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 fourtenth Meditation of the Resurrection of the Deade, and the comming of the Iudge, and what hee will doe before hee giue Sentence.

1. FIrst, I am to consider the generall Resurre∣ction of the Deade, that men in Soule, and Bodye ar to appeare at this iudgement. Concer∣ning this Article of our Faithe I am to ponder, First, that an Archangell with a dreadefull Voice in manner of a Trompet shall summon, and call all the Deade to rise againe, and come to iudgement, saying, Surgite mortui, & venite ad Iudicium, Arise you deade, and come to iudgement. And so potent shall this voice bee by Vertue of Gods Omnipoten∣cie, that in a moment all the deade shall arise. And (as S. Iohn saithe) the Sea shall giue vp the bodyes that perished therein: the Earthe those that it swal∣lowed aliue: and Deathe those, whome after they were deade it dissolued, and consumed: who though they were turned to Dust, Gods Omnipotencie will forme them in a moment with all the perfection of members that they should haue. And in this very moment the Soules shall ascende from Hell, and those of Heauen shall descende, and euery one shallbee vnited to the same bodye, that before it had. So that to this voice of the Archangell, and to his Citation to iudgement, all shall obey with∣out refistance, excuse, or delay: yea, though they haue beene kings, Popes, and monarkes of the worlde. O my Soule remember often this povverfull voice, let this Trompet sounde in thy eares, feare this terrible summoning, and prepare thyselfe for it. Obey the voice of God, and of his visible Archangell that sayeth vnto thee, Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the Deade; and Christe vvill illuminate thee, for hee

desireth not the deathe of a Sinner, but rather that hee should bee conuerted, raised vp, and liue.

2. Secondly, I will consider what bodye shallbee giuen to the Soule of the Damned that came vp from Hell, and what the Soule shall thinke to see it selfe incaged therein. There shallbee giuen vnto it a bodye partely passible, partely immortall, that it may euer suffer, and neuer dye. A foule, stinking, and horrid bodye, that shallbee the eternell prison of the wretched Soule, and a newe Hell to abide in it. O what Maledictions will they one belche out against another in that first entrance! Cur∣sed bee thou Bodye (will the Soule say) for to pamper thee, and for that thou hast beene rebel∣lious vnto mee, haue I suffered so many, and so greate Torments, and I shall foreuer suffer them with thee. Cursed bee thou Soule (will the Bodye say) for because thou didst not with thy free∣will mortifye, and subdue mee, I am to suffer with thee such horrible Torments. In this sorte these twoe miserable Companions that in this life joyned togither to seeke their delightes, drinking there∣with innumerable Sinnes, shall then bee joyned, and knit togither like Thornes, to pricke one ano∣ther, and to bee their owne Executioners, and to augment one anothers terrible Torments.

3. Thirdly, I will breifely consider the Body that shallbee giuen to the Soule of the Blessed that des∣cended from Heauen, and with what Pleasure it shall enter therein. There shallbee giuen vnto it a body Immortall, Impassible, Resplendent, thorough∣out Perfect, and very Glorious. O what benedi∣ctions will they impose one vpon another: O what welcomes will the Soule giue to her beloued body! Blessed bee thou (will shee say) for thou hast ayded mee to merit the glorye that I haue enjoyed: Blessed art thou, that sufferedst thyselfe to bee mortified,

and didst yeilde with obedience to fullfill what∣soeuer God commaunded. Cheare vp thy selfe, for now the time of Labour is passed, and the time of rest is come. Thou wast sowed, and buried in the Earthe with Ignominie: thou art now retour∣ned to liue with newe Glorye: glorifye God with mee, because with mee thou shalt raigne. Finally making comparison of that which shall happen to the good, and the euill, I will say to myne owne Bodye, Animate thyselfe in this mortall life to suf∣fer, that the happy lotte may fall vpon thee to rise againe to life euerlasting.

The second Pointe.

