The first Pointe.

FOr the foundation of this Meditation, * I am to consider the greate Sanctitye of S. Ioseth, and the Vertues, and Graces graunted him by our Lord, for being the worthye Spouse of his mother, and his worthy Foster-father, so that he should be helde for his Father, * and was so indeede, as concerning the office of educating, and sustaining him. For as our Lord filled with grace, and with the holy Spirit, the Baptist, and the Apostles with that abundance that was conuenient to exercize worthily the Offices that he incharged them: so also would he replenish S. Ioseph with most excellent giftes, and graces, with the which he might fullfill those ministeries that he recommended vnto him, and he so skillfully negotiated with the giftes receiued, that euery daye he encreased them, and was therefore called Ioseph, * which is to say, Accrescens, Encreasing, or he that en∣creaseth.

First, [ 2] he encreased his Sanctitye aboue all the Sainctes that had preceded him: for he had greater Faithe, and Obedience then Abraham: more Patience in Afflictions then Iacob: more Chastitye then his Sonne Ioseph: more familiar Conuersation with God then Moyses: more Cha∣ritye towardes the People the •amuel: and more Humillitye, and Meekenesse then Dauid. In these, and other Vertues he was resplendent, and daily augmented them, that being fullfilled in him, that was spoken by the Prophet Dauid: Blessed is the man whose helpe is from thee; * for with thy fauour hee hath disposed ascensions in his Hearte, ascending from one Vertue to another, vntill he see the God, of Gods in Sion.

Especially this happy Sainct increased moun∣ting that spirituall Ladder, [ 2] which (as we haue saide) his Spouse did ascende, by whose example he was ayded, these two Seraphins prouoking one another to flye with their wings, and to glorifye the Holye of Holyes in their Praier. * And to doe this with more libertye of Spirit, by Inspiration of the holy Ghost, he chose to obserue perpe∣tuall Chastity, * which (as S. Paul sayeth remoueth the impediments of Praier: and therein he proceeded so farre, that by speciall fauour he felt no euill motion, though he conuersed with a Virgin exceeding beautifull, but withall so admirably chaste, that meerely to beholde her, inflamed one with desier of Chastitye. And in this very Action, he discouered his greate Loue to allmighty God, for whose sake he renounced the pleasures of matrimonye, accepting the burthen of that estate, without the delightes thereof. With these Vertues he joyned other, whereof wee shall by and by speake, in the Page  151which I am to endeuour to imitate him, besee∣ching him to be my aduocate vnto his Spouse, & Christ IESVS our Sauiour; for doubtlesse he may preuaile much with them both, for the great seruices that he did them.

O glorious Patriarch, * whose beautye the Hierar∣chies of Heaue• doe admire, beseeche the Desired of the eternall Hilles, who powred forth vpon thy Heade his copious benediction, that he will likewise powre it forth vpon mine, that in imitation of thee I may encrease in good workes, and augment in Vertues, perseuering with Constancye to the gaining of the euerlasting Crowne. Amen.

The Second Pointe.

AFter that the blessed VIRGIN came from the house of Zacharias, her Husband seeing her with Childe, and not knowing the cause, felt a greate affliction: but as he was a just man, he would not carrye her to his owne house, neither yet would he defame her, but abandon her secretly.

Vpon this Veritye, I am to consider the se∣cret Iudgements of God, in not reuealing this mysterye to S. Ioseph, as he reuealed it to Zacha∣rias, and to S. Elizabeth, whose ende was, here∣vpon to take occasion to exercize the VIRGIN, and her Spouse. For S. Ioseph perceiuing his Wife to be with Childe, * might without any sinne (as many Sainctes say) haue judged that she was an Adulteresse, or doubt of a thing that was to him so newe, and so straunge. And this afflicted him much, it beeing a case so much to his dishonour: but much greater was the Affli∣ction of his Spouse, from whome this could Page  152not bee hidden, it being a greate Infamye for a Virgin so pure to bee helde by her owne Husband for an Adulteresse, and to see herselfe therefore at the pointe of beeing abandoned. All this our Lorde disposed of, for the greate good that arizeth from these Afflictions, and Humilliations: by the which he pretended to perfect these two notable Sainctes, and to dis∣pose them to greater things. For as the blessed VIRGIN had receiued greate fauours in the Annunciation of the Angel S. Gabriel, and in the house of Elizabeth, our Lord God was willing that she should suffer this Infamye, and Humilliation, to exercize her in greater Hu∣millitye, and to dispose her for those fauours which soone after shee was to receiue in the Citty of Bethleem: for Humilliation is the euening of Exaliation, * and Affliction is the Vigill of a greate feaste of Consolations. And peraduenture for this cause the holy Churche singeth the Cospell of this mysterye on the Vigill of the Natiuitye: and for the same reason God exercized S. Io∣seph to receiue the reuelation of so high a mysterye, and that he might be his sufficient witnesse.

