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FIrst, I am to consider who Imposeth this name vpon the Childe, and for what cause, and how he accepteth it. Pondering how the principall giuer of this name, was not the VIR∣gin, nor S. Ioseph, nor the Angell, but the eternall
Father: for the excellencye of this Childe is so greate, that no Creature, neither of Earthe, nor of Heauen was able of himselfe, to giue him a name befitting him, but only his eternall Father, who knewe him, and knewe the ende wherefore he was Incarnate, and what office he was to execute, as he was man. And for this cause, among many names that he might haue giuen him, he would haue him called IESVS, which is to say, a Sauiour. For his comming into the Worlde was principally to saue vs, and this was his Office. And albeit others had this name, yet they were but figures, and shadowes of this Soueraigne Childe: who with full mouthe, and thorough his excellencye deserueth to be called, IESVS, Sauiour, and Deliuerer not only of bodyes, but also of Soules, which he doeth with three admirable excellencyes.
First, [ 1] for that he deliuereth vs from all kinde of euills, of Ignorances, and Errours, of Sinnes, and of Punishments aswell temporall, as eternall. So that there is no euill so greate, from the which this Sauiour is not able to deliuer vs.
Secondly, [ 2] for that he not only deliuereth vs from euill, but also graunteth vs most excellent good, that our Healthe, and Saluation might be most abundant, and perfect: and therefore hee communicateth vnto vs celestiall grace, and Wisdome, the Vertues, and Giftes of the holy Ghoste, with abundance of merits to gaine the crowne of glorye, vntill we enter euen into the lande of promise, not as IESVS the Sonne of Nun, * 1.2 into the lande that floweth with the milke, and honye of temporall Delicacies, which re∣create the bodye, but into the Lande that floweth the milke, and honye of eternall De∣licacyes,
which recreate, and fill the Soule without ende.
The third excellencye is, [ 3] in the manner of sauing vs, by reason of which this name of IESVS could not agtee with him that was only God, nor only man, nor to any of all the Angells that are created, but only to Christe, whose properly it is, by reason of his being true God, and true man: for being man alone he could not saue vs; being God alone he might haue saued vs meerely by his mercye: but as God, and man, he saueth vs also with the ri∣gour of Iustice, gaining by the Speares pointe, and by his owne merits the Saluation signified by his name. * 1.3 And therefore this our Lord being asked who he was, aunswered, Ego qui loquor Iu∣stitiam, & qui propugnator sum adisaluandum. I that speake Iustice, and am a defendor to saue.
O most sweete IESVS, * 1.4 happy may be vnto thee this name so glorious, which is giuen thee this daye. I reioice that it is not an emptye name, nor a name of Shadowe, as others haue had it, but a name full of truthe, and of all perfection. Reioice, o my Soule, with the excellencies of this so soueraigne a Sauiour, and say with the Prophet: I will ioye in our Lord, * 1.5 and will reioice in God my IESVS, and my Sauiour: for he is my fortitude: he will giue me feete like a Stagge to runne away from Sinne, and as a Con∣querour he will exalt me aboue the Heauens with his Saintas, with whome I may praise him with Hymnes, and with Psalmes, worlde without ende. Amen.
I may likewise ponder how our B. [ 4] LADYE the VIRGIN, declared in the Circumcision the name of her Sonne, whose excellencies she most perfectly knewe, since the time that the Angell
reuealed them vnto her, and in her hearte she did ruminate, and conferre them; and therefore on this day she with greate reuerence, and de∣uotion tooke his name in her mouthe, & sayed, his name shallbe IESVS. O what greate Ioye felt the most sacred VIRGIN, when this first time shee pronounced this most sweete name of IESVS, and not she only, but glorious S. Ioseph, and the rest that were present, and hearde this name, felt a celestiall fragrancye, & sweetenesse. For then began to be fullfilled that which is written in the Canticles: * 1.6 Oile powred out is thy name: therefore haue young maydes loued thee. Vntill this hower, this sweetest name made no odour of itselfe, because it was locked vp, and inclosed: now that it manifested itselfe, it powred out a most sweete, and odoriferous fragrancye, cheering, comforting, and affecting those pure, and chaste Soules that either pro∣nounce it, or heare it, the which are inflamed with the Loue of this our Lord, thorough the sweetenesse of his holy name, but aboue all our most blessed LADYE the VIRGIN being most pure, and vndefiled, and knowing best the soueraigne mysteries of this name. O with what pleasure repeated this B. LADYE those wordes of her Canticle: My Soule doeth magnifye our Lord, and my spirit reioiceth in God my IESVS, and Sauiour: Because he hath re∣garded the humillitye of his handmaide, for beholde from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed: because he that is mighty hath donne greate thinges to me, and holy is his name.
