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 XXV. Meditation, * 1.1 vpon the ten Commaun∣dements of the lawe of God.

FOr the ende of this meditation, it will much helpe to forme in the imagination a figure like the vision which the Prophet Zacharie had, * 1.2 wherein hee sawe a volume, or parchment extended, which was ten cubits in breadth, and twenty in length, wherein were written the sinnes of him that stealeth, and of him that sweareth falsely, and the malediction that shall therefore light vpon him; which volume came flying to his house, and destroied it, vntill it had consumed all the wood, and the stone. In the same manner I will imagine be∣fore mee a greate booke or parchement very broade and long: and in one side thereof, I will beholde

written my oathes, theftes, murmurations, and all other sinnes that I haue committed against the ten commaundements of the lawe of God: for as I goe writing them in the booke of my conscience, God goeth writing them in the booke of his iustice to chastize the in his time. And on the other side, I will beholde written all the maledictions, and punish∣ments that God menaceth to such as breake these ten commaundements, or any ofthem: making compa∣rison betweene the sinnes, and the punishments in number, grieuousnesse, and continuation. For if my sinnes bee many, the punishments shallbee manye: and if they were very grieuous, and of long conti∣nuance, the punishments shallbee very grieuous, and of so long continuance, that they shallbee eter∣nall. And for that chastizements when they are be∣helde very farre distant, terrifye but litle, I will imagine that this booke of Gods iustice, commeth flying very swiftly to light vpon the house of my soule, * 1.3 and peraduenture it is allreadye very neere, and will this day light vpon it, deathe, or chastize∣ment seazing sodainely vpon mee. For if I make haste to sinne; God will likewise hasten his punish∣ments, and make desolate my bodye, soule, honour, wealthe, and all that I haue. VVith this holesome apprehension, I will beseeche our Lord to illuminate my soule, that I may knowe the sinnes that are writ∣ten in this booke, and the chastizements, that I haue deserued, ayding mee with his grace bitterly to bewaile them, that with my penance, I may blotte out the sinnes, and that his mercy may likewise blotte out the maledictions, that hee had written against them.

This beeing presupposed, I will begin the medi∣tation, discoursing vpon the ten commaundements, of the lawe of God: with aduertissement, that (as Cassianus sayeth) the commaundements of God haue * 1.4

two senses, one literall, and the other spirituall. * 1.5 The first serueth for ordinarie people that pretende no more but to saue themselues. The second for those that desire greater perfection, who are not content to flye, onely mortall, and veniall sinne: but also desire to flye whatsoeuer imperfection is contrarie to the ende of the precept. And according to this second sense, I will declare in what manner wee sinne against euery commaundement.

The first Pointe.

FIrst, I am to consider what God commaundeth, and prohibiteth in his holy lawe, and in what sorte wee doe sinne against it, running through the ten commaundements, and thorough that which spiritually they include within them. The first com∣maundement, commaundeth the principall workes that appertaine to the vertue of faithe, hope, chari∣tie, and religion: that is to say, to adore one onely God; to beleeue firmely all such things as hee hath reuealed to his churche: to expect those which hee hath promised, and to loue him more then all things that are created. Against this I may sinne, First, by idolatrie, or infidelitie, adoring false Gods, or deny∣ing that which God hath reuealed, or doubting thereof. I may likewise sinne, (as the holy scripture sayeth) adoring the idole of mine owne iudgement, * 1.6 and will, rebelling against the will of God, or hol∣ding for my God, my belly, or money: or denying God by my workes, or not obseruing due loyalltye vnto him. Secondly, I sinne, in despairing that I shall obtaine heauen, or pardon for my sinnes, or that God will heare my praiers according to his promise: and contrarilie in presuming to obtaine this, without vsing the meanes that God hath there∣fore ordained. Thirdly thorough hatred, or want of loue, louing some creature more then God; or reie∣cting

the will of God, to fullfill that of the creature, or in beeing slacke in louing him with all my heart minde, and soule, and with all my force; much forgetting both him, and his benefits.

