Meditations vppon the mysteries of our holy faith with the practise of mental praier touching the same composed in Spanish by the R.F. Luys de la Puente ... ; and translated into English by F. Rich. Gibbons ...

The third Pointe.

VVheerein is Meditated the Canticle of Magnificat.

THe third pointe shallbee to consider what the VIRGIN aunswered hauing hearde the Wordes of S. Elizabeth: for shee likewise was forthwith replenished with a most high Spirit of Prophecye, and composed thereupon the soueraigne Canticle of Magnificat: concerning which wee are to ponder, First: [ 1] how the blessed VIRGIN hauing heard so greate things in her owne praise, directed not her aunswere to S. Elizabeth who praised her, as commonly men vse to doe, in respect of shewing themselues gratefull: but all her wordes shee directed to God our Lord, teaching vs the manner, how wee are to conuerse with men when they praise vs: for the best, and securest is to alter the Discourse, and to speake vnto God, from whome proceede those giftes, for which wee are praised.

Secondly, I am to ponder, [ 2] how the blessed VIRGIN, who was so breefe, and so measured her wordes, when shee spake with Angells, and with men, dilated herselfe much more when she spake to God, recounting his Greatenesses. For the first is Prudence, and Respect: but the second is Excesse of Loue, and Thankefullnesse, according to that of the Wiseman: * 1.1 Yea that blesse our Lord, exalt him all that you can, for hee is

greater then all your praise. [ 3] And as he that is replenished with God, all his Discourse is of God, with affections of God to magnify, and glorifye him in all that he is able: for of the abundance of the Hearte the mouthe speaketh. * 1.2 So our blessed LADYE the VIRGIN, as shee was replenished with God, vttered with her mouthe this soueraigne Canticle, full of Affe∣ctions of God; which Canticle hath ten verses, and is as it were a Psalterion, or Harpe of ten strings, like to those, * 1.3 which Dauid commaundeth vs to touche for to glorifye God: and therefore it shall not bee amisse to meditate all her Wordes, that wee may knowe how spiritually to rehearse them to the honour of the VIRGIN, ioyning to euery worde, or Verse some holy Affection, or ioye of the Vertues of this our Ladye, with the peticion, and colloquye be∣longing vnto it.

My Soule doth magnifie our Lord.

In this first Verse the sacred VIRGIN teacheth vs the Spirit of praising God, thinking highly, and magnificently of him, & magnifying that which is his, in all that is possible: that is: his Bountye, and Mercye: his Wisdome, and Charitye, & the excellencye of his Gouernment. And this not only with corporall wordes, but with the Soule, and all her interiour Faculties, inuiting them with Dauid to praise our Lord. * 1.4 And shee sayed not: My Soule did magnifye, or will magnifye, but doth magnifye, to signifye that her principall office, and perpetuall occupation was, to magnifye God, doing on Earthe that

which the Angells doe in Heauen.

O that my Soule might allwayes magnifye our Lorde! * 1.5 o Lord of infinite greatenesse, litle can I ma∣gnifye thee with my praises: But as I may, I praise, and magnifye thee, and confesse that thou art greater then I am able to say, or to thinke. O Soueraigne VIRGIN, * 1.6 whose Soule allwayes magnified our Lord, and like another Dauid inuited all others to ma∣gnifye him, impetrate for mee, that my Soule may likewise magnifye him, occupying herselfe continually in singing his Greatenesses worlde without ende. Amen.

And my Spirit hath rejoiced in God my Sauiour.

In these Wordes the B. VIRGIN discouereth the manner of our rejoicing in God, * 1.7 nothing fiue Conditions of this Ioye to make it pure, and perfect. For first, [ 1] wee are not to place our principall Ioye, and Alacritye in corporall thinges, but in things spirituall: [ 2] nor so much in giftes receiued, as in the giuer of Giftes who is God himselfe. [ 3] And allbeeit we are to rejoice in God, as he is our Creator; yet principally as he is our Sauiour, and Sanctifyer: for in this sorte he is the fountaine of spirituall Alacritye, which is founded vpon the Saluation of the Soule sanctified by Gods grace. [ 4] And this loye is principally to consist in the Spirit, or superiour parte of the Soule, that it may be the more pure from all, that tasteth of fleshe, as the sensuall Ioye of the Bodye vseth to doe: allbeeit some∣times the Ioye of the spirit redoundeth likewise into the fleshe, * 1.8 according to that of Dauid: My Hearte, and my Fleshe reioiced in the liuing God.

