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, that Christe our Lord to finish his Iudgement, shall seperate the good from the euill, as the Shepheard seperateth the Shee∣pe from the Goates: The righteous shallbee placed on his right hande, and the wicked on his lest Con∣cerning the which I am to ponder first, that this VVorlde, and the Churche is now like a flocke of Sheepe, and Goates, of good, and euill, so mingled togither, that wee cannot allwaies discerne who is the Sheepe of Christe, or the Goate of Sathan. And thorough this ignorance oftentimes wee honour the Sinner as a Iust man, and despice the Iust man, holding him for a Sinner. From whence also it pro∣ceedeth, that the Iust, and the vnjust haue not all∣waies

that place which they merit. For oftentimes wicked men vsurpe the right hande, and most exal∣ted place of the Earthe; and the good stand on the left hand in the most contemptible place of the worlde. For, the which Salomon saide; I savve a greate euill vnder the Sun, in the place of Iudgement Impiety, and in the place of Iustice Iniquitie, and I saide in my Hearte, the Iust, and the Impious God shall iudge, and then shallbee sceene what euery one is.

2. Now this time beeing come, Christe our Lord, to scatter these Deceites, and Oppressions, shall sepe∣rate the wheate from the cockle, the graine from the chaffe, the good fishe from the bad, & the Lam∣bes from the kids. And the good hee shall place on his right hande, taken vp (as S. Paule saithe) into the aire, that all the worlde may knowe them, and ho∣nour them as Saintes: and the wicked hee shall pla∣ce on his left hande, leauing them vpon the Earthe that all may knowe them, and despise them as Sin∣ners. O how greate shall the confusion bee of the wicked, who in this life had the right hande, and were mighty, when they shal see themselues on the left hand in such an extremitie of basenesse! O what a raging enuye will they haue against the righteous, when they shall see them so honored, and themselues so contemned? what will the Prince, and the Lord saye, when hee shall see his Slaue exalted to so highe a place? VVhat the Prelate, and the ma∣ster, when he seeth his subject, and Disciple so pre∣ferred before him? All at once will say that of the booke of VVisdome: VVee senselesse esceemed their life madnesse, and their ende vvithout honour, beholde hovv they are counted among the children of God, and their lotte is among the Sainctes: vvee therfore haue erred from the vvaye of truthe, and the Light of Iustice hath not shined to vs, and the Sun of Vnderstanding rose not to vs. O Sun of Righteousnesse cleare the

eyes of my Soule vvith thy coelestiall light, that I may beholde the blindenesse of these vvretches, and bee vvarned in time by their miserye.

Contrarily the Righteons shallbee very full of Content to see themselues on the right side of Chri∣ste; and Christe our Lord very joyfull to see them at his side; for then that saying of Dauid beginneth to the letter to bee visiblye fullfilled: The Queene sate on thy right hande vvith a golden Garment vvrought vvith meruailous Varietie. O how glorious then will that Congregation of the Iust bee there, like a Queene that shall soone bee placed in the kingdome of her Spouse, rejoicing to beholde her∣selfe set at the right hande of her beloued adorned with Vertues. In this life it was much humbled with contempts, and now it is seene in an instant exalted to greate honours. O happy hee that seateth himselfe in the lowest place of the VVorlde, for then Christe will say vnto him, Amice, ascende su∣perius, Freinde sit vp higher, ascende aboue the prowde of the Earthe, and forthwith thou shallt ascende with mee to the Thrones of Heauen. O my Soule choose in this life a lovve place among men, that at the daye of Iudgement, Christe may giue thee a high place among the Angells. Make no account of the right, or left hande that thou hast in this VVorlde, but of that thou shalt haue in the Tribunall of Christe endeuouring to liue vvith such puritie that thou ma∣iest meritte to bee on his right hande. Amen.

Lastly, if I would knowe what hande I shalbee on, at the daye of Iudgement, I am to consider whither I bee a Sheepe, or a Goate: that is, If I heare the voice of my Pastor Christe; if I haue meeke∣nesse, and humillitye: if I suffer with Patience aduersities, and Injuries; and if I parte my goods liberally to others: Or contrarily, If I bee prowde, and vindicatiue; If I seeke my temporall proffit

with the hurt of my neighbour, and with the losse of spirituall good; and so making reflexion here∣upon, I will endeuour to bee a Sheepe of this soue∣raigne Shepheard, confidently trusting that with greate prosperitye hee will place mee on his right hande.

Notes

• Of diui∣ding the good frō the euill.
• Matt. 25 32.
• Eccles. 3.16. & 10.6.
• Matt. 3.12. & 13 30. & 47
• 1. Ad Thess. 4.
• Sap. 5.4.
• Colloquis
• Psal. 44.10.
• Luc. 14.10.
• Colloquie