The holy court in five tomes, the first treating of motives which should excite men of qualitie to Christian perfection, the second of the prelate, souldier, states-man, and ladie, the third of maxims of Christianitie against prophanesse ..., the fourth containing the command of reason over the passions, the fifth now first published in English and much augemented according to the last edition of the authour containing the lives of the most famous and illustrious courtiers taken out of the Old and New Testament and other modern authours / written in French by Nicholas Caussin ; translated into English by Sr. T.H. and others.

The Gospel upon Low-Sunday, S. John the 20.

THerefore when it was late that day, the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were shut where the Disci∣ples were gathered together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith to them, Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and side. The Disciples therefore were glad when they saw our Lord. He said therefore to them again, Peace be to you. As my Father hath sent me, I also do send you. When he had said this, he breathed upon them, and he said to them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose you shall retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came: the other Disciples therefore said to him, We have seen our Lord. But he said to them, Un∣less I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

And after eight days, again his Disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas, Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands, and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side, and be not incredulous, but faithfull. Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God: Je∣sus saith to him, Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.

Moralities.

1. JEsus the Father of all blessed harmonies (after so many combats) makes a general peace in all nature. He pacifieth Limbo, taking the holy Fa∣thers out of darkness, to enjoy an eternal light, and sending the damned to the bottom of hell. He pa∣cifieth the earth, making it from thenceforth to breathe the air of his mercies. He pacifieth his Apo∣stles, by delivering them from that profound sadness, which they conceived by the imaginary loss of their dear Master. He pacifieth Heaven, by sweetening the sharpness of his Heavenly Father, quenching by his wounds, the fire which was kindled of his just anger. Every thing smileth upon this great Peace-maker: Nature leaveth her mourning, and putteth on robes of chearfulness, to congratulate with him his great and admirable conquests. It is in him that the Heavenly Father (by a singular delight) hath poured out the fullness of all Graces, to make us an eternal dwelling, and to reconcile all in him, and by him; pacifying by his bloud from the Cross, all that is upon earth, and in Heaven. This is our Joshua, of whom the Script∣ure speaketh, that he clears all differences, and appea∣seth all battels. No stroke of any hammer or other iron, was heard at the building of Solomon's Temple; and behold the Church (which is the Temple of the living God) doth edifie souls with a marvellous tranquilitie.

2. The Sun is not so well set forth by his beams, as our Saviour is magnificently adorned, with his wounds. Those are the characters which he hath en∣graved upon his flesh, alter a hundred ingenious fa∣shions. The Ladies count their pearls and diamonds, but our Saviour keeps his wounds, in the highest at∣tire of his Magnificences. It is from thence, that the beauty of his body, taketh a new state of glory, and our faith in the resurrection is confirmed: that the good fill themselves with hope, miscreants with ter∣rour, and Martyrs find wherewith to enflame their courage. These divine wounds open themselves as so many mouthes, to plead our cause before the Celestial Father. Our Saviour Jesus never spake better for us, than by the voice of his precious Bloud. Great inqui∣ry hath been made for those mountains of myrrh and frankincense, which Solomon promiseth in the Canticles, but now we have found them in the wounds of Jesus. It is from thence that there cometh forth a million of sanctified exhalations of sweetness, of peace and pro∣pitiation, as from an eternal Sanctuary. A man may say they are like the Carbuncle, which melteth the wax upon which it is imprinted, for they melt our hearts by a most profitable impression. At this sight the Eternal Father calms his countenance, and the

sword of his Justice returneth into the sheath. Shall not we be worthy of all miseries, if we do not arm these wounds against us, which are so effectual in our behalf? And if this bloud of our Abel (after it hath reconciled his cruel executioners) should find just matter to condemn us for our ingratitudes? John the Second, King of Portugal, had made a sacred vow, never to refuse any thing which should be asked of him in the virtue of our Saviour's wounds; which made him give all his silver vessel to a poor gentle∣man, that had found out the word. And why should not we give our selves to God, who both buyeth and requireth us by the wounds of Jesus?

3. Jesus inspireth the sacred breath of his mouth upon the Apostles, as upon the first fruits of Chri∣stianity: to repair the first breath, and respiration of lives, which the Authour of our race did so misera∣bly lose. If we can obtain a part of this, we shall be like the wheels of Ezechiels mysterious chariot, which are filled with the spirit of life. That great Divine called Matthias Vienna, said, That light was the sub∣stance of colours, and the spirit of Jesus is the same of all our virtues. If we live of his flesh, there is great reason we should be animated by his Spirit. Happy a thousand times are they, who are possessed with the the Spirit of Jesus, which is to their spirit as the ap∣ple of the eye. S. Thomas was deprived of this amo∣rous communication, by reason of his incredulitie. He would see with his eyes, and feel with his hands, that which should rather be comprehended by faith: which is, an eye blessedly blind: which knoweth all within its own blindness, and is also a hand, which re∣maining on earth, goeth to find God in Heaven.

Aspirations.

GReat Peace-maker of the world, who by the effusion of thy precious bloud, hast pacified the wars of fourty ages, which went before thy death. This word of peace hath cost thee many bat∣tels, many sweats and labours, to cement this agree∣ment of Heaven and earth, of sence and reason, of God and man. Behold thou art at this present like the Dove of Noah's Ark, thou hast escaped a great deluge of passions, and many torrents of dolours, thrown head-long one upon another. Thou bring∣est us the green Olive branch, to be the mark of thy eternal alliances. What? Shall my soul be so auda∣cious and disordered, as to talk to thee of war, when thou speakest to her of peace? To offer thee a wea∣pon, when thou offerest her the Articles of her re∣conciliation, signed with thy precious bloud? Oh, what earth could open wide enough her bosom to swallow me, if I should live like a little Abiram, with a hand armed against Heaven, which pours out for me nothing but flowers and roses? Reign (O my sweet Saviour) within all the conquered powers of my soul, and within my heart as a conquest which thou hast gotten by so many titles. I will swear up∣on thy wounds, which after they have been the mo∣numents of thy fidelity, shall be the adored Altars of my vows and sacrifices. I will promise thereup∣on, an inviolable fidelity to thy service. I will live no more but for thee since thou hast killed my death in thy life, and makest my life flourish within thy triumphant Resurrection.