selves, that God hath given us Reason, as a Firmament to separate divine cogitations from animal; and we will pray unto him, to mortifie anger and concupi∣scence in us, and to grant us absolute sway over all passions, which resist the eternal Law.
Thesday, the day wherein the waters (which before covered the whole element of Earth) were ranked in their place, and the earth appeared, to become the dwelling, nurse, and grave of man; we will figure unto our selves the great work of the justification of the world, done by the Incarnate Word, who took away a great heap of obstac••es (as well of ignorance as of sin) that covered the face of the whole world, and made a Church, which like a holy Land, appears laden with fruit and beauties, to raise us up in Faith, and to bury us in the hope of the Resurrection, We will be∣seech him, to take away all hinderances to our soul; (so many ignorances, sins, imperfections, fears, sorrows, cares, which detain it as in an abyss,) and to replenish us with the fruits of justice.
Wednesday, wherein the Sun, Moon, and Stars were created; we will propose unto our selves for object, the Beauty and Excellency of the Church of God, adorned with the presence of the Saviour of the world as with a Sun, and with so many Saints, as with Stars of the Firmament; and we will humbly beseech God to embel∣lish our soul with light and virtue, suitable to its con∣dition: Especially, to give us the six qualities of the Sun, Greatness, Beauty, Measure, Fe••vour, Readiness, and Fruitfulness. Greatness, in the elevation of our mind, above all created things, and in a capacity of heart, which can never be filled with any thing, but God: Beauty, in gifts of grace; Measure, to limit our passi∣ons; Fervour, in the exercise of charity; Readiness, in the obedience we ow to his Law: Fruitfulness, in bringing forth good works.
Toursday, the day wherein God (as S. Ambrose saith) drew the birds and fishes out of the waters, the birds to flie in the air, and the fishes to dwell in this lower Element. We will imagine the great separation which shall be made at the day of Gods judgement; when so vast a number of men, extracted from one and the same mass, some shall be raised on high to people Hea∣ven, and enjoy the sight of God; others shall be made a prey to hell and everlasting torments. And in this great abyss and horrour of thought, we will beseech God to hold us in the number of his elect, and to be pleased to mark out our predestination, in our good and commendable actions.
Friday, wherein the other creatures were brought forth, and man created, who was then appointed to them for a King and Governour, we will set before us the greatness, excellency, and beauty of this Man, in the Talents which God hath given him, as well of grace, as of nature. How much it cost to make him, the hands of the Creatour being employed in his pro∣duction: Hands (saith S. Basil) which were to him as a womb; but how much more it cost to make him anew, drawing forth so much labour, sweat, and bloud from the Son of God, who annihilated himself for him, che∣rishing and fostering him (saith Thomas Aquinas in his Treatise of Beatitude) in such sort, that one not well in∣structed by Faith, would say, Man were the God of God himself: Hereupon we will beg, that we may not fru∣strate the merit of the life of God, given to eternize ours, and we will practise some kind of mortification, to bear God in our flesh, (as saith S. Paul) & to conform our selves to the sufferings of the King of the afflicted.
Saturday, which is the day wherein God rested from the Creation of the world, we will meditate upon the rest the blessed enjoy in Heaven. There, is no more poverty, no sickness, no grief, no care, no calumnie, no persecution, no heat, no cold, no night, no alteration, no confusion, no noise. The body resteth five or six foot under ground, freed from the relapsing employ∣ments of a frail and dying life. It is in the grave, as in an impregnable fortress, where it no longer fears debts, serjeants, prisons, nor fetters. And the soul, when it is glorified, leadeth the life of God himself; a vital life, an amiable life, an inexhaustible life, for which we must sigh and labour, and beg it often of God, with the tears of our eyes, and the groans of our heart, as saith S. dugustine.
It is requisite, the same day to make a review of the whole week, to examine the state of your soul, your passions, affections, intentions, aims, proceed∣ings, and progressions.
And especially at the moneths end, to consider di∣ligently what God would have of us, what we of him, and what course we take to please both him and our selves: what desire we have of perfection, what obstacles, what defects, what resistance, what means; and to mannage all our endeavours under the prote∣ction of our great Captain Jesus Christ.