God protect thee. Let him send help unto thee, from his sanctuary; and from Zion defend thee. Let him he mindful of thy whole sacrifice; and thy holocaust become a fat one. Let him give unto thee according to thine own hart; and confirm all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation etc. So that when in the Antiphone of Aduent (saith this devout Author) the Church ordaineth me in her office to say before that Psalm, Maria dixit, I seem to be thereby, warned, as in the person of this sacred Mother, and with a sad memory of her sufferings, under her son's Cross, devoutly to pronounce it.   

Of our B. Ladies last leave taken of her Son in Bethania the evening before his Passion. [Chap. 30.  
WE find not any where expressed in the Gospel, that the Mother of God, was with her son the day before his death in Bethania, as we read of S. Mary magdalen's being there, and his Apostles with him: yet is there an insinuation, that other guests likewise were there present, amongst whom we cannot reasonably conceive his B. Mother, dearest above all unto him, to have been excluded; or that he omitted his affectionate & last respect unto her, appointed to share the next day in deadly agonies with him.  
But piously rather & prudently we may conceive him to have armed her for his farewell, against griefs then approaching, by manifesting, first his Father's holy will unto her, and the mysterious causes of her sufferings; secondly by telling her the happy fruits which were in heaven, and in earth to redound afterwards of them; and thirdly how she was with himself to be glorified Eternally for them: Counselling, and enabling her by heavenly graces withal, to carry herself, (as she did) manfully in them, when without outcries, soundings, or other passionate, and unseemly expressions of her griefs, she stood by his Cross (as the Evangelist telleth us) letting down silently into her soul, the whole bitterness of his Chalice, and opening as it were her breast, to receive the saddest, and deadliest strokes which affliction could lay upon it.  
His last words to her, were (as we may conceive) uttered with tears, and sad expressions of love and compassion towards her for those innocent sufferings which were to be by his torments soon afterwards occasioned. And she for her last farewell to him, may be thought to have uttered some such words as these, with motherly & affectionate embracings: Go my gracious son, and heavenly Redeemer to pay on thy painful Cross, the high price of our Eternal Redemption, wisely no doubt, and justly by thy divine Father exacted. Let this goodly Temple of thy sacred body, framed of mine, and miraculously raised, with bloody wounds in sight also of me thy loving Mother, & obedient Creature, be (as thy cruel Adversaries shall please) lamentably, and painfully defaced; for now I can do no more motherly offices and services for thee: I offer here myself willingly, to suffer all extremities with thee.   

Of our B. Ladies several griefs in her Son's passion. [Chap. 31.  
AS our B. Lady is expressly said to have stood near to her son's Cross in the time of his passion: so is it most probable, that she sadly beheld him in all his other public torments, and disgraces, fearing not as the other jews did to be defiled, by entering the Praetorian, & Courts within it, sanctified by her son's presence, and sacred streams painfully in them effused.  
So that the accusations urged by the jews to Pilate, and joined with outcries against him, were as doleful & deadly summons of her sorrow. Disgraceful cueltyes done by Herod afterwards & his soldiers against him were as unsheathing of that sharp sword which afterwards pierced her hart. The loud blows and bloody stripes lamentably tearing all parts of his body, were as wide rendings of her soul, and deadly piercinges of sorrow.  
His thorny Crown did sharpen the sword's point, and make it enter more deeply; and finally Pilat's sentence, was as the stroke of a deadly thunderbolt unto her.  
Her journey after her Son to Mount Caluary, was to them both, mutually grieved for each other, a doleful procession, where the gall given him, did increase the bitterness of her sorrows; & when she saw his  plucked off, and rags of flesh cleaving unto them, the smart of his wounds became in her soul freshly renewed; & when she saw him mercilessly thrown down on the hard bed of his Cross, she also was cast down into the lowest depth of grief with him; & had even her hart pierced with those very nails, which entered into him.  
Those bloody streams which she saw running from him to the ground, and there trodden under the Hangman's feet, did make the wounds of her soul bleed freshly; so, as she became cooled at that sad spectacle, & had instantly died (as persons do, wounded in the hart) had she not been, to see her son's sacrifice fully ended, supernaturally preserved.  
The jews were mysteriously forbidden by their law, to boil the Kid in his Dam's milk: yet here they did more, when they caused the child to be crucified in the sight, and hart of his Mother, by love, and compassion so nearly, and dearly (as she was) united unto him.   