Finally, [ 5] our Spirit is not to reioice in itselfe, as if it had thorough it owne merites those giftes for which it reioiceth, but our Ioye is to bee in God our Sauiour, who gaue them vnto vs, and vpon whome our ioye is to rest, as saithe the Prophet Dauid: My Soule shall reioice in our Lorde, * 1.9 and shallbee delighted in our Sauiour. Such was the Ioye of the blessed VIRGIN, who at this instant behelde our Sauiour whome shee bare in her Wombe, and rapt with his exceeding Loue, shee saide: My Spirit hath reioiced in God my Sauiour.

O my Soule, exalt thyselfe aboue thyselfe in Spirit like the VIRGIN, and reioice purely in Christ thy Sauiour, placing in him only all thy Alacritye. * 1.10 If thou desirest Ioye, reioice in God, and hee shall fullfill the desires, and petitions of thy hearte, that thy ioye may bee full, and that none may depriue thee of it, vntill at last thou maiest enter into the eternall ioye of thy Lorde.

Because he hath regarded the Humillity of his Handmaide.

In this Verse, and in those following, the B. VIRGIN declareth ten soueraigne benefits, three speciall, and seuen generall: which are the prin∣cipall causes, and respectes that shee hath to magnifye God, to reioice in him, and to shewe herselfe so thankefull.

The first is, [ 1] for that he regarded the Humil∣litye, and lowlinesse of his Handmaide: In which wordes the VIRGIN pointeth at two rootes of the Diuine Benefits. The one principall of Gods parte; and the other of our parte. It is of allmighty Gods parte, that he daigneth to regarde vs with a good eye, and to be mindefull

of vs, to doe vs good. For allbeeit it is truthe, that he seeth all things: yet he is not saide to regarde, nor make account of those which he leaueth in the abysme of nothing, or in the profunditye of their miserye, but of those which he regardeth, to vse towardes them his greate mercye. [ 2] The roote of our parte is the acknowledgement of our Lowelinesse, by the which we may dispose ourselues to receiue the giftes of his Diuine Liberallitye. And so the blessed VIRGIN as illuminated by God, joyned both these togither, magnifying God, for that he daigned to regarde the Humilli∣tye of his Handmaide. By the which wordes, shee confesseth not so much of herselfe that she hath the Vertue of Humillitye, as she exercizeth it: for as a true humbled one, either she esteemeth not so herselfe, or she would haue concealed it: but with Humillitye shee confesseth that she is lowly, base, and con∣temptible as a Slaue, or a Handmaide, and that notwithstanding all this, allmighty God dis∣dained not to regarde her. Whereby shee teacheth vs, that the foundation of the Praises of God, and of Thankesgiuing for the bene∣fits he doth vs, is to bee the acknowledging of our owne basenesse, and indignitye: for in this sorte there will be no perill of mixing vaine selfe-pleasing, as it happened to the prowde Pharisee. * 1.11 Rather this Lowlinesse is to be the respect why to beseeche allmighty God to regarde mee with a good eye, and to doe mee greate fauours: * 1.12 for his Condition, (as Dauid sayeth) is to beholde the lowely things in Heauen, and on Earthe, and to doe them greate mercyes. * 1.13 And this the saide Dauid had

experience of, saying of himselfe: Because God regarded my Humillitye, and Lowelinesse he deliuered my Soule from all her miseries.

O highest God whose Habitation is in the highest Heauens, * 1.14 beholde the lowelinesse of this thy vile Slaue, and vse towardes him thy accustomed mer∣cye, raising this begger from the Dust, and this poore wretched one from the Dunghill, to place him with Princes, and to sanctifye him aswell as they. Amen.

Beholde from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

And this is the seconde respect that the B. [ 2] VIRGIN had to magnifye God: for that from that moment that he behelde her Humillitye, and that he regarded her, all the nations of men that beleeued in Christ, aswell the present, as those to come thoroughout all Ages, should call her blessed. Wherein the VIRGIN taketh not for the motiue of her Ioy, her owne praises, but the greatenesses that God had giuen her, vpon which they were founded, and the good that should arize thereof to all those that should serue her, and praise her.

