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Consider, that this stable is not onely the schoole of humilitie, and obedience, but of pouertie also, since hu∣militie is neuer sure, which loues not po∣uertie. And where, or how shall we euer learne it, if not of him, who when he was most rich became poore, that we might be inriched by his aboundance? Behold he is borne of a poore mother, brought out in a poore stable, wraped vp in poore clothes, layd in a poore bedd, accompai∣ned
with a poore oxe and an asse; visited by poore shephards; destitute of all conueniences, of all necessaries. And yet it is euen he who so litle stood in neede of our assistance, that he said by the Pro∣phete, If I be hungrie I will not tell thee, because the vniuersall world is myne. And yet it is euen he who feedes the birds of the aire, who now is fedd with the milke of a poore Mayde.
[Aff.] Giue sucke Marie, giue sucke to thy God, thy son, thy Creatour, who feedes thee and all the world. And yet now, to manifest his extreame want, dai∣gnes to be fedd by thee: feede him, I say, holy virgine; while we with admiration behold him and thee in this poore plight, and learne the blessed examples of your humilitie, obedience, and pouertie. And indeede what Christian harte will not re∣solue to be humble, obedient and poore, with humble, obedient, and poore Iesus and Marie? And that with a good will too and without constraint for his sake, who was not necessitated to it by misfortune, or force, but imbraced it by his owne free choyce. Wisdome wanted not meanes to releiue himselfe. That prouidence which
feedes the birdes of the aire, could haue shewerd downe a heauenly prouision of Manna; clothed himselfe with the sunne, and made a thousand celestiall mansions to haue lodged in▪ Yet to teach the world pouertie, he would depriue himselfe of all ordinarie commoditie.
[Resolution.] What is the poorest and meanest then, shall best please me, be∣cause it most resembles my Lord and Master, whose liuerie I will euer reioyce to weare, &c.