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 THE THIRD SVNDAY IN LENT.

And Iesus was casting out a Diuell and he was dumbe. Luc. 11.

THE FIRST POINTE.

CONSIDER, that the Diuells dominion was spredd in a man∣ner ouer all the face of the earth: Altars were erected, I∣dolls sett vp: Idolatrie, or the worship∣pe of the Diuell, raigned in euery place: so that his pride growen greater then his power, he durst attempt vpon the sonne of God (as in the first sunday in Lent) but in steed of victorie he mett with confusion. He was ouerthrowen with the sword of the word of God, without any other armes. But now Iesus, to comply with, and exercise the Office, of a Sa∣uiour, being sent to free the world out of the Diuells tyrannie, setts vpon him by his power and authoritie, and by ab∣solute

commande chaceth him out of the possessed body.

[Affection.] O blessed fruites of the co∣ming of our Sauiour Iesus Christ! Poo∣re man was kept à slaue vnder the Di∣uells tyrannie, nor was there any power in earth to free him: but Iesus our Hel∣per in opportunities, (that is seasonably as he iudges fitting) in tribulation, in tempta∣tion, &c. came graciously to his ayde: he assaults that stronge one: forceth him, by his flight, to acknowledge the power of his Master, who begins sake his rai∣gne, and abate his pride: nor doth he this in his owne person onely, but euen leaues the like power in his holie Church. He graciously teaches vs by his exam∣ple how we are to behaue our selues in temptation: and shewes vs in what power we ought to subdue that fierce foe. Bles∣sed and magnified be he for euer, who hath left such power to the sonns of man!

THE SECONDE POINTE.

CONSIDER that though the Diuells taking possession of mans body be not verie comon: yet his possession of

mans soule is but too ordinarie. And how euer, we perceiue it but a litle, yet it is farre more dangerous, and most ab∣solutly true. Neuer are we so vnhappie to committ mortall sinne, but the Di∣uell takes full possession of our soules: grace departs: the holy Ghost is turned out of dores: the Diuell becomes our Master, and we his miserable seruantes and slaues, ouer whom he exercises à ty∣rannicall dominion. We become blind to good; walke in darknesse, (not dis∣couering what is fitting to be done) and dumbe too, as to the making profession of what we know to be right.

[Affection.] O my soule, this is the pos∣session indeede which we ought most to feare: and dispossession which we ought most earnestly to seeke for because we haue left him who is able to throw both body and soule into Hell fire; because our strength hath left vs, we are sicke of a deade palsie, and sore tormented by the Diuell. Let vs neuer cease from sighets, and sobbs and lamentations, whi∣le we rcmayne in this sadd captiuitie. Gods grace alone is able to deliuer vs. Let vs begge it incessantly, like poore

lost slaues; knowing that there is noe mea∣nes to flye from him, but to him: from him offended, to him appeased: saying: haue mercy vpon me, ô God, according to thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of thy commiserations: be∣cause my miserie is exceeding great, and needes noe lesse a cure.

THE SECONDE MEDITATION FOR THE SAME SVNDAY

Euery Kingdome deuided against it selfe, shall be made desolate, and a house shall fall vpon a house. Luc. 111.

THE FIRST POINTE.

CONSIDER, that though we had not had truth it selfe, which none dare contradicte, to assure vs of this so necessa∣rie a lesson: yet common experience ma∣kes it but too sure to verie ordinarie ca∣pacities: The internall diuisions and broy∣les of England, France, Spayne, Italie and Flanders, to goe noe further, haue oft hazarded their vtter ruine. And the vn∣happie misintelligences of communities, and particular families; haue not onely

disordered them, and depriued them of the blissings of peace and quiete, but haue euen exposed them to publicke scandall, and desolation it selfe.

[Affection.] How deare then, my soule, ought vnanimitie and vnion of harts to be to vs, which rayseth a litle, with Gods blessing vpon it, to great matters; at least to sufficiencie, and content. This was the Legacie B. S. Augustine left his children vnitie of hartes and communitie of the same purse Noe myne and thyne the true cause of deui∣sion. This was the Apostles inheritance giuen them by the holy Ghost one hart and one soule. This was the songe which the Royall Psalmist sung with such ioy, and found so good and delicious, the vnanimous cohabitation of brethren which like a precious oyntement conueyes it selfe through all the parts of the body. Powre then, ô Lord, the loue of brotherlinesse and peace into our harts that being annointed with the dewe of thy spiri∣tuall vnction, we may be ouerioyed with the gra∣ce of thy benediction.

THE SECONDE POINTE.

Who is not with me is against me and who gathers not with me doth disperse. Luke 11.

CONSIDER, that the sonne of God hath said it, whose words can neuer passe. Who is not with me is against me there is noe meane, noe third way. Noe man can serue two Masters, God and Mammon. There is nothing that raignes in mans hart but either cupiditie or charitie. What is giuen to cupiditie is giuen to that badd master, the Diuell. But what is done for charitie, is done for the best of Masters, our good God; and so we go•• happilie with him, and gather with him. If our harts say liue Iesus, and our actions be done actually or vertually for his sake, we aduance in vertue, and treasure vp for heauen. If we fayle of this, we walke not with God, we dis∣perse; the Deuill getts a share, more or lesse according to the greatnesse, or litlenesse of our actions.

[Affection.] Let vs not goe on biasing, my soule, and halting on both sides. If one one∣ly God be our all, let all our thoughtes, words, and workes be directed to his ho∣nour.

If it were he, not Baal, or any strange Gods, which created, conserued, and re∣deemed vs with his owne pretious bloode; let him, not them, souueraignely raigne ouer vs. The bedd of our hart is to narrow for two, let our lawfull spouse, the Master of it, wholie possesse it. What euer we doe, and not for that for which diuine wisdome ordered it to be done (that is Gods honour) though in its owne nature it be good, yet for want of its right end, it falls short. Concludes S. Au∣gustine.