SEcondly, I am to consider the comming of the Iudge to Iudgement, his descending from Hea∣uen: the Maiestie of his Person: the traine that ac∣companye him: his Royall Standard, his glorious Throne, the Semblance of his Countenance, and his Assistantes that are on either side.

1. First, I will ponder how Christ our Lord shall really, and truely descende from Heauen, and come the second time into the worlde, to judge it, but in a fashion very different from that which hee came in the first time. For at this second comming, hee shall come with a glorious, and resplendent bodye, crowned with a Crowne of Glorie, & Immortallitie, with such splendor, that the Sun, moone, and Starres shall not giue light in his presence: and with such Maiestie that Angells, & men, Righteous, & Sinners, yea, and the Diuells themselues, shall subject them∣selues to him, and adore, and (be they neuer so loth) acknowledge him for their God, & their Lord. For then shall the eternall Father fullfill the promise that hee made him, to subject all things vnto him, & to put his enemies vnder his feete: that euery knee shall bowe in his presence, & euery tongue confesse

that Christ IESVS our Lord is in the glory of God the Father. O my Sauiour, very iust it is, that thy second comming should discouer that glorye, vvhich at thy first comming thou didst couer. Graunt mee, Lord, to imitate the humillitie of the first, that I may enioye the glorye of the second.

Then will I ponder the Traine that accompanieth him: for (as Enoch prophecyed) our Lord shall come with thousande of Sainctes, incircled with the whole Armye of Heauen, with the three Hierar∣chies, and nine Quires thereof, assuming (as may piously bee beleiued) aereall bodyes resplendent like the Sun, discouering therein the beautye, and excellencye of their Hierarchie, and Quier. Before him, (as is collected out of the Gospell) shall come the banner of the Sonne of man, which is the royall Standard of the holy Crosse with an admirable splendour. The which beeing one and the same, shallbee most pleasing, and delightfull to the Iust that in this life embraced, and esteemed it, cruci∣fying their fleshe with the Vices, and Concupiscen∣ces thereof: but most horrible, and dreadefull to the wicked, who beleiued not in it, or abhorred it beeing Enemyes thereof, because they helde their belly for their God. And therefore in seeing it, they shall weepe bitterly, for they shall see in it the just cause of their Damnation. O my Soule, follovve the banner of the Crosse in this life, that thou maiest see it vvith peace, and securitie in the other. Bevvaile the Enmitye thou hast had against it, that thou ma••est then behold it vvith alacritie.

Fourthly, I will ponder, how our Lord Christ comming to the valley of Iosaphat shallbee seated in a most excellent Throne made of a most beau∣teous, and bright shining cloude, and his diuine face beeing one, and the same, shall yet appeare most amiable to the good, and to the wicked most

terrible, so that to beholde him onely they shall remaine full of terrour, and confusion. And from the most sacred woundes, of his feete, handes, and side, shall issue out rayes of Light, and delectable splendour to the good, who by the corporall viewe of these woundes shall receiue speciall comfort, considering how infinite the loue was of this soue∣raigne king to receiue them for their sakes. But from the same woundes shall issue rayes of wra∣the, and as it were of fier against the wicked, who (as the Scripture saithe) shall bitterly bewaile, that of them they reaped so litle proffit: But much more shall the lewes, and Gentiles weepe, that with so greate crueltye made these woundes. O most svveete IESVVS by these thy most sacerd vvoundes I besee∣che thee, giue mee vvings, like the vvings of a doue to flye vnto them, and to dvvell in them vvhile I liue, mourning for my Sinnes, for vvhose cause thou recei∣uedst them, that at the daye of iudgement I may be∣holde them vvith alacritye, and thorough them may bee admitted to they glory. Amen.

