SEVEN EXERCISES OR MEDITATIONS By which a MAN May be, in a short time, Established In the FEAR of GOD, And in a Good and Holy LIFE. By Lewis Blosius, Abbot Of the Holy Order of St. Benedict. With other Choice Collections out of the same Author. London, Printed for M. Turner, at the Lamb in Holbourn, 1686. THE PREFACE. IF thou wouldst be confirmed in the Fear of God, and be established in a Good and holy Life, thou must fall upon the following Meditations with an humble and constant Mind, and accomplish them in order, although thy Nature seem to have some Repugnancy; which also thou must not lightly or negligently run over, but must ruminate them with leisure and diligence, and apply thy whole Soul, and inward endeavours to them, diligently examining and discussing every particular point, and imprinting it deeply in thy Mind. And indeed thou must stay in every Meditation at least three days; and every day (if it may conveniently be done) thou must employ * Or 2 or 3 half hours, according to thy leisure & Devotion. two or three Hours, or rather more, in the Exercise of Meditation; leaving in the mean time other private and voluntary Exercises. Besides, throughout the whole day, whether thou walkest or sittest still, (unless when thou oughtest to think of other things) thou must strive to have in thy memory, and to revolve in thy mind those things, which belong to the Meditation of that Day. It is not necessary nor expedient, that in every hour deputed to the Exercise of Meditation, thou shouldst dispatch more Divisions, but it shall suffice to take one Division, or two or three points to Metitate on. When thou shalt have ended the Meditations after that manner, thou must repeat them again, persisting in every one of them at least two days, which repetition being completed, thou must still continue these Exercises for two Months, or longer; but then thou mayest assume the first Meditation on Mondays; the second on Tuesdays; the third on Wednesdays; the fourth on Thursdays; the fifth on Fridays; the sixth on Saturdays; the seventh on Sundays: Afterwards thou must diligently exercise thyself in the Life and Passion of CHRIST, according to thy Devotion. Throughout thy whole life thou must retain pious and congruous Exercises, which may nourish in thee thy good purpose, and true Devotion. But thou must take heed, lest at any time thou prefer these thy Exercises before Obedience, or Fraternal Charity, or the Divine Will. For it is necessary that even in these thou learn to deny thyself. If, in this Spiritual Study thou shalt feel thyself hard and dry, and shalt suffer grievous irksomes of Mind, thou must not, for that, leave off thy profitable and wholesome Exercise, but must humbly, to the Honour of God, do what is in thy power. Perhaps thou wilt often think thus with thyself: Why do I afflict my Spirit in these things, when I might much better, and more to my delight, be conversant in others: But neglecting such kind of thoughts, thou oughtest to persevere in what thou hast begun, and to believe that it is most acceptable to God, that thou shouldst be employed in them. If God shall give thee the grace of Devotion and Tears, thou must not for this take complacence in thyself, nor esteem thyself to be any thing, nor despise others; but must always contain thyself in holy Fear, and humility of Heart, judging thyself unworthy of all the gifts of God. Thou mayest in thy Exercise, by speaking to thy Soul, stir up thyself: As if thou shouldst say; O my Soul! Let us watch, and consider attentively, etc. Thou must also convert thyself sometimes to our Lord God, sometimes to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of GOD, sometimes to other Citizens of Heaven, and ask those things which make for thy souls health. But that thou mayest reap plentiful fruit out of these Exercises, thou must diligently abstain from immoderate joy, from dissolution of heart, and from inordinate and vain laughter. For such things dissipate and extinguish inward recollection, compunction, and grace. Thou must shun also (as much as conveniently thou canst) much talking, and seek convenient solitude. Whilst thou art Meditating, thou mayest kneel, sit, or stand; observing that posture of Body, by which thou shalt perceive thyself to be most helped. Thou must choose a secret quiet place, and fit for such Exercises. Before thou beginnest thy Meditation, having made the sign of the Cross, thou shalt say this short Prayer: O most gracious Lord God, have mercy on me thy poor Creature calling upon thee; and grant that every intention, thought, and action of mine may be purely ordained to the observance and praise of thy divine Majesty, Amen. The hour of Meditation being ended, Recite our Lord's Prayer, with the Angelical Salutation. Meditation. I. Of Sins. Division 1. COnsider how that thy Soul was made by GOD, most noble and most beautiful: But thou, by living wickedly and carelessly, hast most dishonourably defiled it, and made it vile, sordid, and abominable. For the deformity of sin, is greater than any visible deformity. And indeed, so great is the enormity of mortal Sin (which deserves eternal damnation) that by right we ought to depress ourselves for one, even the least such Sin, all the days of our life, to the very dust, even under the brute Beasts. 2. Thou wast made to this end, that thou shouldst exhibit observance and reverence to thy most high, most worthy, and most bountiful Creator, and that thou shouldst love and praise Him: but by sinning, thou hast averted thyself from Him, and converted thyself to the love of vain and perishable Creatures, and so hast made thyself unworthy of His favour; but worthy of eternal punishments. Wherefore deservedly thou shouldst strive to bewail thyself, and lament the evils by which thou hast offended thy Lord God, with inward, or also with outward tears. 3. Wherefore call to mind, as well as thou canst, in the bitterness of thy Soul, all thy more grievous Sins, which thou hast committed from thy childhood, to this very moment, by works, words, thoughts, and omissions, as if thou wert immediately to make an exact Confession of them to a Priest. Yet notwithstanding, thou must not stay long upon the Sins of the flesh, which thou hast committed, lest such an imagination breed in thee some harmful delight. Run over diligently year after year, or day after day, or time after time. Call to mind the places in which thou wast; the persons with whom thou livedst; and the state and office which thou hadst. Ponder how often thou hast repeated thy wicked ways. Make to thyself as it were a little bundle of all thy Sins, that, as often as thou shalt unfold it, thou mayst easily see the Crimes and Wickednesses of thy former Life; and mayest therefore blush, be compunct, and humbled. 4. Exaggerate and aggravate thy Sins, by which thou, a despicable and vile Man, hast dishonoured and despised the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and Lord of highest Majesty, and hast done Him an infinite affront; and after a certain manner hast Crucified CHRIST again: Who, notwithstanding, has always most bountifully done thee good, and preserved thee. Pondering well this thy pride, perverseness, and ingratitude; humble, cast down, and put thyself beneath all the men in the world; yea, beneath all Creatures, esteeming thyself the vilest of all, and unworthy, whom the earth should sustain; but worthy, whom hell should swallow up, unless the Mercy of God hindered. 5. Ponder, how much God detests and punishes Sins, so that by His terrible and just Judgement, He has damned eternally very many, for one single Mortal Sin; as is manifest in Lucifer, and in the Angels who consented to him. It is manifest also, how much God was offended by one only Transgression, which our First Parents Adam and Eve committed. Now, What ought to have been done with thee, who hast so often offended the most holy King of Glory? Deeply considering these things, accuse and judge thyself, lest afterwards thou be judged by our Lord. Admire greatly, that all the Elements, and all Creatures have not risen up against thee, to revenge upon thee the Injury of their Maker. Be astonished, that the Earth has not opened itself, to swallow thee up alive, and has not transmitted thee into Hell; how the holy Angels also have been able to endure thy iniquities. 