Of Christ's speech to his mother and disciple, upon the Cross. [Chap. 32.  
THis God of love and mercy (as we may well call him) lying bend like a bow on his Cross, was no sooner lifted from the ground, but he began to dart upwards, towards the bosom of his Father, fiery and flaming arrows of love to him, & men together: first charitably excusing and praying for his enemies, who at the same instant blasphemed, and derided him, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Secondly, of tender and dear compassion towards his B. Mother, dying together with him, woman (said he) behold thy son, meaning S. john standing by her; and then to him, Behold thy Mother.  
He called her, woman, lest by naming her Mother, he should have moved the jews to outrages against her, and mysteriously insinuating her withal, to be that woman which was ordained to crush the Serpent's head long before, and utterly to vanquish him. And he so commended her for a Mother to S. john, as we also had a share (albeit after him) in this mysterious adoption; so that we have reason to glory, & thanke him for a double adoption: whereby he vouchsafed to make us, as by his Father, so by his Mother likewise, brethren unto him; that, to the duty which all own her, for being Mother unto himself, we might add filial piety also, and serviceable love, to her who was even as a Mother from his Cross recommended, to obtain graces of her son, and Motherly blessings, temporal and eternal for us.  
Who indeed, if we consider the sad time, and circumstances of our adoption, whilst he with torments, and she with griefs were together languishing, we may be rightly called, as Benjamin was by his dying Mother, Benoni, Sons of sorrow; yet children of her love withal, if we consider, well that ardent Charity, with which her divine son bequeathed us for children unto her; & that humble Love, with which she accepted us from him, actually dying then with herself, graciously to redeem us.   

Of our B. Ladies particular sorrow in the death, and burial of her Son. [Chap. 33.  
Our B. Saviour having hung silently on his Cross for almost three hours together, to taste more quietly, and feelingly the extremity of his torments (much increased through the coldness of the air, darkened about him) awakened himself, and his blessed Mother buried as it were in a trance of deadly sorrows, together with him, by a loud complaint made to his eternal Father of being forsaken, and in the sensitive part of his humane nature, left comfortless by him, O my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? and roused himself up withal to dye as it became him, breathing out his ever-blessed soul into the hands of his Father. And when his body was dead & cold, more new anguishes were added to her former griefs, by beholding even his dead corpse not spared, but with the wide piercing of a spear wounded then again, and more than before lamentably defaced.  
When he was taken down from his Cross, so as she might more nearly he hold his wounds, kiss, and bathe them with her tears, sorrow seemed to be brought nearer to her hart, and his mangled cold body to have been buried therein before it was embalmed, and laid in the sepulchre; leaving it when others did, but carrying home with her a lively, & sad memory of all his sufferings, in silent and deep thoughts mournfully revolving them; wanting not, whither she went companions of affliction, & sorrows to attend her.  
So as Christ's mother & friends returning from mount Caluary together, made a most doleful procession to S. Marks house seated under mount Zion, where the B. Virgin wasted with sorrow, received such comforts, as that afflicted family of friends could afford her. And S. john not unmindful that he had been adopted her son by his loving master, offered no doubt, with all love & duty, filial services unto her.   