From hence I will collect, that allbeeit one be very holy, and conuerse allwayes with holy persons, and employ himselfe in holye workes, yet in this life he shall not faile of Humillia∣tions, and Afflictions, caused sometimes euen by those holy things wheerein he conuerseth. For the life of man is a warfare: and the righteous man ought to be prepared for tempta∣tion. * I am rather to holde Afflictions from God as a fauour, especially when they happen without any fault of mine: and much more when Page  153they happen in a case that deserueth honour: as the blessed VIRGIN for that which was most excellent in her, came to suffer this Hu∣milliation, which likewise her Sonne did after∣wardes suffer. Encouraged with these examples, I will with the Prophet Dauid say to our Lord: * Prooue me, o Lord, and tempt me, burne my reines, and my hearte, because thy mercye is before myne eyes, and I am glad in thy Truthe. Which is to say: Exercize me in diuerse temptations, and Af∣flictions of bodye, and Soule, for I am assured of thy mercye, and of thy faithfullnesse, that thou willt measure them according to my strength, and willt conuert them into the augmentation of newe Giftes.

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.

The fourth Pointe.

WHile S. * Ioseph was thus thinking, beholde the Angell of our Lord appeared to him in sleepe, saying: Ioseph Sonne of Dauid feare not to take MARAE thy VVife: for that which is borne in her, is not by the worke of man, but of the holy Ghoste. And she shall bring forth a Sonne, and thou shallt call his name IESVS: for he shal saue his People from their sinnes.

Heerein is to be considered the fidellitye of the Diuine Prouidence, [ 1] in comming to re∣medye the Affliction sof those that are his, when they are arriued to the last, and sharpest pointe, vsing diuine meanes, when humane meanes doe faile. For whereas our Lord sawe that S. Ioseph could not conceiue the cause of that beeing with Childe, he sent an Angell after a very sweete manner to reueale it vnto him: for calling him by his proper name Ioseph, he addeth, Sonne of Dauid, to reduce to his me∣mory, that to Dauid was made the promise of the Messias, that he should descende from him. He saieth to him, Feare not, to take from him both Scruple, and Anguish; which is the pro∣pertye of good Angells. he saieth, that the VIR∣GIN had conceiued by the Holy Ghoste, to take Page  157from him all suspicion, and to cleare the Honour of our LADYE. And wholely to conuerte his mourning into Ioye, he addeth that she shall bring farth a Sonne, of whome he must haue as tender a care, as if he were his owne: and that to him it should belong to giue him his name, which should be IESVS, which is as much to say, as Sauiour for that he was to be the Sauiour of the Worlde. And all this was reuealed vnto him with so greate Illumination, that forthwith he gaue entire credit thereunto.

From hence I will ascende to ponder the ala∣critye of S. [ 2] Ioseph at the hearing of these newes, that beeing fullfilled in him that is written in Iob: * VVhen thou shalt think thyselfe consumed thou shalt rise like the daye starre. O how full of Con∣tent was he to see himselfe freed from his suspicion! How ashamed that he had admitted it, though it were ignorantly, and without any fault of his! How warye afterward not to iudge euill of any bodye! How thankefull to God, for hauing giuen him a Spouse so Holy, and of so greate Dignitye, & for committing to his charge the care of his only begotten Sonne! And how joyfull to see, that now was the time come of the Redemption of the Worlde!

I will likewise ponder the greate Ioy of the blessed VIRGIN to see her Husband so fall of quiet, [ 3] and content; how much she was confir∣med in the Hope of Gods Prouidence; and how thankefull to our Lord for vndertaking her cause; our Lord fullfilling in her, what he spake by the Prophet Oseas: I will put her in the valley of Achor, that is, of Affliction, * to confirme her a newe in hope, and she shal renewe her Songs to see herselfe free from her paines.

I giue thee humble thankes, * o eternall God, for the greate care thou hadst of these two glorious Sainctes, * turning for them, as thou art wont, the valley of Achor into the foode, and augmentation of their Spirit. By their merits I beseeche thee, to make me worthy to enioy the fruite of thy fatherly Prouidence, relying thereupon with greate securitye in the middest of my Afflictions, seeing it is most certaine, that thou in thy good time wilt come to remedye them.

The fifth Pointe.

IOseph obeying the commaundement of the Angell, * forthwith arose, and carryed the VIRGIN to his house, and liued with her most chastely, vntill the birth of her Sonne, and much more afterwardes. Wherein I am to consider, not so much the obedience of S. Ioseph (for it was not much to carrye to his house so excellent a woman) as the manner thereof: that is, with what Reue∣rence he carried her, speaking to her some wordes like to those of S. * Elizabeth; Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord entereth into my house! O how greate was his Loue, and Affection to our blessed LADYE! how carefull was he of her! what holy discourses were betweene them two! what more then An∣gelicall Puritye of Life, and what conformitye of willes! how subject, and obedient was the VIRGIN to S. Ioseph, as to her heade! how did shee reueale vnto him the particularities, of what the Angell had declared vnto her in the Annun∣ciation, and what had passed in the house of Zacharias! for now was the time come that shee might speake, to informe him of the my∣sterye, Page  159to the honour, and glorye of him that had wrought it.

O happy Sainct, * to whose lot it fell to haue so good companye! O happy is that Soule that serueth them, and learneth of them their obedience, and Charitye! O Seraphins of the Earthe, * as pure as those of Heauen, who with your wings flye lightly to accomplish the will of God, inflame my Hearte with the Loue of this our Lord, that I also may serue him with the like Obedience, that both of you had: and may loue all my Bretheren with that purenesse of Charitye wherewith you loued one another.