PVRPOSING to speak to your charytable eares at this present solemnitie , ( most derely beloued ) the godly loue of that blessed woman Mary Magdalene recoursed to my remembraunce , howe , for that she loued our Lorde aboue all thinges , folowed hym goynge to his death , where his Disciples forsoke him : And howe for that she was kyndled with the fire of true loue , in her vehement desire wepinge continually , departed not frome his sepulcher . For Marye ( as sayeth the Euangelist ) stode without at the Sepulcher weping . We do hear ( welbelo●●d ) of Maries standing without at the Sepulchre , we heare also how she wepeth , let vs ( if we can ) consyder the cause of her standyng , let vs also se why she wepeth : for both of this her standing may we take profite , and also of her weeping may we be edifyed . Loue it was that made her to stand , & sorowe constrained her so to wepe . She stoode lookyng aboute , yf perchance she coulde see him whom she loued . But wepte therfore , bicause whom she sought for , she thought was quite taken away , wherby her sorow was doubled : Fyrste sorowynge for hym being dead , and now sorowing for him taken away : and of both griefes this laste was the greater , for it was without comfort . The first cause of her sorowynge was for that she had lost his lyfe : but of this sorowe had shee some comfort , for that she thought to haue retained hym dead as he was ▪ But yet of this heauynes could she not fynd comfort , for that she found not his dead body . Thus fearing if that she found not his body , the loue of him her Mayster wold sone waxe colde within her breaste , by the syghte yet whereof shee hoped shee mighte ware warme againe . In deede Mary was com to his sepulchre bringing with her the odours & ointmentes whiche she had prepared , that as before when hee was alyue shee had annoynted with precious oyntment his fete , so now she mought anoynte his whole dead body with oyntment and wyth her spyces embaulme it . And lyke as fyrste she had at Luc. 7. his feete shedd her teares and wept bitterly , and with her teares watred his feet for the death of her owne soule : so now she cometh to water the Sepulcher with teares for the deathe of her Maister . But fyndinge not the bodye in the Sepulchre , her laboure of anointinge was lost , but the sorowe of her waylyng more increased . Present he was not to haue her seruice , and yet absent he was not to cause her to sorowe . Presente he was not whome she would haue embau●ed , and yet absent he was not to cause her to weepe . Therfore the more she wepte , the further he was absente . Certes Mary bitterly wept , for Sorowe was heaped vppon sorowe . And two great sorowes she caried in one heart , whiche fayne she woulde haue eased with her teares , but they coulde not . And therefore was wholye plunged in sorowe , fainting both in heart and body , and what she shold do she knew not : for what could this woman do but wepe ? whiche bothe had dolor intolerable , and founde in comforte no remedy ? In deede Peter and Iohn came with her to the Sepulcher , but when they founde not the body , they wente foorthwith theyr waye home againe , But Mary abode without at the Sepulcher weeping . And as one Rom. 4. hoping against hope , did yet pet souere in hope . Peter and Iohn were afrayd , and therfore stode not , but Mary feared not , bycause she had nothinge lefte her ( as she thought ) for whiche shee ought to feare , for shee had loste her Maister , whome shee loued so singularly , that beside him she could loue nothing , could hope for nothing : she had loste the life of her foule , & nowe she thought it better to dye than to liue , thin king perhappes in her death to haue founde , whome in her lyfe she coulde not fynde , withoute whom notwithstanding she was not able to lyue . Strong as the ●anti● . 