A spiritual spicerie containing sundrie sweet tractates of devotion and piety. By Ri. Brathwait, Esq.

A Divine Dialogue; Or A Comfortable Conference betwixt our SAVIOUR, and a SINNER.

Sinner.

PArdon mee (I beseech thee) my most graci∣ous Lord Jesu CHRIST, thy most unworthy and unhappy Servant, desirous to talke a while with thee, and of thee.

Christ.

Why, Who art thou?

Sinner.

A sinfull man, who un∣happily and rashly have fal∣len into the misery, and fil∣thinesse of sundry sinnes, and much more unhappily am ready to fall into eternall mi∣sery, and calamity after the end of this life.

Christ.

Thou needest not feare this fearfull fall, if thou wilt but doe so much as tru∣ly repent thee of thy sinnes committed, and henceforth abstaine from those sinnes whereof thou hast repented. For I, most tender in my compassion towards thee, out of meere love descended from the royall Throne of mine high glory, to unmea∣surable dolour and anxiety, all which I willingly suffe∣red

in my flesh, in my mind, in my members, and senses, to the end that I might deli∣ver thee from the eternall torments of hell, and bestow on thee the joy of Heaven. Doubt nothing therefore touching thine offences: I will forget them all, so thou forget thine evill affection, and depraved custome. I will forget, (I say) and blot out thine iniquity, and as farre distant as the East is from the West, so farre will I divide thee from thy sinne: I will cleanse thee: Neither will I cease till I fulfill thee throughout: that, Where sin hath abounded, grace likewise may superabound. Yet I would beloved, I would be trusted, I would with sighs and teares

be intreated, than which no sweeter melody can unto me be tendred.

Sinner.

O my crucified JESU, I know I am dearer to thee than I am to my selfe; for to thee I am alwayes deare, who (as it is written) Lovest all things that are, and hatest no∣thing of those which thou hast made. But man is not alwaies equally deare to himselfe as he is unro thee: because hee that loveth iniquity, hateth his own•• soule.

Christ.

This have I shewn in the continuall sorrowes of my whole cru••ified life. For I received the Crosse of my Passion in the Womb of my mother, and continually bore it in my heart, and con∣firmed it with much austerity

in my body. So as that I might purposely shew the unmeasurablenesse of the sor∣rowes of my soule; my finall passion then approaching, it was my will to sweat blood thorow all my members, and that, (which lay hid as a se∣cret of my crucifying, from the wombe of my Mother) with sensible signes, to re∣veale to my faithfull ones, which seemed fittest to be at my passage, and poin•• of death.

Sinner.

I conceive (my good JESU) how in that bloudy sweat, with which thou wert deep-died and engrained in all thy members, thy blessed soule wholly suffered, be∣cause it is whole in every part of the body, yea and the

very life of the body. But tell me what thou requirest of me, for so great anguish continually sustained for me?

Christ.

Onely to love me againe. For to this end have I suffe∣red my passion, that I might purchase thy affection.

Sinner.

Surely most worthy art thou to bee loved, because thou art good in thy selfe: and none good but God alone: And because thou art the Lord, delivering from the power and slavery of the De∣vill: And because thou art God, forgiving sinnes, which none forgiveth but God alone: And because thou lovest those that love thee: Whence it is that thou say∣est, I love those that love mee:

And because thou hearest those that begge of thee: whence one saith, I have lo∣ved the Lord, because hee will heare mee. Thou also, as the peace of charity, comming into the world, to warme and inflame the cold and lukewarme, hast said, I came, that they might have life: to wit, the life of grace in this life, and more abundantly, to wit, of glory in the life to come.

Christ.

Surely there is nothing, which may so inflame the fire of Gods love in thy heart, as a continuall consideration and meditation of this speech of mine: I came, that they might have life, and that more abundantly. And of that much like unto this: So God

loved the world, as he gave his onely begotten Sonne.

Sinner.

Truly wretched and mi∣serable is hee, in whose heart the fire of love is not kind∣led, when hee considereth these things, wherein the Charity of God hath chiefly appeared. But, ô thou only begotten of God, suffer not my heart to bee so frozen, or benummed with this icy con∣gelation, but rather through thy mercy, in the remem∣brance of these thy Words, like Snow melting by the heat of the Sunne, let me say with that princely Prophet: My heart is become as melting wax.

Christ.