2 The second commaundement, prohibiteth euery defect whatsoeuer, in the truthe, iustice, reuerence, and necessitie of an oathe: so that I may not by swearing, affirme any thing contrarie to my beleefe: or promise any thing without intention to fullfill it, or any thing that is euill, or not fullfill that which is good, nor swear without necessitie or vtil∣litie, nor without considering well what I saye; nor without that reuerence that is due to the soueraigne name of God, whensoeuer I take it in my mouthe. I may likewise sinne, breaking my vowe, or cause∣lessely differring to fullfill it, or beeing slacke in the obseruation of it, derogating from the perfecti∣on that I professe.

3 In the third of sanctifying the feastes, I may sinne in doing in them any seruile worke, that is prohi∣bited, or in not hearing a whole masse, or in not as∣sisting thereat with due reuerence and attention: or wasting such dayes in things vnworthy of the feaste, and of the ende for the which they were instituted, which is, to praie, and to glorifie God.

4 The fourth commaundeth, to honour our pa∣rents according to the fleshe, to susstaine them in their necessities, and to obey them in their iust pre∣ceptes: and in like manner our spirituall fathers, pre∣lates, and superious, obeying their ordinances with∣out contradiction, or without peruersenesse of iud∣gement, without repugnancy of the will, and without delay in the execution. * 1.7 And to drawe this out more curiously, I am in humillitie to holde all for my superiours, honoring all, and subiecting my∣selfe to euery humaine creature for God

5 The fifth, not to kill, prohibiteth all that hath

beene declared in the two and twentieth meditation, of wrathe: and spiritualizing the seuerall wayes of killing. First, I kill my soule by sinne, taking away from it the life of grace. Secondly, * 1.8 I extinguish the spirit, that is, the inspirations of the holy spirit, re∣iecting those good desires wherewith hee inspireth mee. Thirdly, I crucifie Christe with in mee, and trample vpon his blood, doing workes, for which hee might againe bee crucified, if the first crucifying had not suffized. Fourthly, I kill the soules of my neighbours with scandall, beeing to them a stum∣bling blocke by my euill example: * 1.9 or not succouring them with correction, or counsaile, or spirituall al∣mes, when charitie obligeth mee thereunto: as wee call it killing of the poore, when wee succour them not with the corporall workes of mercie.

6 The sixth, not to committe fornication, prohi∣biteth all that which is declared in the 20. meditatiō of Luxurie. But yet there are other sortes of spirituall fornication, and adulterie, forsaking God which is the true spouse of our soules, to ioyne mysefe by dis∣ordinate loue vnto some creature; or adulterating the workes, and wordes of God, doing, and saying, them, not to please him, or to ingender spirituall children that may bee pleasing vnto him, but for my owne pleasure, or temporall proffit. Or finally beeing alltogither forgetfull of God, and diuerted with idle occupations. The seuenth not to steale, prohibiteth all that hath beene spoken of in the one and twenteth meditation of auarice: and besides this, spiritually I robbe, and destroie many things pertaining to others, conrarie to the will of their owner. For I robbe God of his glorie, and play the banqueroute with his giftes: I am an vnthrift of the time that I had to spende in his seruice: I pay him not the debtes, that I owe him, by reason of my sin∣nes, or of his benefits, satisfying for the one, and

beeing thankefull vnto him for the other. I robbe my will which I deliuered him by my vowe of obe∣dience: * 1.10 and I vsurpe his authoritie, interposing my∣selfe to iudge the secrets of my neighbours, which belong to his tribunall. And in like manner, I des∣troye the charitie, and spirituall riches of my neigh∣bours, ayding the Captaine of theeues the diuell, who is continually busied in robbing them.

