The devout hart or Royal throne of the pacifical Salomon. Composed by F. St. Luzuic S.I. Translated out of Latin into English. Enlarged with incentiue by F. St. Binet of the same S. and now enriched with hymnes by a new hand

THE PREAMBLE to the Meditation.

THe pacifical Salomon in those dayes of old had built him a Throne of iuory* 1.1 six degrees or steps in height, on both sides where∣of watched a Lyon, very exquisitly wrought, the truest symbol of regal Maiesty; and likewise for the people beneath in the midst of the Temple he erected a very eminent and sta∣tely Chapel. And so to thee Immor∣tal God; the heauen is a Throne the earth a foot-stoole. For thou sit'st (as sacred scripturesb 1.2 tel) vpon the wings of Cherubins, whence thou giuest Oracles, prescribest lawes to the world; and euen with the only looke, maiesty, and state, becomst most terrible to the haughtiest mids. Hence thou exactst iust punishments

from the damned: hence thou ine∣briatst the blessed Citizens of Hea∣uen, with the nectaral honey of thy goodnes: lastly hence thou carrousest cups mingled with the gal of iustice, and honey of pure goodnes, to the earth, suspended betweene heauen and hel. Besides in the triumphant Church the celestial spirits, whom we cal Thrones, are thy royal seat; and in the militant, the sacred Altar is thy lodging chamber, where thou sweetly takest thy rest.

But nothing is thine owne so much or due vnto thee, with a better title, then the hart of man, which with a low abasement of thy self, and a singular obedience to thy father, thou hast lawfully recouered and bought with the price of immense labour and paynes; yea redeemed with thy bloud, & a shameful death on the Crosse. Here, o pacifical

Salomon, thou rulest, there thou com∣maunds with a beck, in this soyle or seat, as in thine owne dominion, thou swayst in that manner, as there is none so bold or of so impudent a face, that dares, vnbidden, step in a foot, or, not touched with the point of thy golden scepter,c 1.3 looke in a-doores. Here thou hea∣rest the humble suits, and petitions of thy subiets, here thou stiflest lewd desires, putst a bridle on the rebel∣lious senses, tamest the insolence of carnal concupiscence, sweetnest the acerbity of labours. And, (O most happy kind of gouernment!) thou alone sufficiently sillest the whole hart, attended with a most happy trayne of heauenly Citizens which thy retinew or Court can neuer de∣part from thy side, or vanish from thine eyes; so strongly tyest then the minds, harts, and loues of al vnto

thee. Moreouer in the basis or foun∣dation of this royal edifice, stands faith, more cleere then any Chrystal; in which glasse of Eternity, mans hart sees and beholds the past and future things. The whole frame su∣steines it-self, on that, thy surest and most constant truth; where with thou proppest and holds it vp. For if faith leane not vpon thee, it cannot hold the name or dignity, of faith. Now the steps by which they as∣cend into this Throne of the hart, are those which the Kingly Prophet insinuats, where he sayth: They shal passe from vertue to vertue.d 1.4 Humi∣litie lyes in the lowest place, obe∣dience followers, anon pietie ari∣seth then patience shewes it-self; re∣signation attends and perseuerance tops and crownes them al. The foū∣dation faith consists of Iaspar, each stair shines with his special gemmes.

The first, is black with ieat, the se∣cond, greene with the emarald, being the colour of hope, the third glissens with the purest chrystal, the fourth is hard with the adamant, which no contrary violence or force can ma∣ster; the fift euen sprinckles fire with the chrisolite, but the Carbuncle, the sixt, flashes forth both fire and flames at once: yet thou midst al, my sweetest IESV, o prodigy! not only sits secure, but euen deliciatst thy self.

There are besides, two litle co∣lumnes or pillastres of this Throne; loue appeares on the right hand, and feare of thy iustice is to be seen on the left: yet sitst thou so venera∣ble with diuine Maiesty, in this hu∣mane seat of the hart; as the face of thine enemies, cannot behold the dignity of thy countenance, or endure thy aspect. There thou

giuest precepts, and art presently obeyed; commaundst, and thy heasts performed in a moment. The Angels themselues, euen the Che∣rubins and Seraphins, tremble to approach any neerer; as who know wel enough, this litle region to be properly thine, so only made for thee, and so due to thee by right of purchase, as whatsoeuer is lesse then thee, or shorter then eternity cannot please or satiate the hart; grown proud of such a Lord. For it is hun∣gry and thirsty, nor liues conten∣ted with any owner, vnles thou fix the seat of thy kingdome in its pre∣cincts. If thou beest present with it desires no more; if absent, come in al created things at once, & wooe it neuer so much, there wil yet be place enough for more. If thou getst from thence, al felicity departs with thee: if thou abidest, al beatitude

comes sodainly thither. Raigne the∣refore, and eternally raigne in my hart, O loue of my hart. Quiet the motions of perturbations, nor euer suffer the vnhappy hart; to thrust the King out of his seat; then which cannot happen a greater disastre to it. Nor suffer I say, o darling and delight of my hart, that one hart should be shared into many parts. For thou sufferest no riual. Oh suffer it not euer to be enticed with the allurements of worldly pleasure, which gate being once set open, I see how easily the enemy wil rush in. Be thou to it a brazen, yea, a wal of fire, which may so roundly girt the Tower, as that no passage may be found vnto it. But that only the Holy Ghost may come downe from Heauen, whereto the hart lyes open and enter therein, with a ful gale and occupy the whole hart;

that so I may truly professe and glory, My beloued to mee and I to him.e 1.5

Notes

• * 1.1

  3. Reg. 10.
• b 1.2

  Psal. 17.
• c 1.3

  Ester, 5.
• d 1.4

  Psal. 83.
• e 1.5

  Cant. 2.