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 am to consider how the eternall Father would manifest the birth of his Sonne to the Shepheardes, that were neere about Bethlehem watching, and keeping their flocke, sending to this ende an Angell (which as it is thought was S. Gabriel) inuested with a resplendent Bodye, who inuironing them with a celestiall light sayed vnto them: * 1.1 Beholde I euangelize to you greate Ioy that shallbee to all the People; because this day is borne to you a Sauiour, which is Christe our Lord, in the Citye of Dauid: And this shalbe a signe to you, you shall finde the Infant swadled in clothes, and la••ed in a manger. Vpon this passage, I will consider, first, [ 1] how God would not manifest this mysterye, nor send this Angell to the Sages of Bethlehem, for they were prowde; nor to the Riche, for they were couetous: nor to the noble, for they were pampered: but to the Shepheardes, be∣cause they were poore, humble labouring men, that were watching, and attending their office, for such dispositions as these God requireth in those, to whome he imparteth his mysteries, and if he Imparteth them not with me, it is because I want such a disposition; seeing it was for this, that he saied: that he hideth these things from the wise, * 1.2 and prudent, and reuea∣leth them to the litle ones that are humble, and lowely.

Secondly, I will consider, [ 2] that it is a matter of very greate Ioy, that a Sauiour is borne to vs. He is not borne to himselfe, for he com∣meth

not to saue himselfe: nor he is not borne to the Angels, for he commeth not to saue them: but to men, and to me, for he commeth to saue me. For me he is borne, and circumcized, and all whatsoeuer he did, and suffered, it is all for me: And that which passeth in the manger, is all to pardon my Sinnes, to inflame me in the Loue of Vertues, and to inriche me with those merits.

O sweete IESVS, * 1.3 that which to thee is matter of Dolour, is to me matter of Ioye. I reioice that thou art so good, that thou embracest my Dolours, to giue mee thy Ioyes: let not me, o Lord, be so vnhappye, that thou being borne for the good of all men, I should liue, as if thou hadst not beene borne for the good of mee, hunting prowdely after greatenesse, and for∣gettyng thy lewelinesse, and Humillitye.

Thirdly, [ 3] I will ponder how the signes to finde out the Sauiour that is borne, are Infancye, Swadling Cloutes, and a maunger.

O infinite Greatenesse of God, * 1.4 who would euer haue imagined, that things so base should be the signes to finde out, and to knowe the God of maiestie! but I now knowe, o Lord, that thou art delighted with these debasings, and that thou art in the middest of them, to moue me to procure them: teaching me by the waye, that the signes to knowe that thou art borne spiritually within me, * 1.5 are Innocency of an Infant in Life, Silence in Tongue, Pouertye in Habit, and Humillitye in choosing to myselfe that vhich is most vile, and contemptible on Earthe. Imprint them, o my Sauiour, in my Soule, that it may be like vnto thee, that thou maiest be pleased to be borne, and to inhabite therein.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Luc. 2.10.
• * 1.2

  Matt. 11.25.
• * 1.3

  Colloquie.
• * 1.4

  Colloquie.
• * 1.5

  Ex D. Ber∣ser. 4. de Resurr.