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 VII. MEDITATION.

The 5. Motiue. Of reuerence &c. I. POINT.

CONSIDER that if my naturall pouer∣tie and miserie (which are punish∣ments, that the infection of anothers sinne conueyed vpon me) administer so iust oc∣casion, of humiliation, feare, and reue∣rence, in the approche to the dreadfull Maiestie, which I am to receiue: what a huge waight of apprehension, and confu∣sion, must not my owne voluntarie, and ordinarie sinnes needs loade vpon me? Here we neede to vse noe amplification, nor exaggeration. Let euery one looke

into the booke of his owne conscience and reade, and with the whole humilitie of his hart say. Peccauimus, iniquè egimus, &c.

[Affection.] O dread Maiestie, thou hast the criminall; not denying, not excusing, not extenuating, but humbly confessing at thy feete. I, Lord, we haue sinned, we haue done vniustly, we haue committed iniquitie. And we euen dayly sinne, if not in deedes, in words; if not in words, at least in thoughtes. But what shall we say or doe to thee, ô thou keeper of men? whither alas! can we safely fly from thee but to thee, where thy verie selfe art made a propitia∣torie Sacryfice for sinne? I know, and in∣genuously confesse, quod non sum dignus, sed amo, I am not worthy, but I doe, or hartily desire, to loue. Non sum ignarus, sed amo, I am not ignorant of thy worth, and myne owne indignitie, but I loue. It is not presumption then, deare and dread Lord, that leades me, but loue. Nor can euen that be accomplished in me by myne owne endeuours, but by thy grace, and where should I seeke, or hope to find it, but in thy verie selfe the fountaine of all grace? Resolution with all the feare, reuerence, and loue then my hart is capable of, I humbly approche vnto thee &c.

THE VI. MOTIVE. Of Reuerence, &c. II. POINT.

CONSIDER, that if the indignitie of the receiuer, compared to the Ma∣iestie of the person receiued, ought to stri∣ke vs with reuerence and feare &c. So ought it noe lesse to adde to our care and diligence, in making the preparation. We∣re a King to entertayne a King, the equa∣litie of their persons, might iustly abbate part of the care, because his ordinarie ma∣gnificence, leades neere to what is due: nay were it some great Lord or Courtier that were to receiue a King, he were at least no stranger to regall state: but when the King daynes to diuert to the cottage of some poore swayne, alas how he is lost, hauing neither equalitie, nor qualitie, nor skill, nor riches to beare him out. And yet, the poorest clowne is equall to the greatest King, in qualitie of man, a rea∣sonable creature, wheras betweene God and man there is no proportion at all.

[Affection.] What could he then doe, and

what can we doe, my soule, but in con∣templation of Gods admirable Maiestie, and our owne vnspeakle miserie, with an humblely confident confusion, crye out with the Centurion, that we are poore, miserable, vnworthy creatures; farre, farre vnfitt to receiue such Maiestie vnder our poore roofe, vnlesse by his powerfull word (by which he made heauen, and Earth, and all the prouisions comprised therin) he giue himselfe the welcome, pronoun∣cing a blissing of peace to the poore, rui∣nous, disorderly house of our hart, saying: pax huic domui, that so the people of our familie, our passions, being quieted, and putt in a high silence, our poore harts may sing, a thousand good wishes to him, and call all the creatures (knowing their owne pouertie and incapacitie at home) to ioy∣ne with them to ringe a full peale of pray∣ses to his glorious name for euer.