Humane impiety before the time of my passion, tooke occasion of being unthank∣full:

For man being created, but not as then redeemed, said,

I am no more bound to God, than other crea∣tures be: For he spake the word, and I was made; hee hath bestowed no more la∣bour on me than any other brute creature.

But now the mouth of these that speak wickedly is stopped, and no place now is left for un∣thankfulnesse. For I have la∣boured more in the sole re∣demption of man, than in the whole frame and fabrick of the World. For of a Ma∣ster I became a servant, of Rich poore, of Immortall mortall, of the Word flesh, of the Sonne of God the son of man: I suffered re∣proaches of such as upbrai∣ded

me, I suffered undermi∣ners in my Works, contradi∣cters in my Words, scor∣ners in my Woes, necessities of the flesh, horrour of death, ignominy of the Crosse.

Sinner.

O how admirable was this love! What shall I ren∣der to my Lord, for all his sorrowes?

Christ.

If thou recall to mind, how great things the Lord of Majesty, the Sonne of God suffered for thee, though thou should••t dye a thousand deaths, yet wert thou not equally sufficient to answer me: for the estimate of so great a benefit, exceedeth all meanes of requitall.

Sinner.

As thou best knowest, how much I owe unto thee, the Lord of glory, who subje∣ctedst

thy self to death for me, that I might enjoy that hap∣pinesse, which neither eye hath seene, nor eare hath heard: recount unto me, I beseech thee, the reasons which cau∣sed that most dolorous paine in thy most holy soule. For thou saidst, right now, that in the wombe of thy blessed Mother, thou receivedst the Crosse of thy Passion, and bore it continually to the houre of thy dissolution.

Christ.

To this end, that thou mightst by affection & com∣passion become an acceptable sacrifice unto God, wholly inflamed with the fire of Charity, all the rust and rub∣bish of sin being consumed, and wasted: Consider dili∣gently with a lively heart,

how I suffred a double Mar∣tyrdome; one in my body, another in my soule or Spi∣rit. As touching the Mar∣tyrdome of my Body consider, that there was never the suf∣fering of any martyr so sharp, so painfull, that it might be compared with my suffering: which I will prove unto thee, by authority, by signe, by reason. First, by authority. For I my selfe crying out of the greatnesse of my sor∣rows, said, O all yee, who passe by this way, consider and see, if ever there were sorrow like unto my sorrow! as if I should have said, there was never any.

Secondly, by Signe; Foras∣much as there were never so many Signes seene in the

Martyrdome of any, as at my Passion, implying the sharp∣nesse and painfulnesse of it: to wit, When the Sunne was darkned, the Earth mo∣ved, &c. As if by the dolo∣rous clamours of my passion they had conceived a sense of devout compassion, be∣moning me the Son of God, hanging on the Crosse. For it was not in the creature to indure the injury done to the Creatour. Wherein wicked and obdurate hearts are justly reproved, who will not be wrought to compas∣sion, nor softned with a pi∣ous devotion, in the remem∣brance of my death.

Thirdly, I prove unto thee the bitternesse of my passion by reason. Forasmuch

as my complexion was most excellent, both by reason of the incorruption of my flesh, as also by reason ofthe most proportionable union or mixture of the Elementary qualities. For I tooke cor∣ruptible flesh of the Virgin, for the freeing of all Origi∣nall sinne, that is, of inordi∣nate concupiscence. Now to such a complexion, was re∣quired comelinesse of beauty, and strength of body. Because therefore, by how much more proportionable the u∣nion is of those Elements and qualities, whereof man is composed and compacted: by so much more difficulty, and violently is he dissolved: hence it appeareth, that the separation of my body and

soule was more painfull, than the death of others. Al∣so my blessed flesh, by how much more it was freer from all spot or blemish of sin: by so much also it became more sensible of torments. Now concerning my Spirituall mar∣tyrdome, which I suffered in my Soule (as I said before unto thee) it began at such time as I was first conceived in the wombe of my mother, or that my Soule was infused into my body: and conti∣nued without intermission 33. yeeres and a halfe, till such time as my Soule was separated from my body up∣on the Crosse. So as, I be∣came a Martyr even in the Wombe of my Mother. Wherfore I was not so much

as one moment, without the most bitter martyrdome of my Spirit: Because what∣soever I suffered in the Night when I was taken, or the Day following when I was slaine, in mocking, reviling, spitting, nayling, and stretch∣ing upon the Crosse, &c. This throughly and wholly my most holy Soule long before suffered. But thou art especially to consider, that those dolorous piercing darts of the Virgin, my blessed mother, became the excessivest Object of my sor∣rowes; who having a tender and respective eye to all my dolours, in perfect Charity, as became the condition of her motherly excellency, so much grieved for my sor∣rowes,

as was sitting for such a woman to grieve. And all the sorrowes of my Mother, continually wounded my mind. So as, my Mothers Crosse ministred unto mee a new Crosse.

