The exercise of a christian life. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie, of the Societie of Iesus. And newly translated into Englishe. by I.S.

CERTAINE particuler aduertise∣mentes touching the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conteined in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 former Chapter.

¶ Cap. 8. (Book 8)

TO THEND thou maiest with more fruit and spiritu∣al aduauncement make the meditatios mentioned in the former Chapter, it behoueth thee to obserue therin these few aduiies folowing.

FIRST, concerning those points of the passiō, wheron thou art to medi∣tate; thou must vnderstand, that they are in suche wise to be meditated, as though they happed euen in that in∣stant before thin eyes, in the selfe same place where thou art; or within thy soule; or otherwise imagining thou wert in the very places where suche thinges 〈◊〉〈◊〉 if haply this waies thou feelest better deuotion.

SECONDLY, thou must force thy self to drawe some doctrine and spiritual fruit out of the thinges thou medita∣test; as for example, to note in euery

ouer and aboue that is already sayde; these foure pointes; what he is that * 1.1 suffred; what thing he suffered; in what maner; and for whē he suffred.

OVT OF the first thou maiest ga∣ther an immeasurable loue thou ow∣est * 1.2 to so louing a Lorde; who being God almightie, and of infinite Ma∣jestie; hath vouchsafed to suffer so great tormentes and iniuries for thee so vile and abhominable a bodslaue; sithens if another man were he neuer so abiect had suffered the like or much lesse for thee thou wouldest loue him with al thy heart; and paine thy selfe to be grateful towards him.

OVT OF the second point thou maiest picke forth matter of great * 1.3 compassion; weighing thy Sauiour thus fraight with excessiue griefes; alone; persecuted; blasphemed on euery side; and from toppe to toe al wholly wounded; that but if thou sawe a brute beast suffer the like; thy heart would melt againe with pitie and compassion.

OVT OF the third point thou mai∣eh * 1.4 gather meruailous examples to imitate him in. Learne firste to be humble and lowly, pondering that bottomlesse humilitie, wherewith he humbled him selfe, euen vnto death. Learn to be patient, considering that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 patience wherwith he en∣dured suche tormentes and villanous spites; without making any resistance or lamentation. Learne to loue po∣uertie; seing him so extreme poore; hanging naked vpon the Crosse; and buried afterwardes in another mans sepulchre: as also al his life time, ha∣ning nothing of his owne; nor where to rest his a 1.5 head. Learne to loue thine enemies; seing with howe great cha∣ritie he praied for those that crucifi∣ed him. Learne to be constant and perseuerant in suche good workes as thou takest in hand; and not to geue them ouer for any toiles or crosse en∣counters; considering the firme con∣stancie of Christ, wherwith 〈◊〉〈◊〉

so many toiles, contradictions, and tormentes, he perseuered vntil death; and therwith finished the worke of our redemption, Finally, out of this point, if thou canst consider it at lei∣sure, thou maiest learne innumerable vertues; and most worthy examples; which shine forth in euery passage of his passion.

OVT OF the sourth thou majest * 1.6 gather a great and general charitie towards al men, and to despise none, seeme he neuer so vile and contemp∣tible; considering that our Lord hath spilt his moste pretious bloud for him, and for al men in the world; nei∣ther is there any so wicked and lewd a wretche, for whom alone (if neede, had bene) he would not haue suffered al the tormentes he suffered; Learne thou therefore, seing this his infinite charitie towardes al men; to loue al men, and to make accompt of al men; Learne besides to detest sinne aboue al thinges, remembring thee howe

that was the onely occasion of our Lordes most cruel death and passion.

THIRDLY thou must vnderstand, concerning the foresaid meditations, that if at any time it so happed, that in suche pointes as be set downe to vpon, thou haply foundest in the firste or seconde of them good deuotion; the in maiest thou stay so long as thy deuotion shal last; not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to passe ouer to the other pointes remaining behinde, in that meditation; for if thou chaunce to leue some vntouched that time, thou maiest another day supplye this want; In like maner meane I, if tho∣rough any vrgent affairs thou shoul∣dest some-time omit thine exercise or appointed houre, that then thou force thy selfe to supplye that want with a newe houre; and if not on the same, yet on some other day.

