A journal of meditations for every day in the year gathered out of divers authors / written first in Latine by N.B. ; and newly translated into English by E.M. in ... 1669.

Of the ten Lepres.* 1.1 Part 1.

* 1.2COnsider 1. Our Lord passing through the midst of Samaria, and entering a Town, There met him ten men that were Lepers, who stood a∣far off, and they lifted up their voice, saying, Jesus Master have mercy on us. Observe also in these the manner of praying well. 1. With Humility and Reverence, they stood a far off. 2. Unanimously, and with fervour, they lifted up. their voice; for earnest and fervent prayer is pleasing to God: wherefore David said, When I cryed to him, he heard me.* 1.3 3. They say not, heal us, but have mercy on us; only begging mercy of him, and leaving the whole matter, and manner to God: Do you the like in your occasi∣ons.

Consider 2. Whom as he saw, he said, Go, shew your selves to the Priests. He could have healed them at that instant; but he would make tryal of their Obedience, sending them to the Priests, for the greater respect also, and observance of the Law: Moreover, to teach us, that we ought to repair un∣to the Priests, and to disclose our selves to them, as often as we are strucken with the Leprosie of Sin; and for your part, sleep not so much as one night in this Leprosie; for what if in that very night God should take your Soul from you? your

Leprosie would stick to you for all Eternity.

* 1.4Consider 3. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. Ponder their prompt Obedi∣ence, and the fruit thereof: So it often happeneth to them that are tempted, that even while they are but going to manifest themselves to their Ghostly Father, they find themselves free, and the Enemy gone. So likewise, those that dispose themselves to Confession, God doth often justifie before hand, by Contrition: I said (saith the Prophet) I will confess against me my injustice to our Lord, and thou hast forgiven the impiety of my sin: Go therefore al∣ways speedily, that you may speedily be cleansed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 17.
• * 1.2

  Luc. 17.12
• * 1.3

  Ps. 21.25.
• * 1.4

  Ps. 31.5.