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 Second Pointe.

SEcondly, I will consider the feruent desiers of the most sacred VIRGIN to see her Sonne borne, and that now was arriued the happy hower of his natiuitye. [ 1] First, that she might knowe face to face him, that was not only her Sonne, but the Sonne also of the euer∣liuing God; to behold that sacred Humanitye that he had taken from her flesh, and to enioy his excellent Beautye.

Secondly, [ 2] to adore him, to serue, and nourish him, and to doe towardes him the office of a mother, in thankefullnesse for that greate fauour that he had donne her, in electing her to that ende. And therefore with greate tendernesse of Hearte she might applye to him that of the Canticles: Who shall giue thee me, o my Sonne, Vt inueniam te foris, & deosculer te: that I may see thee out of this thy inclosure, to kisse thee, to cherish, and to serue thee, as thou doest merit?

Thirdly, [ 3] that the Worlde might enioy that good, that was inclosed in her: for allbeit she exceedingly loued him, yet she would not haue him for herselfe alone, but for all, because he was Incarnate for all vniuersally. And as Hope that is delayed afflicteth the hearte, euery day seemed to her a whole yeare: though on the other side she was most contented to containe him within her, vnderstanding that such was his pleasure. With these Considerations I am to moue my hearte, and to awake therein feruent desiers, that this Sonne of God might be borne

spiritually within my Soule, and within the Soule of all men, that by all he might be adored, serued, and loued, repeating to this ende certaine verses of the Psalmes, and of the Prophets, which holy Church vseth in the time of Aduent: which are to say: Awake o Lord, thy power, and make haste to saue vs. Would thou wouldest breake these Heauens, and descende, that in thy presence all my Vices might be dissolued. O Heauens distill from on high this diuine dewe: O clowdes raine for me this Iust one: and open o thou Earthe, and bud out to me this Sauiour: shewe thy-mercye, o Lord, and graciously giue me thy Saluation. To this purpose I may frame certaine Iaculatorye Praiers, like to those which in these dayes the holy Church vseth, in those seuen Antiphone which are sung at Euensong, calling our Sauiour Christ by those names, which hee holdeth as he is God, or as he is man, by reason of the offices he doth in those Soules, whome he visiteth. And therefore I may say vnto him: O infinite Wisdome, come to gouerne me in the way of Heauen! O Splendour of the glorye of the Father, come to illuminate me with the splendour of thy vertues! O Sun of Iustice, come to giue light, & heate of Life to him, that is seated in the Shadowe of Deathe! O King of kings, descende to gouerne me! O master of nations, come to instruct me! O Sauiour of the VVorlde, make hast to saue me. And in this forme may be framed other such like petitions, conforming myselfe to the Spirit of the Church at this time.

Finally, I may spiritualize the desiers of the blessed VIRGIN, and of her Sonne whome she bare, in her Wombe, quickening my desier, that those good purposes, which by the Inspiration of the holy Ghost I haue conceiued, may come

to light, and be effected in such time, place, and season, as God shall require, absolutely confor∣ming myselfe to his most holy will. For as the infant conceiued, naturally desireth to come into the light of this Worlde at his due time, and if he commeth not, he tormenteth his mother, and dieth, indaungering likewise her life; So the good purpose, which the holy Ghost inspi∣reth me with, of altering, or bettering my life, is as it were crying, and desiring to come to light in his due time. And if by negligence, or Contempt, it be not effected, it tormenteth the Conscience with remorses, and vseth to be an occasion of greate falles, God permitting them as a chastizement, for hauing extinguished the Spirit, and the good purposes that proceeded from his Inspiration. And heereupon the holy Spirit saieth, that Desiers kill the slouthfull: that is, Desiers conceiued by the Vertue of God, and not accomplished thorough our owne Slothe.

Notes

• Cant. 8.1.
• Prou. 13.12
• Colloquie. Psal. 79.3 Isai. 64.1 Isa. 45.8.
• Colloquie.
• 1 Thess. 5.19.
• Pro. 21.25