Devout entertainments of a Christian soule. Composed in French by the R.F. I.H. Quarre, P. of the Oratory of Jesus, and D.D. Translated in English by J.M. of W. Prisoner in the Tower of London.

§. I.

I. THere remaines one thing to tell you, but it is of conse∣quence; and I wish that I were able to fix it in the bottome and center of your heart. It relates unto Confesion & Communion. I

will entertaine you with it, be∣cause I verie much apprehend, that there are great abuses com∣mitted therein and I feare that in so holy and divine a thing we are often too prophane.

2. By the Sacrament of Con∣fession, it is certaine, that we de∣sire to return into Gods favour; we seek to bee re-established in the charity which we have lost by mortall sinne, and which we cannot repossesse but by Pe∣nance. And though we be free from mortall sin, we yet desire by Penance to remove the other sins, which freeze charity, breed a languishing in the soule, debi∣litate and expose her unto grea∣ter danger. And then wee goe unto Confession, to renew our

selves in love, and to remove these sins, and all that may be opposite unto love and charity.

3. In the holy Communion we receive Iesus Christ as ours; for hee appertaines to us, and the same Iesus gives himselfe unto us in this divine and adorable Sacrament, to honour us with his presence, to inrich us with his gifts, and above all to conferre on us his love. In fine, it is a Sacrament all of love; it is a pledge of the love which Iesus Christ beareth us, and a commerce of love between Ie∣su Christ and men.

4. Now if you consider in this order these two great Sa∣craments, doth it not seeme just and reasonable, that we receive

them with estimation, holily, and with a spirit of love, since both of them are holy, both of them conferre charity and the love of God upon us; both of them unite us unto God, when we come to them, as we ought, with fitting and congruous dis∣positions.

5. For this reason I could wish, that when you goe unto Confession or Communion, it may bee still accompanied with a sense of love, and a serious re∣collection of your soule. Be∣ware of going to them by cu∣stome, and of performing so holy and divine actions indiffe∣rently, I meane without a good and fitting disposition, for it would turn to your prejudice.

6. That which I require of you is to retaine alwayes a pure intention of seeking God one∣ly, and demanding nothing but love. Let it be your desire to forsake those vices and sinnes, whereof you seek to obtaine re∣mission by Penance. Bee you sorrowfull for having commit∣ted, because sin is displeasing to God, and opposite unto him, whom we desire to love. Finally, I wish that all the mo∣tives which you shall have in receiving the Sacraments, may bee alwaies with respect to the love which God hath to∣wards you, and of the love which you owe unto God; for let men say what they please, since in the receiving the Sacra∣ments

of Penance and of the Eucharist, you seeke nothing but the love of God and chari∣ty, surely it is reasonable, that you go to them with as much love as you can possibly: This is that whereunto I invite you.

7. I doe not say that feare is not good, usefull and often ne∣cessary but I say that feare ought to serve here onely for the recalling of your soule, and directing her unto love. It ought to be like the servant which opens the gate unto charity, to introduce it into your heart. Take then the motives of feare, if you have need of them; but stay not upon this feare, but passe unto love, still

calling to minde, that in these two Sacraments you seeke the friendship of Almighty God: Thus much touching Penance: and in the Eucharist you ask and receive God onely, who is love and charity.

8. In the Communion it is re∣quisite to have feare, accompa∣nied with a profound reverence, and humble respect. An Ange∣licall devotion and attention is required therein; for this my∣stery is full of Majesty, since God is there present, whom we intend to receive. But much more love is required therein; for whatsoever wee consider, there nothing but objects of love appeare to us, and nothing is to be found there, that is not

as a band, which ought to fasten and unite us unto God.

9 It is not my designe to en∣tertaine you with prescribing you instructions for the recepti∣on of these two Sacraments, since you have so many Bookes which treat of it: I will onely say, that if ever you stand in need, of all the Entertainments which I have newly given you, it ought to be in the recepti∣on of these two Sacraments, which are two fountaines of love and mercy: For love and recollection by the presence of God (as I have explicated) serve us for a disposition to prepare us to receive worthily the Sa∣crament of Penance and the Eucharist.

I beseech our Lord Jesus Christ, who came into this world, to establish therein the Kingdome of charity, and to bring thither the fire of his love, and who died on the Crosse to draw us unto God, and withdrawn from death, the world and sin, that he will vouch∣safe to give us the grace to feele and he are the effects of his Crosse; I beseech him to consume us in the flames of his love, and to fasten us so indissolubly unto himself, as wee may never more sever our selves from him, but that he would place us rather in a happy inability of offending him, and in a more blessed servitude, never more to estrange and separate our selves from him, nor to act any thing but for his fake. Amen.