Of our Saviour's first apparition to his B. Mother. [Chap. 34.  
ALmighty God is said to wipe away tears from the eyes of his servants; which he doth no otherwise, then by manifesting unto them objects of joy, contrary to the causes of their sorrows; which also he performed towards his B. Mother, early in the morning of his glorious Resurrection, when according to the multitude, and greatness of her griefs, he rejoiced her hart, with divine, and unspeakable comfort.  
She is noted by holy Authors, not to have gone with the other devout women, to embalm her son's Body, as faithfully no doubt persuaded, that he would rise again the third day, as formerly he had assured her, and confident withal so soon as he was risen, to be visited by him.  
His apparition to her, is not by any Evangelist recounted, because a Mother's testimony of so great a mystery, might have by n suspected, and the circumstances of his apparition unto her, were overhigh withal to be historically related, especially if learned Suarez conjecture thereof be true; that as she had sadly beheld, and accompanied him in his greatest humiliations, and afflictions; so likewise she joyfully saw him in his highest glory and contentments, with a double train of Angels, and Saints triumphant, attending him; amongst whom we may conceive her gladly to have seen, bodily also perchance raised, her beloved pure spouse S. Joseph, her holy Parents likewise, & others whom she had known before happily disceased: yielding likewise gratefully unto her amongst the rest, as to the gracious Mother of their Redeemer, due honours and praises.  
His five greater Wounds in his body still retained, did shine then as rich Rubies, by their colour to adorn the lovely candour and transparency thereof, and their depth therein did show them to have been flowing fountains of graces, for us once opened on the Cross, and never again closed. The tearings likewise of the thorns and whips she saw beautifully in him, and gloriously repaired.  
By his loving embrace he caused heavenly languish in her soul, & by kisses of his sacred mouth, he breathed new fervours, and graces into her: & as he appeared first after his Resurrection unto her, so was he during his stay on earth, most frequently with her.  
Neither had she at any time (as is said of others when he appeared unto them) the eyes of either her body or soul restrained from knowing, and delightfully beholding him.  
Finally, as the world from her womb, by his nativity, received him: so did he in the day of his Ascension from her arms & embracements ascend towards heaven.   

Of our B. Ladies receiving the holy Ghost. [Chap. 35.  
AMongst the Apostles, and disciples remaining in Jerusalem, expecting, and preparing themselves to receive that Divine Paraclete and Spirit of truth, which our B. Saviour had promised to send to them after his Ascension, S. Luke affirms the B. Virgin to have been one, saying after he had named the Apostles; All these were persovering with one mind in prayer, with the women, & Mary the Mother of JESUS; numbering her last as the humblest amongst them & naming her alone with her sovereign Title, of the Mother of Jesus, to grace that holy assembly the more by the presence of so sacred a person amongst them.  
That divine Spirit of love and goodness, came to the rest, first with eminent gifts and graces to possess them; but he had come to her, twice before, to wit, in the Conception of herself, & her Son, & was both times abondantly replenished by him. This heavenly builder came to raise in them as from the ground a heavenly habitation for himself, and the other divine persons; but he came to adorn her soul as a stately palace already raised, and accomplished by him.  
This divine Painter and beautifier of souls, began only to draw in them a lively and lovely image of their gracious Redeemer; whereas he perfected his former draughts in her, & made her an admirable, and matchless masterpiece of heavenly perfection.  
That working fire which Christ longed to kindle, and make to flame in the world, according to those his words, I came to send fire into the world etc. descended on the Apostles & disciples, to consume those drossy imperfections for which their mild Lord, had frequently blamed them; but on her, ever pure and clean, the gracious effects of his divine presence were clear illustrations, inflamed affections, and the highest gifts, which for any end he could bestow upon a Creature.  
They finally as lesser vessels, yet great in respect of us, were suddenly and happily filled from the flowing sea of all goodness; but she who had already contained within her, the ever full, and flowing fountain of all graces, was as by a deeper tide, & larger Channel which it bade to run in, made a full sea, and a blissful depth of heavenly waters, flowing fully into her.  
If any one should curiously ask me, what kind of graces were heaped so on her? I can only tell him, they were such as in the happy Course of her life afterwards, might be useful, and as the Mother of God, serve singularly to enrich and exalt her.   