Another Object of my continuall sorrow, was all those martyrdomes which were at any time done, or to bee done upon any of mine Elect for me. So as, in very truth I say unto thee, that all those paines, griefes, tribu∣lations, persecutions, and miseries, which any man was to suffer, or should suffer as∣well in body, as in soule, from Adam, even to the very last man, that shall bee borne to the end of the World: all these I suffered alwayes in

my Soule must fully, and through my compassion they did more hurt me, and more sharply grieve me, than any mans corporall paine, which hee actually suffereth, ever personally did. And there are two causes which give sufficient testimony of the truth hereof. One is, be∣cause I, in the glasse or mir∣rour of my Divinity did be∣hold all things created and to bee created, things past, present, and to come, which were to me present. And I, from the very first instant of the infusion of my Soule in∣to my Body, began alwayes to observe, till such time as I gave up my Ghost upon the Crosse, all the paines which I was to endure, and what∣soever

all my Elect from the beginning of the world, had at any time suffered, and such as being not yet borne, were to suffer, even to the end of the world: all this I suffered in the inferiour faculties of my Soule. And in each of these was I more inwardly and grievously tormented in my Spirit, than any one could be in his owne proper body, at such time as hee is to suffer tortures or tor∣ments.

Another cause which pro∣cured so great paine in my Spirit, was abundant love. For love begetteth griefe and heavinesse in the spirit: So as, by how much thy love towards me was more inten∣sive or greater, by so much

more is thy soule tormented with my Death and Passion. And because I have alwaies and above comparison loved thee, and every man, more than hee can love himselfe, therefore have I suffered greater paine than all that which any one hath ever suf∣fered upon earth, or was to suffer, or shall suffer to the end of the world. Thou knowest, that when Paul had consented to the death and stoning of Stephen, and did persecute Christians, I said unto him, Saul, Why persecu∣test thou me? And yet he per∣secuted not me in my owne proper person, but in the persons of my beloved friends; because what good or evill soever befalleth my

friends, befalle••h me. And this proceedeth from the great love which I beare un∣to men. Thus therefore maist thou consider, how and by what meanes my Pas∣sion exceeded in paine the passions of all that ever suffe∣red, or shall suffer, because I suffered both in my Body and Soule, and that immacu∣late, and by nature delicate, and for so long time, to wit, for thirty foure yeeres did I suffer martyrdom in my Spi∣rit, both for my selfe and all my Elect. Laurence in one night was broyled on a grid∣iron; Bartholomew in one day was slaine; Katherine in one houre was broken on a Wheele, &c. All these tor∣tures never hurt any one of

them so much in their owne bodies, as they tormented me in my Soule, for thirty foure yeeres. Whence Isay, Truly he hath suffered for our infirmi∣ties, and borne our sorrowes. And therefore, I could never laugh, but often weepe, ap∣pearing as one of forty yeeres, when I was scarce thirty. Which came to passe, by reason of the continuall Justice, which I incessantly bore for my Passion that was to come, and the suffering of my Elect, which I alwaies clearly beheld, and painful∣ly suffered by strength of imagination. Whereupon I oftimes said unto my Father, Many are my grones: and my heart is sorrowfull. To thee likewise doe I say, that thou

maist bee moved with com∣passion and affection towards mee, that my life is waxen old with heavinesse, and my yeeres with mourning.

Sinner.

Surely, O my good Jesu, as I have heard and under∣stood, no conceit can suffi∣ciently apprehend the depth of those anguishes and sor∣rowes of thy most holy Soule, nor griefes and passi∣ons of thy Body. But a very deepe question doth trouble my mind, to wit, how heavi∣nesse, paine, or anguish could befall thy blessed soule, seeing it was alwaies in great joy through Contemplation of thy Divinitie, which was so amiable to behold, that if the damned in Hell could but behold the amiable counte∣nance

of God, as the blessed Spirits doe in the Kingdome of Heaven; they could bee tormented by no griefe, nor heavinesse, either by the fire of hell, or sight of the De∣vils in hell.