O Soueraigne VIRGIN beseeche thy Sonne to imprint in my Hearte that estimation, * 1.7 and loue of this holy name, that he imprinted in thine.
O most sweete name, poure downe vpon me thy Ce∣lestiall fragrancye, that my weake, sicke, and mise∣rable Soule may be comforted, and healed therewith, and may be free from those miseries wherein it is plunged, enioying the fruite of her abundant fal∣uation.
Lastly, [ 5] I may ponder, how this blessed Babe, accepted the name, and office of our Sauiour, and ioyed therein, offering with greate delight to his eternall Father to stand for the honour of this sweetest name, and entirely to fullfill all whatsoeuer it signified for the good of men.
I thanke thee, o good IESVS, * 1.8 for this will which thou hadst to saue vs, accepting the office with the name of Sauiour, fullfill it, o Lord, effe∣ctually in mee, and seeing thou art IESVS, Este mihi IESVS, Be to me IESVS, be my Sauiour.
SEcondly, I will consider the causes, why this name was giuen him on the eigth day, at his Circumcision: for albeit the Angell declared it before the Incarnation to the blessed VIRGIN, and afterwardes to S. Ioseph: yet in the Circum∣cision it was manifested for twoo principall causes. [ 2] First, for the honour of the Childe, for his father seeing him so humbled, that he bare the likenesse of a Sinner, would that he should then be exalted, giuing him a name aboue all names, which is the name of IESVS, that we might vnderstand, that not only he hath no Sinne, but that he is the Sauiour of Sinners, and pardoner of Sinnes. This is, to moue me to giue
infinite thankes to the eternall Father, for thus honoring his Sonne, when for his Loue he humbleth himselfe: whereby he giueth me an assured pledge, that if I humble myselfe, he will also exalt me, * 1.9 and will giue me a newe name so glorious, that none shall knowe how to esteeme it, as it ought to be esteemed, vntill he receiue it, and that God communicateth his greatenesses in glorye.
Secondly, to make manifest, that the name, [ 2] and office of Sauiour was to cost him the shedding of blood: for without shedding of blood (saieth the Apostle) there is no remission of Sinnes. * 1.10 And therefore our sweete IESVS taking the office of a Redeemer, giueth in earnest of the price that he is to pay for our ransome, a litle of that blood which he sheddeth in his Cir∣cumcision, with a determination to pay the whole price entirely in his passion, shedding for vs all the blood that he hath. True it is, that this litle was a sufficient price for all the Sinnes of the Worlde, yea, if there had beene a thousand other Worldes, because it was the blood of God: but his Charitye, and Liberallity would, that the price should be all his blood: to which ende he gaue licence to all the instruments that are on Earthe for shedding of blood, to drawe out his blood with greiuous Dolour, and Con∣tempt: to witte; the Knife, Whippes, Thornes, Nailes, & Speare. The knife on this daye opened the first fountaine of blood, but that was pre∣sently closed. The other instruments afterward opened others, which closed not till all his blood was runne out.
O sweetest Sauiour, * 1.11 vhose fountaines, albeit they are of blood, shed with greate dolour, yet they are
also fountaines of the liuing water of infinite thankes, which are to be gathered with greate reioicing, and Loue. May my Soule praise thee for this infinite Charitye, wherewith thou openest these fountaines, commaunding me to approache with alacritye, to enioye the price that thou sheddest with such paine. O my Soule what hast thou reason to doe for thy owne Saluation, when as thy Sauiour doeth so much for it? If it cost him his blood, is it much that it should cost thee thine? Beholde me heere, o Lord, readye to shed my blood for thy Loue, so that thou wilt make me partaker of thine. Amen.
THirdly, I will consider the greatenesses of this sweete name; the greate proffit that wee reape by it; and the manner how we are to make our commodity thereof: but before we enter into this consideration, I am to be∣seeche the eternall Father, that for the glorye of this most holy name, he will be pleased to illuminate me, that I may knowe his greatenesse for if (as S. * 1.12 Paul sayeth) no man can duely say IESVS, but in the holy Ghoste: then can no man worthily ponder, and vnderstand what is contained in the name of IESVS if he be not preuented, and ayded by the same holy Ghoste.