6. Finally, grieving with thy very Soul, or desiring to have Grief, and eyeing attentively JESUS crucified, and His bloody Wounds, cry out from thy heart, and say these, or such like words; Alas! O most pitiful Lord Jesus Christ my Creator, Redeemer, and Benefactor, I most unhappy, have so and so offended Thee, and contemned Thee; those and those Iniquities I have so often repeated; I have been so disobedient and ungrateful unto thee. But pardon me, I beseech thee, for thy immense Goodness and Charity, with which thou didst sustain for me thy most bitter Passion. When thou shalt with humility have said these or such like words, by no means despair, but resuming a full and amorous Confidence in God, purpose firmly, by his Grace, to mend thyself, and to avoid, as much as shall be in thy power, all Sins, not only Mortal, but also Venial, and the least. Meditation. II. Of Death. Division 1. TO think on Death beforehand, and diligently to prepare one's self for it, is true wisdom. And thou shalt be happy, if always, and every where expecting the Hour of Death; thou shalt so watch, as thou permittest nothing to reside in thy Conscience, which might cause thee anxiously to fear, although thou wert just now to die. It shall be well with thee, if, considering how vile thy Flesh shall be, thou art not proud, nor dost not follow Carnal delights. For, How miserable, I pray thee, is thy Flesh in this Life! How frail! how full of Filthes, which continually flow with an intolerable stench through all the passages, although outwardly it appear fair and neat! So that thy Body at present may rightly be called a sack of dung, and all kind of filth; but shortly it shall be an abject, corrupted, and putrid Carcase, and Worm's meat. 2. Think therefore that thou must shortly die, yea, perhaps to day, and must go hence into another unknown region; and must leave here riches, glory, honours, pomps, pleasures, friends, vanities; and all other transitory and perishable things, which thou inordinately lovest, or in which thou art now delighted. And indeed every day, every hour, and every moment thou approaches near thy death, and the last hour of thy life. Therefore compose thyself as if thou wert now to die. Think thy countenance to wax pale, thy mouth to be contracted, thy sight to be darkened, thy breath to fail, and the sweat of death to be now present; which testifies nature to be overcome. 3. Think, I pray thee, how great a trembling and horror will then seize thee, and how much thou wilt grieve, if thou shalt be unprovided, because thou hast not vigorously mended thyself. O how short will the time of thy life seem to thee? For it will appear like a dream, and a shadow: when thou shalt reflect that eternity is at hand, which shall never end. Perhaps thou wilt desire one little hour to correct thyself, but it is uncertain whether thou shalt obtain it. What will thy pride profit thee? what will it profit thee, if thou shalt now have followed thy own will, and the vicious passions of thy mind. O how sad wilt thou be, when thou shalt have lost thy precious time, or spent it unprofitably! How wilt thou be vexed that thou hast lived so wickedly, negligently & remissly! That thou wast so greedy to see, hear, and talk vain things! That thou hast not more manfully contemned the Allurements of thy Flesh and Senses, that thou hast been so slack to the mortification of thyself; and to follow true humility and charity, and to gather together all spiritual good things! Now therefore, whilst thou hast yet Time, amend thyself, and study to live better, and more holily. 4. Think, when thy Soul, galled with the sharp prickings of death, shall cease to see the light of this world, and shall begin with its inward eyes to behold the state of the other Life, and those things which before it would not believe: Cruel Beasts, and horrible troops of Devils will present themselves, by divers means endeavouring to ensnare thy same Soul, and expecting it to make a prey of it, if it shall have departed here without true Repentance. It is therefore good and healthful to Salvation, now to provide for ones self, to cut off bad and unprofitable desires; to leave vain and worldly things, and to convert one's self wholly to love and seek after Celestial and Eternal Goods. 5. Consider, how that thy Soul being gone out of thy Body, it shall immediately be presented before the Tribunal of a Terrible Judge, who cannot judge thee otherwise than thy works deserve, seeing that He is the Supreme and immutable Justice. In this particular Judgement thou must render a most exact Account of thy whole Life, of all thy Time spent unprofitably, of all thy Bad Works, of all the Good thou hast omitted, of all thy Idle Words, and of all thy Thoughts and inordinate Affections. The Devils shall propose all thy sins, and all thy negligences, which have not been blotted out by Repentance. Finally, a Sentence shall be pronounced by the Just Judge, concerning thy Soul, which shall never be recalled for all eternity: For, where the Tree shall fall, whether towards the South, or towards the North, there it shall for ever remain; and shall belong either to eternal Salvation or Damnation. 6. It is profitable for thee often to think on these things, that thou may'st with diligence Correct thy Life, and make thy Peace with God, before that thou shalt be called hence. This thou wilt do, if thou be'est wise. For our Lord God is very merciful, and receives most courteously all those who timely return unto Him by true Repentance: Because He wills not the death of a sinner, but rather that the sinner should be Converted and Live. Ezek. c. 18. & 33. Meditation. III. Of the Universal and Last Judgement. Division 1. NOthing can be imagined more dreadful, than that strict and terrible Judgement, by which God will judge all men in the Last Day. Very terrible Signs shall go before this Universal Judgement, to wit, a stupendious violence of Winds, tumultuous Rise of the Sea, unusual Workings of its Waves, vast Earthquakes, Fall of Buildings, knocking together of Mountains, breaking of Rocks, claps of Thunder, obscuration of the Sun, Moon, and Stars; sad roaring and bellowing of Beasts, miserable withering of Men for fear, etc. The Day of Judgement being now at hand, the world shall be set on Fire by the Divine Power, and so the Fire shall destroy and consume all brute Animals, and all Men which it shall find Alive. But the Supreme Judge will come in His Majesty, and with intolerable Anger. That dreadful Judge shall come in the Clouds of Heaven, with the Elders of the People, and with thousands of Angels, with the whole Celestial Host. Deservedly therefore the Prophet Sophonias, considering that great and bitter Day of our Lord, Sophon. 1. says, That Day is a Day of Anger, a Day of Tribulation and Straits, a Day of Calamity and Misery, a Day of Darkness and Gloominess, a Day of Clouds and Tempestuousness, a Day of a Trumpet and Noise. And blessed Hierom, says, Whether I eat or drink, or whatsoever else I do, the Noise of that dreadful Trumpet always sounds in the ears of my mind, Arise ye dead, come to Judgement. 2. Then all Men in a moment, having received their Bodies shall Rise again, and our Lord shall come down to Judge them. And the Elect indeed agile, beautiful, strong, splendid, rejoicing, and secure, shall meet the Judge; and being Raised from the Earth, shall stand in the Air on his right hand: But the Reprobate shall stand upon the Earth, heavier than Lead, infirm, deformed, stinking, vile, obscure, and miserably trembling, and shall be on his left hand. O! what horrid and unimaginable straits shall they sustain! With how unutterable a Terror and Fear shall they be strucken, when they shall see above them, an Angry and an Inflexible Judge, beneath them the Pit of Hell open, and gaping for them; about them the World on Fire, beside them a multitude of Devils Accusing them, within them a guilty and gnawing Conscience. All their Sins, and all the Secrets of their Hearts shall be manifest as well to Men as Angels. The Wicked shall seek to turn away their Face from the angry Countenance of the Judge, but shall not be able. Who also beholding the glory of the Just, Shall be troubled with a horrid fear, and sighing for anguish of Spirit, shall say, These are they whom sometimes we had in derision, we fool's deemed their Life a madness, and their End without honour. Lo how they are reckoned amongst the Sons of God, and their Lot is amongst the Saints. Wised. 5. 