Of the abode and manner of our B. Lady's life, after her receiving the holy Ghost. [Chap. 36.  
S. john speaking of this sacred treasure recommended by his dying Master unto him, telleth us, that he took her into his own: not that he had any worldly fortunes to bring her unto, but that he had a loving care to perform all filial duties unto her; so that, till the Apostles dispersion abroad she lived for the most at Jerusalem with him, sustained by common alms, with other holy widows, and greatly delighted in her poverty, as formerly she had been: where it joyed her no less to see the zealous and fruitful labours of the Apostles, in converting souls to the knowledge of her divine Son, than it comforted, and edified them all, to behold her humble and examplar conversation amongst them, blessing her pure womb which had miraculously conceived their heavenly Redeemer, her Paps which had nursed him, her Hands which had clothed him, and the other parts of her lovely body, which had been serviceable unto him. And the more they were illuminated to conceive the divine majesty of their Lord, the more highly they apprehended her excellency, and with a reverential love, accordingly respected her.  
Afterwards when S. John with the other Apostles left Jerusalem, he took this B. Virgin to Ephesus with him, (as the Fathers of the first General Counsel holden there, traditionally affirmed) where she was no doubt holily delighted, to behold jews' and gentils together with her son's graces happily, and equally enriched; helped, no doubt, in their first conversions, and much recreated to behold this model of perfection, and second light, ordained to shine in heaven, conversant most humbly, and examplarly amongst them.  
Neither were the holy places of Palestine so visited (as she is said to have been) by other devout Christians; repairing thither to behold the mother of their Lord ready with an humble gladness to welcome them, and to confirm them in their faith, by relating many mysterious speeches, and passages of her son's life, which none, as an eye & ear witness, but herself, could deliver unto them. And especially she is said, sweetly and frequently to have repeated unto them these words of her divine son, Be you perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. A high lesson indeed, and by her fitly taught, who next unto the heavenly Author thereof practised the same, and lived so long after him for the comfort, & instruction of such holy souls as were by his Apostle (S. John especially) converted unto him.   

Of our B. Lady's manner of prayer. [Chap. 37.  
PRayer (saith S. Augustine) is as the breathing of holy souls, whereby they draw the pure air of heavenly graces into them. Light & Love are the chief fruits thereof, and best means to perfect the same in us: for Light increaseth Love, and Love when it is ardent augmenteth that heavenly Clarity, whereby it is produced; and by mutually intending each other, both of them grow in holy souls to such perfection, as the one is seldom darkened, or the other cooled at any time so but that like Ovens frequently & throughly warmed with new fires, they ever retain great warmth, & holy fervour in them.  
Their fancies in sleep often imitate their Understanding, and borrow as it were from the rich storehouses of their memories, holy Objects, and Discourses, which as heavenly alarms do easily waken their wills, & make them interrupt often the repose of their senses, by breaking forth into holy aspirations; as dry wood is with slender sparkles soon kindled, and inflamed.  
This great gift of Prayer arrived in the mother of God, with her other graces, to a wonderful perfection: so as her Soul therein, was with a heavenly splendour, next to Beatifical Clarity itself, continually raised; and her Love natural and supernatural, to her God and Son, like two fiery wings, mounted her thoughts & affections more & more towards him, by whom they were inflamed.  
An immaculate innocency of life added a most gracious sweetness to this rising rod of all heavenly perfums and spices sweetly composed. Humility raised it, a pure Intention made way for it, and a constant perseverance therein did surely obtain what by her prayer she intended.  
The high Attributes of God, and the sacred mysteries of her son's life and death, still conserved in her memory, and conferred in her hart, as the Evangelist twice telleth us, were the usual subjects thereof; & her discourses therein, were free from all manner of distractions, and by heavenly illuminations cleared so, as like Eagles mounted to their high pitch above the clouds, she soared with little labour, and became in them, ever sweetly, and divinely inflamed.   

