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 ADVENT.

The Iewes sent Priest, and Leuites, from Ierusalem (into the Deserte) to interrogate Iohn. Luc. 1.

THE FIRST POINTE.

CONSIDER that true vertue is of that nature, that the more it hides it selfe, the more it co∣mes to be knowne and admired. S. Iohn ledd a life that litle aymed at any humane estimation. His conuersation was rather with wild beasts and birds then men. His habitation from his youth was a vaste vnpeopled Desert. His habit rough camels haire, his diet locusts. Yet loe, while he hardly appeares a man of this world, the Preists and Leuites, are almost readie to ascribe the dignitie of a God to him.

[Affection.] Doe we then, my soule, de∣sire

to be truly greate? Let vs take our ryse from our owne litlenesse & nothing. Let vs loue to be vnknowne, and to be repu∣ted as nothing. Lets striue to hide our selues from the eyes of the world, and the eyes of God and his Angells will be vpon vs. Our lord is high, yet beholds lowe things. Let honour seeke vs, not we honour: for if we seeke it, it flyes vs. if we flye it, it followes vs. Or if we will needs seeke it, let vs seeke it in God who honours his friends exceedingly. If we will needs seeke it, let vs seeke it where is true, and is giuen to none vnworthy of it. So seeke it, my soule, and greedily seeke it, and feare not to offend.

THE SECONDE POINTE.

CONSIDER S. Iohns profounde hu∣militie. He was sanctified in his mo∣thers wombe. Liued in the wildernesse like an Angell of heauen. Had testimonie euen from the mouthe of truth it selfe, that he was sent out before him as an Angell to prepare his way. Was concei∣ued by the preists and Leuites to be the

Elias, nor a Prophete (in theit sense) nor Messias: neuer the lesse he humbly con∣fesses that he is not Christ, that he is noe more in verie deede, but the voyce of one crying in the Desert; that in fine he is not worthy to loose the latchet of his shoe.

[Affection.] O admirable humilie, worthy to be looked vpon, and imitated by all that loue Christ. O admirable humilitie! which whilst it makes S. Iohn appeare as litle, or, as it were, lesse then nothing in his owne eyes, he appeares more then a prophete, nay a verie Angell in the eyes of God, Angells, and men! O admira∣ble humilitie, which canst find out thyne owne nothing in the midst of sanctitie. While multitudes of crymes (which make vs indeede lesse then nothinge) cannot preuayle with our proude hearts to humble them selues. O my soule, how desparatly are we lost, since miserie it selfe cannot make vs acknowledge that we are miserable?