Christ.

It is true, that my pure and blessed soule was glori∣fied, albeit my Body was mortall. For my Soule, from the very instant of her con∣ception, and ever after, even when I was upon the Crosse, was as glorious, and in as great joy and delight, in re∣spect of her superiour faculties, as she is at this day in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God my Father. But in re∣spect of her inferiour faculties, she was in a continuall and incessant heavinesse, and sor∣row

for the causes aforesaid. Which could not bee by course or order of Nature, that in one and the selfe-same soule together, and at once, there should be so great joy, and so great heavinesse, for this was miraculous and su∣pernaturall. Because, accor∣ding to the course of nature, joy and delight doe expell sorrow and griefe, so as they cannot suffer together in one and the selfe-same soule. And to the end, thou maist more clearely understand these things, I would have thee to know, that the Source and Fountaine of all my sor∣rowes, was that high and in∣effable divine dispensation, whereby it was forbid mee, that the influence of my glo∣rie,

and fruition thereof, which were in the superiour faculties of my Soule, should redound to the inferiour, for otherwise shee had felt no sorrow. But because this in∣fluence was by the divine di∣spensation prohibited mee, therefore did I at once per∣fectly enjoy all joy, according to the Superiour faculties, and perfectly suffer and become most vehemently afflicted, ac∣cording to the Inferiour fa∣culties. And thus miracu∣lously hath the power of my Father, joyned anguish with greatest sweetnesse, and highest power with lowest weaknesse. Because that this influence prohibited me, was altogether repugnant to the course of Nature. For

naturall it is, and according to the course of Nature, that the Superiour powers or facul∣ties redound to the inferiour, and the Inferiour have im∣pression in the Superiour. And by how much this Dispensa∣tion was more wonderfull, by so much was my sorrow more sharpe and dolefull. Thou art to know also, that I kept my naturall strength during my Passion, even to the point of death. Whereby it followeth, that my Passion was more dolorous.

Sinner.

Surely, hee is worthy of death, who refuseth to live to thee, my LORD JESU, who laidst down thy life for us. Yea, though alive, yet he is dead, who in the remem∣brance of thy most bitter

continuall Passion, and repre∣sentation of thy Crucifying, beareth not thy pricks in his body, by sharpnesse of re∣pentance: and upon the altar of his heart, crucifieth not himselfe for thee, by making a Crosse for himselfe to re∣presse carnall delights.

Christ.

He that will come after mee, let him deny himselfe, and take up his Crosse dayly, and follow me.

Sinner.

O Jesu, the power of God, and the wisdome of God, give me the understan∣ding of these words.

Christ.

In these my words, I have proposed three things to a reasonable man, made to the Image of God; to wit, Servitude, Lowlinesse, Sharp∣nesse. Servitude is implyed in

denying himselfe: Lowlinesse, in bearing of my Crosse: Sharpnesse, in imitation of mee. That hee, who by diso∣bedience fell from the state of a threefold felicity, might rise againe by Obedience, being humbled with the af∣fliction of a threefold misery. For he had fallen from him∣selfe, from society of the An∣gels, from the sight of God, that is, from Dignity, Liberty, Felicity. Let him therefore heare my counsell, that by denying himselfe, that is, his owne proper will, hee may regaine his owne Liberty; by taking up his Crosse, that is, by chusing to bee contemned, and disvalued by others, hee may regaine the Angels society: By following me, that is, by

imitating the steps of my Passion, by chastising of his flesh, he may regaine the sight of my glory.

Sinner.

Truly, it is meet and right, yea necessary, that they suffer with thee, who will reigne with thee, that they imitate thee, who will enjoy thee.

Christ.

Happy is this sentence of thine owne mouth. Happy, yea three and fourefold hap∣py is he, who alwaies consi∣dereth how strait and nar∣row, how bitter and sharpe the way is, which leadeth to life, when it behoued me to suffer, that I might enter in∣to my glory. If I bought my owne glory at so high a rate: Who shall have it altogether freely, and for nothing?

Therefore, there is no other way, by which thou canst come to the heavenly re∣ward, but by labours and affli∣ctions. That Rich man, who chastised not himselfe with labours of repentance in this world, is now in eternall paine in hell. But the Poore man, with the dolour and la∣bour of this miserable life, hath purchased a crowne of eternall glory.

Sinner.