8. Deathe is loue : for what more could death do in Marye ? Shee became as it were without life , without sence : hauing sence she vsed no sence : Seinge , she dyd not see : hearing , shee heard not , neither was she where she was , for wholy was shee there where her Maister was : who notwithstandynge where he was , shee knewe not : she soughte for him , but found him not , and therfore continued standing at the Tombe and wept , altogether lamentable , all together miserable . O Mary what hope , what counsail , what heart was in the , which alone didst stande at the Sepulchre when the Disciples were departed ? Thou camest before them , thou returnedst with them , and after them also there remainedst . Why dyddst thou thys ? wert thou wiser then they ? Or didst thou loue more then they , bycause thou fearedste not as they ? Truely Mary was nowe wise in nothyng but in louinge , and to sorowe for her beloued . She had forgot to feare , forgot to ioy , yea forgot her owne self . What shoulde I more say ? She had forgote all thynges , except him whome shee loued aboue al things . And ( which is wonderful ) shee was so forgetfull , that shee knewe not him neither . Beleue me , if she had knowen hym , she had not searched for hym in his Tombe : and if she had kept his words still in minde , she had not forowed as of one deade , but should haue reioyced of him , as liuing : nor should she haue wept as of one which was taken away but she should haue reioyced for that he was risen again . For Iesus had forespoken that thus he Luce. 14. should dyc , and that he shoulde rise againe the thirde day . But alack for pitie , ouermuch sorow had filled her heart , & had quite blotted out the remembraunce of these words . In her no sence remained , al counsel in her was loste , all hope failed : to weepe her belly full , did only remaine . She wepte therfore , for weepe she might . She bowed down her self and looked into the Tombe , and sawe two Angels sitting in white , one at the feete , the other at the head , which sayd vnto her : woman , why wepeste thou ? O Marye , loe , nowe thou haste founde great comforte , and perchaunce it hath happened vnto thee better then thou haste hoped : for thou soughtest one , and hast found two . Thou soughtest one dead , and hast found two liuing . Thou hast found that seme to take care for thee , and that will ease thy heauinesse . For he whom thou sekest semeth to set nought by thy sorowinge , he semeth not to regarde thy teares . Thou callestc him , and he heareth not : Thou prayest , and he geueth no fauorable care vnto thee . Thou sekest him , and findest him not : Thou knockeste , but he openeth not . Thou foloweste him , and he flyeth . Alas what meneth this ? O lord what a greate chaunge is this ? Alas how is al turned vpside downe ? For this is IESVS who of late went from the : and how commeth this thus to passe ? Peraduenture thou knowest not whether he loueth thee . Once he loued the , once he defended thee from Luc. 7. the Pharisey , once hee excused Luc. 10. the to thy sister diligently , once hee commended thee as when thou annoyntedst his feete with oyntmente , wateredst them with Luc. 7. thy teares , and wypedst theym with thy heare , he asswaged thy sorow , forgaue thy sinnes . Once Ioh. 11. he sought thee when thou werte not presente , hee called for the when thou wert away , he commanded the by thy sister to come vnto hym , shee saynge : Thee Master is here and calleth the ▪ O howe quickly did Mary then arise after she heard that , how carefullye came shee , and after her acustomed manner fel at thy fete ? O sweete IESV , thou when thou sawest her weepe , weeptst also . O how pitifully diddeste thou conforte her when thou saidest : Ioh. 1● . Where haue ye laid hym ? To conclude , for the loue of her which muche loued thee , thou didst raise from death her brother Lazarus , and so thou turnedst the mourning of this thy louer into ioye . And O moste gentle Master , what hath this disciple since offended the ? And wherein hath this thy d●relouer displeased the kyndenes of thy heart , in that thou goest so from her ? We haue since that time heard of no offence don by her , except bicause when thou wert puried , She came in the morning and that very ▪ early before all other to the Sepulchre , brynging ointementes wherwith she might an̄oynte thy body . And when she Ioh. ●0 . found the not in the Sepulchre , shee ran and tolde this thing vnto thy disciples . They cam , they sāwe , and they straighte wente theyre way againe : but she standeth stil and wepeth . And if this be an offence , if all this be done for loue of the , and of a feruent desire she beareth towards the , wherfore goest thou thus from her ? why doest thou thus hid thy selfe ? thou that loueste all that loue the , and thou that art found of al them that seke the : for thou sayest : I loue those that loue me . Prou. 8. Why doth not therfore this sely woman finde the , whiche did so early watche for the ? Why doste thou not comforte her teares whiche she sheddeth for the her lord , like as thou didst once comfort her teares which shee shede for her brother ? If truly thou