Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. LXXVI.

How it is understood, that God communicates unto us his Divine treasures by Christ: how God reignes by Christ: and how Christ is the head of the Church.

WIlling to understand in what manner we, who are the members of Christ, do ob∣tain all the things of God by Christ, I consider, that as all men, who have the outward sight of the eyes clear, do know the outward being of things through the benefit of the Sunne, in which God hath set his outward light: so all men who have the sight of their inward eyes clear, do know all inward things by the benefit of Christ, in whom as Saint Paul saith, God hath set all the treasures of his Divinity: I say, that as God having set all the outward light in the Sunne, the Sun it self sends forth his beams, which work his effect, and are effi∣cacious in those which are fit to receive it, for∣asmuch as onely those living creatures are de∣prived of the benefit of the Sun, to whom eye∣sight is wanting, and they who shut themselves up in caves, or dens, whereinto the Sun-beams

cannot pierce: in the same manner, God ha∣ving put in Christ all the treasures of his di∣vinity, Christ poures out his treasures upon them, who being men are clothed with the same livery, with which he was clothed; which trea∣sures are efficacious in those persons, which God hath drawn unto the knowledge of Christ, and so they are members of Christ, they onely be∣ing deprived of this divine influence who have not the knowledge of God, and consequently are not pious, and who have not the knowledge of Christ, and consequently are not just; for in them onely the divine treasures, which Christ poures out upon men, are not efficacious; they standing as much deprived of the sense, and knowledge of them, as he who is born blind stands deprived of the sense and know∣ledge of the light of the Sun. And I under∣stand, that as it appertains to him who finds himself in this privation, to pray God, that he would open and clear the sight of his eyes, in such sort that he also may enjoy the light of the Sunne, inasmuch as the Sunne of its own self lets it self to be enjoyed: so in like man∣ner to him who feels not in himself the gifts of God, which are communicated unto men by Christ, it appertains to pray God, that he would inable him, and that he would purifie him, in such sort as he may become a good sub∣ject to receive the divine treasures efficaciously,

which Christ poures out upon all men, inas∣much as God hath for all, put them in him, and he generally poures them out upon all men, as Saint John very well understood, say∣ing, That of that which abounds in Christ, we all, who are his members receive grace, and more grace: Inasmuch as God by the means of Moses gave unto us the law only, but by means of Jesus Christ he gives grace unto us, Justifying us in the Justice executed on Christ himself; and he gives unto us truth, giving unto us his spirit, which teacheth us every truth. And because all these divine gifts do come, and shall come unto men in this life from Christ, and he gives them unto them, and com∣municates them unto them, it is rightly said, that this is the kingdome of Christ, and that it shall so long last, untill the resurrection of the just being made, Christ resigne the kingdome to his everlasting Father. God reignes at present, but by Christ, even as God sends his light but by the Sun: and in the life eternall God shall reigne by himself, and communicate his light. I say, that in the life eternall all divine gifts shall come immediately from God unto men, and from God shall come light immediately unto men. In this manner understanding the bene∣fit of Christ towards men, and the kingdome of Christ in this present life; I understand like∣wise after what sort Christ is the Head of the

Church, that as from my head there descends virtue throughout all my members, they being all governed, and sustained by it: so from Christ descends virtue for all them that apper∣tain to the Church, being all of them sustained, and governed with the divine gifts which are communicated to them from Christ. And I un∣derstand that they appertain to the Church, who being called of God, and drawn to the know∣ledge of Christ, are able to receive with efficacy the divine treasures, which the onely begotten son of God Christ Jesus our Lord sheds upon all.