8. The eigth not to beare false witnesse, prohibi∣teth all sinnes of the tongue, that are against the honour, and fame of our neighbour, whereof men∣tion was made in the two and twenteth meditation, of wrathe. Also, to iudge rashly of his affaires, or to suspect euill of them, taking them in the worst parte without a sufficient foundation: or to deceiue him by any manner of lye, or fiction, as is that of hipo∣crisie, adulation, flatterie, worldely compliments, and offers, hauing no purpose to fullfill them. And spiritualizing this precept, I beare false witnesse against God, when I thinke basely of his goodnesse, and mercie: of his iustice, and prouidence: And when by my euill workes, I defame, and discredit his lawe, and his doctrine, and am a cause that his holy name is blasphemed among the gentiles, * 1.11 or lesse esteemed, and reuerenced among the faithfull. I also lye to God, when I fullfill not my worde, hauing giuen it vnto him: nor the resolution that I made to doe some thing in his seruice. The ninth and tenth commaundements are declared in the sixth and seuenth.

After I haue considered these sinnes, I am to charge myselfe with them before our Lorde with greate dolour, and shame for hauing committed them. And allbeeit I had broken but one commaundement onely, * 1.12 I may esteeme myselfe (as the Apostle S. Iames saithe) gilty, and culpable of all: for in euery sinne I shall finde that which is spiritually prohi∣bited

in all: for one mortall sinne onely, in the forme that hath beene declared, is as idolatrye, infidelitie, hatred, adulterye, theft, infamye, and homicide. And therefore reprehending myselfe, * 1.13 I may call my∣selfe by these infamous names, saying. Idolater, infi∣dell, adulterer, theefe, hypocrite, and homicide, hovv hast thou dared to iniurie so many vvaies a God of so infinite maiestie? VVhy doest thou not breake thy hearte vvith griefe, for hauing broken the so iust commaunde∣ments of thy Lorde? O God of my soule, * 1.14 that I might say to thee vvith Dauid: Mine eies haue gushed forth issues of vvaters: because they kept not thy lavve, Graunt vnto mee these teares so abundaunt, that I may vvashe therevvith my innumerable sinnes.

The second Pointe.

SEcondly, I am to consider the maledictions that God powreth out vpon the breakers of his lawe, and the terrible punishments that hee menaceth vnto them, both in this life, and in the other.

1. This I may ponder discoursing first of the terri∣ble catalogue that Moyses maketh of these maledic∣tions in two chapters of Deuteronomye, * 1.15 saying vnto the people, that if they broke the lawe of God, these maledictions should come vpon them, and ouertake them. Thou shalt bee cursed in the city, and in the feelde. Cursed shallbee the fruite of thy wombe, and of thy flockes: God shall sende downe vpon thee famine, and pestilence: hee shall chastize thee with pouertye, burning feuers, colde, heate, corrupt ayre, and rottennesse vntill thou perishe: The heauen that is aboue thee shallbee of brasse, and the earthe that thou treadest shall∣bee of iron: It shall raine dust vpon thy lande, and the ashes of heauen shall fall downe vpon thee. Hee shall deliuer thee into the handes of thy ene∣myes: and thy deade bodye shallbee foode: for

the birdes of the aire, and for the beastes of the earthe. And in this manner hee goeth on with other horrible maledictions, which after hee hath rec∣koned vp, as if they were but litle ones, hee saieth; God shall augment these plagues adding others that are greater. And because the curse of God is not onely in worde, but in deede, there is none of those that infringe his lawe that shallbee able to escape, what God shall inflict vpon him. An finally all shal∣bee ouertaken with that last which Christe our Sa∣uiour shall pronounce at the daye of iudgement, * 1.16 the terriblenesse whereof hath already beene declared. The effects of these maledictions, the miserable peo∣ple of the Iews had experience of in their time, and many of them ••ee experiment in ours: which with all are aduises for our amendment: for that the desire of this diuine Lawgiuer, is not to intangle vs in these maledictions, but to terrifye vs that wee may keepe his lawe, and bee deliuered from them. O most iust lavvgiuer, * 1.17 I confesse that in very greate iustice the heauen should bee to mee of brasse, and the earthe of Iron, and that I deserue neither the fauour of earthe, * 1.18 nor heauen. I deserue that thou shouldst stoppe thy eares against my praier, beecause I stoopped mine a∣gainst thy lavve. I haue drunke vvickednesse like vvater, and therefore it is reason that malediction should enter like vvater into my bovvells. But remem∣ber, o Lord, that thou didst subiect thyselfe to the curses vvhich the lavve cast vpon him that dyed orucified, to deliuer vs frō the curses that are menaced by the lavve. Applye vnto mee then the fruite of thy deathe, pardo∣ning mee the sinnes that against the lavve I haue com∣mitted, and freeing mee from the maledictions that for them I haue deseruea.

