A missive of consolation sent from Flanders to the Catholikes of England.

A Prayer to CHRIST, represented by a Crucifix.

GRacious Lord Jesus, casting our eyes and thoughts upon your Crosse, and considering how by your owne disfiguring, you have repaired in us the image we had defaced, of our creation, we may joyfully ac∣cept this image of our Redemption, stamped upon us by our present Crosses, whereby we are conformed to you crucified, and so in∣titled to that similitude we may expect, by but looking upon you glorified. O! let this present object, have in some degree such an operation, and make us like you upon the Crosse, by looking on you in that distressed exposure, that we may derive now from that sight, these virtues of Patience, Humili∣ty, and Charity somewhat perfected, as we shall then partake Joy, Glory and Love, consummated by that other vision of you. Glorious Lord Jesus, who are now risen from this throne of your humility, to that of your Majesty, give us leave to chal∣lenge

this your promise, of drawing all things after you, when you were thus exalted; be pleased then to draw our humility and fide∣lity after yours, that they may extend even unto death; that when we finde any naturall reluctancy against our crosses and humiliati∣ons, we may feele a more powerfull attracti∣on of our conformity after your precedency. O! we have no excuse left, when we looke upon your hands, stretched out upon the Crosse in an equall expansion on both sides, to active, and passive Charity; the one ex∣tended to the reliefe of the necessities of o∣thers, the other reached forth to the tolerati∣on of all their injuryes, whom you were relie∣ving, encompassing thus the whole globe of Charity. Be pleased O Lord to fasten us in this manner unto the Crosse with you, that being perfect Crucifixes in our dispositi∣ons, as well as in our disfigurements by the World, we may have the neerer configurati∣on to your image; when we shall no longer neede to labour a likenesse to you, but the very seeing you, shall transforme us into the same similitude. Grant then O Lord while we are in this laborious resemblance of you, that the character of your patience

may be as visible upon us, as that of your passion, and that our enemies by the virtue of our wants, may be releeved in their own necessities; while our prayers growing the richer by our patience, we may the better purchase their remissions. This effect was a grace pertaining to your Crosse, which we humbly beg, may in some measure be con∣ferd on ours; that upon this ladder we may scale heaven our selves, and open the gates to our enemies. These were the consequences of your Crosse, and we may (become one Spirit with you by our adherence to you) sub∣missively plead, for some such resultancies from our sufferings, that being enabled by your grace, to say with you, that we have glorified God upon earth, and consummated the work that was apointed us, we may expect our presentation from you unto the glorious Trinity, in the list of those that are come out of great tribulation, and having abun∣dance of teares in our eyes to wipe off, when we come to be led by the Lambe, to the fountaines of the Water of life, the plenty of these waters have stood here in our eyes, may fill our vessels the fuller of those celesti∣all springs. Be pleased then O Lambe of

God! that we may follow you now so faith∣fully, through the streets of earthly Jerusa∣lem, without clamour, or contention, as we may be qualifide for our following you wheresoever you goe, in that heavenly city, where our duty, and our delight will be in∣cessant acclamations of your glory, which shall be answerd by a continuall replication of our own Beatitude. In the mean time, grant that the meeknesse and humility of our spirits, under our crosses, may extoll the virtue of your crosse, and the praises of your Catholike Church, over which the gates of hell shall never prevaile, and the which only, shall prevaile, upon the gates of Heaven.

Haec est victoria quae vincit mundum, fides nostra.

Quia propter te mortificamur totâ die, asti∣mati su•••••••• sicut oves occisionis, sed in his omnibus superamus propter cum qui di∣lexi•• nos.

Notes

• 1 Joh. 5.4
• Rom. 8.36.