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 third Pointe.

THirdly, I am to consider, how in this worke of the Incarnation, our Lord God pretended withall to discouer vnto vs the infi∣nite Excellencye of all his Perfections, and Ver∣tues, employing them with the greatest perfe∣ction that was possible, and to our greatest com∣moditye. This may bee pondered discoursing breifely of the most principall.

First, [ 1] hee shewed his infinite Bountye in com∣municating himselfe with the greatest cōmunica∣tion that might bee, giuing his personall beeing to a humane nature, and in this manner joyned in kinred with the whole Linage of man. [ 2] Hee shew∣ed his Charitye in vniting to himselfe this nature with so strict an vnion, that one, and the same might bee man, and God, to the end that all men might bee, one, and the same thing with God, by

the vnion of Loue, giuing them freely, and li∣berally the thing that hee most loued, and estee∣med, and with it all other things whatsoeuer. Hee shewed his infinite Mercye, [ 3] brothering it meruailously with Iustice: for there could not bee a greater mercy then for God to come per∣sonally to remedye our miseries, and to make himselfe capable of sorrowe, that hee might bee truly compassionate of them. Nether could there bee greater Iustice, then for God himselfe made man, to pay our proper debt, suffring therefore the paine of deathe that our sinnes had deserued: neither could there bee greater Brotherhood, then to applye to vs men by mercye, that re∣warde which God man merited by Iustice: giuing mee an assurance to obtaine all things that are conuenient for mee, seeing this our Lord gained them all by Iustice, and applyeth vnto mee his merits by infinite mercye. [ 4] Hee also shewed his immense Wisdome, in inuenting a meanes how to conjoine things so distant, as are God, and Man; Eternall, and Temporall: Impassible, and Passible: [ 5] and in plotting how to vnloose the most difficult knot of our Sinnes, the Diuine mercye pardoning them, without preiudice of his Iustice. Hee shewed his Omnipotencye, [ 6] in doing for man all that possibly hee might to honour, and to inriche him: for among all the diuine workes there is none greater, then for God to make himselfe man. Finally, [ 7] hee demon∣strated his Sanctitye, and all his Vertues, im∣printing them in God made man, that hee might bee a visible patterne of them all, animating vs by his Example to imitate them, and ayding vs by his Grace to procure them, which not doing, no man can bee excused. For if God loue his

neighbours, who should not loue them? If God doe good to his enemyes, who should doe euill to his? If God humble himselfe, who should bee prowde? If God suffer, and endure, who should bee impatient, and ill suffering? And if God obey, why should not man bee obedient?

These seuen Diuine Perfections resplendent in this worke, are to moue mee to praise God seuen times a day, yea, seuen thousand, if I may, desiring to loue and to serue him, with the grea∣test perfection that may bee possible. For if before God made himselfe man, hee required that wee should loue him with all our Hearte & Soule, Spirit, & Forces: with how much greater reason may hee now require of mee this degree of Loue, and Feruour in his Seruice? And seeing workes are the proofe of Loue, I am in them to demōstrate this my Loue, endeuoring to imitate those most excellent Perfections, that hee dis∣couered in this worke: to witte: his Bountye, Charitye, Liberallitye, Mercye, and the rest which are imitable, and especially those Ver∣tues, that this God Incarnate exercised in the worlde for our Example.

O most blessed Trinitye, what thankes shall I giue thee for hauing discouered in this worke, those infinite Greatenesses, that thou heldst closed in thy breaste? VVhat shall I giue thee, that shall not bee all to little for so soueraigne a gift? How shall I loue, and serue thee therefore? Behold mee heere wholely dedicated to thy Seruice, with a Desire to loue thee, as thou louedst mee: and to imitate those Vertues, that thou discoueredst vnto mee. And seeing thou hast giuen mee that which is more, giue mee also that which is lesse, graunting mee that I may loue thee, for the infinite gift that thou gauest mee. Amen.

Notes

• Ad Rom. 8.32.
• Psal. 84.11.
• Ex D. Damaso lib. 3. de Fide or∣thodoxa a principio.
• D••ut. 6.5
• D. Greg. homil. 36. in Euang.
• Colloquie.