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 the paine which they call of sence, which my soule shall suffer in Purgatorye, tormented by the terrible fier thereof.

This is to bee pondered, first, for that this fier is the same with that of Hell, in comparison whereof that of this life, is as it were painted: As also, for that it wonderfully tormenteth, as beeing the in∣strument of God, and of a wrathfull God, whose hande is exceeding heauye when hee reuengeth his iniurye. For as the fier melteth the siluer, to pu∣rifie it from drosse: so this fier as the Prophet saieth, shall melt, that is, shall terribly afflict those soules

to purifie them from the drosse they brought from the worlde. So that whilest there is any thing to pu∣rifie, the dolour shall continue: for there is no sle∣epe, nor distraction, nor nothing else to temper the furie thereof, as there is in this life. And here∣upon holy men conclude, that the dolours of purga∣torie exceede in that which is paine, and torment, the dolours that sinners endure in this life: and those which martirs haue sustained: yea, and those that the king of martirs himselfe, Christe Iesus our Lord did suffer, to whome I am humbly to say, O most svveete redeemer, chastize mee not in thy fury vvith the fier of hell: and purifie mee so in this life, that I may haue no neede of the fier of purgatorie.

From this consideration I am to collect three af∣fections, and Intentions of very much Importance. The 1. is a greate Feare of God, and of the rigour of his Iustice. For if I consider it well, what neede I bee so much amazed that the maiestie of God, stan∣des beholding the soules burne in hell without hauing compassion of them, seeing they are his enemies, and persist in abhoring him: as that his should see those of Purgatory burne, enduring most terrible paines, and sometimes for very light sinnes: and yet louing them much, and beeing beloued of them, hee letteth them burne, and bee in paine vntill they pay all that they owe? VVho shall not feare thee, o king of the nations? If thou thus burnest the fruitefull tree for a fevve thornes that vvere min∣gled, vvith the good fruite: hovv vviltt thou burne, and tormēt the vvi hered barren tree that hath brought forth nothing but the thornes of greiuous sinnes?

The 2. intention is, to satisfie in this life for my sinnes, and to embrace willingly whatsoeuer pe∣naunces, and afflictions, seeing they are all as no∣thing in comparison of these other. For that which is suffered in this life is but litle, and for a little

time, and is very proffitable to encrease in vertue, and to meritte augmentation of grace, and glorye: But in purgatory much is suffered, and vnproffitably for the endes before saide. And therefore I am to beeseeche our Lorde, that if I shall bee carelesse of this payment, it will please him to purifie mee with the fier of afflictions, that I may pay here with gaine that which I shall afterwardes pay without gaine. O my Sauiour that didst promise to purifie the sonnes of thy churche, as golde, and siluer is purified in the fier, pu∣risie mee as thou vvillt in this life, that in departing out of it, I may goe to enioye thee. Amen.

The 3. intention is, to auoide as much as possibly I may veniall sinnes: seeing (as the Apostle saieth) they are no other thing, but wood, hay, and stubble to make fewell for the sier that shall burne mee in purgatorye. The which is a greate rashnesse if I haue the eyes of faithe to beholde it; for if I should see a man cut wood from a mountaine, and carry it to his house, and asking him wherefore hee carryed that wood, he should aunswere mee, that it was to kindle a fier wherein to burne himselfe, should not I holde him for a mad man? then am not I much more madde, doing things with so greate pleasure, that shall burne mee in Purgatorie? O my soule, seeing thou art founded vpon so pretious a foundation as is Christe our Lord, builde vpon it vvorkes of greate value, Golde of charitie, siluer of Innocencie, And precious stones of solid vertues, vvhich may remaine vvith thee vnto life euerlasting. Bevvare thou minglest not vvith them vvorkes that shall perishe, the vvood of auarice, the haye of sensuallitie, and the stubble of vanitie, louing vvith some disorder the goods of this life: for this shall∣bee sevvell for the sier that shall burne thee in the life to come. O good Iesus, deliuer mee from such madnesse, pre∣seruing mee from these sinnes by thy grace.

Notes

• Malac. 3.3.
• D. Aug. in ps. 37. & D. Greg. in ps. 3. pe∣niten. D. Tho. 3. p. q. 46 ar. 6. ad 3. Colloquie
• Colloquie
• Colloquie Malac. 3.3.
• 1. Cor. 3.12.
• Colloquie Ex D. Thom. i∣bidem.