O Soueraigne VIRGIN, * 1.15 I for my parte am willing to fullfill this prophecye of thine, and to be one of those that call thee blessed. * 1.16 Thou art blessed (as thy Cosin saide) because thou beleiuedst: and thou art blessed for bearing our Sauiour in thy Wombe: but much more blessed for hearing his VVorde, and keeping it. Thou art blessed likewise with those eight Beatitudes preached by thy Sonne our Sauiour vpon the Mount. [ 1] Thou art poore in spirit, * 1.17 and thine is

the kingdome of Heauen. Thou art meeke, [ 2] and pos∣sesseth the Lande of the Liuing. [ 3] Thou mournedst for the Sinnes of the VVorlde, & therefore art comforted. Thou didst hunger, and thirst after Iustice, [ 4] therefore now thou art filled. Thou art mercifull, [ 5] and obtainedst mercye. Thou art a peace-maker, [ 6] and therefore for thy excellencye, thou art the Daughter of God. [ 7] Thou art cleane of Heart, and now thou art clearely be∣holding God. Thou sufferedst persecution for Iustice, [ 8] and now the kingdome of Heauen is thine, and thou art the supreme Queene of all the Inhabitantes the∣reof. O soueraigne Queene, I reioice that thou art blessed for so many respectes. O that all the nations of the VVorlde were conuerted to thy Sonne, and might all with greate Faithe call thee blessed, that by thy mediation they might all come to be blessed, imita∣ting heere on Earth thy life, and enioying afterwardes thy Glory in Heauen.

From hence I will likewise collect, what a greate motiue it is to rejoice in God, to haue an assured Hope to be blessed. For the which our Sauiour Christ saide to his Disciples, * 1.18 Reioice not in this that the Spirits (to wit the Diuells) are sub∣iect vnto you, but reioice in this that your names are written in Heauen. * 1.19 And S. Paule saithe, that wee should rejoice in Hope to obtaine the bles∣sednesse that is promised vs.

Because he that is mighty hath done greate things to me, and holy is his name.

This is the third respect the blessed VIRGIN alledgeth to glorifye God, [ 3] for at this instant shee reuolued in her memory the wonderfull things

that God had wrought in her, and the greate benefits he had donne her, from the instant of her Conception vntill then: especially that greate miracle of beeing a VIRGIN, and a MOTHER, and that not any mother what∣soeuer, but the mother of God himselfe: ad∣miring at all which greatenesses, she praised God for them, attributing them to his Omnipoten∣cye, and to the Holinesse of his name: for with his Omnipotencye hee wrought them, and with his Holinesse he would enact them, that tho∣roughout all Ages, his name might be sanctifyed, and glorifyed. And in saying that God did greate things, to her, she giueth likewise to vnderstand, that hee magnified her in those things, that ma∣gnifye men before God, which is, Sanctitye, and Caelestiall giftes: for the Sonne beeing greate, the mother was likewise to be magnifyed. Whe∣reby it appeareth, that it is not contrary to Humillitye to acknowledge in ourselues the giftes of God: rather (as S. * 1.20 Paul sayeth) the di∣uine Spirit itselfe discouereth them vnto vs, that wee may bee thankefull for them, attributing them not to our owne merits, but to the power, and Sanctitye of God, making a connexion of these two Attributes, as did the foure holy Beastes which gaue Glory to God, saying: Holy, * 1.21 Holy, Holy, Lord God omnipotent, which was, which is, and which shall come.

And his mercye from Generation to Generations, to them that feare him.

