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 fourth Pointe.

FOurthly, I will consider the most excelleut Life that this Childe ledde in the Temple: For first, [ 1] as shee grewe in Age, shee grewe in Spirit before God, and before men. And (as S. Ambrose sayeth) shee accompanied euery step of her body with exercice, and augmentation of Vertue, increasing like the Light of the morning, vntill per∣fect day. For the Holy Spirit sollicited her with his Inspirations, and shee cooperated with all the force that shee had; endeuouring (as sayeth the Wiseman) to bee most excellent in all her

Workes, with foure Excellencyes: First, [ 1] that in euery one shee increased in Charitye, and Sanctitye. Secondly, [ 2] that they were all workes replenished with the greatest proofe, & fullnesse of perfection, that was possible for her Strength. Thirdly, [ 3] that in euery worke shee vsed greate Wisdome, and Discretion, with singular Con∣stancye, vntill shee had effected it. Fourthly, [ 4] that with euery one shee mixed much Variety of Affections, and Vertues, to augment iointely in all. For these foure Excellencyes, the Angells admired her, saying: VVhoe is shee that cometh forth as the morning rysing, faire as the Moone, elect as the Sunne, terrible as the Army of a Campe set in aray? what is this Childe that maketh her Progresse from Vertue to Vertue, increasing like the Light of the morning without staying, or turning backe? beautifull like the full moone with plenty of Graces, without any waning therein? elected as the Sun, that there is none in Earthe to bee her equall? And who is this, that beeing a weake maide by nature, is most firme by Grace, containing within her an armye of all Vertues, ordered with the Order of inuincible Charitye? Thus spake the Angells with Affection of Admiration: and God rejoiced in beholding her Feruour: and men that behelde her were edified, in seeing so greate Sanctity in so tender yeares. But I both admiring, and rejoicing heereat, will withall confound myselfe, considering how farre I am from it thorough my Negligence, and Coldnesse, and desiring to get out of it, to imitate her example.

Then will I ponder, [ 2] how this Childe spent a greate parte of the daye in ascending, and descending that mysticall Ladder of Iacob, which reached from Earthe vnto Heauen: in whose top

stood the Omnipotent God, and whose Degrees (as before hath beene saide) are Reading. Medi∣tation, Praier, and Contemplation. One while of the daye shee spent in Reading holy Scriptures, to the greate consolation of her Soule, allmighty God opening vnto her the Sense, that shee might penetrate, and vnderstand them. From hence shee ascended to meditation, conferring with herselfe what shee had reade, searching out newe Veri∣ties that illustrated her Soule, and inflamed it with the fier of Loue, and Deuotion. From hence shee mounted another space by the Degree of Prayer, desiring of God with greate feruencye the giftes of his Grace, not only for herselfe, but for her Companions, and for all the People. And lastly, shee ascended to the Degree of Con∣templation, wherein shee spent very much time, vniting her Soule to God, from whome shee receiued such sweetenesse, and consolation; and such extraordinary abundance of celestiall Giftes, that none can comprehend, or knowe them, but God that gaue them, & shee that receiued them; rejoicing in that hidden Manna, whose taste none attaineth vnto, but hee that receiueth it. And in these Exercices, shee was visited by the Angells, that garde this Ladder, comforting those that ascende it; but much more this blessed Virgin whose Puritye was greater then theirs: for seeing her mount vp, they spake with Admiration that of the Canticles: VVhat is shee, that ascendeth by the desert, as a little rodde of smoke of the aroma∣ticall spices of Myrrhe, and frankincense, and of all pouders of the Apothecary? Who is this young Maiden that liueth in the Desert of this Worlde, and in the Solitarinesse of this Temple, and sprowteth vp not like a Rodde, but like a Twigge

that is small, and humble in her owne eyes, but most odoriferous, and gracious in the eyes of God, in the which shee goeth allwayes ascending, and increasing with the Myrrhe of Mortification, with the Incense of Praier, and with the conti∣nuall Exercize of all Vertues?

Finally, in descending this Ladder, [ 3] this blessed LADYE was exercized in working with her handes for the seruice of the Temple, & to the commodity of her Cōpanions, mingling her ex∣teriour workes with Praier: for which it is saide of her, that her Garments smelled of Incense.

O soueraigne VIRGIN, Rodde that sprungest from the roote of lesse, & ascendedst to thy Beloued, like a most odoriferous Sprigge of Perfume: obtaine for mee, that I also may bee litle in Humillitye, & carefull to mount by the Ladder of Praier, by which thou ascen∣dedst, vntill I vnite myselfe with allmighty God: descending also to exercize the workes of Mortification in myselfe, & those of Piety towardes my neighbours, increasing in all Vertues, & giuing vnto all men the Odour of good Example: for the which they may glo∣rifye God worlde without ende. Amen.

Notes

• Of the Life our blessed LADYE ledde in the Tem¦ple. Lib 2. do Virg. Prou. 4.18 Eccl. 33.23
• Cant. 6.9
• Gen. 28.12.
• Ex D. Ber. in scala claustra∣lium.
• Apoc. 21.7
• Cant. 3.6.
• Colloquie. Cant. 4.11.
• Isa. 11.1.