3. Christ our Lord will show to all his Wounds shining with an ineffable Comeliness, which truly shall bring to the Just a most sweet consolation, but to the Wicked a dreadful confusion. Christ himself shall then terribly reproach to all the Reprobate and Ungrateful, the benefits of his Incarnation and Passion: And they, with unconceivable grief shall acknowledge Him, whom they chose rather to slight and despise, than to fear and worship. 4. No Evil shall then remain undiscussed or unrevenged; but a strict Examen shall be made of all thy works, words, thoughts, and affections. The Justice of the Judge is not less than his Mercy; both is infinite. Wherefore thou must render an account of all the time granted to thee, of spiritual Gifts neglected, of temporal Goods ill expended, of Meat, Drink, and Alms, unworthily consumed. Thou shalt render an Account, not only for thyself, but also for those, to whom thou hast at any time set a bad example, and hast given an occasion of doing ill. As also, for all Sinners and Pagans, perhaps a grievous account shall be exacted of thee, for that thou hast not faithfully prayed for their Conversion. But chief thou shalt give an account for those who were specially committed to thy care. Innumerable sins, which thou dost not take notice of, nor acknowledge, shall then break out against thee, as it were out of ambush, and shall be objected unto thee. The least thoughts, and very minute words, which thou slighted, and reputed as nothing, shall then be discussed. Hence the Psalmist prays, From my hidden faults cleanse me O Lord. Psal. 18. Attend now that most hard and irrevocable Sontence of the just and angry Judge. For when he shall have said to those who shall be on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, etc. He shall say to those who shall be on his left hand, Go ye cursed into eternal fire. O sharp word! O word full of all horror and bitterness! This Sentence of eternal Damnation being pronounced, immediately the Earth, with a terrible crack, shall swallow up the wicked; and that fire, with which the world shall burn, involving them with darkness, and with all the filth and stench of the whole world, shall thirst them down into Hell, there to be for ever tormented. But these falling down into the depth of Hell, the Elect shall go up gloriously into Heaven, the same Reprobate beholding that very thing, and, to their greater Calamity and Misery, never forgetting it. O Despisers of the Law of God think seriously, I beseech you, how sharp it will be, to be in this manner separated from the society of God, and the B. Virgin Mary, and all the Citizens of Heaven! When Hell shall have received the wicked damned Wretches, it shall be shut, and stopped at the top like a pot, and no Devil or Man shall ever come forth thence. 6. Thou therefore, that thou mayst be able to avoid this unexpressible misery, confusion, horror, and straight, whilst the time of Mercy lasts, study to appease God, and to please Him. Bewail, and humbly, and sincerely confess thy Sins. Do not hid now from the Vicar of Christ, the Priest, what thou desirest should be hidden in that dreadful Judgement. Correct thy Life with all thy forces. Depart from evil, and do good. Psal. 36. Spend thy time profitably: Fly vain and foolish joys: Mortify, as much as thou canst, the vicious Passions and Affections of thy Mind. Now wisely fear, that thou mayst be then happily secure. Meditation. iv Of the Pains of Hell. Division 1. AS the Happiness of the Saints in Heaven is unutterable, so the Calamity of the Reprobate in Hell, is ineffable and incomprehensible. Do thou now imagine a place under ground, and a horrible Gulf: Behold a vast Furnace, all on Fire with Sulphur and Pitch, terribly burning, dark, smoking, stinking; full of men and devils. There is everlasting Horror, and never ending Despair; there's Gnashing of Teeth, and great Howling, and perpetual Blaspheming; there the Damned, for the sharpness of their Pains, by't their Tongues, and Curse the King of Heaven. 2. Consider that there is such Fire and Heat, and such Cold, as all fire and heat, and all cold of this world, in comparison of that Heat and Cold, is nothing. There they are forced to pass from intolerable Heat, to intolerable Cold. There they are most cruelly boiled and roasted. They feel most bitter Torments in every Sense, and in every Member: Their Sight continually beholds dreadful & horrid Faces of Devils. Their Hearing continually perceives the Lamentations & sad Cries of those, who continually cry out, Woe, woe, woe! Why were we created and made? Cursed be God who made us. This is the sad Song which is there continually sung. Imagine there to be Vessels full of all filthiness, to wit, Toads, Snakes, putrid Flesh of dead Carcases, and the filth and dung of Jaques' mixed together: And the Wicked to be drowned over head and ears in those Vessels, and against their will to smell, touch, eat, and drink that stinking Mixture. Thou canst imagine nothing so abominable and grievous, but there are there things more abominable & grievous. There every one is punished most in those Members, by which he has most sinned. 3. There the Devils insult over those whom they torment, and whom they have, and shall for ever have for their companions, saying, Where are now your Riches, where your Honour, where your Glory, where your Pleasure, where your Delights, where your Vanities? Who is so hard and mad, as not to conceive a profitable Fear from the consideration of these things? And, as not to amend his wicked and negligent Life? Assuredly whatsoever can torment, whatsoever can cause horror and abomination, shall for ever be seen, heard, and felt in Hell. 4. Consider moreover the inward punishment of the damned; for they shall be for all eternity deprived of the sight of God. They shall never see that blessed City, the celestial Jerusalem. God has cast them away, and they are delivered to everlasting oblivion; nor will He ever have mercy on them, Rom. 1. For they are vessels of wrath, in which the rigour and the severity of the Divine Justice is manifested. The Worm of their Conscience shall never die, but shall without ceasing gnaw and accuse them, for that for so short a joy, and so momentary a pleasure, they have lost eternal Happiness, and found everlasting Punishments. O Ponder! ponder diligently this Eternity of Pains. After a thousand thousands of Years their End shall be no nearer, because they shall never end; but in Hell there shall be a perpetual presence of all Evils, and a perpetual absence of all Comfort. 5. Lo such a Calamity is the Reward of those who fear not God, and continue in their Sins without true Repentance, until their Departure out of this Life. For there being in Mortal Sin an infinite enormity, by reason of the contempt of the immense God: Such a Sin (if it be not blotted out by Repentance) shall be punished with endless Pain. But thou who art yet in the time of Grace, leaving thy Vices and Vanities, without delay return to the Lord thy God, and He will receive thee, cleanse and heal thee. Fear Him, serve Him, love Him with all thy heart. For so thou shalt escape those Torments, which never are ended, never Intermitted, never diminished. 6. If thou art entered into Religion, thou must with all thy might tend to perfection, thou must lead an humble, pure, and signally Holy Life. But if thou hast a secular Heart and Religion, and livest negligently, and shall end thy life in such negligence, thou shalt be thrust down into Hell; or certainly shalt endure such sharp, horrid, and long pains in Purgatory, as if thou couldst now foresee them, thou wouldst die for fear and horror of them. Wherefore now, if thou be'st wise, thou wilt take diligent care for the salvation of thy Soul. Meditation. V Of the Life and Passion of Christ. Division 1. THe sin of the world could not have been taken away, unless the Creator of the world assuming human flesh, had abolished it with his own blood. Ponder therefore, how our Lord Jesus, the Son of the living God, the most high God, for the excessive love, with which he loved us, would be conceived by the holy Ghost, and be made man in the womb of the B. Virgin Mary: that thou loaded with thine Iniquities mightest not descend down into Hell. Thy God was made thy Brother. He was born a tender little Infant, in a poor Stable. He was wrapped in vile clouts. He was laid in the Crib of Beasts. He lay upon hay and straw. He was suckled by the breasts of a very poor Mother. He was Circumcised the eighth day, from his Nativity, and shed his Blood. Then he fled into Egypt. And so in his sacred Infancy, and Childhood, he sustained very many necessities, and grievances, with Mary and Joseph. 