The third Pointe.

THen will I consider the excellent Vertues, which vpon this newe Occasion, and proofe were discouered, and exercized by these two ex∣cellent Sainctes, for our imitation: seeing for this ende also our Sauiour permitted those Af∣flictions which they suffered.

First S. [ 1] Ioseph demonstrated greate Patience, and Prudence: Patience hee demonstrated in suffering this Injurye with silence, without seeking to be reuenged of his Wife by Iustice, or complaining of her to her parents, & kindred• and without murmuring at her, or speaking to her Injurious wordes: rather as a Iust man that contented not himselfe with what only was lawfull, he sought what was most perfect, re∣soluing himselfe to be silent, and to suffer his paine within himselfe. He demonstrated Pru∣dence in seeking, and finding a meanes how on Page  154the one side to preserue the honour of his Wife, and on the other side not to bring to his house her, whome he suspected to be an Adulteresse; nor giuing her a secret bill of diuorce, which was lawfull in the olde Lawe: nor with some good occasion absenting himselfe from her. And likewise he demonstrated Prudence in not doing this rashly, or on a sodaine, without first medita∣ting, and considering it well, as may be collected from these wordes, * Haec autem eo cogitante, But as he was thus thinking, for he had a greate scruple to inhabite with her, that seemed an Adulteresse, and he had likewise as greate a scruple to aban∣don her, that seemed a Sainct. With this Con∣sideration, I am to confound myselfe for my small Patience in Affronts; for my much Indignation against those, that doe me Injurye; and for the Facillitye wherewith I murmure at, and defame my neighbours, and discouer their secret faultes: and for that Furye with the which sodainely, & without deliberation, I cast myselfe into all this. And in this manner confounded, I will beseeche our Lord thorough the merits of this Sainct, to ayde me to imitate his notable example.

But the blessed VIRGIN, [ 2] as she was more holy, discouered more excellent Vertues, exer∣cizing foure very excellent ones, proper to those that are most perfect in such cases; to witte: rare Humillitye, and Silence: greate Confidence in Gods prouidence, & continuall Praier. Thorough Humillitye shee was silent, not desiring to mani∣fest the secret mysteries of God, though her greate honour might ensue thereof, nor consen∣ting that S. Elizabeth, or Zacharias should discouer them. And allbeeit it is very ordinary among good maried folke, to communicate their secrets Page  155one to another, yet she communicated not this to S. Ioseph, all though shee conjectured what might happen, if her husband were ignorant thereof. Thorough Humillitye likewise she was silent, when shee sawe herselfe disgraced in the opinion of her Husband, not seeking to excuse herselfe, nor to stand vpon her honour, neither to alledge sufficient witnesse: but absolutely with greate Confidence casting herselfe into the diuine Prouidence, and putting her Honour into the handes of God, she made continuall praier to his maiestie, that he would be pleased to remedye that Ignominye, in such sorte as should to him seeme most conuenient. With this example I will likewise confounde myselfe for that pride, and vaine boasting of mine, wherewith I publish whatsoeuer may honour mee: and for that per∣uersenesse wherewith I excuse my faultes, stan∣ding vainely vpon my Puntillos of Honour: and for my litle confidence in God, & lesse recourse vnto Praier. To this purpose I am to imagine that God speaketh vnto me that of Ezechiel: * Sonne of man shewe to the howse of Israel the temple, and let them be confounded, at theire ini∣quities: and let them measure the frame, and be ashamed of all things that they haue donne. O my Soule beholde this liuing Temple of God the blessed VIRGIN, contemplating the meruailous vertues wherewith she is adorned, that thou maiest be confounded at those vices, whereinto thou hast fallen: measure her meruailous frame, pondering the excellencye, and harmonye of her workes, that thou maiest be ashamed of the basenesse, and discorder of thine.

O Temple of the Worde Incarnate, * beseeche this greate God, whome thou carriest in thy Wombe, to Page  156adorne me with such Vertues, that I may be a worthy Temple, wheerein he may inhabite by his Grace. O my Soule, * consider that the iust ought to be like a graine of mustard seede, which when it is ground, discouereth the heate, and force that it hath: there∣fore if God be pleased to grinde thee with Affli∣ctions, animate thyselfe feruently to exercize these Vertues.