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 XVII. MEDITATION

Hovv Iesus vvent out to Caluarie, vvith his Crosse on his backe.

1. Point.

COnsider the circumstances of this dolefull procession: Iesus setts out towards Caluarie, with a heauie Crosse vpon his torne shoul∣ders, which he rather, trailes then car∣ries a long the streets of Hierusalem. His heauenly face all swollen with blowes, defiled with spittle, gauled with thornes, couered with goarie and fresh blood, so that he appeared, not so much to haue the face of a man, as euen of some monster. On either hand of him, a notorious theefe: Before and behind, worlds of people from all parts, to see this admirable spectacle, some few with compassion, but the most of them, with disdaine, malice and scorne.

[Affect.] O dearest Lord and Master,

how thou wadest through the greatest circumstances of confusion and scorne imaginable! How doth this huge loade, together with this labour, and wearines of thine, crie out to my hart, and to the harts of all men, come vnto me all you that are oppressed, and I will refresh you, whilst you see in my sufferances, the inconsiderablenesse of yours. You are not Masters, but seruantes, nor haue you yet suffered to blood, to crownes of thorne, to publike contu∣melies, before whole worlds of people, &c. Say, say, then my soule, I will follow thee, deare spouse, whither soeuer thou goest, without limitt, with∣out reserue, without exception of this, or that, befall what wil; come it from what hand soeuer, by iniustice or desert, &c.

Ours Sauiours vvordes to the vvomen of Hierusalem.

2. Point.

COnsider what our Blessed Sauiour saith to the good woemen, who follow him with teares. Maides, or people of Hierusalem, vveepe

not vpon me, but vveepe vpon your selues, and vpon your children. That is, looke not so much vpon him who suffers, as vpon your-selues, for whom he suffers: nor what he suffers, as for what. Com∣passionate teares spent vpon our Sa∣uiours sufferances, are certainly good, and agreable in his diuine sight: yet, are they farr better spent vpon our owne crimes, which were the cause of his sufferances, and continually pro∣uoke his wrath, and euen, according to S. Paule, crucifie him a new againe.

[Affect.] Let vs not then, ô my soule, so much run out of Hierusalem, to ob∣serue what passes vpon Caluarie, though euen with teares, as looke downe vpon Hierusalem with our Sauiour, and wee∣pe vpon it. That is, let vs keepe at home, or returne home into our owne harts, and seriously obserue what pas∣seth there, what euill impressions, what badd inclinations, how manie auersions, passions, and disorders; what familia∣ritie, and daily commerce, and dange∣rous dallying with sinnes. Alas we haue good natutes enough to bestow compassion and teares vpon others mi∣series,

misfortunes, and sufferances, while our next neighbours, our owne poore soules, lye sicke at home, in a dead palsie, &c. vnpittied, vnconsi∣dered, left to ruine; and yet is looked vpon by our selues, with drye eyes, as things which concerne vs not, or are not worthy of our care, or subiects of our pittie. Ah senselesse man, haue mercie and compassion of thine owne soule, and weepe vpon her, and her children.

[Resolution.] Our cheife care shall alvvayes be about our ovvne defects, &c.