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 FIFT SVNDAY AFTER WHITSVNDAY▪

Matt. 5. Vnlesse your iustice abound more then that of the Scribes and Pharisies, you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen.

CONSIDER, that the Scribes, and Pharisies, fasted often, to witt, twice a weeke; prayed much payd the tythes of all they pos∣sessed; gaue almes liberally; were verie conuersant in holy scriptures, and like great Rabbys interpreted them to the peo∣ple: and yet Truth it selfe, Iesus Christ, who can neither deceiue nor be deceiued, threatens vs Christians, that vnlesse our iustice, vertue and perfection, be greater then theirs, we shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen.

[Affection.] Alas my deare Lord, if this be put downe for an absolute and irreuo∣cable Doome, pronounced by thy holy

mouth; that vnlesse the iustice of vs Chri∣stians, doe abounde more then that of the scribes &c. We shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen; what will become of vs, when we fall short euen of what they performe? for are not our prayers cold and full of di∣stractions? Our workes of mercy as well corporall as spirituall verie fewe? our fastes rather suffered, then performed with fer∣uour? And yet vnlesse our iustice surpasse theirs there are noe hopes of heauen for vs.

THE SECONDE POINTE.

CONSIDER that Christian iustice, and perfection, doth not indeede consiste in exteriour actions, though other∣wise good of their owne natures, but take, their worth and excellencie, from the in∣teriour intention; because all the beautie of the kinges daughter, the soule, issues from the interiour: If the intention, the eye of the the soule be simple, the whole body of the actions proceeding from thence, will be beautifull and agreeable. Nor are againe euery well meant action Christian perfe∣ction, but onely wayes to it, perfection consisting absolutly in the loue of God and our neighbour.

[Affection.] We are not then, my soule, so much to looke what we doe, as how it is done. Nor how good the action is in it selfe; as from what harte it proceedeth, with what puritie of intention it is done. God is not delighted with the sacryfice of our lipps, but of our hartes; and those too sett vpon that one necessarie thinge, cha∣ritie: from which all our actions ought to issue, and to her finally to tende: because true Christian perfection, and the plenitu∣de of the lawe, is loue.