2. I may likewise ponder the chastizements that God inflicteth vpon those, that breake the ten com∣maundements of his lawe, as they are ••epresented in

the ten plagues of Egipt, with the which they are many times punished, that are rebells to the com∣maundement of God, as Pharao, * 1.19 and his vasialls were, there comming vpon them frogs, flyes, gnattes, pestilences and grashoppers, thunders, lightnings, and haile, and darkenesse exceeding thicke: yea, and the Angell of God with his sworde drawen, entred their houses, killing their first begotten, and destroy∣ing what they loued most, vntill at last the sea of tribulations, (which giueth free passage to the iust) drowneth, and strangleth them for their sinnes, sin∣king like leade to the bottome of hell, where they shallbee melted, & tormented in that fier euerlasting. 3 And that wee may not imagine that these Plagues touched onely the auncients before the comming of Christe, when our Lord was called the God of ven∣geance, there is mention also made of them in the Apocalips. * 1.20 For Gods prouidence which is benigne to the obseruers of his lawe, is rigorous against those that infringe it: wherefore hee hath in readi∣nesse seuen Angells with seuen terrible trompets, and other seuen with seuen cups full of his wrathe, and indignation, which they powre out vpon the earthe, striking sinners with horrible plagues. * 1.21 O my soule, vvhy doest not thou tremble to trespasse that lavve, that hath such terrible, and zealous reuengers? Hovv is it, that thou art not terrified vvith the sounde of these trompets? Hovv is it, that horrour is not caused in thee vvith the horrible vvine of these cups? Hovv art thou not affrighted vvith the dreadfulnesse of these plagues? O most mercifull IESVS that receiuedst fiue vvoundes on the Crosse, and from heade to foote vvast vvounded theron: cure vvith thy precious blood the vvoundes of my sinnes, that I may bee free from so hor∣rible plagues.

4. Lastly, * 1.22 I will ponder some particular cha∣stiz ements that God threateneth in Scripture to

such as breake any speciall commaundements: that is to say. * 1.23 A man that svveareth much shallbee filled vvith iniquitie, and plague shall not depart from his hovvse. VVherein are set downe two most grie∣uous hurtes of this vice, which are, to fill the house of a man with sinnes, and punishments, with spi∣ritual, and corporall woundes, and to lay it euen with the foundations, * 1.24 as it is manifest by the male∣diction of the volume, which wee put in the begin∣ning of this Meditation. Also against him that des∣piseth his father, * 1.25 and mother hee sayeth: That the rauens shall pull out his eyes, and the Eagles shall eate them: for such a one is not worthy of long life, but of an infamous deathe and in the other life, the infernall crowes, and Eagles shall pull out his eyes, blinding him with obstinacye, & eating his bowels with dolour. And in this sorte wee may ponder, other chastizemets collected from what hath beene declared in the seuen Meditations precedent.

The third Pointe.

THirdly, I am to consider the benedictions that God powreth out vpon those that obserue his lawe: as well corporall, as spirituall benedictions, and aswell temporall, as eternall.

1. This I may ponder first running thorough the catalogue that Moyses maketh of them in the same booke of Deuteronomye, * 1.26 saying to his people, that if they obserued the lawe of God, all these blessings should come vpon thē, & ouertak them. Thou shalt, (saithe hee) bee blessed in the citie and in the feilde: blessed shallbee the fruite of thy wōbe, of thy lande, of thy flockes: Blessed shall thy garners bee, and what thou shalt take out of them; blessed shallbee thy commings in, and goings out, and all the wor∣kes of thy handes. Our Lord shall open his most ex∣cellent treasures to inriche thee, and his heauen that

it may raine vpon thee plentifull showers. He shall make thee the heade, and not the feete, thou shallt bee superiour, and neuer inferiour; and thy enemies shall fall before thee. Our Lord shall exalt thee to bee his holy people, and all shall respect thee, be∣cause thou art fauoured by his holy name.

