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 FIRST MEDITATION FOR SEXAGESIME SVNDAY

The sower went out to sowe his seede. Luc 8. And it fell by the way side.

THE FIRST POINTE.

CONSIDER that though the seede which was sowen, was noe lesse then the word of God (as our Sauiour himselfe declares to his Disciples) saying: the seede is the word of God, in that his diuine commenta∣rie, yet three partes of it, by the peruer∣sitie of man, falls fruitlesse vpon the ground to witt, one parte of that good seede, fell by the way side, that is, vpon harts which lye open, exposed, as a through-fare, to all the rumours, follies, and vanities of the world; whence its troden, as it were vnder foote, and so ne∣uer getts tyme to take any roote at all.

[Affection.] Is it not true, my soule, that it often happens, that when the word of

God is either proposed to the eare of our body by the preacher, or to the eares of our harte by diuine inspirations, we haue noe eares to heare? or els, that hearing, we heare not, that is we vnderstand not; because our hartes are alreadie preposses∣sed and wholy taken vp by wordly drea∣mes and imaginations; so that there is noe place left for the word of God? O what pittie it is, to let that seede of heauen, sent vs to produce the fruites of eternall glorie, be negligently lost! Lets therfor emptie our harts of such pernicious toyes that we may truly say: speake, ô Lord, be∣cause thy seruant heareth.

THE SECONDE POINTE

And other some fell vpon the Rocke.

CONSIDER that an other parte of that good seede fell vpon the rocke, which hauing the superficies or out-side of some good earth, is capable to receiue the seede, and to make it sprout out too, but yet so hastily, that it takes noe firme roote and thence as soone withers as appeares. So it fares with those who heare and re∣ceiue the word of God with ioy, and are

often thetby moued to compunction, and teares, yet their harts being rockie it ma∣kes noe great impression therin, and then∣ce vpon the first temptation or difficultie, they easily forgett that they were moued at all.

[Affection.] Doe we happly, my soule, perceiue our hartes so hardened that they are litle apte to conceiue this good seede? Despaire not for all that. Gods word is a hammer that is able to split rockes in pee∣ces. His grace is powerfull enough to make the soyle fertile, be it neuer sosto∣nie and barren. Pray hard then, that these harts of rockes, may be turned into harts of flesh, supple and apte to receiue good seede saying with S. Augustine, giue me, ô Lord, that conquering grace, which is repul∣sed by noe hard harte: because therfor it is giuen, that the hardnesse of the harte may be taken away.

THE SECONDE MEDITATION FOR THE SAME SVNDAY

And other fell among thornes, and the thorues grew and choked them.

THE FIRST POINTE.

CONSIDER finally that another par∣te of the feede fell among the thor∣nes which stisles the young and tender grouth therof, and that happens not as in that seede which falling vpon the high way was troden vnder foote, and could take noe roote; nor as that which fell vpon the rocke, which for want of earth could take noe deepe roote: but hauing earth enough to take a deepe roote, and produce fruite, it was choked, as our Sauiour himselfe interpreetes the parabole in the same Gos∣pell, by wordly cares and solicitudes, and deceiptfull riches.

[Affection.] Accursed cares which make vs carelesse of that which most concerns vs, and stifles the word and law of God in our harts. Accursed riches which render our soules poore, and barren. The riches which (as fooles conceiue) doe tickle

them with delight. Wisdome assures vs to be thornes, which pricke, wound, and kill. Who would euer haue beleeued me, saith the great S. Gregorie, if I should haue in∣terpreted riches to be thornes, since these wound those delight. And yet thornes they are (saith truth it selfe) since the thoughtes of thē doe teare our myndes in peeces with their sharpe pointes; and when they waigh vs downe to sinne, they drawe bloode.

THE SECONDE POINTE.

And other some fell vpon good ground, and they yealded fruite.

CONSIDER that the good ground which fayles not to yeald fruite, is the well disposed harte of man, which by the preuention of Gods grace, hath no∣thing opposite to that good seede. To witt, it neither lyes open to the curiosities and thronges of the world, but is shutt vp within it selfe. Nor is rockie and stuborne but supple, mylde, and docile. Nor lastly is it ouerspred with thornes, that is with riches, honour and pleasures; but contrarily, possessed with the contempt of them, they being indeede the chokers of all the seed of heauen, and the sourses of all mans miserie.

[Affection.] Giue me then, ô Lord, in lieu of all riches, honours and pleasures a docile hart, a good soyle prepared by thyne owne holie hand, that thy sacred word, and heauenlie inspirations may find noe opposition therin, but yeald fruite an hundred fold. Let it be hedged in by thy feare, that it lye not open to vanities Let these hard flintes of myne be so moy∣stened with thy melliflous word, that they may flowe with milke and home. Finally let those thornes of riches be rooted out of my harte, that it may not stifle, but nourishe thy good seede.