Woe is mee, that I am al∣lured with the sweetnesse of carnall delights, and decei∣ved with the vanity of secu∣lar joyes; when as I ought to imitate thee, whom I read to have oft sorrowed and la∣mented, but once in Spirit to have rejoyced. Mary thy Virgin-Mother once rejoy∣ced

in a So••g. O how of∣••en hath the sword of sorrow gone thorow her Soule! Iohn, thy forerunner, Paterne and Preacher of repentance, rejoyced once in his mothers wombe, but how often may wee well beleeve that hee la∣mented after his comming from her wombe?

Christ.

When I hung upon the Crosse, I promised Paradise to none, but one that was upon the Crosse. Such are upon the Crosse, who cruci∣••ie their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences thereof. Upon the Crosse also I pray∣ed onely for such as sinned negligently, not for such as sinned wittingly. For so long as they are such sinners, they are excluded from the

embraces of me that was cru∣cified; who with hands spred upon the Crosse, em∣braced all, for whom I suffe∣red. If thou wilt therefore ascend after me, and reigne in heaven with mee, thou must follow mee by the way of the Crosse, by which I have en∣tred into my glory. Look for no easier way; in the way w^ch I have gone before thee, thou must follow. For if thou stray from my steps, thou shalt perish. Attend diligently, that thou maist know, by what way thou maist ascend into Heaven. At such time as I came into the World, I descended by a Ladder that had three steps, to wit, of humility, whence it is read of me, Thou shalt finde the Babe:

of Poverty, whence it follow∣eth in the same place, Wrapped in cloaths: And of austerity, as ensueth, laid in a manger. And by these steps I afterwards returned to hea∣ven. These steps mine excel∣lent Apostle Paul intimateth, writing thus of me; He emp∣tied himselfe, behold the step of Poverty! Taking vpon him the forme of a Servant: behold the step of Humility! becom∣ming obedient even unto death: behold the step of Austerity! But whither hath this Lad∣der of three steps brought mee? Heare what follow∣eth. For this cause therefore hath the Lord exalted him, and given him a name which is a∣bove all names. Fooles there∣fore and mad-men are they,

who would ascend up into heaven after me by a Ladder that hath steps contrary to these; to wit, by Richesse, Delights, and Honours. Surely, this Ladder leadeth to Hell, as the first did to Heaven.

Sinner.

It is a great shame for the servant to bee feasting and idling, while his Master is suffering and labouring.

Christ.

Whosoever devoutly me∣ditateth of this my Passion, cannot but bee ashamed to follow the pleasure of the flesh. The memory of my crucifying, crucifie••h all vices. In the paines of my Passion, all the delights of the flesh, and of the world are condemned: which, if thou wouldest subdue with∣out difficulty, thou must de∣voutly

remember my Passion, and sweetly delighting thy selfe in it, sincerely cleave to my wounds; yea, if thou wouldst foile and resist the Devill, who especially pur∣sueth and persecuteth the religious, and restraine him from annoying thee, thou oughtest dayly and devoutly to remember my Passion. But necessary it is, that they imprint the example and fi∣militude of my Crucifying in their manners, who im∣print the signe of my Crosse for their defence in their foreheads; that by his Law they may bee formed, by whose Faith they are armed. For otherwise, he disloyally beareth the stampe of his King, whose will he doth not

observe. Neither doth hee rightly protect himselfe with his signe, whose command he doth not obey.

Sinner.

O good Jesu, vouchsafe to bestow on my hearing a fuller joy, by recounting to mee thy most unworthy Sin∣ner, the rest of those bene∣fits and fruits, arising from the dayly remembrance of thy most holy Passion.

Christ.

The memory of my death, by a dayly ruminating there∣of, ought to burne upon the altar of thy mind, for many reasons.

First, because thou canst doe nothing more accep∣table unto mee, than to ex∣ercise thine heart in my most holy Passion, with love, compassion, reverence, and

imitation. Whereof thou canst not doubt, being assu∣red thereof by many autho∣rities of holy Scripture. Wherefore I doe advise thee to stamp my painfull love, and loving paine in thy soule, and to be thankfull un∣to me, saying: Set me, as a signet, upon thine heart: As if he should say, Love mee, as I love thee. Remember not onely how great things I have done for thee, but how sharpe and unworthy things I have suffered for thee, and see if thou doest not give mee an ill requitall, if thou doest not love mee. For tell mee, who loves thee as I doe? Who desireth to be loved of thee, as I doe? Set me, therefore, as a signet upon

thine heart, that thou maist love me with all thy strength: upon thine arme, that thou maist performe those things which please mee with all thine affection: upon thine heart, that whatsoever is deare unto thee, thou maist set aside for me, and alwaies preferre me, and alwaies more and more love me.

