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.

FIrst, I am to consider the infinite Greatenesse of the Person that loued vs, and did vs this soueraigne benefit, and the infinite Basenesse of him that is loued, and to whome this fauour

is donne, comparing the one with the other. First, [ 1] I will ponder, how the Originall of this soueraigne benefit was the infinite Charitye, and Loue of God; who as touching his owne Proffit, and Blessednesse, had no neede to loue any bodye but himselfe: for with only beholding, and louing himselfe, hee is infinitely blessed. Yet for all this, of meere Grace hee would loue the Creatures, and doe good to them; only because hee is Good, and to demonstrate in them the Riches of his Bountye: according to that of the Apostle: God which is riche in mercye, for his exceeding Charitye loued vs: that is to say: Hee loued vs, not because hee had neede of vs, nor because wee of right did merit it: but only for that his Mercye was compassionate of our miserye: and his Charitye would needes breake forth from him to loue others.

Secondly I will ponder, [ 2] how Gods infinite Charitye passed yet farther, in desiring so to loue the Worlde, hee beeing who hee is. I call the Worlde the multitude of sinfull men, that sinned in Adam, contracting from him the foule spot of Originall sinne, and afterwarde thorough their owne Will fell into most greivous, and actuall Sinnes, by the which they made them∣selues most vnwoorthy to bee loued, & deserued to bee very much abhorred. In so much that God not only loued men when they were not, and so consequently were neither Freindes, nor Enemyes: but hee loued them also when they were Enemyes, Rebells, and Vnthankefull for other innumerable Benefits that hee had donne them, to discouer heerein the infinite Treasures of his Mercye, and Charitye.

Thirdly, [ 3] I will make comparison betweene that which God doeth in Heauen, and that which men doe vpon Earthe: pondering how God loueth the Worlde, that abhorreth him; and how the Worlde abhorreth God, that loueth it. The Worlde employeth itselfe in offending God: and God desireth to employ himselfe in benefitting the Worlde: admiring therefore with myselfe at the abhominable Wickednesse of the Worlde, and at the infinite Bountye, and Cha∣ritye of God.

O God of infinite maiesty, why daignest thou to loue a Worlde of infinite Basenesse! Thou knowing what the Worlde is, why doest thou not abhorre it? why doest thou not sinck, and anthilate it? Blessed bee thy immense Charitye, in whose bosome is contained the Loue of so vngratefull a Creature. Domonstrate it, o Lord, towards mee, in making mee to loue thee, as thou louest mee, and to serue thee, as thou doest merit.

These three things I am to applye to myselfe, putting myselfe in the place of the worlde, who vngratefully, and forgetfully haue abhorred, and offended God: and yet for all this, God hath not omitted to loue mee, desiring to doe mee good, that I might heartely loue him.

Notes

• Sic Deus dilexit mundum.
• Ephes. 2.4
• Colloquie.