louedst her after thy wonted manner , what meanest thou to prolonge her desire ? O true and faithfull Maister , call to thy remembraunce the good reporte and testymony thou once gauest of her to her syster Martha . For thou saidst : Mary hath chosen the best part , which shall not be taken from her . In dede Mary Luc: 10. did chose the beste parte , for shee did chose to stande at thy fete and to heare thy preaching . She chose in dede the best part , for The she chosed . But how is this true which shall not be taken from her , yf thou bee taken from her ? and if the beste parte that she chose bee not taken away , why then wepeth she ? Or what then doth she seke ? Certes Mary seketh nothinge els but the whiche she chose . And for this alone she ceaseth not to wepe for that which she hathe chosen she hath now lost . Therfore ( O thou man sauiour and keper ) either saue in her the parte shee hathe chosen , or els I knowe not how this is true , which shall not bee taken from her , vnles yt maye be thus vnderstanded , that although thou art taken from her sighte , from her corporall eyes , yet arte thou not taken awaye from her heart . But alas Mary why makest thou any longer tariynge ? why arte thou trobled ? why wepest thou ? Loe , see thou hast Angels , let the sight of Angels suffice the. For paraduenture , he whome thou sekest , for whome tho● wepest , espieth in the something for which he will not be sene of the : 〈◊〉 of now thy sorow , measure thy teares : ca● to mynde what he sayd bothe to the and to other women : Wepe Luc. 23 . not for mee . Therfore what is this thou doest ? He forbad the to wepe , & yet thou spareste not to wepe . I feare me least by th● weping that offend him for whome thou doste so continually wepe . For if he loued thy teares , hee could perchaunce no more now than he did once suffer thy teres . Now therfore heare my aduice . Let the comfortinge of Angels content and satisfye the , abyde thou with them , aske & inquire of them . And it may fortune that they shall tel what is become of him thou sekest , and for whom thou wepest . And I beleue assuredlye , theyr comminge was to be are witnes of him , as also beleue that he whom thou wepest for , hath sent them for himselfe & for thy selfe , to tell the of his Resurrection , and to comfort thy lamenting . For they said to her : woman , why wepest thou ? What is the cause of this thy great heauines ? hyde not thy teares from vs , open to vs thy grief , and we shal shew the thy desire . Marye wasted with to much sorow out of measure , and as it were wholy cast in a traunce , receiueth no comforte , & resorteth to no comforte , but museth thus within her selfe and sayth : Alas that euer I was borne , what comfort is this ? what manner of visitation is this ? All confortes be but ● burthen vnto me , they do but greue me , and not comforte me , For I seke the Creator , therefore heaui to my sight is al manner of creature . I will not beholde Angels , with Angels will not I abyde , for they may augmente my sorrowe , but they can not vtterly put away my sorow . If they shall begin to tel me many things , and I to euery thing shal make them answere , I feare me they will rather hinder my loue , then furder my loue . To be shorte , I seke not for Angels , but him who made me and Angels . I seke not angels , but the Lorde of my self and of angels . They haue take away my soueraigne Lorde , him onely will I seeke , he alone can comfort me : but I can not tel where thei haue laid him . I looke about if I can see him , but I se him not : faine I wolde finde the place where he is layed but I fynde it not . O wofull Wtoman that I am , what shall I do ? whether shal I go ? and whether is my beloued gon ? I sought for him in his Sepulchre , and there I found him not . I called him , but he answered me not : wo is me , where shal I seeke him ? where shall I fynd him ? I will rise truly , I will go about , I will search in al places I can , I will geue no sleepe to myne eyes , I will geue no reste to my feete , vntil I shall fynde him whome my Soule loueth . Wepe ye myne eyes , gushe out with teares & stynte not , walke ye my feete , runne about & reste not . Alas alas whether is my ioye gone ? where doth my loue hyde him ? where is my sweete Lorde ? why hast thou m● health forsaken me ? O vnsufferable sorowes : O intolerable perplexitie of minde , I se troble on euery side , & what to chuse I know not . If I abide next his Tomb , yet I finde him not . yf I go