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 the admirable Decree, made by the most sacred Trinitye, that the second Person, who is the Sonne of God, should bee made man to redeeme man∣kinde, lost by the Sinne of Adam; pondering the causes that mooued him thereunto, some in re∣garde of our owne greate necessitye, & miserye: and others in regarde of his infinite Bountye, and Mercye.

First, [ 1] I will consider, how the most holy Tri∣nitye, s••eing in his Eternitye many meanes that hee had to remedye men, either by pardoning them by hos sole, and pure mercye: or by crea∣ting another newe man to satisfye for them: or by imposing this charge on the Seraphines: hee would not make choice of a meane that was more easy, nor lesse perfect; nor would hee im∣pose the charge of this worke vpon another, but chose the best meanes that was possible, plot∣ting that the Sonne of God should become man, for the remedye of man: In such wise, that hee coulde not giue vs a better Remedier, * 1.1 nor a more powerfull Remedye, nor a more copious Redemption, willing that where Sinne aboun∣ded, there Grace should more infinitely abound.

To ponder this Veritye the more, [ 2] I will con∣sider what the first man did against God, and what God doth for man; comparing the Thoughtes, and Deuises of the one, with those of the other. Adam plotted with Pride to rebell against God himselfe, desiring to vsurpe his Di∣uinitye, and Wisdome; and to haue Signorye ouer all things: whereby hee deserued that God

should abhorre, and humble him, and should annihilate his peruerted nature. But God of his infinite Goodnesse, was not only willing to par∣don this iniurye, but to that ende chose a meanes of the greatest Honour, and Proffit, for man, and of the greatest Humilliation, and Trauaile for God: for that the Diuine Worde beeing of infi∣nite Greatenesse, and Majestye, sticked not (as S. * 1.2 Paul saithe) vpon exinaniting, and humbling himselfe, to take the forme of a Seruant, and to Inuest himselfe with the mortall, and passible nature of his very Enemye, joyning it to himselfe in vnity of Person, to drawe him out of that greate misery, whereinto hee was fallen thorough Sinne, and to exalt him to that high Honour, and Happinesse, that hee might lay holde vpon by his Grace. * 1.3 For (as S. Augustine saieth) God made himselfe man to make man God: that by the Vertue of God made man, men might bee Gods by Participa∣tion.

Finally, considering this soueraigne Decree, [ 3] I will with greate Astonishment admire the infinite Bounty, and Mercye of God, which sometimes with Moyses I will magnifye, saying: Dominatour Lord God mercifull and clement, * 1.4 patient, and of much compassion, and True, which keepest mercye vnto thousands of generations, which takest away iniquity, and wicked factes, and Sinnes; and without whome no man of himselfe is Innocent before thee. Othertimes with the Seraphines, couering with my wings the face, and feete of God, and adoring this conjunction of his Diui∣nitye, and Humanitye, I will crye out, saying: Holy, * 1.5 Holy, Holy is the Lorde God of Hostes all the Earthe is full of his Glorye thorough the Great∣nesse of his mercye. And othersometimes, I

will giue thankes to this our Lorde for this so glorious a benefit, saying vnto him.

O Eternall God, * 1.6 I most humbly thanke thee for this soueraigne Plot which thou inuentedst for my remedye, taking vpon thee my basenesse, to commu∣nicate vnto mee thy Greatenesse: Graunt that I may humble myselfe to serue thee, as thou diddest humble thyselfe to remedye mee; and that I may doe all that I can for thy seruice, seeing thou diddest all that thou couldest for my Remedye. O my Soule, doe for thy God all that thou canst, for all is but litle, * 1.7 considering how much thou dooest owe him. Learne to esteeme God, as hee esteemeth thee: and seeing hee hath exalted thee to such a Greate∣nesse, doe not thou any thing that may bee vnbe∣seeming it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ad Rom. 5.20.
• * 1.2

  Psa. 137.5
• * 1.3

  Phil. 2.6. Ser. 9. de Natiuit.
• * 1.4

  Exo. 34.6
• * 1.5

  Isa. 6.3.
• * 1.6

  Colloquie.
• * 1.7

  Ex D. Leo serm. 1. de Natiuit.