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SEcondly, * 1.1 are to be considered the fauours that our Lord did to this holy Babe, beeing in the wombe of his mother in the sixth mō∣neth of his Conception, the Worde Incarnate himselfe comming in the Wombe of his mother to visite him, and to sanctify him, as is de∣clared in the precedent meditation, from the which wee may recollect three excellencyes of this Sainct.
First, [ 1] that S. Iohn was the first fruites of all
the Sainctes that our Sauiour made after his In∣carnation: and therefore he sanctifyed him with greate excellencye, giuing him greate Sanctitye, and many graces giuen gratis after a very perfect manner, graunting him the vse of reason, and free will: Illuminating his Vnderstanding to knowe his Incarnation, and Inflaming his will with feruent affections of Admiration, and Loue, and with Iubilees, and rejoicings in the holy Spirit. The second excellencye was, [ 2] that whereas the giftes of God, * 1.2 (as S. Paul sayeth) are without repentance; it is to be beleeued (as sayeth S. Ambrose) that he tooke not from him the vse of reason that he had graunted him: and conse∣quently, that whereas the blessed VIRGIN those three moneths that she was in the house of Zacharias, ayded S. Elizabeth to growe in all Vertue: so the Childe IESVS that was in the wombe of the VIRGIN, ayded the Childe Iohn who was in the wombe of Elizabeth, to growe vp in that holinesse, that he had graunted him, prosecuting it with newe actes of his free∣will, inflamed with diuine grace by the holy Spirit, of whome hee was full. [ 3] The third excel∣lencye was (as holy men reporte) that in respect of the Childe Iohn, * 1.3 God did so many fauours to his mother, that he filled her with the holy Ghost, and with the Spirit of Prophecye, to giue vs to vnderstand how much he esteemeth this Childe, and what good he will doe vs for his sake. For the which I am to procure greate Loue to this fore-runner, rejoicing at the fa∣uours that he receiued, and giuing thankes to God that gaue them him; and beseeching him to bee an Intercessor for mee, that I may haue some parte in them.
Luc. 1.39.
Rom. 11.29 In Luc. 1.
Ambr. & Bed. in Luc.