2. The sweet Jesus when he was about thirty years old, humbly received Baptism from his servant John. He fasted, was tempted, watched, preached, was wearied with journeys and labours. He endured with a most meek heart, three and thirty years, hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and innumerable grievances, and innumerable persecutions; and at length went to Jerusalem there to die for thee. 3. The sweet Jesus, when upon his knees, he had humbly washed the feet of his Disciples, and had wiped them with a Towel, and had instituted the Venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist, he went unto Mount Olivet. O how grievous, how unworthy, how sharp things did he suffer for thee. For he the Lord of highest Majesty, would tremble and be sad even unto death. He would be bathed in a sweat of blood, by reason of the vehemency of the anguishs, with which he was oppressed. He resused not to be kissed by the Traitor Judas, and as a Thief by wicked men, to be ignominiously apprehended, bound, led away, dragged, pushed, smitten. 4. The sweet Jesus, the Lord of Lords, vouchsafed to receive a cruel buffet from a servant of the high-Priest. He vouchsafed to be unjustly condemned, to be defiled with spittle, to be beaten with blows and buffets, to be reproachfully blinded, mocked, and scoffed. The most meek Lamb, did not in the mean while complain, nor turn away his face, from those who spat on him: but teaching us patience, and exhibiting himself a pattern of patience, he was dumb and opened not his mouth. Isa. 53. He endured with silence, revile, contumelies, disgraces, and many injuries. 5. Behold, sweet Jesus, the Holy of Holies, bespatred with spittle, and bound, is lead to Pilate, and before him falsely accused, but he humbly holds his peace. He is sent by Pilate to Herod, and is despised by Herod, and clothed in a white and ridiculous coat, as a fool, and so is sent back to Pilate. He is stripped in the Praetor's Hall, and inhumanely tied to a Pillar, and most cruelly torn with whips. His Virginal and delicate flesh was all deformed with bruises and wounds, and out of it ran on all sides down upon the earth rivulets of his precious blood. O what, and how sad a Spectacle was this! Truly he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our wickedness, and by his bruises we were healed. Isa. 53. 6. The sweet Jesus King of Kings, is Clothed in a Purple Cloak, to his greater reproach is Crowned with Thorns, and Wounded. Hence his Purple Blood flowed down plentifully upon his amiable face, and neck. A reed is put in his hand, and he is scoffingly saluted and adored; he is stricken with a reed, again he is spit upon, and buffeted. He is exposed to be gazed upon by the people, with a Crown of Thorns upon his Head, and a Purple Vestment about his shoulders. 7. The Sweet Jesus, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, carries his own Cross upon his bruised and hurt shoulders. He tastes upon mount Calvary wine mixed with myrrh and gall. Again he is stripped, and his wounds are renewed by the pulling off of his Garments. He is unmerciful stretched out on the Cross, and his delicate hands, and undefiled feet are transfixed with hard Nails, and the Joints of his most Holy Limbs are miserably loosed. Most Pure Blood Flows abundantly out of his sacred Wounds, as out of so many Fountains. Go to, Ponder, and Meditate profoundly these things. Take notice of the Bloody and saving wounds of thy Redeemer, Salute and Venerate them with a Devout Heart. 8. The Sweet Jesus endured most bitter Torments three Hours, Hanging on the Tree of the Cross betwixt two Thiefs. Lo, he is Mocked, and blasphemed! but he prays for his blasphemers, he prays for his Crucifiers. He deeply Compassionates his Sorrowful, and Afflicted Mother standing by, and Courteously speaks to her. Burning with a most grievous Thirst, Vinegar is given him to Drink. And forthwith bowing his Venerable Head he gives up the Ghost. The good Pastor lays down his life, for his sheep. He who gives Life to all things dies for thee. Afterwards his Side is opened with a Spear, and thence Flows out Blood and Water. Last of all, his Immaculate Body being taken down from the Cross, is laid in a Tomb, and buried. 9 Thou hast here a Spiritual bundle of Myrrh. See thou lay it diligently between the breasts of thy Soul. But whilst thou ponderest these things, behold with thy inward Eyes thy beloved Jesus Christ, not as a Pure Man, but Contemplate him as God and Man in all things, which he did and suffered. Consider diligently his deep humility and patience, his inestimable bounty, and most Ardent Charity. Admire! be amazed, imitate, compassionate him, and return love for love as thou art able. Adore, praise and glorify him, and give him thanks. Consider, I beseech thee, whether it be fitting, that the Son of the most high, the Supreme King of Glory, enduring for thee a most vile Caitiff, so great Abjection and Ignominy, and so great labours and torments, thou in the mean time, as if thou wert secure, shouldst give thyself to sports, and jests, to vanities and delights; little or nothing thinking of him, and living negligently, nay, perhaps wickedly! O! how ill at the last shall it go with those ungrateful and unhappy hearts, who little esteem so great benefits, such ensigns of love, and care not to ruminate the Passion of Christ! Far be it from thee. Meditation VI Of the Imitation of Christ. Division 1. LO, the Cruel, base, and horrible Prince of darkness the Devil, says to thee, hear and follow me, be Proud: and neglecting God do thy own will, love the world, and those things which are in the world, that thou mayst be Tormented with me in the horrible punishments of hell. On the contrary side, the Mild, Gracious, and Amiable King of Glory Christ, says to thee; Hear, and follow me; be humble, and despising the World, deny thy own proper will. Love God, and those things which are above, that thou mayst rejoice with me for ever in Heaven. Here now inquire and weigh diligently with thyself, whether of the two thou oughtest to hear and follow. Assuredly, thy reason manifestly cries, and shows, that thou oughtest to follow the Lord Jesus, thy most sweet Creator, Redeemer, Lover, and Benefactor. Which being so, do thou without delay join thyself to Christ, and say from thy heart: O Lord Jesus, I despising the Devil, from henceforth purpose, thy grace assisting me, to follow, imitate, and love thee my King. 2. Wherefore as Jesus Christ thy King, the most high God, humbled and emptied himself by assuming human flesh, and the form of a servant, by being born of a poor Virgin, by washing his Disciples feet, by most perfectly obeying his Father and Men: so thou must purpose hereafter to humble thyself under all things for his love. Thou must willingly submit thyself to all men; willingly serve all. Willingly take the lowest place, seeing thou art not worthy that the earth should support thee, by reason of thy sins and ingratitude. Thou must willingly perform vile and abject works, although thou shouldest therefore suffer some shame before men. Thou must willingly & readily obey men in lawful and convenient things not only thy superiors, but also thy equals, and moreover thy Inferiors. 3. Also, as thy King Christ was always meek and humble of heart, so thou oughtest hereafter to endeavour, that all rough and vicious motions of Anger be extinguished in thee. Thou must not be obstinate in thy own sense, nor adhere to thy own proper Judgement: but must wisely prefer the judgement and will of others before thy own judgement and will. Thou must from thy heart, repute thyself the most unworthy of all men, and renounce all vain glory and self complacence, as much as thou canst: acknowledging thyself of thyself, to be nothing, to be able to do nothing, and to have nothing but sins and defects. Thou must therefore never usurp to thyself any thing of God's gifts, but must attribute all good things to God, and purely refer them to him. Thou must choose and love rather not to be known and little esteemed by men, than to be known or praised. 