Then will I ponder how on Christ our Sauiours side shallbee placed another Throne of exceeding greate glorye for his most sacred mother; for it is very iust that in this Iudgement, shee like another Bethsabee should bee seated on the side of the true Salomon, not to bee the Aduocate for Sinners, for that time is now paste, but to confounde them, be∣cause they would not make vse of so holy a mother, and so powerfull an Aduocate as they had: as also that the righteous may bee cheered with her pre∣sence, and shee herselfe bee honoured before all the worlde, for the Humilliations that shee suffered in this Life, from those that knewe her not, and did her outrage in the passion of her Sonne. O souerai∣gne Virgin, I rejoice for the glory thou shalt haue at that daye, ayde mee with thy intercession that

then also I may be ioyful with thy Presence.

6. Finally rounde about the Throne of our Lord Christe shall stand other thrones, where his Apost∣les, (as hee promised them) shall sit to iudge the twelue tribes of Israel, and all the nations of the worlde, condemning with their exemplary life the euill life of Sinners, approouing the Sentence of the supreame Iudge, and in his name declaring the righteousnesse thereof. And as many holy Fa∣thers affirme, there shall likewise bee seated in Thrones of Glorie, the Poore of spirit who in imi∣tation of the Apostles, left all things for Christe. O how astonied will the Tyrants, and Emperours bee, that martyred these Apostles, when they shall see them with so greate glorye exalted! O how much shall the poore Religious bee honored, who in this worlde liued contemned! O soueraigne Iudge, if thou doest thus honour those that are voluntarily poore, I embrace Pouerty vvith a greate good vvill, not so much for my honour, as for the glorye vvhich to thee ensueth thereupon.

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.

The fourth Pointe.

THe fourth Pointe shallbee, to consider the Pu∣blication that shallbee made at the day of Iud∣gement of all the Consciences of the good, and euill, before men, and Angells; discouering (as the Apostle S. Paule saith) the things that were couered in darkenesse, and manifesting the Secrets that were inclosed in their heartes, with a speciall light that God shall communicate to haue them seene.

VVherein I will ponder how God our Lord in that day shall open (as the holy Scripture saieth) and vnfolde the bookes of Consciences which during the time of this life were shut vp, so that all shall reade what is written in the booke of euery ones cōscience, & euery one what is written in the booke of conscience of all: and according to the contents of those bookes Iudgement shallbee made, and Sentence pronounced, that all may see the vpright∣nesse of Gods Iustice, aswell for the honour of the good, as for the confusion of the wicked. From whence I will collect how much it behoueth mee too consider well, what I write in the booke of my conscience, for I may now write what I list, and couer it as I will, but in that day, in spite of my Heart, all shall come to light: and if the booke of my conscience bee well written, according to the booke of Life, which is Christe IESVS; my boo∣ke (saithe Iob) shallbee my defence, my honour, and my Crowne: But if it bee contrary to that of Christ IESVS, it shallbee my accuser, my disho∣nour

and Condemnation. O most pious Sauiour, vvhose booke in the daye of Iudgement shallbee opened, that thy life may bee as a Lavve, and liuing rule, by the vvhich Iudgement shallbee made of ours; permitte mee not to vvrite in the booke of my Conscience, any thing that may bee contrary to thy booke; and if at any time thorough my frailetye I shall so vvrite, ayde mee to blott it out vvith penance, that in the daye of my account, thou seeing mee conformable to thee in Life, mayest likevvise make mee confor∣mable to thee in Glorie. Amen.

2. But particularizing more at large what is to passe in this publication. I will ponder that then the secret Sinnes of the Hearte shallbee published, and the foule Sinnes of Acte that were committed in corners, and those which for Shame were con∣cealed in Confession, or were couered with excu∣ses, and shiftes. Then shall also bee manifested damned Intentions, secret Treasons, Hipocrisies, and all other workes that seemed holy, and were in truthe wicked. There shallbee knowne vnfaith∣full Seruauntes, false friendes, fained Christians with very greate confusion to see themselues dis∣couered: for if I feele it so much to haue my se∣cret Sinne published before ten men, how shall I feele it, to haue all my Sinnes togither publis∣hed before all men, and before all the Angells? O my Soule, hovv darest thou sinne in secret, if thou beleiuest that thy Sinne shallbee published, and manifested before all the VVorlde? Hovv canst thou in confession couer some Sinnes for Shame, if thy Faithe telleth thee of this confusion, that thou shallt suffer for concealing them? Remember vvhat thy Redeemer saithe, Nihil opertum quod non reueletur, ne{que} occultum quod non sciatur; Nothing is hid that shall not bee reuealed, nor secrete that shall not

bee knovven. Therefore cease to committe that Sinne, that thou wouldst not haue manife∣sted.