These, and other benedictions Moyses goeth on with all; which allthough they are temporall, acco∣modated to the estate, and condition of that imper∣fect people: yet they are a signe of others much grea∣ter, and spirituall which God giueth to Christian people; who with all, want not these temporall, af∣ter a more excellent manner: * 1.27 for the prouidence of our heauenly Father (as his sonne himselfe did pro∣mise vnto vs) is carefull to prouide for vs those that are meete, * 1.28 giuing them for an addition to those that obserue his lawe. For thee that openeth his hande, and filleth with his blessing brute beastes, shall open it much better to replenish his children.

2. From hence I will ascende, to ponder the spiri∣tuall benedictions, which God giueth to those that keepe his lawe, in the keeping whereof, hee hath with greate excellencye included three kindes of good: to witte, honest good, proffitable good, and delectable good, * 1.29 of the which Dauid in the eigh∣teenth Psalme maketh another sweete catalogue. For first the law of God is most pure, and most holy, conuerting soules, replenishing them with wisdome, and all vertues. It is also most proffitable to obtaine all good that may bee desired, not onely for the soule but for the bodye, as healthe, * 1.30 long life, sustenance, and prosperitye: And therefore it is more to bee desired then Golde, or then precious stones, or more then all the treasures of the earthe. It is also most delectable, much more then honye, or the honye combe, and cheereth mens heartes with a greater alacritye, then any that can bee giuen,

by all the sweet things of this life. From hence it is, that God preuenteth principiants with the benedic∣tion of delight, * 1.31 that they may cheerefully begin the waye of his commaundements. To those which are proficients, this diuine lawgiuer giueth his benedie∣tion, that they may encrease from vertue to vertue, vntill they arriue to the height of perfection. * 1.32 And vpon the heades of the iust that are perfect, hee powereth his blessing in abundance, giuing them some taste of what in glorie they shall enioie. And finally in the daye of iudgement hee will giue them the supreame benediction, saying vnto them: Come yee blessed of my father, to possesse the king∣dome prepared for you: as allready wee haue pondered.

Considering these blessings, and comparing them with the curses which in the precedent pointe were declared, I am principally to collect three affections of very much importance. The First is agreate Sor∣rovve for hauing infringed a lawe so holy, so pro∣fitable, and so sweete, making myselfe vnworthy of its celestiall benedictions, & incurring the three euils contrarie to the three goods that haue beene spoken of: for togither with the breache of the lawe marche those vices that pollute both bodie, and spirit; all the temporall, and eternall hurtes, that bodie and soule doe suffer: and all the heauinesses, and bitternesses wherewith our heart is afflicted.

2 The Second affection is of Confidence, assuredly hoping that if I obserue the lawe of God, I shall obtaine the blessings that hee promiseth mee, calling to mindethose memorable wordes of Ecclesiasticus, who saieth, Homo sensatus credit legi, & lex illi fidelis, The wise man beleiueth the lawe of God, * 1.33 and the lawe is faithfull vnto him: which is to say. The iust man, and the lawe are faithfull one to another.

The iust is faithfull in obeying the lawe, and the lawe is faithfull in rewarding the iust. It defendeth him in perills: It comforteth him in his aduersities: it directeth him in his prosperities: it counselleth him in his doubtes: it fauoureth him in his busines∣ses: it maketh his praiers to bee hearde; it aideth him in life: it protecteth him in deathe: and finally it croweneth him in glorie. * 1.34 O my soule bee faithfull to the lavve of God, and the lavve shallbee very faithfull to thee. Faile not thou in doing vvhat it commaundeth thee; and it vvill not faile to doe vvhat it promiseth thee. Praise thy soueraigne lavvgier vvith the psalterion of ten strings, keeping his ten commaundements, * 1.35 and thou shallt forthvvith bee partaker of his promises. Say not vith the vvicked Israelits: It is a vaine thing to serue God, and vvhat prossit haue I in keeping his com∣maundemenis? Conuert thyselfe truely to our Lord, vvith a contrite heart for hauing broken them, and thou shallt see by experience the difference betvveene the iust, and the sinner: betvveene those that obserue his lavve, and those that infringe it.

