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JESUS suffereth himselfe to be taken, and deprives himself of his power, who was able to an∣nihilate his enemies, to the end that being made captive for us, hee might have right to place us in the freedome of grace. In imita∣tion of Jesus, who suffered him∣selfe to be made a captive for you, resolve never to make use of your owne power, when there shall be a∣ny occasion of suffering for the glory of God.
I Do not doubt (my Saviour) of your power, but I admire your love, which triumpheth o∣ver you, and worketh so great a miracle on your selfe; for love captivates your strength, re∣straines your power, and redu∣ceth you into a state of impo∣tency and weaknesse, to the end you may be capable of suffering for mee, poore and wretched creature that I am. Who will not be ravished in the thought of this love? And who will not remaine astonished that God suffers for man, the just for the sinner. And thus you doe, be∣nigne Iesus, in this mistery
which I contemplate. Now for this love, which you expresse towards me, and which renders you captive, to set me at liber∣ty, what else can I doe, but cast my selfe with heart and spirit at your feet, and become an hum∣ble suitor that your love may render mee his captive; that it may triumph over my heart, to the end being denuded of all things, I may become for ever the slave of your love. Grant that it may be so, my Iesus, since it is both my duty and desire.
JESUS perseveres in the hu∣miliations and sufferances of his captivity, remaining in the
midst of executioners in silence, without plaints, without strength or power. In imitation of him affect such things as humble you, and administer occasion of suffe∣rance, and propose to your selfe never to reject them.
SInce I see you (O sweet Je∣sus) in the midst of executi∣oners, exposed unto their ma∣lice, and that in this mysterie you abandon your selfe unto all sorts of confusions, and to the false accusations of sinners, ap∣pearing as criminall in the midst of these miscreants: what lesse can I doe, Lord, then annihilate my selfe in your presence, and
humble my selfe in imitation of you in the view of all creatures. And if in the various states of your life you embraced humili∣ty onely, and made choice of nothing but confusions, if you who are alone worthy of ho∣nour and respect, despised the Grandeurs of the earth, and the vaine contentments of this world, to live and die onely in depressions and sufferances. Fi∣nally, if you (O benigne Iesus) who are the onely Son of God, were pleased to become an ob∣ject of scorne and contempt of men; alas what do I, miserable wretch, deserve to be, and what rank shall I hold in the world, I who am a sinner, criminall and unworthy of all things? Surely
(my sweet Iesus) I heartily con∣demne my pride, and doe pro∣test that with my whole affecti∣on assisted by your holy grace, which I implore, I resolve from henceforth to affect lowlinesse, and indure for your sake, all the humiliations, and Crosses of this life: And why shall I refuse humbly to suffer them for your sake, since you have indured them so holily for mine. I offer my selfe then unto you for that effect, and I abandon my selfe with my whole heart unto your divine conduct; grant only that I may be such as you require me to be.
ACknowledge the strange a∣basement of Jesus, who permits men to binde and lead him captive, and to touch him with their prophane hands, who is the Holy of Holies: Hee offers his sacred mouth to receive the kisse of Judas his greatest enemy. Offer your selfe unto him, to beare all the contradictions of men, and the con∣tempt of all creatures, and de∣mand of him even love for your enemies, if you have any.
YOur life and the divers my∣steries of your passion, your labours and sufferances, O my Saviour, give me a lesson, and teach me what I am to doe; but how shall I doe it, and how can I imitate you, if you lend me not your hand, if you prevent and affist me not with your grace? For my perverted heart, and my proud nature oppose themselves wholly to you, and contest against all that you pro∣pose unto me. I see, my Lord, I see how you offer your sacred mouth to receive of Judas the kisse of Treason; how you pre∣sent your hands, and abandon
your adorable body to the rage of Devills, and to the malice of men and sinners, to dispose of you and your life in whatso∣ever cruelty could suggest unto them. Alas! who is able (O my sweet Iesus) to imitate you? I fervently desire it, but ac∣knowledge my owne impoten∣cy; for I feele contradiction in my selfe, and tremble at this thought: However leave me not (O Saviour of my soule) in case I am not able to imitate you in all things, at least let me doe it in what I may, and I can doe much if you give me your grace. Open then my eyes, that I may discerne what I am, change my heart, that it may affect what you love, and animate my spi∣rit
humbly to indure all con∣tempts and confusions. All that I am now able to doe in the pre∣sence of your Soveraigne Ma∣jesty, is to accuse my malice, to condemne my pride, and to of∣fer unto you my will, my heart and soule, to order them as you please. Succour my infirmity, fortifie my weaknesse, breake my obstinacy, and by the fire of your love, be pleased to con∣sume all my iniquity.