3. Then will I ponder, how God our Lord shall manifest the good VVorkes of the Iust, how se∣cret soeuer they haue beene; their pure thoughtes, their holy affections, their intentions so close hid∣den, that the left hand knewe not what the right did? and their exteriour workes which they coue∣red for Humillitye, and those which the worlde esteemed for euill, and for them calumniated, and condemned them: for the which not withstan∣ding they shallbee honoured, and exalted. O how foule, and abhominable shall Vice then appeare, and how pleasing, and beautifull Vertue! O what honour, and credit shall it then bee to haue beene obedient, and humble, and to haue suffered Injuries silently, without execuses, or diuertings! O happy they which embrace these Vertuous exercises, see∣ing for them they shall receiue so greate glorye. Couer o my Soule, thy good vvorkes vvith Humilli∣tye, that Pride may not robbe thee of them, for in his good time our Lord to thy greate glorye shall dis∣couer them.

4. Lastly I will ponder how the Iust Iudge in that daye will discouer as well the good workes which the euill did, as the euill workes which the good did, buth with a different ende, and successe. For the good workes of the euill shall arise to their greater Ignominie, for not hauing perseuered in that good, loosing the rewarde thereof for min∣gling them with many euills. And when they shall see the aduises, and good Counsells which they gaue to the elect, they shallbee much the more ashamed that they tooke them not for themselues, nor made proffit of them. Contrarily, when God

shall publish the Sinnes committed by the Iust, hee will likewise publish the Penance which they did, and the good they collected thereout; so that they shall not bee to them an occasion of confusion, but rather a motiue to praise God that pardoned them, and freed them by his greate mercye from so greate miserye. And all shall redounde to the greater con∣fusion of the wicked, seeing others that committed the same, or greater Sinnes then theirs, in so greate honour for hauing donne Penance for them in time.

The fifth Pointe.

THe fifth Pointe shallbee to consider the terrible accusations, and imputations that shall arise out of this publication, against the wicked in fa∣uour of the good. For first of all, the Diuell the Accuser, and Calumniatour of men at this day, which is the last of his office, shall doe it with greate vehemencie, exaggerating the Sinnes of the wicked, the more to confounde them (as S. Basile saieth) before the whole VVorlde: for turning him∣selfe to the Iudge, hee will say: I created not these, neither gaue I them life, nor sustenance, nor the goods which they enjoyed: I neither suffered, nor died for them, nor promised them any eternall re∣warde; and yet not wich standing, forsaking thee that diddest all these things for them, they serued, and obeyed mee. Therefore mine they are by right, for I vanquished them, and they yealded them∣selues to mee, and they esteemed mee more then thee. This will prowde Sathan say, as one that af∣ter his raging manner desireth to triumphe ouer Christ our Lorde, and to reuenge himselfe of him in his creatures. O how ashamed, and out of Coun∣tenance shall the wicked become, for hauing obeyed him! Flye, o my Soule, to obey him, that vvill giue

thee so evill recompence. Turne for Christes honour that created, and redeemed thee, deceiving his Enemye in this life, that hee may not beguile thee in the other.