FOVRTHLY thou must procure * 1.7 by al meanes possible to cherishe

and interteine thy deuotion and god∣lye purposes, with other good giftes whatsoeuer thou mightst haply haue receaued in the time of praier. And this shalt thou doo by indeuouring thee to go as retired and gathered in the day time as thou maiest; calling eftsons to minde what thou earst did meditate and receaue; especially whē thou hearest the clock strike; or other wise as thou maiest.

Now if on thother side it so chaū∣ced * 1.8 thou were disquieted with diuers forraine thoughtes (as it eftsons hap∣peth) and thereby shouldest remaine without any deuotion or taste in thy praier; yet oughtest thou not for al this to geue ouer thine exercise, vntil thy time be fully finished; sithens ma∣ny times, yea most commonly it fal∣leth so out, that one findeth him self colde, and without taste or tallage in the beginning; and afterwardes tho∣rough perseuerance in his praier ga∣thereth heate and findeth good de∣uotion

Yea, when it so chaunced, as thou shouldest not finde any taste or sauour at al in the whole time of praier; neither yet ought this to dis∣maie or make the quaise; but rather beleeue assuredly, that suche is our Lorde his good pleasure at that time, thereby to trye and exercise thy pa∣tience, thy loialtie, and perseuerance; like as he dealt with the woman of a 1.9 Cananea, whom albeit he seemed at the firste to make none accompt of, yet did he afterwardes moste aboun∣dantly comfort her, honour her, and graunt her her desire: Wel therefore maiest thou assure thy self, that looke how much more patiently thou bea∣rest this drouth and barrennes of thy soule; so muche more fruites hath thy sonle accumulated and heaped vp. Thinke moreouer, that albeit thou hast not found that deuotion and at∣tention thou wishest for; yet hath our Lorde shewed him selfe fauourable

and frendly to thee in suffring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to remaine so longe time in his pre∣sence; and so no doubt but the time spent in this maner is muche more fruitfully imploied, then in such o∣ther works as may seeme farre better to thee; and if thou finde no deuotid & at one time; wel maiest thou hope in Gods mercy that another timo it shal please him to comfort theo so plentifully, that thy former wantes shal thereby be more then sufficient∣lye rewarded. And beleeue this assu∣redly, that how much the more thou shalt perseuer in this exercise; so much the more profite and pleasure shalt thou finde therby; besides other maruelous gifts which are not know en nor perceaued at the first.

Neuerthelesse for that by reason of this desire (being cōmon and natural to eche one to couet a tast and deuo∣tion in their praiers;) diuers are wont in seeking by force and violence, to wrest it out, to doo therin greatlye a∣misse;

as by that meanes both op∣pressing their vnderstanding; and dulling their affect and wil;

FIFTLY, it is meete to aduertise thee herein; that in the passages of the passion, or any other holy misteries thou shalt meditate vpon; thou con∣tent thee with a simple & quiet spe∣culation of such points as thou thin∣kest of, and with that affection and taste God shal vouchsafe to bestowe vpon thee, without forcing thine vn∣derstanding * 1.10 or imagination to spe∣culate and imagine thinges more plainly; ne yet thy wil to feele and taste the same, by wringing out affec∣tions and teares with violence: for these immoderate excesses both of thone and th' other side, are wont ra∣ther to hinder then helpe deuotion, hurting the head with that inorde∣nate toile; and when this violence of the part affectiue is once past; the wil then doeth remaine more colde

and without taste, make thy medita∣tion therfore with quietnes & peace; waiting with patient silence what our Lord shal worke in thee; and hol∣ding thy selfe contented therwith, as is aforesai de.

FIFTLY, (to aduertise thee in eue∣tye thing) knowe this by the waye, that if thou find paine and disquiet∣nes in kneeling (for so must thou needes dispose thy selfe in the begin∣ning) then maiest thou rise vp, and stande, sit, or walke; as thou thinkest most meet for obteining that quiet∣nes and rest thou desirest in thy soul.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Foure notable pointes to be consi∣dsred.
• * 1.2

  1 Who it is that suf∣fered.
• * 1.3

  2 What thing he suffred.
• * 1.4

  3 In what maner he suffered.
• a 1.5

  Mat. 8. b
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 For whō be suffered.
• * 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉
• * 1.8

  A docu∣ment wor∣thie great obseruatiō
• a 1.9

  Mat. 15. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.10

  Violence in medita∣tion great ly hurtful.