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IN this kind of Prayer of Discours and reaso∣ning commonly caled me∣ditation, each faculty of our soul has its proper office and Imployment. The memory proposes the sub∣ject, and ostentimes to fix the agility and livelyness of our imagination vve give it its ovvn task, obliging it to make us à lively re∣presentation
of the subject vvhen it can beare it. Our understanding considers, meditats and reasons vpon it, strives to fram so clear notions and distinct con∣ceptions uppon the matter, from vvhich may naturally flovv so strong and practi∣eall conclusions, that by them the vvill is inabled, and set to vvork, to dravv out of these conclusions, affections and resolutions conform to the subject proposed to it by the un∣derstanding.
The ordinary subject of mentall prayer is either some mystery, à Sentance out of scripture or some truth proposed to us by faith.
Before the time comes that you are to imploy in this manner of praying, you must read vvith atten∣tion, the matter and pre∣pare the different points you are to meditate uppon.
The first thing you doe beginning your meditation is, after you have put your self in the presence of god, to make à profound act of humility and adoration, after vvhich only in gene∣rall and confusedly you represent to your self the subject you pretend to meditate on; and to the end your endeavours may pro∣ve successfull, begg of the holy ghost the assistance of his grace, imploring also
to the same effect the intercession of our blessed Lady.
This don you make on every point of your medi∣tation particular conside∣rations. Many solid refle∣ctions able to make your vvill produce affections and resolutions conforme to your subject.
1. If you have for the subject of your meditation any mystery, you must con∣sider attentively all the particulars and circom∣stances of it, that you may the better be instructed & vvith more force be con∣vinced of vvhat you ought to avoid, doe, or suffer. If you meditate upon à sen∣tance
of scripture or any article of faith, you must doe your endeavour to di∣ve into the sense of it, out of vvhich you must dravv morall conclusions for your ovvn conduct; and in all the discoursing and reaso∣ning you have upon the matter, you must cheefly and perticularly rely upon faith, vvhich must serve for the bassis or ground∣vvork on vvhich must be setled all the acts of both vvill and understanding that you produce in your Prayer.
2. The affections take their rise from the consi∣derations and that accor∣ding to the nature of the
subject you meditate upon. The principal affections are of admiration thanks∣giveing, confidence, of abondoning perfectly our selues into the hands of god, of loue, desire, joy complacency, of compas∣sion, fear, hatred, horrour confusion, &c.
3. When one makes a se∣rious reflection, and casts an eye back on vvhat he hath already past of his life vvith relation to the pre∣sent subject in hand dis∣couering the disorders of his former life and beha∣viour, he cannot but find his soul couered vvith a holy confusion, vvhich povverfully disposes it to
an humble contrition and to the sincerest senti∣ments of loue and chari∣ty tovvards god vvho has all this vvhile so patiently expected the Returne of this prodigal child.
4. searching in prayer and examining the senti∣ments of ones ovvn heart in its present situation; vve must doe our endea∣vours to put and settle our selues in the best disposi∣tion possible according to the subject of our medita∣tion and the light vve re∣ceive from god,
5. If you cast your Eyes upon the future, and what is te come; vve ought to make strong resolutions
both for the practizing of Good or auoiding Evil and forseing the occasions we are to be in, to incourage our selues; so offering up to god our good, pious and fervent desires, make him a thovvsand protestations of an inviolable fidelity. Its after this manner vve finish our prayer by a hear∣ty and most affectionate adresse to god vvhich from the latin vve term collo∣quium, in vvhich our soul Directs its prayer novv to god, novv to some of the three persons of the Ble∣sed Trinity novv to the Blessed Virgin, to the An∣gels or the Saints vvho's help assistance and inter∣cession
vve goe about to implore.