2 Secondly, I will ponder the terrible imputa∣tions that Christ himselfe wil interiourly impose vp¦pon them, calling to every ones memorie the bene∣fits that hee hath donne them. I (will hee say) crea∣ted thee to myne owne image, and similitude, and thou distainedst it with many sinnes. I redeemed thee with my pretious blood, and thou with thy evill wayes didst treade it vnder foote. I gaue thee the Sacrament of Baptisme making thee a membre of my Churche, and thou profanedst it living with standall therein. I offered thee the sacrament of Pe∣nance to restore to thee my grace, and thou choo∣sedst to remaine in sinne. I invited thee with my bodye, and blood for thy sustenance, and thou dis∣pisedst it for the fleshepots of Egipt. I called thee with many inspirations, and thou with pertinacie wast rebellious vnto them. I menaced thee with Chastizements, I regaled thee with benefits, and I animated thee with promises of greate rewardes, and of all these thou madest no account. O wret∣ched man, what could I doe more for thee then I did? and thou, what couldest thou doe more a∣gainst mee then thou didst, esteeming more thine owne honour, then mine? O my Angells and mini∣sters, iudge you, and see, what could I haue donne for this vine that I did not, and hoping that it vould haue brought forth grapes, it hath brought forth nothing but sower ones? Pondering all this I will with great feeling pronounce those wordes of David, Lord rebuke mee not in thy furye nor chastise mee in thy vvrathe: but correct mee in thy mercye whilest yet there is time for Amendment.

To this reprehension of Christe the very Angells of out garde will assist, alledging how much they

did to divert the wicked from their evill life, and yet with what rebellion the wicked contradicted them. The ••ust likewise that are present shal accuse them: some for that they reiected their Counsell; others, because they received from them greate wrongs: and others for the perill wherein they sa∣we themselues thorough their evill example. All this the VVretches shall heare, and see in the interiour parte of their soule, and of their vnhappie consci∣ence, the which (as the Apostle saithe) shall bee the most terrible accuser of all: for beeing convinced with the euidence of Truthe, and seeing the rea∣son that all haue to accuse her, shee shall haue no∣thing to aunswere, but much whereof to accuse herselfe. O how much better had it beene for her to haue willingly, and proffitably accused her sel∣fe in this life, then to accuse herselfe at that time perfocre, and with out remedie? O svveete IESVS, graunt mee, that I may vorthily accuse myselfe of my sinnes before thee, and before the confessor that is to absolue mee, that they may not accumsemee of the in Iudgement to condemne mee.

Notes

• Ioan. 5.28. 1. Ad Thess. 4.16. D. Tho. in addit. q. 75. & q. 76. Ex D. Hier. in reg. Mo∣nacharū c. 30. Apoc. 20.13.
• Colloquie
• Ad Ephe. 5.14.
• Apocal. 9 6.
• Nahum. 1.
• 1. Cor. 15 42.
• Matt. 24 30.
• Psal. 109 1. 1. Cor. 15 25.
• Ad Phil. 2.11. Colloquie
• In episto∣la Iudae. Daniel. 7 10. Matt. 16 27. & 25 31. Et omnes Angeli cum eo. Matt. 24 30. Parebit signum filij ho∣minis.
• Ad Phil. 3.19. Colloquie
• Zachar. 12.10. Apocal. 1.7. Psal. 54.7.
• 3. Reg. 2.
• Matt. 19 28. Isai. 3.13.
• D. Th. q. 89. addit art. 1. & 2. Iob. 36.6
• Colloquie
• 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
• Of the publica∣tion of Consciē∣ces. D. Tho. in addit. q. 87. 1. Cor. 4.5. Daniel. 7.10. Apoc. 20.12. Libri a∣perti sūt, & alius liber qu••̄ est vitae.
• Iob. 31.35.
• Colloquie
• Luc. 12.2.
• Colloquie
• Of the Accusa∣tions, and Imputa∣tions a∣gainst the VVicked. Apoc. 12 10. Orat. 1. de amore erga Deū & pro∣ximum.
• Colloquie
• Isai. 5.2.
• Psalm. 6.2.
• Colloquie
• Ad Rom. 2.
• Colloquie