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 PRELVDE.

BLessed are they who are cald to the Nuptial supper of the Lamb

1. Point. Cōsider the highest dignity (then which a greater cānot be ima∣gined) as wel of the soule, in loue which IESVS, which from an ab∣ject and base condition is aduanced to the Nuptials of God himself, as of the humane hart, wherein these diuine Nuptials are celebrated. Whence comes it, O humane soule, saith S. Bernard,a 1.1 whence happens this so in••stimable glory to thee, that thou shoul∣d••st deserue to be his Spouse, on whom the Angels wish to gaze? How happens this,

that he sho••ld be thy Spouse, whose beau∣ty the sunne and moone admire, at whose b••ck are al things changed: What wilt thou yeald to thy Lord for al he hath thus afforded thee, to be his com••anion at table, and compartener of his Kingdome; lastly his bed-fellow, and to haue the King him∣self to lead th••e into his chamber? And by and by behold with what armes of mutual charity, he is to be embraced, and loued againe, who hath made such reckning of thee; and at last: forget thy people, and thy fathers house: Forsake carnal affects, vn∣learne secular māners absteine from former vices, commit al naughtie customes to obliuion.

2. Point. Weigh how great, sin∣cere, and solid, the pleasures, are like to be, which the spouse pre∣pares for thee in the Nuptial sup∣per: suruey al things which vnder heauen, are precious delightful, and

deare to men, in the ayr, earth, or ocean Sea, and then reason with S. Augustine thus: Is, my Lord, thou af∣fordest so much to vs in prison; what wilt thou doe in the Palace? For since here al things are so exceeding good and delectable, which thou hast conferred on the euil as wel as the good; what wil those be which thou hast laid vp for the good onely? If so various and innumerable thy guifts are, which now thou equally distri∣bu••est to frends and enemyes, how great and innumerabbe, how sweet and dele∣ct••ble shal they be, thou wilt bestow on thy freinds only! If in this day of teares and mourning thou impar••st such things what wilt thou doe on the nuptial day? Hearest thou this my soule, and yet exclaymest not? Blessed be he who shal eate bread in the Kingdom of God.b 1.2

3. Point Attend to this also; how of the ten Virgins of the Ghospel c 1.3 being al Virgins indeed, that

is, espoused to Christ through true and sincere faith, and who had so∣metimes pleased the Spouse in cary∣ing lamps of good works in their hands, fiue were become foolish, and from the nuptials and wedding sup∣per on hard fortune! quite excluded. Beware thou be not of their num∣ber let thy lamp be alwayes bur∣ning, and sending forth light; let the oyle of charity abound in thy lamp, and euen, flow ouer, and es∣pecially take heed thou neuer sleep or slumber a whit, nor be surprized vnaware, suspecting nothing of death, or iudgement, or be vnproui∣ded. Haue continually ringing in thine eares, that voyce of thy Spouse Vigilate, so often whispered in thy hart, that when that cry shalbe heard Behold the Spouse comes, goe forth and meet him, thou maidst presently meet him chearfully comming to thee,

and with him enter into the wed∣ding. For woe and a thousand woes to them, who vnmindful wholy of so great a good, and deafe to the words of God, being taken nap∣ping drown'd in sleep with their lamps extinguished, and so exclu∣ded from the sweetest nuptials of the lamb, shal be forced to cry out in vayne, Lord, Lord open to vs; on whom that iron bolt shal be obtruded, I know you not, or that wholy as lamen∣table; The gate is shut.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Bern. ser. 2. de mut. aquae in vinum.
• b 1.2

  Luc. 14.
• c 1.3

  Mat. 25.