Of the wonderful merit of our B. Lady's actions. [Chap. 38.  
LEarned Suarez writing of this fubiect, from certain grounds of faith and Philosophy, gathered so strong a conclusion concerning the B. Virgins wonderful manner of meriting, and redoubling, by each act, her former graces, as he dared not to publish his doctrine, until the learned Divines of Spain, had with their opinions approved it. The sum of his discourse is this.  
As natural habits are produced by natural acts, when they are intense and perfect; so supernatural habits are by the divine infuser of them, conferred on holy souls, according to the perfection of those supernatural acts, whereby holy souls merit an increase of them. Wherefore since the B. Virgin, did in each holy act done by her, cooperate with former graces given her, fully, and according to their whole intention, as having no sinful inclination to hinder her: so did she still merit, according to the full intention & perfection of her acts, to have new graces infused into her, and consequently to have former graces redoubled, by each one of them; so that she heaped in her soul hourly, treasures of merits, and by them in the end of her life arrived to an immensity of graces.  
Sinful Ignorance did never darken her illuminated soul, Error seduce, or Malice corrupt her. Sense never rebelled against Reason; and Concupiscence the root of sin, was according to S. Thomas ever kept from growing, and totally at length extinguished in her. Whereby this heavenly Sulamite, became ordered in all virtues so, as a high Wisdom guided them in their several operations, & Charity commanded them; whereby she came, as weighty things remain in their Centre, to be in them immoveably fixed.  
Pride did at no time raise her, or Pusillanimity deject her. Passions did not perturb her, or sensual Appetites disorder her. Sanctity did clear, like a rich pearl, her gracious growth; and an Angelical Purity of mind and body, did for her divine spouse consecrate & spotlesly conserve her. Humility to conclude, made her ponderous in all actions, Obedience rounded her, and other graces smoothed her, in such sort, as finally she became in them, a rare, and matchless union of Created Perfection, doing all her actions in the substance, and circumstances of them, so, as it is a Catholic point of faith to believe, she never offended, by omission, or commission venially in them.   

Of our B. Ladies Sacramental graces here gained. [Chap. 39  
GReat Authors (S. Clement and others) have affirmed our B. Saviour himself to have baptised his Mother, aswell to beautify her soul by the fairest character of that Sacrament, as to take an occasion thereby, besides the wonderful merit of her own actions, to heap in his own bounty, on her soul, unconceavable graces.  
The descension of the Holy Ghost upon her in the day of Pentecost, was as an eminent unction, and Confirmation of her graces therein received, and the most holy sacrifice, & sacrament of her son's body & blood daily with other Christians received, was as an ever-full, and flowing fountain of heavenly blessings running into her.  
Her oblation thereof in the Apostles hands, & preparation to receive it, was suitable (no doubt●) to the immenfity of actual and habitual graces in her soul: their Clarity did illuminate her, their Fervour inflame her, Humility prostrated her, Piety disposed her, & faith made her so firmly to believe her sons glorious, albeit invisible, presence therein, as if she had apparently beheld him; humbly thanking him in behalf of herself, and us also, for that second annihilating, as it were of himself, to communicate the fruits of his passion to faithful souls worthily receiving him; frequently enjoying glimpses almost of beatifical Clarity itself, as often as she sacramentally received him; he recompensing so, in a sort, the wont, and desired Comforts of his visible presence with her.  
And if S. Mary Magdalen in her holy retirement near Marsills in France, had bodily rapts, Angelical visits, heavenly melody, and greater favours, by her loving and beloved Lord, daily afforded her; can we reasonably doubt, but that in higher & more delightful manners he expressed his love to her, graciously above all Creatures endeared unto him?  
Or do so many authentical & undoubted histories mention his glorious apparitions to other Saints, men and woomen, for yielding them, yet alive, particular comforts, and instructions; and may we not justly conceive him to have been more openhanded, and liberal, in showing his love to her, who best deserved such favours, and had as a gracious Mother, from a loving Son, most right to receive them?   

Of our B. Lady's death. [Chap 40.  
SAint Denis not converted by S. Paul at Athens before the 16. year after our Saviour's Passion, (as Baronius, with Suarez, and other great Authors have collected) & writing as he doth of his having been at Jerusalem with S. Peter, S. john and others aswell Apostles as chief disciples of our Saviour, at the death and funeral of this sacred Virgin, convinceth her to have lived well nigh 20. years after her Son's passion, to gain no doubt a long & happy harvest of heavenly merits for herself, to comfort likewise the Apostles themselves in their holy labours, and to edify others by them converted by her graceful person, exemplar life, & conversation amongst them.  
Her happy end may be thought to have been prophetically revealed to the Apostles, and disciples, that besides their mutual comfort of seeing each other, they might also enjoy so contentful a blessing, as to be hold the joyful passage of this sacred Mother to her divine Son, take their last leave of her, here in this world, and celebrate her funerals with due love and veneration.  
The sickness whereof she died may be thought to have been a ravishing excess and sweet languishment of heavenly love, and longinging to hasten to her son, calling her unto him, Come my beloved from Libanus, thou shalt be crowned: which freely yielded unto by her, might cause such a concurrence of vital spirits, to raise the thoughts and affections of her soul, as they failed, to conserve a needful disposition for life, in her bodily members and senses.  
So as lying sweetly reposed on her bed, with all the Apostles, & many chief Disciples of her Son kneeling about her, having newly before, for a happy viaticum to heaven most devoutly received him, whom first in her womb, she had divinely conceived, with an unexpressible ardour of love, giving her blessing, and farewell to all present, she breathed out her gracious soul into her Son's hands, there present to receive it, waited on by the most glorious Princes of his Court, gladly attending him their Lord, and her his beloved Mother, in their triumphant procession.   

