Sweete thovghtes of Iesvs and Marie, or, Meditations for all the feasts of ovr B. Saviovr and his B. Mother togeither with Meditations for all the Sundayes of the yeare and our Sauiovrs Passion : for the vse of the daughters of Sion : diuided into tvvo partes / by Thomas Carre ...

THE III. MEDITATION

The Holy Ghost is a permanent gift. I. POINT.

CONSIDER, of what a permanent plentie and blisse poore man is posses∣sed by the bountie of this heauenly git, which is accomplished with all perfections It is a gift, it cannot then be recalled; it is our owne nothing being more ours then what is our owne by free gift. Its a free gift, it was not bought, or borrowed, but freely bestowed. Loue then was the cause of it, loue, which is an efficacious wishing well, or wishing good to the beloued.

[Affection.] Ah, my soule, this heauenly gift, is no lesse absolutely permanent, then superlatiuely excellent; and no lesse sure (as to externall force) then a huge posses∣sion. The theeuish world cannot robbe it:

The power of darkenes cannot wrest it out of our hands. The God that gaue it, takes it not awaye. Non deserit nisi deseratur. He forsakes not, vnlesse he be first forsaken. Selfe trecherie, at home alone, can hazard it; selfe disloyaltie, can loose it: hatred for loue, by consent to mortall sinne, can driue this Loue, this gift, this God out of dores.

II. POINT.

CONSIDER from whom we had this good gift, and we shall find it came from all the three persons of the holy Tri∣nitie: I saith the Father, will powre out my Spirit vpon all flesh. I will aske my Father, saith the sonne, and he will send you another com∣forter. I will send him to you, saith he againe. And, the holy Ghost (saith Sainte Augustine) is so giuen, as God's gift, that he is also his owne gift; he is both the gift and the giuer. All the three persons in the B. Trinitie were im∣ployed in mans creation, and all are im∣ployed too about his sanctification. We will come to him, to wit, the father, sonne and holy Ghost, and we will take vp our Re∣sidence with him.

[Affection.] Blesse, ô my soule, that Fa∣ther

of lightes, that good giuer of all good gifts, who sent his holy breath or spirit downe vpon vs. Blesse that Lambe of God who by his death, merited that blessing for vs. Blesse, in fine, that holy Spirit, who was himselfe both the giuer and the gift, and graciously came vnto vs. Be they Blessed, and praysed; magnified and glo∣rified, in the vnitie of one Deitie, for euer. And let our earthly Trinitie, neuer for∣gett this mercy. Let our memorie faith∣fully represent it to ourvnderstanding. Let our vnderstanding continually ponder ru∣minate, and deliuer it to the will. And let the will imbrace, in ioy, and carefully loc∣ke vp this present of infinite loue, with all the loue, ioy, and Iubilie of hart, imagi∣nable.