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 fourth Pointe.

FOurthly, I am to consider, how Herod hauing heard this demaunde, consulted thereupon with the high Preistes, and the Scribes of the People; who aunswering him that this king should bee borne in Bethlehem of Iuda, for that it was so foretalde by Micheas the Prophet, he saide vnto the Sages: that they should there inquire, & seeke for the Childe, whome hauing founde they should giue him aduise thereof. Wherein the prouidence of God is many waies resplendent; First, in that he maketh vse of the wiched, to fa∣uour the intentions of those that are good: as he made vse of Herod, to discouer vnto the Sages the place of the birth of our Sauiour: fullfilling that which is written, and to them that loue God, all things cooperate to their good. Secondly, it is resplendent, [ 2] in that by meanes of his ministers, although they are wicked, he discouereth the Veritye of holy Scri∣pture to those, that desier to knowe it for their proffit: as in this case he consented not, that the high Preistes, and Teachers of the Lawe should conceale this Veritye from the Sages. And if I with a good zeale desier to knowe the Will of God, God will discouer it vnto me by the meanes of his ministers: of whome he saieth by a Prophet, that their Lippes keepe knowledge, which they holde as it were in a cheste of truste, to teache the doubtefull things of the Lawe to those that demaunde them, for they are the Angells, and messengers of our Lord, and the manifesters of his will.

The Prouidence of God is likewise resplendent [ 3]

in hauing giuen vs the diuine Scriptures, wherein there is most sufficient light to knowe Christ, to seeke, and to finde him: without hauing neede of any miraculous Starre, or newe reuelation, but only feruent Praier, and profounde meditation: according to that which our Sauiour Christ sayed vnto the Iewes: Searche the Scriptures, for you thinke in them to haue life euerlasting, and the same are they that giue testimonye of me.

O sweete IESVS that saydest, Aske, and you shall haue, seeke, and you shall finde: illuminate me that I may seeke thee in thy sacred Scriptures, so that I may finde thee, and that I may searche out the eternall life contained in them, in such sorte that I may obtaine it.

Finally, [ 4] the secret iudgements of God res∣plendent in this case may affright me, and make my haire stande on ende: for that the Gentiles comming from Countreys so farre distant, and with so greate labour, and trauell to seeke Christ: the Iewes who so many yeares had expected him, being so neere him, yet mooued not to seeke him. And though they aduised the Sages where they might finde him, yet they tooke not this aduise to themselues; that the veritye of that might be manifested, which was afterwardes spoken by this our Lord: No man can come vnto me, vnlesse the Father that sent me, drawe him. But these wretches were not drawen by the Father, for they delighted more in pleasing a Tyrant: and deferring their going till the Sages were re∣tourned, they neuer performed it. Wherefore taking warning by other mens harmes, I will remoue all impediments, that may any waies hinder the eternall Father from calling me by his inspirations, and joyning me with Christ, not

deferring to another time to obey those which he shall giue me: for delaye may be peraduenture the cause of my perdition?

O eternall Father, whose iudgements vpon the Sonnes of men, are terrible, but yet iust; by that Loue which thou bearest to thy Sonne I beseeche thee, that seeing thou hast so greate a desier, that he should bee knowen, and adored by all men, cast me not of thorough my owne Sinne, and slackenesse, leauing me ouerwhelmed therein, but with efficacye pull, and drawe me vnto thee, that I may seeke, and finde him, knowe, and adore him, worlde without ende, to thy Glorye. Amen.

Notes

• Mich. 3.2
• Pro. 11.29 Rom. 8.28
• Mala. 2.7
• Ioan. 5.39
• Colloquie.
• Ioa. 6.44
• Colloquie. Psal. 65.5.