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

I. MEDITATION.

The Preparatory Prayer.

Actiones nostras quaesumus, &c.

FIRST PRELVDE.

IMagin God being in Heauen, sea∣ted on the Cherubins, most highly blessed, and in essential perfection infinit, to require here on earth an Inne to lodge in.

2. PRELVDE.

Imagin the Tabernacle erected of old, through diuine precept, by Moysesa there the Temple by Salomonb most sumpteously and magnificently built, and therein the Propitiatory reposed whence diuine Oracles were afforded to men.

The hart of a pious man & a Temple of the Godhead, and hath

three parth with it, whereof the first the mind, is to be seen in the vpper place. Here God in the production of things, as in a high Altar, pro∣poseth the omnipotency to be seen and worshiped in the gouern'ment of them the highest wisdome, and the infinit goodnes in the conserua∣tion. The interiour part of the Tem∣ple is the other portion of the hart, the wil; and here that infinit either goodnes, or beauty aboue al things, exhibits it-self most amiable. Lastly for the out most face of the whole Temple stand the exteriour senses which, as reason, & true piety would, religiously obey the wil comman∣ding duly diuine things.

2. Point▪ Moreouer, the Consecra∣tion of this T̄eple, the hart I meane deuoted vnto God, is performed with the same ceremonies, our Temples rightly dedicated are. The manner

of sanctifying Temples is, to strew the pauements al with ashes; to af∣fige twelue Crosses on the wal; to burne as many tapers set before them, to haue water blessed after the solemne formulary of Proces∣sions, and in the Ashes sprinckled on the ground, the Greeke & Latine Alphabet scored out. So his hart that would be the Oratory of the God-head, should first be imbued with humility and the knowledge of his owne nothing; be illustrated with excellent faith, signed with the loue of the Crosse and mortifi∣cation, as wel inward as outward, be instructed by the Holy Ghost; and lastly, in like manner, purely, and holily to be cleansed, with the hea∣uenly waters of diuine graces.

3. Point Now then the hart thus dedicated, with so many, and so chast ceremonies, is so in the power and

worship of the diuinity, as hereafter without a great sacriledge, and a hainous crime, it may not be viola∣ted; & therefore thence forth, by no meanes, should euer any sordityes be seen there, or, as things prophane, the idolesc of worldly fantasies, be there suffred to haue admittance.

4. Point. The Oratory of the hart should rather be dressed & adorned with the worthy tapistries of vertues and heauenly ornaments; and great care be had, that neither by night nor day the incense of prayer, the fire of diuine loued the golde of cha∣rity be wanting, or frequent vowes, prayers; holocausts, or the rest of victimes euer faile.

THE COLLOQVY.

ARe we then to thinke that God truly inhabits on the earth? Since if Hea∣uen, and the Heauens of Heauens be not able no conteyne thee, how much less, this house?a What? My deare then (O loue!) it's euen thy place, thy Temple,b thy seat, thy Tribunal? My IESVS the delight of my soule, gr̄at this day I beseech thee, thy diuine presence may consecrate my hart to thee, as I truely, freely, and volun∣tarily vow, giue, and dedicate the same to thy Maiesty. Possesse it with the best right and assure it with so firme a tye, as I may not recouer it againe by any law or tyme surely I wil not; but from this Propitia∣tory, begin thou to giue Answeres; yea send downe from heauen, the fire of the Holy Ghost, now presen∣tly to consume the hoasts, and ho∣locausts laid on thy Altar.

Pater. Aue.

Notes

• a

  Exod. 26.
• b

  3. Reg. 6.
• c

  Ezech. 8.
• d

  Leuit. 6.
• e

  Apoc. 3.
• a

  3. Reg. 8.
• b

  Reg. 18.