This is the fourth respect why the blessed VIRGIN magnifieth God, [ 4] not only for the

benefits receiued, but for many other which she hopeth to receiue: and not only for her owne benefits, but also for those which all the nations of the worlde doe receiue, rejoicing that the Mercye of God is Continuall, Infinite, and Sempiternall, and extendeth itselfe to all those that serue, and feare him, of what nation soeuer they bee. For it is the propertye of holy men, when they acknowledge the fauours that God hath donne them, to expect of his mercye that hee will doe them many others, as S. Paul saide: * 1.22 God hath deliuered, and doth deliuer vs out of so great dangers, in whome we hope that hee, will yet also deliuer vs. It is likewise the pro∣pertye of holy Persons, to thinke that the Sun of Iustice rizeth not vpon their houses only, but to conceiue highly of his mercye, and that he extendeth himselfe to many others, and thoroughout all Ages: for the which they are thankefull vnto God, taking the generall be∣nefit of all, as their owne in particular, and rejoicing to haue a God so mercifull, that hee denyeth his mercye to none that feare him, as Dauid confesseth in the 102 Psalme, * 1.23 wheerein hee doth nothing els but glorifye God for these two respectes of mercye towardes him∣selfe, and towardes the rest of the Iust.

He hath shewed might in his Arme.

The fifth respect to glorifye God, is, [ 5] the Workes of his Omnipotencye, which hee hath donne by his owne Vertue, and Fortitude, without the aide of any other: the which the

VIRGIN recorded in her memorye, calling to her remembrance the Creation of the Worlde, the Conseruation, and Gouernment thereof with so greate, and so admirable Prouidence: the pro∣digious things that he did deliuering his People out of Egipt, and carrying them thorough the desert vnto the Lande of promise, with all the other things that the Scripture reporteth: and principally shee called to minde this worke of the Incarnation, wheerein God shewed his power, and the might of his Arme. For all these regardes she magnified God, declaring in one worde that which Dauid did at large, * 1.24 re∣counting all these potent workes of God very particularly.

Besides this, in this Verse, * 1.25 and in the following, the VIRGIN not only recounteth what God hath donne, but what he vseth, and accustometh to doe conformable to his Goodnesse: and therefore shee glorifieth him, for that with his Arme hee vseth to worke powerfully, and to doe powerfull Actions, when, and how he will, and with whome he will; and as he did them in times past, he doth them at this present, and will doe them in time to come. All which may be a greate motiue to make me to rejoice in God, trusting that in me also he will doe powerfull things with the might of his Arme.

He hath dispersed the prowde in the conceite of their Hearte.

The sixth respect to glorifye God is, [ 6] not only the Omnipotencye that he sheweth in the

workes of his Mercye, but also what he hath shewed in the Workes of his Iustice, chastising the prowde, defeating their inuentions, and the imaginations of their heart. This the VIRGIN reuolued in her memorye, recording how our Lord God had defeated the plottings of prowde Lucifer who had saide: * 1.26 I will ascend vp in to Heauen, I will exalt my throne aboue the Starres of God, & will be like vnto the most High. As also the plots of those prowde ones that would haue builded the towre of Babel: * 1.27 and the punishments that he inflicted vpon Pharao, vpon Nabuchodonosor, and other such prowde ones. And for all these regardes she likewise magnified God, seeing for them he is worthy to be praised, as did our Sauiour Christ when he saide: * 1.28 I confesse to thee, o Father, Lord of Heauen, and Earthe, because thou hast hid these things from the wise, and prudent, & hast reuealed them to litle ones.

He hath deposed the mighty from their seate, and hath exalted the humble. The hungrye he hath filled with good things, and the riche he hath sent away emptye.

These two Verses [ 7] containe two other respectes of praising God [ 8] for the coniunction he maketh of his Mercye with his Iustice, demonstrating his power in deposing the mighty of this Worlde from their Thrones, and Seates, de∣priuing them of the Kingdomes, Dignities, and Greatenesses which they helde; and in their place exalting, and inthronizing the lowely, and humble. As he threwe from the celestiall Throne

the prowde Angells, and in their place exalted humble men: & from the Throne of this Worlde he cast the prowde Prince Sathan who had ti∣rannized ouer it, and in his place exalted Christ the master of Humillitye: * 1.29 who beeing litle as a Stone descended from Heauen without handes, or worke of men, ouerthrewe the Statue which signified the Foure monarchies of the Worlde, and by his Humillity increased till he came to be a greate mountaine. And this custome he hath alwayes obserued, * 1.30 as it is saide in the booke of Iob, fullfilling that which is written. That he that exalteth himselfe shallbee humbled: and he that humbleth himselfe shallbee exalted. And in like manner the poore, and hungrye that are in necessitye, which hunger, and thirst after righteousnesse, he replenisheth with spirituall benefits fullfilling their desiers: and contrarily the riche that thinke they haue abundance, and that they haue no necessity of others, he sendeth awny emptye; according to that of the Prophet Dauid: The riche were hungrye, and in want, * 1.31 but those which seeke God, shall haue abundance of all good things.

