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, why our Lord deferred his comming into the Worlde, so many thousands of yeares, pondering especially two causes for my owne proffit. [ 1] The first is, for that in this time men by the Experience of their Innumerable, and most greiuous Sinnes, knewe the extreeme necessitye that they had of their Redeemer. Who as hee came from Heauen to bee the Phisition of our Greiuances, hee ex∣pected that they might increase, and bee mani∣fested, that his Infinite Wisdome, and Omnipo∣tencye might likewise bee manifested, in curing so greiuous Infirmities with so proportioned Remedyes. For this cause when Pride was growne to that excessiue heighth in the Worlde, that man would vsurpe the Greatenesse of God, then would God take the forme of a man, to cure so abhominable Pride, with so profounde

Humillitye. And when the Desier of Riches, Honours, and Delicacyes was most egre, and hot; then would God clothe himselfe with Pouertye, Contempt, and Dolour, to cure such an ardent Desier of temporall Goods, with so ardent a Contempt of them.

O soueraigne Phisition, * 1.1 I humbly thanke thee, for hauing come in such a season to cure our Infir∣mities with such precious Medicines. Beholde, o Lorde, my woundes are much increased, deferre not to re∣medye them, that in mee may bee discouered the greatenesse of thy Mercies.

The second cause of this delaye was, [ 1] for that it is the good Pleasure of our Lord, that his Giftes, especially when they are very greate, should bee esteemed, required, and solicited with Praiers, and Gronings: as did all this time the Fathers that were in Lymbo, and the Reighteous that liued on the Earthe. And by the waye likewise with this deferring, hee made proofe of the Confidence, and Patience of the Iust to whome this promise was made: for it is an Heroicall Vertue not to loose Confi∣dence, * 1.2 though the accomplishment of the pro∣mise bee long time deferred. Whereupon saide a Prophet: * 1.3 Yf hee shall made tariance expect him: because comming hee will come, and will not slacke, that is: Though hee delaye according to the Desier of thy Hearte, hee will not delaye according to the Order of his diuine Proui∣dence, to accomplish what thy necessity re∣quireth: for hee will come infallibly in his de∣terminate time, when his Comming shall much more auaile thee.

These two Causes I am to applye to my∣selfe, pondering how God our Lord some∣times

permitteth his Elected a long time to suffer greate Afflictions, and Drouthes, that by experience heereof, they may knowe what neede they haue of Gods Visitation; that they may bee grounded in profound Humillitye, and that by this delaye the desiers of their remedye may increase, and their Faithe, and Confidence may bee prooued: and that so they may come to make greate esteeme of the Gift of God, and with greate Care to preserue it. Heerewith entring into Conside∣ration what a greate Happinesse it was to mee, to bee borne after this soueraigne misterye was executed, to enjoy more abundantly the Graces, and Giftes that were thereby commu∣nicated vnto men: my Longings, and Sighes, my Desiers, and Gronings must bee to this ende, that God by his Grace may come vnto my Hearte, and visite my Soule with abun∣dance of his giftes, taking to name (like another Daniel.) The Man of Desiers, * 1.4 employing them in desiring the comming of him that tooke to name, The Desired of Nations: without beeing weary of solliciting it, though it seeme to mee to bee long deferred: for that there is no daye that commeth not at last: And the greater the Sollicitation, the lesser the delaye, and the greater the Rewarde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Colloquie.
• * 1.2

  Hebr. 11.
• * 1.3

  Abac. 2.3.
• * 1.4

  Dan. 9.23 & 10.19 Aggei 2.