Of our B. Lady's Assumption. [Chap. 41.  
PIous ears, and hearts worthily abhor to hear spoken, that corruption (saith S. John Damascene) invaded, and worms devoured that sacred flesh, a part whereof the Author himself of immortality had assumed: or that this stately branch of jesses' root, ever rotten in the ground, whose flower was in Heaven so gloriously ripened: or finally that this lovely Tabernacle of the Highest became in the beautiful frame thereof, after death, utterly dissolved.  
No surely, as the same had been whilst it was alive, many ways graced by her divine son: so was it, being dead from loathsomeness, and corruption totally preserved, as for many reasons it was fitting. First, in that it had not been with sin originally infected, as other bodies are, when souls void of grace are first united unto them. Secondly for that it was ever a most pure habitation of her gracious soul, never by it actually defiled, or viciously inclined. Thirdly, because it had been the subject of heavenly wonders for her Creators' glory, and man's eternal salvation, wrought happily in it; and each part thereof made sacred, by immediate touches, and services done to the Eternal Word Incarnate within it, and nursed by it.  
Her womb for example was (as the Spouse, for the wonderful purity, and fertility thereof, calleth it in the Canticles) a Heap of heavenly Grain, to nourish souls eternally, with lilies environed: a pure Nest, wherein the celestial Phoenix, and Bird of Divine Love was hatched: the Tiring-house wherein the son of God was for high ends humanely disguised; finally a Bedchamber, richly prepared for the celestial Bride, to become therein, to our nature first, and to all holy souls afterwards, eternally espoused.  
Her sacred breasts, were as two Pearly-bottels, tipped with rich rubies, and filled once from heaven, sweetly to nurse him, by whom (as the Church singeth in her Office) birds are fed, and all Creatures sustained.  
Her lap was as an easy Couch wherein the son of God lay near to her loving hart contentfully reposed.  
Her arms and hands had been for many years together, holy instruments fitly made and moved, to embrace, and serve him.  
Her lips were as two Ruby gates, at which her soul and her divine sons had often met, & parleyed with mutual significations of love, and new breathe from him of heavenly graces into her.  
Her eyes had been as clear windows, for her soul, delightfully to behold, for 33. years together, his corporal bewtyes and deeply to imprint in her hart a lively, and lovely image of him.  
To conclude, all other parts of her virginal pure body, for serviceable acts done to the omnipotent Author thereof, were by him after her death, highly respected (no doubt) gloriously perfected, and wonderfully exalted.   

Of the glory of our B. Lady assumpted. [Chap 42.  
HEr sepulchre is said to have been placed in the garden of Gethsemani, wherein by the Apostles and other chief disciples of her Son, her body was solemnly and devoutly entombed. And as flowers do smell sweetly in their first buddings; so this fair flower, about to open itself in its immortal beauty, yielded to all present a heavenly fragrancy (as S. john Damascene from Apostolical tradition recounteth) and sweetened that stony receptacle, and part of the earth, whence it was soon after into her sons heavenly garden, to be gloriously transplanted.  
So that when the Apostolical intombers thereof had left it, Angelical spirits, as a sacred treasury conserved it, & attended it until the third day, when it was by their Lord, and her Son joyfully raised, and with such a glorious change, as those celestial Princes wondered to see again in her, as before they had seen in their Lord, a clodd of earth so curiously moulded, & graciously transformed, ask each other, not as ignorant who she was, but admiring her greatness: Who is she that ascendeth from the desert, in delights, leaning on her beloved? Delights indeed (saith S. Bernard) abounding in her, and flowing still in earth and in heaven graciously from her, which can be no more expressed, than her glories described: suitable no doubt to the graces of her soul, & such (saith he) as well beseemed so divine a son to bestow upon so deserving a mother.  
His heavenly Father was likewise openhanded at the same time in heaping gracious favours on her, who had been Mother of his eternal son, and joint-parent with himself of him, & the holy Ghost was effused no doubt in his bounty then to her, whom here on earth he had singularly espoused to himself, and made mother of a divine child, first from him (saith S. Leo) in her soul, and afterwards in her womb most graciously conceived.  
And as they had raised her in the holy merits of her life far above all Creatures: so was she at her entrance into heaven highly in throned, and supremely exalted for them.   

