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 first Pointe.

THe first Pointe, and the Foundation of those that followe, shallbee, to consider the Decree that God our Lord made in his Eter∣nitye, for the Remedye of mankinde, that was lost by the Sinne of Adam, pondering the causes that moued him therevnto; some in the behalfe of his infinite Mercye, and others in the behalfe of our owne Miserye, and of the lamentable meanes whereby wee incurred it.

First, I wil consider that our Lord hauing created two sortes of Creatures to his owne image, and likenesse to serue, and to praise him; to witte, Angells, and Men; Angells in the Empyrean heauen, and men in the terrestriall Paradise: and hauing seene that a greate parte of the Angells

sinned, and so likewise the men: hee determined to demonstrate the terriblenesse of his rigorous Iustice by chastizing the Angells, bending against them the rigorous Bow of his Indignation, and throwing them immediately From Heauen into Hell, not giuing them any time of Repentance. But to men, though they deserued the same punishment, hee was desirous to shewe the Ri∣ches of his infinite mercye, determining to re∣medye them, and to drawe them out of those miseries, into which they had fallen, by giuing them meanes to obtaine pardon of their sinne. For in nothing is the mercye of God so resplen∣dent, as in pardoning Sinnes, and taking Com∣passion on his very Enemyes: neither were it reason that mercy should omitte to shewe it selfe in a thing, that so greately doth magnifye it. And thus did hee with men, according to that of S. Paul; The Benignitye, and Kindnes toward man of our Sauiour God h••th appeared, in that hee hath saued vs, not by the workes of Iustice which wee did, but according to his infinite mercye. For the which euery one of vs ought to giue infinite thankes to this our Lord, considering that wee beeing creatures so vile, that wee deserued to bee vn∣protected by his Iustice; Yet hee tooke vs vnder the protection of his mercye, reiecting the An∣gells that were much more noble then wee. O eternall God true Father of mercye, wherewith shall wee repay thee so soueraigne a benefit as this, that without any merit of ours, thou giuest vs a remedye to obtaine pardon of our Sinnes? may the Angells that remaine in Heauen laude thee for this fauour: may the men that liue vpon the Earth, acknowledge it, and make vse of it: and may my soule melt it selfe in thy Loue, singing the multitude, and Greatenesse of thy

mercye, by the which I beseeche thee to pardon my Sinnes, ayding mee, that I may neuer more returne vnto them. This Consideration I am to applye to myselfe, pondering, that allbeeit God our Lorde thorough his mercye hath made a De∣cree to pardon Sinners, and effectually par∣doneth those that submitte themselues: yet to the Rebellious bee vseth his rigorous Iu∣stice, condemning them, as hee did the Deuills. And therefore I am to endeuour not to resist Gods mercye, leaste I fall into the handes of his Iustice.

Then will I ponder the causes that in some sorte mooued the Diuine Mercye, [ 2] to haue Com∣passion on our miserye: One was, for that Adam by his Sinne, not only indammaged himselfe, but allso all that descended of him; who were to bee borne Sinners, condemned to Deathe, and to perpetuall Prison, incurring these damages, not by their owne personall Will, but by that which they had in their first Parent. But whereas God was so mercifull, that his Clemencye could not permitte, that his whole worke, for one mans Transgression, should perishe without re∣medye: and that all this visible worlde, that was created for man, should bee frustrate of his ende, seruing the sinner, hee therefore resolued to finde out the Remedye. From whence I will collect two motiues to repose my Confidence in Gods mer∣eye, alleaging them as Dauid did, for respectes, wherefore hee should remedye my miserye. [ 1] The one, because I was cōceiued in Sinne; frō whence originally spring all my miseryes: [ 2] The other, for that I am, the worke of his handes, for the which I am, neither to bee contemned, nor abhorred; seeing hee abhorreth nothing that hee made.

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O most mercifull Father, seeing thou knowest the masse, wheref wee thy Children were formed, which issued good from thee, and by Adam was made euill, haue Compassion on vs, remedying the Hurt donne by Adam, to reforme the Good donne by thee. My handes haue defaced in mee the worke of thy Handes: les thine by thy aboundant grace, repaire what mine did thorough my greate sinne.

Another cause was, [ 2] for that man sinned beeing tempted, and seduced by the Deuill, partely for the enuye that hee had of his good: partely for his rage against God, ••esiring to reuenge him∣selfe of the Creator in the Creature, who by him was so fauoured, and in whome his diuine image was stamped: wherevpon God himselfe mooued to Compassion, would take to himselfe the cause of man, with a determination to remedye him, because his Enemye should not remaine for euer victorious. And therefore hee saide vnto him, when Adam had sinned: I will put en∣mityes betweene thee, and the VVoman, and thy seede, and the seede of her: and they shall breake thy Heade, vanquishing him that vanquished them, and triumphing ouer him that triumphed ouer them. Whereby hee also putteth mee in hope, that hee will haue Compassion on mee, and take my cause for his owne, seeing the Deuil now persecuteth mee with the like Enuye, and Rage: and so I may say vnto him with Dauid: Arize, o Lord, Iudge thyne owne cause, ayding mee with thy Grace to breake the heade of the Serpent, who allwayes persecuteth mee, because hee ab∣horreth thee.

Notes

• Ex D. Th. 3. p. q. 1. art. 1. & 2 & q. 4. art. 1.
• Heb. 1.16 Nō Ange∣los appre∣hēdit, sed semen A∣brahae.
• 1. Petr. 2.4.
• Sap. 11.10. & 12.1.
• Ad Tit. 3.3.
• Colloquie.
• Rom. 5.12
• Psal. 50.7
• Sapient. 11.25. Psal. 102.14.
• Sapient. 2.24.
• Genes. 3.15.
• Psalm. 73.22.