Secondly, thou oughtst continually to remember my Passion, because by it thou art led by the hand to the love of God. For by my Passion, I have shewne to thee the quantity of my af∣fection. And love deser∣veth love againe. Under∣stand what I say; I would not reedeme man with praier, for so oft times man freeth

man from captivity. Nor with the price of gold and silver: for so sheep and Oxen are bought: but with the price of my bloud, that by the price of the thing bought, my love might bee weighed. Do not therfore dis-esteeme thy worth: consider oft times thy price. If I had re∣deemed man with gold or sil∣ver, it might have beene thought, that the soule of man had beene comparable •• to temporall riches. That which is redeemed, is more precious than that by which it is redeemed: Therefore the soule of man is more pre∣cious than my bloud.

Thirdly, ••or stirring of devotion; Whence it was that Sampson found an Ho∣neycombe

in the mouth of a dead Li••n. I am the Lion of the Tribe of Iud••, in whose death the honeycombe of de∣votion is found, wherewith the spirit of man is refreshed. O that thou wouldst seriously consider, how upon the Crosse my mouth appeared like one halfe-alive, open, and my tongue bloudy; surely, if thou hadst an heart of iron, it would have melted with compassion and devo∣tion.

The fourth fruit arising from the memory of my Pas∣sion is, that in it is found a guard of defence against all Enemies. Whereupon my Apostle Peter; Christ suffered for you, arme your selves likewise with the same mind. And I say;

Enter into the rocke. As a Souldier, who unable to withstand his enemy in the field, flyeth to his Tents. Briefly, the Enemy shall prevaile nothing against him, whom the daily exercise of my Passion doth delight.

The fifth is, because with no exercise is man so much enriched as with my merits, applied to him, and made his, by the hand of faith; for the foundation of all grace, and the root of merit, (as it hath sole relation to me, and derived to man by Faith in me) consisteth in the sorrow of heart and body, for my Crosse. For this cause mine Elect Apostle said; I have esteemed my selfe to know no∣thing, but JESUS CHRIST,

and him crucified. And that devout sonne of my blessed mother, Bernard, It is my highest philosophy (said hee) to know CRIST JESUS, and him Crucified. But thou oughtst to grieve, because there are many enemies of my Crosse. For the lovers of pleasures are my persecu∣tours; they are guilty of my death, not as authors or fautors, but as contemners 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my death: These are they, who make the merit of my Passion in them of no effect; who make themselves un∣worthy of mine heavenly blessing, & unspeakable glory: who living in their delights, laugh at the mysterie of my Passion; who tread mee the Sonne of God under their

feet, and lay reproach upon the Spirit of Grace. A car∣nall life is an injury unto God, contempt of my Crosse, and redoundeth to the con∣tumely of all the blessed Tri∣nitie.

The sixt is, the allaying of the labours and dolours en∣countring man in his way of repentance, and life of Reli∣gion. For a devout faithfull Souldier hath no feeling of his owne wounds, when hee seeth the wounds of his lo∣ving Captaine. And to this end have I contemned all earthly goods, that I might shew how they were to bee contemned: and sustained all adverse things, that I might teach how they were to bee sustained.

The seventh is, the extin∣guishing of carnall desires: for with the sight of my Pas∣sion, whatsoever is carnal•• decreaseth.

The eighth is, the stirring of compunction and repen∣tance for sinues. For who is he that grieveth not highly, when he recals to mind how his sinnes were so odious to God the Father, that for ta∣king them away, he would have his beloved Sonne cru∣cified and put to death?

The ninth is, the beget∣ting of good hope and con∣sidence: For in my Crosse the Sinner hath his Sanctuary, as a murderer flying for re∣fuge to the Church-yard. Nothing is so bitter even unto death, which may not

be cured by my death: I have changed the sentence of thy eternall punishment, into the crucifying of my Body, sub∣ject to a dolorous languish∣ment. For I, in that sen∣tence which Pilat pronoun∣ced against me, taking upon me, the person of all Sinners, to purge their sins wherein they had long laboured, was adjudged to death for all Sinners.

Sinner.

