A memoriall of a Christian life Wherin are treated al such things, as appertaine vnto a Christian to do from the beginning of his co[n]uersion, vntil the end of his perfection. Deuided into seauen treatises: the particulars whereof are noted in the page following. Written first in the Spanish tongue, by the famous religious father, F. Lewis de Granada, Prouinciall of the holy order of preachers, in the prouince of Portugall.

THE THIRD CONSIDERA∣tion, of the Maiestie and goodnesse of Almightie God, against whom wee sin. ¶ 3.

IF THOV wilt now step one foote fur∣ther, and consider the greatnesse of the Maiestie & goodnesse of Almighty God, against whom thou haste sinned, thou shalt here also finde greater matter of sorrow, & griefe: For it is certaine, that the greater the personage is that is offended, the grea∣ter is the offence, that is committed against him. Whereupon it followeth, that if the person offended be of infinite dignitie, the offence committed against him, must also bee infinitely grieuous, as it is indeede. Wherefore the more a man shal consider, and vnderstand the exceeding greatnesse

of the Maiestie of Almightie GOD, the more shall hee penetrate and vnderstand the malice and heinousnes of his owne sin. Lift vp thine eies therefore on high, and behold (if thou canst) how great the nobi∣litie, the riches, the dignitie, the wisedome the bewtie, the glorie, the goodnes, the maiestie, the benignitie, and power of this Lord is: and how much all creatures are bound vnto him: and hereby shalt thou vnderstand in some degree the heynous∣nes of thy sinnes, which thou hast com∣mitted against him.

But among all theise excellencies and perfections of Almightie God, the con∣sideration of the wonderfull goodnes of his deuine maiestie is wont to bee of great∣est force to moue the hearts of true Peni∣tents: especially to him that hath alreadie some experience and knowledge thereof. The goodnesse of Almightie GOD as it may be knowne by many other meanes, so is it knowne principally by the inestimable benefit of the Incarnation and Passion of the sonne of God, and by the institution of the most blessed Sacrament of the Al∣tar, wherein he offereth himselfe daylie for vs, & doth comunicate himselfe vnto vs, & dwelleth in our company. The goodnes of

Almightie God, may also bee somewhat more particularly vnderstood, by conside∣ring the manner of the louing treyting, which this Lord vseth towards his elected friendes, whome hee visiteth oftentimes with so manie and so great consolations, with such great and speciall fauours, with so great light, with such abundance of peace, and spirituall comfort, that manie times the weakenes of mans nature is not able to sustaine the force of so great conso∣lations. And according hereunto it is writ∣ten of one of those Holy fathers in the wil∣dernes, that being sometimes at his praiers he was wont to say. O Lord, with draw a little the waues of thy consolations. And at another time he said. O Lord seperate thy selfe a while from me: for I cannot abide the exceeding great∣nes of thy sweetnesse. Now such a one is Al∣mighty God, and such are the fauours, lo∣uing kindnes, and benefits, w••ich the god∣lie are wont to receaue of so noble, good, gratious, sweet and mercifull a Lord. For it is not to bee merueiled at, that hee should giue them to drinke of the cuppe of his de∣lightes, who for their sakes hath drunken the cup of his most bitter Passion.

He then that setteth before his eyes this so great goodnesse of Almighty God, and

calleth to minde how oftentimes hee hath offended him, hath hee not good cause (trow yee) to be sorie, and to lament, yea, & to wish that all the members of his bo∣die were eyes, to weepe and bewaile this so great ingratitude? Saint Iohn Climacus wri∣teth of one of those ancient Monkes, who hauing committed a certaine fault, deman∣ded licence of the father of the monastery to goe into the house of the Penitentes, (which was called a prison,) to doe Pen∣nance for that sin. And hauing obtained the said licence, (although against the Fa∣thers will, because his fault required mer∣cie,) the griefe which his soule there felt was so great, for that he had offended such a Lord, and the knife of sorrow so pearced his hart, (which charitie had made sharpe) that in the space of eight dayes he yeelded vp his soule vnto almightie God. Consider thou thē with thy selfe, how great this sor∣row must be, that was able in so short a time to bereaue him of his life. But such is the inward feeling which those doe con∣conceaue of sin, whose eyes it pleaseth Al∣mighty God to opē, that they may see the exceeding great malice, which is in the same. Now then if this holy penitēt sorrow¦ed & lamēted somuch for the committing one of

onlie deadly sinne: how much more ought he to sorrow and lament, that hath consu∣med the greatest part of his life in heaping sinnes vpon sins, and in multiplying euer∣more offences against Almightie God.

Notes

• The consi∣deration of the goodnes of God is of greatest force to moue a sin∣ner to re∣pentance.
• S. Iohn Cli∣macus.