Of our B. Lady's Coronation. [Chap. 43.  
THe Diadem with which this Queen of Heaven was crowned by her son, at her glorious entrance into his Kingdom, was in the riches thereof, suitable (no doubt) to her wonderful merits, and graced with twelve such Stars, as adorned the head of that mysterious woman mentioned in the Apocalyps, importing twelve peculiar Graces, conferred by the divine Persons on her.  
The first of them was, her maternal dignity, and office of having the eternal word incarnate within her, whereby she came to have a singular nearness, and dearness unto him.  
The 2. was, her immaculate conception, happily therein beginning a rich harvest of heavenly merits, brought out of her mother's womb into the world with her.  
The 3. was, her preservation from venially offending afterwards, whereby she alone of all Adam's natural children equalled Angels themselves, in the unspotted innocency of her life, as in the graces of her soul, she incomparably excelled them.  
The 4. added an Excellency to the former, & arrived to the happiest effect of original justice itself, which was to feel no Concupiscence, or rebellion at all in her members & senses, but to have nature and grace ever in her, harmoniously composed.  
The 5. was, her virginal vow of Purity, whereby she consecrated herself to her Heavenly spouse; and before the Gospel of her son, in this, and other graces arrived to the highest top of Evangelicall perfection.  
To 6. was, the pure Conception, and manner of her son's Nativity, a Privilege indeed (saith S. Bernard) for God's mother alone graciously reserved.  
The 7. was, her having besides Faith, and continual Illustrations of heavenly Graces, in a most affectuous clear manner, an experimental knowledge of many chief mysteries of faith wrought by her Son; so as herself was with him an actor also in them, as his miraculous Conception, Nativity etc. happily serving to illminate & inflame her.  
The 9 was, natural & supernatural love towards him, as to her God and son sweetly conjoined, & like two fiery wings, ray sing her soul incessantly towards him.  
The 9 was, her life led for 30. years & more, inseparably with him, affording her hourly occasions of doing motherly services immediately unto him.  
The 10. was, her great sufferings for him, & martyrdom finally with him, caused by Love, making his wounds & torments her own by a most tender Compassion.  
The 11. was, her happy end, graced by the Apostles present thereat, and much more highly honoured by her Sons personal readiness to receive her blessed Soul, recommended unto him.  
The 12. was her bodily Assumption after death, whereby she prevented the raising of other Saints bodies in the general resurrection, and came to be with a complete fullness of blessed joys, eternally possessed.  
Where I leave thee (O sacred Virgin, and gracious Mother of my heavenly Redeemer) in the bright Noon of thy glorious Clarity never setting; in the ardour of thy love ever flaming; and in the flowing of thy delights never ebbing, but increasing still; so as helped by thy powerful intercession, I hope, albeit a fare of as men gaze on the stars, to behold thee on a stately Throne, near thy sons right hand gloriously exalted: purposing in the mean time during my mortal and miserable life, in all I may, next to thy divine son, my Lord and Saviour himself, to honour and serve thee.  
FINIS.    

FASCICULUS MYRRHAE.  
OR A brief Treatise of our Lord and Saviour's Passion.  
Written by the R. Fa. I. F. of the Society of JESUS.  
Permissu Superiorum. 1633.   


