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.

VVhen Lucifer, foyled by the in∣uincible forces of Michaela 1.1 that great Leader of the heauenly Hoast, with his factious and rebel∣lious squadrons, was cast downe headlong into Hel, a new light was seen to shine in heauen, new peace to smile, new loues to burne, & new delights to powre forth themselues.

Besides, the glorious victories a∣cheiued vpon the Moabits, Iebus••ans, and other barbarous Nations, either expulsed or els constreined at least to pay tributes to the people of Israel,

bred a general peace and ioy to the whole Palestine.

But alas! the Leader of this infer∣nal Legion, thus precipitously throwne downe, what a dreadful terrour brought he vnto sea & land? For hence amid the ioyful & trium∣phant acclamations of the blessed Angels, this verse was rung into the eares of miserable mortals, Woe to sea and land, because the deuil in a great rage descendes vnto you.b 1.2

Hence truly, the open springs of al our euils, hence flow our teares, hence these so many snakes deriue their being, which occupy and so cruelly torture our minds. But what is this? I am deceiued. For me-thinks I see a huge shole of serpents, cha∣sed away from the lurking den of the hart. But alas! how I feare, least the enemies in their flight may leaue therein some impression or print be∣hind

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them. Surely thou excellent Dauid didst daily exercise thy self, and sweepst thy spirit, as thou hast written of thy selfc 1.3 yet with al thy study and exactnes, doe what thou couldst, thou couldst neuer bring to passe, but some little dust would al∣wayes yet remayne, or slimy trace be left behind, at least from the trai∣ling of those serpents.

It is very wel: IESVS with new brooms in the Chapel of the hart stands sweeping out the dust, least ought should escape his industry or eyes. O admirable thing! The bles∣sed Spirits, stand amaz'd at this, ei∣ther lowlynes of mind, or officious diligence of his, and yeald him thanks for that benefit bestowed on man. Goe to then, O thou victo∣rious and triumphant IESVS, spurne, trample this Hydra, a beast of so many wicked serpents heads,

kil him with thy flames, that here∣after he may haue no enterance or place in thy Sanctuary. And thou, most Blessed Dearling of my hart, fortify and preuent al the wayes & passages of the enemy, and place strong Guards at the entryes and gates thereof, least happily they steale or rush in any where; for they are not al of one and the self-same kind. Some there are which like dragons with a foule & vgly flight corrupt the ayre; some like Aspikes and vipers, craule on the ground, some sodainly peep vp like lizards, and leap away againe; others like touds lye lurking at the very gate of the hart, vpon aduantage, yet slouthful the while. These like bats be stirre themselues by night only; they on the contrary of the race of harpyes or hauks, appeare by day, and attend their prey: So great ne∣cessity

thou hast, deare soule, not to be idle at any tyme or place. Nor yet truly as soone as they are thrust out▪ by the powre and industry of IESVS, is al the busines quite done: For then the banished pests euen choake the aire againe with an intollerable stench, thunder & light∣nings, cast forth outrageous stor∣mes, they tumult, they rage, they mutiny, they trouble al things, and euen menace and threaten al extrea∣mities, vnles (which they clayme as their right, and exclayme to be their due by title of victory) they may be suffred and haue leaue to returne to their ancient home, againe. But thou my sweet IESV, open the earth the while with a horrible rupture, and fold them vp with a like ruine, to that, wherein of old thou threwest to Hel the double prodigyes, those spirits, refractory and rebellions to

thee. And that they may neuer be seen or heard of more, or raise any new tumult, being-bound, and sent to those dismal vaults beneath the ground, damne them to eternal dark∣nes; that they may loose al hope of returne againe, or raging any more.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Apoc. 12.
• b 1.2

  Apoc. 12.
• c 1.3

  Psal. 76.