from his Tombe , I know not wretch whether to go , I know not wherto seeke him . To departe from the Tombe is death vnto me , to stande at the Tombe is griefe incurable : how be it , better it is for me to keepe still my Lordes Tombe , then to go far from it any further : for in goinge further , perchaunce at my returne again , I shall fynde bothe him taken away , & also his sepulcher destroyed . I will stande therefore , & here will I dye . that yet at leste wyse I may be buried nye the sepulchre of my Lorde . O how happy shal my body bee , if it bee buried nighe vnto my Master . O how blessed shall my Soule be , whiche passing forth of thys bryckle vessel of my bodie , may by and by enter into my Lords glorious Sepulcher . My body hath alwaies ben to my soule labour and trauaile , my Lords sepulcher shall be vnto me rest and honor . Therfore I will not forsake this Sepulcher , bycause thus to die it shall be my conforte , and in my death it shall be my reste . So longe as I liue I will abide by it , when I dye I wil cleaue fast vnto it , neither aliue nor dead I wil be seperated from it . Alas what a wretched woman I am , wherefore did I not then this foresee when I behelde my lorde buryed ? why did not I stande with him ? wherefore did I not with trewe attendance keepe the Sepulchre : then had I not bewayled his taking away , for I had either withstanded them which toke him away , or els had gone after them . But O woful case , I wold haue kepte the lawe , and haue let go the Lord of the law : I wolde haue obeied the lawe , and haue not kept him to whom the lawe it selfe is obediente , though with Christe to abyde had not ben to transgresse the lawe , but to fulfyl the lawe . For the paschal Lambe is not disteined by the deathe of him , but is again iterate & renewed . His corps doth not defile the cleane , but clenseth the defiled : he healeth all suche as touch him , and dothe illuminate all suche as come to him . But what do I renewe the memory of my sorow ? I wente , I returned , I founde the Tombe opened , but founde not him I soughte for . I will stande therefore , I will waite , lokinge if happely hee may any where appeare . But howe , shall I stande alone desolate ? The Disciples be gone theire waye , and haue left me alone weping . None do appeare who woulde sorow with me . No where doth hee appeare , whiche with mee wolde seeke the Maister . Here haue appeared Angels , but I knowe not for what cause they haue appeared . If to comforte me , they oughte not then to bee ignorante wherefore I weepe . If they bee not ignorante for what I weepe , why say they to mee : Why wepest thou ? Do they therefore question with mee , to let me from wepinge ? I beseche them , not to swade me to that , that they will not counsell mee to that , for or els let them kill me . What needes mo wordes ? I will not obey them , I will not cease to weepe duringe my lyfe but I finde my lorde . But what may I do to finde him ? whither shall I turne me ? to whom shall I go ? of whome shal I inquire ? of whome shall I aske counsail ? who shal haue compassion on me ? who shall comfort me ? who shall Cant. 1● shew me whom my soul loueth , Cant. 2. where he is bestowed , where he lieth at noontide ? where he resteth ? I beseche you tel him how I pyne with loue and consume with sorowe , and that there is no dolor as is my dolor . Turne Tren . ● . againe my beloued , turn again Cant: 6. my hartes desire and dearling . Psalm. 50. O amiable , O delitable , geue againe to me the gladnes of thy comfortable presence . Shew me Cant. 2. thy countinaunce , let thy voice Psal. 90. sounde in mine eares , for thy ●0 , 118. voice is sweete , and thy visage is beutiful . O my hope , confound mee not in myne expectation . Shew me thy face , and it shall suffice my soul . While Marye did thus mourn and thus wept as she spak these things , She turned her selfe back , and sawe Iesus standing , and knew not it was Iesus . Iesus said vnto her woman why weepest thou ? & Whome seekest thou ? O thou the desire of her soule , why doeste thou aske her why wepeste thou ? and whome seekeste thou ? She but a little before , with her very eies , to the great dolour of her heart , beheld the her whole hope , to be hanged vpon the tree , and saieste thou nowe vnto her , why wepest thou ? She the third day beheld thy handes wherwith she hath ben often blessed , thy feet which she had kissed , and whiche she had watered with her teares nailed vpon the crosse , & thou