O my Soule magnifye thy Lord for this most noble condition that hee sheweth, * 1.32 in fauoring so much the humble, and hungrye of the Earthe. O my Spirit, reioice in God thy Sauiour, * 1.33 for that he crowneth thee with mercyes, and filleth thy desier with innume∣rable benefits. Prize thyselfe for beeing lowely, hungry, and full of neede, that God may exalt thee, fill thee, and replenish thy Desiers: but tremble to be prowde, riche, and disdainefull, least hee cast thee out of thy seate, and leaue thee emptye of his Grace.

He hath receiued Israel his Childe, beeing mindefull of his Mercye, as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and his seede for euer.

These two Verses [ 9] containe other two most powerfull respectes [ 10] to moue vs to rejoice in God, and to praise his most holy name. One is, the Care, and Prouidence that hee hath to prouide for those whome he hath taken to his charge, as for his Children, and Domesti∣calls, comming personally to redeeme them. And allbeeit it seemeth that for a time, he forgetteth them: yet when he seeth time he is mindefull of his mercye, and remedyeth them, as he was mindefull of Israel, and of the whole worlde, comming to remedye it when he made himselfe man. The other respect is, the greate fidelitye that God hath in accomplishing the promises hee had made to our fathers, fullfilling them faithefully to all their seede for euer vnto the ende of the worlde: As he fullfilled his Worde to Abraham, and to Dauid which he gaue them, that hee would come to remedye them, and to giue to their Children, life, and Saluation, worlde without ende. These two considerations inflamed the Soule of the VIRGIN to magnifye God, and her Spirit to rejoice in God her Sauiour: and with these, my Soule, and my Spirit are to bee inkindeled with the like affections, seeing euery day, I beholde this Prouidence that God hath of his Children, and with what faithfullnesse he ac∣complisheth

complisheth what he promised to the Apostles our Fathers, not forgetting the faithfull which are their seede vnto the ende of the worlde.

And these are the ten causes, and respectes alledged in this Canticle by the blessed VIR∣GIN to glorifye God, inspired thereunto by the eternall Worde Incarnate whome shee bare in her Wombe: of the which I may make another Psalter, and Harpe of ten strings to the same ende, praising, and glorifying God, some∣times for one respect, and sometimes for another, which because I cannot doe as I ought, I am humbly to beseeche the Incarnate Worde to teache mee, as he taught his blessed mother: and her, to obtaine it me, for the glorye of her Sonne. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Eccl. 43.33.
• * 1.2

  Matt. 12.34
• * 1.3

  Psal. 42.4. 91 4. & 143.9.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 102.1. & 103.1.33.
• * 1.5

  Colloquie. Eccl. 43.30.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 33.4
• * 1.7

  The man¦ner of re∣joicing in God.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 83.3 & 15.9.
• * 1.9

  Psal. 34.9
• * 1.10

  Psal. 36.4 Ioan. 16.32.24. Matt. 25.21.23
• * 1.11

  Luc. 18.14.
• * 1.12

  Psa. 112 6
• * 1.13

  Psal. 30.8
• * 1.14

  Colloquie. Psa. 112.5.
• * 1.15

  Colloquie.
• * 1.16

  Luc. 11.28
• * 1.17

  Matt. 5.3
• * 1.18

  Luc. 10.20.
• * 1.19

  Rom. 12.12
• * 1.20

  1 Cor. 2.10.
• * 1.21

  Apoc. 4.8
• * 1.22

  2 Cor. 1.10.
• * 1.23

  Psal. 102.
• * 1.24

  Psal. 135.
• * 1.25

  NOT••.
• * 1.26

  Isa. 14.13
• * 1.27

  Gen. 11.5 Exod. 10. & 11. Dan. 4.28
• * 1.28

  Matt. 11.25
• * 1.29

  Dan. 2.34
• * 1.30

  Iob 5.11. & 40.6. & seq.
• * 1.31

  Psa. 33.11
• * 1.32

  Colloquie.
• * 1.33

  Psal. 102.4.5.