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 first Pointe.

FIrst, * 1.1 I will consider what happened before the Conception of this Sainct: for God ha∣uing elected him for his fore-runner, was willing to honour him, to demonstrate in him the great∣nesse of his mercye, and the heigth of the office that he gaue him in charge, all for the glorye of Christ IESVS whose fore-runner he was. As first he would that he should be miraculously conceiued of barren Parents, [ 1] that he should be the Sonne of holy Parents, and the Sonne of Praiers, & holy Desiers: for Praier is the meanes that God vseth to execute the Deuises of his eternall predestination; as S. Gregory sayeth, * 1.2 speaking of the birth of the Patriarch Isaac. Whereby he moueth vs to haue greate Affection, & Confidence in Praier, though it be concerning things that seeme difficult, seeing for all it is auaileable. [ 2] He would likewise that his Conce∣ption should be annunciated by the Angell S. Gabriel, who annunciated that of his Sonne: and with the selfe same spirit of prompt Obedience, the Angell came to declare both the one, and the other, because it was God that commaunded it. * 1.3 In the same manner that S. Raphael came to serue Tobias in very base things, with no lesse pleasure then if God had commaunded him things of greate heigth: for all the Angells place their Glory

in accomplishing the will of God.

Then will I ponder what Greatenesses S. Ga∣briel spake of the Childe, that he might be esteemed by all, and to instruct his Father in the manner of his education for so high an office. The first was, [ 1] that the Angell himselfe in Gods behalfe, gaue him the name he was to haue, saying, that he should be called Iohn, which is as much to say as Crace, to signifye that he should be an absolute Portraiture of Grace, in whome should be shewen the riches of Gods grace: for he truely founde grace before God, who without any merits of his, elected and called him, * 1.4 and was mindefull of his name euen from the Wombe of his mother. The second, [ 2] that he should be greate before God in those things, that God esteemeth for greatenesse, which are Vertues, and Giftes of Sanctitye. So that he should be greate in Humillitye, Patience, and Obedience: greate in Praier, and Contemplation; and greate in the office that the greate ones haue of the house of God. The third, [ 3] that he should be exceeding temperate, without drinking wine, or sicer, as a man of Nazareth, wholely dedi∣cated to the seruice of God. And for that the Diuine promises are not emptye but full, giuing a sufficient portion for all that is promised, he addeth the fourth excellencye, [ 4] that hee should be replenished from the Wombe of his mother with the holy Spirit, with that fullnesse that was requisite for the Dignitye of his Office, because he was elected, beginning from the wombe of his mother, & going on forwarde to his Deathe. The fifth that he should goe before our Lord, [ 5] as his Precursor with the zealous spirit of Elias, conuerting to God many Israelites, and preparing

him a People perfectly industriated to receiue the newe Lawe that he was to teache.

So that, according to the Sentence of the Angell, this Childe should be perfect in all manner of perfection, towardes God, towardes himselfe, and towardes his neighbours. For towardes God, he should be greate in the giftes of his Grace; towards himselfe rigorous in the workes of mortification, and Penance: and towardes his neighbours he should be zealous in seeking their Saluation, not contenting him∣selfe to be perfect, but endeuoring that all might be perfect, and ordaining all this to the glorye of our Lord Christ. This patterne of perfection (which is the same that is taught vs by the Prophet Micheas) I am to set before my eyes for imitation. * 1.5 And of the Greatenesses that God so much esteemeth, I am to pretende for myselfe those which are conuenient for my Estate, beseeching his diuine maiestie to giue mee them for the Loue he bare to this Precursor, to whome so liberally he graunted them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For the feaste of S. Iohn Baptist. Luc. 1.11.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 1. dial. c. 5.
• * 1.3

  Tob. 5.5.
• * 1.4

  Isa. 49.13
• * 1.5

  Mich. 6.8. &c.