being her whole sorow , saiest vnto her : Why wepest thou ? She beheld the geuing vp of her spirit , that is to say , thy spirite : and saiest thou now , why wepest thou ? Yea furdermore she supposeth thy body is stoln away whych she came to anoint , that by som meanes she might conforte her self , and saiest thou , why wepest thou ? whome seekest thou ? Thou well knowest , that the alone she seeketh , the alone she loueth , for that she contemneth all things , and sayeste thou , What seekeste thou ? Swete Maister , for what purpos I pray that doest thou prouoke this womans spirite ? for what purpose doeste thou vexe her Soule ? She wholye dependeth on thee : she wholye abydeth in thee . All her hope is in the , all dispaire in her self . She doth so seeke the , that seekinge the , she can seeke nothinge but the , she can minde nothinge but the : and therefore perchaunte she doth not know the , because she is not in her selfe , but for thy sake is out of her selfe : why therfore saiest thou : Why weepest thou ? whome sekest thou ? Doest thou thinke that she can say : I wepe for the , I seek the , except thou first inspire her , and say in her heart : I am he whome thou we peste for , and for whom thou sekeste ? Doeste thou thinke that she can knowe the , so longe as it shal please the to hide thy self ? But she supposinge that he had ben the gardiner , said vnto him : Sir , if thou hast caried him hence , tell me where thou hast laid him , and I will take him vp . O sorowe miserable , O loue vnspeakable . This woman was so couered with a thicke cloude of wo and sorowe , that she saw not the Sun , that in the morning tyde arising , shone by her windowes , and by the eares of her bodye was now entred into the house of her heart . But bicause she languished in her loue , of this languishinge the eyes of her heart became so dym , that she coulde not se him whome she sawe . For she did see Iesus , but she knew not it was Iesus . O Mary , it thou sekest Iesus , why doeste thou not acknowledge Iesus ? And if thou knowest Iesus , why sekest thou Iesus ? Beholde , Iesus commeth vnto the , and hee whom thou sekest asketh of the ? Woman , why wepest thou ? and thou supposest him to be a gardīer , to shew thou knowest him not . For Iesus is also a gardiner , because he soweth all good seede in the gardin of thy soule , and in the hearts of his faithful he planteth euery good Herbe , and watereth it in the soules of his sainctes . And it is IESVS himself which talketh with the. But therefore perhaps thou doest not knowe him , bycause hee corporally talketh with thee . Thou sekest a dead one , and therefore thou doest not acknowledg him as liuing . Haue I not truly espied , that this is the cause wherefore he went from the ? and why he appeared not vnto the ? For why should he appeare vnto the for whome thou doest not seke ? Thou verely soughtest for that which was not , and soughtest not for the which was . Thou didst seke Iesus , and didste not seke Iesus : and therefore in seinge Iesus , thou didst not knowe Iesus . O pittiful and sweete Maister , I can not altogether excuse this thy disciple : I can not frely defende this her error : And yet for all that shee erred , bycause she soughte the for suche an one as once she had seene the , and for suche a one as she had lefte the , when thou wert laied in thy graue . For she had sene thy body taken downe dead from the crosse , & layed in a tombe , and so greate sorowe had taken hold of her for thy death , that she coulde not hope of thy life . And suche sorowe had possessed her herte for thy buriall , that shee coulde thinke nothinge of thy resurrection , To conclude , Ioseph put thy body into a tombe , & Mary had buried there her spirite also , & so vnseparably ioyned it , & as it were , vnited it with thy body , that she could more easily seperate her liuing soule from her liuing body , them her louing spirit from thy dead body : for the spirite of Mary was rather in thy body , than in her owne body . and when she eaftsones soughte for thy body , she did then also seeke for her own spirit : and when she lost thy body , she lost with it her own spirit : what meruaile them if she had no sense , which had lost her spirit ? what maruail was it if she knew not the which had no spirite where with shee shoulde knowe the ? Restore therfore vnto her again her soule , which thy body hath within it selfe , and shee shall recouer furthwith her sense againe , and forsake her error But how did