4. Also as thy King Christ abstained from all vanity, pomp, curiosity, and superfluity in meat, drink, clothing, and other necessaries for his life; yea and chose most abject poverty in his Nativity and Death: so also thou must purpose hereafter to use all things moderately, and to be content with simple meat and drink, and simple clothing; removing from thee whatsoever is vain, proud, or altogether superfluous. 5. Again, as thy King Christ did not follow sensual pleasures and the delights of the flesh, but even thirsting drunk Gall and Vinegar, and adhered inordinately to nothing, and had most pleasing manners and behaviour: so thou must purpose hereafter, to reject all impure and sensual delights, and impure pleasures. Thou must restrain all thy senses, thy sight, hearing, taste, and touching, and also thy tongue from all excess, vanity, and curiosity. Thou must keep thy heart with all diligence, clean and free. Thou must not adhere by inordinate affection to any person, or to any perishable thing. Thou must shun immoderate laughter, and all lightness of manners. Thou must prudently decline noxious and superfluous conversations of worldly men, and occasions of sinning. Thou must spend the remainder of thy life, profitably to the honour of God, and with God's assistance, endeavour to live soberly, chastely, purely and piously. 6. Moreover, as thy King Christ endured unjust accusations of himself, revile, persecutions, and pains inflicted on him, most humbly, most patiently, most gently, and with a mind absolutely resigned: so thou hereafter must purpose, to endure patiently and gently reproof of thyself, injuries, reproaches, contempt, dolours, and all crosses for his love, taking all from his fatherly hand. Thou must resign thyself wholly, as well as thou canst, to his most just judgement, and most acceptable good pleasure: Thou must I say, leave thyself absolutely to him, permitting him to do with thee, to send to thee, to take away from thee, whatsoever he will, and as he will. Thou must renounce all thy own will. Thou must believe thyself to be worthy of all Tribulation, and that no creature can so much afflict thee, as thou deservest to be afflicted, by reason of thy infinite iniquities. Thou must not lightly complain, that any injury is done thee; nor say that thou sufferest any thing unjustly: because thou wilt always suffer less, than thou hast deserved. 7. Lastly, as Christ thy King, loving all men, and desiring the Salvation of all, prayed even for his enemies, and makes his sun to rise upon the good and bad: so thou must purpose hereafter sincerely to love all men, none excepted, desire the Salvation of all, and out of charity exhibit thyself, faithful, gracious, and sweet to all, especially to thy enemies. Thou must grieve, that so many Souls, stamped with the most Noble Image of God, do perish. Thou must compassionate the afflicted; Thou must despise no body, Judge no body, for rash judgements greatly hinder the grace of God. 8. Thou must diligently ponder these things with thyself. Thou must consider attentively how true it is, when in the foregoing points, Christ is said to have done this or that. Thou must wish from thy heart to be conformable to him, that the Disciple may be as his Master: and the most vile Servant must not be proud, the supreme Emperor showing humility in all things. Thou must examine thyself diligently in the particulars, and see whether thou hast an absolute will to fulfil by work, with the Grace of God, that which thou readest. For thou oughtest to be ready to this, without any tergiversation. If not withstanding thy nature repugning, thou perceivest thyself as yet less ready, thou must not therefore be too pusillanimous, but must do what is in thy power, and have a good will; renounce vices, and resign thyself as well as thou canst. Thou must pray to God that he would strengthen thee, and give thee those things, which are necessary for thy salvation, and are pleasing to him. If thou desire and endeavour thus to imitate thy King, thou shalt without doubt come to his Heavenly Palace, and shalt obtain everlasting Life and Glory, with all the Saints. Meditation 7. Of the Glory of Heaven. Division 1. THou must imagine that Celestial Country, to be as it were a most splended, glorious, and large City, built of most pure gold, and most precious Or, if thou hadst rather imagine it to be a most spacious Country, and adorned with all the beauty of grass, flowers, and trees, and filled with all fragrant sweetness and delight: where there is ever a most pleasant spring and delightful summer. Where there is pleasantness, rest, quiet, and peace surpassing all sense. 2. Thou wast created for the highest and infinite good, which is God. This good thou shalt have for the merit of the Incarnation and Passion of Christ, and shalt enjoy it for all eternity, if here thou shalt have worshipped God purely and holily in fear and love. Consider, that this most pleasant good contains in itself, superabundantly all nobleness, pulchritude, comeliness, elegancy, sweetness, delight, grace and perfection. This when thou shalt have obtained, thou shalt not be able to desire any thing more; for thou shalt find most fully in God, whatsoever may be desired. It is manifest therefore, that the Vision of God is most highly pleasant, and incomparably excels all delight imaginable. For if naturally thou willingly beholdest that which is beautiful, what, and how great joy will it be to thee, clearly to contemplate the divine Essence, which is the Fountain whence all beauty flows, and which is infinitely splendid, fair, comely, sweet, and delicious? O what does he see, what does he hear, what does he smell, what does he taste, what does he feel, who is united to God in Heaven? Truly eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have the goods and joys entered into the heart of mortal man, which God has prepared for his elect, 1 Cor. 2. 3. In seeing God, thou shalt see all things, and know all things which thou wouldst know. Thou shalt behold in God the order of the whole Universe and all truth. Thou shalt enjoy the highest good, & shalt always possess it, and thou shalt have in it whatsoever is delightful. Thou shalt be shined upon by the eternal wisdom, and shalt most abundantly taste the sweetness of the divine Peace. Thou shalt be wholly absorbed with the love of thy Creator, and shalt be transformed into him, and shalt always embrace him according to thy desire, and shalt be perfectly united unto him. Thou shalt see the bright & ever quiet Trinity, and thou shalt know how the Son is begotten by the Father, and how the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son; and how the Father loves the Son, and the Son the Father, and both the Holy Ghost. Also how the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are One GOD. Then thou shalt most perfectly praise God, and without any Irksomeness or Labour. Thou shalt praise him with all the Blessed for ever and ever. Now thou shalt never displease him more, but shalt please him in all things. 4. Thou shalt see the excellency, and beauty of the humanity of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. O! how wilt thou rejoice, beholding the Amiable Jesus exalted, and Glorious in his Kingdom! Who once in the world was for thy sake poor, despised, and afflicted. Thou shalt also see with ineffable joy, the Beauty and Glory of the most Sweet Mother of God the Virgin Mary. Thou shalt behold all the Orders of the Angelical Spirits, and how thousands of thousands Minister to their Creator, and that the Soldiers of God are numberless. Thou shalt know most perfectly all the Citizens of Heaven; thou shall know their inviolable peace, their most fervent Charity, their most Pleasant Society, their unshaken security, their Inenarrable Beauty, Splendour, and Glory. And all the Blessed are illustrious and glorious Princes and Kings. Thou shalt have most familiar, and perpetual society with Christ, and his most Lovely, and most Gracious Mother Mary, and with all the Blessed. Assuredly all the joys of the world Compared with the least joy of Heaven are mere bitterness. The vast Ocean does not so much exceed in quantity one single drop of water, as the least pleasure of the Blessed does exceed all the delight and pleasure, that ever was in the world. And the joys of Heaven shall never be ended, nor ever be diminished: Nor be interrupted for one single moment for all eternity. 