Chap. XVII. Of our Saviour's third speech uttered on the Cross, to the good Thief pag. 92.  
Chap. XVIII. Of our Saviour's mysterious silence on the Cross for three hours together. pa. 98.  
Chap. XIX. Of our Saviour's Fourth speech on the Cross. pag. 104.  
Chap. XX. Of our Saviour's fifth word uttered the Cross, expressing his thirst. pag. 109.  
Chap. XXI. Of our Saviour's sixth Word on his Cross, It is consummated. pag. 113.  
Chap. XXII. Of our Saviour's last cry, and death. pag. 118.  
Chap XXIII. Of the Consequences of our Saviour's death, & opening of his side. pag. 122.  
Chap. XXIV. Of our Saviour's Burial. pag. 126.   
FINIS.   

THE TABLE OF CHAPTERS.  

CHap. I. Of our Blessed Ladies high, & holy Pedigree. pag. 1.  
Chap. II. Of our B. Ladies immaculate Conception. 4.  
Chap. III. Of our B. Lady's Nativity. 9  
Chap. IU. Of our B. Lady's Presentation, & life in the Temple. 12.  
Chap. V Of our B. Ladies espousals to S. joseph. 14.  
Chap. VI Of our B. Lady's salutation by the Angel. 18.  
Chap. VII. Of the Eternal Word in her Blessed womb. 22.  
Chap. VIII. Of our B. Lady's visit of S. Elizabeth. 25.  
Chap. IX. Of our B. Lady's Canticle, & stay with S. Elizabeth. 28.  
Chap. X. Of our Saviour's Incarnation manifested to S. Ioseph. 32.  
Chap. XI. Of our B. Ladies Expecting the birth of her Child. 36.  
Chap. XII. Of our B. Lady's journey to Bethleem. 39  
Chap. XIII. Of our Blessed Ladies Childbirth. 41.  
Chap. XIV. Of our B. Ladies entertaining the shepherds. 44.  
Chap. XV. Of our B. Ladies nursing, & serving her divine Son. 48.  
Chap. XVI. Of our B. Lady's sorrow in her son's Circuncision. 50.  
Chap. XVII. Of our B. Ladies imposing the Name of JESUS. 53.  
Chap. XVIII. Of the Sages finding the Child with the B. Mother. 56.  
Chap. XIX. Of our B. Lady's Purification. 59  
Chap. XX. Of our B. Lady's flight with her Child into Egypt. 63.  
Chap. XXI. Of our B. Lady's return with her Child thence. 66.  
Chap. XXII. Of our B. Ladies finding her Son in the Temple. 71.  
Chap. XXIII. Of our B. Lady's life after her Son's Baptism. 75.  
Chap. XXIV. Of the B. Virgin's sorrow for S. josephs' death. 79.  
Chap. XXV. Of her being in Cana with her son at a wedding. 83.  
Chap. XXVI. Of our B. Ladies living at Capharnaum. 86.  
Chap. XXVII. Of the woman blessing the womb of the B Virgin. 89.  
Chap. XXVIII. Of our B Ladies expecting her Son, at a door in Capharnaum. Math. 12. 92.  
Chap. XXIX. Of our Blessed Ladies suffering with her son. 96.  
Chap. XXX. Of our B. Ladies taking leave of her Son. 99  
Chap. XXXI. Of our B. Ladies several griefs in her Son's passion. 103.  
Chap. XXXII. Of Christ's speech to his mother. 106.  
Chap. XXXIII. Of our B. Ladies particular sorrow in the death, and burial of her Son. 109.  
Chap. XXXIV. Of our Saviour's first apparition to his Mother. 111.  
Chap. XXXV. Of our B. Ladies receiving the holy Ghost. 115.  
Chap. XXXVI. Of the abode, and manner of our B. Lady's life, after her receiving the holy Ghost. 119.  
Chap. XXXVII. Of our B. Lady's manner of prayer. 122.  
Chap. XXXVIII. Of the wonderful merit of our B. Lady's actions. 125.  
Cham XXXIX. Of our B. Ladies Sacramental graces here gained. 128.  
Ch. XL. Of our B. Lady's death. 132.  
Chap. XLI. Of our B. Lady's Assumption. 135.  
Chap. XLII. Of the glory of our B. Lady assumpted. 139.  
Chap. XLIII. Of our B. Lady's Coronation. 142.   
FINIS.