3 The third affection must bee greate loue, and estimation of the lawe of God, * 1.36 endeuoring (as Salo∣mon saieth) to write it in the tables of my hearte, which are the three faculties of my soule: In my Memorie to bee alwaies mindefull of it: In my Vnderstanding to meditate continually the∣reon: and in my VVill to loue it, and if neede were, to laye downe my life for it: saying, * 1.37 as Moyses to his people: I will meditate thereon in my house, and vpon the waye: at my downe lying, and vp rising: I will put it as a signall in my handes, to worke thereafter: and I will haue it before my eyes, to guide mee thereby: saiyng with Dauid; Lord, * 1.38 how haue I loued thy holy lawe? all the whole day it is the matter of my meditation. O most sweete law∣giuer, who when thou becamest man, didst forthwith

put this lawe in the middest of thy hearte, and by thy grace write it in the heartes of thy elect, * 1.39 write it also in my hearte, in such manner as may neuer be blotted out, that I may bee worthy to bee written in the booke of life, without euer being blotted out thereof, worlde without ende. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. Th. 1.2. q. 100. ar. 4. & 5. & seq.
• * 1.2

  Zachar. 9.1.
• * 1.3

  Volumen volans.
• * 1.4

  Collat. 14
• * 1.5

  Collat. 14. cap. 11. & D. Bona¦uent. o∣pusc. de dieta sa∣lutis, tit. 3. & ser∣mon. de 10. prae∣ceptis. t••mo. 2. Exod. 20.3.
• * 1.6

  1. R••g. 15.23. Ad Phil. 3.19. Ad Tit. 1.16.
• * 1.7

  Ad Phi∣lip. 2.3. 1. Petr. 2.13.
• * 1.8

  1. Ad Thess. 5.19. Ad Heb. 6.6.
• * 1.9

  D. Amb. d. 16. c. pasce fa∣me mo∣rientem, si non pauisti, occidisti. 2. Corin. 2.17. Ex Cas∣sian. col∣lat. 14. cap. 11.
• * 1.10

  D. Basil. sermo de abdica∣tione re∣rum.
• * 1.11

  Isai. 52.5. Ad Rō. 2.24.
• * 1.12

  Iaco. 2.10.
• * 1.13

  Colloquie
• * 1.14

  Psalm. 118.136
• * 1.15

  Deuter. 27.15. & 28.16.
• * 1.16

  Mat. 25.41.
• * 1.17

  Colloquie
• * 1.18

  Prou. 21.13. Iob. 15.16. Psalm. 108.18. Ad Gal. 3.13.
• * 1.19

  Exod. 8.6.17.24.9.3.23.10.13.22.12.29.14.24.
• * 1.20

  Apo••al. 8.2.15.6. & 16.1.
• * 1.21

  Colloquie
• * 1.22

  Eccl. 23.12.
• * 1.23

  Eccl. 2.3.12.
• * 1.24

  Zach. 5.1.
• * 1.25

  Prou. 30.17.
• * 1.26

  Deuter. 28.3.
• * 1.27

  Mat. 6.26.
• * 1.28

  Psalm. 144.16.
• * 1.29

  Psalm. 18.8.
• * 1.30

  Prou. 3.2. Psalm. 18.11. & Eccl. 24.27.
• * 1.31

  Psalm. 20.4. Psalm. 83.8.
• * 1.32

  Prou. 10.6. & Psalm. 23.5. Mat. 25.34.
• * 1.33

  Eccl. 33.4.
• * 1.34

  Colloquie
• * 1.35

  Psalm. 32.2. Malach. 3.14.
• * 1.36

  Prou. 3. & 7.
• * 1.37

  Deute. 6.7.
• * 1.38

  Psalm. 118.97.
• * 1.39

  Psalm. 36.31. & Ierē. 31.33