5. Besides, when thy Soul in the Resurrection shall have received thy glorious body, what joy shall it thence receive? For thy very body shall be most splendid, and much more bright than the Sun: it shall be most sound, most firm, most beautiful, most pure, odoriferous, incorruptible, impassable, most subtle, and very agile. Whence thy soul with its glorified body, can be wheresoever it will, in a very short space of time: nothing can hinder it, nothing put a stop or impediment unto it. Thou shalt also (after the Resurrection) conceive exceeding great Joy from the happy renovation of this visible World: which shall be of a far more elegant form than now it is. For whatsoever is now in the World unclean, whatsoever is obscure and shady in the Earth, whatsoever is cold in the Waters, and whatsoever has power of burning in the Fire, all that shall go down into Hell. The Sun, and Moon, and Stars, shall be seven times more bright than they are now. Henceforth there shall be no Clouds, nor Hail, nor Rain, nor Winds, nor Lightning, nor Thunder. Night shall cease to be, a perpetual Day and Clarity succeeding, as well on Earth, as in the Heavens. The Air shall have more light than it has now; the Water shall be purer than it is now. The Earth shall be fair as Gold, and pellucid as Crystal, and plain as the palm of your hand. 6. Such things God has prepared for those who love him. O how unhappy are they, who for the most base pleasures, delights, and vanities of this World, deprive themselves of so great joys! But thou who readest these things, aspire and make haste to that never-fading Glory. Detest and fly all Sin, as much as thou canst: contemn all transitory things, love God, love all Men, and spend the time profitably which is allotted thee. The Conclusion. Admonitions concerning the Practice of these Meditations. 1. HE who exercises himself in the foregoing Meditations, may, nay, aught in some of them, to wit, in those which are more fruitful, stay more than three days: especially during the first Exercise, which Exercise precedes the repetition of the same Meditations. 2. It will be profitable, when he is to begin any Exercise our Meditation, that he read first the last division of the same Meditation, for in it commonly are put some things conducing to the right and profitable performance of the same Meditation. 3. If, whilst he is exercising himself he be overcharged with sleep; let him rise, and standing or walking continue the Exercise. He must diligently weigh with himself all the points and members of the Divisions, and freely stay in them. 4. Moreover, when he shall perceive himself to be solicited or alured to follow his vicious passions, Concupiscences, and inclinations, if holy love do not restrain him from evil, he must forthwith call to mind death, judgement, and hell, that at least profitable fear may restrain him. 5. He must very Carefully contain and bridle his tongue and senses: for otherwise he will never make any progress in true virtues. 6. That he may more speedily attain to a contempt of himself, and true humility, (without which no Virtue is of any value) he must very often exercise himself in an attentive and amorous consideration of the greatness of God, and of his Fidelity and Charity towards himself; and on the contrary, in the consideration of his own littleness, and of his unfaithfulness and ingratitude towards God, he shall say to God these, or such like things. O Lord who art thou? and who am I? Thou art the Lord of highest majesty, nobility, and dignity; Thou art the Creator of Heaven and Earth; Thou art the Immense God, the Omnipopotent God. But I am a most vile worm: I am unworthy, whom the Earth should sustain; I am nothing, I can do nothing. Thou hast been ever most faithful to me, loving me most purely, and bestowing upon me innumerable benefits; but I, alas! have been most unfaithful, and too ungrateful to thee, and am so still. He must perform the foresaid exercise purely to the honour of God. He must in his heart prefer every man, how wicked soever, before himself, and deem him better than himself. 7. He must accustom himself, frequently to recall and elevate his mind to God; and he must do this even amidst conversation, and when he is exercised in external works; lest his mind wandering and forgetful of his purpose, and too estranged from God, lose its inward purity, and ancient grace. He must piously attend the amiable presence of God, knowing that he always beholds all his thoughts, words, and actions. He must aspire after the spouse of his soul Jesus Christ, and maintain sweet colloquies of love with him. By this means he shall both pass this life with pleasure, and after the death of the body, he shall come to eternal joys of immortal life. Amen. A short Commemoration of the Life of Christ, divided into Articles Article I THe sweet JESUS, the Son of the living God, the most high God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth; for the exceeding Charity wherewith he loved me, would be conceived by the Holy Ghost and incarnate, in the most chaste womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; in which also he dwelled nine months. My God emptied himself, and taking the form of a servant, was made my Brother; that he might reduce me to his Heavenly Kingdom. O Ineffable Piety and inestimable Favour! what shall I return to my Lord? I offer and resign myself wholly to his good pleasure. To him be praise, honour, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Article II. THe sweet JESUS, the King of glory, the cause of my salvation, was born a Tender Infant in a poor stable, winter sharply raging. He was wrapped in clouts. He was reposed in the Crib of Beasts. He lay upon hay and straw. He was suckled by the breasts of a poor mother. The Son of God endured so great Poverty for my sake. To him be praise, honour, and glory, for ever. Amen. Article III. The sweet JESUS was circumcised on the eighth day from his Birth, his Mother sadly condoling with him. He was circumcised, and shed his most pure Blood for me a most vile wretch, and he would be called Jesus (that is a Saviour) for my comfort. Then he was revealed to the Gentiles, when the Sages guided by a star to Bethlehem to adore the little Infant, and with joy and reverence offered to him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article IU. THe sweet JESUS was presented in the Temple, and was redeemed with the sacrifice of the poor. He fled into Egypt, and there endured the incommodities of Poverty with Mary and Joseph. He was subject and obedient to the same Mary and Joseph. In his sacred Infancy, Childhood, and Youth, he suffered very many necessities and tribulations for my salvation. To him be praise, honour, & glory for ever. Amen. Article V. THe sweet JESUS when he was thirty years old, humbly received Baptism from his servant John. He fasted forty days and forty nights, dwelling with the Beasts in the desert. The maker of the World, the King of Angels, the Omnipotent God did not disdain to be tempted by the Devil, for my sake. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article VI. THe sweet JESUS was wearied with journeys, watch, and labours for my salvation. He preached, wrought miracles, bestowed favours. He suffered hunger and thirst, cold and heat. He endured with a most meek heart three and thirty years, innumerable grievances, and innumerable persecutions, and at length came to Jerusalem, that he might die for me. To him be praise, honour, & glory for ever. Amen. Article VII. THe sweet JESUS, the King of Kings, and Lord of the highest majesty, girt about him a linen cloth, and poured water into a Basin, and kneeling down, humbly washed the feet of his Disciples, and wiped them with a towel. O what an example did my Lord God give me? To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article VIII. THe sweet JESUS, out of the immense Love with which he most tenderly loves us, instituted the venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist, by a stupendious liberality, and a most sweet charity, giving and leaving to us himself in it. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article IX. THe sweet JESUS coming into the Garden of Olivet, he began to fear, and to be sad: so that he said, My Soul is sad even unto death; he humbly bended his knees upon the ground, and falling upon his face, he prayed to his Father three times; for my sake being excessively afflicted, he most fully resigned himself to his Father, saying: Father, not my will, but thine be done. Out of the vehemency of the anguishs with which his most meek heart was oppressed, he sweat Blood all over his Body, so that the drops ran down upon the earth. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article X. THe sweet JESUS burning with an earnest desire of redeeming me, and suffering for me, went out to meet his Enemies, and most courteously spoke to them. He refused not to receive a kiss from the traitor Judas, and ignominiously to be apprehended and bound (as a thief) by wicked men, that I might be absolved from the Bonds of my Sins. To him be Praise, Honour, and Glory for ever. Amen. Article XI. THe sweet JESUS (bound as a Malefactor) was led with disgrace to the house of Annas, and thence to the house of Caiphas the high Priest. My gracious and sweet Lord was dragged, pushed on, beaten, and blasphemed, by the Ministers of the Devil; but he bore all those grievous and unworthy things most patiently, for the love of me. To him be Praise, Honour, and Glory for ever. Amen. Article XII. THe sweet JESUS, Lord of Lords, endured most modestly for my Salvation a reproachful and cruel box on the ear, most unjustly given by a servant of the High Priest. And how shall not I hereafter in return for his Love, patiently endure the affronts that are done me. I beg, I wish, I desire to be strengthened and confirmed by his Grace. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XIII. THe sweet JESUS was falsely accused in the house of Caiphas; he was unjustly condemned; He was foully spit upon, and received horrible blows and buffets; he was scornfully blindfolded, the wicked smiting him, and in scorn saying, Prophecy unto us, O Christ, who it was that struck thee. Ah! that royal and amiable face of his, for me was defiled with filthy spittle; the most meek Lamb in the mean while did not complain: but teaching us Patience, he was dumb and opened not his mouth; he bore in silence for my sake revile, contumelies, reproaches, and all sorts of injuries. O how ill, and how unworthily was he handled that night! To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XIV. THe sweet JESUS, the Holy of Holys, and King of Angels, defiled with spittle, and bound, in the morning was led to Pilate, and stood before him with a loving countenance, and his eyes down. And when he was falsely accused by the Jews, he humbly held his peace, answering nothing. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XV. THe sweet JESUS (bound as a Thief) was sent from Pilate to Herod; who seeing him silent to his own idle questions, and to the false accusations of the Jews, he despised him, and clothed him in a white and ridiculous Coat as a Fool, and so sent him back to Pilate. The amiable Lord, at the pleasure of his Enemies, went backward and forward without contradiction, permitting them to do with him whatsoever they would. O how humble was the Obedience and Patience of the Eternal King! To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XVI. THe sweet JESUS was ignominiously stripped in the Praetor's Hall; he was inhumanly tied to a Pillar; he was most cruelly torn with whips for me; his delicate and Virginal Flesh was all deformed with blewness and wounds: and out of it ran down on all sides upon the ground streams of precious Blood. O sharp dolours! O sad spectacle! Indeed he was wounded for my iniquities, he was bruised for my sins: and by his wounds I was healed. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XVII. THe sweet JESUS for his greater ignominy, was clothed with a Purple Cloak; a Crown of Thorns was pressed upon his venerable head: and so his head being grievously wounded, most pure Blood abundantly flowed down upon his face and neck. A Reed was put into his hand: and he was scoffingly saluted and adored by the wicked, deriding him, and saying, Hail King of the Jews; he was smitten with a Reed: he was spit upon, and received cruel buffets for my sake. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XVIII. THe sweet JESUS was brought forth by Pilate, and shown to the furious Jews, wearing a Crown of Thorns and a Purple Vestment. But they asked with loud clamours, that he might be crucified. His head surrounded with thorns, his face stained with blood and defiled with spittle, his body cut with whips, his humble and pleasant Aspect did not move them to pity: I pray God they may move me to a most inward Compassion, and ardent Love of him. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XIX. THe sweet JESUS was condemned to die, by Pilate, and delivered up to the will of the Jews. Wherefore they forthwith laid hands on him, and loaded with the Beam of his Cross, they drew him out of the City. The sweet Lord carrying his Cross on his rend shoulders, was pushed forward, beaten, forced to make haste; the amiable Redeemer made the reproach of men and disdain of the people, humbly went forwards to the place of Calvary. O how much did the weight of his Cross load and afflict him, but more the weight of my sins! But he for my salvations sake willingly bore all Labour, and Dolour, and all Confusion. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XX. THe sweet JESUS being come weary and out of breath to Mount Calvary, he refused not to taste Wine mixed with Myrrh and Gall, which was offered unto him, that by this bitter drink he might expiate the faults which I have contracted by eating and drinking intemperately. O what a kind of refection was that of my Lord! To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXI. THe sweet JESUS was disgracefully stripped upon Mount Calvary: and by the pulling off of his Clothes his wounds were renewed; the mild and innocent Lamb of God was unmercifully stretched out upon the Cross by cruel men; his delicate hands and undefiled feet were cruelly bored through with bloody Nails; the joints of his most holy Members were miserably loosed. Purple Blood abundantly flowed out of his sacred wounds, as out of so many Fountains. O how hard a bed had the Spouse of my soul, extended on his Cross, and nailed to it for my sake. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXII. THe sweet JESUS hanging naked upon the ignominious Gibbet of his Cross, in the middle, betwixt two Thiefs, with his hands and feet transfixed, poured out most precious Blood, and suffered most bitter dolours for my sake; he was scoffed at, he was reviled with Blasphemies: but in the mean time he prayed for those who blasphemed him; he prayed for his Crucifiers, saying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXIII. THe sweet JESUS hanging upon the Cross, despised and wounded, graciously promised Paradise to the penitent Thief; he tenderly compassionated his Virgin-Mother, standing by the Cross transpierced with the sword of grief, and commended her to his Disciple St. John; and to the same St. John, and to us all, he gave her to be a Mother. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXIV. THe sweet JESUS, when he had for me endured immense torments, for three hours, upon the Cross, and his sacred blood being poured out, was most vehemently a thirst: he had Vinegar given him to drink; which having tasted, he, the Author of Life to all things, commending himself to his Father, and bowing his venerable head, gave up the Ghost. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXV. THe sweet JESUS, as soon as he was dead upon the Cross, forthwith descended according to his soul, out of exceeding Charity into Hell, and delivered the Fathers detained in Lymbus; for they at the coming of his soul, instantly were filled with the Light of Glory, and saw the most Blessed Trinity, saw clearly the Divine Essence. And this was that spiritual Paradise of which our Lord said to the Thief, To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. To him be praise, honour, and glory, for ever. Amen. Article XXVI. THe sweet JESUS, the good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. And the right side of his dead body was opened with a Spear, whence did flow forth to us blood and water; his amorous heart was wounded for me. O may this most sweet heart, this pleasant treasury of happiness, be salvation and comfort to me in my death: that after death I may be united to Jesus, and contemplate him for all Eternity. To him be praise, honour and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXVII. THe sweet JESUS died for me, whose immaculate body, when it was taken down from the Cross, his most blessed Mother received it into her Lap, kissed it, and wept over it; then Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped it in a clean winding sheet, and laid it in a Sepulchre; so that Jesus the immarcessible Flower of humane dignity, was buried for me. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXVIII. THe sweet JESUS coming the third day victorious out of his closed and sealed Sepulchre, by a noble triumph, arose from the dead: and the clarity of his most pleasant countenance being restored, he first exhilarated with a new joy his most dear Mother the Virgin Mary, than Mary Magdalen, and his other friends. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Article XXIX. THe sweet JESUS, on the Fourtieth day after his Resurrection, in the presence of his Disciples, filled with ineffable joy, gloriously ascended into Heaven: and afterwards sent them the Holy Ghost. He sits in Heaven at the right hand of his Father; and thence is to come in Majesty to Judge the living and the dead. To him be praise, honour, and glory for ever. Amen. Thirteen short Precepts, necessary for one who aspires to a perfect Life. Precept I. FOr the love of Jesus Christ, who suffered very sharp things for thy sake, renounce the pleasures of thy senses. When thou hast a mind, and desires to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, or speak any thing, remember that thou must not obey thy sensuality inciting of thee, but Reason and God speaking in thee. Yea, even be ready to want spiritual delights, according to God's good pleasure and ordination. And when thou art recreated with inward comfort and sweetness, have a care thou do not rest in it, nor abuse it to thy own proper pleasure. Precept II. KEep very diligently thy sight, hearing, and tongue, that they do not decline to unlawful, vain, and unprofitable things. It behoves thee to be vigilant and very wary in thy speech, that thou speak not more words, nor otherwise than is convenient. Let thy speech be succinct, plain, and quiet. Carefully rule and contain in good order all the Parts of thy Body. Avoid immoderate Laughter, and all lightness of behaviour. Precept III. DO not adhere to any Creature by inordinate affection, but die to all perishable things, and keep thy heart free from them: for in such a death, and in such a liberty does lie hid the most true and most pleasant life. Precept IU. BY an entire abnegation of thyself and resignation, diligently destroy in thee vicious passions and affections, and thy own will and self-seeking. But love dearly and only the Divine will, and ever wish it, and submit thyself wholly unto it; so that, whatsoever God wills, do thou also will. Every where seek rather the praise and honour of God than thy own profit. Precept V. IN all things which happen, wisely regard the providence of God, and securely commit thyself and all thy concerns to the Almighty; knowing that he has care of thee. Receive as from the hand of God, every adversity and tribulation (whether internal or external;) believing for certain that he has sent it for thy profit and salvation. 1. Then contentedly endure it to the very last; giving thanks to our Lord, and praising him, by whose permission and order it happened. 2. And thou must not be troubled for injuries that are done thee, nor impatiently complain to men of them. 3. But calling to mind thy own wickedness and ingratitude, think thyself worthy, whom all men should reprehend, chide, contemn, vex, deride, & even trample under their feet. 4. Wherefore art thou anxious, and dejected for the words of men, or for the temptations which thou sufferest? Let men think, and say of thee what they please, let the world rage against thee, let the devil rage against thee, (as much as God permits.) 5. Do thou in the mean time humbly and firmly repose upon the Almighty, and in silence conserve peace of mind. If thou duly weighest, how unworthy and sharp things, Jesus Christ thy Creator and Redeemer has suffered, thou wilt with a ready mind endure all things though never so grievous. Precept VI. DEpress and put thyself beneath every creature, considering thy own vileness, and thy own proper nothing. If thou thinkest thyself to be any thing, when thou art nothing; if thou foolishly within thyself magnifies thy own works or exercises, thou art indeed very Proud, and stinkest before God. Whatsoever good thou hast, it is Gods, not thine. Take heed therefore, lest thou usurp that to thyself which is Gods, see that thou do not thence foolishly boast, and please thyself, and for that indeed displease God. Judge thyself also unworthy the very lest gift of God. Precept VII. WIllingly do the will, and follow the Judgement of another in those things which are lawful, denying thy own will, and forsaking thy own sentiment. Ever obey most readily; because whatsoever is done by obedience, is very grateful to God: on the contrary, he abhors whatsoever is done by disobedience. Precept VIII. BE content with a few and plain things, after the example of our Lord Jesus, and Holy Mary his mother. Do not love vanity in thy apparel, nor luxuriousness in thy diet. And how ungrateful wouldst thou be, if thou shouldest murmur for thy meat or drinks being less savoury or delicate, when for thy sake Christ drunk gall and vinegar! If even such things as seem necessary are wanting, praise God, confide in him, who cannot forsake his servants, although sometimes he may profitably permit them to be pinched with want. Precept IX, SIncerely love all men, as thy brothers and sisters, having stamped upon them the noble Image of God. Show a loving and gracious countenance, and speak kind words to all, and especially to thy enemies and persecutors, by the sweetness of holy charity healing and extinguishing in thee, all bitterness of heart. Be ready to help and comfort all. Compassionate those that are afflicted, and those that sin. Rejoice for the virtues of others, as for thy own, and repute the misery of others as thy own; deeming every one to be thyself. Precept X. DEspise no body. Banish out of thy heart with great diligence rash judgements, and naughty suspicions. Accustom thyself to think well of all, With a simple heart, interpret the say and do of others to the best. Hearty prefer all men before thyself. Believe thyself to be the most ungrateful and vilest of all mankind. Say to thyself, say to God, I am not worthy the earth should sustain me. O if thou wert wise, how willingly wouldst thou for God's sake do the most abject works! How cheerfully wouldst thou serve every body! For even Christ our Lord took the form of a servant, being made man, and washed the feet of his disciples. Precept XI. STudy to please God, and not men; and desire rather to be despised, than to be praised or honoured. Precept XII. HAve pious and holy thoughts, and every where take notice of the presence of God, entertaining sweet colloquies with him, whether thou feelest or feelest not devotion. To recollect thy spirit, and to consider reverently the presence of God, these words often repeated may much help thee; O Lord thou God thou art always present with me, thou dwellest in the Fund of my Soul. Amen. Precept XIII. WHatsoever is not God, do not greatly care for it, nor deem it much to concern thee; for so thou wilt be be able by a holy introversion with a free mind vacantly to intent to God himself. And indeed it is the one thing necessary; which to obtain thou oughtest always to labour, strive, and do what is in thy power; yet so that thou wholly despair of thyself and thy own endeavours, and place all thy hope in God alone, in his only Mercy and Goodness, in the Sole Help of his Grace. For without God, thou canst do nothing but Sin. The Penitent Sinners Confidence in God. GOd never did despise, nor never will despise a contrite heart: He never did reject, nor ever will reject those who fly to him by true Repentance. If thou dost not cease to rise, he will not cease to receive thee. Wherefore although thou shouldst fall a hundred times, yea a thousand times; as often as thou fallest, so often rise again with a Holy Hope of Pardon; and rising again, give Thanks to our Lord, that he did not permit thee to fall more grievously, or to lie longer in thy Ruin. Thou canst not more dishonour God, or do him a greater injury, than if for the multitude, long continuance, or enormity of thy sins thou shouldst despair of his Piety, Mercy and Goodness. Permissu Superiorum.