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 FOVRTH SVNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANIE.

When he (Iesus) entered into the boat: his Dis∣ciples followed him: and loe a great tempeste arose, &c. Matt. 8.

THE FIRST POINTE.

CONSIDER that there could neuer appeare more securitie, then when good Disciples fol∣lowed their good Master Iesus; nor hope of a more happie na∣uigation, then when they were imbarked in the same boate with Christ. And yet loe a greate tempeste arose in the sea, so that the boate was couered with waues, which threatened present shipwracke.

[Affection.] Ah my soule, let vs neuer esteeme our selues secure, while we sayle on this dangerous sea of the world: at noe tyme, in noe place, in noe companie. The whole life of man is a temptation vpon

earth. How euer we haue the happinesse to be Christians; that is, to be Disciples; and followers of Christ. Though we haue otherwise the singular grace to be Catho∣like Christians, and to sayle in Peters shippe, where Christ is the souueraigne Pilote, yet stormes often arise, and we are readie to perish: and perish we shall infallibly, vnlesse we fixe our whole con∣fidence, as a sure anker, in his power, who is able to make the windes and sea obedient to his orders.

THE SECONDE POINTE.

The boate was couered with waues, but he (Iesus) slept.

CONSIDER that as our Sauiour deales here with his deare Disciples, so doth he ordinarily with his dearest friends. The Disciples are readie to sin∣ke, while he, as though he were not concerned in their danger, quietly slee∣pes. The faithfull soule finds her selfe surrounded with all sortes of temptations, which so violently make heade against her that she seemes euery moment readie to perish. And yet Iesus sleeps: that is, lea∣ues

her to her selfe, readie to be swallo∣wed vp, in those raging stormes of her poore afflicted conscience. So that whe∣ther she sinkes or swimmes she scarce knowes: because Iesus seemes asleepe to her.

[Affection.] And yet my soule all is safe. Iesus is in the boate with vs. While we remayne in his blessed companie, and adheare to his ayde, we may be tossed, but sinke we shall not: for the God that kee∣peth Israël shall neither slumber nor slee∣pe: but assures vs, that if we place our confidence in him, he will be with vs in tribulation, that he will deliuer vs, and glorifie vs. For the rest, it is good for vs to be thus tryed; that we may learne by longe experience, and neuer forgett, that our strength is weaknesse; that our dan∣ger is in our selfe-confidence, and our as∣surance in the great God of all consola∣tion. Inte Domine sperabo, & non confundar in aeternum.