I conceive and contem∣plate by this which thou (my good Jesu) hast said, that albeit this sentence was very unjust, and there∣fore execrable in respect of thee, because man had no power over God, the wicked over the just: yet in respect of us, it was manifold com∣mon

modious and profitable: and the reason hereof is amiable and venerable; because hee wholly reversed that sentence pronounced upon the first man, for sinne. For the sen∣tence of a dolefull exclusion was denounced against him. Whence it is written, The Lord cast out man from the Pa∣radise of pleasure, and set an An∣gell to keepe the way of the tree of life. But happy and honou∣rable was thy sentence, be∣cause 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called back a ba∣nish'd man, for by this sen∣tence the Sonne for the ser∣vant was injuriously cast out of his inheritance, by the husbandmen of the Vineyard, the Law of Moses. Therefore thy Apostle saith, That Jesus might sanctifie us, hee suffered

without the gate. And well it was that he suffered without, that he might bring us back againe to within: for we have entrance by his bloud. But I beseech thee (most loving Jesu) from the very inward affection of mine heart, by those paines, with which, as with most sharp arrowes, thy most sweet heart was pier∣ced, and those of the Virgin thy blessed Mother, at the hearing of that sentence of thycondemnation; that I may deserve through thy merits, to be delivered in the houre of my death, and the last day of judgement, from thatsharp and terrible word of the sen∣tence of eternall damnation, which thou wilt thunder out against the reprobates:

Depart from me yee cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devill and his angels.

Christ.

Happy is he, from whose memory the last judgement never departeth, that by the feare thereof, hee may pre∣serve his life from naughti∣nesse and pleasure of the flesh. For surely, that judgement is highly to be feared, wher∣in all things are made mani∣fest without witnesses, where the Hoast of all the An∣gels and Saints shall stand round about, and every crea∣ture shall tremble with ex∣ceeding feare, before my Tri∣bunall seat. What will they say then, who in this short time have lived negligently and carelesly? Meane time I expect you patiently, and in∣vite

you all to my kingdome lovingly. Time will come, when I shall require an ac∣count of you, for this your negligence, and shall say unto you,

For you am I made crooked, for you (I say) am I made crooked upon the earth, for you am I scour∣ged, for you with spittings defiled, for you is my face buffeted, for you am I un∣justly condemned, for you am I crucified, for you up∣on wood am I hanged, with gall am I fed, and with vi∣negar quenched, that I might make you all Saints eternally crowned. I have called you all my Brethren, I have offered you to my Father, I have sent you my holy Spirit, I have promi∣sed

sed to you Paradise. What should I have done more, and I have not done it, that ye might be saved? Tell me ye Sinners: What have yee suffered for me your gover∣nour, who when I was just, suffered so great things for your sakes?

These truly shall bee demands proper for that day of judgement.

Sinner.

Alas, miserable wretch that I am, what shall I say, or what shall I doe, when I shall not bee able to shew ought that is good before so great a Judge?

Christ.

Amend thy life, while time is: change thy man∣ners, overcome evill temp∣tations by resisting, punish sinnes committed by lamen∣ting. Let thy sinne find thee

here a punisher, that thou maist find me there no Judge but a Saviour.

If thou doest these things faithfully and with constant affiance, thou shalt bee secure in the terrible day of ven∣geance. Neither let the greatnesse of thy sinnes ter∣rifie thee: for I am much more mercifull, than thou art finfull. Surely great is thy misery, but infinite is my mercy. If thou bee asin∣full man, I am the Lamb of GOD, that taketh away the sins of the world: who came not to call the just, but sinners. In a word, more mercy and love shalt thou finde in mee, than thou darest either hope for, or wish for.

Notes

• In that he was inno∣••ent, he be∣came more sensible of torment.
• O Sacred∣Secret my∣stery, requi∣ring of us no curious discussion, but serious devotion!
• He is dead in trespasses who liveth not in the re∣membrance of Christs Passion, by washing his precious wounds with pious teares of holy com∣passion.
• Three ••••n∣gular pre∣cepts of Christian imitation.
• Christs counsell.
• The way by the Crosse, is the way to the Crown••••.
• The Chri∣stians Lad∣der, condu∣cting him to Christ his Saviour.
• The Chri∣stians Signet with his Posie.
• Med••tati∣on of Christs Sacred Pas∣sion, a so∣veraigne re∣ceit against Satans temp∣tation.
• A Chri∣stians Philo∣sophie.
• The terror of the last judgement.
• A most comfortable Conclusion.