she erre which did so sorowe for the , and did so loue the ? Truly if she erred , I speake without doubtinge , that she wyst not she erred , and so her error proceded not of error , but of loue and grefe . Therfore O mercifull and iuste Iudge , the loue shee bare to thee , and the sorowe she toke for the , may excuse her before the , if perhaps she erreth of the. And marke not the error of the woman , but the loue of thy disciple , whiche did not wepe of error but of sorowe and of loue , and said vnto the : Sir , if thou hast borne him hence , tel me where thou hast laid him , and I will take him vp . O how skilfully is she ignorante , & how learnedly doth she erre ? To the Angels she said , They haue taken him away , and they haue layed : And she said not ? Ye haue taken him , and Ye haue layed him , because the angels neyther tooke the out of thy Tombe , nor layed the in any place : but to thee shee said ( If thou hast borne him away ) & , ( where haste thou laied him ) bicause thou indede didst beare thy selfe out of the Tombe , and layds●e thy self in the place where thou arte . To the angels she said not Tell ye me . bicause thee Angels coulde not tell wholy what had ben done of the , nor howe it had bene done of the , but to the shee saith : Tel thou me , bycause it is not vnpossible for the to tel that which was possible for the to do : for thou rosest againe by thyne owne power , & that whiche was done of the , thou diddeste it thy selfe . But what is this ( Lorde ) that Mary so often speaketh & repeteth this worde , Where haste thou layd him ? For shee had said to the Apostles firste of all , where haue they layed him ? The selfsame answer she spake vnto the Angels , Wher haue they layed him ? And nowe speaketh to the of thy selfe , Where haste thou layd him ? This word wax eth exceding swete in her heart that so aboundeth in her mouth . Lertes thy swetenes maketh it more sweete , and she dothe this for thy loue sake , bycause shee remembreth that thou saidst once Ioh. 11. of her brother , Where haue ye laid him ? for sithens that she heard this word of thy mouth , she hath kept it diligently in her heart , and hath delighted to vse it in her speache . O howe dothe shee loue thy person , that so loueth thy voice ? O how moch doth she desire to see thy countinaunce which so desirously pronounceth thy worde ? And howe gladlye wolde she kisse thy feete , whiche so gladly vseth thy sayinges ? what is this also ( O good Iesu ) that she speaketh to the of the ? And I will take him vp . Ioseph feared and durste not take doun thy body from the Crosse but in the night , and but askinge it of Pilate : but Mary abydeth not Ioh. 19. for the night , nor fereth Pilate , but boldly pronounceth saying , I will take him vp . O Mary putte the case that the body of Iesus were layed in the palayce of the high Preist where the cheife Apostle did warme him selfe at the fyer , what woldeste thow doe ? I wolde take him vp . O wonderful woman in boldenes . O woman , no woman . and what if the Dam sell , the dore keeper should ask● the ? what wilt thou do ? I wil take him vp . O vnspeakable loue of this woman . O meruailous audacitye of a woman . O woman , no woman : she excepter hno place she preferreth none , she speketh without fear , she promiseth absolutely , Tel me where thou haste laied him , and I will take him vp . O Woman greate is thy faith , great is thy constancy . Therfore ( O good Lorde ) why haste thou forgotten to say : Let it be don vnto the as Mat. 1● . thou wilt ? And , Be of good cher , Mat. 1● . thy faith hath made thou safe . Hast Psal ▪ 76. thou forgotten to haue mercye ? wherfore then doest thou not te● her where thou haste layed thy selfe , that she may take the vpp vpon her hert , and beare thee in her body , and shew the vnto thy disciples . Do not ( I beseech the sweete Maister ) prolonge her desire any more : for lo now these three daies shee hathe endured waytinge for the , & hath nothing Mat. 8. to eate , and hath naught where with to feede her hungry sowle : but thou by disclosinge thy selfe , doest reache vnto her the bread of thy body , & doest fyl her with thy fragments of the basket of her heart . Wherefore , if thou wilte that she faynte not by the way , refresshe and comforte the bowels of her soule with the plesaūtes of thy taste . For thou art Sapi. 16. the liuing bread whiche haste in the al maner delectablenes and all sauour of swetenes : for the life of her body will not long endure , onles thou quickly shewest thy self , which art the life of her soul . Iesus sayed vnto her : Mary . She turned her selfe and sayd vnto him . Rabboni , which is to say : maister , Iesus saied vnto her . Touch me not . Opermutatiō of the right hand of the highest . Greate sorow is now turned in to greate ioy . The teares of sorow be changed into the teares of loue . So sone as Mary heard this worde , Marye , ( for so was her Maister wonte to call her ) she did perceaue before in that name , a certain singular swetenes of callinge , and by that shee knew him to be her Maister , of whom she was called . Then her spirite reuiued , & her sence came again . And when Iesus wolde more haue added , Mary coulde not paciently tarry to heare any more : but for very greate ioye interrupted him , saying : Rabboni . for she thought she needed no word that had found the word , and thought it farre more profitable to handel the word then to hear any manner of wordes . O loue stronge and vnpacient . It was not enough for her to se Iesus , and to speake with Iesus , Luc. 6. and. 8. onles also she touched Iesus , for she knewe that vertue wente out from him , and howe that he healed all men . O moste pitifull Lorde , and moste swete Maister , how good arte thou to those that be of a pure hearte : Psalm. 73. howe sweete art thou to those that be of an vprighte hearte , and be ●ap. 1. lowly in spirite . O howe blessed be they that seeke the in singelnes of heart : and how happy be they that truste in the. It is verily trew , & vndoubtedly trewe , that thou louest al that loue the , Prou. 8. and doste neuer forsake them that Psal. 9. put their truste in thee . For beholde , this thy louer did seke the vnfainedly , and hath found the trewly . She trusted in the , & she is not forsaken of the , but hath obteined by the , more then she loked for at the. Let vs therefore ( bretherne ) follow the good affection of thys woman , that we may come to the like effecte . Let eueri one wepe vnto Iesus , and seeke faithfully Iesus , that will not hyde hym selfe from a sinner that seketh him . Learne sinfull man of a sinfull woman , whose sinnes notwithstandinge be forgeuen her : Learn to wepe for Gods absence , and to desire his presence . Learne of Marye to loue Iesus , and to trust in Iesus , and by seekinge Iesus in this search , to feare no aduersitie , and besides Iesus to receiue no comfort , and for Iesus to contemne all thinges . Learn of Mary to seeke for Iesus in the Se pulcher of thy heart , Rol away the stone from the doore of the Sepulcher of God , remoue all hardnesse , and put away euerye thing that may hinder thy faith : take away all wordly desire from thy hearte , and serche diligently whether Iesus be in it . And if thou finde not Iesus in it , stand without and weepe : persiste in faith , and looke outwardly to others , whether happely thou maiest see hym in anye . And wythe weepinge pray Iesus that hee wil vouchsafe to entre into the , and will dwell in the , and leste perchance with a proud stiffe vp right necke , thou put him away from the : humbly incline thy self and bowe downe vnto him , and looke often into the Sepulchre of God whiche is in thee , and if thou shalte see Angels there sittinge , one at the head , an other at the feete , that is , yf thou shalte knowe in thy hearte as it were heauenly desires , appertaining aswell to this actiue lyfe as to the contemplatiue lyfe , by the which neuertheles thou canst not see and haue Iesus , bee not with these contentid , do not yet faint and geue ouer , but wepe & seeke still Iesus in thy self , vntil thou fynde him . And if he so chaunce at any time to appeare vnto the , and to present him self vnto thi desire . doe not presume of thy selfe as though thou knowest him , but inquire of him , and beseche him he will shew him selfe vnto the. I dare boldely vndertake , if in faith thou shalte stande at the tombe of thy hearte , if wepingly thou shalt seeke Iesus , & shalt continue in seking : if thou shal bow down thyselfe with humbl●nes , if by Maries exaumple thou wilt receaue no confort of Iesus , except thou receuest Iesus , hee wil reuele him selfe vnto the , & thou shalte fynde him and knowe him . So that thou shalt not neede to ask of other , where is Iesus , but thou shalte rather tel and shew him to others , & say : For I haue seene the Lorde , and hee spake these things vnto me . To whom with the Father and the holye ghoste bee all honor and glory , worlde without ende .