The fourtenth Meditation. Of what hapned when S. Ioseph would haue forsaken the Virgin seeing her with Childe: and of the reuelation made vnto him by the Angel concerning this mysterye.
The first Pointe.
FOr the foundation of this Meditation, I am to consider the greate Sanctitye of S. Ioseth, and the Vertues, and Graces graunted him by our Lord, for being the worthye Spouse of his mother, and his worthy Foster-father, so that he should be helde for his Father, and was so indeede, as concerning the office of educating, and sustaining him. For as our Lord filled with grace, and with the holy Spirit, the Baptist, and the Apostles with that abundance that was conuenient to exercize worthily the Offices that he incharged them: so also would he replenish S. Ioseph with most excellent giftes, and graces, with the which he might fullfill those ministeries that he recommended vnto him, and he so skillfully negotiated with the giftes receiued, that euery daye he encreased them, and was therefore called Ioseph, which is to say, Accrescens, Encreasing, or he that en∣creaseth.