This presupposed I will consider how the name of IESVS, [ 1] is a Summarye, and memoriall of all the greatenesses that are in Christ our Lord, reducing them to three heades: for that it is the Summe of all the perfection that agree to him as he is God: and of all the graces, and
Vertues that he hath, as he is man: and of all the Offices, that as hee is God and man, hee doeth vnto men. So that I may well inferre, if he is IESVS, then is he infinitely good, holy, wise, omniponent, and full of mercye: and the very Goodnesse, sanctitye, and Wisdome of God: for all this is needefull to complye with the name of IESVS, * 1.13 who (as S. Paul sayeth) is made vnto vs, Wisdome, Iustice, Sanctifica∣tion, & Redemption. Likewise, if he be IESVS, then he is exceedingly milde, humble, patient, couragious, modest, obedient, and Charitable: for he is to be the patterne of all these Ver∣tues; * 1.14 and of his fullnesse all men are to receiue the Graces, and Vertues wherewith they are to be saued. Againe, if he be IESVS, then he is our master, our Phisicion, our Father, our Iudge, our Pastor, our Protector, and our Aduocate. So that in IESVS only we haue all thinges: and therefore I may say vnto him, IESVS meus, & omnia.
O my IESVS, * 1.15 and my all thinges: If I be sicke, thou art my Healthe: * 1.16 and my all thinges: If I be sicke, thou art my Healthe: if hungrye, thou art my full∣nesse: if I be poore, thou art my Riches: if weake, thou art my Strength: if I bee ignorant, thou art my Wisdome: and if I am a sinner, thou art my Iustice, my Sanctification, and Redemption. O my IESVS, and my all things: graunt me, that I may loue thee aboue all things, and that in thee only I may seeke my repose, and perfect sacietye: for in thee only is altogither all that, which can satiate mee: for thou only art my sole summum bonum, to whome be honour, and glorye worlde without ende. Amen.
Heereupon, I may also discourse, [ 2] how in this sweetest name are included all the glorious
names that the Prophets giue the Messias: such as are those related by the Prophet Isaias saying: * 1.17 That he shalbe called God, Strong, Admirable, Counseller, Father of the Worlde to come, and Prince of Peace. Pondering how the name of God is fitting to IESVS: for if hee had not beene God, he could not haue remedied vs; and the name of Strong, or valiaunt, for he is to fight against, and to vainquish the Deuills; the name of Admirable, for all that is in him, his Incar∣nation, Life, and Deathe is all newe, and mer∣uailous. IESVS likewise is a Counsellor, and the Angell of the greate Counsell, for his Do∣ctrine is repleate with admirable Counsells. IESVS is the Father of the VVorlde to come, engendring vs in the being of Grace, and giuing vs the inheritance of Glorye. He is the Prince of Peace, pacifying vs with God, and with men, with abundance of all peace.
O greate IESVS, * 1.18 how well befitteth thee the greatenesse of these names: and seeing they are not names emptye, but full, worke in me that which all of them signifye, that I may glorifye thee, for the glory that thou hast from them. Amen.
From hence I may ascende to ponder the be∣nefits that I haue in this sweete name of IESVS: [ 3] the which, is the only meanes to obtaine par∣don of all my Sinnes: is the reason why I should be hearde in my praiers: is the medicine of all my spirituall infirmities: is my offensiue, and defensiue Armour against the Diuells in all my Temptations: is my Protection in all Daungers: is my Light, and my Guide in all my ignorances: is to me a patterne, and Example of all Vertues: and finally is the fier, and pricke that inflameth, and inciteth me to procure them. From these
Considerations, I am to collect a greate Desier that this most holy name may bee alwaies fixed in my memorye to be mindefull of it: in my vn∣derstanding to meditate on it: and in my Will to loue, and to rejoice in it. I am to imprint it in my Hearte, that it may be alwayes vnited with me: and to keepe it in my Tongue, to praise, and to blesse it, delighting to publish the greatenesses thereof, taking it for the beginning, and ende of all my speeches, and naming it with high reuerence both interiour, and exte∣riour: * 1.19 seeing (as the Apostle sayeth) In the name of IESVS euery knee boweth both of Heauen, Earthe, and Purgatorye; yea, and those of Hell in dispite of them, shallbe forced to respect him.
O sweete IESVS, * 1.20 be IESVS vnto me in all my faculties, exercizing in them the office of IESVS, that they may likewise be exercized in all that per∣taineth to thy honour, for euer, and euer. Amen.
Luc. 2.21 D. Th. 3. p. q. 37. ar. 2
Deut. 31.7.20.
Isa. 63.1.
Colloquie.
Abac. 3.18
Cant. 1.2
Colloquie.
Colloquie.
Apoc. 2.17
Heb. 9.22
Colloquie. Isa. 12.3.
1 Corint. 12.3.
1 Corint. 1.30.
Ioan. 1.16
Colloquie.
Ex D. Amb. lib. de Virg. ad finem.
Isa. 9.6.
Colloquie.
Phil. 2.10.
Colloquie.