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 ...

CONSIDER in these corporall Lepers, how spirituall Lepers ought to behaue themselues to procure their cure. They stay not till they be called; the horrour of what they suffer is a sufficient spurre to them. They come in troupes, and way∣lay him from whom they hope for cure. They stand a farre off, esteeming them∣selues infectious, and vnworthy to appro∣che. They crye out with a loude voyce, without specifying their desire, knowing well that their loathsome out-side speakes that, with more force and pittie to their Master Iesus, to whose mercy they lea∣ue themselues.

[Affection.] Ah, my soule, doe we vse

this promptitude in pointe of our lepro∣sies, or other spirituall deseases? or ra∣ther doe we not vse, a quite contrarie proceedinge, while we daylie heare re∣doubled in our eares (loose the bands of thy necke, ô captiue daughter of Sion. How longe wilt thou be heauie-harted, and loue a lye?) and yet we sleepe on: and yet while we liue in a loathsome languishment, we see∣ke some more tyme to remayne vnhappie Doe we crye out with loude voyces, or rather so lowe and faintly as tho we fea∣red that God should heare vs, and cure vs too soone? a miserable condition wher∣in the great S. Augustine sometymes found himselfe, and pittifully lamented it. Ah, my soule, if we be so miserable, as not yet to be in tearmes to begge har∣tily for our perfect cure, let vs not fayle, at least, to laye open the masse of our vni∣uersall miserie, before the eyes of our most mercyfull Lord, to pleade for mery.