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 second Pointe. * 1.1

Secondly, are to bee exercized the Actes of Hope, resting vpon the same foure pillars that faithe

doth: to witte, vpon the infinite wisdome, good∣nesse, and omnipotencye of God, and vpon his fidel∣litie to fullfil all that hee promiseth, seeing hee hath knowledge, Power, and will to performe it. Vpon this foundation, Hope is to exercize its Actes ayding itselfe with prayer to aske, and obtaine what it ho∣peth, and desireth. And what here is to bee hoped, and desired, is the performaunce, of the promises that Christe our Sauiour made, to those that worthily receiue him in this sacrament, as may bee collected out of the 6. chapter of S. Iohn: saying thus vnto him. * 1.2 I hope, o my Sauiour, that if I eate this breade of life I shall neuer die, I shall liue for euer, I shall remaine in thee, and thou in mee, vnited thou with mee, and I with thee. I hope that as thou liuest by thy Father, so I shall liue by thee: and by thy meanes I shall obtaine life euerlasting, and thou willt raize mee againe at the last daye. * 1.3 O breade of life I come to receiue thee, vvith greate confidence that thou vvillt quicken my spirit, comfort my hearte, cheare vp my soule, for tifie my povvers, make chaste may fleshe, and chaunge mee into another man: * 1.4 for I shall not chaunge thee into mee, vnlesse thou chaungest mee into thee. O most svveete Sauiour, augment in mee confidence, that I may bee vvorthy to obtaine thy soueraigne pro∣mise.

But hope must passe yet farther, hoping in the goodnesse, and omnipotencie of this our Lord, who is not tied vnto the sacrament, but may graunt mee all these benefits, onely for a liuely desire in mee to receiue him: and therefore be∣holding this diuine sacrament, I may exercize these actes of faithe, and confidence: * 1.5 sometimes with the Centurion saying vnto him: Lord, I am not vvorthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe, but onely say the vvorde, and my soule shallbee saued. * 1.6 And sometimes, I will say vnto him: If to beholde

the brasen serpent suffized to heale those that were wounded: it may likewise suffize mee to beholde thee with a liuely faithe, and thee to looke vpon mee with thy mercye, that thou mayest deliuer mee from all miserye. Other sometimes, as the woman that had the fluxe of blood, * 1.7 I will say within myselfe, if I can but touche the garment that couereth my Lorde, without doubt I shallbee safe. And if the shadowe of his apostle healed the sicke, how much more shall the shadowe of his diuine sacrament heale my soule? VVith this confidence ought I to enter into the churche, to assiste at masse, and to beholde the sacred hoste and chalice, when they are eleuated. For as S. Bernard saieth, * 1.8 greate faithe attaineth to greate things: and the more the affection of confidence di∣lateth itselfe, the more wee shall obtaine of Gods mercy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Actes of Hope.
• * 1.2

  Ioan. 6.35.50. &c.
• * 1.3

  Colloquie
• * 1.4

  Aug. 7. confess. cap. 10.
• * 1.5

  Math. 8.8.
• * 1.6

  Numer. 21.8.
• * 1.7

  Luc. 8.44. Actuū 5.15.
• * 1.8

  Serm. 38 in Cant.